Nightingale — Restaurant in Huntington Beach

From beginning to end, this was the worst experience my friends and I have ever had at a restaurant. After one thing it was another and it progressively just got worse.

Firstly we made reservations and the man at the door just pointed at the table in the back. Fine, whatever amirite. As we are walking ourselves to the table in the back and sitting down, loud music is just blaring in everyone's ear. It's so loud it can be clearly heard from 20 feet away from the stores front. We couldn't hear each other at all so we asked if there was any way to turn down the music. They said no and said we can sit outside if we like. Again, this man just points at the table outside and all of us are unsure what table he is pointing at. And he goes that one over there at least 3 times until finally saying in the back with the pink and white umbrella. Saying it in a way as if we were supposed to know which ones are the store's tables. Then after sitting down outside he walks himself over after just to say "now that you're sitting down you have to order inside" like what???

Secondly, they have an extensive menu. Bigger than my britches. It took too long to look over everything. It makes me think that with all the items how can any of these actually be good. Everything was so overpriced as well. I honestly can't fathom/nor risk paying over 20 dollars for pad see ew and it being subpar. Since there was 4 of us we went in duos to order our food inside. As we waited in line we saw the man at the door actually talking and helping a couple about to show them and fully walk them to table that was already preoccupied by another couple that was at the register ordering. Honestly embarrassing the disorganization in this establishment. Not to mention as I was ordering I was watching a cook in the back blow inside a black nitrile glove and put them on. THAT IS NOT FOOD SAFE! Nor is the young women behind the counter and serving food to tables. She was wearing a thin strapped skims bodysuit; armpits out and everything, her hair (was cute ngl) was down and over our plates of food.

Our food was honestly decent. I had a dish with steak on it and it was tough and very lightly seasoned. The best thing on my plate was the eggs and potatoes. It was all pretty lukewarm to cold though; as well as my tea which was disappointing. The shaken beef was okay at best; the beef was also tough. The best things we had were not meat items: the Strawberry French toast and the eggrolls. All it being basically cold since they had no clue where our table was as they spent too long searching for us since again were in the back and lowkey hidden.

All in all, this experience was so bad I will not be back and I hope I can stop people making the same mistake of trying this place. This restaurant is just a wannabe influencer, over the top aesthetic, half ass for the gram type of place. And they don't have the staff properly trained for the intake that social media brings. Go at...

My husband and I have tried Nightingale a few times since it’s so close to where I live. The ambiance is very cute! It’s a little cafe style restaurant that definitely gives off social media vibes. The decor is perfect for snapping cute photos for the ‘gram.

That said, sometimes the wait to be seated can be a bit long depending on when you go. The first time my husband went he was basically ignored until he flagged someone down for a table. Another time we tried going for breakfast and the wait was over and hour for a table of two. So bear that in mind if you’re going on a weekend or busy time that the wait may be long.

The service could also use some help. They seem to be short staffed every time we go. It looks like a family owned business so maybe they work with who they have but I think adding a couple extra waiters would benefit them greatly. It can take a bit of time for them to come around to take orders and they seem to forgot if something is requested.

With all that said, the food is pretty good! My husband and I usually share the Cali bacon burrito. The last time we visited it seems to have shrunk in size. Or i remember the burrito being bigger the first two times we went. Nonetheless, it is good! I usually ask for a side of sour cream or extra salsa to go on top.

My husband ordered the Strawberry white mocha last time we visited. It’s very strong and I didn’t taste much strawberry in it so I wouldn’t really recommend.

If you’re looking for a cutely decorated cafe for insta-worthy pictures this is definitely the place! Their food is not bad. Pricey, but that’s to be expected being in HB. I wouldn’t mind going back since it’s close to me. Just not on...

So this place replaced an establishment that closed a few months ago and we loved to go there for breakfast. We were disappointed the old place Euro cafe left but were excited to patronize Nightingale and try it out as our go to coffee place since we live right upstairs in the apartment building. Unfortunately the experience wasn’t as great as we hoped for.

Now the staff were very pleasant and I wouldn’t change anything about them, very courteous and professional, took our orders promptly and delivered with care.

We both had lattes. I had the matcha and my wife had the lavender. The Matcha tasted a little burnt and the lavender was well lacking that lavender taste that we were used to.

After looking over the menu We decided to split the ricotta pancakes. We were hoping to see more on the menu for the breakfast entires though, maybe that would expand in the near future. The whole breakfast burrito thing doesn’t impress us much since I think every establishment in SoCal offers them, However I will say the ricotta pancakes were tasty, healthy ? Ehhh probably not but who cares they’re pancakes ! Lol so I recommend that .

All in all I don’t think we will come back because the flavors was not enough to separate this establishment from any other one nearby , convenient yes, cost vs taste ehh , i couldn’t say it was worth the cost at all. Which is unfortunate because we don’t mind paying for noms that blow us away , it’s just what we tried didn’t.

I wouldn’t be against coming back if more menu items were added but the breakfast menu in my opinion could be better, perhaps I would try a different...