When a restaurant is empty, and you would like to enjoy a glass of wine and appetizer with your friend, it would seem a simple thing -- an easy table for the server, and a quick turnover for the restaurant -- everyone is happy. But Abernathy's would prefer you go elsewhere. They suggested getting a glass of wine to go and sitting on the public patio. No problem with the public patio, but the majority of the tables at the restaurant were empty. It was 3:45 pm. After a little pushback, we were eventually seated. We each ordered a glass of wIne and would have ordered an appetizer, but nothing looked appealing. A few minutes later, the hostess came to our table and informed us we would need to leave by 4:30 pm due to a reservation at our table. The restaurant was still empty. Why would you kick us out for a non-existent customer? Our server, Fabrice, was lovely, but the rest of our experience? Suffice to say, we will not be back. I recommend going to Kendall's. Or better yet, go home after the theatre -- do without the rude experience and save your money. read more

My perception that this is a theater trap restaurant was all wrong. The food here is solid. Standouts on the current menu for for me were the albacore bruschetta and the Icelandic cod both delicious. The service could feel a little less indifferent but otherwise a great choice before a show. Would definitely choose this again. read more

Such a fun experience. Food is usually very good Convenient to theatre and love the people watching with the outdoor seating

The food was terrible and the wait for the food as well. The only good thing was that I was with my beautiful wife. read more

Food was good but pretty overpriced. The service was lousy though. Took forever to get the food and others around us got theirs. Then we had to chase for the bill so we weren't late for the opera read more

Great before the Ahmanson. Despite new chefs periodically, food and service always great

There are not a lot of restaurants in walking distance of the Ahmanson Theatre so prior to attending a show, we decided to have dinner at Abernethy's on the plaza of the Music center. I have not been to the music center in a while so this restaurant is new to me. It changes chefs on a quarterly basis. The menu was Tunisian. I've been to Morocco so I was somewhat familiar with the selection. Our server, Aliyah made the recommendation to share orders and she suggested the farmers cheese appetizer. I was not too keen on this, not that it was not good, just something I do not favor. The creamy cheese was good. The meal was served warm. I had the delicious Tabil branzino. Exceptional flavored cous cous and the fish was flaky and tasty. My date had the most and flavorful chicken Mosli. The meal was unique and tasty. Prices were reasonable but they charged us for bread. Ugh. Our server made sure we had enough time to get to our seats. read more

See all

The ambiance is nice; although the seats at the bar are a bit uncomfortable. The food portions are extremely small, in my opinion. The flavor of the food is average. I had a tuna salad dish with very little tuna and 5 chips. The chips were not freshly made, and the tuna salad needed salt to give it flavor. The service is good. However the server played a dirty trick on me. My dish and a drink came to about $36, and with tax it was $39 and change. I was at the bar for about 25 minutes, and another person brought me the tuna dish. So I was going to leave a $7 dollar tip on the $36 dollar bill ($5.40 being 15%). I had twenty dollar bills only. So I gave her two for the meal and asked her to break my third twenty so that I could leave a tip. She gave me four five-dollar bills. Ah, she knew that I could leave her no less than $10, which I did to not embarrass her or myself. So it cost me $50 for a basic cocktail and a tiny tuna whatever it was. I would not go back but for a drink, provided I had cash and one dollar bills. read more

My daughter and I went to grab a bite to eat before our show at the Ahmanson. Since they didn't have a kid's menu, we ordered pasta with butter for her, the caesar salad for me and a side of crispy potatoes for both of us. My daughter's pasta had way too much butter but she decided to eat some of it anyway. My salad was drenched in dressing and practically inedible. We also asked for the potatoes with the italian dressing that comes with it on the side. They made a mistake with the potatoes and put the dressing on top. When we told our server, she realized that it was an error and said she would replace it. When I said there was too much dressing on the salad, she said that's the way the chef wants it. I told her that the dressing was good but it was just too much. She said she would bring out another salad for me. The mistake with the potatoes was fixed but when my salad came, they brought everything on the side (the dressing, the cheese, the croutons), meaning I basically had to put my salad together myself. It was very passive aggressive. They could have simply re-made my salad and put the dressing on the side. Problem solved. When the bill arrived, I noticed they charged me for a penne dish with vodka sauce. I pointed it out to my server and she said that since I ordered a pasta dish (the pasta with butter), the price was the same. They should tell a customer that before ordering. A penne dish with vodka sauce is not the same as a simple pasta dish with butter. Needless to say, I won't be returning to this restaurant again. read more

