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Categories: Lounges, American (Traditional) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Griffith Park/Los FelizMon-Sat. 4:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
"Home is delicious. Whenever I'm in LA, I request -- nay, demand -- that we go here. And my friends have no problem with that. Their chicken…" read more »
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Old gentlemens' bar with hot Hollywood class. Grandpa type bartenders who won't skimp on the gin and hard stuff like those other "trendy" bars. Crowded with attractive twenty-somethings, the beginning of a great night.
The bar became The Dresden almost 20 years after it originally served Italian food as Pucci's Italian Restaurant. I only wish we could get those 20 years back so the Dresden could always exist in its current glory. In the crowd of loud jazz and attractive 20 somethings, I found my new alcoholic home.
I couldn't help but order The Dresden House Speciality, the Tom Collins. I'd never had one of these before, but I'm a fan now. It's like alcoholic lemonade on a warm summer Sunday, sweet to the last drop, only to help you couch back into an old fashion chair on a Southern patio. You won't get to experience it in that way at The Dresden, so take a little more modern approach in a leather booth next to your next new best friend.
I was here for a pub crawl for a friend (Love Devi!), but I joined far too late. Lesson learned: never, NEVER join a pub crawl after the first bar. If you don't make it to the first bar, you will never be drunk enough to make the rest of the crawl. But it was hardly a loss, watching a friend get tricked into taking a picture with a phony Seth Macfarlane while the real Seth Macfarlane sat in a corner...was absolutely priceless.
*This review is strictly on the restaurant side of The Dresden.*
Came here recently for my friends birthday celebration. The plan was to start with dinner in the restaurant and then move to the bar; I, however, did not make it to the bar since I was driving and wouldn't have been able to enjoy more drinks. Anyhow, the restaurant is absolutely vintage. It's decor is a throwback to the 1950's/60's. So much so that I kept wanting to light up a cigarette right there at the table hehe. I loved the booths! They are really great, they're white with high rounded backs. The service was so so. There was a lot of fuss over the placement of the silverware. So much so that with all the silverware adjustment they took awhile to even get us drinks. As with most celebration dinners, we did not all arrive together but rather one or two at a time; there was to be a total of 9 of us. Since our 9th was running pretty late and we knew she wasn't planning on eating dinner and was just joining for drinks we asked our server if the 8 of us could go ahead and order our dinners. She seemed very perplexed by this request. She asked for a minute and left the table. About 5 minutes later she came back and asked if we needed more drinks. We ordered another round of wine and again asked if we could order dinner. Again, she asked for a minute and left the table. She came back with our wine and we asked again if we could order. She seemed flustered and left the table. Finally, after asking 3 or 4 times and 15-20 minutes after the first time we asked, she took our dinner order. The food is unremarkable. I ordered the cheese tortellini. I know, nothing fancy and I wasn't expecting it. But....I make better tortellini at home; and for less than $12. I also tried my friends Sand Dabs which was just meh. Basically, you are paying for the ambiance; but I didn't mind cause what an ambiance it is! I would come again just for a fun night out....but don't expect much from the food.
One of the coolest bars ever...
Marty and Elayne have been playing their lounge sets here continuously for the past 28 years and still kick it to this day! As if this isn't enough reason to go here they have the hippest bar staff consisting of 60+ yr old men all in suits that make some mean Manhattans.
I have only been here twice and both times it was near 11~midnight so I have yet to try their food. But for the ambiance and vibe alone it is a swinging place - no pun intended.
If ever in LA you have to go here and just check out a set from Marty and Elayne. They let random patrons grab the mike and that makes for a cool night if you have good singers in the crowd.
The booths scream nostalgia, the interior finishes class and the over all experience is like no other. A must visit, take my word for it.
Go here now...
Like so many before me, Dresden provided yet another night out in LA for the records.
The basics behind the bests:
- EASY valet parking for $2.50
- Stiff drinks
- Classy old men, who clearly started their morning with a bloody mary, are pouring yours
- Marty & Elayne, who will sing anything you request, really
And my personal measure of a great bar... the ladies room:
We've all been there girls. That bar, where everything seemed to be going right, until the call of nature crushed your hopes of leaving fresh and clean. Here the Dresden set my new standard.
