On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.

Cicada Restaurant

4 star rating
based on 56 reviews

Category: Italian  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Downtown
617 S Olive St
Ste 911

Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 488-9488
Price Range:
$$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Valet
Attire:
Dressy
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
No
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
No
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Good for:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar

56 reviews for Cicada Restaurant

Review Highlights   

user photo
"An art deco, old-school, yet classy restaurant with very good food." (in 12 reviews)
user photo
"I was so honored to be the maid of honor for my sister's wedding here." (in 13 reviews)
user photo
"Followed with the filet mignon - cooked perfectly." (in 5 reviews)
loading  Loading...
Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Anna W.

 

68

56

Anna W.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
11/6/2009

I'd have given this place a three and half stars based on food.  The art deco and ambiance kicked it to four stars.  I always enjoy the art deco and historic features inside this restaurant.  There seems to be a story about each pillar, glass, and iron work here if you are more inquisitive.

The food here is contemporary and flavorful.  I like the crab salad. Tart pink grapefruit segments were tossed with sweet lump crab meat, thin-shaved crescents of celery and light shower of tangy lemon vinaigrette.  I like the Ahi Tuna Tartar. It featured a two-inch thick silky tuna and spicy piquillo peppers and a pile of chunky guacamole, jointly topped with green flying fish roe.

Chicken Tortellini was a signature dish featuring three rectangular tortellini with thin wonton-like skins. The tortellini's chicken filling could have been juicier.  Grilled Lamb Chops were very very good.  

The menu was very pricy, but it is worth the experience.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (1)
  • Funny (1)
  • Cool (1)
Photo of Yiuwing L.

 

19

23

Yiuwing L.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
10/2/2009

Okay what can I say about this place? Amazing art deco decor (they shoot Mad Men here amongst other movies and shows) Impeccable service and the food is pretty damn good too. It may not be French Laundry quality but it's better than a lot of the new eateries popping up all over LA with crazy hype and mediocre food.

We loved this place so much that we had our wedding there last year and everyone of our guests loved the place and the service. Adelmo was amazing and made sure everything went perfectly. An example of how great the service was: a waitress followed my wife around during the cocktail hour just to make sure she could partake in a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres while she took pictures with our guests and didn't need to be holding food and drink while doing it. Simply classy.

And that's what this place is all about in a nutshell: simple elegant Hollywood Class with a capital 'C'.

Photo of Syniah M.

 

4

74

Syniah M.

Pasadena, CA

4 star rating
9/6/2009

Behold the art deco splendor that is CICADA!!! The entrance to this place is marvelous but, ultimately, what matters is the food. Here it is:

I didn't mean to order the most expensive thing on the menu but I did. . .Grilled Dover Sole. FYI: They show you the whole fish then they take the meat off next to your table. The sauce for the fish was awesome. The sparse potatoes were also very good. The fish itself was just okay.

My boyfriend ordered the second most expensive thing on the menu: Filet Mignon. He says it was very good  but I'm not entirely convinced. You see, I always make sure to look at his face when he takes his first bite of steak and his face on this one wasn't one of total satisfaction. . .Trust me, I would know.

The service was EXCELLENT but the food should have been better. I would go back just to give it one more chance to blow my tastebuds away. Yes, CICADA, you've been challenged.

People thought this was:

  • Funny (1)
Photo of Jenny W.

 

30

50

Jenny W.

La Jolla, CA

2 star rating
7/31/2009

Really? For a place this well reviewed and so seemingly loved, I really didn't find it impressive at all. I came here for my birthday, I liked the mushroom with the gnocchi but not the gnocchi itself. I liked the dessert platter - which my boyfriend said he ordered after telling them that it was my birthday thinking they would do something, but never did.

Maybe because there was a wedding going on in a separate area that I felt the attention to the restaurant-eurs was quite low.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (1)
  • Cool (1)
Photo of ryan j.