The service and food were fine but not exceptional for the cost. some of our dishes were chipped. The restaurant floor was disgustingly dirty, it looked as if it gets broom swept but never mopped. Chef Brad Willits should be embarrassed. read more

See all

Cool concept, great location and wonderful food Really enjoyed our dinner at Abernethy's. We dined here with Chef Lenora Marouani -Tunisian Soul menu. My favorite was the farmers cheese (the Golden Beets are exceptional) also the swordfish crudo and also really enjoyed the lamb meatballs with M'Hamsa (or couscous) these dishes were 5/5. The harissa shrimp and Jidori chicken were 4/5. There is some seating inside but most is outside under a tent. The heaters can be hot so I suggest sitting on the sides and not the middle under the heaters. read more

Super disappointed and upset by the recent service here. I see lots of shows at the Ahmanson Theater and usually meet friends for dinner beforehand at a nearby restaurant so the location is super convenience. Unfortunately, this past week was the second time we've had a problem with the service there and not been able to get our food in time for our 8pm show. Last Thursday 8/18 I went with 3 friends for dinner and ordered about 5 dishes at 6:45pm and let them know we had a show at 8pm. 2 of our small dishes came out rather quickly as we drank a bottle of wine. We waited and waited and watched as the 3 tables around us that came in after us received all their food. At 7:30pm I asked for the check and said I'd love to sign now so that we can leave right after we eat our food since we have a show to get to quickly. At 7:45pm we asked about our food and they said they would check as the other patrons that came in 10-15 minutes after us left for the show having eaten their meals already. We were so hungry it was very sad and frustrating. The manager Aly then came over to talk to us and said that the food was not ready yet (somehow.....) and gave the excuse that when they put the orders in there is no priority to people who came in first. This made absolutely no sense since we received 2 of our dishes very quickly and also how does that make any sense? Aly was very curt and DID NOT APOLOGIZE. She then just walked over to the podium and charged us for the food and drink we did receive but also forgot to take one of the items off that we had not received so we had to correct her again to take that off. There was no comping of any items as a sorry, no apology at all. She said that there might be a problem with their machine refunding us the original bill and told me to call them tomorrow if it doesn't come off my credit card statement. Well, it's been 8 days and the erroneous charge for $180 is still on my credit card bill. I've called Abernathy's every day this week since Monday and I've gotten NO call back. None. I am now disputing the charge through Bank of America which is a pain in the butt. It's not the first time I've had bad service there but just ignoring them charging me an extra $180 feels outrageous and I needed to write a review to warn people. Needless to say, my friends and I will be dining somewhere else before all our shows for the foreseeable future. :( read more

Nothing soul about this food. I grew up on it. However, the catfish nuggets were good, as were deviled eggs. Out of Mac and cheese at 11am. Greens bitter, succotash too many elements that don't belong. (no Lima beans). Loud, music loud. Service poor. Couldn't even get dishes removed without asking. Waited, waited...won't be back. I wonder if the chef has even been to the south. read more

I had a reservation on Saturday, and it was extremely busy. Aliyah was our server and although our food was delayed, the manager Aly was still able to attend to you before your show time. It was an all hands on deck situation even the hostess Judy was helping out! The vodka pasta was amazing just a little spicy, and the blossoms EXCEPTIONAL!! Overall, great service and food! read more

After waiting 3 months to try this place, I was extremely disappointed by the service. The manager poured my beer and wound up overfilling the glass, so 25% of my expensive drink wound up on the table. He lazily cleaned up some of the spill, but my table and outside of my glass was left sticky - and he didn't even give me a new drink to compensate for the spilled one! On top of that, they seated us directly under the heater while the weather was 80 degrees out! Won't be returning here. read more

Food is hit and miss depending on the chef in charge, which changes quarterly. Went yesterday before theater, rather limited menu and out of one of the items, chicken! Crab cakes tasted ok, a little dry, said it came with small arugula salad but instead served with frisse; the ceaser salad was disappointing. Our server, however, was excellent. read more

