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Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Beverly CrestTue-Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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I absolutely love this place...
My friend took me here for a jazz night to listen to Barbara Morrison, a gorgeous, amazingly talented singer might I add. The food was delightful and I plan on taking my girlfriend here for Valentine's.
The place is definitely not cheap, dinner with a bottle of wine and $40 admissions for two, on top of dinner (which I found a bit surprising considering how much we spent on food) with tip averaged over $300 for two.
But... worth every penny. The ambiance, the lighting, the way the tables are set around the stage... it's a top notch place. Love it.
Went here for my girlfriend's birthday dinner. We had the pleasure of listening to the smooth sounds of Carl Saunders. The food was excellent, had the porterhouse and it was delicious! I would definitely go back.
My favorite part of this experience was the fact that we were sitting right next to the stage and the music wasn't blaring, we were still able to communicate and hear each other and we left without ringing in our ears. It was a great time!
Lets ring in the New Year with review number 200!!! YAY!!! (little happy dance) ( A little rah rah rah) and ( Champagne please?)
I wanted to save my lucky number 200 for a special place. It was so hard to choose, but after a romantic Christmas dinner here I knew this was the one.
Let me say that the drive up Mulholland was so much fun and the view gets you in the mood for the night right away. The restaurant is located , unexpectedly in a shopping mall. Weird location. In terms of parking, the valet was full but as we saw someone pull away from a spot we just took it upon ourselves to park and hand the keys to the attendent. Slick huh?
Once inside, the place was packed. The bar seems to be incredibly popular and some amazing looking drinks were being ordered. Martinis seemed to be the #1 here. If you would like a table they request that you order an entree, so that might contribute to the bar crowd as well.
NOTE: Usually this place has a cover, but this night was a special Christmas evening and there was no cover.
We were seated in the second row of tables right in front of the jazz stage. Lovely? Yes. Condusive to conversation? Not so much. But we managed. Make note when you are trying to reserve a table.
The service was wonderful. We had very attentive busboys along with a gracious waiter. We ordered the half dozen Oysters which were fresh and to our liking. The crab salad followed and that was also very good.
For our main entrees we ordered the Kobe burger that had spare ribs in them! I was told it was quite good. I ordered the scallops which were melt in your mouth tasty with a great combination of spicy polenta and cauliflower. A side of brocolli and parmesan really completed our meals. So satisying. The entire time we got to enjoy a good mix of blues, oldies, Christmas songs as well as opera? Yes, he attempted. It was all rather fun and incredibly romantic.
I usually dont pass up dessert, but I was honestly so full. The hostess came by our table to ask if we might move tables to accomodate a larger party. We were happy to move as we were just having our tea and coffee. Right after we moved, a surprise! Dessert was sent over via the hostess as a thank you. Very classy and much appreciated, as the dessert was a rasberry filled yummy thin crust pastry with vanilla ice cream. YUM!
We spent nearly 3 hours there and it went by so fast. This is a great place for a date or special occasion. I would also say the menu is priced very well with about $60 per person without drinks for appetizer and a main entree.
It was a great way to start a new year filled with great meals and happy toasts!
Excellent!
My friend took me there the other day and what a pleasant spot! Great music, attentive servers, the ambiance was perfect and the food delish! We really enjoyed ourselves and I highly recommend this place for special occasions or a romantic date :)
A great place for a romantic date, special occasion or to enjoy some great jazz music. Everything about restaurant (the decor, the atmosphere, the live music, the service) helped to make the dinning experience very enjoyable. The food is also pretty good...the crab salad, hamburger and scallops, which were all flavorful and cooked well.
In terms of parking, there's a valet service and free self parking; however, it gets crowded on weeknights. That being said, you probably should make a reservation a day or two in advanced to grab a good table. Although this place is pricey, it's definitely worth it, considering all the great things it has to offer.
Being a jazz music lover and after hearing about this place for several months, I decided to have my birthday party at Vibrato this past weekend.
