Heard good things about Gjelina and decided to try it out while visiting Venice Beach. We were seated at the communal table which is a fun experience if you are in the mood to make a small talk with your neighbors. The lamb sausage pizza was really good and the duck bolognese pasta was the highlight of our meal. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable and helped make great recommendations for our dinner. read more

Gjelina - Lamb sausage pizza - New American Near Me - Venice, California

I thought this place was overrated. I waited 2 years since moving to LA to try this place, and came with a large group of 12 people. It's pretty crazy how full this place is. Hard to get a reservation anytime. I have to admit, I don't remember exactly what we ordered because I came here 6 months ago and didn't leave a review for some reason, but I remember it being SLOW. Some dishes were decent. I recall the pizzas being good, the burrata, broccolini, cauliflower, grilled mushrooms. The meal actually took almost 4 hours on a weeknight. I'm not sure if it was because I came in a big group that it took so long. I'm willing to give it another try since it is so highly rated by so many people. read more

I know I will get a lot of crap for giving them only 2 stars...but let me explain myself. First I don't know how to pronounce the name of the restaurant. Yes, I take full responsibility on my ignorance of not knowing how to pronounce when there's a G and a J next to each other. The other disclaimer is that I went to this restaurant on a Friday evening when it was busy so that may be the reason for my negative review. First negative: I walk in and feel frumpy. Yes, again that's my own fault and insecurities. I have to admit there were a lot of "beautiful people" there. I saw a lot of big hair, bling, skinny jeans (or is it boyfriend jeans now?) and designer bags. All that's ok...so although it may be casual, you better look shabby chic! Next up, we go to our table (reservations are highly recommended). I would probably ask to be seated outside. I have to admit, it was nice outside and seemed less crowded out there. The person I was with loves this restaurant and ordered what he thought were "good." He ordered a few small plates: 1. Pork belly (good considering I don't like pork belly) 2. sweet corn (good, but overpriced) 3. Steak tartare (My first time having steak tartare, so I think it was good..) 4. Melon and prosciutto 5. yikes! We ordered something else...a salad..but now I can't remember which one...but it had yummy bacon bits. 6. Butterscotch dessert So my overall impression about this place, a bit overpriced for what we got. Yes, the food was fresh and interesting, but still overpriced. Each dish probably has enough for each person to have aboutn 4 bites worth...so perfect to share for 2. The most negative part of the restaurant for me was the lack of service. It reminded me of a MAC make up counter, the people that work there act like they are having a party and you are getting in their way....in fact, you weren't invited. I couldn't tell who actually worked there, and everytime we tried to hail someone down for water, or to order more food, they looked at us like, "Uh..are you really talking to me?" Maybe they did that because I looked frumpy. So I may give it another chance, but not rushing to do so. If you do, I learned there's free parking behind the restaurant. Not sure if this is for all the stores on that side of Abbot Kinney, but hey save your pennies for the meal you are about to pay for... read more

I really really wanted to like this place. Really. It was my birthday dinner and I had done a lot of research on menus, atmosphere, etc to find a great place. The food looked fantastic. My BF and I got there to put out name on the list and were told 1 hour. Great, we'll walk around Abbot Kinney and then grab a glass of wine at the bar inside the restaurant. Everything is going great, it's crowded but we're not worried. THREE HOURS later......still standing in the corner and the wine has worn off and we're starving. The host was nice but we silently watched him take other people to tables that came in AFTER us that didn't even have reservations...(we were in earshot of the host). We checked in with him a couple of times too. How insulting....,typical LA I guess. Anyways, the food smelled and looked great especially after 3 hours of watching it go by. After 10pm hit, we decided to leave and I got a delicious turkey burger at Urth. They were so friendly there.....how refreshing. read more

A co-worker recommended this place. Tried to make a reservation the first time, but they didn't have the book for that month (April) so said they'd call me back. They didn't. So I called back and made one successfully - please do make a reservation. I saw lots of people waiting squeezed up against the bar or standing outside. We just got back home from there. Food is okay - small plates, lots of choices. But it was overrated for me. I heard their pizzas were amazing; we got the white pizza and it was nothing impressive. Cheese kept sliding off the dough part. Dough was dry. That was the 1st of 4 items we ordered. Waited....like 15-20 mins to get the next 2. I considered them "sides" = mushroom toast (mushrooms delicious, but toast was untoasty) and roasted cauliflower (was ok). Then, waited an eternity for the last dish, which was like 30 mins+ after the last 2 dishes. Waiter didn't even apologize or give us an update while we were waiting . He kept checking in with the table next to us (they were so close to us, so I could hear), but never once asked how we were doing (other than to sell more beer). We even had our plates cleared because it took so long. The final dish came = mussels with chorizo (tasty mussels, salty broth, and overly spicy chorizo). So we had this whole bowl of mussels ("main dish") to eat without anything else, since we ate the other stuff like 45 mins prior. The place is too loud. I first thought the ambiance was cool, but sitting down, it was hard to connect to my date (husband) because it was so noisy I couldn't focus and had to shout to converse. I immediately asked for the check. I sort of expected a discount or something for waiting, but knew we wouldn't be offered. He left the check without even saying a word, no "thank you." Wines were pricey too. I won't go here again. read more

