Melly the bartender is amazing! She's so sweet and makes the best drink. Such a cute hotel bar that…read morehas a big screen tv showing all the sports game.

Ordered a mojito and a old fashioned after a long day at Universal. It was great. Quick, friendly…read moreservice.

Verse has been on my list for a while now because of its vibe, live music, and cuisine. I'm always…read morelooking for restaurants that offer a different kind of dining experience -- something unique, something memorable -- and Verse absolutely delivered on that. From the moment we pulled up to valet to checking in for our reservation, everything felt smooth and elevated. We got seated right away and our server, Roger (I think that was his name), immediately set the tone for the evening. He gave us a great rundown of the menu and the concept of the restaurant, which made the experience feel more personal and immersive. We started with the Hokkaido milk buns and wow... that brown butter was dangerously addicting. Soft and almost mousse-like with the perfect balance of sweetness and salt. I could honestly eat that by itself. The buns themselves were delicious too, though I do wish they served them piping hot like the bread at Texas Roadhouse or Lucille's Smokehouse. The yellowtail crudo was incredible. Super fresh, melt-in-your-mouth texture, and the chips added a nice crunch while the fruit brought a bright, robust flavor that paired beautifully with the fish. Easily one of my favorite dishes of the night. A friend of my friend happened to be working there that evening and surprised us with the kale sprouts. Funny enough, we had literally just been debating whether to order it. It turned out to be such a great dish -- smoky, crunchy, and packed with flavor. The raisins added a really nice touch of sweetness. We ended up saving some of it to eat alongside our entrees and it paired perfectly. My friend ordered the dry-aged branzino and it was excellent. Crispy skin on the outside while the fish stayed soft, juicy, sweet, and savory inside. The Oaxacan mole felt like such a bold choice but somehow worked beautifully with the dish. And that burnt sweet potato? So soft and flavorful it practically melted in your mouth. I went with the dry-aged duck breast and loved every part of it. It came with pommes aligot layered with duck au jus and fermented black bean underneath, which sounded unexpected but tasted amazing together. Rich, savory, unique, and comforting all at once. The potato pave was another standout -- crispy on the outside, tender and rich on the inside. Absolutely delicious. Everything about the night was memorable: the atmosphere, the music, the food, and the service. Verse is definitely one of those places that stands out from the usual dining scene. We didn't have time to stay for dessert since we had another engagement afterward, but honestly that just gave us another reason to come back.

My wife and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary here, and it was our first time visiting. We…read moreabsolutely loved it. The atmosphere is incredibly romantic, the vibe is amazing, and the live band really adds to the experience. The service was top-notch as well. Roger was our waiter, and he was energetic, attentive, and thoughtful enough to send out a complimentary dessert with a candle to help us celebrate. The food was outstanding. We started with the kale sprouts and buns appetizer, then my wife ordered the mushroom risotto from their vegetarian menu, which was a really nice surprise since we hadn't seen it online and it gave her more options, and I had the NY steak. We also shared the corn elote on the side. Everything -- and I truly mean everything -- was delicious and incredibly satisfying. One thing I really appreciated was that dinner felt like an experience rather than a rushed meal. The food came out a little slower than at most restaurants, but honestly, that made the night even better. It gave us time to enjoy the music, relax, talk, and savor each course as it came out. Sometimes with upscale restaurants, you worry you'll pay a lot and still leave hungry. That was definitely not the case here. Verse exceeded our expectations, and we'll absolutely be back! Next time I wanna try that tomahawk steak!

VALENTINES DAY I like this place, it always has the perfect "relax and chill" vibe when we come…read morehere and the music and atmosphere was perfect once again on Love Day! And thank you to the main bartender he was amazing as usual!!

Fun karaoke bar filled with lots of talented theater kids. chill vibes 10/10…read more no one looked at me funny when i brought my laptop and ordered a glass of wine at this hole in the wall little joint

This is hands down my favorite local tiki bar!…read more The vibes, the drinks, and the people make it unbeatable. Their piña colada is easily the best I've ever had. Perfectly creamy, balanced, and dangerously drinkable. One sip and you're instantly on vacation. The manager Erin is an absolute gem. She's the sweetest, has the best sense of humor, and makes everyone feel welcome the moment they walk in. You can tell she genuinely cares about creating a great experience. Also, shoutout to Topher, a truly awesome bartender! If you're looking for a spot with killer cocktails, tropical vibes, and top-tier service, this place is a must. Can't recommend it enough. TIP: they teamed up w/Pitfire Pizza so u can actually get pizza delivered to you via QR code available on each of the tables.

