All in all, the best meal I have ever had. I know that sounds like hyperbole, but for me and my guests, this was true. It was a splurge for us at $560 for 4 people. But for a milestone birthday, I could not have asked for anything better. I hope you enjoy. Pro-tip: Everything is à la carte. If you ask for more butter - $2. Blue cheese stuffed olives $1 apiece. They don't tell you, but they charge you. Caveat emptor. Food Beef tartare - 5* Raw beef with garlic aioli, fresh herbs and a special beef fat round bread to enjoy. This was amazing. The meat was fresh with a clean flavor. The herbs tasted like marjoram and a light citrus. The bread was warm, very soft, and really elevated the tartare. New York Strip - 5* I usually order rib eye, but wanted something meat-ier with less fat. Boy was I not disappointed. The crust was perfectly seasoned. Smokey and salty. The medium rare temperature was perfect. It was the best steak I have ever had. At that is saying a lot. Each bite melted in my mouth and filled it was a nice saline and slightly smokey taste. Unbelievable. Scallops - 4* Tasty and perfectly seasoned. The portion size was very small for the price. You only get two scallops with fresh peas and mustard leaf. They were good, but not worth the price paid. Busiate - 5* Thick pasta with Italian sausage, kale, burrata and basil. Wow oh wow! This was delicious. The green pasta was al dente, with a lightly dressed sauce of sausage, puréed basil and kale, with burrata dotted about. Light, tasty, and very satisfying. Gnocchi - 4* Fresh ricotta gnocchi was light, flavorful and very satisfying. Great mild flavor and just what you would expect from this comfort food. Creamed corn - 5* My friend ordered the corn, and she loved it. She is a picky eater and said this was the most amazing corn she has ever had. She didn't mind the mushroom oil at all. So that is high praise for her. Duck fat potatoes = 5* Crispy yet tender inside. Tasty and satisfying as you would expect. Bread and butter - 4* Excellent sourdough and butter which was just amazing. They will charge you $2 for extra butter without telling you. Service - 5* As one would expect, service was impeccable. We did have to flag down our server a few times, but all in all, service was great. Ambiance - 4* Small brick building with a very small dining room. Great to be able to see the cooking and chefs preparing your meal. The wood smoke smell outside is intoxicating. High ceiling, with some booths, a few tables and counter seating. Again this place is an absolute splurge. But if you can swing it and just ease into the experience you will not be disappointed. read more

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Gwen used to be our favorite steak restaurant in the world -- this was the place we'd take friends and family visiting LA, and our go-to whenever we felt like indulging. It's sad to witness its decline. My husband and I treated our newlywed friends to dinner here a few weeks ago. Despite notifying the restaurant that we were celebrating a special occasion, we were seated at a booth directly in front of the restrooms. The moment we sat down, we were hit in the face by the stench of sewage. I noticed there was a vacant booth of the same size in front of the chef's counter, so I politely asked the manager if we could move. He told me, "That table is reserved for VIPs who have dined here over 12 times." I responded that we had, in fact, dined at Gwen well over 12 times. Surprised by my answer, he quickly added that he couldn't find our dining history in the system and suggested I must have made previous reservations under different information. (Interesting, considering I haven't changed either my name or phone number.) He then offered us the booth directly in front of the one we'd originally been seated at and insisted there was no other availability all night. We took it because we were starving, even though it smelled just as strongly of sewage one table over. At that point, we were hoping the food would make up for this awful experience. We ordered the dry-aged ribeye and several sides. The duck fat potatoes were the standout. I've already forgotten what the other sides were because they weren't memorable at all. The steak, however, was mediocre. We've had Gwen's dry-aged ribeye many times before, and regulars will know that it typically has a pronounced dry-aged funk -- in the best possible way. This time, we could barely taste any dry-aging at all. The steak was so underseasoned and flavorless that we had to ask for salt so we could season it ourselves. Oh, and guess what? The supposedly reserved VIP booth in front of the chef's counter remained empty for the entire evening. This is a restaurant that would rather have guests celebrate a special occasion immersed in the smell of sewage than seat them at an unoccupied booth far away from the restrooms. For a restaurant that once held a Michelin star, that says everything about how far Gwen has fallen. read more

Gwen was a great experience! My s/o and I got a corner booth on the patio, which was perfect. It wasn't busy when we arrived, so we got to enjoy a nice, quiet meal before it started filling up. The tables are pretty close together so having a little extra space made it even better. We ordered the beef tartare, flat iron steak, New York steak, and duck fat fries. The steaks were amazing - perfectly cooked, juicy, and flavorful. Between the two, I'd personally choose the New York steak because it has a little more marbling and I love a fattier cut. One detail I really appreciated was that they let you choose your own steak knife before the meal. It was a small touch, but it made the experience feel a little more personal and elevated. The beef tartare was different from what I'm used to. It was seasoned with sumac and it was served with pita bread instead of the usual toasted bread or crackers. The service was excellent! We felt really well taken care of from start to finish. The steaks definitely filled us up, so next time I'm going to have to order one of their salads because our meal was basically all meat! read more

Gwen - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Gwen is Special. The service and hospitality are top tier. From the host station to servers people are accommodating. We were especially impressed and taken care of by Jack, the sommelier. Impressed Drew the GM made it by to say hello and check in. The steaks were a "mixed bag" (forgive me!) The NY was not their calling card, shame on my for a lesser investment. The skirt was amazing. Sides were comically small and tragically delicious. An appetizer of stone fruit and smoke cheese was a shing moment and a glimpse of high level chef driven creations. We enjoyed some amazing and reasonably priced wines. The room downstairs is light with great energy and views of tge ooen kitchen and fires. Upstairs is dark with a more subdued vibe. Craig our server upstairs for a moment was off to a great start. Adam was nice enough to accommodate us downstairs in a hightop after selecting the wrong area on Open Table. The bread and Normandy butter was divine. There is a butcher shop and sausage galore for take away. read more

