We dined at Orsa & Winston, a Michelin-starred Italian-Japanese restaurant, last month to celebrate a special birthday. Paid parking in the adjacent structure was convenient as street parking is limited. We were seated promptly at our reservation time. The restaurant seems to take reservations only, and with the few tables inside, it provided a sense of exclusivity. The atmosphere is intimate and refined, yet comfortable and unpretentious. Our tasting menu included the following: chawanmushi, carpaccio with arugula, turnip and cashew soup, rosalba radicchio salad, acorn squash pasta, scallop with truffle in miso cream, seafood porridge ($50 add-on), skate wing with huckleberry, japanese milkbread, and maple butter, and chocolate tart to conclude the meal. Each course felt innovative and harmonious. By the end, I was perfectly satisfied, not too hungry and not too full. Despite the heavy cost, the final bill does reflect the caliber of the meal. Orsa & Winston does a great job delivering a memorable and celebratory evening! read more

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An open, informal space located in the Historic Core of Los Angeles. The tables are not crowded. Atmosphere is very casual, rather than "smart casual." Servers are wearing jeans. One guest wore shorts. Three wore tee shirts. A previous reviewer wrote "unpretentious." That's an understatement. There is nothing wrong with a restaurant that allows shorts, and the focus is on the food. However, had I known the dress code was so relaxed I would not have changed out of the dress shorts I had been wearing all day to put on trousers. I found it curious that several guests (4, sitting at two different tables) brought in small to medium- size backpacks with them that had to be placed near the counter, or later, a bench near the wall. The menu is a five course omakase at $150 or a vegetarian version for $160. They offer a supplemental porridge course for $49, but I did not order it. The wine pairing for $85 was well worth it. My first impression after being seated was not good. My napkin had stains on it. However, the amuse was Chawanmushi with caviar. It was delicious. It was followed by an excellent hamachi crudo with wild arugula, perfectly paired with an "orange" skin contact wine from Frulia. Next was the "vegetable" course. Soft shell crab tempura, white asparagus, egg, and caviar paired with a muscadet from a winery about a mile from where the asparagus was grown. The dish was a melody of flavor nicely accompanied by the wine. But, I think it would have been better if the crab tempura had been served hot. Pasta was interesting, as the restaurant describes itself as Japanese-Italian fusion. It was a squid ink pappardelle with lobster cream, basil, and Parmesan. Paired with rose' from Tuscany, the course served lukewarm but otherwise tasty. Next, chef sent a "gift" bonus course of seared baby scallops, grilled peach, fava beans, and corn purée. It was very good, and would have been amazing if served hot. For the fish course: salmon with grilled cherries and peach, tomatoes, and carrot sauce. It also came with Japanese milk bread. This was a "wow!" dish. My favorite of the meal. However, it was paired with an unremarkable saki. Dessert was a chocolate tart with Mascarpone, grapes, cherries, pistachios, and caramel sauce. It was delicious and not too sweet. It was paired with a refreshing sparkling dessert wine from Burgundy. An excellent choice. Service was polite and efficient. The wine pairings were well-described and good selections for the food. Overall, a delicious meal at a good price for a Michelin Star restaurant. read more

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Ordered the $150 tasting menu which changes seasonally. We wanted to add the supplemental dish but it wasn't available (despite being the first seating of the night). There were definitely some very tasty dishes, but I was expecting more of them to be outstanding. A good overall meal, with good service, and cute space, but unfortunately not one of the best meals I've had even in the last several years. read more

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The omakase is absolutely worth it, original, unique, and delicious. I went with group, not sure what I had signed up for and if it would be worth it. Luckily, it definitely lived up to the hype. The tasting menu when my group went was wonderful and the servers were able to accomodate one of my allergies, which was nice. favorites included the pasta, salad and an incredible cornbread. Out of this world and definitely worth the price. read more

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Great Omakase restaurant with Italian fusion. Every dish was a surprise and chefs provided us 3 extra dishes for free. We also had the wine pairing which was great, although I didn't care for the sake as I didn't think it paired well with the dish. Only 7 tables so reservations are mandatory. Very tricky to find but use the Address and you'll find it. Service is Michelin star rated... read more