I called in to make a reservation for a party of 10 at 8:30pm on a Saturday. They told me they couldn't take us in at 8:30pm, but at 8:45pm, which was fine. However, when they called me Saturday afternoon to confirm my reservation, they told me they had me down for 9pm. I didn't like that too much as I've told my friends to arrive at 8:30pm; I didn't want everyone to wait too long before being seated for dinner.
When we arrived, the parking lot was a mad house. We all had to circle around for a bit before finding parking spaces.
Our table wasn't ready until 9:10pm, and they put us right next to the stage. Before our table was ready, all just hung around the bar area, which was small and packed. I could tell couple of my friends were getting bored, and we were all pretty hungry at that point.
One of my friends couldn't stay for dinner, and they told her she'd have to pay the minimum $25 food order if she continues to sit, so she ended up leaving.
After we put our orders in, it took them well over an hour to serve our food. I joked to my friends that it's their strategy to make us wait, so when the food arrives, it will taste better because we're all starving.
Food-wise, I ordered the lamb chops and they were cooked just right. I also ordered a side of roasted mushrooms which were delicious. One of my friends had the salmon, and she claimed it was the best salmon she's ever had. Another friend ordered a Porter House steak and she said it was very good. Judging from the responses, although the menu is pricey, the food was good enough for people to pay for the steep price.
In general, we all enjoyed the ambiance. It's a pretty vibrant and mellow place. The jazz lovers in the group all enjoyed the music very much (Carl Saunders performed that night). The only complaint we had about the music was they didn't amplify the music enough, so the performance felt more like a background music than a "show." We wished they could have turned up the volume just a little more so we could immerse and enjoy the tunes more.
Overall, Vibrato was a great experience for us. Several of my friends told me they've had a fabulous time, and they'd all love to go back again. I'd recommend getting there earlier on a weekend night since parking gets crazy, and eat a little something before you go because you may end up having a very late dinner due to the slow food serving time.
I love this place. The location is fantastic for me (probably 5 minutes from me), the decor is absolutely gorgeous, and the live acts are always great. The music stays in the background rather than calling attention to itself, so you can still have a conversation without strain.
I wanted to take points off because the fish I ordered, while flaky in the middle and well seasoned, was too crunchy on the edges and frankly they need a new pastry chef, but the overall experience is so nice it's hard to criticize it. The mixed drinks are superb--not all sugary and overwhelming in it's sweetness, just flavorful and savory. It's not for the faint of wallet--expect to spend a minimum $150 for dinner for two (easily double that with wine), but the jazz lounge vibe is so nice and the service so chill that you feel like you could spend all day there. It's wonderful.
What can I say that hasn't been said? Stopped in on a Wednesday night with Julia C. for a cocktail, appetizer and some jazz.. No cover that night. Some nights the cover is $20.
Try the calamari!! Best I've had.
If you're a teetotaler (like me) you'll get off cheap with a club soda; otherwise, the drinks are priced to keep the riff-raff out.
We'll be back!!!
Who would have guessed that such a gem would be found nestled inside a strip mall?! We held our company holiday party there this past weekend and everyone was absolutely delighted with the Vibrato. The food and service was excellent (although a few of us were unlucky with tough NY steaks) The decor, the cozy fireplace seating, the balcony (which is where we were stationed at) the bar, and of course the music are the perfect setting for an intimate evening with friends or with your sweetie.
I didn't just love this place because Herb Alpert is an owner (I've been a lifelong fan). The service was superior, attentive and warm.
The food, which, upon reading menu prices, I thought would be swathed in gold leaf to be worthy of those rates, were well worth the drop in weight of my (boyfriend's) wallet.
The atmosphere is warm and the decor is sleek blacks, oranges, and has a cozy feel despite being fairly vast. There is a semi-circle stage which the seating is based around, in an orchestral fashion.
My only complaint would be our table, which was beside the stage but back, closer to the wall, but at least we got a great audio spot.