 

112

54

ryan j.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
9/18/2009

I am always interested in great food and restaurants that take vegetarians just as seriously as others. Cicada has delicious Italian food for both veggies and non-veggies, and their bread basket contains a wonderfully wide selection of fresh, tasty breads that are served immediately after you're seated. Good, friendly service, too. Portion sizes not huge, but just enough.

People thought this was:

  • Cool (1)
Photo of Elaine K.

Elite '09

24

114

Elaine K.

Placentia, CA

3 star rating
6/4/2009

Honestly, I wish I could give this place a better rating, but I would be lying.

My boyfriend surprised me for Valentine's Day and this was where he took me.  Really nice restaurant down the street from our hotel (the Biltmore).  It was really dead because we were celebrating on a Wednesday night, not typically a busy busy night for restaurants, at least not this one.

We brought in a bottle of Stag's Leap "The Leap" that we bought at a wine boutique in San Francisco.

Our server was such a tool, I asked him to repeat the addition for the night and he sighed and was irritated that I couldn't remember everything that was on the plate.  Strike one.

We started off with a tuna carpaccio, I wasn't a big fan but my bf liked it.

I got the addition which was a mixed grill of seafood with ahi, shrimp and sea bass.  Everything was overcooked, especially the ahi which everyone knows is supposed to be seared and it was more like medium.  

But my bf loved his lamb dish.

Lesson:  Servers, don't be a tool and you'll have a lot more fun.

Photo of Carol L.

Elite '09

33

132

Carol L.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
5/29/2009

I attended an event in the Oviatt Penthouse, so catering was provided by Cicada.  I've been to quite a few special events and am usually under-whelmed by the mass-made food.  However, I was pleasantly surprised  this time.

First off, there were three kinds of hors d'oeuvres circulated:

- Ahi Tuna Tartar on Crisp Pasta Chips Topped with Wasabi Caviar - definitely my favorite of the three!  I kept looking out for the server.

- Chicken Satay with Thai Peanut Sauce - the chicken was good, but the sauce was pretty bland.

- Asparagus Wrapped with Pancetta in Filo Dough and Drizzled with Miroir - my friend liked this one more than I did.  I can skip it.

Once we sat for dinner, we were served the following four-course meal:

1) Mixed Greens with Asparagus, Hearts of Palm and Cherry Tomatoes in a Basil Vinaigrette - this had a light dressing and was very refreshing.

2) Ravioli Stuffed with Goat Cheese and Spinach in a Roasted Tomato Coulis - there was no way we were leaving hungry that's for sure!  I finished my plate and had some of my friend's too because this was so good.

3) Sesame Crusted Atlantic Salmon with Baby Leeks and Baby Tender Broccoli - here we go with the difficulties of mass production.  The salmon was totally tough by the time it made its way to our table.  To be fair, there were two other options offered for entrees, but this one sounded the most appealing.  This might be good for an intimate dinner, but fish for a big party is too hard to pull off.  

4) Chocolate Lava Cake with a Raspberry Coulis - I would've been disappointed if the night ended with my dried out entree.  Fortunately, this saved the day!  One of the best I've ever had.  Warm and perfectly rich.

Photo of Lindy H.

 

1

1

Lindy H.

San Diego, CA

3 star rating
4/25/2009

I loved the environment of the restaurant! That is why I'm giving it a better score. The ambiance out shines the food and service. The restaurant is definitely VERY romantic and VERY beautiful for a nice dinner on the town.

First the service. Any 5 star restaurant should have a wait staff that is the best. Our server seemed very professional until we ordered. He seemed to be put off that we were going to order appetizers. He commented, "That's all you are ordering?" in a condescending tone. So I felt bad and ordered an entree. My husband and I were there also to go dancing. Our waiter did at the end of our experience offer to take a picture of us with our camera.

We went there expecting, we'll since we paid $16 for an appetizer, $14 for a salad and $21 for an entree, that the food would be good. Believe me, I've been to a lot of really good restaurants in San Diego, Beverly Hills, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, San Fransisco, New York.