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Orsa & Winston has a really quiet and intimate ambience that made the dining experience feel relaxing. Overall, service was friendly, but unfortunately I did find a bug in my salad which was disappointing for a restaurant at this price point and Michelin starred. While everything was good, none of the dishes personally stood out as especially memorable or amazing to me. One helpful tip -- parking is much easier if you use the nearby parking garage instead of trying to find street parking. For me, 4/5 stars for the atmosphere and experience, but I do hope they pay closer attention to quality control. read more

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There isn't a lot to say from me except it's one of the best meal I have had in a long long time. Everything from the decor, (not too pretentious) to service, the dinnerware that goes with the food and the food itself was top notch. No wonder it has a Michelin star every year since 2019. They deserve it. We didn't do the pairing because my mom and I don't drink much but the omakase is just divine. We were told we got some extra dishes that night that wasn't planned and ended up with 8 or 9 dishes. Every dish is a surprise and non of them are even remotely close to another. It was worth every single dollar we spent. (Sorry the presentation and food was so amazing I forgot to take a lot of photos) read more

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Had a great time here. The $150 omakase reservation is their only option for dinner these days, and it was definitely worth it. We're not usually wine drinkers, so the waiter recommended a subtle sake saison from Stillwater for me and a sparkling Bugey-Cerdon "La Cueille" Patrick Bottex Rose for my girlfriend. Fantastic choices, both interesting and complex, but not overpowering. The "five course" menu is supplemented by gifts from the chef, so we ended up having ten courses--eleven if you count the tiny parting cookies. Highlights were the early bluefin tuna crudo and the fish main course with heirloom tomatoes. We also opted to split one supplemental "satsuki rice seafood porridge", which came with fire-roasted prawns, Hokkaido uni, geoduck, and scallop. Definitely worth the $50 upcharge. read more

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Came in on Saturday at 5 for dinner with reservation. Flight landed late so we came with our luggage and staff had no issues accommodating us. Dress code: smart casual although per their general manager "Nothing is more Los Angeles than being able to show up in slip-ons, shorts, and a t-shirt and experience a Michelin-level tasting menu." Food 5/5: we did their 5 course tasting which consists of a crudo, a vegetable, a pasta, a main and a dessert...and 3 or 4 other courses that were added. Everything looked beautiful and tasted fantastic. I do wish there was a meat dish of some kind but that's a personal preference. Service 5/5: fantastic service, friendly, personable and yet very non intrusive. Ambiance 4/5: beautiful yet casual. Almost elegant cafe-esque Value 4/5: priced accordingly to Michelin star standards, I would say it's pretty good value for the price despite the hefty price tag, especially for food in LA Overall 4.5/5: overall a great experience for our first restaurant in LA fantastic food and service in a more laidback ambiance. read more

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Service was fantastic- quick and punctual. Never missed the wine pairing which was fantastic. There is a lot of seafood on menu so make note for any person in your party who may mot like. We didn't add the extra dish but walked away very full. I also appreciated the more smart casual environment making you feel at home. read more

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Extremely neat experience dining at Orsa & Winston, and the PERFECT restaurant for any pescatarian! This is a very small restaurant that requires a reservation as they only serve a few groups each day. We were among the last group when we went. This makes it one of the most memorable, personal, and intimate settings I've been to. I can't even begin to discuss the quality of the food. Each dish was so carefully curated and well-thought of. While I don't remember each of the names, I remember the feeling I had after each bite. There were so many different flavors coming from each dish! Even something as simple as beans ended up shocking me! How did the chef create these masterpieces? While it is a little out of my price range for occasional meals, it's definitely somewhere I'd return to on special occasions!!! (Remember, make reservations in advance!) read more

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Yeah this place is good. I just don't think fancy foods are for me. I did skip on the famous seafood porridge, although a lot of people around me did. I ended up getting the wine pairing though just to see what they recommend. I think it was ok, you can skip though. The main meal was good all around it's just that, I don't know if it's just me, but the combinations were kind of similar. Creme fraiche (or a cream) base, with fruit (or a soft textured sweet), with some amount of citrus, and an item weather it's a veggie or protein that is being complimented with. Almost all my dishes were like this and I'm not sure if it's just me but I got a little bored of eating that. read more