I had the fresh scallops and grilled vegetables. I'd never had scallops before and with their texture I can imagine it's hard to get them right but they were melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and the way the veggies were done was also unique, as they were intensely flavourful and I wish I could re-create it at home.
Herb himself sometimes plays on the weekends, I hear. Vibrato grill is well worth the prices if you're trying to impress a date or celebrate a special occasion. You can't help but want to linger at the ends of your meal and order desert to extend your stay and feel doted upon in this excellent Bel Air spot.
I'm a huge Jazz fan, particularly Brazilian Jazz with the likes of Sergio Mendes and Jobim! I booked for dinner here and it's quite a drive to get there, winding road tucked up in the hills, but it was worth it! The food was great! I ordered fillet mignon, cesar salad and house wine. It was all good particularly the background live band, although it was a 2-man band, I was hoping to watch lani hall or herb. Otherwise it's a dating place with cozy ambiance!
I've read about this place for so long and I finally got to go! Came here on a date night and this is the perfect place for one. Rather than other "jazz" restaurants where the band serves more as background music than entertainment, the stage was the center of attention with seating all around. Inside is very swanky, posh, polished, whatever other words you can relate, it is.
We got there early to watch Poncho Sanchez and his Latin jazz band, and they really put on a great show. They played some 60's classics and some Salsa music, too bad there wasn't room at the time for dancing. He really got the crowd energized, and once the performance was over, the crowd quickly disbursed. If jazz is what you're into, this is the place.
The food itself was another shining point. I ordered the petite filet mignon and a side of mac and cheese. Both were excellent! The filet was soft and flavorful, no burning or undercooking, and the mac and cheese was rich with cheesy goodness and also had some bread crumbs and bacon pieces to really give it a good flavor. My boyfriend ordered the chicken, which while cooked well, didn't have much flavor by itself. He ordered a side of buttered corn which saved the flavor and texture, but definitely go with the cooked cow. Also the service was outstanding. Our waiter came around several times to make sure our orders were correct and cooked right. He timed his visits so that it wasn't interrupting an instrumental solo in the performance.
The drinks was one minor source of disappointment, we both ordered from their martini menu. I ordered a pomegranate martini and he ordered the jazz lemonade. Both had flavor, but lacked some punch. If you're aim is to get a little buzz, just order your own drink from the bar. Another minor source of disappointment was the price, but with this kind of place, if you don't know you're paying for both the music and dinner, you're really out of luck.
Overall this is one place I'd definitely want to go back to again. Watch their schedules for the next performances and make reservations, and get a table on the first floor near the stage if you're into all that jazz.
I FINALLY FOUND THIS PLACE!!!! OMG, it is STUNNING just to drive up here. The music is cool, but this is really a date place a place to have a nice dinner and be intimate. They even have a nice fireplace. I sat at the bar and ordered a lame salad and vegetables, but steak seems the thing to order. I chatted with an Indian couple who were cute together and met a guy from out of state who was really fun to hang out with. Classy people! Gosh, where are the cuties to go on nice dates with......
Andrew George told me about Vibrato.
Good food & GREAT Jazz!
From my house a short beautiful drive West down Sunset Blvd. right turn North on Beverly Glen.
Tasty appetizers, delicious fish and incredible musicians.
ABS-olutely going back.
Dion Jackson
This is my FIRST ELITE REVIEW!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~
Vibrato Grill lends itself to a lovely, lively and delicate environment of music and cuisine. The elegantly lit dining room sets the stage as a central focus while jazz ensembles fill the room with unique tones.
On the night I visited Vibrato Grill, Son Mayor ( http://www.sonmayor.com ) graced the stage with an extraordinary collection of Cuban Jazz. Not only was I in the company of a great, live ten-piece band, I was in the company of a great food, a fantastic ambiance and great people.
For dinner, I ordered:
Chilled Oysters:
Shallot Mignonette, Cocktail Sauce, Spicy Seaweed Salad
Mac and Cheese
Bacon Brioche Crust
New York Strip
Not only am I a fan, I'm dying to go back!