Went for a drink with my wife prior to a play and was told they could only take 1 of us due to a "soft opening". Bar had 1 person and at least 8 additional seats. They've been opened for a couple years. Won't even try them again. read more

It's convenient before attending the music center. It's interesting that they change chefs/menus from time to time. The food was delicious and pricey. The service was spotty. It took the server a while to notice me. When my water glass was empty, my server refilled the two glasses at the table right next to me. He walked away without checking or looking to see if my glass needed a refill. I find that to be negligent, inefficient and poor training. He also would disappear into the kitchen, and I didn't know when I'd see him again for servicing my table. read more

The setting and staff were lovely (thanks especially to our server Fabrice), and the comfort food menu by Chef John Cleveland (Post & Beam) rounded out an overall great experience. We started with the Outer Banks cocktail and then shared the deviled eggs, crab cakes, stuffed collard greens, mushroom steak, and apple pie, and everything was delicious -- so much so that we've made plans to return soon, so we can explore more of the menu before Chef Cleveland's tenure ends. read more

This past Saturday I went to get dinner at Abernethy's before my 8 pm show. It was my first time going to the restaurant and will definitely not be my last. Chef Lenora's food was excellent. I had the tabil branzino, never have I had anything so delicious. Aside from the food, the service was exceptional. The host was very sweet and answered all the questions I had. We were seated inside and our server Jon took great care of us. We will definitely be returning very soon, thank you Abernethys! read more

My family and I had a lovely birthday dinner for my mom prior to performance at theatre. The food was delightful and service great.

I was so excited to eat at Abernathy's. I had been trying to get a table there for months, but always sought a reservation too late. It is such a perfect spot for a pre-show special meal. So, when I finally got a table for dinner before a show, with two friends last night, I really was thrilled. The menu is fascinating and I had high hopes. My summary: I would go back in a heartbeat for 1/2 of what we ate, and, I feel like I should have returned to the kitchen the other 1/2...as it was boring and not worth the money. The setting is lovely and the service was wonderful, but - as noted - the quality of the food and drinks was incredibly uneven. I started with a craft cocktail, conquistadore, which was both beautiful and delicious. Yeah! We shared, for starters, the ricotta griddle cake with prosciutto and quince (because the server recommended it), and, I have to say, it was only okay. We were hungry, so we ate it, but the prosciutto was a little dry and the collection of flavors did not knock my socks off. Meh, honestly. They also offered a special, however, of four lamb "lollipops" with a cream sauce and some spice and sweet and I dunno what specifically it was but we were all blown away. That was exceptional. There were four chops and three of us ... we fought over the fourth. Our main courses followed the same pattern. We chose to share the sea urchin carbonara and we all fell in love with the flavors. I was with two less adventurous friends (in terms of culinary choices), but they trusted me and didn't freak out about the sea urchin butter. It was creamy, rich, flavorful, exciting to eat. I would go back just for that dish. We all wanted more. But, we also ordered the mussels and clams (again, highly recommended by the server) and we were all disappointed. I found both the mussels and clams to have been overcooked, slightly, but that's enough to damage the fun of eating them. The fregola was frankly boring. I missed having a flavorful broth in which to dip bread, but would not have minded the fregola had the brother at least been delish. It was not; the broth with the fregola wasn't even interesting enough that we wanted to eat it. So, the $28 dish had about 4-5 each of the mussels and clams, boring fregola, and a stale cracker with very uninteresting saffron cream ... and I love saffron. Our dessert, the semifreddo di cioccolato, was a huge hit with all of us. But, I also ordered as an after dinner drink their craft cocktail, care apertivo (I know, meant for before, but it sounded good), intrigued by the idea of the coffee-infused campari. I asked the server if it would be a sweet drink, good for a final meal flavor. He said yes. It was not - it was bitter and unpleasant. But, we had to hurry to make the show so I did not send it back. Thus, I spent just over $200 on a meal that should have been consistently exceptional. Half was. The other half, however, was so disappointing that it takes the stars from 5 to 3. Bummer. read more