I love any place that can preserve my grandma's formica and glitter infused wall covers. And those lights. Who the hell still makes those? Anyway, I love the retro, read original, decor of this whole place. That it extends to the backdoor, and the powder room, is a testament to the commitment of the management. And it is a powder room. The mirrors are built in like a personal vanity, including that nifty need to run the mirrors at an angle onto the ceiling so you can check your hair, makeup and ass from all angles. That I had the pleasure of sharing my touch up space with the legendary Elayne was just an added bonus of swinging coolness. Yes, Elayne loved my shoes. Yes, I loved her preserved look. It was just one big ladies lovefest.
This place is my all time favorite places to go to when I want to unwind with friends. The vibe is great. I've spent many nights with my friends here and we always have nights that we'll never forget. Marty and Elaine are the best lounge act I've ever seen. This is the place to go on a Friday or Saturday night if you want to go out on the town and let some stress out.
If you come for dinner its never crowded, the crowd is in the Bar to get a glimpse of Marty & Elaine on the piano. I had an excellent steak here and some good wine but we decided to stay in the dining room and drink because the crowd in the bar was crazy. Too loud and too crowded for my taste. A plus was the valet in the back of the restaurant was less than $7 and in LA parking is always horrible. I'll come back for a drink but I'll get here before dinner to get a spot!
Before you read any further let me first admit that my favorite movie is "Swingers" so with that being said, let's get to the brief, albeit favorable, description of the Dresden.
I started going to the Dresden when I moved to SoCal in 2005. It was a monthly retreat that never grew old. The drink prices are extremely reasonable at the bar. Marty and Elayne are top notch, as good as it gets really. The vibe is always friendly, which is odd for LA/Hollywood.
The bartenders are professionals, not aspiring actors, so the vibe is all business--which I thoroughly enjoy. Finding a table or elbow room to enjoy the entertainment can be hard to find at times, and it's all relative to whenever you stop by.
The Dresden Room should definitely be on your destination list if you're ever in the Los Feliz area. You will not be disappointed. Just remember that its a bar/lounge not a club, so there's no cover! Also, I've been here early enough in the evening to know if there is a happy hour, but its not that crucial really.
My first experience at the Dresden was at the bar. I had only planned to stay for one drink. I ended up staying for most of the night. The bartender, which (along with the waitstaff in the restaurant) wear traditional white button up shirts and ties, was impersonal, quick, and attentive. Having lived in NY for 5 years, I appreciate this type of service. There was a three piece band that played height ashbury era songs. I was moved by the fact that the bar was occupied by hipster's, yet the band was playing standard classic rock and the patrons still seemed to appreciate it. There is a definite melding of eras in this place. The decor and the wait staff's attire is '50's inspired, the music is usually live, and varies from classic rock to jazz standards. And the clientele seems to really love it, despite the generation gap. Needless to say, one of my new favorite hangs in a new city.
My second experience was in the restaurant. The food was very traditional Italian fare, and very well prepared. Nothing fancy, just a good, well executed Italian meal. The waiter had been working at the Dresden for 20 YEARS! In that time, he had apparently become a seasoned server and a comedian. We tipped him generously, and he earned it. Overall, my experience at this restaurant has been extremely pleasant.
Came here last night with a buddy of mine, after going to a bar which was not happening. We first grabbed a late night bite at Palermo's for lasagna and garlic bread.
Then my friend suggested we hit the Dresden room for cocktails. I had never been. My friend, who has been, said that I have to check it out.
As you enter the bar/piano lounge, think of time warp back to the 50s/60s. This place was happening. The crowd was LA hip and fun.
The signature act there....Marty and Elaine! The best way I can describe their act is...think of Saturday Night Live piano lounge skit, but this is for real! Marty has a really bad toupee. They both must be in their 70s! Elaine plays the piano and flute. They both sing. Their son is also in the band. They're act is great! It was a total crack up. One of the many songs I remember was "Puttin' on The Ritz!"
There's no cover. Beer - Amstel Light was $5.
I'd definitely come back to the Dresden!