Tiki No has a surprisingly fun ambiance, especially for the area. It is definitely not something…read moreyou expect to stumble across, which makes the atmosphere a nice surprise when you walk in. The drinks are okay. They lean on the sweeter side, so it is the kind of place where you might stop in for a sugary cocktail rather than something particularly memorable. Overall it is a decent place to meet up with friends for a quick snack and a drink, but it is probably not somewhere I would go out of my way to make the main destination for the night. Still a nice little spot if you happen to be nearby and want a casual place to hang out for a bit.

The hubs and I went to FIVE on the Hill after seeing a theater show on Hollywood. The place is…read morerelatively close and it was nice to get away from all the noise that comes with all the traffic in Hollywood. All seating is outdoors so plan accordingly.

This was honestly one of the worst brunch experiences I've had. I drove an hour and a half to come…read morehere and left extremely disappointed. None of my friends enjoyed their food--the dishes were underwhelming and absolutely not worth the money. The service was also horrible, which only made the experience more frustrating. I ordered the French onion soup and it was terrible--dry, soggy bread with barely any cheese and hardly any broth. I also had a flatbread pizza, and honestly, I've had better pizza at Papa John's. None of the food was desirable, and no one at our table even finished their meal. I've never felt like I wasted money at a restaurant the way I did here. The only positive thing I can say is that the restaurant itself is cute and has decent ambience, but that's about it. I wouldn't come back or recommend spending your money here.

Obsessed. This was the kind of holiday bar experience that's actually FUN, not just "pay $20 to…read morestand in a crowd and take pics." The show was hilarious, the bingo was chaotic in the best way, and the Krampus Naughty Confessions segment had me fully crying laughing. It felt interactive and lively without being overwhelming, and the whole place had this playful, festive energy that makes you want to stay awhile. Also... the DRINKS. Legit some of the best holiday cocktails I've had this season not just cute, but actually delicious. I was genuinely impressed. I came for the holiday event, but I'm leaving thinking: I want to come back on a regular night. This place has that "new favorite spot" potential. Would 100% return and bring friends.

I remember when this place used to be a karaoke bar named something else. I went back in something…read morelike 2018. And it was cool. Totally forgot about it. Fast forward, I live down the road now. Didn't remember the name or place. But my partner and I wanted to attend the "Krampus Cove"event. Which we had done at another location two years ago. We were stoked that it was at a new spot, and so close! We went on a Sunday afternoon. So it wasn't packed. Had a booth to ourselves. The decor inside was amazing. And the show was hysterical and fun. The actors are so great. Now as far as the bar goes - we plan to go back during normal operating hours and times (hopefully soon). And I can comment more. But I will say I'm excited to go back because the cocktails are super delicious, AND they have daily happy hour (5-8pm if I'm not mistaken). Huge plus. The only negatives are the parking. Very little parking lot so that could be tough on a busy day. And the service was mid. There was one friendly bartender, and another one that just may have been having a rough day. But I didn't feel really welcomed or attended to. Rest of the staff was great!

okay we had these two servers (one was training) Maia and I'm so sorry I do not remember the…read moretrainee's name but she was fierce. We had such incredible service, the meal was phenomenal. I got the fettuccine Alfredo and my friend got the lobster roll. we shared the crème brûlée and it was PHENOMENAL. vibes of the restaurant were fantastic. The food runner was also great. over all GREAT time

Rouge is one of the few places that consistently brings the right crowd, the right music, and that…read moreenergy you actually go out for. Definitely make a reservation, weekdays are chill, but weekends get busy in the best way. The ambience is what really makes it stand out. It genuinely feels like you've stepped into Tulum the dim lighting, earthy tones, and that effortlessly elevated vibe that makes you want to stay all night. The food is solid (seriously, order the pasta), and getting there isn't a hassle with both valet and street parking options. I do wish they had something going on earlier in the week though, because a Monday night here is underrated and deserves more hype. Drinks are a highlight too. My go-to is the "Divorce Papers"--just trust me on that one. And the service? That's where they really separate themselves. Narek runs the place in a way you don't see often always present, always aware, making sure everything flows smoothly without missing a beat. It creates an experience that feels taken care of without being over the top. Overall, it's a true go-to right now. Great crowd, great music, and an atmosphere that keeps you coming back. Easily one of the best spots on Ventura right now !