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Gwen is a Michelin star restaurant located in Hollywood. There is valet parking in the back for $15 cash or $17 with credit card. There is also metered street parking ($1 for 2 hours) if you are able to find it. We made reservations the week before to come and celebrate a special occasion. Upon arrival, the staff knew we were here for a celebration and sat us at a 4-person booth instead of the usual tables for two. They also provided us with a glass of complimentary champagne. The server also mentioned that there were non-alcoholic options that they could offer as well for the complimentary celebratory drink. You will be greeted with a plethora of menus, including a very informative water menu. Our server, Jason, was very nice, courteous, and funny while walking us through the menu. He was very knowledgeable and provided great recommendations. They do ask that you order all of your food items in the beginning because it does take some time to prepare any of the steaks that you may order. We ordered the House Made Charcuterie, Lamb Ribs, Asparagus Risotto, New York Strip, and Duck Fat Potatoes. For our drinks, we ordered 16 Hours and Banana Shack. The 16 Hours was a very light highball and the Banana Shack was flavorful. We both enjoyed our drinks. We also received a complimentary appetizer, which I didn't catch the name of, but it was tasty. It was a piece of meat on top of the bread and also had two other components to it, including a small drink. It was interesting and tasty. We also received complimentary bread and butter, which was also good. The House Made Charcuterie had a variety of meats on there. All of the meats were cured in-house. This item seem to be the appetizer that the servers like to recommend. I did enjoy the spicy salami spread and it was definitely nice to try the charcuterie once, but I think we would pass on this next time. Our next appetizer were the lamb ribs. We both enjoyed this appetizer much more. The ribs were cooked to perfection and fell off the bones when you put into it. It was delicious! The first entree that came out was the Asparagus Risotto. It was full of flavor and we both enjoyed it. Before our steak came out, our server came by with a box of knives and had us choose our weapon of choice. He gave a background of what the handle and blade were made out of and a little history about the knife. I thought that was pretty cool and made our experience fun. The New York steak and the side of Duck Fat Potatoes came out last. The steak was made to a perfect medium rare and tasted delicious. The duck fat potatoes were nicely fried and were very flavorful. We would definitely order the New York Steak and the Duck Fat Potatoes again in the future. Overall, we had a really nice experience at Gwen. Maybe one day we would return to try out the items on the aged meat menu. A big thank you to Gwen and Jason for making our night special! read more

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After searching for weeks for the perfect place to celebrate our 10-year wedding anniversary, I finally landed on Gwen. With great reviews, a Michelin star, and a ranking of #41 on the World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants list, my expectations were sky-high. And maybe that's the problem. I expected to be completely blown away. Instead, it was just solid. That's not necessarily a bad thing (I'm still giving it 4 stars), but I do think Gwen is a little overhyped. We reserved seats at the Chef's Table, which was a fantastic experience. If you've watched The Bear, hearing similar kitchen terminology and watching the flow of service in real life is really cool. Watching the food preparation up close added a lot to the night. Our server, Jason, was excellent and knowledgeable about everything from the menu to the steak knives we got to choose from (that was fun and unique in and of itself). The restaurant is dark, but the Chef's Table seating made that less of an issue. I know the water menu isn't everyone's thing, but YOLO. We ordered the Antipodes water from New Zealand. Spoiler alert: it tasted like water. Haha. We were also given two complimentary glasses of champagne for our anniversary, which was a nice touch (although I was slightly surprised there wasn't any dessert acknowledgment). For food, we ordered, Tortellini, Duck Fat Potatoes and the 30-Day Dry-Aged Bone-In Ribeye (medium rare per the chef's recommendation and more than enough for two). Before that, we received bread and butter (incredible - we absolutely wanted more), amuse-bouche selections (shiso leaf with beef tartare and salmon on puff pastry - both excellent, especially the tartare), and an asparagus shot that neither of us really cared for. The tortellini was unfortunately the biggest disappointment of the night. For the price, it felt underwhelming. My wife and I each took a couple bites and the plate was finished. Thankfully, the steak delivered. It was delicious, and although we don't usually order medium rare, the recommendation was spot on. My wife still thinks she would have preferred medium, but overall it was excellent. Here's where I struggled though: for a Michelin-starred restaurant with this reputation, I expected the steak to be one of the best I've ever had. It wasn't. I've had better steaks at places without Michelin recognition or international rankings, and that gap between expectation and reality is ultimately why this isn't a 5-star review. Very good? Absolutely. Life-changing? Not for us. For dessert, we had the Triple Berry Sorbet, which oddly reminded both of us of a Fruit Roll-Up in a good way. Super refreshing and a nice finish to the meal. One thing to watch out for: our check initially included charges for the complimentary champagne. They apologized immediately and corrected it without issue, but it's worth double-checking your bill. Overall, Gwen gave us a memorable anniversary experience, especially at the Chef's Table, but it didn't quite live up to the pedestal it's been placed on. I'm glad we went. I just don't see myself returning. P.S. We almost ran into Curtis Stone. My wife is a huge fan so that would've been awesome. Apparently he had been there earlier that day. We missed him, but if he's around, staff said he'll stop by and say hello. read more

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An absolutely spectacular experience. First off, the service was lovely and amazing. Being able to choose my own steak knife was a unique experience. Second, the interior design was very comforting. That aside, the food is amazing. While Dunsmoor disappointed me, Gwen surprised me in an extremely positive way. Each dish served was crafted with care and flavor, and every bite was an experience. Hamachi Crudo- The texture of the hamachi is amazing. It's bouncy, but not chewy. Flavor is on point. 9/10. Chicken Liver- the texture of the liver is blended so smooth and creamy. It's paired with a fire roasted pita that has a beautiful charcoal taste. 9/10. Lamb ribs- absolutely amazing. This was probably the star dish of the night. This is a must get. 11/10. Asparagus Rissoto- creamy yet light. 7.5/10 NY Strip Steak- cooked to a perfect medium rare over an open fire. The texture was perfect and the flavors were very balanced. 10/10. Duck Fat Potatoes- it's hard to describe what flavors there are, but this is a very unique take. 10/10. Overall, each dish was amazing and I would definitely come again. read more