We ordered the Asparagus Pizza with Bresaola and the Iceberg Wedge with Apple-Wood Smoked Bacon, Red Onion and Creamy Gorgonzola Vinaigrette for starters, and we shared the Gnocchi of The Day(Chicken with a red sauce) and then Alexander & Oviatt's Chocolate Mousse Tear for dessert. My husband and I usually share, since I can't usually finish an entree by myself.

The Asparagus pizza was very disappointing, It was a pita bread with some melted cheese, prosciutto and two asparagus cut in half.

The salad was good, no complaints.

The entree was descent, the taste was good, but all of the textures mixed together, the chicken was the same size as the gnocchi so it was hard to tell how much chicken we got in the entree.

The dessert was okay, I wasn't too impressed.

Overall, sadly I wish I could give 5 stars. The place is so beautiful!!! The door man dressed in a vintage door man outfit, the Cigar Girl were really nice touches. The wood carved pillars, the beautiful chandelier,

My suggestion for that appetizer, it would have tasted much better if it was on a thin pizza dough, even a par baked would have been better than a pita bread!!!

Entree: Make the chicken pieces bigger, and put less small pieces.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (1)
  • Cool (1)
Photo of Alison B.

 

59

62

Alison B.

Long Beach, CA

4 star rating
1/21/2009

Featured in the movie 'Pretty Woman' when Julia Roberts is eating snails and she flings it then the waiter catches is like he was in the major league baseball world series; the classic line 'slippery little suckers'.. giggles and chuckle chuckles

The food is nothing to complain about our waitress was a bit pushy and somewhat rude at times but she was a good waitress for the most part and the food spoke louder.

I had a wonderful steak. Cooked perfectly with which I actually substitute the mashed cauliflower for good old mashed potatoes. They willing worked with me. I just didn't find mashed cauliflower appeasing what so ever. Who does? I admit I like fancy but this place was another level. Certain menu items just appeared as though they were trying too hard to be different and high class. I admit I love to cook and some of the things they put together were just not ingredients you would pair together. My Co-worker next to me had the lamb and I tired a bite it was superb. The wine was fantastic the desserts were bit size. We had several courses but portions were perfect.

Completely gorgeous inside, breath taking in fact.
A woman in my office who demands the finest things in life actually got married here. And for that I am completely jealous.

The bill was more than a months rent for me but it was on good ole company American Express credit card. I went here for a lovely small dinner party with a few co-workers and my boss.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (2)
  • Funny (1)
  • Cool (2)
Photo of Stacey C.

 

16

68

Stacey C.

Irvine, CA

4 star rating
1/26/2009 2 photos

Art Deco building is beautiful: high ceilings and magnificent chandelier.

Service was excellent.

Food was delicious: I had their tuna cappacio, filet mignon bolognese sauce w/ fettuccine, and chocolate molten cake.   He had the oyster pastry puff, duck, and panacotta.

Price- it's pretty up there, about $20 for apps, $40 for entree, $10 each for dessert.  You are definitely paying for its service and ambiance.

It's a very classy joint, we went right before the opera so felt right in place with our evening dress & suit attire.

The reason why I gave it only 4 stars is because I've had better food, but with everything combined, it was a restaurant definitely worth going to right before the Opera.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (2)
  • Cool (2)
Photo of mega N.

 

3

13

mega N.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
2/1/2009

Time travel is possible.

Seriously, if you are going to go to the Cicada, please do so on a Sunday night, when the band is in full force, guys and gals are dancing, and the atmosphere literally sweeps you away to 1941.

This place makes you feel happy just to be able to marvel at its beauty.

The service is impeccable.  

Oh by the way, the food is pretty good.  Great wine selection.  And have a delicious chocolate molten cake with fresh berries for dessert.  

But go for the ambiance.  Time travel is fun, especially in costume.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (1)
  • Cool (2)
Photo of Dulcia T.

 

9

65

Dulcia T.

