Celebrated a friend's birthday here last night and it was a blast. Typical friday busy night. The bar has two TV's to watch sports with multiple couch and tables to hang out. Music was kinda loud that it was kinda hard to converse with friends. Bartenders we're nice, although it took awhile for our orders to be served. Quesadilla and garlic fries we're not bad choices. I Just can't say the same to the chicken tenders. Parking is residential so a little walk shouldn't be a problem. Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to visit this bar again. read more

Catcher In the Rye - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My friends and I were looking for a board game bar and this was the only one around us. It's under new management and needs a lot of help. Pros: free parking in the back, bartender is friendly, food is offered, space is large. Cons: food and drinks were bad, games were minimal, damaged, with pieces everywhere, staff was off putting Examples: - my friend ordered a hot chocolate and said it was the worst she's ever had. The water to powder ratio made it more like tea. She asked for more powder. They brought out a Swiss Miss packet, and made passive aggressive comments about how they were going above and beyond for her and they should charge her double (she's not a picky person so for her to complain you know it's bad) - we only found three games in the place but they were small plastic things like flick the ball into the hoop with all pieces out of the boxes and laying randomly under a tv tray behind a bar table - the food wasn't very good - the waiter didn't remember he needed my payment for the two hours I was there - the menu was basically non existent because their fryer was down and so they couldn't offer most items - it was dark and hard to see anything - the owner and her relative took over our hangout for around 30-40 min, asking us to bring in our "actor friends" and help them get more business. read more

Loved being here. Hosted a small gathering and Joy was so wonderful to work with and the entire gang had a great time here. I'll admit, it took some doing to reach an actual person (found an email through insta), I was told there's a lack of access to be able to update the company's phone number, so google, yelp, every place had an old number, making Catcher in the Rye look like it was closed. The extra work to get in contact with a person was well worth it. Great drinks and food and a welcoming team of staff members combined with an open aesthetic. We felt very cared for and, as the host, I got to relax in the knowledge that we were all in good hands. read more

Good customer service and good drinks. Wish we stayed longer, but we came from a restaurant so we just wanted a drink and wind down. Really spacious and I like how it's not too loud. read more

Catcher In the Rye - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Very cool spot, the atmosphere is chill but also professional. Lovely lighting and cozy decor. I was greeted as soon as I walked in. Our bartender (short hair chick) was super nice and attentive. She made us these drinks that were out of this world! Seriously one of the best cocktails I've ever had. She was mixing and grinding and stirring something and poured it into a glass, and it was just delicious. I've graduated from rum and cokes to this sophisticated libation. definitely recommend this place. read more

I hosted my birthday party here last night and am really glad that I did! Management was kind enough to reserve us a large table, and there was plenty of space for everyone to sit comfortably. Drinks were good and the people working the bar were really nice. My friends and I appreciated the fact that parking is easy to find too! Looking forward to hosting another event here soon. Thank you! read more

Don't be fooled. This place used to be cute, cozy, literary themed and an all around reliable neighborhood spot. But with a recent changeover the vibe is way off. Neon string lights, crappy mixed drinks, loud music that's all just a mish mosh of bad. read more

Definitely a nice place to hang out. Loved the food and the vibes! Joy took care of us and made sure we had a good time. Will surely be back! read more

Went on a Saturday night right before Christmas. Bar was very festive, even the bartenders had on cute festive outfits. They had a live DJ and it was popping. Bar food was served. I can't get over their mozzarella sticks. It was delicious. The drinks were very good too. Excited to go back to this chill vibe bar. And all the staff was very nice and attentive even with every table taken. read more

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Stopped by this bar to visit some family friends from childhood. Nice bar, has a chill vibe. They also offer food, I had the smash burger, delicious! Also the mozzarella sticks are also delicious. Big space with comfy loft chairs at the corners for more intimate space. Service was awesome, bartender kept my cup filled and kept a conversation going. Free parking in the front. Just down the street from Universal studios theme park. Definitely recommend while in town. read more