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Michelin rated Italian-Asian fusion spot in DTLA. Recently came here to celebrate an anniversary and made a reservation online in advance. They placed a $300 hold on my credit card so you have to cancel more than 24 hours in advance if necessary. The five course omakasse includes crudo, vegetable, pasta, fish, and a sweet but they provide extra dishes. The regular omakaddr is $150 and the vegetarian option is $160. Each of our courses were as follows: 1. Amuse-bouche: arrancini with black cod, pine nuts, and cream. 2. Crudo: Blue fin tuna and agua chile, finger lime and coriander blossom 3. Vegetable: Green beans, sunchoke, pomegranate arils, radicchio, butternut squash with Italian black truffles and truffle butter 4. Pasta: Tahitian squash ravioli with marscapone filling, lobster butter and Maine lobster 5. Complimentary - Japanese fish tempura with shishito pepper and chile aioli 6. Complimentary - Corn polenta with Tuscan kale and maitake mushrooms 7. Complimentary - cornbread with strawberries and marscapone 8. Fish - Japanese sea bream with brussel sprouts, huckleberries, and tomatoes 9. Sweet - poached apple tart with pineapple mint, graham cracker, and marscapone 10. Brown butter sugar cookie read more

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I had the amazing privilege to try Orsa & Winston for my wedding anniversary celebration dinner with my husband. They are a Japanese and Italian inspired restaurant with an omakase tasting menu for $150 per person. We also each got the beverage pairing which is an additional $85. Highly recommend the beverage pairing if you are wine enthusiasts (or wannabes like us). The sommelier paired excellent and very interesting wines with each dish. Most from regions we have not tried before (and we drink a lot of wine ). It was fun to learn about each bottle, how it's made, and a little bit of the history of its region. It was so fun to see how the wine tasted prior to tasting the food and how the food would change the taste of the wine when paired together. Every dish was vibrant both visually and in taste. We had an amazing experience at Orsa & Winston!!! Instagram: @jessgoeat read more

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Lovely restaurant, would definitely return if I am ever back in the LA area. The host at the front of the house was very accommodating. Since I used to live in ATL, we chatted about how he used to work at Linton and Gina Hopkins' restaurants, so I got a piece of home during my visit. I went on a weekday right at the start of dinner service and left about 1.5 hours in. Interestingly only 1 other group dined during my time there, so the weekday seems a bit slow. The menu is very seasonal, fresh, and seafood heavy. Although it is labeled as a 5-course menu, you are certainly going to feel full with the "gifts from the chef." The price of $150 for the omakase-style tasting menu is very reasonable for a 1-star Michelin restaurant in the heart of DTLA; a solid 4-stars from me. read more

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Tuesday July 5pm A last minute detour from my work outing landed me on Orsa and Winston's reservation page and I snagged a spot at 5pm. I allowed ample time for driving and traffic but failed to account for parking. These one way streets, no turning on red, broken parking meters in lots, were almost the death of me. I finally parked in front of Citizen; there were obvious parking spots and no meters. Nevertheless I parked anxiously. I then spent many minutes wandering the streets, going into the alleyway and changing my mind before I went too far in. It turns out I passed it a few times: O & W has a frosted storefront. 1. Chawanmushi amuse bouse: salty and tasty. Perfect starter. 2. Blue fin tuna with watermelon and chile agua chile: salty and sweet. Perfect blend of flavors and not fishy at all. 3. Vegetable course with mussels 4. Beet with baby corn 5. Squid ink pasta with lobster 6. Cod and broccolini and apricot: A big fan of the cod and apricot! 7. Fish and huckleberry 8. Cornbread with ricotta 9. Bread pudding with mascarpone I received new silverware for each dish. The waiters were curt and efficient. I had called and left a message the evening before to figure out how long the meal would be as I was on a schedule. I received a text back that I should allot two hours to the meal. I finished the last dish an hour and forty minutes in. read more

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Lovely :) very satisfying omakase. Decent portions, left happy. Definitely worth trying read more

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What a wonderful fusion of Italian and Asian food. I was so pleasantly surprised by every bite. Try the Incredibly crafted wine pairing with the omakase it rocked! read more

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4.5/5 stars Came here to celebrate my birthday, and it was such a nice experience! This 1 star Michelin restaurant offers a 5-course tasting menu ($150 per person), but they added some extra dishes, which was nice! I would have loved if they gave us a print out of the dishes we ate. Overall, I enjoyed most of the dishes, except for the vegetable dish since the sauce was way too overpowering. Also, some of the dishes tasted too buttery, but they were still edible. The cornbread would have been better if it were hotter. The lobster pieces in the pasta could have been more tender. I think my favorite dishes were the scallops and the snapper. Service was great. The dishes came out quickly read more

