The appetizers were the star of the show for me. I loved the Crudo which tasted very fresh, and the…read moresauce and strawberries gave it a light refreshing taste. For the hippo rolls, the butter they gave was delicious and the rolls were buttery soft. The prosciutto and burrata also tasted great with the grilled bread that they gave! I was actually pretty full just based on the appetizers my family and I shared. All the pastas they served were very unique and I'd never tasted anything like them before. The sweet corn was my personal favorite. The more I ate it, the more I liked it. The other two I actually wasn't a big fan of, but that's due to my personal preference. The grilled chicken was very flavorfully seasoned that I lowkey needed some rice lol. The vibes of this place are immaculate. The moment I stepped in I was greeted with amazing architecture consisting of high ceilings, wood aesthetic, and an open kitchen concept. We were seated next to the kitchen so it was amazing to see all the food prepared!

Wanted to try something new in my boyfriend's neighborhood. We went to Hippo. No reservations, we…read morewere seated at the bar. I ordered the duck tagliolini, which was rich and flavorful. I really want to go try other items on the menu, but what made this place special was the service. 10/10 to the bartenders, Hannah and Carlos . My bf and I got back from France a couple of weeks ago where I discover the Hugo spritz. My bf asked if they could make it, and we got one of the best ones I've ever tried. We also had other recommendations for drinks and places.

We had a table of 4 on a Wednesday night, July 15 with a 7:00 pm reservation. We arrived a few…read moreminutes late, but no problem as they weren't crowded. Sat on the back patio. It was warm outside, but a small fan provided a little relief - I would add a few more of those fans for cooling and to keep the flying insects at bay. But, the atmosphere was comfortable. Service was good, not amazingly fast but appropriate for a leisurely dinner where we weren't in a hurry. The server was friendly and attentive. The food was really good. I had the shrimp and grits. It had too much "broth" or liquid, but otherwise way better than I expected for a restaurant located in Los Angeles. I ate every bit of it. One member of our party is vegetarian (pescatarian?), and she liked her dish. The other two were very happy with theirs, also. Sorry that I don't remember what they ate as I am writing this 3 days after our visit. Suffice it to say that we had 4 different entrees and all were excellent. The interior of the restaurant looked really interesting. Not your typical chain restaurant. Made me want to linger to check it out as we walked through from the patio. Overall, we had a really great experience!

When Little Beast first opened in 2013, I lived within walking distance but never had the…read moreopportunity to go. It's changed hands since then; however, new owners Chef Monique & Chef Paul have stuck to the original focus. (They also own Cindy's across the street.) The restaurant is a charming 1911 Craftsman bungalow. Inside emits a cozy vibe & warm ambience - just as if you were in someone's home. It's also a great date night spot if you're looking for someplace romantic. Menu offerings feature New American comfort food. Dishes change seasonally, as do the creative craft cocktails but the popular Little Beast Burger is a staple. Al fresco dining is available in the enchanting back patio, and there's a cute little parlor to chill in while waiting for your table. (Reservations are highly recommended.) I passed by enroute to another engagement and saw a parking spot, so I decided to stop in for a quick drink. The darling hostess asked if I had a reservation. I told her I didn't but was hoping to have a drink at the bar. The bar is tiny and can accommodate about 6 people. Krista the bartender/beverage director was fantastic. She was personable & friendly and we had a nice conversation during my visit. I ordered the Passion Fruit Margarita made with house infused passion fruit tequila. It was delicious & nicely balanced. I enjoyed my cocktail & visit here. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back for the full dining experience. *$35 corkage fee. Limit 2 bottles. *Street parking - read signs. *Live music Wednesdays 7 - 9 pm back patio.