Based on reviews and menu, I made a 5:45 reservation (we were going prior to 7:30 show). In no time, the restaurant cleared for the earlier shows. As soon as we received our entrees (after a salad starter), we were told last call for "savory food". We told them we were good with the savory. When we went to order dessert, we were told the kitchen was closed and no more dessert - would have been nice to get that heads up as it was not even 6:30. Friend begged for a macchiato and received a do it yourself one without any sweeteners on the side. Would have been nice to get a last call for everything as all of the staff was busing putting napkins and menus on all the tables around us. $100.00 later including the do itself drink minus the desserts (we had looked forward to), did not leave us happy with the experience. read more

2/18/2020 for the BoM opening at Ahmanson. Arrived a couple of hours early to ensure seating since all of the restaurants on the Plaza level (except for GGET cafe) are new. Chef Fulliloves modern soul menu was excellent. Super tender fully caramelized short ribs with a grilled apple, a great crab salad open face sandwich with avocado and some ikura. Crawfish Mac and cheese, nice and rich and creamy, roasted Brussels sprouts with roasted pear-apple nicely balanced without the heavy bacon version usually served. Nice by glass wine selections ranging from $12 up. The outdoor gas patio heaters are just the thing for the breezy upper 50's we've had lately at night. Reservations recommended to get inside at the tent seating, the non-reserved bar seats and outdoor patio fill up quickly during theatre rush hours (6-8 p.m.) All that's fine for a normal restaurant. But the star off is for what's been mentioned before - since 90% of customers have a showtime to make, its kinda critical to close the bill when scheduled. Right now, seating times aren't bad. Food service is team managed and relatively quick (but single trip when it's busy.) But the slack afterwards is really awkward as the front-house servers juggle their table assignments instead of simple team cash-out service usually found at these kinds of theatre patron places (pooled tips, everybody can handle every task, the hostess isn't pinned to the reception podium when she has no one waiting, etc.) Fix this and the rotating chef of the month idea is perfect for this location to get us coming back between shows. It is at the Music Center, so if you're not seeing a show, public transit (Metro Red/Purple is down the hill and shuttles (DASH and DART are more affordable.) Outside on the patio you'll get a great view of the dynamic digital video art installation that real-time captures visitors around the Fountain area. read more

In concept, the idea of rotating chefs and cuisines sounds amazing. But when my mother and I attended today on Sunday evening we found ourselves in a rush to make our showtime. We arrived 10 minutes early for our reservation so they weren't prepared to seat us yet. I already had a bad feeling once we sat down because we only received one menu, one water glass, and no silverware. Our first impression wasn't the best, but I was willing to give another chance since we hadn't tried their food. After getting the our placements and cutlery squared away, we ordered our food as soon as our waitress asked for our drinks. We waited about half an hour until we finally got our appetizers. We were getting anxious to make our showtime since we allotted an hour and a half for dinner. We ordered the Dine LA menu that included an appetizer, main course, and dessert. About 5 different help staff came to bring our meals so they continued to give our dishes to the wrong person. The food was delicious, but the overall service was unexpected for such a high-end restaurant. The receipt was even incorrect, but we didn't have time to point it out in order to arrive to our musical on time. My mother and I do not plan on coming here anytime soon since it was the worst service we've ever experienced. read more

We are so disappointed after reading the many good reviews. First off we had to send 2 items back 1) the griddle cake for being burned and overcooked the second , the lamb ragu dish (main course) was served before our appetizer and cold. The services leaves a ton to be desired - all the staff was in a hurry - putting plates down and walking off - we had no silverware to eat with. Had to flag staff for everything. They didn't even have stevia for the coffee. Who doesn't offer raw natural sugar or stevia these days at any nicer end restaurant. The fritters were over cooked and flavorless, the lamb ragu was good but not the huge shareable portion they said. The fig dessert was wonderful and our favorite the ricotta pastry desert was not good at all - and if it has sugar we are usually good with it. Not one person came to check after we had to send a dish back to make sure everything was ok. Often great service can make up for a rough night in the kitchen - wasn't the case. read more

