Dominick's Restaurant
Categories: American (New), Italian [Edit]
Neighborhoods: West Hollywood, Mid-City West8715 Beverly Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90048 (310) 652-2335
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street, Valet
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
39 Reviews for Dominick's Restaurant
I love the garden patio dining area in the back. I can't say that the regular menu items are good but if you come on a day when they have the stuffed chicken leg, it's amazing! Also the traditional panna cotta (not the chocolate one on the regular dessert menu) is really good. Other items of note: fried rice balls, grilled artichoke, and affogato. I wished I could give you 4 stars but most of the food here is just not good.
A nice little Italian-American spot. The menu was charming with options ranging from whole grilled sea bass with fennel and olives (my choice) to meat ball sandwiches. A nice concept in my opinion.
The Britney Spears sighting across the patio from us was AWESOME, it totally thrilled my cheeseball ass to have a celeb sighting in LA. But her personal security detail looming over our table in their black sunglasses in the dead of night kinda put a damper on the ambiance, but just a little.
The service was shit. Abrupt, rude and poorly timed. But such is LA, as I've come to find out.
Come here for good food and ambiance.
Oh and the drinks are $11! For a watery cocktail! I'd stick to wine if I were you.
My friends and I set outside the patio by the open fireplace. We went there to have their special Sunday 3 course meal for $15 and $10 for bottled wine. After we were seated, we waited about good 10~15 mins for our server to show up to get our order. We didn't like our waitress at all. She was snobby and not very nice. Our plate was set on our table for who knows how long. It was covered with dust and leafs so we asked for a new plate. After getting our new plate I looked at my fork and saw a dirty dried up food stuck all over the darn thing. Thank gawd it was still daytime or else that crap would've been in my mouth!
I did enjoy the salad. I was actually excited for my entree until I took that first bite of a cooled off beef rapped around something that looked like it came out of someone's stomach with pine nuts. After two bites I was digging in the center to see what was in it and there it was.... a strand of disgusting hair. I left it the way it was until my friend called some random server who was just passing by because our server was gone far far away to snobbyville.
I got a fresh new dish from the oven. It was still hot but the flavor was still blah. The squash that came on the side was better.
The tiramisu wannabe wasn't that great either. I would've been happier with a scoop of ice cream.
I wanted to give them 2 stars but I did have a fabulous time with my friends and we couldn't stop staring at a female celebrity that was sitting 2 tables behind us.
Ambience is very cozy and welcoming but I would probably not recommend this place.
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Went there for the second time in a year, and had my second awful meal.
Meal #1 was a daily special -- some kind of breaded pork that was all fat and sinew. I could only extract about a quarter of it that was edible.
Meal #2 was a tiny bowl of completely tasteless whole wheat ravioli. It was like having a bowl of wheat -- making it into the shape of ravioli was just a pretense. I stopped eating after two bites. My companions suggested that I send it back, but the waitress never returned to our table and the busboy grabbed the (still full) plate and that was it. Hefty bill, no food.
On the plus side, the shrimp/bean/tomato salad was also tiny but very nice.
This restaurant is a favorite of some people I spend time with, and it looks and feels like a good place, but I don't see myself going back. Ick.
Nice outside patio space. Food is pretty good. Staff is always friendly and the place always feels like a hidden garden. I have not checked out the Sunday Pre-fixe but it's supposed to be one of the best deals in town.
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How misleading is this place? The outdoor dining is the only thing this place has going on so if you looking to go somewhere and NOT EAT THERE, then this is the spot.
We went one time and had an ok $170.00 meal! Yeah, $170.00 and there was only 2 of us. We didn't buy a $100 bottle of wine either.
We decided to give it a 2nd chance and we went back for thier Sunday Supper which is a salad, dinner and desert for $15.00! Plus you can buy a $10.00 bottle of their house red! What a deal right? First off, the salad had oil only on it - oh wow, impressive right?
