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Eclectic Wine Bar & Grille

3.5 star rating
based on 65 reviews

Categories: Wine Bars, American (New)  [Edit]

Neighborhood: North Hollywood
5156 Lankershim Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91601
(818) 760-2233
Price Range:
$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
No
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
Yes
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Good for:
Lunch, Dinner
Best Nights:
Thu, Sat, Sun
Happy Hour:
Yes
Alcohol:
Beer & Wine Only
Smoking:
Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Coat Check:
No

65 reviews for Eclectic Wine Bar & Grille

Review Highlights   

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"We shared goat cheese on toasted baguette appetizer." (in 6 reviews)
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"My favorite meal here is Sunday brunch, which I recommend." (in 11 reviews)
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"The steak salad here is great and I have never had a miss on the fish." (in 10 reviews)
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Photo of Joshua G.

 

17

211

Joshua G.

Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
10/7/2009

The food is dandy.
Prices are also dandy.
Eat that shit up, yo.

Photo of Prettylilredhead H.

 

1

28

Prettylilredhead H.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
9/18/2009

I would like to give this place 2.5 stars.

I live close enough to walk off all the calories from the meal, so I eat and order from here with some regularity.  Or I did, till they raised the prices of every single item on the menu here.  The prices are now in a place where the food just does not justify paying that much for it, so I don't really eat here anymore.  But when I did, I liked the goat cheese salad and the chicken pasta with the sundried tomatoes (sorry, can't remember it's official title).  They also have a really good vanilla bean creme brulee.  Service is usually good, decor is nice and I always enjoy looking at the artwork that is on display there.  It's a little disappointing that this place hasn't been able to figure out a way to stay relevant enough to keep people coming back.  Oh, and I should mention, they have literally had the same menu for four years.  Four years.  No changes.  Except to raise the prices.

Photo of Lori K.

 

15

31

Lori K.

North Hollywood, CA

3 star rating
8/7/2009

After having driven by Eclectic a ba-zillion times over the past several years we finally went. I like the atmosphere inside especially the local art on the walls. The servers were very knowledgeable about the food and the wine, which I appreciated as I am slightly picky about my 'chard' has to be crisp, apple, and pear like yet with a full body...anyway, I liked that our server (the one who started us off) helped with the wine selection.

The menu looks really good and well, eclectic! I had the salmon salad nicoise (sp?) - was really fresh tasting and unique - I enjoyed it thoroughly. All the ingredients were complimentary.

The part I wasn't so fond of was the furniture we sat on- i don't like it when then table is parallel with my boobs! But whatever, i can hang - it's just not conducive to settling in and staying awhile. I felt like i needed a booster seat.

Also, since the BF is not really into wine he ordered a vodka tonic only to find out they don't have the full bar and also they were out of tonic so he wasn't thrilled with his drink.....but he did enjoy his pasta dish - i forgot which one he ordered....

Anyway, next time - we'll sit outside - the tables out there looked to be about the right height! And I suggested my BF get a flask and carry his own booze!!! I just don't understand these non-wine drinker types.

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Photo of Bryan W.

 

2

93

Bryan W.

Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
8/15/2009

To me the prices lean out a little ahead of the creativity and execution of the food... this diner was seeking more eclectic fare.

Like the atmosphere.  If you're going to a North Hollywood show consider stopping here for a glass of wine.

Photo of Karen C.

Elite '09

54

193

Karen C.

Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
9/19/2009

So my friend and I just had finished dinner at Miss Peaches (yum yum) and wanted to have a drink without leaving the area.  Where to go in No Ho for a cool drink.  HMMMM!  We were riding down lankershim and saw this place and decided to drop in.  The decor is so cute.  I loved it!!  The drink prices were decent.  I got a mojito and my friend got a flat tire and our tab was $14.  Not too bad.  The service was atrocious and that's why they are getting 3 stars.  The bar tender acted like he couldn't be bothered.  We had to ask twice to get a drink and twice for the tab.  He was too busy talking to the servers and completely ignored us.  What a turn off.  I probably won't go back

Photo of kevin d.

 

4

34

kevin d.

Santa Monica, CA

3 star rating
6/28/2009

Good dinner here. Not great but about what I expected. If you're going to a play at nearby El Portal Theatre, it's a reasonably priced, good quality, unremarkable meal for before the play. I'll say right off the bat that the service was excellent. Really, really good. It far exceeded my expectations.