So dissatisfied with this place. Before tip we paid just shy of $189 for three appetizers that were only enough for one, made sense when waitress stated everything was shareable. We ordered only one entree, the rib-eye, it came with six small bites, the only accompaniment was grilled onions. The steak had more fat practically then meat. We shared a super tiny desert. So so disappointed. A rip off, it sits on plaza so I guess they feel entitled to stiff you before you can walk away. read more

I was so looking forward to Abernethy's and made a reservation as soon as I read the LA Times article and saw that Shirley Chung was the first guest chef. However, sorry to say the food was such a letdown. We had the chicken potstickers, sable fish, roasted carrots and another dish that escapes me but I everything was very lackluster. The potstickers seemed liked they were precooked and just warmed up for service. The sable fish was cooked nicely (can't really screw up a fatty fish like that anyway) but the broth just was not tasty. The carrots were very boring. We were this past Sunday around 6:30 and the place was packed upon arrival. However, once most of the guests left for the show, it was over 80 percent empty. I thought that was unusual since that is prime dinner time. I suspect Abernethy is using a marketing ploy to feature celebrity chefs but the actual chef is not actually onsite. They may develop the menu and others try to execute it but much gets lost in the execution. I was hoping to have another place to eat before a show at the Music Center but think I'll stick with Otium. read more

Came here to grab something to eat before a show at the Ahmanson. We ordered the wings w/kimchi, avocado crab toast, and the roasted Brussel sprouts. Every single item was delish! Service was fast and friendly! We had no problems and we were in and out with more than enough time to get to our show. We sat outside by a heater lamp and it was perfect to people watch while you eat. We would eat here again! A little pricy, but worth it. Excellent quality and flavors! read more

I am so glad I was able to try such unique and flavorful dishes! Chef Shirley Chung really created a superb menu! Everthing was good. The dancing eggplant was a fun and yummy dish. read more

Abernethy's - Pot stickers..omg..yum - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Congrats @ryancostanza for an awesome menu @abernethysla Just loved that lobster salad, which was bright, fresh and delicious!! Looking forward to more great meals now that Abernethy's is back. read more

Abernethy's - BBQ short rib - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I came here with my cousin for Restaurant Week and got their dinner ($39 each). We each got something different so we can try different dishes. For appetizer we got Buttermilk Biscuits and Curry Fried Cauliflower. For main, we got Pulled Pork Agnolotti and Roast Free-Range Chicken. And then for dessert, we ordered Hummingbird Cake and Salted Caramel Cake, but they were out of the salted caramel so they gave us the Buttermilk Pie. I ordered a cocktail and my cousin got a beer. The biscuits were good; I liked the fact that they came with a bit of ham so the bit of salt with bit of sweet was nice. Cauliflowers were good as well; it was more cauliflower than breading so it wasn't too oily like some places prepare them. It came with a bit of kimchi and it overpowered where I couldn't taste the curry. The chicken fell off the bone and was very tender and tasty. It came with sweet potato latke and bacon-braised collard greens. The greens had a touch of spice, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was a bit underwhelmed with the pork. I wasn't sure what I was expecting. It wasn't bad and tasted ok, maybe I wasn't in the mood for it so it wasn't a great dish to me. By the time dessert came, we were too full so we took them home. Service was great since we weren't part of the Theater Rush. It felt like we had the restaurant all to ourselves. We learned about the restaurant's concept where they change the chef every 3 months, which was a very interesting and fun concept that I very much would like to partake. The only thing (this isn't the restaurant's fault), I wish I didn't have to drive here from West LA. $9 parking under the theaters and I'm sure there were other slightly cheaper option, but I was late for the reservation. Anyhow, I will definitely come back with a better plan of attack. 2 people with 2 drinks = $110 + tip. I imagine if I came here on a non-Restaurant Week, the total will be a tad more. read more

So impressed, my new favorite restaurant, especially with the rotating chefs! Creative delicious menu and cocktails, top rate service. Relaxed beautiful atmosphere, convenient location. Had dinner here with my foodie friends and we will definitely be regulars! read more