To see more of my reviews and the official posting of this review, visit http://miataylor.com/2...
Vibrato was a great experience. Took my wife for our eight year wedding anniversary and we both enjoyed the food, the service and the entertainment. Never would have expected the place to be in a strip mall, but it is. Doesn't look like much from the outside but inside is a small club with stage front and center. I haven't been to many jazz clubs so I'm no expert but there doesn't seem to be a bad seat in the house. We sat right up against the stage which was cool because we got to see the piano player work his magic up close and personal. Not very busy for a Friday night but that worked out great because after a long week at work, a quiet, intimate dinner for two was much needed. If you want more action, the bass player told me Tues and Wed nights jump.
Anyway, food was good, service was great. I'm not a red meat eater but if you are then great steak house menu. I had the chicken which was good but nothing to rave about; my wife the special sea bass with risotto and truffle, excellent but very rich. Oh yeah, we started with tuna tartare, excellent. A few glasses of wine, a little choc mousse you're out $100+ so be prepared. Our waiter was very attentive and my water glass never got below half full. The bread basket had these cheese, salt sticks...I could have eaten twenty of them. Enjoy.
Like the other reviewers, I agree that this is a great place for solid food and good jazz. One thing to note, however, is that this restaurant is somewhat hard to get to. It is really up in the hills. Once you get there, the place is really warm and inviting. The service is good and the food, while not entirely memorable, is good enough especially paired with the ambiance and live music. It's a good date place.
Expect a drive.
This is the place where you want to take a date. Not a first date, because you don't want to aim to high, but a third or fourth date.
Depending on your pocket book, I can recommend this place for dinner or just late nite dessert and drinks. I don't have to comment on the quality of the food since I agree with the previous posters: it's good.
The atmosphere is upscale, but still relaxed. Imagine a crowd of people that are well to do, but don't have the need to impress everyone.
The jazz is entertaining and comparable to Harvelles back in the day (even if more on the mellow side).
One thing that makes this place special is its location, a bit of the beaten path, but close enough to stop afterward on the side off Mulholland and watch the lights in the Valley.
What is it about steak that is so wonderful? It's a slice of cow, which is an animal with multiple stomachs that eats grass, regurgitates, and then re-eats the same grass (called "cud"). Is there something implicitly romantic about that? No, I don't think so.
So then why is it that, when you see a perfectly marbled piece of cud-eating animal on your plate, does it become an orgasmic affair? In my opinion, there are few things more worthwhile than sitting and eating a perfect piece of beef. Cud or no, I love cows.
So I went to Vibrato for my birthday last night, two years after my most recent experience. Not a single thing had changed. Tradition breeds experience, which is valuable. The layout hadn't changed, the menu hadn't changed... nothing. Which is fine... when you determine a winning strategy, why make modifications?
Here are the dishes that stood out, or that I personally ordered:
-slow roasted beet salad with red and gold beets, aged goat cheese, toasted pistacchio, and roasted shallot vinaigrette ($14) -- the gf and I shared this as our appetizer. I'm not usually a fan of beets, but goat cheese makes anything good. The beets were actually very tasty, extremely fresh, and very flavorful. The aged goat cheese was delicious, as was the roasted shallot vinaigrette, which added some texture and depth to the flavors.
-lamb lollypops -- this was a special, and while I'm unsure of the price, my mom ate the entire thing. The lamb was lightly seasoned, which was nice because the meat itself was so flavorful that it really didn't need any seasonings.
-For her entree, my gf went for another special, the sea bass with truffle risotto -- again unsure of the price, but it was delicious. The port reduction sauce that was drizzled around the edge of the dish didn't overpower the fish at all, and the fish itself was cooked masterfully (at a chop house?!), with a nice crispy exterior and a perfectly moist interior. And the truffle risotto? Magnificent... of course, what with truffles isn't?