This is a tough one. On the one hand, I had a great night here with wonderful friends. On the other hand, we had one of the most seriously overpriced meals I've ever had. I'm not saying the most expensive I've had, but definitely the most overpriced. The decor is absolutely fantastic, a perfect nod to the state and neighborhood it resides in. Great concrete detailed walls, amazing wood running ceiling, and yes, like everyone has pointed-out, the bathrooms are pretty much the best in LA. If Palate looked like this place, they would be even more unstoppable. Why so many comparisons to Palate these days? Show me a fine dining restaurant in LA that has their ish together to the degree that Palate does. Can't? Thought so. We waited about a half hour from our reservation time, and didn't even get the table outside that we wanted, which is pretty annoying, but most of the staff was pretty nice (the waitress was great, the hostess was OK, a little typical attitude-y). We got our table up against a window (where we were treated to lots of people walking by and making stupid gestures or checking out the women in our party (we were, admittedly, a pretty sexy bunch lol). The wines throughout the evening were decent, but again, overpriced. I was in charge, and started us off with a 2005 Lirac, an obscure Rhone wine, which was acidic and lovely, a great palate teaser. We followed it up with a Peter Murphy Cabernet Sauvignon then a couple bottles of a Battagliani Zinfandel from the Russian River Valley - all were excellent, but nothing transcendent. The food? Very hit or miss. We had a couple of cheese plates which offered even smaller than Palate portions, but the cheeses were delish. They only brought one small plate of bread to accompany (for 6 people), and by the time we got more, the cheese was basically gone. The vegetable appetizers were all roasted this and that, and pretty much over-salted and not super fresh, although the roasted mixed squash plate was nicely balanced and tasty. The pizzas are good. Not great. But quite good, and even though they are SUPER thin cracker-crust style, they are large and pretty filling. We all shared a mushroom and truffle pizza which was nice, earthy, rich. I also got a Gruyere and caramelized onion pizza - topped with raw arugula - which was nice, but the onions really destroyed everything else, and there was nowhere nearly enough cheese. The butterscotch budino-rip-off is delicious, lots of salty sweet happening, always a good idea. A perfectly decent meal, but again, at what worked out to be $85 a person, I felt the worst sticker shock of my life. FAIL. read more

If Gjelina didn't take itself so seriously, I might have gone with four stars, but the management needs to get over itself. I'd heard about the place from a couple of friends, but had the chance to check it out since I moved out of the Venice area a while ago. Some friends mentioned they were going and invited us along. The host offered us a 6PM table ONLY if we agreed to leave by 7:30PM. Okay...that's not surprising for an EXCEPTIONAL restaurant that is still really busy. Not to mention that we were headed downtown for the evening anyway. When we got there, it was relatively quiet, of course. They seated us at a table outside next to an emergency door that was open to the street. Let's not forget what neighborhood we're in. I like the space, both inside and out. The picnic style tables they have inside near the bar offer a way to commune and eat without the stress of waiting. The lighting on the patio is perfect and the floor lamps make you feel like your in your own house. I always love vines growing up on the walls. Down to the food. The Margherita Pizza was soggy, too cheesy and relatively tasteless. I was excited to get the brussels sprouts with bacon as that is one of my favorite dishes to eat and to make. Mine are better. The "artisan" cheese was more "art school". Our friends ordered the squid which I wasn't really cheering for in the first place, was as bad as I thought it would be. On the other hand the Butterscotch Caramel was REALLY good. When we left, we expected the waiting area to be packed with hungry hipsters. Nope! No one waiting and open tables. Why did we agree to leave early? Not sure I'll go back any time soon. read more

Gjelina gets a bum rap. Yes, the threadbare rags-as-napkins are an unfortunate choice, the guy who used to get picked on for playing Dungeons & Dragons in high school is now your condescending hipster server, and unless you're a member of Venice's unwashed elite, you're going to have to tap dance for a weekend dinner reservation. But the food is consistently solid, the design is striking, and the experience is uniquely AK, warts and all. On Saturday, after cheering on my overachieving brothers-in-law at the Malibu Triathlon, I realized that I never made brunch reservations. Everyone was famished and fading from a very long morning, so I had to think fast. I called Gjelina and they were able to give us a table on the sun-drenched patio with less than an hour's notice. Sometimes, the gods smile upon the plebeians. The breakfast dishes -- eggs and maitakes, crispy fingerlings, sausage, and blueberry pancakes -- were just as good the standby pizzas and salads. And I was only marginally disappointed by the fact that there are no brunch cocktails -- only beer-and-wine drinks. A fine experience all round. read more

I stopped in Gjelina for a late lunch after hearing rave reviews from friends. The afternoon menu is largely made up of pizzas, and while they didn't have the ingredients for the pizza I initially planned to order, it seemed as if I still had plenty of options to choose from. Unfortunately for anyone who has allergies or personal preference, their "no modification" policy (which I didn't see advertised anywhere) is borderline insulting. They are completely inflexible and unaccommodating -- I asked for my pizza to be made without goat cheese, because I can't eat goat cheese, and they refused. Unfortunately for me, there was one ingredient on almost every pizza that I couldn't eat, so I ended up getting a classic margherita pizza. It was good, but also something that I could get anywhere (and probably cheaper somewhere else). While I understand a "no substitution" policy, forcing ingredients on patrons who simply request that one item be left off is laughable in this day and age. Would I expect them to sift through a salad or pasta and pick out goat cheese that was already mixed in? Absolutely not! But would I expect them to accommodate a request to simply not sprinkle goat cheese on a personal-sized pizza? Of course. The lack of care for me as a customer was so off-putting that I will probably not return and would certainly not recommend this restaurant to a friend. They also never brought the drink that I ordered. I am not one to write negative reviews, but this was by far the most negative experience I've had at a restaurant. read more

