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Verse has been on my list for a while now because of its vibe, live music, and cuisine. I'm always looking 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.
Apparently, this place has been around for years?! How have I not been here before?! Well, I'm glad I finally came by. The vibe is fun, grown, classy, and romantic. It's rather intimate, and much smaller on the inside than I expected. We sat at the bar, on the opposite end from the live band, but we could still hear the music just fine. The place settings, the decor, dimmed lights, and the seats are all quite appealing and quaint. The two standouts from our meal: the Yellowtail Crudo (with a provocative pink sauce) and the Pork Belly Risotto (immaculate - every single bite hit perfectly). The outside is subtle - you may miss Verse if you're not looking for it. There is some seating outside on the sidewalk where you can order drinks before you're seated. Honestly, I didn't notice any "stars" when I came by, but I likely don't know who to look for or what celebrities look like "in the wild." Street parking is readily available up and down the street, but they also offer valet.
Thoughtful ambiance and menu! Your senses won't know what's going on but you'll know your evening is in for the best dinner you can have at a speakeasy. Truly loved every moment at Verse. From the amazing acoustics of the live music to the serene atmosphere, you couldn't believe you were in a restaurant. Our amazing and super helpful server Dawson let us know that the hanging microphones and the specially built walls made such the perfect sound come through that while dining you get a noise cancelling experience that lets you hear every music beat and every word you speak while dining with your party. It's a truly unique sound and experience. I would come back 10x for that feeling of hearing my friends talk while not hearing the entire restaurant in the background. What ruins it for me at places is having to yell over the disruptive environment any restaurant would have but Verse just knew what they were doing and I'll forever come back just to dine in the most relaxing place. It's got a speakeasy vibe with easy listening music and a live band. Open for dinner only that truly offer the best place for even a date night. I went with a large group of 12 and had no issues hearing every conversation at the table. Loved the lounge and dark vibes. Even the bathroom visit leaves you wondering if you left reality and are dreaming up an alternate universe. Food speaks for itself but Dawson our lovely waiter made sure to capture all our allergies and food preferences including my ask about dairy free and no spicy. He quickly grabbed the dairy free menu for me which had so many options. And easily pointed out any dish that might send me running for water which was so helpful in narrowing down my choices. If you come for the milk buns you'll be delighted because the amount of softness and whipped butter was to die for! So many shareable and plenty of options to satisfy any eater. I especially loved how perfectly portioned everything was so you weren't left struggling if a single dish was too large. Every dish was built with perfection and love. You can't go wrong with anything but I especially loved the pork belly risotto. Pastas leaned a bit more salty or heavy for my liking but several friends in my group tried them and not one complained about any flavors. Come for a date come for a birthday group gathering or anything at all! Just a fabulous experience from beginning to end and you gotta give it up for the musicians keeping us entertained. Parking was super easy. We did street parking. Plenty of metered options free on Sundays or if you need to they have valet for $15 but street parking will be much easier. Thank you to Dawson and the staff for giving us luxury fine dining service. Even a restaurant without table cloths can achieve greatness so give Verse a chance and trust me you'll want to come back again and again!!