-As for the bday boy, I went for the kansas city new york steak (bone-in) ($44) -- wow, what an incredibly flavorful piece of meat. It originally came out a little too rare even for my taste (I like it medium-rare), so I sent it back and it came out two minutes later cooked absolutely perfectly. Usually when you send back a steak it comes out dry and overcooked, but that wasn't the case here. Perfectly marbled, with phenomenal taste and texture. I chose the bearnaise as the accompanying sauce, but it was totally superfluous because the meat itself was so wonderful. We also went for sides of french fries and asparagus... the grilled asparagus was perfectly cooked, and the fries were nice and crispy and freshly cut.
The ambiance was, as usual, perfect. A pianist and an upright bass were providing sounds, which was nice in combination with the quiet Sunday night aura.
The service was also excellent. Granted the place was pretty empty, but our waiter (can't remember his name) was friendly, helpful, and did a good job of explaining each of the cuts of meat, and each of the other dishes in great detail. He was very attentive, and even though I forgot to order my appetizer salad until after my parents had received theirs it only took two minutes for them to whip up our beat salad and split it for me and the gf.
All in all, this is still one of the best chop-houses in LA. Great ambiance, excellent food, and live jazz make it a winner. The food gets 4 stars, the ambiance and live music bump it up to 5 stars.
One other note is that they now have a recession special tasting menu... select an appetizer, an entree and a dessert for $39, and you can get wine pairings with each course for an additional $15. Pretty damn good deal in my book. Also, since this place is off the beaten path, it's worth a little drive up Beverly Glen canyon to check out... whether for dinner, or just a glass of wine or drink at the bar. Help them out... I don't want to see this place close due to a lack of patronage. They may not have the big name of Mastro's or Boa, but consider Vibrato for your next date or night out... the ambiance is spectacular, and the food is excellent.
"All My Life" -KC and Ribeye
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Beefy, Ooh, I'm so glad
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My friend's words to me in reference to Vibrato Jazz Grill: "It's a really fabulous place to get drinks and listen to jazz. Food is pricey but worth it."
Well, I went there to check it out and she wasn't kidding. Son Mayor, a group of 12 amazing musicians that play a mixture of vintage Latin and contemporary Cuban music had the room for the night. We got a table right against the stage and dined on some fabulous steaks. The oysters were huge and the martini's were excellent.
Oh, and be sure to try the mac and cheese.
LOVE THE FOOD made at VIBRATO!
Go before 9pm, cos the parking is a bit of an issue. Once you get a table, order a Pinot Grigio chilled with Seafood Pasta and the rest is history. The pasta melts in your mouth and you travel into heaven of the best senses of quality italian food.... Oh, good memories.
I really enjoyed myself here! The music was lovely and the atmosphere is romantic! :) GREAT DATE PLACE! The food was good, not necessarily the BOMB, but still a thumbs up.
This is a really nice place with great service, good food and really good jazz too! It is a well designed and upscale looking place. The staff was friendly and helpful.
My husband and I went there to hear a friend play (Wayne Bergeron) and it turned out to be just what we needed. We were right in front of the band and if you wanted to talk, you can forget it. But we came to listen and have a bit of food.
I ordered a cosmo (well made, tasty) and had salad and soup for dinner. The cesar I ordered was small and pretty and the taste was delicate and perfect. The soup was some sort of tomato and vegetable thing that was like ambrosia for the gods! I'll grant you that I've had way too much fast food and oreos lately so it could be I simply needed nutrition.
My husband had the filet and said it was awesomely good... as good as any he's had.
Our friends had respectively, salmon and some mac and cheese dish. It all got eaten so I'm thinking it was good.
I will definitely be going back there. I liked the feeling of the place.
My map quest took me on a harrowing trip around the curviest part of Mulholland at a very busy hour... a bit trying, so I'd approach it by going up Beverly Glen...not the freeway.