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Food was pretty meh compared to others around the same price range.... Would not come back. When you see it you can't under it.... NO ONE IS COOKING IN THE KITCHEN Accidentally made reservations on the day of instead of for the following month. Good luck getting someone to answer the phone, called several times to modify the time.... Called me back a few days later as if they were doing me a favor and not charging me the no show fee for a bunk reservation system. Food was forgettable, not as complex flavors and nothing to really rave about. Squidink pasta was good, but I don't even remember the rest of the dishes, LOL. Save your money!!! read more

The restaurant did not have clear signage so we almost missed it. It had a very nice and comfortable interior and it only seats around 20 people. The service was very good and you could see the kitchen the whole time and that was nice. All the food was really good. The menu didn't say much at all so it was a little work to listen to each course when it came out. All the dishes were really good. But the consomme with the cod was slightly salty. The dessert of the baked pluot was tasty but underwhelming. With all the other dishes I expected something more creative and extravagant. read more

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Honestly, this was a very "meh" experience from start to finish. For a Michelin-starred restaurant, I expected so much more. Service wasn't just underwhelming--it really wasn't that great at all, which shocked me for a place of this caliber. The food was nothing memorable, the sake was mediocre, and there was no standout moment to redeem the night. Surprising in all the wrong ways... not sure I'd ever go back. read more

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I loved everything about this restaurant. The intimate setting, the service, the food, the wine selection and even the photos of cute pups Orsa and Winston on the walls. I didn't expect much at first but the 5 course menu for the price is so worth it! There were multiple compliments of the chef throughout the dining experience. Definitely well deserving of the Michelin star rating! read more

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Orsa & Winston is just absolute perfection. Unbelievable food combined with perfect service. It's supposed to be a 5-course meal, but they give you so many "gifts from the kitchen" that it's more like a 8-10 course meal. If you drink, I would recommend going with the beverage pairing, which includes 5 drinks total, one with each course. Also, you should definitely definitely add the optional satsuki rice seafood porridge course... it was probably one of my favorites out of all the courses! I've heard that Orsa & Winston is Japanese/Italian fusion, but I'm not sure if that's how I would really describe it. It's hard to describe, but it's just an amazing seafood oriented meal with sprinkles of Japanese and a little Italian inspiration. Overall, it's definitely a must try spot in DTLA, and even though it can get kinda pricey, it's definitely worth it. I've read other reviews complaining about the automatic service charge, plus the tip expected on top of that, but trust me, you will gladly pay both by the end of the meal, unless you're a scumbag scrooge! read more

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Delicious tasting menu. Well-executed fusion of Japanese and Italian cuisines. I probably got more Italian flavors than Japanese, but overall, it was really good. Service was flawless and the sommelier was knowledgeable. The only thing is the seat was so low that even though I tried to elongate my posture as much as I could, all of the food was still pretty much at my chin level. I probably should have requested a booster seat! XD Lovely ambiance, though. Very romantic. Perfect for a date. (For tall people, mostly, though lol) read more

Orsa & Winston - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This Michelin Star restaurant lives up to the hype. I booked this place for my girlfriend and I since we were on a hunt for some of the best course tasting menus in the area. It did not disappoint. The food itself was spectacular for the price. Most of the dishes left me in awe. The dishes that didn't blow my mind still exceeded my expectations. Pellegrino was $25 a bottle and we went with 2 since the tasting menu lasted for some time. The only gripe for me was the added service charge (I believe it was an extra 22%) that was on top of the bill, the tax, and the tip for fair wages for their employees. I was not expecting that charge at all. I'm all for fair wages, but it would've been nice for them to have charged the prefix menu more and leave out the mandatory service charge. Please don't blindside your customers. read more

Fancy date night! My husband and I are very slowly making our way through the list of LA fine dining restaurants for special occasions. Orsa & Winston was our destination on my last birthday. The tasting menu the night we were there is a Japanese meets Italian concept that leaned heavy on seafood and truffles. Overall, well executed dishes that were delicious but only one or two plates were particularly memorable. For a fine dining establishment, service was a bit subpar. They seat at specific times and we had to wait a considerable length of time after our designated reservation. But since the restaurant doesn't have space for guests to wait inside, several groups had to wait outside on the street. In addition, a service charge is automatically added but they still nudge you towards adding a tip. My conclusion: It was great to try it but I'm not exactly dying to recommend it to others. read more