PARKING: Not sure if there is available parking here as they do have a valet. 15$ for it but you're paying for the convenience! SEATING: Greeted twice! Once outside and once inside. They were all so nice to welcome us and congratulate us for our anniversary as we had reservations. They even sat us down a bit earlier as we came 15 minutes early. Plenty of seating! Just all indoors. There's a mix of high rise tables, regular tables, and booths. I was lucky enough to pick between one regular table in the middle or one booth by the stage. I chose the one closest by the stage as it seemed cooler! (And it was!!) Very comfy seats! The tables are a bit small for my tastes but they made it work! Being so close to the stage was extremely cool and it wasn't as loud as I thought it would be. The trio played every half hour which was nice! SERVICE: Dawson is the best server hands down!! Def ask for him next time if you go. He was so knowledgeable, kind, and helpful as I came here to celebrate my anniversary with my partner. Dawson made sure we were fully taken care of. The runners/other wait staff were also incredibly kind and so lovely to congratulate us as well. The food came out at a good pace. We were never left with an empty/dirty table. The water was always filled up for us. There was no awkward lapses between the courses. It was a nice flow to the evening that went along with the live music. Just incredible service, 10/10 across the board! FOOD: Hokkaido Milk Buns 10/10 Wagyu Tartare 10/10 Smoking Old Fashioned 10/10 Side of Mushrooms 10/10 Aged Duck Breast 100/10 Lobster Tagliatelle 9/10 (Just missing a little something but was still amazing!! I think compared to the duck, it didn't hit that mark for me fully.) French Toast 10/10 Chocolate and Caramel 9/10 (The cake was a bit too dense for me! But the ice cream was excellent!!) Just wow!! Everything really was so amazing and delicious. I just could not get enough! Everything about the food was just a wonderful trip for your taste buds. I hope to one day try everything on this menu because wow, my expectations were met and so much more!! I am still dreaming about the duck and the two type of potatoes! Just wow! They even gave us a free dessert which was super nice and sooooo yummy!! 10/10 OVERALL: I cannot wait to come back here for the music, the ambiance, the service, and the food. This place is such a magical and wonderful place that I am so thankful to have found to celebrate a great milestone for me and my partner! This is a place we will be talking about for many years!
Verse is pure vibe and a strong representation of what LA venues could be....great! Take a nondescript recording studio and transform it in to a moody supper club - pure genius. It's operated by Manny Marroquin, a 17-time Grammy-winning mixing engineer. There are live performances built into the price of dinner, so there are no surprise cover charges. I love you Manny. The food is amazing and with service to match. Word of mouth will set this place apart from the rest. Caviar cheesecake was the standout winner.
TLDR: 5/5 - Heartbreak feels good in a place like this. The food was sensational, the service was in the nines, the ambiance was lux. I simply don't know where to go from here. Ordered: Apps - Milk Buns: 4.2/5 - I feel like these are a crowd pleaser, which is great! Against the rest of the menu they sort of felt out of place to me but I am glad it was different than just regular bread rolls. - Croquettes: 5/5 - These reminded me of abuela's tamales wrapped up in a little ball. The flavor was amazing, so well balanced with heat, saltiness and savory. Really good. - Kale Sprouts: 5/5 - Big kale and brussel girl. So when a place does them right, its hard not to want to share and get your own bowl. Don't leave without ordering this. - Octopus: 4.3/5 - You know I don't know much about Octopus but I will say this was extremely tender. I think it also came with some kind of potato that was amazing?? - Apple Salad: 4/5 - Light, fresh and crispy. A great palette cleanser - Yellowtail Crudo: 5/5 - This is my new gold standard of what Yellowtail crudo should be. It was stupidly fresh, zesty, tart, basking in this sauce that was drinkable but alas, I had to have some decorum. Roasted Potatoes: 3.8/5 - Personally I don't think truffle is ever done right however I do think this was done the best than most I've had in some time. With that said they were just okay. I think they'd be a big hit for the table especially with the cheese - Tuna Toastado Sashimi: 4.7/5 - This was fun! Who would've thought whipped sweet potato would pair with tuna sashimi. Great balance. The fresh-fried tortilla chips took it over the edge Main - Branzino: 4.8/5 - This was served with a peanut mole and sweet potato bruleed. The fish, on its own, lacks flavor, which is where the mole comes in, but it could've benefited from more mole or perhaps just a pinch of seasoning on top. With that said the fish was cooked beautifully. If you don't like skin this isn't for you. To bruelee sweet potato is genius. - Roasted Carrots: 4.5/5 - A proper rabbit carrot which I love. Had a good bite to it too. I