Upon first glance once might be a little iffy on whether or not the venue will be nice. Yes, it's located in Bel Air, but tis in a strip mall of Bel Air. However, once you step inside all worries disappear. A dimly lit romantic atmospere with a welcoming staff. I was with a friend to see a great guitar duet. We first had a couple drinks at the bar. I had the most delicious Lime Basil Martini while my friend put down several Sierra Nevadas. There is a full bar and a handful of brews available. Sorry beer lovers, no tap and a limited bottle selection.
For dinner we started with the crispy calamari. Not as crispy as I like, but the chipotle aioli dipping sauce made this dish a must have. For entrees, we ordered the Kobe Beef burger, a side of mac 'n cheese, and the scallops. The burger was quite disappointing... no flavor and overcooked. We asked for medium and got well done. Yes I should have sent it back, but the jazz duet had just started and I hate when you're with someone and they have their food and must wait for your order before they can enjoy theirs. All in all, worst Kobe burger ever. I devoured the mac 'n cheese. Out of the abundant list of mac 'n cheese entrees I have tried this is second only to Stone Brewery's Mac 'n Beer cheese. I loved the little bits of bacon and the creaminess was dead on. Not too dry. Not too watery. And then there were Scallops. Disappointed with the quantity (4 medium sized scallops), but my god they were cooked to perfection, and the flavor was almost orgasmic. Best scallops ever!
I also give this venue two thumbs up to enjoy great music. The acoustics are wonderful, and the design is quite unique. We even met the band after the performance. Overall, Vibrato is a must even though it'll put a dent in your wallet.
A friend who lives in the area suggested this for dinner; wow what a great place. Even Strip Malls can have glam places to eat and enjoy great music while eating great food and listening to some awesome jazz. Both of us had the salmon with lentils (I have a new appreciation for lentils now). Complimentary Valet parking. Definetly worth a trip back but save up your pesos its not cheap!
Their chicken was overcooked, dried, and didn't taste like a $20ish dish. Ambient was good, but music was a little boring. Their live band plays jazz that sounds like any other restaurant that plays music with a CD. I wasn't impressed with the band at all. The desert was not bad, a choclate cake with a scoop of mint ice cream.
I love this place!! The music is awesome and the food incredible! they serve a great Filet mignon...so tender! with mac and cheese and bacon....yammi!
the food is always good, the music even better.
be prepared for a big bill, but worth every penny.
the steaks are amazing, the size of mushrooms so scrumptious.
the speciality bar drinks are good.
make reservations; keep an eye out for celebs.
the ambiance is great.
They once told me to put my flip flop back on when I was sitting at the fire place. Maybe I shoudln't have been wearing flip flops there to begin with, but I'm a bum sometimes. That said, I haven't eaten there aside from dessert and the breadsticks they have at the bar, but I'm told the food is wonderful. The main problem is that they aren't open on Mondays and that's when I'd go (with my fam). But the music is always good and the ambiance is great.
This place is one of LA's best and famous venues for great jazz, for both local and national talent. It is definitely a bonus that the food is amazing as well. The calamari appetizer has to have been one of the best if not THE best I've had. Light and flaky goodness. The fish I had was also grilled to perfection not to mention dessert and drinks being top notch as well. If I could only afford it, I'd be a regular!
Jazz is dying in LA. The remaining greats are disappearing as the months go by, and the acts at the few venues we have become less and less stellar. It's a shame, when you compare us to NYC, where they haven't got the memo that jazz is in the past. I love jazz, it's my favorite kind of music. I love food, it's my favorite thing to eat. Vibrato's music isn't incredible or topnotch, but it's jazz, done live. Their food isn't the best in LA either, but they take it seriously, and if you order the right stuff, you'll be very happy. The service is sort of hit and miss, at least for me. Early on, I asked so many questions they thought I was a critic, you know, an actual paid critic. Once they asked and learned that I wasn't, the five minute trips to the table became a glance every 15 minutes. That's fine, because I had music to listen to.
You don't get the feeling here that you are on the cusp of anything especially exciting, but you do get to hear and taste the work of craftsmen with a love of art. You won't leave changed, but enriched and delighted. You may not come back, but if this is your kinda thing, you'll remember.
it was better the first time i was here, but i still love this place. great decor and service... good food.
plus, i ran into julie andrews here. woo!