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My boyfriend and I came to celebrate our 1 year anniversary. He booked a reservation and we did the valet parking right behind the restaurant. The restaurant is dark, moody, and romantic. Service, drinks, and food were amazing. We were blown away by everything we ordered. The steak of course was delicious and perfectly cooked. My boyfriend really liked the scallops while I loved the pesto pasta. I think about the pesto pasta all the time. Every time I have pasta I can't help but compare it to the pesto pasta I had here and nothing comes close. If you are thinking about trying this restaurant you should definitely go for it. You won't be disappointed! read more

Gwen - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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A phenomenal experience! I came with a group of 6 to celebrate a couple birthdays and ordering family style was the way to go. We shared a couple apps including the stone fruit salad (yum) and charcuterie (eh), gnocchi (yum) and risotto (eh), 2 steaks (yum), a couple sides (duck fat potato - yum) and ended with a dessert, along with a couple drinks. After tax and tip, it came out to roughly $80 pp, which is quite reasonable for a steakhouse. read more

Gwen is a fantastic date night. Prices are on par with restaurants like this in LA, but you can use the Chase sapphire reserve dining credit here (as of 2025/2026). The service we got was attentive and everyone made us feel so special from beginning to end. The food was great, really had no complaints. Even the complimentary palate cleanser broth, amuse bouche, bon bons, and birthday cake were good. Favorite items were their steak (thank goodness) and mushroom spaetzle. I'd skip the scallops next time to try their other dishes. Can't wait to use my dining credits here again! read more

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I had heard about Gwen from a few friends before, and my boyfriend and I wanted to try it. So we visited on Saturday evening, October 7, 2023. Gwen is a Michelin-star restaurant, and I really loved the elegant ambiance, the quality of the dishes, and the overall service and atmosphere. Appetizer - White Peaches: This was a very refreshing appetizer. It had a light and delicate flavor, and the tartness of the peaches paired beautifully with the coppa. It was absolutely delicious. Entrées - New York Strip Steak & Ocean Trout: Both dishes were excellent. New York Strip Steak was especially impressive--juicy, tender, with a perfect sear and very flavorful. It had a great balance between fat and meat. Dessert - Brown Butter Pecan Cake with cream cheese, pear butter, and cardamom ice cream. This dessert was amazing. I loved it so much--it was to die for. Our server also gave us complimentary white chocolate cookies along with bread and butter, which we really enjoyed. My boyfriend and I had a wonderful time at Gwen. It was such a pleasant Saturday evening enjoying great food together. read more

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3.5 Stars Dined here on a Sunday night in Hollywood and overall had a solid experience, though not without a few notes. They do offer valet parking, but since it's Hollywood, it actually wasn't too difficult to find street parking on a Sunday evening, which was a nice surprise. From the moment we sat down, the staff was incredibly nice and attentive -- almost impressively so. They have absolute hawk eyes. The second someone gets up to use the restroom, they're right there refolding your napkin. Service was polished and proactive the entire night. The seating arrangements feel intimate, but be aware that the tables are very close to neighboring parties. Great for ambiance, maybe not ideal if you're looking for a super private conversation. Food-wise, the Kanpachi Crudo was the star of the show for me. I usually don't love sashimi/crudo when the fish skin is still attached, but this didn't bother me at all. It was paired with cactus sorbet and grilled avocado -- light, refreshing, and beautifully balanced. My only complaint is that it comes with just four pieces, and I definitely wanted more. The Garganelli Pasta was somewhat reminiscent of a carbonara, featuring six large pieces of pasta and guanciale (a cured pork). It was different, but not bad -- hearty and satisfying, just not particularly mind-blowing. We also tried the O'Connor Boneless Ribeye (Valentine's Day special), a 20oz Australian cut priced around $200. It was cooked properly at medium-rare, and my wife thought it was perfect. Personally, I expected a bit more tenderness and refinement for that price point. It had a slight off-chew that made it feel less elevated than anticipated. The Duckfat Potatoes were fairly basic and became a little heavy after a while. As for dessert, the Lychee Pear Sorbet with Earl Grey foam started off strong. The Earl Grey foam was bold and pleasant, but after a few bites, the sorbet's texture and flavor leaned a bit "baby food"-like for me, and I couldn't really detect the lychee. Overall, I left feeling slightly underwhelmed considering the pricing and Michelin-recognized reputation. Service was fantastic, and there were definitely highlights, but the experience didn't quite justify the total spend. Minor touches -- like better lighting in the men's restroom mirror and having toothpicks or floss available (especially after a steak) -- would have also been nice. Still a good meal, just not quite the wow factor I was expecting. read more

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​I came to Gwen in my pursuit of visiting most Michelin-star restaurants, hoping it would fill the void that Otium has left. In summary, I was disappointed. I would say this has probably been my least favorite Michelin-star restaurant from the 20+ I have visited so far. ​Experience & Service: 3.5/5 The decor is nice, but it is somewhat dark, and the music is extremely loud. Even our server made a comment about it. The knife selection, birthday gift boxes, and the palate cleanser are all cool add-ons. ​Food and Drinks: 3/5 For drinks, my cocktail was okay, and they have a nice scotch selection. For the food, we tried the squid, lamb, filet mignon, cod, potatoes, and squash. For dessert, we had the chocolate mousse, olive oil cake, sorbet, and coffee. The coffee was absolutely horrible. Everything else tasted okay, with the bread, squash side dish, and the chocolate mousse dessert being the highlights. However, to summarize, nothing had a "wow" factor or was even memorable. ​Did the food justify the price when compared to similar-tier restaurants such as Otium or The Bazaar or others? Absolutely not. ​Overall: 3/5 I am glad I tried Gwen, but it definitely did not live up to the expectations I had. read more