Go straight to their take-out next door, the main seating areas are always crowded with gawkers, hipsters, and the regulars. I have dined here with a friend who used to own the commercial space next door, and another friend who designed an international retail store three doors down. The male waiter was curt, and very dismissive of any requests for non gluten sauces or breads. I simply wanted no bread crumbs in my dish. Over all rather obnoxious place. My last experience here was on their private roof deck. This area is available for your reservations for a very high fee. They will bring you Pizza, slowly.... The salads always have bread crumbs. Nice view of kitchen below from roof deck skylight. read more

Waiter told me to eat around the cheese in a salad as they didn't do any substitutions or adjustments (I'm lactose intolerant). Then when I asked him if they had anything vegan he responded "I'm not sure." I see no reason to go here ever again. read more

Only in Venice will you go to a restaurant and feel like you are working for the wait staff. They must all get a manual on how to belittle the client, take out their rude attitudes, and how to generally be giant a**holes. I've been here at least ten times and I don't know why I bother thinking that it will improve. I've never seen a more pretentious groups of employees. There are NO alterations to the menu so if you want bean stew but no yogurt dolluped on top? Tough luck cookie. Lastly, once the host gave me a table for 6 and then after we were sat another host came and asked us to move telling us that they accidentally sat the wrong group. I explained that we had already been sat and the women host had the audacity to tell me, "Patience is a virtue." How about not seating the wrong table and then asking us to get up and move because of YOUR mistake? I hate this place. read more

The noise! The noise! I can't remember the last time I was in such a noisy restaurant, and never ever in the day time with all the windows open. Horrendous. Another odd thing, in over 110 reviews, not one is by somebody I recognize here on Yelp. Not that that means anything, but plenty of my Yelp friends live in Venice and the Westside, and yet, nada. Anyhow, I came here today on a spontaneous lunch break with a friend who had been - I'd heard about and walked by plenty of times, but never came. We waited 30 seconds while they cleared a table and as the noise decibel hit me I looked around for an escape and saw a back patio. It was empty, but unfortunately, off limits at the time. Next time, I will make sure it is available and request it. The room is basically a square with walls and ceilings of plaster and stone, perfect for reflecting noise back at you. A casual seating arrangement of communal tables and standard separate seating around sturdy wood hewn tables make up the restaurant, with the kitchen glimpsed somewhere in the back. Clever design, a warm, comfortable feel. The menu is interesting enough, small but with good variety. Would one call it trattoria style, bistro style or American Nouvelle? We ended up getting some basics, a lamb burger and a bacon raddichio pizza. As we waited we sipped the ice tea, good, stout, smoky black, caffeinated, served in a half carafe for each of us, and shouted back and forth across the table for conversation. The food came out rather quickly, the lamb burger served on thin slices of ciabatta, accompanied by 2 sauces, one white and one red. We were never told what they were for and it was hard to tell by taste; was it some sort of ketchup and mayo? I think so, but not obvious. I dipped my fries in them occasionally. The burger was delicious, M-R as asked for, whatever condiment they put on it sufficing (probably what they served in those hard to identify ramekins). The pizza was quite good too, served on a tad too thin crust for me, but a good one, nicely wood smoke flavored, a tad of charring on the bottom, the cheeses, bacon and raddichio well blended, a nice synergy of flavor. But the fries, very average, too dry, cholesterol sticks with no joy. Our voices hoarse, when the party next to me vacated I scooted around and sat next to my friend, school kid style, so for a few minute before we left we were able to converse without bellowing. The total for 2 ice teas. 1 pizza and 1 burger, $40 including tax, so fairly reasonable for a trendy, high concept restaurant. Definitely worth coming back to for some more sampling, as the food is clearly to be taken seriously, simple as it was. Just bring a bullhorn. read more

Wow people are easily misguided on yelp, kind of a bummer. My criteria for restaurant reviews goes in this order: food, ambiance, then service. Well the combination of mediocre food, stuffy atmosphere, and abhorrent service has me in quite a state of uncertainty with the reviews of other fellow yelpers. Do some reading before going, and you'll notice that many people have had horrible experiences here, including myself and two other friends of mine on DIFFERENT occasions. They're famous for their thin crust pizzas, but they're no big deal. Many latte liberals (my friend's spot on description) crowd the place thinking their uber-coolness can match that of New York's. No, this is Venice, where relaxation, good eats, and good people should reign supreme. I have been a proud Angeleno my entire life, and encourage fellow yelpers to not support owners with incredibly smug and negative attitudes serving average (overpriced) food. Just not worth it to me, plenty of other establishments deserve your hard earned dollars. read more