Diamond Bar, CA

4 star rating
3/31/2009

I've only been here twice for special occasions but I really enjoyed my dinners here. It is a bit pricey but its expected for fancy places like these. Don't wear normal/casual street wear to here. For men, dress shirts at the least and for women a nice simple and elegant cocktail dress would be just right. You'll be looking into spending about high 20's to 30 dollars per person here. The ambiance here is nice. The lights are dimmed the ceilings are super high with beautiful stairways leading to the breath taking restrooms. The service here is great as expected and they are super kind.

The dishes we ordered we're great but nothing that really wow-ed me. I ordered a pasta dish with red sauce (i think it was a rigatoni pasta I don't remember the name) which was very tasteful and surprisingly filling from its seemingly small portion. My friend ordered a ravioli dish that was super yummy. The flavor gushed out as soon as you took a bite of a ravioli. It was super juicy and filled with rich flavors. It came with about 5-6 ravioli's that were about the size of your palm.

My overall experience here was great, the atmosphere was lovely, and the people there were super friendly.

(This restaurant was featured/used it two of my favorite movies: Mr and Mrs Smith and Pretty Women, don't know if there is any others) though that was an interesting tidbit.

Photo of rosquete b.

 

3

91

rosquete b.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
2/3/2009

Downtown Los Angeles winner.
Art Deco motif
Consistently excellent California cuisine
The iceberg lettuce salad ($7) with bacon and gorgonzola was sinfully delicious.
The creative salmon with lentils main entrée was outstanding, as were the veal chop and risotto dishes.
The desserts were delish. We had profiteroles, the chocolate molten cake, and the cobbler.
The wine list is excellent and the wines by the glass are very good.
The executive chef Suzay is one of the best in Los Angeles and is very personable.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (1)
Photo of Sonia R.

 

2

19

Sonia R.

South Gate, CA

5 star rating
11/25/2008

Absolute perfection!

Never have I ever encountered such great customer service, attentive waiters, and thee most amazing food I've tasted to date.  From the appetizers to the wine selection, the main dish to the desert... everything this restaurant offers a great selection, overall.  If you're in the mood to try something new, a little on the pricey side, be sure to arrive with an empty stomach!

I will DEFINITELY be coming back on future special occasions!

People thought this was:

  • Useful (2)
Photo of Jackie N.

 

9

40

Jackie N.

Irvine, CA

4 star rating
12/4/2008

My boyfriend took me here for our one year anniversary. Finding this place was a pain, but at least we found the valet. The place was very romantic and dim. The decor was magnificant.  
The BEST filet mignon ever! Especially when I dipped my fires into the meat sauce.  And the dessert, to die for.  Absolutely perfect.  It was very nice of them to bring out our desserts with a little candle let us make a wish.  I thought it was very sweet of them.  And they said happy anniversary to us when we let.  I felt very loved

PROS:
-the staff was very attentive and welcoming
-food was amazing
-dessert was the best part
-decor was very old-hollywood style

CONS:
-It was a little scary going to the bathroom because it was so dark in there and there's this creepy painting.  I ran out scared and almost tripped.
-The place is in a not-so-great area
-finding the place kinda sucked

overall. i would give it 4.5 stars

People thought this was:

  • Useful (1)
  • Cool (1)
Photo of John C.

 

1

13

John C.

West Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
7/14/2008

Great place to go to spend a little bit on dinner.
Expensive prices, but you get the ambiance and service for it.

Dont know about all the wedding posts above. I have only seen it as a restaurant. Live 50's music. Upscale crowd. Many course meals.

People are dressed nicely.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (3)
  • Cool (2)
Photo of Gabriela C.

 

0

16

Gabriela C.

San Fernando, CA

5 star rating
6/22/2009

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this place!

My boyfriend and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary here and it was the perfect setting for a romantic dinner. We had the cesar salads, their special gnocchi of the day (which was absolutely delicious - light marinara sauce with fresh crab), white wine and dessert, and all for about $100! Can't wait to go back!

Photo of E Z.