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

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

The Garland is a boutique hotel that has retro vibes of old Hollywood, maybe from the 60's and…read more70's. The rooms and amenities are all updated however, and if you want to be close to Universal Studios or Studio City in general, this hotel is excellent. They even have a free trolley that runs hourly to/from Universal Studios and a LA bus terminal. Our 3-night stay during Memorial Day was great - comfortable rooms, beds, and friendly service. Rooms had plenty of storage space and charing ports, and wifi is free and fast. They also have an agenda of daily activities like group exercise classes, LA hot dog/taco nights, and classic movies next to the pool. Their main restaurant, Front Yard offers a daily breakfast buffet and ala carte brunch, lunch, and dinner. The only reason for the -1 stars is that their AC is an older, in-wall unit that gets loud when turned on. Outdoor Parking also isn't cheap at $50/night with in/out privileges but that may be typical for the area.

This hotel is a bit of a mixed bag. What they do well, they do exceptionally well, but where they…read morefall short, the issues are difficult to overlook. The location is excellent--easily accessible from the freeway and conveniently close to Universal attractions, making it a great home base for exploring the area. The valet team was efficient, friendly, and welcoming throughout our stay. Unfortunately, the individual we assumed to be the valet manager was a stark contrast. He appeared visibly frustrated and annoyed at all times, was rude to guests, and was openly disrespectful toward his staff, which was uncomfortable to witness. Check-in was quick and seamless, and the lobby is beautiful with stylish décor that creates a great first impression. Our biggest disappointment was the condition of our floor in the Portola building. Upon entering the elevator, we noticed a strong smell of cigarette smoke but assumed it was temporary. Once we reached the fourth floor, however, the odor was overwhelming. It smelled like old, stale cigarette smoke reminiscent of vintage Las Vegas casinos. Since the property emphasizes that it is non-smoking, we immediately notified the front desk. To their credit, they responded quickly, submitted a maintenance request, and placed another room on hold for us if the issue couldn't be resolved. Unfortunately, while we were out to lunch, we received a voicemail stating that the alternate room was no longer available. When we returned, the hallway still smelled heavily of cigarette smoke, only now mixed with deodorizer. During our stay, several other guests mentioned having the same complaint, and some reported that the issue had persisted for days. The odor was strong enough to be nauseating at times, and we were unable to leave our balcony door open because it pulled the smell from the hallway into our room. Dining was another mixed experience. We found it surprising that no food service is available anywhere on the property between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., especially considering check-in begins at 3:00 p.m. and many guests arrive after traveling. We did enjoy a fantastic lunch at The Front Yard with excellent service at the bar. Based on numerous recommendations, we also made reservations for brunch on our departure day. Unfortunately, brunch was underwhelming. We ordered three different dishes, all of which were bland and seemed noticeably under-seasoned. On the positive side, the taco cart near the pool and patio area was outstanding. The tacos and elote were some of the best food we had on the property and are absolutely worth trying. Overall, this hotel has many strengths, including its location, beautiful grounds, and several standout staff members. However, the persistent smoking odor and a few operational shortcomings significantly impacted our experience. With better attention to those issues, this could easily be a much stronger property.

First, the food was delicious! 2 people had mole negro which they loved, I had an appetizer of…read morechicken tostada, 2 to an order. Also we ordered steak tacos, beans and rice and an order of ceviche. The tortillas were very fresh and the tortilla chips and salsa-Mmmmmm!

I love this find! It's one of those spots like if you know you know…read more The service is great, and each area has a different vibe. There's a tiny front area that feels like someone's living room which I love, and the back patio is very cozy too. They also have larger tables for big groups and a bar area. The food is mexican fusion, really fresh with flavors in perfect harmony. Last time we tried the lobster tacos, and I immediately ordered another. The burrata pear salad was fresh and refreshing, and the butternut squash enchiladas were so yummy and comforting. I can't wait to try more dishes! Oh, and their tacos and guac and chips are really good too, you can't go wrong with anything here!