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Delicious! I love that they gave veggies a chance to shine. The porridge was phenomenal and I wish I had the space to eat another all by myself. It feels like an absolute steal for this price point for the quality and playful flavors you get here. Wine pairing was great with lots of organic natural wines that were delicious with each course. They're not *fancy* like white tablecloth and strict dress code type of fancy, more of a comfortably respectable with more focus on food. Service was kind, I wish they spent just a bit more time explaining the dishes. It felt a bit hurried. Parking in dtla general lots around the street. Around ~$20 for the one around the corner. read more

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The most unique blend of flavors with fish and seafood. Great service, very pricey but a once in a lifetime experience. Just had a wine dinner there that was over the top. read more

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One of my best meals of 2023. Every dish was incredibly tasteful and masterfully crafted. The little details and the flavors combined exquisitely. The space is very well managed, the service was fantastic and it's not too quiet and certainly not too loud in the space. I love the vision of the restaurant and the service really invites you in to the flavors and the story behind the flavors. read more

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Came here with my girlfriend at the time for lunch because I saw their instagram post of their fried chicken sandwich. It wasn't as long as they made it out to be on social media but it was still very good. We also got some of the gyoza to share. She had gotten a salad which she liked quite a bit. The chicken sandwich was pretty good. Nicely brined and fried well with a nice bun. Not sure if they still have it but I enjoyed it a lot. Really liked the open kitchen and the nice lighting fixtures. Interior design was very nice and elegant. read more

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This was our first Michelin star experience in LA and we were quite impressed! The standout was surprisingly the beverage pairing, mostly European wine and one pouring of sake. The pairings all tasted great in their own, but with the food, the flavours were truly enhanced by each other! During our seating, the chef actually gave us a feel complimentary items which we very much appreciated! It seemed like the other tables did as well. While it was thoughtful, we actually felt like the complimentary items ruined the flow and rhythm of the tasting menu. We really appreciated the extra dishes but it kinda downgraded the experience actually.... Maybe they were trying new dishes? The actual items on the menu were very delicious, well thought out and creative. The salad and pasta dish were the most memorable!! In terms of the Japanese and Italian fusion, I did see elements of both but the dishes were leaning towards the Italian side. I want to say 30% Japanese and 70% Italian. Atmosphere-wise, I really like how it was a bit more casual. The open kitchen was very nice and they only had a few seatings so was a very intimate experience with my fiancé. WOULD I COME AGAIN? Yes, mainly because I was surprised by the beverage pairing and really appreciated it. I don't feel like other restaurants truly do the beverage pairing this well and would want to come back to experience this again. The pritce point is also fair. I wouldn't say the $$ was worth it in ingredients, but in the "art" of the dishes. read more

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Every course was extremely well presented and absolutely delicious. In addition, there were several other dishes that were included complements of the chef. We will definitely come back. read more

For a supposedly Michelin star (2019) this restaurant was a disappointment. While the food was good (not great) the service was a huge let down. The positive: We liked the clean and minimalist decor of the restaurant. The setting is on par with family style restaurants if not for the sophisticated open kitchen in the back. The menu is simple. A 5 course pescatarian omakase w 3 additional seasonal amuse bouche and other delightful treats. All 5+3 courses were aesthetically pleasing and tasty though nothing stood out The negative: the service! There was a single French waiter for the restaurant. He was cold, uncharismatic individual devoid of humor and pleasantry. We chose the wine pairing for our meal and other than quickly sprouting name of the wine he provided no information. At times he displayed of annoyance and impatience. I personally found his mannerisms and inability or unwillingness to at least talk a little about the wine to be unprofessional and unpleasant. My wife even attempted to compliment his accent to lighten the mood but to no avail. For $170 wine pairing (for 2) the pours were extremely stingy, sub 2 Oz most of the time equate to that of tasting room... since most of the wine presented were sub $90 by the restaurants own menu, I'd recommend skip the tasting and just order your own bottle. Giving the entire menu is pescatarian it'd be easy to pick your own and not have to deal w the self important waiter. Overall we had high hopes but were underwhelmed by the experience. read more