My husband and I decided to have lunch here before a matinee at Ahmanson Theatre. This restaurant is located in the Music Center /Theatre complex which is really convenient. Most of the negative ratings in yelp were regarding service. Not sure if this was an evening issue but for lunch the service was great. We ate out on the patio. Joshua did a wonderful job in answering our menu questions and provided prompt service. I ordered the crab toast with a poached egg, avocado and trout roe (chef's favorite) with a iced green tea. Very tasty but a corner of my toast was partially burnt. My husband ordered the fried chicken sandwich with an Angel City IPA. He said it was very tasty with a good sized chicken breast. Sandwiches do not come with sides so if you want a side you have to order it alacarte. We finished our meal with a slice of hummingbird cake which was light and delicious! Not too sweet which we liked. We would definitely return when in the area. read more

See all

1 solid star for the location The second star is for the large alfresco patio setup, and 2 stars is generous This restaurant is literally 60 seconds walking distance form the Ahmanson Theater, and almost everyone dining there on a Friday night is going to the theater based on the age and how they are dressed, 40-75 year old crowd, dressed nicely. We made reservations and said that we had a birthday celebration and told the waiter about the birthday when we sat down before the birthday boy arrived. Literally nothing was mentioned about the birthday. Also this place has super low energy. Do not waste your time or money. Also, when I read the reviews of people commenting on the very small portions and high cost for the portion and quality, I should have listened. I've been to Michelin star restaurants around the world, and that is where small portions of excellent cuisine is welcomed to accommodate a 9+ course dinner. We had hamachi, the tuna on sourdough, the squid (weird dip), the orrichaite, and one appetizer with homey and almonds. Nothing stood out. Had to flag down waiter, he never checked on us, only 4 beers to choose from and not on tap. Don't feel trapped like I did before going to the theater and chose this restaurant because of location. It's worth it to either walk further or Uber and go to a restaurant deserving of your money and time. read more

Such a cool concept to have various LA chefs do stints at the restaurant. I think their Yelp page is going to be super confusing for dish recommendations, but I'm sure all the chefs will have awesome dishes. We went on 9/27 and had the S² Cecio e Pepe and the potstickers. Both were great, but the S² Cecio e Pepe was the real treat! They used the perfect amount of sichuan peppercorn to give a numbing, citrus feel but it wasn't overwhelming. The tofu, pecorino cream was delicious and although it wasn't light, it was definitely lighter than a traditional cacio e pepe. We split it and it was a good quantity. Pro tip - grab a reservation if you're going before/after a Music Center show. read more

This was not the advertised establishment. It wasnt Anerican Soul Food, but Middle Eastern food. Not sure what's going on, but I didn't like the food at all. Once we were seated and looked at the menu we decided to try it. The food was not at all to my liking; we were deceived and should have left immediately. THis is NOT American Soulfood, but Middle Eastern. I read more

My friend and I accidentally ended up here before seeing a show at the Ahmanson, and we were so pleasantly surprised. In my experience, restaurants located right next to theaters tend to focus more on getting guests in and out before a show, and less on quality of the food and experience. But Abernethy's is certainly an exception. Despite the pre-show rush, our service was wonderful! Shout out to Kevin, our main server, but the entire team was really just lovely. Chef Chung designed a small, but really well thought out menu. My friend and I shared the Bowl of Hugs (I could live in that broth), the radish salad (so refreshing), the lamb belly (I've never had lamb belly before and it did not disappoint - but the kimchi style greens that came on the side were the star of that plate), the kale rice (super fragrant and perfectly cooked), and the rice pudding (light, a little sweet, fresh fruit, and the PERFECT texture - I typically can't stand rice pudding and this was a beautiful end to the meal). Most of the menu was also GLUTEN FREE, which was amazing. I'm actually kind of sad that it's a rotating chef menu because I don't want these dishes to go away! Please, Chef Chung, add these dishes to your other restaurant's menu! Don't be put off by the location. Definitely give this place a try! read more

Excellent food and cocktails. Service was great. Got to our show full and happy. Can't wait to try it again when the chef/menu changes.

Almost all of our dishes were tasty including the chilled mussels and albacore bruschetta appetizers, shrimp, and a tender, delicious hangar steak with charred onions. But my cod was bland and tastleless. I had to ask for salt and finally dipped it in my husband's steak sauce to make it edible. It's a lovely spot for outdoor dining on the plaza at the Music Center. Wonderful friendly service, and i appreciate that she immediately checked if we had an 8pm theater/concert to get to. read more