Since it was a milestone birthday for my friend and I, we decided to celebrate together with a dinner reservation at Gwen. It was my first Michelin-starred restaurant experience (so I may not have a "refined" palate as someone who regularly enjoys fine dining), and the second for my friend. Upon first entering the restaurant, there is a small butcher display case on the left and the restaurant opens on the right. It was a lot smaller than I had expected, and I think there is either a room or a few tables upstairs as one could people walking above you when one is in the restroom downstairs. We were lucky to have reservations at the Chef's Table, which turned out to be the counter right in front of the kitchen, which was an amazing experience for us. We were thankful also for the comfortable high counter chairs, as compared to how the chairs in the dining room looked. They have an entire "book" for the Water Menu. Since we both like Gerolsteiner (and I always have San Pellegrino at home), we decided to try something new. Our server suggested the Vichy Catalan (Spain), which was very refreshing. The next sparkling water we decided to try was Ararat (Armenia), which was not our preferred taste. The LA Water tasted better than the Ararat sparkling water. The restaurant certainly was making quite a lot of money from their water menu, charging upwards to $13+ a bottle when some bottles are less than $5 at Trader Joe's, Smart & Final, or etc. Amuse-bouche + Palette Cleanser Bread & French Butter House Made Charcuterie $40 selection of cured salami, whole muscles, and spreads Tortellini $26 mushrooms, Maine scallops, herbs 30-Day Dry Aged Ribeye 36-oz $225 Duck Fat Potatoes $15 chicken salt, malt vinegar Banoffee Dessert $18 passion fruit, banana cream, toasted graham ice cream Americano x2 (Perfect pairing with the dessert) + free birthday dessert (we took them to go) Bon bons Service was great. Our plates and cutlery were replaced with every part of our meal and our table was also wiped of any crumbs or etc. as well. Everything tasted great and we were glad we ordered what we ordered because after seeing what other nearby patrons ordered, we were happy with our choices. Also with sitting at the Chef's Table, we were thankful we did not order the "off the menu" white asparagus. Throughout the entire night, the 3-4 pieces of white asparagus were often grilled too over (dark) and oftentimes the chef in front of us had to make do with what they could salvage from the "ruined" white asparagus and plate it looking full. Before the Ribeye arrived, we were given the choice to choose our knives. I choose by style, and ended up with the Viper (made in Italy), while my friend chose the Japanese style one (made in California). For the 30-Day Dry Aged Ribeye 36-oz, I had some unchewable parts, which was quite surprising for a $225 steak. The flavors were great though. Since we were so full by the time the steak came, we asked them to package what was left after we both ate a few slices. Our server provided us with a Claim Check to grab our takeout on the way out. (When I got home, I noticed that the sauce was not even packaged with the Ribeye. Yes, the sauce was not needed but it initially came with the order. The potatoes were also placed in the same big box so everything had also shifted around.) Parking was surprisingly easy. We opted to park right behind the restaurant, valet. It was also surprisingly priced at $15, which in LA is sometimes unheard of. This was the most expensive meal I have ever eaten in my life, and it's an experience I'll never forget. read more

First off the water menu was a first, unfortunately not pictured as I prefer my water to be free and LA tap gives the necessary bacteria for my gut biome. But the options were plenty for you water snobs. The food is scrumptious! The side dishes provided across your meals were great, they gave a soup (unfortunately the size of three sips) that was amaazing, probably my favorite. The bread although a little hard went well with the butter. The amuse-bouche was great and the prosciutto (or what I assume to be prosciutto) was a great pairing with the creme fraiche. The duck dfag potatoes were great, it was a good palate switch from the meats. Now onto the meats... The glaze on the lamb ribs was to die for, however it did have a berry tinge that I couldnt pinpoint the taste of that was a little off-putting. But it was still really good. The crispy grains add the extra crunch texture that elevate the dish. Overall amazing lamb ribs and you should order this app! For the steak we ordered the dry age steak, the cheapest of the options, but still ~$250. The meat was cooked to perfection as seen in the photos and tasted soo good (as I kindve crave it while writing this). However there were some parts that couldve been more tender, but I fear tenderness is slighlty uncontrollable. The muskiness of the length of dryness really does come out and tastes great. The Au Jus and sauce they add tastes so good, and you cannot blame me for drinking these individually. My water was always topped up and I probably didnt even lift my hand to fill my own cup as there is a reserve bottle on your table. My cloth napkins were folded everytime I left and came back to my table which was funny, but also shows their presentation and cleanliness. The restaurant is a little dark but I feel these types of restaurants always lean to that lighting. Overall great first experience and would love to try their other menu items one day! read more

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After having a great first experience here the other week with my friends, I took my mom here for her birthday. What an absolute treat!! Everything was just as excellent, if not more so this second time around. The lamb ribs really are a delicious bite- even for those turned off by the usual gamey taste. The asparagus risotto is SO flavourful and herbaceous it's crazy. Then the meat. We got just the regular New York strip and it was so tender and flavourful, you could tell there was care and quality put into the tasting of the beef and its preparation. You have to get one of the desserts to finish the night with, both the banoffee pie and the caramelised chocolate mousse were to die for!! Our server tonight was Audrey and she was FANTASTIC. Any questions we had on the menu she was quick to answer, she was very attentive when we finished our drinks and asked if we'd like another round, and all around a great person to have take care of us! Everything about Gwen is sure to make it a favourite if you're an LA locale, and it's a great vacation destination if you're just in town visiting. 10000/10! read more

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I have no idea how this place has a Michelin star, it's far below other 1* restaurants I've been to. It didn't feel like a sanitary establishment alone with the women's bathrooms containing black mold on the sinks and unkept. If the washrooms aren't being properly cleaned I wouldn't have much faith in the cleanliness of the kitchen. On to the food, the portions were incredibly tiny for the price. The best part of the meal was the butter with the complimentary bread basket and chicken soup palette cleaner. The lobster ravioli entree was over $40 for 4 tiny pieces of ravioli and it didn't have a very good flavor. It mostly tastes like toasted Parmesan crumbs. The food also took a very long time to come out even though they weren't very busy. Overall, I'd suggest taking your money somewhere else for a steakhouse, you'll leave hungry here. On the bright side the ambiance was nice and moody, but the food and prices do not match. read more