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Orsa & Winston was a fantastic meal from start to finish! This was my first experience dining at a Michelin star restaurant and it lived up to expectations with the service, food quality, dish presentation, and delicious and unique flavors! FAST FACTS: * Parking - There's a few options for street parking nearby as well as some paid lots and garages. * Reservations - Required and can be made through OpenTable up to 3 months in advance (credit card required to hold the reservation) * Closed Sunday and Monday * 5-course tasting menu with Japanese and Italian inspired dishes (changes daily) * Optional beverage pairing available * No takeout or outdoor seating available SERVICE - Our server, Romain, took great care of us overall! We arrived a few minutes before our reservation time and were seated right away. The courses came out quickly and our plates were cleared as soon as we finished. There was a longer gap between when we finished our fish course and when the sweet course was brought out... we were the last one in the restaurant but sat for about 15 minutes after finishing eating the fish course before anyone came over to clear our plates and bring the last course. Otherwise, it was a great experience! PRICING - The total was $328.50 after tax ($28.50) but before tip for two tasting menus ($150 each). I think the pricing was reasonable for the overall experience considering you get extra "gifts" from the chef which extends the meal to around 9 courses. I wish I could remember all the details of the ingredients and flavors combined for each course but everything was delicious! Here's a quick rundown of the courses with an abridged description: Amuse-bouche - Japanese custard with caviar Crudo- bluefin tuna with watermelon and peppers Vegetable - carrots, radishes, cauliflower, and greens in a ginger-based dressing with shaved truffles "Gift" from the chef - zucchini with red peppers, truffles, and a dill sauce Pasta - squid ink pasta topped with lobster, Japanese sweet tomatoes, pine nuts, and grana padano in a cream-based sauce "Gift" from the chef - cod and broccolini with tomatoes, peach, and a crispy potato Fish - red snapper with asparagus, tomato, roasted cocoa beans, blueberries, avocado, and greens in a sauce with a balsamic drizzle Blueberry cornbread - shareable skillet served with the fish and topped with a honey butter Sweet - apricots with a streusel topping, panna cotta, and an apricot drizzle Brown butter cookie I'm definitely not an expert when it comes to more gourmet dining so take my opinion for what it is, but I was impressed with the experience overall and I'd recommend Orsa & Winston to others! read more

Orsa & Winston - "Gift" from the chef - zucchini with red peppers, truffles, and a dill sauce - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Came here for dinner since Orsa and Winston retained their Michelin star. And I was completely wowed by their entire menu. Each course was absolutely amazing and every bite was delicious. I was extremely impressed with the ambiance, service, plating, and entire menu. The high lights for me were definitely the satsuki uni risotto, and the duck. But every course was cooked and prepared perfectly. Their food is definitely unique with the Japanese and Italian inspired menu. I'm looking forward to the next time I'm going to come back because they frequently rotate their menu courses and I can't wait to try what they come up with next. In total we had 11 courses since they brought out a lot of extra small courses. And even the bonus/extra courses were extremely well thought out and delicious. read more

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We dined at Orsa & Winston to celebrate our anniversary on April 8th, with high hopes based on its Michelin star and reputation. Sadly, the evening left us with more questions than compliments. Upon arrival, only two other tables were seated. The space is extremely minimalistic, almost to a fault--sterile rather than elegant. Despite noting our anniversary during the reservation process, the staff asked if we were celebrating anything. A Michelin-starred restaurant not reading reservation notes? That's a basic step of service, missed. We were told to pick any open table. Once seated, we opted for the tasting menu with wine pairing. The amuse and first three courses arrived in rapid succession--we were on course 4 within 30 minutes. Rushed is an understatement. Which was the opposite when the warm dishes came. Presentation was uninspired, lacking finesse or technique. Every course came on the same basic plateware, no personality or progression. The wine pairing ($85 each) was disappointing--mostly orange wines and forgettable table-wines from France and Italy. Not bad per se, but nothing special. Definitely not worth the price. It felt like the "natural wine" starter pack from a hipster bottle shop. Now, "credit" to the lone server who handled everything: hostess, waiter, busser, wine pourer, and food runner. He was not overwhelmed, but stacking dirty dishes from one table to the next, and even cleared ours with a full tower of plates already in hand. At one point, he step out for a smoke break--evident by the smell upon return. The pasta course was overcooked, the fish was passable, and the dessert came with birthday candles... both of them. A cute but confusing gesture that felt more inspired by Cheesecake Factory than fine dining. Overall, the food was okay--but nowhere near the level of a Michelin star, past or present. None of the artistry or innovation shown in their online photos was evident in our meal. For a $600+ dinner, the lack of polish, pacing, and quality was mindboggling. That one Michelin star? At this point, it's more symbolic than earned. Would not return. read more

