Wow blown away by the food at this place! Located on Abbot Kinney, RVR always looks busy, we were able to walk in on a weekend lunchtime and put our name and phone number down; less than 30 min later (which we'd spent checking out the unique shops around the area), we were seated at a communal table on the 2nd floor outdoors. Menu is quite large, covering handrolls and sashimi which was on the pricier side (ike you could go to a decent sushi place for that price), so we opted for the cooked foods. Between the three of us, we ordered chicken karage (a level above the norm, crisp to a perfection with tasty seasoning), broccoli (also super tasty with the sauce and slightly charred yet still juicy), curry rice bowl (good amount of meat sauce and decent size to share), yakitori Skewer (well cooked and delicious), mochi doughnuts (too oily but pistachio topping was good). This was the perfect amount without breaking the bank. Makes me want to go back and try their other items on the menu! Street parking is doable read more

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Loved our first experience at RVR. The service and the staff was amazing, everyone was wanting to lend a hand and share opinion on their favs on the menu. Loved the downstairs bar area and upstairs vibes. They really know what they are doing! Bigger restaurant than I expected. read more

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Underwhelming. My partner had heard about this restaurant being the "favorite restaurant of the fictional chef in "The Bear" TV series on Hulu"...in actuality, it is the actor who plays that chef, Jeremy Allen White's, favorite meal of the year. No offense, but this clarification had me significantly less excited to try this restaurant. Nevertheless, came here on veteran's day, a weekday night, and the restaurant was packed. All seats were filled and multiple parties were waiting outside in the cold. Inside was a lively pub-like atmosphere, dim and incredibly loud. It was difficult to hear speech of any sort inside the restaurant. Would not recommend for a first date. Honestly, wouldn't recommend in general but we'll get to that... Food was nothing to write home about. Hand rolls were not bad and probably the best dish of the night. Gyoza were fine but the dipping sauce was off. Duck meatballs were nice and flavorful, although texture left something to be desired. Mixed rice with duck confit was a haphazard blend of flavors that didn't quite complement each other and was overall bland and lacking meat. Roasted sweet potatoes were beautifully caramelized but over-sauced. Would have honestly been better without the creative direction, as we ended up scraping off all the sauce and eating them naked, street-food style. Fresh mint tea was a nice touch. Overall there was nothing that stood out, nothing I particularly loved or would come back for. Sitting by the bar facing out into the street was a bit depressing as we watched onlookers" cold and hungry faces glance inward at us. We were far enough from the door but it was still cold indoors. Combined with bar seats that were not particularly comfortable, this made for a mildly unpleasant dinner experience overall. read more

RVR Venice - Fresh mint tea - Izakaya Near Me - Venice, California

My experience at RVR was disappointing, not because of the wait itself, but because of the lack of communication and accountability. My friend and I stopped in because the restaurant looked beautiful and we were interested in dining on the rooftop. When we arrived, the hostess told us there was approximately a 30-minute wait for rooftop seating. She also pointed out that there was a table available inside, but since we specifically wanted the rooftop experience, we chose to wait. After providing our contact information, we received a text indicating a 45-minute wait instead of 30. We spent some time walking through Abbott Kinney while we waited. We came back in 40 min ago we would be there early. When we checked in, we were told they just needed another minute to prepare the table. However, when we were finally seated, we were taken to a shared table inside the restaurant, not the rooftop. We explained that the only reason we had waited 45 minutes was because we were told there was a wait for rooftop seating. At that point, the manager informed us that the restaurant does not hold rooftop seating for walk-ins and that rooftop seating would have required a reservation. The issue wasn't that rooftop seating wasn't available. The issue was that we were told to wait specifically for rooftop seating, only to find out after nearly an hour that this was never an option. Had we been given accurate information from the start, we would have simply taken the indoor table that was available when we first arrived. What made the experience worse was the response from management. Rather than acknowledging the inconvenience or taking ownership of the misinformation, the explanation was simply that the hostess had made a mistake and that it wasn't their policy. While mistakes happen, customers shouldn't lose nearly an hour of their evening because of a staff error and then be told it's essentially not the restaurant's responsibility. We ultimately chose to leave rather than eat there. Fortunately, we found another restaurant nearby with a rooftop and beautiful views where the service was excellent and the experience was exactly what we were looking for(Kassi). Based on this experience, I would not return. The restaurant itself appears to have a great atmosphere, but clear communication and accountability are just as important as the setting. read more