Gwen - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This is my first Michelin starred restaurant in a long while, so I was stoked. Here's the thing, everything here was technically perfect. The steaks perfectly cooked. The sides perfectly seasoned. But beyond the technical perfection it felt like it didn't have any flare or creativity. The only interesting parts were the amuse bouche and the tiny dessert sent around by the chef. Otherwise, everything we tried from the menu lacked heart (or whatever it is that elevates a restaurant from good to great). Maybe it's just a matter of expectations, but based on the reputation and price point, I was a hit disappointed. read more

First Michelin star experience!! Really didn't know what to expect for a Michelin star title, but Gwen did not disappoint. Elevated industrial experience with a butcher shop counter when you walk in. You can see big ovens and some of the kitchen. Bathrooms were clean, lit with great smelling candles, and had aesop soap. Service was standard, and great. Our server was very friendly and checked in at perfect times and made great recommendations. Our table was always promptly pre-bussed and when we used the restroom, an employee would come by and fold our napkin and place it on the table. You get to choose bottled water from a book of waters which was a unique experience that felt silly in a good way, and somehow made drinking water fun. The warm blue crab was to die for, best pita bread i've ever had. Oysters were nice and came with a house made hot sauce. Drinks were great, and most of all our steak was huge and cooked to perfection. I had never really had an expensive steak and this was the most perfect first experience I could've had. The potatoes side were also a must. We skipped dessert, but since we were celebrating my boyfriend's birthday they brought us a little box with a bow on it. I thought this was more special than a free ice cream scoop with a candle in it (like most places do). It was so fun to open it and find little pastry chocolates inside. read more

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Listen, this is a single Michelin Star rated restaurant. So expect an expensive menu and a unique experience. The greeter at the front was fantastic and pleasant. The ambiance walking in was just what we needed to set the tone for a romantic dinner. We were sat in the middle of dining room, but sat next to 2 men sitting in sweat pants, sweat shirts, on their phone the whole time, and couldn't care less about the experience. While this is no fault to the restaurant, imagine going to Michelin restaurant and sitting next to people who don't take the same experience. Neither good or bad, just kills the vibe of a "romantic dinner" for your significant other. On to the food! Menu just for the water. Yes, you can buy a bottle of Fiji for a few dollars at 7-11 across the stress, but it was fun having water menu with wildly charismatic ways to describe water and their saltiness. Nonetheless, water was, well, water and tasted great. Half dozen oysters were 10/10. Some of the best my wife has ever experienced and we always buy oysters and cheesecake at restaurants having these options available. The last place I would have thought to have incredible oysters was a small corner steakhouse in Hollywood. I ordered the filet and it was perfection. Not too much seasoning and allowed you to enjoy the meat flavor of the steak instead of over-seasoning. Rotisserie chicken was good, but nothing great. Is it worth the price, probably not, but it's still good and when you're experiencing a romantic time, you care about taste and lastly the price. Each item is shareable on the menu. So a couple can order appetizers, entrees, and desserts to share. I had a glass of wine and was lucky enough to taste the wine before choosing an option. 3 variations I was allowed to try and glad I did because my original choice was too "jammy and sweet" for my liking. I prefer a bold dry red wine. The environment and setting were fun. Meat rack available to see through glass and chef's cooking through glass. Beautiful staircase upstairs, restrooms, and waiting area in front. While this place doesn't come across as a Michelin rated restaurant, it's certainly a good place to dine. Were the food and drinks good, yes. Were they memorable enough to create a core memory and talk about the dinner for years to come. Absolutely not. If this was a "regular restaurant" with regular prices, I'd probably be back multiple times passing by the area. But the few hundred dollar dinner for a good meal was good enough for a one time date night. read more

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Second visit to Gwen, as I had a friend who had never been but was meaning to go. We arrived soon after opening and fortunately they had seating still available at the chef's counter. Went with the 36oz 30-day dry aged ribeye for our main, with the potatoes and carrots as sides. Started with the lobster fondue Service was attentive and rotated across different servers. Ambiance was upscale, as expects of a Michelin starred restaurant Tasting menu is no longer available, as we would have definitely ordered that if we could read more

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What a treat to enjoy this historic 1928 structure, blending Spanish Baroque and Art Deco styles, originally designed as a commercial building and later home to the Mercantile restaurant, the historic building on a New Year's Eve. The rain made it even more memorable. We absolutely enjoyed our visit here. Jordan was our server and everything he recommended was phenomenal in taste, texture and aroma. I do not eat pork so Jordan made sure everything we ordered had no pork and would stop by as soon as the food would be served just to double check after the chefs had done their amazing part. Now, who would not appreciate that! The entire team of staff was professional, super attentive and very courteous. Thank you, Jordan and team once again, Happy Birthday to your mum! And, thank you for the treats and for your kindness. read more

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The atmosphere was nice, and the drinks were well made, which made for a promising start. Unfortunately, the service and overall dining experience fell short. I ordered a steak, but was served a different cut than what I had requested. In addition, the gnocchi arrived much later, making it difficult to enjoy everything together. The food overall lacked flavor, and the experience was disappointing given the expectations.For the prices charged, I expected much better attention to detail and pacing. There are plenty of restaurants in Los Angeles that offer a far better dining experience for the same money. Sadly, this isn't a place I'd return to. read more