 

12

70

E Z.

Artesia, CA

5 star rating
8/22/2008 1 photo

Magical.  

One of my dearest best friend's wedding was held in the restaurant and lounge area and I can honestly say it was one of the most perfect venues I had ever seen.  The rich textures on the walls, the paneling, the built-ins, the gold leaf ceiling and the most beautiful chandelier just made the room glow with old world elegance and a feeling of timeless romance.  

The food was fantastic.  A definite feast for the senses.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (2)
  • Cool (1)
Photo of grace j.

 

20

163

grace j.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
8/13/2008

Came here for dinner and another time for an event.

Food is remarkable, decor/ambiance unmatched anywhere in the city.

Valet parking available.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (2)
  • Cool (1)
Photo of Mary C.

 

140

39

Mary C.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
8/17/2008

I went last night with three girlfriends......I was not sure what to expect, but it turned out to be fun. It was my first time there and I was surprised to see a lot of people our age.
The food and service was very good - try the tiger shrimp appetizer and swordfish, perfect for warm summer nights. I guess this was what the old classic nightclubs must have been like!

People thought this was:

  • Useful (1)
  • Funny (2)
  • Cool (1)
Photo of Jonathan L.

Elite '09

12

137

Jonathan L.

San Ramon, CA

4 star rating
8/16/2008

I love this place.  I loved this place even before I realized it was the set of many, many, many a movie.

Almost every entree is good.  The drinks and wine are fantastic.  The tables are spread far apart and the place is BEAUTIFUL.  Nicest decor in Los Angeles, hands down (the place has a curvy staircase in the middle of the room!).

Why 4 stars?  They charge a fortune for valet (arrogance) and the neighborhood is about as safe as an alligator filled hot tub.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (1)
  • Funny (1)
  • Cool (1)
Photo of Marc J.

 

2

25

Marc J.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
12/30/2008

My favorite restaurant! Exquisite in every way. Everyone talks about the stunning art deco architecture, and yes, I could tell you a lot about the history, but I'll leave that to others.

The most wonderful aspect of Cicada is the chef, Suzay. She is one of the most charming people I've known and LA's most brilliant chef. Allow her to run wild with creativity, and you'll have an experience few could ever match.

The second floor lounge must be seen, even if there are no events taking place when you're there. Wander upstairs for a look. Imagine how the stars of Hollywood during the 1920s and 30s must have enjoyed this place when it was a high end mens clothing store.

I have introduced dozens of people to Cicada, and every single one has loved it. What are you waiting for? Just GO!

Photo of Amanda E.

 

3

16

Amanda E.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
6/2/2008

I was SHOCKED that the food was so good. It seems this place is kind of a wedding factory, which made me think that the food would be iffy. Not so. Everyone was really happy with their meal. I had the scallops to start- ridiculously good. And I'm picky about scallop dishes. Followed with the filet mignon - cooked perfectly. I mean, it wasn't like eating at Peter Luger's or Smith & Wollensky (which I have a deeply strange affection for), but it far exceeded my expectation.
The service was a bit off. I was deliberately drinking a ton of water with my wine, but the waiter kept pouring me Pellegrino because others at the table were drinking it. He was very attentive. But consistently wrong.
Be sure to call ahead to make sure they don't have a wedding that night.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (2)
  • Funny (1)
  • Cool (2)
Photo of Lilani E.

Elite '09

329

450

Lilani E.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
2/26/2008 6 photos

I was so honored to be the maid of honor for my sister's wedding here.  She had a Fall wedding and the Penthouse was absolutely stunning.  The black and white checkered floor with the giant lit up clock, was just enchanting.

It was a black-tie affair and extremely elegant to the max.  It was really neat because one of the groomsmen had a slideshow that played (silently) against one of the building walls of my sister and brother-in-law. (see photos)

The food was DELICIOUS, so much better than the normal wedding food and the coordinators were great.  The cigar section was perfectly set up, away from the rest of us but still enjoyed by the cigar smokers in the group.