The bread they serve pre-meal is really good. Not sure what to call it. Kinda like a cross between foccacia and italian bread? Anyway, it was good. We shared goat cheese on toasted baguette appetizer. Great quality fresh goat cheese, baguette was more like tiny toast, not exactly what I imagined but good. Capers and garlic were bleh. I wouldn't get the appetizer again.

Wife had pesto chicken. Came with veggies and sweet potato fries. The chicken breasts were good quality and cooked well. The pesto sauce was tasty but they could have put on half of what they put on it. Veggies were awesome. Cooked just right. Sweet potato fries were really soft. Tasty but really soft. The menu said they were prepared in the oven so we didn't expect "fries" but these could have stood some more time in the oven I think. I'd order this again but would ask for light sauce on the chicken.

I had fusilli with artichoke hearts, onions, red sauce, and romano cheese. Pasta, sauce, cheese, and onions were great. Artichoke hearts were a little huge. They looked impressive but were too big to eat. I'd chop them in half before serving and use fewer if I was the chef. I would order this meal again. It was pretty good.

No dessert. We decided to go to Cupcake Central for a cupcake for dessert. I'll review that place later. Wrapping up the Eclectic Cafe review, I'd say that this place is worth a stop for pre-theatre. The food is average but the atmosphere is nice and the staff and service were excellent.

Photo of Joseph Q.

 

0

4

Joseph Q.

Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
9/13/2009

I just moved to the area and it looks like this is the only true restaurant around my house. I went on a Tuesday night and it was pretty empty. The ambiance is great and it seems pretty mellow. The atmosphere is nice and I will go back to check it out once there are actual people at the bar.

I was disappointed by the food. I ordered pasta with chicken. The chicken was bland, needed major seasoning and the sauce was tasteless as well. The bread and bruschetta were delicious. The bruschetta bread was perfectly baked, the chef did a good job with the mixture of oil, basil and tomatoes. It was so good that it made my dinner that much more disappointing.

My friend had the lobster ravioli and it was also disappointing.

I will go back and try something besides pasta.

Photo of desne h.

 

0

1

desne h.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
10/14/2009

I have been eating here for about 10 years & i have to say i had the most incredible fillet mignon with a pepper sauce tonight. It was superb along with a strawberry souffle that was made in perfect timing. Everything about this restaurant keeps improving & it's apparently due to a new chef that is just taking this restaurant to a whole new level.....Great Job..!!

Photo of Joshua B.

 

2

5

Joshua B.

North Hollywood, CA

3 star rating
2/25/2009

Alright, I don't think NoHo totally sucks. It's way better than living in San Bernardino. What makes things a little better is that little strip of Lankershim  and Magnolia that has restaurants and "theaters."

Eclectic exists here. The outside makes it look completely lame. From the exterior, this place is a pop-up tent with a diner sign attached. It's like the ugly baby of PT Barnum and Mel's.

But once you're inside, it's much warmer.

The ambiance inside is, well, eclectic. There is a fountain-type display and some modern décor. The bar has an array of soft-core liquor. The license isn't full blown, so the closest you get to a "cocktail" is a rice-wine lemon drop (which tastes like poop). I recommend ordering one of these terrible concoctions, drinking half, and sending it back. The after taste may linger for days, but at least you'll have had some free booze.

The bread is good.

The wine list is alright - pretty much all Californian. Prices are fair.  

Oh, I once found a piece of metal in my chicken, which obviously means they support disabled chickens. It didn't kill me, so I guess I'm a better person.

Insider tip: there is free parking in the rear (where I like it).  Oh, and it's never busy. Ever.

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Photo of Must P.

 

0

8

Must P.

Sherman Oaks, CA

5 star rating
6/2/2009

Let's take a look in the bathroom.

It's always a good sign when there's somewhat of a maze to the sanctuary room. After walking by the dining folk and passing the kitchen I was feeling good. And then, the door was locked. That's one of the best signs. So I waited for it, and the cook walked out. Hmm, nothing worse than seeing that but I'd already eaten.

Inside I was happy to see a small sliding lock to keep everyone out. Business was easy and there was even something to read.

Clean, private, away from the commotion. Well there was the pounding of kitchen noise so if you have shell shock then it might be a problem.

Photo of Jonathan B.

 

28

54

Jonathan B.