personally loved the slight acidity on this. - Roasted Broccolini: 4/5 - Amongst the giants on the table these were perfectly okay. Great for anyone who just needs a vegetable. - Roasted Corn: 5/5 - Woah, final boss for corn lovers. Its a little bit of work to discover but once you taste it? Imagine almost an elote street corn without the fixings but with all the similar flavors? Its a shame I didn't have more. Dessert: - Olive Cake: 4/5 - Small for the price but it was nice. Light on the stomach after some heavier entrees. - Chocolate Cake with Miso Ice Cream: 5/5 - It was the miso ice cream that took (over) the cake for me. We as americans are only just discovering the multitude of what miso can do and this is one of them. Salt and Straw hates to know they didn't do it first. Service: 5/5 The service is what I imagined if I went to EMP. Maybe that's too high of a pedastal but I'm only a dreamer and have only read the book so call me a dreamer. I felt doted on by a team of gentlemen who just walked out of a GQ magazine. They were very accommodating with the allergies at the table. My water cup also never ran dry which is a big deal for me, I know. Chef Oscar also came out to talk to us who is amazing, thank you!! Ambiance: 5/5 I mean when we use the word vibe I think this is what it was meant for originally. Its a little sultry, dark and mysterious without it being a "I can't see my food." The dimness is honestly perfect, and it makes it just intimate enough to enjoy the company of your own party while enjoying the entertainment. The place is huge and is great for larger groups or a date night. This is all finished with a jazz band that's playing in the front which surprisingly is not loud enough to where you can't hear your party, so it really just sweetens the deal for an ideal mood set. Parking I had no issue with street parking, especially since their hours are only 1 hour after metered parking ends and its on the tail end of lankershim so there aren't a ton of businesses around but you can valet if you want. What can I say other than that this was a good time well spent. ,
Acoustics and atmosphere are top-tier. One live performer was a bit off but the overall energy was still 10/10. Bread & Butter: Perfect start. Scallops: Super fresh and the foam was a flavor bomb. Pastas: Two unique, creative sauces that hit the spot. Duck Breast: Cooked to perfection. Tender and juicy. Service: On point. Attentive and professional. A perfect blend of high-end dining and live music. Everything we ate was flawless.
4.5/5 stars This review is for the Valentine's Day special menu, which came with 6 courses. My thoughts on the 6 courses: 1. Ora king salmon: The salmon was soft and tasted fresh. The fried kelp was extra crispy. 2. Shigoku oyster - The oyster was flavorful with the potatoes/leeks and was tender. 3. Porcini dumpling - The dumpling had a great chanterelle flavor, and the skin of the dumpling had the perfect soft and firm texture. The inside could have had more meat, and I would have preferred the dumpling to be hot instead of room temperature. 4. Lobster risotto - The lobster piece was a good size and cooked to the perfect texture, although I would have preferred the lobster to be hot, temperature-wise instead of cold. The risotto was creamy and cheesy 5. Choice of A5 wagyu or sea bream - My fiancé got the A5 wagyu, and the seasoning was amazing - it had a slightly sweet touch. The sea bream was extra crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside. The pickled cucumbers were too spicy for me. 6. Churro with a raspberry/coconut sauce - Cute heart-shaped churro, that was a great texture (light and not too dense). Overall, I enjoyed all 6 dishes. The dishes were quite small, so the meal wasn't filling, but it was still a delicious and fun experience. They had live music on occasions, so that was nice.
This was my first time experiencing Verse Restaurant, and I have to say--it's something special. Having eaten at many great restaurants from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, it takes a lot to stand out, but Verse absolutely does. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between comfort and class. The space is incredibly clean, beautifully designed, and has a relaxed elegance that makes you want to settle in and enjoy the evening. The service was impeccable. Every member of the staff was kind, attentive, and genuinely helpful, which elevated the entire dining experience. The food was simply outstanding. Each dish was thoughtfully presented, making the meal feel like an experience rather than just dinner. I started with the Apple Salad, which was truly second to none--fresh, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. For my main course, I had the Braised Beef, which was incredibly tender and absolutely delicious. To top it all off, the classy live music adds an extra layer of atmosphere that makes the evening feel even more special. If you're looking for a relaxing dining experience with exceptional food, outstanding service, and live music in a sophisticated setting, Verse is definitely the place to go. Highly recommended.