Expect to be there for ~2.5 hours for dinner! FOOD I wish I remembered what was in every dish because they all tasted amazing. We got the 5-course meal and added the Satsuki Rice Seafood Porridge (+1 course). There were about 4 more complimentary courses throughout the night. All dishes demonstrated the chef's skill and had balanced flavor profiles. A few dishes were less creative but they all tasted amazing. SERVICE The servers were amazing, as expected. When I made the reservation, I noted that my partner and I were celebrating an anniversary and they brought it up and asked about it throughout the night. My partner had questions about the dishes, which were all patiently answered by our two servers! WAIT (CHECK IN) We arrived at 7:25pm for our 7:30 reservation on Saturday. It wasn't clear if we were supposed to check in anywhere. Anyone who walked in was escorted out immediately and asked to wait outside since there were still people from the 5pm dinner dining. We weren't seated until 7:50, and one table didn't arrive until nearly 8:30. I wouldn't mind this normally. But knowing they're booked 2+ months in advance on the weekends with only two dinnertimes, I expected to have a prompt start time with the other 7:30pm tables, or get more information in advance/ at the door. AMBIANCE Super quiet and intimate. There were probably only 8 tables total, mostly accommodating tables of two. It was dimly lit. The floors had bits of trash scattered around that seemed to be from earlier in the day, which I was surprised by for a restaurant like this. The restrooms are also shared with Barama next door--not the cleanest but decent for LA. PARKING/LOCATION It's in a rough part of DTLA. The storefront is very inconspicuous, so we decided to park and walk over to find it. If you're lucky, there's street parking. When we arrived, we realized it is next to Barama, which is under the same management and offers valet. read more

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Wow. I couldn't remember when I came here last, but I guess it was 7 years ago. We had the five course meal with wine pairing. Let me first say that the wine pairing was spot on. Each of the accompanying wines quoted the dishes perfectly. Each of the dishes were complex, interesting and delicious. I love a good prix fix meal as it exposes you to dishes you may not have tried. The pasta and halibut were outstanding! Service was great, our server was very attentive. I will definitely come back for another special occasion. read more

Orsa & Winston - Menu for our delicious meal! - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My husband and I had a goal to do more tasting menus once the pandemic was over, but I guess everyone else has similar goals too because we've been having a hella difficult time securing reservations. We were trying to get into Winston & Ora for over a year, and out of the blue I received a notice on my phone that a reservation opened up on a Saturday night. It was an early reservation, but who cares, we took it! Our visit was last summer, and this is hella late, but who cares! The space is minimalist and difficult to locate because it kind of blends into the building and there's nothing striking about the front door. In fact, it's a bit awkward. When you enter, it feels like you are encroaching into the space of the diners nearest the door, and then when you try to get out of the way, you're standing in the middle of the dining room. We later learned that this restaurant is operated by the same owner as Bar Ama next door. The entrance to Bar Ama is clearly marked, and since they share the same restrooms, you can walk through Bar Ama to get to Winston & Ora. If I come back, I would enter through Bar Ama and grab a drink on the way in. Overall, the food is very good. Michelin Star, duh! I tend to get overwhelmed with so many plates so I did not take detailed notes. I do know that the sweet potato raviolo with duck was my favorite, followed by the Parmesan cream satsuki rice (this was not part of the tasting and is a $35 add on option, it's one of their signature dishes, super comforting indulgence, just do it!) The mango tart was delicious too. I also opted for the wine pairing which came with exquisitely detailed tasting notes/descriptions from our server/sommelier. That was truly the most impressive part of the meal, and I enjoyed the wines very much. Unfortunately for my Diet Coke drinking husband, they do not serve any soda whatsoever. So though wine is not his thing, he was able to find a decent glass of moscato to accompany his meal. We also shared some sparkling water. One other thing about the ambiance, it's extremely loud for a restaurant that only seats approximately 20. Yes, it's an open kitchen, but it seemed like most of the noise was from the other diners. The restaurant wasn't even at max capacity. It would help if they could do something to soften the acoustics. Otherwise, don't come here expecting a quiet dinner! Also the temp inside was a bit too warm. True, it was summertime, but all the more reason to crank up the air. Obviously, the price point here is a bit high when you add in all the extras, 20 % fee, and tip. However, if you can do it for a special occasion, treat yourself. read more

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