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This was our second time going to Gwen. Both have been great. I wish I could do 4.5 stars overall. The restaurant itself is a nice combination of modern and old school. Not super formal but still feels fancy. The staff is probably the biggest asset. Everyone from the front door to the wait staff and hosts were very hospitable and accommodating. Food: 1. Bread and butter- 10/10- some of the best butter and bread you will have at any restaurant. 2. Lamb ribs- 10/10- perfect flavor and cooked just right. 3. Ricotta gnocchi- 7/10- the gnocchi felt a bit too firm. Flavor was decent but I feel like gnocchi should be softer. 4. creekstone ny strip 7/10- decent flavor but I've had better steaks, they were all sold out of the wagyu steaks that we prefer so might just be my preference. 5. Duck fat potatoes- 10/10- great taste and crispiness. 6. Creamed leaks- 10/10- surprisingly very good and packed with flavor! Overall, we really enjoy coming to Gwen and will continue to come here down the line. The attention to detail from the water menu to picking out your steak knives really adds to the experience. Thank you, read more

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I went in with my family for my parent's anniversary. My brother had gone before so I knew the food was going to be good and it did not disappoint. It was also part of the sapphire open table restaurant so I wanted to utilize that as well. We got a bottle of wine, mushroom spatzel, duck fat potatoes, beef tartare, lobster fondue, lamb ribs, gnocchi and ny strip. The consomme that came with the apps may have been the highlight of the meal for me as it was rich and flavorful but not overbearing at all. I knew they had moved from their other location so I did expect the interior of the restaurant and furnishings to be a bit nicer which isn't a huge factor but I did expect better ambiance overall considering it is a michelin recognized restaurant. Service was excellent but I do have to say, the check was quite up there, not cheap! read more

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Gwen might be the gem of my 2025 LA food extravaganza. While I had it bookmarked for a while, I really didn't expect to be as blown away by their steak and pork chop as I was. Every single bite was tender and immensely flavorful. The only phrase that comes to mind is culinary perfection. My picks are the flat iron steak, pork chop, and garganelli (pasta). The hostess and servers all get 5 stars. They have a great sense of humor which made the whole night that much more memorable. If you're wondering about the ambiance it's beautifully lit with an art deco interior feel. Super inviting and classy without being stuffy. If you're a martini lover--the dirty martini was a delight. read more

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This was my first time here and it was a great experience. Every dish we had was delicious!. The staff was knowledgeable and friendly. I'll definitely be back! read more

Gwen - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Absolutely stunning! Was blessed to celebrate my 5 year anniversary here at Gwen. From start to finish service was phenomenal. Such a beautiful dining room, with upscale elegance. Decor that goes up against any restaurant in Hollywood. Once you walk in you are hit with a gleaming display of the finest cuts of meats curated for every palate. And yes they are for sale! Upon entering the dining room, you just can't help but to think "man Chef Curtis Stone did an amazing job". It's not even a question. Such a beautiful restaurant. Even the restroom is an experience with fresh rolled towels bundled for you to dry your hands. Not one detail was left behind. As I mentioned above we were celebrating our anniversary, so I opted for the "chefs table". To make it a bit more special for our dining experience. I love cooking, I love to create and to share food with all my loved ones. What better place than to be in the pit with the wolves, observing them create every dish. The precision was on display that evening. Professionals doing the most. Mise en place! Loved this experience. Plus I learned a few things. Super grateful. After receiving our celebration champagne glasses. It was time to order! Market salad, Lamb ribs, chicken liver mousse, Ricotta gnocchi, flat iron steak, duck fat potatoes, and grilled asparagus. Also since we were seated by the chefs table we were given a little taste of the beef tartare as well. Fantastic. Nothing less. So fresh and perfect. I truly can't think of one dish being any better than the other. They were ALL the finest of quality. I don't think I left any crumbs behind. That scrumptious! The chicken liver mousse! Wow, that had some flavor to it. The strawberry jalapeño jam resembled a dessert but had this amazing texture and flavor that paired perfect with the chicken mousse. The lamb ribs, a bit of spice and smoke, uber tender, and meaty. Each bite felt so welcoming especially with that scallion yogurt. The ricotta gnocchi was so darn good, I can't even explain it. Succulent braised lamb and the tomato sauce the fresh gnocchi everything worked in unison. Duck fat potato's was a home run, with that tarragon vinegar. There was no way I'm letting that vinegar be left behind. Perfection. The flat iron with the asparagus perfect duo. Super soft steak seared flawlessly, ordered medium rare. Each bite as tender as the other. Asparagus was delectable as well, with the crunch puffed quinoa and umami aioli. So good. Last, the market salad perfect palate cleanser for me. Ha! But lettuce if I'm not mistaken, not one bit of bitterness. That was refreshing. Can't leave out the amazing water menu, such an amazing touch. Such an unforgettable dining experience. Hats off to the entire staff for making our evening special. Our waitress was the sweetest, so patient and welcoming. Can't thank you all enough for creating this memory for us! read more

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The good n the bad about Gwen: The food was fantastic. The service was horrible. We had the smoked beets (good), market lettuce (good), gnocchi (best I've ever had), scallops (good) and the 18 oz steak not on reg menu (fine- lacked salt). I would go back for the gnocchi alone. Let's talk about the service. I took my bf for his bday. I emailed them a week ahead to simply ask a question (for my non drinking bf) abt whether they had non alcoholic wine. They couldn't bother to respond so I went in stanky. Our server (don't know his name but big, black guy) was not knowledgeable about the food and sarcastic. Maybe I just didn't jive with his vibe. The service was incredibly slow we were there for two hours bc we were waiting on the food to arrive the whole time. At one point, the ppl next to his left their credit card so my bf ran out to get them and when he was gone, one of the bussers folded his napkin (all good) but put it BACK ON HIS DIRTY PLATE further dirtying his napkin. Like... use your brain. Additionally, my bf happened to walk back as the guy was placing his napkin on the dirty plate so my bf made a face. Instead of asking what's wrong, the guy had the gall to make a face right back and he kept giving my bf looks as he walked away!! As I said it was my bf's bday so we got two desserts (both amazing) and I asked the server while we were waiting, if we could have a candle. His response? "Where? In the water?" No you dumb fool- in the dessert. I don't need the servers to be sarcastic w me while I'm paying $500 for a dinner out. He then proceeded to ask why. I said it's my bf's bday even though we had already told him and the hostess knew and he again, proceeded with his non landing joke and gasped and said "it's his birthday???" It was all extremely annoying. I still gave him a 20% tip bc I'm a decent person but what I wanted to do was write a written tip on how to be a better server. Bc of the service alone, I wouldn't go back but the gnocchi.... The gnocchi is something I will be thinking about for a while. read more