YiCha has been on my HLP list for a while, and we finally booked a Friday night reservation for my…read morefamily birthday dinner. We had an incredible time--the food, drinks, and hospitality were all fantastic. Everything was delicious, but the Wagyu Bone Marrow Corn Cheese and Chef Deb's K-Town Nachos completely stole the show. Starters & Small Plates: King Oyster Mushroom Chips, the Ahn-Joo Platter (great sampling of their bites), Mandu Lumpia, and the Sashimi Chopped Salad. Medium & Large Plates: Joseon Style Bossam, Bulgogi French Dip Sandwich, KFC Wings (messy--don't wear white and ask for wet wipes), and the Kongguksu. Note on the Kongguksu: it has a slight kick, so skip it if you/kids can't handle a bit of spice. Dessert & Drinks: The Fuji Apple Eggrolls were ok--the standout sweet bite was actually the Gochugaru Peanut Brittle (made with soy and chili, perfectly sweet-savory) for the hn-Joo Platter. For non-alcoholic drinks, I tried all three and I liked the canned Milkis best, while everyone else loved their cocktails and wine. Inside is modern and stylish with a long, narrow layout, decent seating, and a few TVs over the bar. Great for dates or groups up to about 15. Eddie, the manager, was kind enough to set us up in the back section to accommodate our party of 13. Since it was hot out, I asked about A/C and he assured us it'd be the coolest spot, though it ended up a bit warmer than expected. It was also near the back supply/storage area so there was a faint odd smell, but on the plus side, noise levels were low enough for easy conversation. For parking, there's street metered parking or a paid lot behind the building. The service is what truly locks in 5 stars. From managing our large party reservation to the splitting of the final check, the entire staff--from host to waiter--was exceptionally friendly and welcoming. Huge shoutout to Eddie for being so accommodating and taking such great care of our family.

I recently came to Yicha in Highland Park to try this place out, and overall, I had a really good…read moreexperience. The first thing I ordered was the Wagyu Bone Marrow Corn Cheese, and I have to say--it was absolutely delicious! I really enjoyed the texture, and the seasoning was perfectly on point. This was definitely one of my favorite dishes of the night. Next, I tried the Kimchi Carbonara. I would give it a 7/10. If you enjoy spicy food and like kimchi, this dish definitely has a nice kick to it. However, for the price of $25, personally, I don't think it's worth ordering again. That's just my opinion, though, because everyone has different preferences. I also ordered the Cheesesteak Sandwich. The meat was very tender and practically melted in your mouth, which I really enjoyed. The only thing I didn't like was the bread--it was a little too thick for my preference and didn't seem to go well with the meat. It also made the sandwich a bit messy and sloppy to eat. Other than that, the flavor and quality of the meat were great. The aesthetics of the restaurant were awesome, and the atmosphere was nice. We went on a Saturday night, and there were only a couple of other guests dining at the time, so it wasn't too crowded. Customer service was great! Our server was on point and gave us a helpful rundown of the menu. Overall, it was a good experience, and I would definitely recommend checking this place out and trying a few of their unique dishes.

My husband and I finally made it to Cannonball for a date night, and honestly, I don't know why we…read moredon't go to South Pasadena more often. I've had Cannonball on my list for a while, so once we put the baby to bed, I was ready for a martini and a night out. We were seated right away, and the host was really nice. We started with drinks -- I went with their house martini, which was exactly what I was in the mood for. Our server gave us a little insider tip and told us that if we wanted the biscuits, we should order them right away because they take a little time. Girl... those biscuits were SO good. I could have easily ordered another round. Warm, delicious, and absolutely worth the wait. We had the shaved celery salad with them, and I have to say, I'm not usually a big celery fan because I feel like it doesn't taste like much. But this salad completely changed my mind. It was light and refreshing with walnuts, dates, and a really beautiful dressing. Such a good combination of flavors and textures. The grilled shrimp with aioli were another standout. Those were ridiculous -- so flavorful and cooked perfectly. We also had the burger and hanger steak, although unfortunately I didn't get pictures of either. But the potatoes that came with the hanger steak deserve a special mention because they were INSANE. Everything was cooked beautifully. Our server was great throughout the meal, and overall it was just such a fun, relaxed date-night experience. I'd definitely come back, maybe for a girls' night next time. South Pasadena, I think we need to see more of each other!