Great food. Fun atmosphere. Terrible service. Our waitress was incredibly rude. Seemed irritated that we wanted to order rounds of food (this is a tapas place and we ended up spending $500 so you'd think she'd be stoked for her tip). Also argued with us when the wrong pizza was brought to our table. Actually tried to convince us that a cheese-less tomato paste + sausage pizza was a burrata + jalapeño pizza. Service like this totally turned me off and I won't be back. I can find this style of food at many other places in LA without the attitude. read more

HORRIBLE SERVICE. Do not come here. My girlfriend and I had been looking forward to eating here for some time and were very impressed with the decor and atmosphere once we came in. However, our waiter was not only incredibly rude, terse and inattentive, he was drunk! He was slurring his words and could barely keep his eyes open. He was of no help whatsoever. We ordered the pâté, mushroom pizza and grilled octopus. The pâté was actually amazing -- without a doubt the best I've ever had. That came to our table within about 15 minutes. But the pizza and octopus never came at all. We waited at least 45 minutes after the pâté for the rest of the food and had to keep asking the waiter about it. He was very rude and was clearly patronizing us and could not care less about the quality of service. After an hour of putting up with his terrible attitude my girlfriend and I just up and left. He honestly deserves to be fired and the management needs to have a serious talk to the wait staff. I'm not the only person writing a poor review based solely on horrendous service. read more

Definitely in LA overhyped territory...we generally try to avoid the westside when dining and this reminded me why. Don't get me wrong, the duck hash is real good. The zucchini/squash blossom scramble on the other hand was decent but under seasoned and the portion was small. Add in the pretentious waitstaff that don't realize they are most likely failed actors and you are all set. Also, if you are going to be arrogant enough to add a 20% gratuity please make sure that your waitstaff is on planet earth. The bussers are cool though. We won't be back. There are too many great restaurants on the other side of town for me to ever give it another try. read more

I loved the food and drinks here. Service was awesome, despite the plethora of fedoras and long sweater vests. Trendy, but still tasty food with decent portions. I didn't see anything served in a mason jar, but I bet they have something. I don't like the prices, but a splurge every once and awhile is nice, and this place is worth it. They have a take-out next store, which I come to more often. I also love their Gjusta place. I also don't like the wait, but if you don't wait for a place in LA, it probably isn't that good. read more

Gjelina's ambiance reminds me of the part of the Westside that I do not miss. The distressed rustic look runs from the tables to the lighting to even the outfits of the servers. I felt too...Asian? for the place. But of course, I was there to eat and I was hungry. My Sunny Duck Egg with Duck Confit- Potato Hash was incredibly good but oh so small. I think I ate it all in 60 seconds and I started munching off of other people's plates. First, I went for the Lamb Burger and fries, I mean Frites. At least this dish was entree-sized and it even tasted good but not Umami-good or even The Counter-good. Next, I tried a spoonful of the Chickpea Stew, which was much better looking than tasting. It was bland and boring and confirms that I am just not cut out to be a vegetarian. The service was pretty spotty; our waitress rarely came by and a refill of water took 15 minutes. And the price was just a tad too high for my non-Westside mind. read more

Horrible customer service We went to Gjelina for lunch. We ordered the beets and Burratta plate, which was small but good, and the Moroccan Eggs. The eggs were too runny in our opinion, so we asked the dish to be baked for a few more minutes (it's served in the pan). To my amazement our request was met with a polite but complete refusal. Apparently the "chef" would not have his masterpiece "altered". We paid for the plate we did eat and left. We will never go back. read more

Favorite restaurant on Abbot Kinney. Pleasant atmosphere, pleasant people, pleasant customer service. Even the things that look funky to me area really damn delicious. I want to eat everything on the menu. For some reason, every time I come here is around 3-4pmish. Yet, there's always a decent crowd and food here. Forget your diet. Eat / drink EVERYTHING here. The orgasmic pizza with random herbs on the side. The slimy weird looking oysters. The burrata anchovy toasts that OOZE everywhere. NO regrets. read more

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People have been raving about this place. Friends love it! Meh, don't drop in unless you have a reservation, they're busy as all get out. The staff and management are super nice and accommodating. But it's not the place to go if you're on a restricted diet (e.g. low sodium), or want a healthy size portion to assuage your hunger. Menu changes twice daily per quality ingredients' market availability. read more

Called to try and get a same day reservation for a special occasion, was cut off midway in my question with a cold "no", put on hold for 5 minutes, then when someone finally got back on the line they hung up on me. -_- I know you can go better Gjelina. At the prices you are charging I am sure you can afford another hostess/host to greet customers and take calls. Experience: Interesting atmosphere. A bit dark, but I like the decorations. Very "hip". High prices for mediocre food. Definitely not bad food, but not something I'd wait an hour or 2 for again. Might as well go to the pizza takeout section next door and get that. Don't get the candied beets. tastes like cheap melted candy and was basically not edible. We didn't even finish one piece. Pizza was great, grilled fish was bland, but the butterscotch pot de creme was very good. Would return to the Pizza takeout side, but definitely not the restaurant. read more