Cousin from out of town heard about this place and loves piano so he was going to this place. It certainly concluded a nice night out. Got to sit right by the piano and eventually struck up convo with the group across the piano from us. I guess that is what the purpose of bars are, but neither group was really seeking it out which is what made it a good atmosphere. It certainly is interesting meeting new people and hearing for the first time what it is they do.
As for the drinks and service. Cocktail waitress was a little slow to get back to us but she made up for it in friendliness. Patiently explained what the Blood and Sand was and convinced me to get it. I figured I had to in case I never went there again. It was worth it when I was pointed out the fact that it tasted like a shirley temple which will forever be a kiddie cocktail to me. Amaretto and whiskey sours were both good in their completely different ways a little over priced for my tastes.
Overall it was fun and good music.
If you live in Los Angeles or are just visiting, come to Dresden for a fun filled evening. I was born in Hollywood and when I became 18 in 1990, I had the bug for the night life. I heard that my older friends were going on the weekends to Dresden, So I did what any other 18 year old would do. I penciled in my mustache and tried to get it. After a few try's I did get in and Ive been going ever since. It is named Dresden after the city that was bombed by the Allies in WWII. The restaurant portion is decorated in the same vain as the fancy restaurants in Dresden from back in the days, with Chandeliers and high backed tufted booths. The Owner use to be the bartender there in the 60s. At one point, they were going to close down when the bartender offered to take it over and Im glad he did. The food is great, the atmosphere is jumping. The restaurant is divided in half where one part is seating for dinner and the other, a full bar with lounge tables that encircles a stage with a piano, stand up bass and drum set played by the famous duo Marty and Elayne. They have been playing together for over 27 years and have been married longer. They will turn any song into a jazz song from Michael Jackson's" Beat It" to "Stairway to Heaven". If you want some privacy, to the right side of the front door, there is a room that can only be described as a conference room with a long table and lounge chairs. Its usually empty and its a great place to get to know someone you met there or brought there. If you don't already know this bit of trivia, one of the scenes from the famous Movie "Swingers" was taped there. At the end of the day, its a part of Hollywood history and it should be visited.
Music is what it is, if you're coming here it's most likely for the Swingers thing. Entertaining stop, if a little loud.
Hipster/Douche quotient was a little high, and it was definitely a sword fight on a Friday night.
Drinks were good, reasonably priced, no idea about the food, although it looked like they would serve a good steak.
Cheap valet was a plus.
Food was pretty good, and drinks were pretty cheap. The server was super bitchy and treated us like shit, but the environment and live music made up for it.
I'm definitely going back, though.
In the almost 15 yrs of off and on coming here, the talent went from super classy great entertainment, to extroidainaire! Their personability, is impectable, Talent BRIALLIANT, and flavor, Nice. Great time to be had here..The staff in all my experiences, very well smarted, gracious and real! Ate here several times with good results.
The food is not much to talk about, but Marty and Elaine in the bar are entertaining. Free entertainment, and the drinks are reasonably priced.
Ok this review is not from a recent trip but from a trip a long time ago LOL I thought I would give my two cents of this place if my memory serves right. Ok came here because one of my friends had to go here and at that time we were searching for new bars and lounges so at first i thought let's just stick to the dance clubs but my friends were all dance clubbed out. Nice little set up had the restaurant on one side and the bar/lounge on the other side. Parking is small so it can get full fast, it's kinda of a hipster joint. So after many kamakazi drinks i started to enjoy the atmosphere more LOL the lounge act was this couple called Marty and Elayne they are famous for singing Staying Alive the lounge version and appeared in the Jon Favreau and very young skinny Vince Vaughn movie Swingers they actually filmed a scene at this place in the movie. In my opinion a movie to check out if you havent seen it. A cool place to hang out and drink, I am curious to try the food here though. Maybe i'll make a stop here one of these days again.
Based on almost 200 reviews, most of which are 4 or 5 stars, I'll just have to accept that I'm the one with the problem.
When I go out for a dinner or drinks, I hope to get just that. I'm not looking to see or be seen.
And I don't like having to push my way through a line 5 deep at the bar to try desperately to get an over priced semi decent drink.
If you could clear out the army of famous/wanna be famous/wanna meet someone famous people that seem to migrate here, then I would give this place another chance.