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I wanted to love this place so much! As an absolute book dragon and bar patron, this place should have been AMAZING! It was acceptable, but, sadly, nothing special. I got a drink called The Raven, which is served in a martini glass, HALF FULL, with ICE in it. So, I guess that's 1/3rd of a drink, that got watered down quickly, and wasn't cheap. The band tonight also has a guitarist that thinks he's John Mayer and plays like a high school wanna be. Not impressed. Sigh... read more

I stopped by here on a Saturday around opening time, the beers are beers you can find at other bars. The cocktails are actually pretty good. The bartender was nice, she made me delicious cocktails. It's a nice chill vibe. read more

Catcher In the Rye - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The Catcher in the Rye was a controversial novel by J.D. Salinger. While there is nothing controversial about this friendly neighborhood bar, a literary theme is the central focal point. In fact, the cocktails are named after famous novels. The place has a low-key vibe and a laidback aesthetic. There's a little lounge section with books that you can read while enjoying a sip and a nibble and board games that you can play with a group of friends. I met up with some darling Yelp friends here for Happy Hour, which is daily from 5 pm - 7 pm. As soon as I walked in the door, I received a warm welcome from bartender Rayna. She had a wonderful personality and took great care of us. This is the type of place where you order at the bar, and someone will bring your food/drink to you. Rayna went above and beyond. Stepping out to personally walk over to our table in the back and check on us. I started with A Life in Lavender - a vibrant cocktail featuring Gin, lavender bitters, rosemary syrup, lemon juice, St. Germain, & Crème Yvette. It was absolutely delicious! The conversations at the table were engaging, so I ended up ordering another drink. This time Pearadise Lost was calling my name. This tasty concoction combined Absolute Pear Vodka with fresh pear, lime juice, vanilla simple, & soda. It was light & refreshing and packed a punch! My friends ordered food - Sliders, Artichoke Dip, Quesadilla, Chicken Tacos, Baby Green Salad. They each enjoyed their selections, and we all agreed that we would be back. *Parking lot in back & street parking. read more

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One of my favorite books as a teen by J.D. Salinger which made it very nostalgic for me. A neighborhood bar for 8 years just East of Cahuenga Blvd on Riverside Drive. Met a group of yelp friends for drinks and ended up staying for a few hours. Very friendly atmosphere with lots of games to play, great tunes in the background and drinks with catchy names from well known books. I had read a few reviews saying the food wasn't fabulous but I beg to differ. My chicken tacos and baby green salad were really good! Yes, a tad pricey for the salad ($14) but I thought the drinks were priced fairly and Rayna our bartender definitely didn't skimp on the liquor. She was very friendly and made a fabulous cocktail! It seemed like there were many regulars here which added to the comfy feeling. Great for large or small groups. There were lots of tables and a few comfy sofas. *Parking in the back as well as street parking. read more

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$25 cover charge for Toluca Lake Comedy Night (couldnt be written smaller on the flyer btw), snotty door people and starting 45 min late and thats just to start, down hill from there. Appreciate you trying to trying to bring comedy to our local area, why I came out to support but try putting as much effort into the night as you did blanketing the area with flyers. Heres a hint, $5/$10 cover, keep the crowd going if you are late, have servers actually attend to the tables - you will make more in drinks if people can actually get a drink, make the food not suck, and pay attention. read more

Bartenders are great and personable! Drinks are yummy! I got the Huckleberry Fin and it wasn't too sweet at all which I really like. LGBTQ + friendly read more

Catcher In the Rye - Huckleberry Fin cocktail. Yum. Not very sweet - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

It is the best place for karaoke, fantastic happy hour and a sweet homelike atmosphere. It's such a nice venue I'm going to throw a big comedy show on Tuesday, Sept. 16 2025! IG thedavidraibon for additional info. Great place for live entertainment right in Toluca Lake! Just between Noho and Burbank!! read more