North Hollywood, CA

3 star rating
3/3/2009

Good but not fantastic. I really need to get in and try the champagne brunch. This place is fun and a great date spot. The staff is kind, the food is always good. I really dig the seafood here, but the prices are a little much for the dishes. Anyway it's a fun place to sit down grab some wine, eat some bread, risotto, fish and read a chapter or two and simply veg out and enjoy life. I really come here for the atmosphere.
The food overall is just good. Nothing great overall, but I may change my review once I have tried the brunch, and I cannot help but be excited for summer time and eating, smoking and drinking here at night.

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Photo of Jaymi Z.

 

28

58

Jaymi Z.

North Hollywood, CA

3 star rating
4/16/2009

The steak salad here is great and I have never had a miss on the fish.
The wine flights are fun, but I haven't been wowed by any of the selections yet.

The atmosphere is nice for a date or a night out with a friend after some Noho theater.

If you are in the area, it's a safe bet and you may even be pleasantly surprised.

Photo of Janae B.

 

1

5

Janae B.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
8/21/2009

Love this place. Great service, great food. Best crème brule. Kind of expensive, but great atmosphere. Once they were too stuck up to let us in with frozen yogurt from next door. 3 of us were going to have wine. 2 of us wanted Eclectic dessert, but one had frozen yogurt. We would have spent $40 at least and we are regulars. Other than the manager being a snob, I really recommend this place.

Photo of Andrea M.

 

49

32

Andrea M.

North Hollywood, CA

4 star rating
1/24/2009

I like this place mostly because it's right around the corner from my house. :) I like it also because of the atmosphere -- the booths are very cozy, there is art to study while you eat, and the waiters are always friendly and never overbearing.

My favorite meal here is Sunday brunch, which I recommend. They have a collection of pasta-egg dishes that are so tasty they make me look forward to coming here. A friend of mine was with me recently and was hesitant about spaghetti with scrambled eggs, but after one bite, she was sold. They're creamy but not too heavy. Wonderful.

As for lunch, meh. My boyfriend and I ordered sandwiches recently, and they were really nothing special. The bread was a little dry. I did like the mound of leafy greens and light dressing they served with it, though.

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Photo of Ongo B.

 

11

135

Ongo B.

Torrance, CA

4 star rating
2/25/2009

I think this is one of the better lunch spots in this part of town. Used to drive pretty far to hit up this joint.

Salads really are the way to go, including the steak salad. Nice size, nice variations and tasty, but the dishes are pretty good too. Their chicken Madeira is also super flavorful, lots of wine in it, enough that you can taste it and the side spinach is good.

Like the décor, don't love the décor, but fun artwork is always nice too.  Never had dessert here, I mean how can you knowing that there's a dairy queen right around the corner?

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Photo of Alex A.

 

9

16

Alex A.

Glassell Park, Los Angeles, CA

1 star rating
3/14/2009

A classic example of having to many menu items (mostly consisting of the same ingredients) instead of concentrating on preparing a few quality dishes. $60 for lunch got us

*overcooked purple chicken with a side of mush veggies slathered in a  stick of butter
*a previously frozen app trio with tuna that made my stomach feel verrrrry wierd in the car
*2 ice teas (A+ on using Paradise brand)
*one glass of house white

I left feeling I had completely wasted $60. In an effort to make me feel better, my boyfriend consoled me by saying, "Well at least you didn't drop $60 on the ground"

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Photo of Lynn L.

 

1

11

Lynn L.

North Hollywood, CA

3 star rating
4/15/2009

Eclectic is a good option for North Hollywood post-theatre dining. They are open late, and surprisingly packed at 11 p.m. on a Saturday night. The wine selections are good and there is always an interesting flight of three wines available in tasting portions.

The menu is large, and having eaten there several times I can recommend the Rosemary Chicken Pasta, potsticker appetizers, bruschetta, and the pizzas. More than a couple of times I have ordered one of the entrees that comes with vegetables on the side, and the veggies were so unevenly hot I think they must have been done in the microwave.

Eclectic Cafe was an early entry into the NoHo redevelopment and has had real staying power over the years. Kudos to Brian the owner.

Photo of G. S.