Chill and fun environment, great and friendly service, wonderful location, what more could you ask for? Would go back here in an instant.
This place is very cool. Like many others I and a few friends came here because of the movie Swingers. Of course, we were all in our late 20s and married so we did not have quite the same experience. But we enjoyed various bar samplings and people watching. After a few drinks Marty and Elaine sounded REALLY good. Those two are amazing.
I have not tried the restaurant, it looks pricey. Like so many other hot spots in LA, this place keeps it's old school charm. Very much a time capsule.
The service is good. The place gets VERY crowded after 10 and seating is then slim to none. But if you're old like me and not there to score, then you're pretty much ready to head home by then anyway. After all I can't miss Seinfeld!
This is a must try. Check the place out.
Oh where to begin...My girlfriend just recently had a birthday at the Dresden for drinks and dinner in their swanky, funky dinning room. We've been there before and had a pretty good dinning experience, just the two of us nothing to really rave about, but basic surf and turf, fish special kind of menu. Mostly we like the ambiance, and the "old school" feel in the dinning room, the kind of look like you just might see the Rat Pack walk in. All the love we had for the place went right out the window and in to the dumpster the night we decided to have an astounding...EIGHT GUESTS join us for a birthday celebration.
From the beginning we were a bit confused when our "server," spoke very poor english, and wanted to crack beyond ridiculous jokes on pretty much everything we asked about the menu. In addition to forgetting my girlfriend's drink a couple of times, ALL EIGHT entrees came out cold and the wrong temperatures on the lamb chops and filet!!!! Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse...it did.
When I went up to the fragile, small framed man of whom was the manager I got nothing but straight faced attitude. He actually had to question my complaints and not ONCE came over to apologize or even to greet the table in the beginning! After several trips to the little, old pathetic man hovering at his lame "post," I got the bill somewhat knocked down.
We will NEVER, EVER have dinner again at that poor, pathetic excuse of a restaurant let alone have an over priced, WEAK drink in the bar if ask by a friend to meet them there. The place may look like it still has the charm of the old days, but we found out the hard way that looks are in fact DECEIVING at the Dresden Dining NIGHTMARE FROM HELLLLLLLLL!!!
P. S. The Dresden is lucky that there isn't a feature to shred the one PATHETIC star they aren't even worth.
Lodgy, loungy, oldie, and crowdedy on Friday.
Is it possible to make a loungy song even loungier? YES! This is the place. Imagine the grandparents you wish you had winking at you from behind sultry microphones.
Then imagine a bunch of nifty art that reminds you, appropriately, of Ren & Stimpy. Wrap it all up in a rustic backdrop, and, viola!
The bar is long, crowded, and old. Old is a key word here, but you somehow are forced to respect it. The bartenders actually use their original registers (the ones with the keys that stick out like Amy Winehouse's teeth, all separate with holes in between).
The restaurant portion is the "other half" of the venue. It's the part that was in Swingers (I think). It has cushy white booths complete with white linen and antique waiters.
Overall, the music is awesomely bad, the drinks are moderately priced, and the crowd is eclectic. I would say that makes it worth checking out at least once.
Insider's tip: there is cheap (less than $10) parking nearby and some free street parking a little further. Music starts at 9, and they serve food in the bar if you have a table.
Note to self: gay people don't really go here, so don't hit on that accountant who lives in Los Feliz and is wearing one too many articles of clothes from Armani Exchange.
First, a disclaimer: My review only pertains to the piano bar area. The "restaurant" is in a separate room, and great as the decor there is, it has a B health code rating and therefore I will not eat there.
Dresden Room, as a piano bar, is a true experience. First of all, it has a very New York feel. It feels like something in a movie. Something from the 70's with Woody Allen and a bunch of his friends dropping a lot of "intellectual" names. Cramped space with circular tables all clustered together and a giant piano taking up about a quarter of the space. But it's a perfect atmosphere. There's something about it that's just inherently exciting to be in.
But the real appeal here is Mary and Elaine. Well, really, the appeal is Elaine. She is a hoot. Now, when she starts singing, it's a nice jazz club piano bar performance. She's playing the piano, and her singing voice, while not anything that would win American Idol, is authentic and cool. Seeing her up close, watching her expressions, it's all very intimate.