Catcher In the Rye - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This place was such a random find! My friends and I were looking for a spot to meet up after a long work day. I found Cather in the Rye. I arrived before my friends, and met Louie, the resident barkeep. We started talking, he gave me the rundown on specialties and things he believes they do well. So my friends arrive, we sit at the bar to enjoy Louie's company and the drinks start flowing. We had several spicy margaritas, a habanero concoction that Louie was experimenting with, and what I believe is one of the best Manhattan's I've had in awhile. Dubbed "a clockwork orange" on their menu, this rendition of a Manhattan was lovely, spirit forward but not overpowering and so easy to drink it was scary! Louie's skills as a bartender are without question. What came next was their food. They have serval options for burgers, each with it's own twist. From a pineapple teriyaki burger to a habanero option. They were huge and delicious, with the chef grilling right in front of the restaurant for all to see. It was well worth it. Needless to say, Catcher in the Rye is on my rotation of places to visit. If you want the best experience, stop by Wednesday through Saturday to see the man, Louie. He'll take care of you! read more

After perusing the glowing reviews, I thought I'd take a chance on this place. I arrived at 6 PM on a Wednesday, and shockingly, I was the only customer in sight. The bartender--or perhaps the manager, though she was hardly managing--sat at the end of the bar, mesmerized by her laptop screen. Nothing quite shouts "come on in!" like an absent bartender, right? Now, let's discuss the drink prices. A casual $21.64 for a single Hendrick's and tonic? I must have wandered into an upscale Beverly Hills establishment by mistake, considering places a mere block away offer similar libations for half that price. One would think that a lack of patrons might inspire a little pricing sympathy, but apparently not here. I genuinely hoped this could be my new go-to spot, but as they say, "first impressions last a lifetime." My first impression? Let's just say it left me wondering if I'd stumbled into a "how not to run a bar" tutorial. read more

Ever since moving to the area, this has been THE date night spot for my husband and I. It is everything we wanted in a local neighborhood bar -- a chill environment with kind staff and fun weekly activities. The music is low enough to be able to have good conversations. There is a lot of spacious seating, including large tables, couches with pillows, etc. The bar food is tasty, the walls are lined with books and games, and they have cute literary-themed cocktails. My husband and I will grab a drink and a board game and sit for hours! We've also seen people reading on the couch with a drink, which is such a vibe. The space is so well curated to be a comfortable spot for anyone -- groups, dates, or solos. The staff are beyond friendly, and the new owner Joy is a ray of sunshine. She remembers our names when we come visit and has been so passionate about incorporating new weekly activities like taco Tuesdays, karaoke, and trivia. Catcher in the Rye is a rare gem of a place that feels so comfortable and so familiar. Thank you Joy & all staff for the best neighborhood bar we could ask for! read more

It was cool...that's it just cool. The drink was nice but the kitchen was closed when we had looked on maps it wasn't clear when they stopped serving food. Bartender was nice though the vibe was chill and trendy. read more

great drinks! not so keen on the Karaoke, myself. Made it necessary to sit outside to hear my buddy in conversation.....

Catcher in the Rye has been on my to-do list for a while, and I was thrilled to finally cross it off while meeting some Yelp friends. I adore the vibe of this place, especially the cozy reading corner, which attracts book lovers. Our bartender, Reyna, was attentive, kind, and offered excellent drink recommendations. They are open from 5 pm to midnight on weekdays and 2 am on weekends, with street parking or a small back lot available. They also have happy hour every single day which is a plus! I tried the sliders that had a quail egg on top and they were delicious. read more

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Cool place, food is really good. Nice vibe and nice people , it's got a comfortable atmosphere

Our friend, Latisha Van Simon, celebrated her birthday and the debut of her new single, Call Me Up, at Catcher in the Rye, with about 100 friends. The good was great and it's a cute neighborhood bar and hang-out read more