Secondly, dinner - my portion was about twice the size of my wife's. It was some kind of pasta that they would serve in the Army or something. Half of it was cold and the other half was hard as a rock so it leads me to believe that they made it in some huge container and scooped up with a shovel!
I am not going back here, even if you buy!
Ooh I LOVE the atmosphere of this place. People seem a lil more serious and grown-upy here, so I felt I had to cross my legs and have a wee bit more indoor voice. But the seating options are sick and I love the cuddle by the firepit outside, or the couple of bar areas in both rooms. And the gangsta part was seeing this lil candy dish of cigarettes to smoke while you're "inside" the outdoor patio. (Covered, so imagine.) I don't smoke- but I gotta admit if there's a place the cancer stick looks cool- its here.
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I have to say that this used to be a favorite place to go when i did my 6 months of smoking. Its slightly less fun now that drinking and smoking don't mix so well for me anymore. The food is good, even if the menu is a little short. The service is always excellent, but the secret why we used to always come to drink because on the outside bar was a hip cigarette holder thats filled for people to take and smoke at their leisure. But don't tell my parents that i did that.
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Where else in the greater Beverly Hills area on a Sunday night can you take a date out for a full dinner (salad, entree, dessert, a bottle of wine), sit on a beautiful (and warm even in the winter) patio, listen to a perfect mix of Radiohead, Dylan, and the Stones, mingle with a lively crowd of hipsters who also seem to be prolonging the weekend, and expect to pay under 50 bucks, including tip? Let me know and I'll be there, but until then, Dominick's Sunday Supper rocks.
The prix fixe dinner (at $15 for three courses) is generally pretty good, though sometimes seems a little like it's prepared, well, for a big crowd only paying 15 bucks for the meal. (The gnocchi I had recently was chewy and definitely not homemade, for example, though the mushroom sauce it was served in was delicious. I managed to choke down the pasta with the $10/bottle of red that's completely palatable.) Fortunately, the menu rotates weekly, so if you don't like what you see one week, just check in the following.
The patio can be a little challenging for adamant non-smokers, however, as smoking is allowed at the tables since the roof is technically open. The ventilation is good, but if you're one of those people that gets pissed off when someone lights up at the next table, you might want to sit inside, which is less romantic, but equally bustling.
Mondays suck - put them off as long as possible. --js
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Great and thoughtful staff. Solid and consistent food. Sunday Supper always a good time. Flattering lighting. Highlights are the meatballs (off the menu, but just tell them how many you want) and the chocolate & ricotta cheese fritters for dessert.
The clincher?
On my wait out, I thanked the hostess for taking such good care of us amid the crowd and chaos. Half jokingly I told her I appreciated her not seating the walk in celebrity before us.
Her response "Celebrities don't keep us in business. Regulars like YOU do".
Are you listening world?
I went for the Sunday Supper (3 coarse meal for $15) and $10 wine (choice of house red or white).
The salad was not what i expected. It was cold and refreshing, but it didn't impress me. Maybe i'm so used to the standard salad. The salad included about ten green leafs, slivers of radish or daikon (the main component of the salad), and a few mandarin orange pieces. I took about three bites. It didn't taste like anything.
The penne pasta with red sauce and scallops was the main dish of the evening. I thought we each get our own plate of pasta, but it was one serving plate for every 3 diners. The serving size was moderate. Definitely not the Bucca Di Beppo idea of having enough food to be sure everyone is filled. The pasta sauce was delicious and had a bit of a spicy kick. For every two serving spoon scoops of pasta, i got about one or two tiny scallop pieces. The pasta sauce wasn't good enough to make up for the lack of portion size and scallops. Then again, i'm told wealthy individuals like spending big money on small portions. Also, the penne was overcooked. I enjoy my penne al dente. After my first bite, the vision of Chef Boyardee appeared to me.
The dessert was lemon gelato with a wafer. The gelato was a cross between sorbet and ice cream. This was the highlight of our meal.
We also ordered a bottle of red wine for $10.
Maybe the food is better when it's not part of the Sunday Supper. The Sunday Supper menu does change every Sunday though, so maybe i went on the wrong weekend. The restaurant is a quaint little place with a great atmosphere and good service.