And then, things turn into another dimension. She starts gradually adding more and more vocal effects, singing weirder and weirder as the night progresses, relying more on the organ and less on the piano. She starts singing in a way that technically isn't even "good" singing, but is totally entertaining, and that I can't even think of the words to describe. You start feeling like you're in some David Lynch movie, where at first it seems like a normal old-fashioned nightclub performance, and then slowly things start getting twisted until it's some otherworldly horror show. And I mean that in a completely positive way. It has to be intentional, after all. She's a riot and I'm definitely coming back to see her again.
As some have noted, it is very crowded. Basically, you have to get there really early (we got there before 9) if you want a table. But it should be crowded. Deal with it. Just get there early or accept that you'll be standing.
Aaaahhhh the Dresden. I really love this place. The lounge of all lounges in LA if you ask me. Most know it from the 1996 film Swingers. Marty and Elaine still perform there nightly. If you're a big fan of the film, definitely come by soon and check them out. God forbid you wait too long and for whatever reason they retire, then you'll kick yourself in the ass for missing the iconic duo that has been ringing in Jazz tunes here since the 80s.
Like I said before, I love this place. More so when it's not so packed, which is a rarity now. It could be somewhat of a burnout when it's crowded. There isn't a place to stand or sit, so beware.
Like this one time I was there and it was soooo packed. I was standing against the bar and this weird entertainment lawyer from Milwaukee started chit chatting with me. I'm all for meeting new people, but this guy had a nervous tick to him that was really off-putting. Since there was nowhere else to stand or sit, I had to continue having our awkward conversation about the different kinds of potato chips that the US doesn't have. Strange..
I haven't eaten dinner here yet. I've only come during lounge hours. It's a great place to be at especially if you are able to land yourself a booth. Kick it and drink it up. Enjoy good conversation as well as good jazz music. If you don't have a booth, you're probably not going to want to stay long because of the crowd. In any case check it out and avoid entertainment lawyers from Milwaukee.
I went to Dresden for the live entertainment - Marty and Elaine who performed jazz standards. There's no cover to get in and valet parking is available ($2.50). Street parking is available as well and if you are doing that, make sure to arrive around the area pretty early.
The bartenders were very friendly and had good chat. Cost of drinks varies from as low as $6 (gin and tonic) to $12 for an Amaretto.
If you want to sit a booth or table there's a 2 drink minimum. My friends and I just sat at the bar which also had the best view of the performance area. There's a standing room area towards the sides of the bar. It can get a little crowded. The vibe was really good - side note for the single ladies out there: the evening I went w/c was a Saturday, there were quite a few cute and single guys. ;) Look your best and bring your chat on!
I am curious about the restaurant. I will definitely go back and try it.
I do not know how old Dresden is, but I am guessing that it has been around for quite some time. It had the rat pack charm in its decor, art pieces scattered along the walls of the lounge, the furniture and fixtures.
Dresden also offers open mic nights. I have to gather up the courage before I can participate. But if you are confident and have a pretty decent voice go ahead.
Will I go back? Yes.
Along with a number of previous reviewers, I found out about this place because of the movie Swingers. I think I've only seen Marty and Elayne once but it won't be the last. Every time I've gone there, the drinks never disappoint, especially their Hurricanes, which are comparable only to the ones made at Pat O's in New Orleans.
The place gets very packed on weekend nights but it has a classy look that has "money" written all over it, baby.
great location, but who the hell ends up here???
start your nite off here for a cocktail, but then head out like the S.W.A.T. team is breaking down walls.. No place to sit, music is RE-COCK-u-lous! Best of all, the other bars are down the road..
What is there to say about the Dresden that has not already been said?
Yes, Marty and Elaine were there.
Yes, they played Stayin' Alive, just like they did in Swingers.
What surprised me was how crowded it was on a Wednesday night. The other time I came it was a Friday, and a Friday crowd I can understand, but Wednesday? Someone said it was because everyone's unemployed right now and drowning their sorrows ... maybe ...
Anyway, aside from Marty and Elaine and the old guys in tuxedo vests serving drinks, the Dresden is just alright. What can I say? It just wasn't that special. I give this a simultaneous thumbs up and shrug.