 

0

46

G. S.

North Hollywood, CA

3 star rating
3/30/2009

Some days are more eclectic than others.
Their champagne brunch is pretty scrumptious but their dinner selections are just ok. The pasta is good when it's good but other times, I have dragon breath from all the garlic.  Steak salad and burgers hardly disappoint but while I've dined here a few times, I've actually ordered delivery many times. Since some selections are too pricey for what you get (just look at the appetizers), I get infuriated when they tag on a delivery charge when I live less than 1 mile away.
Unless they have some good lunch specials, I'll be saving my tax return for grocery shopping.

Photo of Henry L.

 

0

27

Henry L.

Pasadena, CA

4 star rating
3/8/2009

The food is always good and the staff is always great.  Especially the waitresses.  Not because they're gorgeous wannaba models, but because they all seem to have a great sassy attitude that makes the meal and bantering while you order/get your food that much more fun.

Overall, it's a solid place that's worth checking out.

Photo of Jim W.

Elite '09

362

323

Jim W.

Palm Desert, CA

4 star rating
Updated - 8/23/2008

Just got home from having a delightful dinner here...Sara, our waitress, was extremely informative and helpful...not to mention the knowledge she had of various wines...she is a huge asset to their staff!  
I ordered the seafood pasta and the stuffed mushrooms...YUM!  Really good and succulent!  The wine she suggested was creamy and tasteful...thank you Sara!!!  (wish I could remember the name of it).
The bread that they serve was like eating cake...OMFG!   I ate almost two baskets of it and kept dipping it into the EVOO and balsimic vinegar...You must try this the next time you go!!!
All in all, an exceptional experience...valet parking or street parking...friendly staff...nice atmosphere...good food...and nice wine list!

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2 Previous Reviews: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    7/8/2008

    Guess what?  I just now, via email, won the business card draw!!!  I got a $20 gift certificate AND… Read more »

Photo of Nicole C.

 

6

2

Nicole C.

North Hollywood, CA

2 star rating
2/28/2009

I work and live in the neighborhood and have been to Eclectic many times.  I really want to like this place, as the wait staff is nice and atmosphere is relaxing, but the food is just so bland.  Because it's one of the few nicer places to eat, we go on a lot of business lunches here, and I try to order something new each time.  The pasta dishes are medicore, the salads are nothing unique and the meat entrees are bad.  The bread with pesto is decent and the wine selection is fair, but for the cost of this place, i expect way better taste.  

They need to not have such a huge menu and focus on 10 great dishes.  The size of the menu rivals the Cheesecake Factory, but with out some good dishes.  I am definitely not a food snob (see my review on Spumante that is right down the street) but I demand great flavors and some kind of focus on a menu.

Photo of Clement H.

Elite '09

67

200

Clement H.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
10/8/2008

Well;

What can I say about this place!!! Beside the Sunday Brunch with Champagne a volonte...
I had diner there too, and it was wonderful.
The staf are very attentif, and way too many cute guy out there.
Well, not only them but the food is excellet.

The preparations and temperature of the food is oustanding.
Sunday Brunch is the best especially when my partner is enjoying it.

Definitely a good place to go and enjoy yourself.

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Photo of Stephanie P.

 

32

64

Stephanie P.

Studio City, CA

4 star rating
4/12/2009

I have come here quite a few times - mostly a laid back and classy girls night out but a few times on dates and double dates. It's chill, not too expensive, they have some nice bottles of wine and wine tasting flights, and good food. The food has rarely gone poorly. Last night I had lamb which was cooked perfectly - delicious and juicy... with roasted potatoes and steamed veggies... so good! For dessert... fresh strawberries... a perfect meal! There is a parking lot out back that they share with XMA... but last night it was valet only... whatever, we would have walked if we knew that since it's in my neighborhood - but we easily found street parking.

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Elite '09

15

118

Cherie H.

Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
5/12/2009

They have a menu filled with quite a few pizzas, pastas and salads, along with other entrees. I like that you can order a flight of wine - although I didn't try it when I was there. The Bolognese is ok. The Shrimp Linguine is delicious, but extremely rich. They also have a blend lemonade with mint called a Mintonade. Very refreshing.

Photo of Aaron R.

 

173

562

Aaron R.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
6/2/2008

This is a review of their brunch.

The space is nice, dark leather booths, and a small outdoor space, a curved bar, make for a swank, yet comfortable atmosphere.
They have a seventeen dollar all you can drink champagne brunch, which came with come cut-rate sparkling wine, which was drinkable but nothing to write home about.