The wait is interminable, even with a reservation. You're asked to kindly wait along the wall until a table is free, so my friends and I stood by the wall along with 30 other people (I'm not joking about this #) like shy unwanted wallflowers at a high school dance, praying to someone at sometime will come towards us and lead us out from the wall. While we were waiting, we were incessantly asked if we wanted to order a drink. Um, no. It's one thing if I were sitting at the bar to have a drink while waiting, but I why the hell would I want to stand and hold my drink (I know, I know, people do this at parties all the time, but that's different. And at parties, I know if and when I get tired of holding my drink or if it's empty, I can put it down somewhere, whereas at Gjelina, I would be left holding an empty glass like a desperate alcoholic). Gjelina really needs to learn how to manage their tables and times better. If the food hadn't been so excellent, I would have been thoroughly disgruntled by Gjelina. The sublime food appeased my soul ravaged by hunger and frustration and gave me the sought-for blissful contentment of delectable delights. After a long wait (which miraculously ended when I reminded them that we did have a reservation), we were seated in the back patio, which we loved. It's a nice little open garden-like seating. Even in Jan, LA is warm enough to sit outdoors (but with heat lamps, please, Los Angelinos are fragile creatures). AND we got to sit next to Tom Hanks, his wife Rita, and two people who we had no idea who they were and were not probably famous. Star sighting! It was fun, especially since I really do like Tom Hanks. We started with a pizza of gruyere, caramelized onions, fromage blanc, and arugula. The pizza crust was thin, with crispy edges, but a toothsome texture. The arugula was a lovely fresh counterpoint to the richness of the cheeses and onions. Then we had the Russian kale salad with a yogurt dressing and hazelnut. I didn't care for this salad much, as out of all the dishes, it was the most graceless (it looked like they piled some seawood onto the plate) and least tasty. I felt like I was eating a lot of grass. Moo! I'm a cow. My friend wanted to order something different, but there's something to be said that not being too different. Next was the incredible Niman Ranch pork belly with polenta, mustard greens, and apple cider. Oh, the deliciously tender pork belly meat with the crispy skin. Amazing! I want to describe how earth-shatteringly incredible this pork belly was, but I can't. I want this for my last meal. Period. You would think that any dish that came after the pork belly would fail miserably in comparison, but the potato gnocchi with braised beef, red wine, pecorino, and tomato held its own very well. The fantastic rich sauce paired was an amazingly accompaniment to the soft fluffy gnocchi. Not to mention how tender and juicy the braised beef was. All of us looked longingly at the finished dish when the waiter took it away because we all desperately wanted to lick it clean. It was a travesty to waste any of the beautiful sauce. And because we're such gluttons, we ordered another pizza with four onions, goat cheese, asiago, and parmesan. Also very lovely. All this food for three people was $26 with tax and tip! A very good bargain for such great cuisine. I had a glass of Cabernet Franc, which unfortunately was a bit lackluster. I would definitely recommend coming to Gjelina, but make reservations and be prepared to wait. And she is worth the wait. read more

What other amazing review does this place even need? The food was delicious. The service... not as delicious. Our waiter looked a little out of sorts. Ditzy, perhaps? Confused? Inattentive is the word I'm looking for, so be prepared for that. Do you have claustrophobia? Then perhaps you should go next door and order there. It'll save you the snobbery of the seating hostesses. read more

I've come here 5 times and might give it one more chance if I don't get the same waiter. We had brought some friends from SF because we've always had a good experience here and the food IS great. This night was different thought and it became just plain embarrassing. My friend asked if he could get a pizza without broccoli and the waiter literally laughed in his face and said "Clearly you've never been here before...No substitutions", so he ordered the skirt steak instead. Then he got to me and I also ordered the skirt steak. This is how the conversation went (His tone was the most condescending tone I've ever encountered at a restaurant) Him: "Medium rare going to be ok for you?" Me: "Could I get that medium" Him: "No, there are no substitutions. Are you still ok with the skirt steak?" Me: "Sure, though I don't understand how my steak temperature is a substitution. Especially a skirt steak" Him: "Well, you can fight it but it's not going to end well. Have you been here before?" Me: "Yes, but this will probably be my last time" Him: "Ha, well that's fine. So you are willing to tell me that you've come here 4 times and won't come back because you can't get your steak cooked medium" Me: "Yes" Him: "Have you ever worked at a restaurant?" Me: "Yes, I have" Him: "Well this is a high-volume restaurant and the chef knows how he wants to serve the dishes and he's not going to change it for any customer. You know, the customer isn't always right" Me: "Great, thanks" He could have said the same thing in a much nicer tone and it would have been fine. It was the fact that he treated us like we were idiots with his tone that made it unbearable. Then he walked to a table with 6 girls and told them they needed to order or leave. I would have expected this from Dick's Last Resort, but not a trendy restaurant in Venice. NO SOUP FOR YOU! read more

Sadly, I think the food is bland and tasteless. Maybe this is why so many people like their food. Couple that with just awful service from want to be hipsters, who act like they got their service degrees from Harvard and you have just a terrible place to go and eat. I really don't understand the service issue. I have this policy of being as polite as I can to everyone but as soon as you walk in the door, you are treated like the devil. I wish you could substitute the side of douche with your service. read more

Not worth it for the food or the pretentious service. The portions are small and the food just does not taste that good. But the icing on the cake is... We were there on a very cool summer night and were seated outside in the back patio. When we asked then to turn on the heating lamps they politely declined saying they don't turn them on in the summer. Ok, but it was a cold night we explained... Sorry they replied the owner doesn't want us to turn them on. What happened to basic customer service? Obviously this place makes so much effing money they don't give a rats ass. The only reason I gave them one additional star was that we asked for the manager who did eventually come over and after still arguing with us about how the owner didn't want to turn on the heat lamps he begrudgingly agreed to do so. I recommend you take your business elsewhere. Obviously customers are not appreciated in this establishment. read more