I've heard all the buzz about RVR and it definitely lived up to the hype. The staff was attentive and kind. This place was buzzing when we arrived. We had a reservation but they were delayed seating us by almost 30 mins. But the host definitely acknowledged and was apologetic about the latency and offered us a cocktail on the house, which was an appreciated gesture. I had their Penicillin cocktail and it was refreshing and had just a subtle smokiness. The atmosphere was laid back...cozy interior design, beautiful stoneware plates and dishes, strong and attentive staff in front and back of house. All the items are Japanese tapas style and every small to medium bite that we had were so flavorful and presented beautifully. Portions were smaller but still substantial ...we ordered around 5 dishes and we left quite full. For me the All-Star items would be the vermillion tempura hand roll, the signature cod dish and their chocolate flour less cake. I loved our experience so much, I booked another reservation in a couple weeks to try more items off the menu. You have to visit this amazing gem on Abbot Kinney! read more

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Arrived at 5 pm for my reservation and there was a very long line. Hard reservation to get. Happy to be seated at a booth and not the bar. Started with a Cosmo ( not big, too sweet) and the Paloma. Ordered the shiitake gyoza, Shrimp gyoza, roasted Kabocha, Japanese sweet potato, chicken karaage ( great chili honey) and the broccolini ( amazing). All the vegetable dishes were delicious, small portions. I would return to try other items on the menu. read more

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After trying to get a reservation for what seemed like forever, I finally secured a spot on a Saturday night at 6:45. When we checked in, the hostess told us it would be a couple minutes while a table finished up. We waited outside and were greeted by Samuel who offered us champagne while we waited. After about 15 minutes we were sat at a great two top table in the front room. We were immediately greeted by our server Ava who helped guide us through the menu. We were starving and everything looked amazing so we ordered quite a bit of food. We started with the kampachi hand roll and tuna sashimi. The hand roll was ok but not worth $16. The tuna sashimi was amazing! Super fresh and melted in your mouth. Next we got the chicken karaage, tempura fava & shrimp dumplings. The karaage was perfectly crispy and extremely flavorful and the sauces were excellent. The tempura fava were delicious and a definite must try as they're only in season for a limited time. The shrimp dumplings were some of the best I've ever had! They may be a bit spicy for those who aren't accustomed to spice but an absolute must have. Next up we got the pork gyoza, sweet potato and black cod. The pork gyoza was perfectly crispy and flavorful but it wasn't a stand out. As someone who doesn't love sweet potato, I LOVED this one! The creamy sauce was a great balance to the natural flavors. The black cod was great but a very small thin piece for $32. Last up we got the duck meatballs and ramen. If you don't like duck, I'd say the meatballs are a great way to try them again. The ramen was my least favorite of everything we got. It was a pretty small portion in a tiny bowl. The flavors were interesting but it's not something I'd order again. Overall our experience from start to finish was one of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time. Both Samuel and Ava were super attentive and helpful and made our evening extra special. It's a great atmosphere with a vinyl dj in the back and the people watching in Venice is something you can't pass up. We can't wait to come back and order everything we didn't get to try! read more

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Came in on a Sunday. The whole front was empty except for four seats. We waited 15 minutes to try to get a seat and they said first let us clean it first let us check first let your waiter be ready first they just kept giving excuses not to seat us. . Shervi , I think was the Indian girl and then there was an African-American with blonde braids and it was almost like they purposely didn't wanna seat us. The bar was completely empty, but we wanted to sit in the window. It's 2 o'clock on Sunday.We finally left and went across the street read more

Went for Mother's Day Lunch and the ambiance and food were excellent. Every dish we had was delicious, our drinks were great and the space was just beautiful. Service was a bit overwhelmed because it was Mother's Day and quite busy but overall, I'd still say it was good. One of the best new restaurants I've dined at in recent years. read more