To quote literature. Here's the Good, the Bad & the Ugly. Real nice people behind the bar, working Karaoke & generally helping out, real nice. Very welcoming & fun place, easy location. Drinks are well made, a bit skimpy on the size of the drink for the money, kinda Beverly Hills prices & small size for the $$, but good & creative. It was Karaoke nite & lots of peeps singing & all having a good time. You order drinks & food & pay in advance. Now the ugly. The items they make are good, but. chips are from a bag at Smart & Final, not warmed at all. All in all food was good though here's the big BUT...... the service is just plain ghastly, under staffed for a night with a crowd of any sort. The amount of time it takes to get food from the 'kitchen' is inexcusable. Either do the kitchen thing right, or keep it simple & only offer the items you can handle. Again, nice people. fun place. ......... but.......... read more

Friend's birthday bash! Cute, charming, intimate! Lovely neighborhood! I recommend highly!

Good atmosphere for a chill hangout! Was welcomed by James and he was a nice and friendly bartender! He congratulated me on my gotcha day and made the night a bit more special. Also got the chicken rolls with the drinks and they were pretty good! Would come back for a fun chill drink and friend night! read more

Catcher In the Rye - Bar setup and our drinks - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Great drinks & service in a funky fun atmosphere. Great local bar! Staff were so warm and friendly. They also do Karaoke!

Catcher in the Rye is a low-key neighborhood bar, the perfect place for meeting up with friends. The bar is a fairly large space with classy wooden furniture and a library lounge-style design that is filled with character and charisma. The epitome of a neighborhood bar, Catcher in the Rye has this warm and cozy environment that makes it feel like a home away from home, a safe space for bringing people together. It's the type of bar that can only add to the pride of the neighborhood and community rather than deter from it. They also have specialty craft cocktails with quirky names that pay homage to famous best-selling novels. And while I didn't love our actual drinks, which were just decent in my opinion, the book themed concept is really fun. So I am definitely open to exploring the rest of their cocktail menu until I find something that better suits my tastes. As for the food, it was a mixed bag to be honest. The grilled cheese was average and left a lot to be desired. BUT the bread pudding more than made up for it and was the true winner of our meal - it was quite simply divine. So while the drinks are decent and the food may not be worth writing home for, the ambiance was truly fantastic. Catcher in the Rye embodies all that a neighborhood bar should be - warm and welcoming and fun; a great local bar to relax and connect with friends. In sum, I will definitely be back! read more

Catcher In the Rye - Grilled cheese and tomato soup - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I had so much fun. Went on a Tuesday and had some tacos and guacamole. So good! The bartenders were nice and people were super friendly. read more

Catcher In the Rye - Front door - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

New fav spot and it's under new management! This place is so chill! Def a place to hang out with friends, play some board games, eat food and drink! They play great music and the bartenders are so sweet! Bartender who helped me was Tra and she was so sweet! Made great drinks! I would def recommend this spot to anyone who wants a cool hangout spot. I also love that it's LQBTQ+ friendly. read more

Decent little place. Food is good, ambiance is okay. Service can be slow, and everything seems a little overpriced to me, but they're trying and...not failing. read more

Visiting socal. Decided to drop in and give it a try. Ordered eggrolls and steam a k tacos. Omggg soo good! The eggrolls were bomb! Especially w the sauce! Everything was great. The drinks are great. The vibes superb. And service is good too. Friendly folks. Would def recommend. :) read more

Great Location. Good Bar with friendly bartenders. The atmosphere is perfect for dates: cozy, but not overly romantic. Lots of parking available on the street. read more