This is one of my favorite places to get brunch in LA. There is not one thing on the menu you will be disappointed in. The worst thing about eating here is that you can't decide and every dish that comes out of the kitchen is amazing. My favorites are the mushroom toasts, any egg dish, the pancakes (I typically skip pancakes except here) and the bacon. read more

So - they only do brunch on the weekends. That's the first thing you need to know. We rocked up at 11 on a Friday and they were about to serve lunch from 11:30. We decided to go again on Saturday because it was so close to where we were staying. And OHHHHH BOY were we glad they did. We got four breakfasts and shared them and they were all gorgeous! My favourite was the crispy egg dish with prosciutto - very simple and delicious. The baked eggs, pancakes and duck hash were amazing too. The coffee was nothing special... but we went to intelligentsia just down the road right after so that's cool. read more

Please make a reservation if you are planning to visit. Or you can't have a seat. And the servers are not nice at all because they will charge you mandatory 20% tip. Only their coffee is good though.. read more

3.5 stars I've wanted to visit Gjelina for some time now...though, not enough to drive all the way across town. Until now. Opened in 2008, Gjelina has been consistently popular during its lifetime. So popular, in fact, that when making a reservation two weeks in advance, only 6pm and 9pm were available on a random Wednesday night. Consider my interest piqued. Grilled King Oyster Mushroom with Tarragon Butter, Lemon & Sea Salt - We started with these large mushrooms, grilled to a nice char. Smoky and earthy, they were really heightened by a touch of lemon. Hamachi Crudo with Santa Rosa Plum, Serrano Chili, Cilantro & Lemon - I thought this dish was very ordinary. The fish was fine, but the accenting chili, cilantro and lemon were too subtle. Grilled Nantucket Squid with Cavaillon Melon, Celery, Chili & Salsa Verde - I liked this dish - tender squid was paired with a little sweetness from the melon, while the chili and salsa verde brightened the dish up. Braised Pork Meatballs with Tomato & Grilled Bread - These were solid meatballs in a hearty and rich tomato sauce. Crispy Niman Ranch Pork Belly with Soft Polenta, Bitter Greens & Apple Cider - An excellent dish. The pork was crispy on the outside and meltingly tender on the inside. I liked the addition of the polenta and greens, adding some earthy undertones while the cider helped to cut through the richness of the belly. Grilled Asparagus, Frisee, Pancetta Vinaigrette & Crispy Fried Egg - This tasted pretty much as advertised, though I was missing some of the pancetta flavor in the vinaigrette. Wood Roasted 'Peel n Eat' Prawns with Garlic, Chili, Parsley & Lemon - Possibly my favorite dish of the night, large prawns came out perfectly roasted. Slightly smoky and slightly spicy, the accompaniments accentuated the shrimp without overpowering. Miatake Mushroom Toast with Creme Fraiche & Truffle Oil - Another hit, this mushroom toast was pretty delicious. The tender mushrooms went well with the tart crème fraiche and crusty bread. Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb with Cous Cous, Red Pepper, Spiced Yogurt & Herb Salad - This was our only large plate (the kitchen closed this section of the menu without prior warning) and it was a disappointing one. The lamb was surprisingly dry and overcooked. Not sure what happened here. Margherita - This was a good pizza with a sweet tomato sauce and a soft, chewy crust. I might've preferred it to be a little more crispy on the bottom, though, as it seemed somewhat soggy in the middle. Good, but not particularly memorable. Guanciale, Green Olive, Fresno Chili, Buffalo Mozzarella - This pizza definitely had a more dynamic flavor profile than the Margherita, with a tasty, meaty pork flavor complemented by heat from the chili and saltiness from the olives. Pretty nice. Butterscotch Pot de Creme with Salted Caramel & Creme Fraiche - Seriously delicious. I thought it was rich (but not overly so) with a really nice depth of flavor. A little bit of salt and whipped creme fraiche were simple and integral accompaniments. Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie - While I preferred the other dessert, this one held its own. Small chunks of banana filled the pie, which benefitted by being not overwhelmingly banana-y. The cream was pretty light with just the right amount of sweetness. Gjelina met my expectations (which were pretty high). Most of the plates managed to be interesting and different while staying within familiar Italian flavor profiles. The place is definitely trendy but with proven staying power. I can't say I'd make a special trip to Venice just to eat here, but it'd definitely be a strong option if I were in the area. read more