Went to Verse to celebrate my fiancés birthday and couldn't have asked for a better night. Our server, Jay was super chill and helpful! He told us about the cool facts about the restaurant and chef. From the moment we walked in, we just felt the good vibes. They had good live music as well! The food and drinks were amazing! 10/10! For drinks we got the espresso martini and the "Pancho" For food, we ordered the milk buns, pork belly risotto, Australian wagyu, side of roasted corn. Left some room for dessert and ordered the cookies and cream! Highly recommend making a reservation. Will definitely be coming back!
such a cool sensory experience. the flavors were out of this world. best food i have had in a long time. our server was great and everything came out so fast. the live jazz was the cherry on top. because we ordered so much food, i was so close to not getting the buns. we ordered them at the end because the server said we HAD to try them and im so glad we did. we even ordered some more to go. this place is amazing and i cant wait to return. i would skip the duck next time. the iberico pork is a must try, along with ALLLL the raw plates. TRUST ME
Very cool vibes that's uniquely Verse LA! Went on a Friday night and were seated immediately (thanks to having a reservation). We ordered Hokkaido Milk Buns, Peruvian scallops, Braised Beef and Dunguness Crab Capanelle. The Braised Beef was the standout for us for its tenderness and tasty texture. We ate as slowly as we could to savor the Braised Beef! The jazz pianist Scott and bass player were super cool with the audio level perfect to enjoy the music and hold a conversation. Makes sense since the entire restaurant is a sound studio! 5 stars for this foodie and audiophile. Check it out Yelpers by reserving a table asap! We will be back.
Celebrated my birthday here with my boyfriend and truly enjoyed every moment! We were seated right in front of a live jazz band, which made the experience feel extra special. The atmosphere was dimly lit, intimate, and perfect for a date night. I can't remember the name of the drink I ordered, but it was amazing. We started with the milk buns--so fresh, warm, and soft that we almost ordered another round. For mains and sides, we had the branzino, crab campanelle, mushroom side, and crushed potatoes. The crab campanelle was my favorite dish, with the branzino coming in a close second. I would definitely come back for another date night. The bar area is also really cute--perfect if you're coming solo or with girlfriends.
2 years ago
I had an amazing night celebrating a friend with a group of five at Verse. Instantly, as you walk in, it's a total vibe. The entire setting is very unexpected based on the exterior look of the restaurant. But as they say, don't judge a book by its cover because as soon as you walk in, the setting is low lights and beautiful live music being played. The service was phenomenal and paired perfectly with the amazing food that was served. Our waitress was very helpful with recommendations and brought out our appetizers, starters & salads, and main entrées in different courses so that we could enjoy ourselves and eat everything we ordered. The drinks were delicious, and I recommend trying a few. If you have room for dessert, I definitely recommend the olive oil dessert. We also ordered cookies and cream and French toast, but we all agreed that the olive oil dessert was the best. I will definitely go back again for the vibe, the music, the service, and of course, the amazing food. read more
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Mike P.
Thank you so much for sharing such a ind review of your experience at…
My fiancé and I went here tonight for the first time and it was a great experience. They had a band playing at 7:30. The drinks were good and the food was amazing! We started with the milky buns and croquettes. As well a dozen oysters with all of their delicious sauces was amazing. Mushroom linguini and beef pasta made us so full. read more
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Mike P.
We're happy to hear about your night and thank you for the pictures.…
4 years ago
Thanks @ madlen for joining me here! Sexy jazz club/restaurant. Reminds me of a high end speakeasy in Manhattan. No signage outside. GREG was super cool, hospitable and fabulous energy A food. See photos. A ambiance. As an Interior designer I was impressed. A drinks A parking A crowd. Juxtaposition of music industry crowd and families and dates. Def will be back! So excited to have an alluring restaurant/bar in sleepy Toluka Lake! read more
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Mike P.