The food however was good. Not blow my mind good, but better than I've had in a while.
Pricing was cheap for the quality and presentation of the food. I got a breakfast pasta, with vegetables, eggs, cheese and proscitutto for twelve dollars.
Coffee was good by my estimation.
Our server was both cute and clever, and had a good sense of humor.
After our initial Toast debacle (rosemary toast= not so good) we got back on the right foot.
All in all a delightful brunch with good company and good food. I will return.

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Photo of Shawnte S.

 

26

29

Shawnte S.

Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
6/23/2008

The only reason I'm not giving this two stars is because my company was great, and she really loves this place. The guilt of two-starring it would eat me alive, consuming my dreams, both waking and asleep.

Or maybe that's just the awful port chicken still rumbling around in there.

It was flat - the flattest chicken I've ever seen. Pancake chicken. Gristly, pancake chicken smothered in some mealy brown sauce, flecked with bits of rubbery "mushrooms." The bland steamed vegetables were edible; the lumpy mashed potatoes in the bottom tier of my greater L.A. mashed potato pile, though serviceable.

The most interesting thing about the entire experience were the spooky photos of precocious children hung above my head. Oh, and the oil and vinegar bottle. That was pretty cool.

I suppose you get what you pay for - normally.  But for $17, I would have expected my chicken to be at least slightly more than "serviceable."  I've had better at Applebee's.

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Photo of stephy s.

 

3386

2462

stephy s.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
1/16/2008

Does anyone else remember the days when North Hollywood was simply, North Hollywood?

I grew up in the Valley in the neighboring Studio City area and once upon a time, North Hollywood was the furthest thing from a NoHo Arts District. In fact, if someone would have told me back then that the area that housed the Chandler train tracks, the Vineland Boys, the North Hollywood Boys, the Pep Boys and the creepy Greyhound Station would later become a place with trendy shops and brunch loving hipsters, I would have laughed in your NoHo Artsy face.

But then a little place called Eclectic set up shop and it soo didn't blend in with the established "lack of" scene here. Here was this place with polished concrete floors, modern art and design, exposed brick walls, really pretty bathrooms, strange wines by the glass, salads with even stranger vegetables called jicama in it and in some ways it was like a spaceship had landed in NH, because this was something I had never seen before and it was definitely something very new for the early '90's in the Valley.

Fast forward several teen years later and Eclectic now kinda seems like a dinosaur among all of the newer pop ups and it really kinda saddens me that they don't get the love and respect they should. They started the trend here, people and while their menu as a whole may not be the most next new foodietastical thing, they still serve consistently solid and tasty food and in the many years I've been coming here, I've never had a bad meal.

As for what I'd recommend trying...
The Stuffed Mushrooms with Spinach, Walnuts and Gruyere Cheese.

The Eclectic Chopped Salad
With Chicken, Bacon, Smoked Turkey, Tri-color Peppers, Walnuts, Jicama, Cucumber, chopped with Hearts of Romaine, diced Roma Tomatoes, Feta Cheese, tossed with Lemon-Garlic Dressing

Warm Steak Salad
Baby Field Greens tossed with a Balsamic Vinaigrette, Rib Eye Steak Grilled to order, Roma Tomatoes, Caramelized Red Onions and Mushrooms, Garnished with Imported Gorganzola Cheese

Seafood Pasta
Linguine Pasta, Tiger Shrimp, Sea Scallops, Mussels and Fresh Fish of the Day, Basil, Garlic and Romano Cheese in a Light White Wine Sauce

Ribeye Steak
14-ounce Steak Grilled to Order, Marinated with Rosemary and Garlic

All are super tasty and reasonably priced. It's also a great place to pop in for lunch if you work in the surrounding areas or at the studios. They will get you in and out fairly quickly and will serve up their service with a smile. Check it out and pay your respects to this place, they've certainly earned it.

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Elite '09

158

358

Christian P.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
3/10/2008

Came here for brunch yesterday and had a very pleasant experience.  My guy and I had the brunch  and being the drinker I am they have the Bottomless Champagne brunch for $17.00!!!  Guess they haven't had me there lately!
Anyhow the decor is very modern and minimalistic which is what I really like.
The service was excellent and we had a great server.. female with long black hair.
The food was excellent and served very quickly! I had the salmon pasta entree that is part of the brunch menu and my man had the Egg version of it.. Both were perfect and and delicious.
Refills of the champagne were a bit slow at first but picked up.