I went to catcher in the rye for a birthday party. I'll start with the good things first there is no cover charge and not worried about a dress code which I'm surprised because it's in Toluca Lake near Burbank. Anyway, first thing I noticed they had a lot of parking in the back lot of parking on the street so that was awesome. Went inside. The space was nice had a bar the bathrooms were clean but then after that he is where everything goes bad. The service was horrible. The restaurant was packed!! So I'm not sure if they did not expect this. It was a weekend so I'm not sure why not. There were 2 servers for the entire restaurant . There were 3 bartenders. There were menus on the table, but no one ever came around and asked if we wanted any water let alone anything to eat. There was also a drink menu on the table. No one came around and asked if we wanted anything. Finally, I waved someone down no one came. He looked at me and ignored me so then I got up and I went to the server I saw and I said can I order and he said oh no I'm sorry I was told that you have to order at the bar that was odd. Maybe they should've made an announcement come by the tables let everybody know so I went to the bar to order. I wanted brussels sprouts and cauliflower and sliders. The bartender charged my car for all three of these items, he gave me a number I said are you going to bring it to my table? He said yes, I said can I have a copy of my receipt please and let me mention that I try to get his attention for at least five minutes to ask him for a copy of my receipt then the other bartender, I asked her, and then I saw Jason the manager. I said I am trying to get a copy of the receipt I signed. He looked at the receipt and said we don't have cauliflower and we don't have brussels sprouts. I was in shock disbelief, almost laughable, but it was not I said, what do you mean you have already charged me for it so what were you going to bring to my table? That's the part that got me like you don't have it you charge me for it I was going to go sit down with my number on a stick what were you going to bring me and you charged me for something you did not have so now I point out the bartender who took my order he's reprimanding him in front of me then he said what do you want me to do do you want me to refund it which was a dumb question of course I want you to refund it if you don't have it I'm so confused by this place now then he finally said I will make it for you OK so you do have brussels sprouts and you do have cauliflower you just didn't want to make it. This was so crazy and then he said I will bring it to you myself like that makes everything all better and fixes everything and it did not, he finally brought it over. The brussels sprouts were great. The sliders were great. The cauliflower was terrible. It was like he dumped out a bag of frozen cauliflower. Put it in the microwave and put it on a plate. No seasoning no sauce no batter. No nothing just terrible. We eat all of our food. We spend all this money on drinks and all our dirty dishes stayed on our table for ever I picked them up and took them to the bar. Also, we were cutting a cake. Excuse me prior to the cake. I ordered the brussels sprouts and cauliflower and sliders. I ordered enough for the table. I asked one of the waiters can you bring me six more plates and forks he said OK and he never did I got up I said what happened to my forks and plates. They were literally sitting right there clean next to the bar, he said I'll bring them to you. I said just give them to me I can take them myself I'm standing right next to him. He totally forgot about me and had no intention on bringing me plates and forks horrible service. Just horrible. They had an awesome DJ I don't know if the DJ is always there, but the manager JASON needs to hire more people or a train better because that service would make me never want to go there again. read more

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I had not visited this place in a while, but I was pleased to find that the drinks had improved. The drinks were not watered down nor too expensive. For me, you definitely come here for the vibes. It has such a cute academia aesthetic with a book feature wall. They also have games to play so thats fun. The service is typically not the best, as they tend to delay taking your order. read more

I loved the concept of a library/board game bar but I felt the execution fell a little short. The music, decore, drinks (names and taste) plus the cozy vibes were great. However, we went at 8pm on a Friday and the service was VERY slow for our first round of drinks even though there were few people. The bar tenders were just talking behind the bar for far too long. Also, I was hungry but the food menu was just burgers and fries so I passed on that. I wish there was more board games to pick from, the current section was beat up and falling apart. Lastly, for small talk I asked the bartender what the book "catcher in the rye" was about and they said they never read it... I feel if you work somewhere named after a book you should atleast know the summary and a few fun facts. Would not return read more

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This bar is absolutely amazing and you meet the most fantastic people here! I met this woman, Naomi, who was looking for a guy named Patrick who she had met here. Though she seemed a little disappointed he wasn't around, we hit it off, we talked about Poe, drank Ravens. I'll never forget it! read more

This is one of my favorite bars to meet people in Toluca Lake! There's not a ton in this area in the way of bars, so Catcher in the Rye is great to have around. Really fun book-themed ambiance and yummy drinks. Solid apps. Avid readers will love it! read more