Thanks for taking the time to leave a review Melineh! We pride…
I fell in love with this place so fast. I was suggesting this for a work program, so I figured I would try it out beforehand. Collided with a celebration, we ordered most things off the menu with the help of our server. We had to get the milk buns obviously, and they were to die for, but we love bread, so that may be biased. The second app was oysters, my personal fave, and the amount of sauces they included was beyond. The cocktails we made in these little shells were phenomenal. Moving onto the big boys, we got the lamb and the Tommy. Both were ten out of ten, I can't even explain it. The live music and the drinks were so dreamy. One hundred percent my favorite place in 2023. read more
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Mike P.
We're honored to be your favorite place in 2023 Kelly! Those are…
Verse is THE SPOT for a great dinner + show. The vibes are immaculate. Tucked away in the valley (Is Toluca lake considered the valley?) parking is primarily street parking w/ meters. There's a live band (guitar, bass, singer) that performs starting around ~7pm. You can still talk and hear your company while the band is going. Let's talk about the food: bomb. would come again. Drinks: Call from Tokyo and moonlight Sonata were favorites. Happy they had Suntori whiskey/gin. The smoked old fashion was cool too Hokkaido milk buns: 10/10, soft, buttery lumps of goodness. It comes with a dollop of sweet butter New York steak: flavor is great. Super savory, medium rare perfection accompanied by plantains and beans. Lamb pasta: amazing. I would say it is a bit on the sour side (maybe lemon?) but other than that, the lamb was delicious and the pasta was cooked Al dente Crushed potatoes: MUST GET THESE. I didn't realize there was truffle in it (correct me if I'm wrong, saw it wasn't listed on the menu) but w/e it is, it's soooo good Oyster + sashimi: originally wanted to order the oysters but they were unavailable in 12/6 for the night. The waiter recommended this app and I'm so glad we got it. The sauce is something else--really compliments the sashimi and the oysters. Everything about Verse was great. Super attentive staff, great atmosphere & bomb food. read more
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Mike P.
Thanks for the kind words and in-depth review Vivian! Great…
Pretty good. Date night vibes with live jazz was a treat. Branzino was my fave - perfectly cooked... but just the fish. Pairing with the sweet potato and mole was ok, kind of an of odd pairing if you ask me. Sweet potato though was good but on it's own. Steak tartare was yummy, a little dry but still good, I felt the toast could've been better. Salmon roe was necessary for some saltiness. Crushed potato side was fireeee. Service was average, nothing out of the ordinary. read more
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Mike P.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review Anna. We're sorry to…
2 years ago
This beautiful restaurant did not disappoint. We started dinner off with the octopus and bread. I would skip the octopus. Definitely order the bread. The maple butter is amazing. I had to stop myself from eating it all. I ordered the braised beef, and the flavor profile was good, but the star of the night was the pork belly risotto. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu. I enjoyed the overall experience. The live band was a nice touch. The cocktails were okay, but the expresso martini was good. read more
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Mike P.
Thank you for your thoughtful review. We’re glad to hear that you…
1 year ago
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Mike P.
ChatGPT said:…
Excellent across the board! Service and food is 10/10. Ambiance and live music was a huge plus. My husband and I came here with our toddler on a Friday early evening. The food was delicious rhere was nothing left. It was fresh, flavorful, and all of it cooked to perfection honestly. read more
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Mike P.