I will definitely be back and have drink a long brunch with my 234 glasses of champagne

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11

20

Sera F.

1 star rating
8/21/2008

I hate giving out only one star- I am not one to hate on dining places. I visited here last week around 530-6ish. When I first walked in I loved the vibe and the aesthetics of the environment.

The problems:

1) The waitress who sat us and took our drinks never returned after that- So we had a stand in- which wasn't our waitress but noticed how overly busy our original waitress was.

2) Being offered the house wine does not mean that just for a glass it will be house price. In fact, $16 dollars for a small glass is way overrated. I could definitely walk into the nearest trader Joes and get 3 bottles for that $.

3) I ordered the Ahi tuna salad- At first I was scared of the color of my seared tuna. However, it did not smell bad so I ate it- Typically the inner layer is known to be a blood red or fairly bright in color- the inside was bruised and maroon. I was hesitant but because it did not smell bad I ate it- I then was invited to attend a play down the street and I did not last 30 minutes. I went home spending the same amount of time in the BR as I did on the check.

4) The classic moment of the best: 10 minutes it took for someone to respond to my dear friend who wanted the shrimp cocktail sauce instead of the fish tarter sauce she was given- only to hear these lines. "Oh, we don't have that but you can put ketchup in your tarter sauce to get it to be like it." Clearly she had no idea what my quest was talking about and graduated the 3rd grade recently.

Never will I come here again.
Words from a dear friend, "eventually you'll learn to not eat the food if your gut tells you it looks bad."

Xx
-B

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17

421

Kristen F.

Vancouver, BC

Canada

5 star rating
5/12/2007

I was afraid to check out this place after reading so many mixed reviews but the experience wasn't a bad one.

I dragged my gal pal here for dinner last night and parking was a nightmare. Parking is normally easy to find on the side streets but construction near by had everything blocked off. Wrong place at the wrong time? We didn't care. We were hungry!

We gave up and had valet park the car. Only $3.50 which isn't bad. We won't go broke over it. Made our way inside. I loved the ambiance here. They had a fountain, a bar, comfortable seating and enough room for a dinner party. I'm thinking my next birthday party.

They don't serve liquor, but I barely knew her, only wine and beer which is a bummer since I don't drink neither but I opted for a glass of white zin while my gal pal had merlot (me thinks?)

Everything looked great on the menu. It was hard to make a definite decision. I went with the penne pasta with chicken and mushrooms in a white cream sauce. My friend ordered pizza but asked if she could have goat cheese instead of mozzarella. No it's not cause she's vegan. She just can't eat those kinds of products. The waitress said she would check with the chef and in response they said it would cost extra which she didn't mind.

In all it was a great dining experience. I loved the food, I loved the service, the ambiance and the company. My friend was great-ful to the chef for switching out mozzarella for goat cheese. Normally other restaurants would have a cow over that.... no pun intended.

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255

Tiny C.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
4/20/2007

Ok, so there really isn't anything particularly eclectic about this place, aside from the name.  It's your typical Italian/American fare, salads, pastas, rissotto.  Our waiter was pretty much a dumbass, and service was kind of meh because of him.  

However, the food did taste good, and this place is walking distance from my boyfriend's office, and they had good bread....once we asked them to bring us some.

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48

183

cheng k.

Santa Barbara, CA

2 star rating
12/16/2007

Meh.

Came here for brunch as it seemed like a better idea than jack in the box. Parking is annoying, but we eventually found the parking lot.

The restaurant itself is very nice looking. You'd never guess how nice the restaurant is done up just by walking/driving by.

Service was fine, the staff was friendly and attentive.

However the food was a big miss in my book. I ordered the eggs saumoniere, basically lox eggs benedict. Well, the smoke salmon was literally, smoked salmon and not lox so that was a bit disappointing. There was a piece of shell in my poached egg - waa waa i know but still... and the overall taste just didn't do it for me. Compounded with some "sauteed red potato" which really tasted mushy and boiled and left to sit out a bit long

One thing that was funny, my friend requested tabasco, and the guy came with pesto...... uh ?? Yes the tabasco eventually showed up.

Not too sure if i'm coming back but if i do i'm ordering an omlette

.