Note: Valet is $5
what the fa.
every app we ordered here was off the hook. and we had a LOT of apps, as it was a party of 12. it gave me great high hopes for dinner... which for me was spaghetti & meatballs, their signature dish.
i am at a loss for words about the entrees, which is always helpful when posting a review. all i can say is i check here first when a friend says "we're going to blahblahblah's for dinner" to see what i should order... so, order appetizers. order appetizers for appetizers, dinner, AND dessert. don't let me get started on dessert.
the garden was beautiful, though ask for the first garden lessen you want a scene. i could easily see coming back here to lounge by the fire, enjoying many what? appetizers.
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I read today's Daily Candy with glee: yay! Little Dom's is FINALLY open in Los Feliz! This was followed by "Crap! I've been meaning to Yelp OG Dominick's for forever, better get on that!!!" What can one say about Sunday? Sunday's are fantastic and so full of potential: sleeping in, fat Sunday paper complete with new Target ad, a whole (hopefully) unstructured day ahead of me, it's not Monday yet, etc. They're also a drag in that the next day is in fact, Monday, so Sunday nights can sometimes feel a little 'enh'. I can honestly tell you that a Monday following a night spent at Dominick's is the best Monday to have (unless it's a 3-day weekend, in which THAT kind of Monday, is in fact, le best...). Dominick's is one of those LA establishments that feels so LA to me: warm, gorgeous and sparkly, energetic, youthful, but also historical and relaxed, classy, and entertaining. The feeling I get when I look at the skyline of Downtown LA on a summer night is the same way it feels to be on the back patio of Dominick's (especially in the summertime) - does that make sense? I don't know how else to describe it. I've celebrated 2 birthdays there, and enjoyed many Sunday Suppers. The cocktails change with the seasons, like the delish Blueberry Mojito I once enjoyed, and the rotating Sunday Supper menus never disappoint. Yes, I've had better Italian food (that reminds me, I have to Yelp La Rustica in Seattle... Ella C? Why haven't YOU Yelped La Rustica yet?!?!), but the raviolis here are far from disappointing. Regarding the rice and cheese balls? They're a must order appetizer no matter what. The chef knows how to get imaginative with fennel, and the bbq'd chicken (not sauced, but you know, grilled) is great. Their chocolate panna cotta is pretty phenomenal. For me, the whole Sunday Supper experience feels a little less about the food (which I stress, is good!) and more about the fun. The wine and beer selections are above average and delicious, the wait staff is the perfect combo of attentive and leave you alone-ish (they can tell when you do or don't need them, they just can), the background music is great, the ambiance is perfect. You're never rushed to pay your check and vacate your table; we've spent h-o-u-r-s finishing dinner and nightcaps. It's both romantical and congenial, and it's one of my top 10 favorites in the city for sure. I can't wait to try Little Dom's this weekend, but I'm always more than willing, happy even!, to drive west of Vermont ON A SUNDAY for Dominick's.
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Ambiance is great. Food wise... their starters are great. (must try the grilled artichoke!)... Entrees are not. Very yummy desserts, semi decent wine list. I'm not a big fan of California wines but the Black and White Topanga will do. :) Staff was friendly.
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Great Ambiance. Sat outside with a bunch of friends last night and enjoyed it. We were there for their sunday dinner, but nobody ordered that. I heard some complaints about the small portions on the pasta, but we had a great time overall and I'll be back there soon.
Went for their Sunday night $15 3-course dinner -- WHAT a deal! It's not the best Italian I've ever had, but it's tasty and definitely a bargain for that $15! Super cute atmosphere that's semi-historic, and a very romantic large patio in the back.
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The old pictures on the wall, the kitsch bottles of booze lined up along the wall, the hex tile on the floor, all add to the flavor of the food, rather than detract. I dig Dominick's style. But for me, the best part of this New York-style Italian eatery is the Sunday Supper. You get the appetizer, the main, and dessert for 15 bucks. Table wine is 10 bucks. And you walk out satisfied, with some cash left in your wallet for the next event.