Gwen - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Gwen has become my favorite restaurant in Los Angeles and my go-to place for life's special moments. Whether it's an anniversary, a birthday celebration, a romantic date night, or even a dinner by myself after a long and exhausting day, this is the place I choose every time. The atmosphere is elegant, warm, and inviting, the service is consistently impeccable, and the food never disappoints. What keeps me coming back is the incredible consistency--every visit feels just as special as the last. A special mention goes to the amuse-bouche, which is always thoughtful and delicious, setting the tone for the meal from the very beginning. And the bread and butter deserve their own recognition--they are, without question, some of the best I've ever had at any restaurant. Simple things are often the hardest to perfect, and Gwen absolutely nails them. This is one of those rare places that feels perfect for both major celebrations and quiet moments of self-care. Gwen has become part of many of my favorite memories, and I know I'll continue returning for many more. Easily one of the finest dining experiences in Los Angeles. read more

I came here to celebrate Valentine's Day with my husband the following Sunday after the date. There is valet parking by the front but we were easily able to find parking around the neighborhood. It's Hollywood so it's a little sketch, but it's not so bad. We made reservations for 6:30pm and were promptly seated. They immediately give you the drinks menu and surprisingly have a booklet for all the different brands of waters they serve...including LA tap water haha. Loved the little comic piece of that there. We did not order any drinks so this review will be primarily for the meal. We went with all the choices our server recommended. I really enjoyed Gwen because without realizing it, all the meals came out as if we ordered a set meal. It began with an amuse bouche and ended with a small chocolate. It was a surprise and very exciting to feel the meal experience was much more exquisite, especially for a steak restaurant. The amuse bouche was like a small cream puff with cheese and something like prosciutto. To cleanse your palate, they also give a small serving of chicken broth with mushroom. They also give complimentary bread and butter. The bread was good (I love bread) it wss crunchy and soft on the inside. The butter was imported from Normandie, it was delicious!! I wanted to take it to-go. - 5/5 Kanpachi Crudo: mm this was really refreshing and bright! It came with cactus sorbet but we didn't realize it was ice cream! The textures played very well together with the rest of the garnishes like cucumber, avocado, and the fish itself. - 4.5/5 garganelli: this pasta was described to us like a distant cousin of carbonara. The pasta has textured like a rigatoni and the guanciale was close to pancetta. Crispy sage was topped. Though it was slightly over salted, the pasta was comforting to eat. Very savory compared to our Kanpanchi. - O'Connor Boneless Ribeye: we were told this was a Valentine's Day special and that they imported it only for this occasion. Compared to the Bone-in ribeye, it was 20oz vs. the 28oz for the same price. We figured the bone itself probably weighed 8oz and it's comparable in terms of meat quantity so we decided to go with the imported ribeye since it's a special. It's imported from Australia and supposedly you can't get it anywhere else except Australia or importing it. Before serving, they bring out a box of knives to choose your own cutting utensil. This was awesome interaction. We chose based on looks and even was told a nice description about the brand and how's it made. We were served the steak along with the duck fat potatoes. First of all, 20oz was the perfect size for us. Second, it was beautifully cooked to perfection - a perfect medium rare. I wish I was more an avid steak eater, it was delicious but I have a hard time comparing really good steaks against each other. Of course, a no brainer, this steak was really tender and so good. The Demi glaze was offered on the side so you can eat with or without it. It was light and offered a nice umami flavor. The potatoes were crunchy but slightly over salted. It made us reach for our water more often. I would probably add to include a veggie side to balance the heaviness of the steak and potatoes. - pear lychee sorbet: wow this was a great combo of pear and lychee. The pear kind of overpowered the lychee but you can still slightly taste both flavors. The earl grey foam was very apparent in Earl Grey flavor. It was topped with a thin layer of passion fruit. It was a well-balanced mixture of sweet and tart. We also received two chocolates to end our meal. It was very decadent and was such a nice sweet touch! With the price point, Gwen is more exceptionally a celebratory restaurant and for special occasions. I wouldn't frequent coming here but if I was rich, I'd stop by every so often for a steak. read more

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The restaurant is really pretty, good for a special occasion like a birthday or a date night. The ambiance has a dim lit, romantic type of vibe. Our server was nice and gave us some recommendations. The pork chop was plain, but I really like the taste of the side (collard greens, white peaches, walnuts). The steak was okay, good, but not the best. The ocean trout was substituted since they didn't have striped bass. It had crispy skin, but I also thought it was plain. The house made charcuterie board was yummy, I liked the duck and chili spread, but it's a small portion. The gnocchi was okay too, and the lobster tagliatelle was solid. I liked the caramel chocolate mousse dessert, very rich and delicious. Their bread with butter was also really good, the bread came out nice and toasty. Overall, this is a really nice restaurant for a romantic date night and good food. But for me, the food was okay, not my favorite restaurant for the price. I was surprised it's a Michelin star restaurant. read more

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Celebrating our anniversary, we had a reservation here. Valet parked in the back for $15. We were maybe 5 mins late but seated promptly upstairs at a cozy corner table for 2. Each host/server acknowledged our anniversary and when seated our host offered us 2 glasses of a sparkling Riesling on the house. Nice touch! Beautiful decor and every detail was charming from choosing your steak knife to the vintage cigarette boxes to hold your check. There is also a pricey water menu if you wanted to try something other than LA's finest. We ordered something from each section of the menu and enjoyed all of it because we were celebrating something special. It was a good meal and impeccable service but we both agreed that our steak crust was slightly over charred leaving a bitter after taste and the creamed corn was a bit over salted. But it was still delicious! read more