RVR Venice - Izakaya Near Me - Venice, California

Absolutely loved this casual/trendy Izakaya with a great vibe. The hostess was nice enough to offer us the Chef's table since I was celebrating my son's birthday. We got to see all the kitchen and bar action. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious! Service was wonderful. We were lucky to get a parking spot behind the building. Very happy with everything! read more

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RVR for better or worse is a quintessential LA dining experience. The dishes are tiny, the service is a bit standoffish, and the space is somewhat cramped. There were a lot of fun and interesting flavors, but no dish really stood out as particularly outstanding. I did enjoy the figs and the avocado, and the sando was more filling than some of the other dishes. To share with a group of 4 the dishes were small enough where sometimes there was not enough for every person to have even a full bite. For instance, the pork belly was flavorful but it was cut in three pieces for a group of four. The server was also inconsistent with whether or not one of our party member's allergies could be accommodated which was confusing. read more

RVR Venice - Izakaya Near Me - Venice, California

Literally the snobbiest rudest staff I have EVER encountered. From the host to the bartenders. Never again. So many better options in the area. read more

Got brunch here on Sunday and we were able to snag seats at the bar without reservations. We ordered the mochi beignets, karage, eggplant salad, uni handroll and the cosmo cocktail. The mochi beignets are actually pretty light and not heavy or too sweet. Overall very enjoyable. Karage and eggplant salad were also good. The uni handroll was just meh and I would suggest skipping it. For those who like sweet and yummy cocktails, the Cosmo was great. All in all a very delicious brunch! read more

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Great izakaya place. I had the chicken karaage, Japanese sweet potatoes, pork tonkatsu, tuna hand roll, tuna hand roll, and fried rice. The stand out items were the Japanese sweet potatoes and the pork tonkatsu. The sweet potatoes tasted like patatas bravas but with a Japanese twist. It was so good that I ordered another plate after finishing the first. The pork tonkatsu was crisp on the outside and moist on the inside. The chicken karaage and hand rolls were good, but nothing unique. The fried rice was also good, but would taste better with an acid to brighten it up. The service could be better here. We waited 30 minutes before a server finally came to take our order. We tried flagging down several servers, but they would pretend that they didn't see us and keep walking. It was a bit odd. However, once our waiter finally came around, he was quick and attentive and made up for the initial lack of service. The sommelier was also really knowledgeable and provided a great experience. It's a bit of a small restaurant, so I would recommend making a reservation as it gets crowded. read more

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RVR in Venice was a great meal. The Wagyu was the highlight -- it truly melted in my mouth, exactly what you hope for. The broccolini caught me off guard; it was some of the best I've ever had and is an absolute MUST ORDER. The one miss was the bluefin tuna hand roll -- skip it. The seaweed wasn't crisp, which threw off the whole bite. But the highs were high enough that I'd happily come back. Order the Wagyu and broccolini and you'll leave happy. read more

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The food here was excellent. Most were shareable tapas so my group was able to try a lot of dishes. The mochi beignets were definitely the best dish. It has a dusting of crushed pistachio and a citrus glaze that all came together so well with the fried dough that had a light airy texture. The omelette was the next best with such nice fluffy texture and just enough melted cheese on top. The inside is throwback and vintage with dark wooden tables and chairs, dark greenery over head, printer paper menus, and shelf full of vinyls. We got there just before opening without reservations because we're from out of town and randomly chose the restaurant based on options. We were able to get a table within 15 min of waiting. We were told that there was a reservation for our table about 90 min after, so we can take the table if we can finish brunch within that window of time. I appreciated the honesty and the attention to timing and care for reservations. read more

The Manila clam reman is so rich and delicious, never expected such a giant Manila clams! read more

RVR Venice - Manila Clam Ramen - Izakaya Near Me - Venice, California

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Absolutely love this place!!!!! The food is unreal every bite is like magic. Julian took care of us and he was an absolute delight! Come visit me at BASTA!!!! read more

Cold food yes Hot food no Vibes yes Cocktails yes read more

Run, don't walk to RVR! One, because every dish is utterly delicious but also because they get packed VERY QUICKLY! A small space but big, and I mean, BIG FLAVOR! Great service with plenty of Abbot Kinney street parking. Just trust making a reservation and thank me later! Cheers Yelpers xx read more

RVR Venice - Shrimp dumpling, veggie gyoza, sweet potato, pickled veggies- absolutely delicious! - Izakaya Near Me - Venice, California