Yes, there are starlet wannabe's. Yes, it still attracts a hip crowd. But the patio is lovely, and the inside quaint. And what the heck, the lighting makes everyone look like a million bucks.
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Yay Dominick's!
So this place has definitely seen some changes over the years. Back in my early 20's I used to come here for drinks cuz this is where you could meet "older" guys, which at that silly age were dudes who were maybe 30? Silly. Then over the years, I'd pop in maybe once or twice a year and the overwhelming number of pretty plastic people kinda left me cold so I pretty much put Dominick's on the "meh" list and that was that.
But then a month or two ago I went to the Culver City foodie festival and walked by a booth serving these ridiculously good risotto and mushroom cheese balls and well, you start swinging balls around me and I'm a happy girl! Wait, what?
Anyhoo, as my friend and I were sloppily chomping away, we met a few of the guys working the booth, namely a really nice handsome fellow named Paul who told us all about the new Dominick's and the soon to be opened Little Dom's on the east side. All sounded super cool and let's face it, those balls were selling themselves.
So having all of this in the back of my mind, when my girl Amy and I were hanging last night and flipping through the many LA eateries in our minds, she through out Dominick's and that sounded like a solid plan and so we headed over there.
As soon as we walked in it was like a totally different restaurant. No longer was it this odd ship theme like the old place, instead it was this quaint little warm and cozy italian eatery that just screamed tasty lasagna and a nice glass of wine. And lucky for me, that was the Monday night special, yippee!
We decided to sit out on the patio and as we were sipping our Pims cocktails, we spotted Paul, who in return spotted us and we chatted for a bit and he told us about some of the tasty fried goodies that they served up, including Meyer lemon balls! Hell yes.
As we were eating our din din, or more like inhaling because each dish was SOO good, a plate of squash blossoms filled with cheese arrived compliments of Paul. Yum! What an awesome surprise. We tried those and were pretty much ready to pop when, what comes out, oh god, fried donut balls with chocolate sauce. Dominick's is seriously trying to kill us!! AND WE LOVED IT!
I can't even explain to you how damn amazing these donut things are. Holy crap. Moist, warm, almost custard like on the inside with a crisp powdered sugared exterior that we dipped (oh who are we kidding, TRIPLE dipped) in this warm chocolate sauce. Yep, it's an "O" in the mouth, lemme tell ya!
We then rolled ourselves out of Dominick's, but not before running into Paul once again who told us about their Sunday night Supper deal. It's a mere $15 for a three course dinner and $10 bottles of Dago red or white wine. Talk about a deal!
I really can't say enough about this place. It's tasty, trendy (in a good way) and I will for sure be coming back to try the rest of the menu out. Yummeee!!!
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Grilled Artichokes, great starters, rice balls etc. I like to go and have some apps and some good wine with a couple friends and sit on the patio. The only thing that I dislike is that they allow people to smoke out there and that kinda ruins the whole fresh air vibe.
The crowd can be a bit "who the hell are you" but for the most part people leave you alone to your own devices.
Great Sunday specials - check them out online.
Rumor is that Ben Harper is a partner, which I think is really cool but has nothing to do with the food. ; )
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So I went back to Dominick's last night.
Originally I called and left a message after 3 for a reservation, just as their site says (by the way, the phone number above is wrong, go to their site for the right info) BUT I also went ahead and made a reservation through their online link - 8:30 for two, requested a patio.
Around 5 I got a call back from my voice mail message that they were booked, no tables available. BUT my online reservation was there and I was set.
So - rule #1 - book your reservation online.
Rule #2 - request to sit on the patio
Rule #3 - remember you are there for the atmosphere because the food is not great.
Rule #4 - keep in mind that the tables are somewhat close to each other so don't pick this place if you are planning a serious conversation
Rule #5 - Check your bill just to make sure your neighbor's drinks didn't end up on your tab
Rule #6 - Bring $5 cash plus tip for the speedy valet service
I have had the steak, chicken parm and the pasta carbonara and every time I walk out just thinking the food itself was just ok. I don't have super high expectations in general but even I was disappointed.