Came here to celebrate my wife's birthday and had a really great time, largely thanks to the…read moreservice. Our server was super friendly and attentive the whole night, gave us great advice on how much food to order, and checked in just enough. We had a couple of solid cocktails and kicked things off with the shaved celery salad and yellowfin tuna tartare. Both of those appetizers were 10/10. The mains (the trout and the chicken) were a little bit of a letdown by comparison, just feeling kind of average, but they were still fine. Just nothing to rave about. The spot has a really nice old-school vibe that felt right for a birthday dinner. Parking is a bit of a headache around there, but keep in mind there's a public parking garage right around the corner that's free on weekends and after noon on weekdays.

Great restaurant! Had a the pleasure of coming here with a large party and we all tried a sampling…read moreof their dishes. Our dish picks were organized ahead of time and the staff did a great job at pacing the dishes and making sure enough was ordered for our party size. Favorites were hands down the Bluefin Tuna Toast, Edna's Sour Milk Cornbread, Cherokee Tomato Cesar, Mushroom Crusted Pork Chop, and the Beef Ribeye (the bone marrow made this even better!) so if you have to make tough decisions I'd prioritize those and honestly skip dessert. The restaurant has a hip/cozy feel and you can see the chefs making the food in the open kitchen which is right in the dinning room. There is valet parking or if you luck out you may be able to find street parking around neighboring streets.

The Dunsmoor really is that girl. We went to the bar before our reservation. I made a reservation…read morefor the chefs counter but they were able to offer us a table. We had the cornbread (great), the chili with tortillas (amazing and my favorite), the trout (HUGE) and large enough to share and have left overs and the chive mashed potatoes (amazing). The food was great and did not disappoint. My friend is also talking about how skinny the wine glasses are here and she was not wrong! The thinnest wine stems I have ever seen. The only thing that sat a little weird with me was we had ordered a bottle of wine. They said they would keep it chilled for us, which was fine. They would come over and fill up our glass. However, I don't know if it was because it was the end of the night or what, but we had to ask for the rest of our bottle. Our server didn't know if we had any left but we ended up having two glasses worth in the bottle. If we didn't ask for it, we would not have received the wine we paid for, which was $70. It just put a sour taste in my mouth for the end of our experience. The food was great, but I may recommend keeping your bottle of wine on your table.

I've been here 3 times so far and it does not disappoint. They have a great assortment of classic…read moregames and pinball machines. So much fun that a modern arcade could never replicate. They have food and the food is decent , pretty basic bar food but hits the spot. Their drinks are always good! They're made well and fast. Service is great. The bartenders are always attentive even in a rush. Ambiance doesn't get better than this. A retro arcade that offers a great vibe for a date night or even with a group of friends! Overall , I love the Barcade. Will always come back.

Still have never actually eaten here... but I've been here enough to talk about it…read more First off, this place is BIG. Like actually big. Good for birthdays, group hangs, events, all that. You're not cramped in here fighting for space. Game-wise... don't come here expecting anything crazy. There's nothing super serious for hardcore gamers, no rare cabinets or anything you're gonna geek out over. It's more like solid, familiar stuff. That said, it does work really well as a date spot because there's a lot of co-op games, so you're not just standing there awkwardly -- you actually have something to do. Now the food... I still haven't gone deep into it, but the wing deal is actually a good deal for these times, which is rare. That alone makes it worth pulling up on a Tuesday. Menu is kinda big though, and anytime I see a big menu like that I start side-eyeing the kitchen a little bit... like yeah some of this gotta be frozen But overall? It's a good spot for wings and beer without spending Ye Rustic money. If you're trying to keep it chill and not blow your wallet, this is a solid move. Not a gamer spot, not a foodie spot... just a good hang.

What a beautiful space! However, at an upscale restaurant one might expect accommodation or a…read morelittle more caregiving in the instance of a waiter messing up an order. They brought the wrong food out and offered no resolution after waiting for at tleast a half hour for the correct food. It didn't seem like the team was interdependent. At a higher price point, please prioritize your customer and encourage your team to come together for support in moments like these. Beautoful space mediocre food and drinks

Had a pretty good dinner at Hermon's. The yuzu margarita was great, and the loaded potato fritters…read morewere my favorite. The coconut shrimp was also really good. Really liked the stone fruit and tomato salad, especially the use of nuoc cham. The baked Alaska was a solid way to finish. They're known for the burger, but the mustard flavor was a little too heavy for me. We also ordered the sheet vongole, which came out pretty late when we were already getting full. We were initially brought a fish that wasn't ours as well, so there were a couple of food mix ups. Service was still great despite it being busy, and our server was attentive. Worth a try, but probably not somewhere I'd return to.