Two words- Marty & Elaine. This joint is so swanky and the drinks are cheap! Last time I was here for a girlfriend's after show party, we had a blast- Yes sometimes it gets crowded and the standing is "sucky" however the people are easy going and in a great mood. A concert of conversation and chatter ignites as the night moves on. The last time I was here Katherine Heigl, TR Knight(and his underage boyfriend, might I add) and Josh Kelly were right next to us, getting thier buzz on. This historic Los Feliz Village spot is a must if you ever cross this adorable neighborhood.
Fun place to come on a weekday if you feel like barhopping. This is the bar that gained notoriety from the movie Swingers.
The bartenders know their drinks! I always like to try to stump bartenders by ordering an Old Fashioned and watch carefully on how they prepare it. This one particular drink appealed to me when I took a couple classes of bartending school years ago for fun. There is a lot of ingredients in an Old Fashioned and they have to be placed in the glass to make it perfect. So far, after all the years of barhopping in my days, Dresden's and only one other place have been the only ones successful in making this correctly! Remarkable!
Food is the real mccoy, classic American cuisine. Feels like I was eating in the Leave It To Beaver circa 1950's. Steak and potatoes and vegies all the way.
Some nights you will catch the husband and wife band. Very entertaining and funny in a drunk kind of way.
Parking is great. Definitely worth checking out.
It's cool, if you're from out of town and if you don't know better and you like to overpay for things. Yeah, that's cool.
It's also cool if you live just down the street and you want a place to go to on a Wednesday or Thursday night.
It can be fun, but I'd rather go somewhere else.
The Dresden Room bartenders make real strong "cadillac margaritas" my oh my....
I had a good time and enjoyed the music although it made me feel as if I was in a weird dream. There was something about classic/familiar songs performed by interesting looking and sounding "older" people. They were good and unique, definitely not mainstream.
The dining room turns empty as it gets later in the evening so they become more lenient to let people sit at tables even without ordering food.
Overall 3 starts to this place and I would come back :-)
It's fun, for sure. It's a great little piano bar. The drinks are small, yes, and it gets too crowded, yes. Sigh. I just wish it didn't get so darn crowded.
I have nothing to say about the restaurant as I've never eaten there. I just love the little piano bar, and the history of the two that have played there forever.
I would give 4 stars if it wasn't so impossibly crowded.
If you haven't been here before, you should definitely go! Especially if you like Swingers. It has a chill, retro feel, and Marty and Elaine have a very unique style to their lounge performances.
There are times (on the weekends especially) when it can get really crowded, and then I go somewhere else. It's just not my speed, standing in a corner, cramped. But when you have room to move around a bit, it's a great time. Old time bartenders have always served me. Classy.
Place is okay. i like the fact you can walk in and grab a drink without the hassle of a bouncer. the live acts are generally forgettable, including the legendary Marty and Elayne (as seen in Swingers). I mean its cute and all for a little bit but then it gets old, much like Marty and Elayne.
Its cool to hang there for a short while, but usually there is a good amount of people there especially sitting at the big tables to watch Marty and Elayne. If the crowd is pretentious and unbearable i just head down to cheetahs and hang out with more refined* crowd.
Parking is can be tough on the street, there is a lot behind the back alley but sometimes they charge. Drinks are moderately priced.
*
refined =strippers
Somewhat of a classic Hollywood lounge, the Dresden resembles the politeness and charm of how I'd imagine the 1950's to be! Effortlessly relaxed, it's a place that echoes a bit of class. It's a place where you might still see people order an "Old Fashioned." It's a place where you feel like Sinatra could walk through the door, or better yet, Tony Bennett. It's a place that's worth more than its role in the movie, Swingers.
And not surprisingly, it's also a wildly popular bar, and a bar I frequented in college - when, once upon a time, I had a palate for sweet girly drinks with a strong, indistinguishable amount of alcohol.
Enter, the "Blood and Sand" drink. Served "up" in a chilled martini glass, this house specialty tastes something like a strawberry martini, margarita, or something or other. On any given Wednesday, friends and I trekked from Westwood to Los Feliz to indulge in these delicious concoctions, sit at the bar, and sing along to Marty and Elayne doing classic, Vegas-style numbers in the lounge.