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This is hands down one of my new favorite restaurants in LA! We came here right after coming back from Japan and it was spot on to what we had just spent 2 weeks eating. We sat at the bar top seating and while it was a little close together with those next to us, the bartender/waiters were so friendly and chatty and made for a great ambiance. The food was incredible, it's hard to pick a favorite honestly, but I think the pork tonkatsu was my fave. Truly only have great things to say about every dish we ate here, this was the perfect amount of food for 2 people! Can't wait to come back. read more

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We came in hungry and left so satisfied every dish looked really great and the menu was fantastic we grabbed sandwiches the fish and pork ones and they were divine! I personally was more of a fan of the fish sando but the pork was also great. Seriously my husband still brings these sandwiches up 6 months later. Service was great even with a busy place and quick! Loved the vibes. read more

RVR Venice - Fish Sandwich and Pork Sandwich - Izakaya Near Me - Venice, California

Good food and great ambience! Sat at the bar and ordered a few things to try. The food was good, the bartenders weren't very attentive though. We were trying to order and it was hard to track them down and place an order. With that said everything else was great. read more

RVR Venice - Izakaya Near Me - Venice, California

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Came here for my bday celebration. We made a rez in advance and had to wait 5-10 mins to get seated. Nice ambiance inside, dim lighting. We shared a bunch of plates, everything was good but some were better than others. We were seated at a table that had another party of guests on the other end of it, upscale picnic table vibes haha. Crispy Pork Collar Tonkatsu - This was so delicious! This was a standout. Definitely get it. Black Cod - It was cooked well, but it wasn't a standout to me. Not memorable. Shiitake Gyoza - Good! Though we overheard our neighbors say the pork ones were the best gyoza they've ever had, so I think those are the ones to get. Charred Broccolini - I was obsessed with these. They're dressed with a creamy sesame sauce and have a little kick from the calabrian chili. I would order these again in a heartbeat. Roasted japanese sweet potato - Sounds simple, and I make japanese sweet potato all the time so I was hesitant to order this dish, but it's so good. Chicken Thigh - Similar to the cod, cooked well, but a very small portion on a skewer. But it's easy to share since there are small slices on the skewer that's easy to serve. Beef Tongue - We got it to say we had beef tongue lol. It was okay, but would skip. Dungeness Crab Mazeman - Pasta dish with lots of crab throughout. Great for sharing! Hearty. **Favorites were the tonkatsu, broccolini, japanese sweet potato, and the crab mazeman. Service was okay... our waitress was nice but misinformed us about a few things. She said the crab mazeman dish isn't great for sharing and would only be about a bite per person, which ended up being highly inaccurate. If anything, everything else was a bite / person and the mazeman allowed each of us to have a small bowl each (4 of us total). BTW they don't do anything for birthdays sadly. They literally brought out a candle on a plate haha. Service was kind of lackluster but I loved the food so I'm giving it 5 stars. read more

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Vibes are good but that is what you are paying for here. I waited for about a hour for a table and they really cram you in here. The seat I had was against the window sill looking out into the street. I could see directly into the servers screen from my seat since it was such a tight space. I honestly feel like it shouldn't be a spot. I ordered the kanpachi hand roll, wagyu beef tongue skewer, duck tsukune skewer and roasted mushrooms. Portions are extremely small for the price. The hand roll was smaller than your standard hand roll and was nothing special. The portion was kanpachi was tiny.It was served with shiso for $16! Beef tongue: the texture is phenomenal but could use more flavor. I didn't like the onion that was on top. Mushrooms: overly salty and citrusy. For $22 I would never order this again. Overall...I think RVR is a great spot for drinks and vibes. Food is expensive for what you get. read more