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The customer service was decent but could have been better. The Lampchops were pretty fatty, which kind of took away from how they looked, even though the steak was really flavorful. The creamed corn and duck fat potatoes were super tasty, even if they were a bit expensive. Overall, it was a pretty average experience that didn't exactly make the bill worth it. read more

The food was exceptional. The service at the bar was fantastic. The bread is a cannot miss. So why no 5 star review for this Michelin starred restaurant? Simple answer: I had to ask for the wine list 3 times. Maybe they thought we could afford the food but not the wine. The wine list is extensive and very thoughtfully curated. I was truly looking forward to trying something new and different. The wine is expensive but that is to be expected at an upscale restaurant. We received our food before we got the wine list. Asked for a wine list when we ordered. They do this cute thing where everyone gets to pick a steak knife. Asked for a wine list after "choosing" my steak knife and receiving it with the bonafides. (It was a nice knife). The oysters were awesome with house fermented hot sauce. Charcuterie was incredible. Asked for a wine list after getting them. Eventually, the sommelier found us and asked if I had anything in mind. It felt sort of condescending. Maybe I was just upset that it took so long to get the wine list. The sommelier helped me pick out a nice Tuscan that everybody at the table enjoyed. My daughter paid for the food and her boyfriend paid for the wine. It was a really nice treat. I made sure to tip the waiter and the sommelier before we left. I wish this place had lived up to the hype but the experience was really dampened by the service at the table. read more

I had a great time Sunday with friends Sunday at Gwen! The N.Y. Steak, the potatoes and creamed corn was soo delicious. The dessert was excellent and Craig was a great server and guide throughout our dinner. It was a pleasure and I can't wait to go back read more

I had a great meal here, everything was delicious and the service was wonderful! My favorite items were the lobster ravioli (must order), the flat iron steak, and the side of creamed leeks & onions. I also loved the barramundi, it had a nice crispy skin and all of the flavors in the dish were so tasty. We ordered a decent amount of food and they paced it out really well even though we had a later reservation time. I would definitely come back again. read more

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A thoroughly perfect experience from beginning to end. My boyfriend managed to get reservations here at Gwen for my birthday celebration. Even more impressive is that he managed to get us premium seating at the Chef's Table. I know they have valet, but we don't really like people driving our cars, so we can early to find parking in the area. There was street parking within the block if you're willing to take a quick walk. As soon as we arrived, the hostess wished me a happy birthday and led us back to our seats. Jason took care of us on our visit and was more than happy to also take photos for our special outing. It was also super fun and informative to watch the chefs work their kitchen with care and precision. They would come and chat to us and give us fun facts about the restaurant and our meal too. It was truly a treat. We started off with complimentary fried Squash Blossoms. It was crispy and perfectly seasoned. A great beginning to a glorious meal. We were asked to order everything in the beginning so they can properly pace our course, since some of the steaks take a while to prepare due to the tender love resting and basting they put into their craft. Also everything here is family style and meant to share. I love sharing so that works for me. We decided on the House Made Charcuterie ($40), Chicken Liver Mousse ($26), 36oz. 30-day Dry Age Ribeye ($199), and Duck Fat Potatoes ($15). The complimentary bread and butter, charcuterie, and chicken liver mousse came out first. Omg this bread is heavenly. My boyfriend and I were obsessed on how amazing this bread was. The outside is crunchy and the inside was soft. The butter was imported from France. It was amazing. The charcuterie was spectacular. Chef Curtis Stone also has a butchery connected to this business so this is a must try item here. The chef working behind the counter was telling us how their charcuterie machine is maintained by the same person who fixes ferraris. The chicken liver mousse is without a doubt the best one I ever had. It also goes well with the amazing house bread. Yum!! Staff clears your place settings between the appetizer and the entree. And soon brought over fancy knives for us to choose from. The glorious ribeye came out with the duck fat potatoes. Truly a great pairing. Their sides were a little limited or we probably would have gotten another one. The ribeye was perfectly cooked, delicious, and juicy. Quality is top-notched. The potatoes were crispy and flavorful. We had a little bit of everything left and Jason was so nice to pack it all up for us, and even label each box. The service is so attentive and sincere. I forgot the name of the dessert I ordered but it came out with a caramel interior, a nice thin candy shell and gold flakes and slices of pear, and a scoop of ice cream on the side. Absolutely well balanced and not too sweet. They also gave me a cute little box as a birthday gift with another glorious treat to enjoy later on. Swoon! What a perfect birthday outing. I even ran into Chef Marcel Hatten who is the head chef at Gwen. I recently saw him with Chef Curtis Stone on a You-tube feature of Gwen, so that was a treat. I definitely would consider coming back. I would want to try the porkchop next time. And definitely more chicken liver mousse. And maybe be lucky enough to run into Chef Curtis Stone. read more

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We discovered Gwen at the Hollywood farmer's market. I rarely ever eat pork but their bacon was so next level delicious, I would eat it daily if I could. So naturally we got curious about their rest of their food, and made a reservation to celebrate my birthday. We were welcomed and served the most delicious meal of the year here at Gwen. The lobster fondu and the charcuterie both blew us away- by the time the NY strip arrived we were already blissed out. They sent me home with a little white box of cheesecake as a birthday gift. This meal was pricey but worth every penny for the service and quality and overall vibe of the dining room! +20/10 read more

I was really disappointed by my experience at Gwen tonight for Mother's Day. For a restaurant with a Michelin star and a reputation centered around steak, the food was just okay certainly not memorable, and I've had far better steaks elsewhere in LA and internationally. What was more disappointing was the service. We waited over 30 minutes for a cocktail, and by the time it arrived we had already finished dinner and were ready for dessert wine. Water glasses were rarely refilled, and the table was only wiped down once throughout the meal. The women's restroom was also unsanitary and clearly not being maintained during service, which added to the overall poor experience. I've dined at many Michelin-starred restaurants around the world, and this experience did not reflect the level of hospitality, attention to detail, or quality I would expect from one. read more