The Gathering Cafe, previously known as The Delightful Crepe Cafe, sits on the corner of Montair and E. Village Road in Long Beach, and serves sweet and savory crepes, smoothies, coffee, paninis and more.
Immediately upon opening the door, the feeling of being in a familiar, cozy and welcoming environment hits you, with colorful signs and artwork decorating every open space on the walls and counters of the cafe.
This is a small business, and it feels like one, from the comfy decor to the genuine service.
“I love small businesses better than big companies, ‘cause everyone knows me as a person,” Co-Owner Martin Espitia said.
“My labor is all about (taking) care of the food quality, recipes, and (keeping) guests happy,” Espitia said.
That intention is felt in the generous portions they serve and the quality and taste of the food.
“I’m a dude who likes food”, said Luis Lopez when asked about his frequent returns to the cafe.
The cafe is primarily for breakfast and lunch and closes at 3:00 p.m. with a menu that consists of a couple of pages with less than 10 items in each category of food and drinks offered.
The highlights of the menu are breakfast crepes, dessert crepes and drinks such as coffee and smoothies.
The chorizo crepe has the spicy and savory flavor of chorizo and eggs in a soft, buttery crepe rolled burrito style. A blend of melted cheese holds the mixture together, and the side of salsa tops it off.
To make it a full meal, quartered roasted potatoes are thrown into the burrito-crepe, adding variety to each bite.
The current location and the name are new, but the owners have been serving Long Beach college students since 2008.
In 2019, The Delightful Cafe moved from Studebaker Road by Cal State Long Beach to Lakewood Village, and in 2023 it was renamed to The Gathering Cafe.
“We wanted to have a place where the community could come, encourage, and motivate one another… a place to fellowship and inspire each other,” Co-Owner Samone Keo said.
The Gathering Cafe also aims to serve the community through regular events, utilizing the space to feed, uplift, and inspire its customers.
Worship music nights are open to the community on Wednesday evenings as they plan to continue hosting events at the cafe, serving both local college students and others looking for a good meal.