Yes, folks. Out of all the quintessential spots in Los Angeles, this is one you'll want to go to at least once! Marty and Elayne are nothing short of awesome, and the lounge is nothing short of cool!
Overall, forgo your aversion to Swingers and go at least once! Trust me!
Looove The Dresden! Bartenders know what they're doing and the waiters (Luis) are too cool. One of my favorite spots!
Ive been here a few times with a friend of mine who introduced me to it. Definitely an interesting vibe about this place. When I come here I think old men smoking cigars, or around the time of flappers and such.
Alot of the music involves this wonderful elderly lady who plays the piano and wears a lot of makeup, but sweet nonetheless.
I havent eaten the food yet but the drinks are good.
Always a pleasant experience when I come here.
A nice older LA restaurant, similar to Musso & Frank but cleaner. Food was very nice, portions maybe a bit too big (we had the prime rib), and service was good. This is a very trendy active part of town, especially after ten at night. The bar is good and there is live music.
Feeling guilty for missing my cougariffic coming out, my lesbian lover offered to plan my birthday dinner instead. And this is where we ended. Not in thong panties amidst a feather pillow fight, as I'm sure some would have hoped.
Most of my friends tend to be on the casual/ghetto side, so no one expected the restaurant to be very fancy. But when the owner chastised some for wearing shorts to Sunday dinner, we had a strong feeling that we weren't very welcome there. If the restaurant wasn't so dim and empty, I'm sure they would have considered turning us away. But everyone needs to make some money, right?
Originally a party of 12 became The Hungry 16, forcing them to separate our tables into 3 lonely islands. I wasn't very peeved, however, until the crotchety owner told us that we had to limit our selection of entrees to 3 or 4 in order to avoid confusion with the staff...Bullshit, yes. Luckily, our very nice waiter ended up telling the owner that he was more than capable of serving individual entrees for 16 people...and saved himself from the fury of an unhappy Yelper.
Being the birthday ho, my boo and I shared the most expensive dish on the menu - a medium rare chateaubriand with all the side trimmings. Apparently, this is a very special cut (a level above filet mignon) that requires cart service. Seasoned well and grilled to a perfect pink, it was indeed a savory slab of tender meat.
Friends who ordered the filet seemed to prefer our cut because it was better seasoned, not necessarily because of the meat's quality. The prime rib was pretty good and juicy, but I've also had better. The lasagna was well praised, though the cheese tortellini was "eh." Apparently, the veal was not even good enough to warrant a taste offering.
Being in my new uber-trendy neighborhood, I'm likely to come back for the bar/live music portion of this establishment. Though the restaurant didn't make it to the top of my steakhouse list, I had a fantastic birthday. Hell, with my awesomely ghetto group of friends, we'd probably still manage to find a good time at Sizzler's.
We came here a couple of nights ago for a little b-day get together for my friend.... It seems like I always end up coming here for some sort of gathering except for that one time of course that I was on a date and we came to see the lounge singers play years ago..
I love coming here. Even if it is not for dinner. Just to come by have a few cocktails in the lounge and listen to the duo sing is always fun. The first eye catcher would be of course the sleek interior. Very modern. Seriously, it seems as though this place has not been remodeled since the 70's and I say this as a compliment. The interior is very minimal, modern and yes sexy..... I love the large booth seating.. I am a fan of the garlic bread here.... I ordered the Tortellini Alfredo dish. It was tasty but the sauce was just a little too rich for me. I stuck with a Merlot that night. All though I can see this place being the spot that one would order a martini or some frou-frou cosmopolitan. Ehhhh, just give me the wine.. The service. GOOD... Garlic bread .. REALLY GOOD.... The lounge... VERY FUN..... My meal.. good but the sauce was very rich....
Monday Industry Night
Neighborhood: West Hollywood
Late Night Happy Hour
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Neighborhood: Griffith Park/Los Feliz
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Griffith Park/Los Feliz
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Griffith Park/Los Feliz
Category: Wine Bars
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Category: Dance Clubs
Los Angeles, CA
Category: Dive Bars
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