That said, sitting on the patio was awesome (even if the tables were a little tight) and our waitress was great.
So three stars for atmosphere, two dings for so so food.
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Eh? Note: shrug.
Unassuming, old New York-style (via the subway-style hexagonal floor tiles) bar that seems that it hasn't changed for a few decades.
Fuggedaboutit? Dunno. A? Nicky the Nose, maybe we should keep it this way to keep da cover. Nowatahmeen? Dominick would kill us if 'e eard us say dat. Sure, but den da gals wouldn't come eer fo da dolce (sweet desserts), den wood day?
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Ahhh... relax. That's why we came here, and that's exactly what Dominick's let us do. Despite the fact the patio was incredibly crowded, there was still a wonderfully mellow vibe in the air (or perhaps that was the wine), and the gals and I were able to have our pleasant chill-out dinner just as we'd planned. The patio is, indeed, fabulous, so by all means ask to be seated there; you may need to make reservations ahead of time to ensure you do.
The bottle of Dolcetto d'Alba was one of the best I've had in quite some time. (Note to self: Must get own bottle for next game night.) Our waiter was very helpful with decision making, choosing the stuffed squash blossoms and ricotta gnocchi for me -- and both were top notch. I'd never eaten a blossom of any form before, so it proved quite a treat. I'll go back, next time on an empty stomach.
Half star off for crappy parking options. Yelp, are you listening? Get half stars already. Sheesh.
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I've been to this restaurant twice. Both times for birthday dinners. The first time I went, I didn't like it at all. The appetizers were good, but my meal was terrible... I got the gnocchi. The portion was incredibly small and bland. Nothing special at all. The service was okay. Ended up spending too much money for a meal that I didn't particularly like. The 2nd time I went, I was hesitant, but I had to go because of my friend. This time it was a lot better. I actually had wanted to get a special they had that night, but they were out of it. So, I settled on this pork tenderloin dish that was filling and tasty. Definitely recommend getting the ricotta appetizer. Although, I spent too much money again. I would put the price range closer to three dollar signs rather than two. I might go back again, but probably not until I am more financially secure.
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I like how private and sort of inward facing the space is. You enter into a fairly small warmly lit barroom, only to transition to a more ample exterior space that winds around to the left as it expands into a more formal dining area. We sat at a large communal table outside with a few friends and drank Moltepuciano (or is montepuciano???) at the baristas suggestion. I ordered the arancina stuffed with cheese and mushrooms- which was dusted with pecorino- so great. The fried calamari was very good. They also pass out cigarettes like after dinner mints. I enjoy so few italian restuarants in LA. -- I plan to come back to this one for a sitdown.
i can see the appeal and fun in this place.
had the sunday supper and ordered a la carte.
for $15 for a set supper, i didn't expect anything fantastic and it was decent.
the additional appetizer i ordered though was fantastic ( rice balls with mushrooms and cheese ) .
drinks nice and strong and reasonable.
i would go back for sunday supper for the 10 wine, 2 beer and 15 dinner.
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Great ambiance - very romantic - this is a great date place. There is a large covered outdoor patio space that is very charming. The food however was not exceptional. We had butternut squash as an appetizer - it was soaked in brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter - so of course it was great. The chicken marsala also was very good but not amazing. The portions here are small and bare. The main course didn't come with anything but the chicken and a few carrot sticks. I would come here again but pasta may be the way to go.
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This one surprised me. I went to Dominick's many years ago for drinks and recall being mildly impressed. And in the intervening years I'd constantly see the pimped out black Escalades and Benzes pulled up outside, I'd see the tabloid photos and news on who was spotted at Dominick's, and I became generally disinterested in a place I imagined was something like Urth Cafe - all hype, no substance.