Brunch at RVR is the kind of experience where the details quietly do the heavy lifting. The wagyu beef skewers were tender and deeply flavorful, rich without feeling heavy. The cod tempura hand roll was crisp, balanced, and genuinely craveable. Easily something I would order again without hesitation. The sweet potatoes were cooked perfectly, bringing out their natural sweetness with just the right amount of depth. The pork belly gyoza were solid, but in a lineup this strong, they were the one dish I could have skipped. The mochi beignets deserve special mention. Light, chewy, and beautifully textured, they were unlike any dessert I have had before. Interesting rather than overindulgent, and memorable for the right reasons. Then there was the broccolini, which was unquestionably the standout. Charred to perfection, smoky and vibrant, paired with a creamy sesame sauce layered with garlic and Calabrian chilies. The balance was spot on. If you judge a kitchen by how they treat vegetables, this one clearly knows what it is doing. After the food had already won us over, the service sealed the deal. One of my friends has a peanut allergy, and after we ordered, our server took the time to confirm the kitchen could accommodate us. Everything was fried in vegetable oil instead of peanut oil, and cross contamination was thoughtfully addressed. It was calm, proactive, and handled with real care, which made a huge difference. The ambiance ties everything together. Warm, relaxed, and stylish without feeling overdone, all set inside a beautifully restored historic building that adds character without distracting from the experience. RVR does not try to impress you. It just executes with intention. Order the broccolini, trust the kitchen, and leave a little room for dessert. read more

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Came here for valentine's day with my boyfriend and it was definitely very packed!! I would definitely recommend getting a reservation since they get really busy at popular times. Loved our waiter and the food was absolutely delectable. Wasn't a fan of the very loud and cramped atmosphere but we did go on a holiday! That didn't take away from the quality, taste, or presentation of the food for sure. It's on the pricy end (pricier on holidays) so I'd come again after I get my money up read more

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It's been a while since I've been somewhere where I've loved everything I've had. The food on paper looks unassuming. Especially since I don't know what most of the descriptor words mean. I mean how good could a sweet potato or meatball be? Turns out it can be damn good. We made a reservation for brunch and can wholeheartedly rec the mochi donuts, the duck meatballs, the sweet potato, the gyoza, and omelet. I need comte cheese on all my eggs now. My only criticism is the portions are small. Don't pregame your meal by coming here starving or you'll end up ordering more charcoal grilled meats at the end of your meal like I did. I am not a glutton but I could eat two portions of everything. Especially the meatballs. read more

RVR Venice - Charcoal grilled Duck Meatballs - Izakaya Near Me - Venice, California

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This was my second visit to this spot and this time was just as good as the first. The shrimp dumplings were delicious and the greens were tried this time were a nice complement to the tuna hand roll and the kobucha squash. We also tried the clam ramen this time and it was light and flavorful but I didn't like it as much as the crab ramen I had on my prior visit. read more

RVR Venice - Mixed greens salad appetizer - Izakaya Near Me - Venice, California

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The best Japanese meal in town, and that is saying a lot. Must reserve lo g in advance.

This place is always pretty crowded and there may be a wait depending on when you go. I was lucky and was able to get a seat at the bar. Every seat is taken into account so there isn't just walk in and sit situation. It's abbot Kinney so things are more expensive. Service was great. But food was okay. There were a lot of options but I don't think they really excelled at anything. The gyoza and meatball tasted like something you can get anywhere else. Hand rolls were okay but going to a place like kazanori just for hands rolls is better. Worth checking out though read more

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We are blown away by how lack luster the entire experience was. The food was good, definitely NOT what I would expect of a James Beard finalist. However, my largest issue with the restaurant was the staff. Our first waitress was definitely nice, but once we put in our drink and appetizer / first round order, she completely disappeared. It was over an HOUR until we got the attention of another waitress, who effectively took over for her. She was very kind and I could tell she cared, but we had to wait 20-30 minutes for every drink or food ordered after waiting so long to put anything in. Our original waitress did not come back at all to even check in until we handed our card over to pay. When we got the check, we noted we were overcharged by $75 for an item... that isn't even on the menu. When we asked about the order, the waitress was unable to explain the charge. They corrected the issue and then asked us to wait an additional 10 minutes for a "treat" which was on its way. At this point I almost entirely forgot it was my bday and I put it in the reservation notes. We finally got the desert and then just tried to leave as soon as possible. I definitely do not recommend. read more

Came here on a random Sunday and was able to get a single seat at the window! The food and service was great, I had the duck ramen, the blood orange salad, shrimp dumplings and the good mother beans. I will say the veggies dishes were the highlight, the ramen was good but just regular. I really enjoyed the music too! read more