I've been to Granville in Pasadena many times. It is a beautiful three story place with a rooftop,…read morebar and patio as well as regular seating. There is plenty of parking. The last time I was there, I had a Farmhouse Beets appetizer - roasted organic beets, lemon-oregano vinaigrette, feta, arugula, candied pecans - which was delicious. For the main course I got the Chipotle Chicken Club - chicken, bacon, avocado, jack cheese, red onion, chipotle aioli on ciabatta - really good and it also came with potato chips (were a bit too oily). For dessert, I had the Yuzu Olive Oil Cake - oh my, it was sooo good, loved it. Berry Lemonade was good but a little too sweet for my taste. Arturo was our server and was attentive and helpful. Overall, a really good experience. I'll definitely come back :)

I've walked passed this restaurant on plenty of times and yesterday I finally took the time to…read morecheck it out with my mother. The ambiance is incredible, high ceiling a large bottle filled library of a bar with shelves from the bottom of the bar to the ceiling. The place is very clean and the servers are extremely kind helpful. Upon walking in Trever, the host, assisted us in finding our seat. There was a happy hour but you have to sit in the middle tall long table or at the bar on upper patio or inside to. Qualify for it from 3-6 We chose the booth and we ordered the mushrooms platter and done noodle salad. My mother got the Mediterranean white fish. The server Julian was really wonderful. I couldn't deceive on hot or cold coffee or cold brew and he brought me a sample of the cold brew with oat milk which I decided would be perfect. The done noodles salad was very flavorful, the ginger on top was a little hard to chew but the plant based vegan chicken was a great cutlet very savory. We will definitely return again.

This spot was pretty great. You walk in, and its a classy place with wooden accents and a very nice…read morelayout with tiling and wooden tables and tiffany lampshades. This is a Dodger bar for sure, but be warned, its also a Philadelphia Eagles bar. For you soccer fans, this is a Tottenham bar so you have been informed for your future premiere league games. My wife and I sat near the door and maybe we shouldnt have done that on a hot day because we were sweating like crazy. That didnt take away from the experience of how good the food was, the service and the drinks that were made for us. She had the Mateo's Greyhound and I had a vodka cranberry. We ordered bbq wings and they were good sized pieces. The ranch that came with it was pretty good. The lady wanted fries and when they came, we were both shocked how giant of an order it was. A few of them were clustered together which i secretly enjoy. I cant remember if we finished them or not but it was a hefty amount so fare warning if you order them on the side. I will definitely be coming back here for a future Lodge room concert so cant wait to try a burger next time.

Today was my second time visiting this place. I walk over…read morehere once a year. It was 12:08 and the place already had about 3 people in it. I was planning to have a few beers again but when I saw the prices and played it safe. Had ONE 16oz beer $9.25 and the final price was $11.56! Obviously added charges ( I did leave a tip so it really cost me $13.56) Seriously it's 12 noon on a Tuesday??? I've traveled to many states and also overseas and have paid this much for a TOURIST location. Highland park is not that kind of place where charging this much for a single beer makes sense. Will I come back? Absolutely not I'm reading lots of reviews and seeing proof of this place up charging customers and now I'm telling you the same this place is not worth your hard earned money. IF this place served 20oz pints my review would not have been so concerning. My advice to this business is lower your prices or more people will be opting out of this place. I was planning to bring my wife sometime but on second thought I don't think it's worth it. I can spend this kind of money at a more upscale bar with a coastal view. There was a man sitting at the very end of the bar with his laptop and he acted like he was on something. Kept getting g up and walking behind the bar to grab canned drinks over and over. He must have been an owner/manager? My man, maybe if you stopped drinking your own supply the beer prices would be lower. Try to taste your food the speed you were eating looked like you were about to have a heart attack. Pros; it's a bar that opens at 12 Cons: ridiculously high beer prices