But I was wrong! Yes, while walking through the bar area there were a few tragically hip Hollywood types (yes you, in the bandana AND trucker cap and $300 hoodie), but then we arrived on the patio and my disapproving scowl turned to a smile. Beautiful patio - brick, foliage, fireplace, cozy lighting. Only the obnoxiously loud music kept this from being the setting for a DeBeers commercial.
So I was totally won over by the setting, but what about the food?
We started with the grilled artichoke, which was deliciously basted in olive oil and lemon and cooked just right. I went for the hanger steak with arugula and parmesan, which was melt-in-your-mouth tender. My buddy got the whitefish in lemon caper sauce - again, perfectly cooked, melt-in-your-mouth tender. The prices for the entress were reasonable, but they dont come with sides, so you need to get apps. But overall, the 3 dishes we ordered were excellent.
I will absolutely go back. If you can put up with the Hollywood scenester folks sprinkled around, this is a great spot for dinner with a friend or a "special" friend.
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My boyfriends holiday work party was here on Sat. and I was a bit skeptical on the place given that the outer decor wasn't what I call choice. But you can't judge a bottle of wine on its outer label, so I gave it a chance. The party was actually held on the outer patio in the back so I was excited based on what I've read about it on here.
The fireplace was lit, the stockings were hung and the candles flickered from every corner. Since we were the first ones there we decided to post up at the bar and see what was available for "open bar." So they offer me up this house red wine which I don't remember the name of cause it wasn't one that I care to remember. I drank i toasted and I immediately moved on to the kettle tonic. As guests began to arrive we were offered up several different appetizers as well as entrees to share...
My run down on that is:
- risotto balls= yes
- hidden eggplant surprise = no thanks
- giant prawn shrimp= maybe sometimes
- giant spicy meatballs= ragu was sponsored here, its a meatball but it has to be can made.
- fried calamari= some of the best I've ever had
- arugula= spinach may be out but you are not in
- Fish= wheres de flavor?
- steak= chewy fatty.
I made an early exit from the party after a few too much to drink and a cold coming on... but I wasn't immediately impressed and left sorta hungry. I heard Britney Spears was here the night before, and I'm not sure if that bartender was trying to impress me with that bit of trivia...but I just wasn't feeling it.
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What an unassuming little place. The restaurant itself is small, but they make up for it by having a a large covered patio with a fire place. The food was ok, in line with the price (rougly $15 for entree unless you get the steak which was I think $45) However, the ambiance of the patio is great especially when the sun goes down and the candles are lit. If you want to make an impression without breaking the bank Dominick's is the place to go fellas!
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The best part about Dominick's is the outdoor patio and the bar inside. They serve up decent drinks and the wine list is so-so. It's a great place to take an old friend who's visiting because it's a good place to talk, catch-up, and of course...booze it up. There is even a teeny tiny bar in the outdoor patio where if it's not a particularly busy night, you can have the bartender all to yourself.
The food is decent, but not the best. That being said, it's fairly reliable. And with rezzies, you can certainly have a gathering there of several people for birthdays and what-have-you. But definitely don't order the panna cotta dessert (it may not be Dominick's specific however, because I hate panna cotta and I have no idea why I ordered it).
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Fetuccini carbonara, & spinach are delicious but the best part is the gelato.
Various flavors of gelato are served on a frozen marble slab. just delightful and it's actually some of the better gelato I've had.
been there twice. once, we got seated immediately, had great food and great service. second time, even though we had a reservation we had to wait 15 minutes and got stuck at a crappy table, and had 3 different servers take turns ignoring us.
basically -- excellent when empty, but if it's busy, don't expect good service unless you're a hollywood producer that the waiters want to sleep with.
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Dominick's a a classy place to go for drinks and a great meal without putting a huge dent in your wallet.
The crowd is young and sophisticated (as far as I know, the trendoids have stayed away from this place).
Inside, the decor evokes a classic old-school Rat Pack kind of place. In the back, is a great huge patio with a fireplace and lights strung up overhead.