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We managed to snag a last minute reservation, on a very busy Tuesday night. The restaurant was buzzing with people and we were asked to sit at the chef's table near the end of the bar. Vibe is fun, service is excellent. There are old records played by a member of the staff. They bring you steaming towels when you sit down. They accommodate well for allergies. Food in my opinion was ok, but not so incredible to justify the high prices here. Expect to spend 100-150 a person if ordering a drink or two. Everything does have unique ingredients and flavor combinations that you won't experience elsewhere. Overall, glad I tried this spot, but I don't think I'll be rushing back anytime soon. read more

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I came here on Tuesday night for dinner with my cousin. We got a bunch of stuff, mostly to share. The only thing she got that I didn't was the tempura fluke hand roll, which she loved! I'm not a hand-roll person, but I liked the bluefin tuna. The fish is very fresh. The blood orange fennel salad was great, especially with the dressing. The roasted sweet potato was delicious. I rarely eat Brussels sprouts, but theirs were great. The Wagyu beef skewer was juicy and flavorful. For dessert, we got the carrot cake with vanilla ice cream, and they brought us coconut vanilla sorbet with, I believe, tangerines on top. I preferred the carrot cake with vanilla ice cream. Also, I liked how vegetable-heavy they are, which is rare for restaurants in LA. They have so many options to choose from. It does seem like their menu changes slightly daily, given that they stamp it with a date. Giving it a 4 because of how small the restaurant is and because of the waitress we had. Our waitress wouldn't tell us what's popular or what she recommends; instead, she said everything is good, which is odd, most restaurants will say what they like or what's most ordered/popular. Also, I sat at the counter downstairs, but there's rooftop seating. The counter is too tight to sit at. Overall, I would still definitely come back, since it seems the menu changes, and it's definitely a hot spot! read more

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Had reservations for 5:30pm. I will say we got seated and ordered quite soon and the server appeared friendly and even provided recommendations -- however we did not get our drinks until 6:10 and our food at around 7:10. Our food also did not come out together and took forever to get our entire order. Service was pretty terrible- water was never refilled and we had to flag a server down to even pay the bill. Also our seating was pretty terrible. Two of our party got seated in a narrow space between a lamp and a plant so the entire dinner they were constantly being hit in the face with the lamp and plant. Super uncomfortable read more

RVR Venice - Izakaya Near Me - Venice, California

Amazing. Shrimp gyoza, tuna handroll, uni handroll, tomato salad, duck meatballs, steak kebab, karaage, and (especially?) the charred broccolini were all perfect. We also loved the sesame/matcha sundae. I could've ordered just the entire vegetable menu and been so happy. So much more to try here on future visits. read more

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Came for Sunday brunch that ends at 3pm. Even when we arrived at around 1:45 or so, there was a bit of a wait. Got seated upstairs on the rooftop which I felt had a better vibe than the loud downstairs. We were greeted graciously by the server which was very nice. Got some water immediately and then looked over the menu. Items are small portions for that izakaya feel and had a wide selection. We ended up getting a 4 or so items for two of us, which was enough. All items were pretty good but not that memorable. That said, all very solid. Mixed rice with duck confit, grilled broccolini, shitake gyoza, and chicken thigh skewers. For the price, they are pricey but also expected for a place like this on Abbot Kinney. I enjoyed the meal and the service was truly on point through the visit. They even provided us with a little dessert to celebrate a friend's birthday which I felt was very sweet. Worth a visit if you are looking for some solid food for a premium. read more

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Loved every dish at RVR Venice. Perfect ambience. Ideal service. Suggest the oysters, sushi, mushrooms. You can't go wrong at RVR.

Delicious food and friendly service! We really enjoyed every dish on the weekend brunch menu, from the mochi beignets, house pickles, Wagyu beef tongue, duck meatballs, to what tasted like homemade gyozas! The portions were bigger than expected so we were pleasantly surprised. We had mixed opinions on the handrolls, mixed rice, and katsu sando but truthfully there were no misses except for the matcha beverage. Ambiance was trendy and vibey like what you'd expect from a popular spot on Abbot Kinney. The rooftop was lovely during the day. Excited to go back for round 2 and hopefully many more :) read more

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