This place should have deserved 5 stars, but I couldn't justify giving the extra star with the seater turning a group of 8 small Asian girls hangry for waiting 45 minutes past our initial reservation time. Eileen L.'s REFVIEW for Gjelina RELEVANT INFO * A trendy hot spot on Abbot Kinney that you have to secure a reservation a month or two in advance * The restaurant is large, and has a charming spacious back patio, but this place is much too popular for its own good! * Although the dark lighting gives off the illusion for this place being a great date spot, it is better to come in large groups to sample more of the innovative menu in one sitting-preferred, since the menu fluctuates constantly * Impressive wine and beer selection! Cocktails are more like wine spritzers * As expected, parking is a nightmare on Abbot Kinney-and no valet option available (from my recollection) * Gjelina's website is pretty great! I can be entertained by the moving links for hours * This may have been one of the first times I discovered Further hand soaps... amazing! * Gjelina Take Away option right next door for those who prefer to enjoy dining in the comfort of their own home or parties or beachside picnic.. the opportunities are endless! EXPECTATIONS GOING IN * Good food, good company FOOD * Wood Roasted Cauliflower ($9): a bit heavy on the vinegar and chili, but perfect crunch * Arugula Salad ($13): So fresh! * Mershroom Fontina Pizzrah ($15): a perfect blend of sweet, savory and smoky! * Ricotta Gnocchi ($15): soft, lightly chewy, sweet, cheesy * Crispy Pork Belly ($18): charred, fatty and smoky... probably my favorite flavor combination of all time :) * Pan Seared Black Bass ($40): crispy skin, super soft flesh that breaks easily at the touch of a fork/utensil VALUE * Vegetable sides $9-10; Salads $12-15; Pizzrahs $14-15; Small shareable plates $12-20, Entrées $20-30, Dessert $8-12 * Serving sizes were reasonably portioned for sharing * ~$25 pp pre-tax, strictly food IMPRESSION OVERALL * Great service -- our male Server was apologetic from the moment we sat down, gave us superb recommendations, and took great care of us * We were given a peace offering in the form of desserts (Butterscotch Pot de crème, banana cream pie O_O) on the house for the mishap that started off our meal ENVIRONMENT / AMBIANCE * Sophisticated, yet rustic chic setting heavy on the mood lighting-it was completely necessary to employ the aid of my friends to hold back flashes while photographing the dishes to keep my pictures from being merely blurry silhouettes of food * The entire restaurant was buzzing with excitement-the place may not look it, but it felt so metropolitan WOW FACTOR * The chef definitely tests his creative licensing limits here-every dish is so imaginative! Looking forward to returning for a different sampling experience :) #555! read more

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Gjelina is an epicenter of "cool". To start with it is on Abbott Kinney in Venice in Los Angeles in California in U.S.A. Perhaps I'm the one who's off-center putting so much credence to its location. The food is great. I drank a little too much wine to remember what I ate exactly. It didn't help that I told the waiter to make a "tasting menu" for me. There is something I ordered a second helping of after it came the first time. Perhaps I should look at the menu to refresh my menu... hold on a second... ... ... ... Okay it's coming back to me now: braised collard greens smashed rutabega grilled octopus (i've had some excellent grilled octopus recently this does not hit the level I've become accustom to. better octopus at La Chasse & Peche in Montreal and Gebr. Hartering in Amsterdam) A pasta I can't see on the menu this is what I demanded to have two plates of Pretty sure we had lamb lollipops, but that was pretty far into the wine... Hope this helps you. P.S. We had a reservation. Waited 30 minutes or so to get our table. Don't expect to seat near the time of you reservation. Remember it is supercool. read more

Had this place bookmarked for their brunch! My gf's and I decided to make a beach day in Santa Monica so we decided to come here for brunch since it's near the 3rd st promenade. I recommend coming early since they get super packed. Especially being a Saturday during brunch hrs. My gf's and I got there around 10:40 and waited for about 15 min. Your whole party has to be there before getting seated. Their is street parking or lots. I love the inside set up and vibe. A bit rustic and industrial, relaxing during the day and can be romantic in the evening. Their is the bar inside where you can sit around and tables and as you walk pass their is a real cute and spacious back patio with nice lighting and green vines around the walls. The menu is very divers for brunch. Although they have your typical egg dishes they also have pizza, salads, vegetables, and plates. A little bit of everything for everyone who may not want just egg dishes. _Buckwheat Banana Bread w/salted butter & preserves ($6). This was very small for the price! I was expecting at least a loaf bit it was just 2 small triangle pieces. It was soft and a bit crumbly. The salted butter was amazing and really brought out the flavors of the banana. The preserve which seemed like apricot was good but the banana was good on its own with the butter. I think it was honestly way too steep of a price for the amount. _Duck Confit, Potato hash, Sunny duck eggs & grainy mustard ($15) Small portion but good since it was pretty rich. shredded duck that was well seasoned and cooked. The potato hash was well seasoned and the grain mustard added a nice salt, sweet and earthy flavor to the dish. If you like hearty this is great. _Crispy sunny eggs, Prosciutto, Romesco, Arugula & Lemon ($15) Simple and light but good amount of flavor. The eggs were cooked perfectly, the prosciutto was nicely salted and the arugula was a tad wilted but fresh. The romesco sauce was a bit sweet and acidic it paired real well with everything. _Maple Glazed slab bacon & sea salt ($6). About 3 big pieces of thick cut bacon. This was amazing! And even though it was pretty pricey for the amount, this was worth the price. A perfect combo of sweet and salty. The maple glaze was not too overpowering but just the right amount to elevate the bacon. This went well with the crispy sunny eggs above. Even great to eat alone, tasted like dessert! _Moroccan Baked Eggs, Merguez, chili, tomato sauce, cilantro, & spiced yogurt ($15) This is different and in a very good way! Pretty hearty and bold in flavors. 2 eggs nicely baked and soft, covered in a tomato base, that I was afraid would be too heavy or creamy but it was a good amount. The spiced yogurt added a nice refreshing kick but not too spicy and I loved the cilantro garnish on top to balance all the flavors of the dish. The merquez was a nice touch for some meat and texture. The piece of grilled bread on the side was perfectly grilled. Soft and crisp on the outside, it took the home run to scoop up the tomato base with the bread. A must for something different. A pretty pricey brunch spot but worth it to come and check out. Would love to go back and check their dinner menu. Service was good. read more