"I know a dark, secluded place A place where no one knows…read moreyour face A glass of wine, a fast embrace It's called Hernando's Hideaway, olé" --Ella Fitzgerald, 1963 OK, this may date me, but this is what I immediately heard playing in my head when we finally found Wife and the Somm this weekend. Glassell Park is a hidden neighborhood in Los Angeles, anyway, and if you don't know what you are looking for, you might zip right past W&S, as we did. Parking is hit and miss, but there are side streets and you will find a space if you give yourself an extra 15 minutes before you come. The neighborhood is mysterious to me, sort of pricey grunge & hipster, iykwim. But! Once you are inside, you are in a completely different world. Bright, clean, genteel, muted, with dappled sunlight dripping through various apertures and alighting in a soft glow here and there on shining metal tables. It's beautiful. Some catchy upbeat contempo-pop music streamed steadily at just the right volume overhead. I found myself resisting the temptation to get up and dance. There are several rooms from which to choose, but I wanted to be seated on the wine-red suede banquette that gave me a view of the whole restaurant and out onto the tree-canopied street. From the time we arrived to the moment we left about an hour later, we were showered with warm smiles and attentive service. And the food? Exquisite. See my pictures. It was hard to choose. One tiny disappointment was they were out of the biscuits that I wanted to start with, but I enjoyed the crusty tender Clark Street bread slices served with warm creamery butter instead. It only got better from there. The two bowls we ordered were filled with fresh vegetables, cooked to perfection, topped with an egg prepared as we requested, i.e., over medium. The portions are modest and it was all so good, we didn't take anything home. We ordered coffee and were brought two tall steaming mugs of Americano, smooth, dark, and delicious. Best of all was the Lemon Lavender cake, a seasonal specialty. Honestly, it might be one of the best, moistest, most flavorful and elegant cakes I have ever had. So fantastic, that I just ordered some lavender buds (if I don't collect them from our garden) to replicate it at home. I don't drink much alcohol but if I did, I would head here for one of their experiences or tastings -- they have a formidable list. Check all this out. And hurry if you want to have Lemon Lavender cake.

I rarely leave negative reviews, but this experience was so confusing and disappointing that I…read moregenuinely left wondering, "Was I just part of a prank?" Let's start with getting there: there is no parking. We circled the block about 10 times before finally finding a spot. Thank goodness we arrived 30 minutes early, because otherwise I would have just gone home. They charge for reservations, and cancellations within 48 hours come with a fee per person, so honestly, I should've just taken the loss. Then, somehow, the evening got even stranger. When I returned to my car, someone was literally spraying a garden hose while watering their plants and my freshly detailed Mercedes-Benz was completely soaked and covered in water spots. Not the restaurant's fault, but at that point I had to laugh because I was already wondering, "Is this part of the Wife and Somm experience?" From the moment we walked in, the confusion continued. The restaurant wasn't even busy, yet we were told to wait several minutes before being seated. The photos online make this place look like a beautiful, elevated dining experience, but in person it felt completely different. I kept thinking, "What exactly did I just walk into?" The food was the biggest disappointment. We ordered the peach dish, which was nearly $30, and I honestly couldn't believe what arrived. It was essentially half a peach with a strange berry-colored sauce on top. I'm not even sure what the sauce was supposed to be--it looked almost like a yogurt-based strawberry sauce, but it was completely bland. The menu made it sound like a thoughtful, elevated dish, but it was literally peaches, onions, and sauce. I could have stayed home, cut up a peach, and poured something over it for the same experience. The wax beans were equally confusing--basically just beans with what looked like paprika sprinkled on top. No real seasoning, no depth, no flavor. For a restaurant at this price point in Los Angeles, it was shocking. The service only added to the experience. When we asked for the peach dish without onions, our server seemed completely confused by the request and said she didn't know and would have to think about it. It was a simple modification, yet it felt like nobody knew what was happening. Then it took about 30 minutes to get change back for a $100 bill on a roughly $60 check. Unfortunately, I would not return or recommend this. I genuinely have no idea how this restaurant has a 4.4-star rating in Los Angeles. I've been to a lot of restaurants, and my parents owned a restaurant for 35 years, so I've experienced my fair share of dining. I can confidently say this is at the bottom of my list of one of the worst restaurant experiences I've ever had.