Chef Jason Witzl and general manager Molly Sirody are inviting the community to celebrate the New Year, well, beyond the New Year. Instead of offering a special dinner solely for the NYE crowd, they are extending a special offering. And that is its (rather valuable) $55 four-course dinner (with a $30 wine pairing) available throughout the weekend.
“We know people are struggling and counting their dollars,” Chef Jason said. “So we tried to create something that allows them to party without having to spend exorbitant amounts… This is for the community. Let’s party, Long Beach.”
What to expect from Ellie’s $55, four-course dinner…
Ellie’s, in its classic form, is what you can expect. But deeply incorporating its recent Feast of the Seven Fishes takeover at Partake Collective. It starts with croquettes with caviar and then dives into…
Salmon Tartare: puttanesca | green goddess | pistachio
Pick any pasta from their menu: Featured above are the gnocchi (top left); the chittara (top right); and the tagliatelle (bottom).
Followed by your choice of:
Creekstone New York: Italian peppers | couscous | golden raisins | chimichurri verde
-Or-
Sea bass: Tallow hummus | chickpeas | zhoug
Forgive me—I’m new here: What is Ellie’s?
Nearing a decade of serving Long Beach, Ellie’s is an Italian–Californian inspired neighborhood restaurant opened by Chef Jason in 2017, marking his first independent effort on the Long Beach dining scene. Its name and concept are a tribute to Chef Jason’s grandmother, Eleanor, whose influence on his love of food shaped the restaurant’s warm, welcoming spirit.
Located at the southeast corner of Orange Avenue and 2nd Street in the Alamitos Beach neighborhood, Ellie’s quickly became known for its handmade pastas, thoughtful ingredient sourcing, and approachable yet refined Italian-Californian cuisine. At the center? Chef Jason’s playful, heartfelt approach to food—meant to evoke a familial, grab-what-you-want feeling at the table—set Ellie’s apart as a neighborhood favorite.
Over the years, the restaurant endured the challenges faced by many independent kitchens, including the pandemic era, during which Chef Jason also explored other concepts and expanded his footprint with ventures like Ginger’s next door. In 2024 and 2025, Ellie’s entered a period of creative renewal under Chef Jason’s own return to the helm, with renewed energy in both menu and programming, such as themed suppers and lunch offerings—all reinforcing Ellie’s place in Long Beach’s culinary landscape.
Ellie’s is located at 204 Orange Ave.