For food, the appetizers are all pretty good, but I especially liked the grilled artichoke. If they have a fish special, I tend to go with that. The last time I went it was grilled whole Branzino. The fish was delicious, but I do feel it is my duty to point out that the fish was NOT branzino. Branzino is frequently offered on menus across the city and the actual fish is rarely served. Too bad, it would've been a treat if I got an actual branzino, but I didn't mind, it was still wonderful. I don't even remember what fish I ended up eating (after asking the waitress to ask the chef).
Truth be told, if my past visits hadn't been as good, and if my branzino, substitute was not tasty, I probably would've thrown a mini-tantrum. But that night (and as always at Dominick's) everything was a pleasure, so I chose not to focus on semantics.
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I wont be shy here. I love this place. The food, the decor, the patio...all fantastic. It can get very loud out on the patio, so be warned. There are two bars, one inside and one outside. Susan is one of the bartenders and she is wonderful. The artichoke appetizer is delish. I can also recommend the English pea salad. So good. If you get there early, you can sit outside next to the fireplace. Very romantic. During the week it is a great date spot. It gets packed on the weekends, so make a reservation. If you have to walk off that big meal, window shopping looking at the cool furniture stores in the area is a good way to burn a few calories.
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So I lived the first nine years of my life in a rust-belt town in upstate New York. I knew I wanted to escape by age 3, but bided my time until 9 when my parents made the move for me (they moved back to Italy the split second my father retired). Why do I tell you this? Because the best restaurant in that sad little burg was "Dominick's'", and for a while my mother was a chef there (long story: the other chef got sick, the owners were friends, yadda yadda). Mamma Gisella introduced some pretty interesting Northern Italian recipes into the mix--they were strictly Sicilian-American up to that point--and after the first few "whad da heck?" people started FLOCKING to (that) Dominick's. Of course that's not saying much, since the only other option was Dandee Donuts and McDonalds, but still...But anyway, my idea of "classy joint" up to that point was Dominick's.
Fast forward many years, and I'm living in L.A. I've been here a year now, and was intrigued by the Dominick's I drive by every day on my way to my to work. Nostalgia strikes, but I figure it's going to be a B.H Trash kind of place and decide to skip it. Then the No. 1 GBs (gay boyfriends--the saviors of this recently single crabbypants) take me there to dinner. And...hey, it's just like my mom's Dominick's, only with Brendan Fraser at the next table and less meatballs in the spaghetti and meatballs!
So---I've been there 4 times now. It's always been uneven (artichoke: good, previously mentioned spaghetti and meatballs: disappointing) but since nothing is outrageously priced, I don't mind so much. The wine selection is okay, not great, not plonky. The polenta with cheese needs my mom's loving care (note to chef: slightly gritty corn meal need not necessarily be a bad thing), but the hanger steak is tasty and tender. The rapini: AVOID! Unless you like tough and stringy, of course, in which case you'll be happy. The bresaola and burratta appetizer is very tasty, and the calamari were crispy and fresh. The bread in a white paper bag is puzzling, but definitely upstate-New Yorkish, so they get "ciao, belli" for ItaloAm authenticity. The wedding soup comes highly recommended but it was indifferent at best. And please don't call me a wimp, but I've always been too full for dessert, and even if I hadn't I think that the words "chocolate" and "panna cotta" should never, ever, be seen together. Please, Dominick's people, if you see this, try just doing a simple, creamy, panna-tasting panna cotta! Don't mess with perfection!
So why do I give it three stars? For the patio, the pretty good waiters (although the last time our handsome hero disappeared after the entree, in the now-traditional West Hollywood waiter mode), the twinkling lights, the fire in the fireplace, and the cheerful din. I've always gotten a good--even great--table. The starlets and socialites are not as obnoxious as you'd think (Dominick's isn't upscale enough for the truly grotesque crowd) and the handsome boys and pretty girls will get you to wondering ("Is that...?" "I think so, but...I can't remember who she/he is"). And I agree with the comment on walking around the neighborhood after your big meal. You can stroll down Robertson and be happy you're not at the Ivy, window shop in the overpriced stores, and grab a loaf of crispy bread at Breadbar if it's still open. It's not a "car to door, door to car" experience, and I like that.