You need not worry about "Random" people walking around as you would at a hotel, because the whole penthouse and roof was ours.  The greatest was having 2 separate open bars, one was specifically for martinis in it's own nook.  

Also, the 'candy bar' and chocolate fountains had it's own area with the gifts.  It was just amazing and if it wasn't bad form, I'd definitely consider this venue for myself...in the future.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (9)
  • Funny (6)
  • Cool (9)
Photo of Helen C.

Elite '09

72

557

Helen C.

Brentwood, CA

4 star rating
2/22/2008

This place is thisclose to being in 5 star territory but the absence of ambience (sorry, don't understand why everyone says this place is so great) left me wanting.  

I'll be nice & start with the pros:
(1) The food was great.  Hands down, one of the better meals I've had in LA at a finer dining place.  The food does the talking here, not the setting.  The creative pairings of flavor used by the chef were delicious.  For example, the lamb with the date puree was wonderful as was the scallop appetizer (the latter was super good and cooked to perfection).  

(2) Service was attentive but not intrusive (though it took a while to get someone to come by and give us menus).

(3) A nice wine selection that features affordable and good wines such as the Sanford pino I ordered.

Now for the cons:

(1) Cold bread basket?  No olive oil with the bread but just cold butter?  I know it's standard in old school places but I'm not *that* old school.

(2) The building itself is indeed beautiful but the high ceilings without any music made for a rather somber dining atmosphere.  Some light jazz would have been ideal.

(3) What's up with the center table with all the cutlery and menus displayed like some grocery store?  It was odd and out of place.

(4) One of the specials for the evening that was being pushed heavily by the chef was a pasta dish with sun-dried tomatoes.  I'm a firm believer that some food trends, like sun-dried tomatoes, should stay in the past.

I would say the pros outweigh the cons.  If I'm craving a nice meal for a decent price I'd come back.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (4)
  • Funny (1)
  • Cool (3)
Photo of Claudia F.

 

0

8

Claudia F.

Glendale, CA

5 star rating
8/11/2009

We had our wedding at the Oviatt Penthouse this past weekend and it was just magical!! The staff from the Cicada is so helpful, you never have to worry about a thing. Adelmo is such a sweet man to work with...just incredible. I've never planned anything as remotely as important as a wedding, and the staff at the Oviatt made everything run smoothly. It was truly beautiful! I can't tell you how happy we were with our wedding, I'll just say I VERY MUCH RECOMMEND the Oviatt. Not to mention to the food was absolutely exquisite...all of our guests mentioned how delicious and nice everything was. I loved this place!!

Photo of Jenny C.

 

5

65

Jenny C.

San Marino, CA

3 star rating
9/9/2008 10 photos

I came here for a birthday dinner with high expectations which weren't really met.

The ambiance was good - just like most people's comments - straight out of a movie with the live singer and the design of the stairway~

Service was ok - took a while to get the waitors attention - it looked a bit short-staffed.
Food was not as impressive as I had thought it would be considering the price and "rave reviews".  As I stated - I was expecting more than what the restaurant offered.

Photo of Rosie D.

Elite '09

61

211

Rosie D.

Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
11/11/2007

I really like this place. Yes! They filmed Pretty Woman here. It's kinda cool.  No, I'm not star crazy. The decor is so cool.

So, I went out with a girlfriend. I finally found a foodie buddy!!!

We ordered:
polenta crusted scallops with fresh corn relish and balsamic reduction-- this was so good. yum, perfectly cooked scallops.

jumbo prawns wrapped in angel hair phyllo- this appetizer was good, not as good as the scallops. tasty and unique!

dinner: Seared halibut with a miso and currant sauce with carrot flan-- the fish was a little overcooked. the sauce made up for the fish. good flavor. the carrot flan tasted like baby food.

grilled lamb chops with rosemary scented corn and date pancake.
the lamb was not very special but with the date pancake, the whole dish was pretty spectacular.

dessert:
grapefruit sorbet- so refreshing, really good grapefruit flavor.
basil ice cream with molten chocolate cake- the cake, similar thing not so special but with the basil ice cream is so amazing!

btw- the lemon drop martini, probably the best I've ever tasted. Perfectly tangy, sweet and it even had a nice frostiness too!

the service is very professional and pleasant.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (5)
  • Funny (2)
  • Cool (4)
Photo of john e.