Wonderful. Order the steak. The Lobster Salad was extremely delicious.
The Jazz music is fun, but it can be a little loud at times, making conversation a little more difficult.
This is a great place to go when you want to get dressy.
V E A L
P A R M I G I A N A
Tom Scott on the reeds doesn't hurt either.
This is my favorite restaurant in Los Angeles. The good is excellent. The steaks are some of the best I've ever had. The porterhouse and the Kansas City steak are phenomenal. Everything about this place is amazing. Live jazz, beautiful decor, upscale and pleasant crowd, great service, and amazing food. Check their website for upcoming performances.
Great decor and ambiance. I also like the location, which is a bit off the usual beaten path. Unfortunately, the jazz was very blah. It looked to me like the musicians would have rather been anywhere but there. They could have phoned-in their performance. I had a steak and it was excellent. Service was also very good. Prices were high, of course, but you expect that if you are going to be entertained. Problem is, that's a big IF at the Vibrato Grill.
I believe Herb Alpert is one of the owners and as a lifelong TJB fan, I expected this place to be "sharp" instead of "flat". Oh well, I guess even the greats can blow a wrong note every now and then.
We only came here for desert, but all 3 choices were really good. I did the flourless chocolate cake with mint ice cream. BF did the NY cheesecake with berries and our friend C ordered the blue berry cobbler. We passed the plates as good friends do so we all managed to taste everything. I think everything has less calories when you eat dessert this way. Plus there was the 10 second hike from the Mulholland Grill to Vibrato. This venue looks like a great place to catch a jazz band. There didn't appear to be a bad seat in the house.
The overall ambience of this restaurant is really pleasant... kind of a comfortable elegance. We sat at one of the booths, which was perfect. Unfortunately, when we arrived we were told by valet that the lot was full and were instructed to "just drive around" until something opens up. I'm not that much of a snob, but come on!
Started with a pear/mint martini that was delicious. We ordered the oysters (average) and the goat cheese ravioli (decent) for appetizers. Split the Dungeness crab salad (the highlight of the night) along with a pretty good Riesling. For dinner I ordered the porterhouse ($50 yikes!) and my husband had the lamb. Both of our plates came out luke warm instead of hot. The lamb was way oversalted. The flavor of the steak was good and it was cooked perfectly, but again the fact that it wasn't hot was a real disappointment. The manchego macaroni & cheese and the creamed spinach were passable. Another complaint was our wine. We ordered a half bottle that was really heavy on the alcohol when it was first opened. A more knowledgeable staff would have either decanted it or opened it early to let it breathe.
Our reservation was at 7:30pm and at 8pm the live music started. Problem is, it was only half the band. I don't know if it was planned that way, but the pianist and bass player played a couple standards and then went on a really long break. At 9pm the whole band came out and things improved. Unfortunately we were done with dinner.
All this being said, I would consider going back and making a later reservation, but only because of the live jazz.
so i really liked this place - maybe we were there on a good night, but the atmosphere makes it. we went on a night w/ a great jazz performer - George Harper, Jr. We got a table right up front on the side which made it nice that we were so close, but not in George's face. yes, it was romantic and it makes a difference if you're with someone you truly enjoy being with - but i could totally see myself going w/ a small group of girlfriends drinking and being girly.
the food is your typical steakhouse-ish food... we both had steaks and had the tuna tartare for an app. i'm not a huge fan of tuna, but i had some and it was good. my BF liked it. we got sides for our steaks too and still very good. the difference is you're not paying a ridiculous price for your meal like at other steakhouses. and here you're getting live jazz!! you can't beat that. i mean, i loved mastro's and this place isn't necessarily CHEAP, but it's tucked away and a very cool place. i'd go back.
The night I experienced Vibrato was great. Had a great table right in front of the stage and the food was above par.
10% Discount Continues
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