And oh, park on San Vincente. It's a block and a half away, and there's always plenty of spaces.
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Pork chops with mushroom risotto! That is all I have to say. It's not on their regular menu. It just happened to be a special on the night I went and it was AMAZING!!! I also had the baked ricotta w/ roasted sweet peppers and prosciutto which was also really good. I want to go back again!!!
OK, one complaint. When I walked through the main dining room, it smelled funny. Thankfully, I got to sit in the back where there is an outdoor fireplace. The ambiance is pretty chill. The food was so good that I didn't really notice the other patrons so I couldn't really say what type frequents the place. The night I went was also somewhat of a slow night I think because it wasn't too busy.
The service was really good. Our waitress was attentive without being overbearing. I think overall I would give it 4.5 stars but I'm giving it 5 because ... did I mention the pork chops with mushroom risotto?
UPDATE: FEB. 4TH WEEKEND
WOW! What a hassle! Unless you're a 20's-30's something trendoid, skip this place entirely! The wonderful vibe, chilled out patio and fireplaces were ruined for me by the horrible hostess treatment.
I called after their "3pm Rule" only to get a voicemail, and left my number for call back and table confirmation. I never got one. MINUS ONE STAR. When I called to confirm 20 minutes before 4 different people in my party of 6 were coming from all over LA she told me she didn't have any tables, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME FOR 6 that night. MINUS ANOTHER STAR. I asked wouldn't it have been nice for someone to have called me in the last 4 hours? She said, "Yes, that would have been nice. We will find you a table indoors".
I arrive in a pissy mood to an empty, I mean EMPTY!!! restaurant at 7pm. Absolutely no one in sight except for a few early happy hour people at the bar. No one at the outside patio bar, the outside fireplace, the inside dining room or outside patio.
I pitch a fit! YOU LOST ANOTHER STAR. Bad service, marginal food, 15 busboys trying repeatedly to take my overprice ($14 BIG salad) away from me all night long. The only saving grace of this place is the very large drinks at reasonable prices served by the nice outside bartender.
We stayed for 3 hours, the outside seating or inside dining room never filled up regardless of the hostesses proclamations that they were "entirely booked". I got my damn outside, fireplace seating, at the risk of a coronary.
I wanted to slap the bitch on the way out!
~ Ms. Ali
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Years and years ago, like 10, which is a century in LaLa Land time, this place was a hole in the wall. Dominick's was a remnant of the old prohibition years on the border of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, run by the restaurant mafiosi. If you know your history about the area, WeHo was not dry during prohibition because it was a "county" carved out for the LA Sheriff's Department in the shape of what, a gun! Therefore WeHo, boy's town, has a "gun" for it's city's phallic symbol, which is completely inappropriate for this peaceful, progressive City.
Well, anyway! Dominick's became a very hip, cool joint only open to the cognoscienti after hours on the weekends. Strictly bar action, late comers and hipsters. It is like all fun joints in LA -- an old converted house with no signage and an entrance in back. It's changed recently.
Last year, it reopened with warm and welcoming colors, small intimate settings, a nice secluded patio and oh so wondy bartenders and helpful people. My friend and I split some super trad'l Northern Italian appies (crochini) and drinks, and I cannot wait to go back this week!
Be sure, this is not on any restaurant guide yet, and only locals know the scene on this place. Try it you'll like!
i met up with a couple of friends here last night. what a great place! the fireplace(s) really make the restaurant cozy. so does the foliage.
the food was amazing, we were all happy. i think the garden salad we started with (we shared, it was pretty big, enough for 3 as a nice appetizer) was one of the best i've ever had. all of the veggies were so flavorful. i don't normally rave about salads, but this one was just so yummy.
i had the spaghetti & meatballs, YUM.
if you're looking for a romantic place to dine, check this out. yeah, it can get a bit noisy, but it's not like we couldn't hear each other.