 

0

3

john e.

Covina, CA

4 star rating
10/14/2008

The restaurant is in a beautiful setting of the main floor of the Oviatt building which was the Oviatt Department Store.  the architecture and all of the design elements are really fabulous original Art Deco from when the building was constructed in the 1920's.

I have eaten here 3 times and each meal I had was great. Steak, Gnochi and Chicken Tortellini all were awesome.

The last time the wait staff seemed to have a problem with their tempo of service and serving.  At this level the service should be quick, attentive but un-obtrusive.  This visit the staff spent time fiddling with stuff that should have been squared away prior to opening and the customers were left waiting as often as not.

Still a minor complaint that can be cured quick enough and the offset was the awesome food.

Photo of Courtney S.

 

22

150

Courtney S.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
10/10/2007 6 photos

Serendipity!!  My husband surprised me by finding this place on his own for our second anniversary.  He saw the reviews of its beautiful interior and wonderful service, and decided to take a chance!  I'm so glad he did!

No matter how well people had described it, nothing prepared me for the 1920's art deco beauty of this place!  I felt like we were in the dining room of an old time cruise ship-- so much decorative wood and glass surrounding us!  The lighting was low and romantic, the atmosphere warm.  I felt so cool just sitting in that place!

The service was FANTASTIC.  Just when we felt we were ready to order we were attended to, every time our wine glasses got a bit low, they were filled, and lo and behold, the wait staff actually followed the serve-from-the-left, clear-from-the-right rules!  Utensils were placed for various courses in time, and best of all, all the dishes we wanted to split (an appetizer and a salad) were portioned for us!!

The food was pretty good, although priced a *bit* high and not quite up to the caliber of say, Spago.  Definitely good, though, and definitely with combinations that surprisingly work together (heirloom tomato, watermelon, and balsamic vinaigrette? Yum!).

All in all, a strikingly lovely place, and, I feel, one of downtown's more hidden secrets.  Half point removed for the food not being as mouth-wateringly delicious as other places, but still very good. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for the ambiance and service.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (3)
Photo of Rick R.

Elite '09

78

99

Rick R.

Riverside, CA

4 star rating
10/12/2007

An art deco, old-school, yet classy restaurant with very good food.  There's beautiful glass and wood throughout the place, with nice lighting and a great vibe.  

Went here for a special dinner and it ranks up there with one of my best dining experiences ever.  Great wait staff as well. Helpful and attentive without being obtrusive.

It's been a while since I've been there but, only have good memories of this place. And seeing the recent reviews, it looks like they haven't lost a step.  Great ambiance, good food and good people

People thought this was:

  • Useful (2)
  • Cool (2)
Photo of Kay J.

 

2

82

Kay J.

Los Angeles, CA

1 star rating
2/17/2009

YUCK! The valentine's day prix fixed dinner was just plain gross.  We like our fixed dinners, but this place was just lame.  The food was warm at best, and the presentation was subpar.  For $75 a person, we expected so much more.  I had gamey duck over a bed of hard and very burnt noodles and husband had a cheap steak (was supposed to be a filet) with a scattering of 10 french fries.  Our waiter was a bit spacey, and the only highlight of our meal was the attentive service from the guy getting our drink refills.  We did see a show at the concert hall after, but had to stop by for some fast food afterward, since we were nowhere full or satisfied with our meal at Cicada.  What a waste of $200!!!

Photo of Laura R.

 

5

13

Laura R.