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My daughter who goes to school in LA had Gjelina on her restaurant bucket list. :) So when we came down to visit her last week, she had already made the reservation for us. Gjelina definitely has the wow factor. We went late night and we're seated in the courtyard outside, in a cozy corner. The music, the lights, the ivy on the brick walls--the ambience is nothing short of charming. And the general public has definitely caught on to Gjelina. This restaurant is on fire. People LOVE this place and you can tell just by looking around the restaurant, the way everyone is enjoying their food and the atmosphere. The music was too loud for my likes, but still enjoyed myself. Everything on the menu calls your name, so do your research beforehand and then pray for an awesome, knowledgable waiter/waitress. Here's what we went for: MUSHROOM PIZZA - I saw some random complaints by some Yelpers about over-charred and soggy pizzas. Ours was perfectly cooked. Loved the pizza. My only complaint about the pizza was the cheese. The gorgonzola cheese, even though just lightly sprinkled, overpowered and that was a downside for me. Minus the overwhelming cheese, I loved the pizza and would order again. OCTOPUS - If I see grilled octopus on the menu, I always order it. This one was just OK, not bad, but lacking tenderness and flavor. Would NOT order again. RIBEYE STEAK - Nice to have a steak in the mix, which we could all share. Not bad, but wasn't feeling the quality of steak on this one. I would skip the steak next time. BEETS with BURRATA - Another dish we order whenever we see it. Not a word I use often, but I would say "delightful" to steal a vocab word from my nephew. Creamy burrata, paired with the roasted flavor of the beets was...well, delightful. :) Would order again. BRUSSEL SPROUTS - I make these at home and they're pretty darn good. But Gjelina did a good job. I liked how they used baby ones. I'm going to try doing baby brussel sprouts at home. Would order again. PORK MEATBALLS - Good, but not as memorable as some Yelpers make this dish out to be. This dish is a bit hyped up by the Yelper fan club. But order them and see what you think. Just OK for me. Would NOT order again. TUNA CRUDO - Hard for this dish to be bad, unless the fish is not fresh, and that was not the case. I wish the portion was larger, but very tasty, with a refreshing citrus bite to it. Tempted NOT to order again because of the lack of value. Too little for too much $. WOOD-ROASTED PRAWNS - One of my favorites. Great roasted flavor, came with the shell on, quality of the prawn very evident, sweet and meaty prawns. I'd order a basket of these if I could, with a cold beer of course, along with a pail of lemon wedges. That combo along would make me happy. Would order again. BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING - One of the things I love most about eating out, is the opportunity to get inspired with food. I'll eat something at a restaurant, that will inspire me to go home, and recreate my own version of it. I do it all the time, and it's how I come up with my "winning dishes" at home. The pudding is very simple, but so rustic and heart-warming--the epitome of comfort food for me. After eating this pudding, I want to open up a dessert place that specializes in puddings. Awesome. My daughter and I loved it, and my wife liked it but didn't love it. Would order again. APPLE PEAR CRUMBLE - This dessert also on point and also scored high on the comfort food level. Would order again. We had a great experience at Gjelina. I understand why this place is packed despite the priciness. It earned a spot on my favorites list for restaurants in LA. Save up, get a reservation, and go there. read more

Went for lunch a short time ago. Perfectly manageable in the daylight hours. I hear it's murder getting a table at dinner time, but the lunch seating was completely doable. They take their policy of making no accommodations for special requests on the menu very seriously, so don't be allergic to or averse to anything they're serving. It will be your problem to solve. But the service was very friendly and the food was fabulous. read more

Wasn't a fan of the faded farm house decor or the hoards of people who check you out the minute you enter the door. It was weird when we asked to turn on the heater on the patio the guy told us patio heater season is over- but he did offer us a blanket. I loved my juicy lamb chops served with cooked garlic. The in house olive bread is to die for but you have to ask for it!~Remember you can not make ANY changes to your order. read more

Fantastic lunch spot. We ordered: -porchetta sandwich - which came with thinly sliced porchetta, brocooli raab, some type of au jus and some peppers on a toasted baguette. Amazing! -smoked fish sampler - it came with 4 different types of smoked fish including gravlax. Also delicious! Everything tasted incredibly fresh. It was crowded at lunch time so we ate standing up at the counter. -1 star for service; there were no clear instructions on how to order, nor were the people behind the counter particularly helpful. read more

Between the fresh lipstick on my water glass that wasn't mine... The cocktail which seemed like mostly water or the undercooked hard as could be pasta or the snooty service or $100 to leave hungry I have no idea what I liked least. Ps. You should have a manager on duty and when someone says something is wrong with the meal you shouldn't just ignore them for the rest of their time there- thanks for ruining our anniversary! read more