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8

114

Pia S.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
5/14/2008

Hit or miss like a few people mentioned already...kinda pricy and it seemed like they took long considering I was on my hour lunch break. But they were super nice.

Maybe I will try it again some other time and try the steak salad. But whatever I got recently (Cajun chicken sandwich with a side of salad) tasted like dirt and grass combined or something.

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61

Lucuma X.

Marina del Rey, CA

4 star rating
1/13/2009

I used to drive by it all the time and the outside of the restaurant was what kept me away from it.  I am not sure it happened, but i guess one day I was curios enough to go in and was pleasantly surprised. The have some great salads!

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3

Justin A.

Glendale, CA

3 star rating
9/18/2008

Great atmosphere; good date place.

Nothing too imposing, easy, enjoyable, won't break you.

Easier than Hollywood and still cool.

Food is good but nothing to write home about.

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37

261

Jason M.

Miracle Mile, CA

3 star rating
3/19/2007

On a recent adventure to NoHo to see a dance show, we decided to eat dinner near the theater and came to Eclectic Cafe.  It's very cute inside and the service we experienced was actually pretty good.  We started with the special lentil vegatable soup which was good, and the bread they bring to the table is delish.  Things went downhill from there.

Perhaps downhill is too strong.  I got a pesto cream penne dish that was lacking something.  Salt definitely helped, but it took a lot to kill the blandness.  Perhaps there wasn't enough pesto.  My girlfriend got the veggie pizza and it too was underseasoned.  We decided to order dessert and got the chocolate cake, which again was just lacking.  The textures of the mousse-like ganache in between the layers of cake and the ultra dense chocolate glaze on top were pleasing, but it just didn't have anything special about it.  If I was blind I might not have even identified it as chocolate cake, just some sweet confection.  

For those items, I have to knock Eclectic down.  I might give them 3.5 stars if I could, but alas I'm not in the mood to round up to 4.

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9

Juliet V.

North Hollywood, CA

4 star rating
7/16/2008

I had the most adorable waiter, Woodrow, a table with a view of the entire restaurant and the street, a nice glass of Pinot Grigio, and the scallop risotto. Everything was perfect. The atmosphere was especially impressive. I felt like I had instantly been transported out of North Hollywood for an evening. Oh god, and the focaccia was fantastic.

I would give it 5 stars, except that the menu was a little bland and standard for a restaurant calling itself "Eclectic". It's mostly just Americanized Italian fare.

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sara l.

North Hollywood, CA

4 star rating
12/2/2007

Dude, this place rocked totally unexpectedly!  We were feelin' like Nook or Sunshine, but lacked the stamina to drive over the hill.  So we ended up here, and had the best time!  Our server, Anna, could not have been more awesome.  Plus she'd just gotten back from Guatemala (where I'm going in Jan.) and gave me some tips.

The food was awesome.  My girl had the goat cheese pizza which was great and had a homemade crust, and I had the seafood pasta, full of large shrimp, mussels, and a big, beautiful, well cooked scallop.  It was a white wine sauce with garlic, and it was rich a yummy and delicious.  I feel like it's hard to find a place where we can find good, decent food for $15-$20 a piece.  Everything's always $7 or $50, and there's rarely a decent in between.  the manager could see my girl was very hungry and gave us a table right away.  I'm super excited about it, and we'll definitely be back.

12/09/07
Went back again, and had a lovely time...again!  David, the manager is awesome.  The bolognese pasta was good, and the grilled tuna nicoise salad was also good.  I just think this place kind of rocks.  Best $20 meal in the neighborhood.

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96

Carl S.

Glendale, CA

3 star rating
9/20/2006

Nice place... Service is decent, though not telepathic or particularly attentive (I can never get a second beer before the main course). The food is good, and it's probably one of the most upscale restaurants in the neighborhood.

I've had their Rare Steak Salad before and it was really good... especially on a hot summer evening. Their steaks are generally pretty good; I've had them twice now.

This remains the one restaurant that's close to home that I take friends and family to when they're visiting.

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Elite '09

60

285

jess a.

Playa del Rey, CA

4 star rating
2/27/2008

Love their brunch.
Huh, a lot of my reviews are about brunch. I really, really like brunch.
Anyways, delicious champagne brunch on Sundays. All you can drink, although sometimes it's hard to catch the server for more bubbly.
Lunch is good too, and some good wines to choose from.

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