Woodland Hills, CA

5 star rating
7/17/2008

I L-O-V-E, love this place.  My dish was superb.  The ambiance and service was top notch.  I was a little skeptical on the speediness of my dinner but it was absolutely delicious.  The entire menu as a whole is well prepared.  I will be returning to Cicada to enjoy their many dishes and wine.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (4)
  • Cool (2)
Photo of Brandon B.

 

1

2

Brandon B.

New York, NY

5 star rating
12/4/2008

What a hidden treasure.  While driving through the ridiculous traffic that is Los Angeles be confused with what you are about to come upon.  Disregard the transients, trash and immigrants trying to make a buck and pull up to the address that is Cicada.  Valet will take care of your car.  You concentrate on enjoying this beautiful art deco restaurant that makes you imagine what Los Angeles once was during it's golden times.  Food is excellent.  Great place for a gentlemen to swoon his woman or for a beautiful woman to be treated to fine Northern Italian cuisine.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (1)
Photo of Aya M.

 

4

6

Aya M.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
5/25/2007

Went there for the first time last weekend, and I would say it's a solid four star, giving a 50/50 weighting on the ambiance and the food.
The ambiance and the decor of the restaurant was 5 stars.  Most men wore their suits, and some women had their dresses on.  Some more casual. (Including myself)  The service was also excellent.  Definitely go there if you want to impress your date.

The food was great too, although not as great as the ambiance.  My mother had the sea bass, and I had the lobster pasta.  The sea bass was seasoned just enough but very lightly so that we could enjoy the taste of the actual fish. We could definitely tell that they used much better quality fish than your local 3 star restaurant.  My lobster pasta was also delicious, with a generous amount of lobster in it.  I was less impressed with the pasta itself, as it tasted like generic pasta you can by from the store for $0.99.  But overall, I was satisfied with the dish.

Dessert was also excellent.  I had the chocolate cake with - get this - basil ice cream.  The basil ice cream was not good by itself (well, it is basil ice cream), but went extremely well with the chocolate cake.  How creative is the dessert chef!?  I was very impressed.

Overall, we really liked the place, and would go there for another meal.  Watch out for the bathroom though.  It's pretty dark in the restaurant, so make sure you go to the right one.  I'm sure I'm not the first customer who accidentally used the men's room. (I'd like to believe....)

People thought this was:

  • Useful (1)
  • Cool (1)
Photo of Britney A.

 

29

113

Britney A.

Beverly Hills, CA

5 star rating
12/27/2008

This is a great restaurant! I once went here for my birthday and they made me fresh mint tea.  I had the filetmingon with apples and foie gras in a cabernet sauvignon sauce and it was delicious!  I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone and everyone.

Photo of David P.

 

12

31

David P.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
12/12/2006

Straight from the set of Pretty Women...  Actually I think it was filmed there.

Definitely a place to take someone you want to impress.

People thought this was:

  • Cool (2)
Photo of J W.

 

4

71

J W.

Burbank, CA

4 star rating
11/6/2008

I was a little worried this place was going to be all ambiance and over rated food but I couldn't have been happier nor could the 8 other people at our table.  I started with an amazing yellow and red tomato soup, the kind from fresh tomatoes with basil. Then I had this delectable veal with sweet potatoes. The lobster risotto sounded fabulous but I went for the veal. The desert was a little strange but the wine was beautiful.    I highly recommend taking clients but cant wait to go back with friends. The dinning room is gorgeous, I can see why a lot of people have weddings/receptions there. I might just have to have my next wedding there.

People thought this was:

  • Funny (1)
Photo of John C.

 

16

125

John C.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
12/1/2008

Great interior, friendly staff, good food. Definitely recommended.

Photo of Tree S.

 

55

152

Tree S.

Long Beach, CA

5 star rating
3/26/2008

Hard to pronounce (Cic"hey"da, Cic"ah"da, Chic"ah"da?).  Gold celings. History. Great food. Amazingly nice staff every time I've been here.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (4)
  • Funny (1)
  • Cool (3)
1 to 40 of 56 |  
Page: 1 2
Write a Review

People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...