Thank you for taking the time to leave 5-stars and kind words Chesa,…
Truly a hidden gem. It's hard to spot this place from outside because there is no signage of the restaurant's name and the dark door is on a side wall rather than in the front. Everything about my evening here was perfect. I had a reservation and was immediately seated at one the tables right in front of the stage. There are different live shows depending on the day of the week. When I was here, they were playing jazz. The jazz group had a good sense of humour and would crack jokes during breaks. Our waiter started us off with some drinks. The cocktails appealed to me the most because they each had a story to it. The "Unravel" was pretty good. I was hesitant about the egg whites in it, but it actually worked just fine. The "Moonlight Sonata" was even better. This had a very light alcohol taste in it, which was perfect for me. The presentation of the cocktails was also beautiful. For food, the hokkaido milk buns are a must! These were so fluffy and buttery. They are honestly the best baked buns I've ever had. I also had the kampachi nigiri, which stood out because it was topped with smoked salmon caviar. It was salty in a good way. Another must is the 38oz tomahawk steak with bone marrow sauce. This steak was cooked to the perfect medium rare and seasoned very well. Alongside the steak, I had some mushroom linguini. This was a delicious pasta packed with flavor and finesse. At the end of the meal, our waiter brought out 2 desserts for us. One was a unique coffee and turnips dessert. It was different from any dessert I've had before and I really enjoyed it. But the other dessert was even more amazing. It was a bowl of beignets with vanilla ice cream and raspberries. These were light and pillowy with a nice, crispy exterior. Customer service was beyond amazing. The waiter was regularly coming to our table to check up on us, give us new utensils, refill our waters, wipe the table clean, and do other little tasks. I was surprised when I was given a gold chopstick holder for my chopsticks! Wonderful ambience, beautiful decor, creative drinks, high quality food, superb service, good music, clean interior... This place has everything that I look for in a nice restaurant. read more
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Mike P.
Thanks for taking the time to leave such a kind review Karen! We…
3 years ago
How have I not heard of this place before? I came here for the first time tonight and this is definitely not my last time. The food, the vibe, the service, and the music are all amazing. The place is very classy. An awesome jazz band was playing the night we came. The acoustic was excellent. Great sound without being too loud. I think the audiophiles would enjoy the acoustic. It's a great place for a date or just to have a relaxing dinner with friends over good music. They have a nice bar too. If you want to just have drinks and listen to good music, it's a great place to be. We had the following: -Hokkaido milk buns: the reviews rave about the milk buns so we had to get it. It did not disappoint! It's so fluffy, soft, and buttery. Very addictive. And the whipped butter that came with it is so good too, a bit sweet and goes perfectly with the buns. -Dry aged Branzino: the fish was very well cooked. The skin was crispy and the meat was tender, tasty with the sweet potato purée. The portion was not very big. It was perfect for me but might not be enough for big eaters. -Braised beef: delicious! it is so tender and melts in your mouth. It comes with asparagus and mushroom. -Puff pastries: the pastries are not overly sweet and they were crispy on the outside. They reminded me of churros, yummy. The sorbet that came with it is tart and went well with the pastries. I would've preferred the pastries to be warmer but it still good and we finished it all of course! Overall it was a fantastic experience. I can't wait to come back! read more
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Mike P.
We are delighted to hear that you heard of us and look forward to…
1 year ago
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Mike P.
Thank you for the fantastic review! We love being called a hidden…
10 months ago
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Mike P.
Thank you for the feedback Tony, look forward to hosting your night…
3 years ago
Made reservations via their website, arrived and seated quickly. Walking in, it was beautiful and cozy. Our waitress was extremely friendly and explained that we would need to order appetizers and main courses all at once. The most impressive dish was the Oysters & Sashimi, so fresh and delicious. As the main dish we ordered the Tomahawk that came with a bone marrow and tomato sauce on the side, oyster mushrooms and the broccolini. The dinner was well made and had an excellent presentation. The only slight I had was that the timing of the food arriving to the table seemed a bit rushed and the removal of used dishes & glasses seemed delayed. Normally I would overlook it, but if the experience and price point are higher end, that just left the outing a bit of a disappointment. read more
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Mike P.
Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback Alyssa. As a…
There is no place like this in the valley. It's actually an old studio turned restaurant, which was explained numerous times by the friendly servers. It's very dark inside, which compliments the intimate vibe. They have live music every night that they are open, which is mostly a jazz band. Think jazz bar in NYC. Drinks are great. Food has unique flavors, but imo nothing to write home about. I'd definitely say worth a try at least once, but I'd be coming back for drinks, apps, and vibes for sure! read more
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Mike P.
We look forward to hosting you again for drinks and apps Ariana. We…
2 years ago
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Mike P.
Thank you for the kind words and sharing your experience Cosmo, we…
1 year ago
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Mike P.
Look forward to showcasing the other dishes BC. Thanks for the kind…
Verse has become one of my favorite restaurants in the city--the food, service, and ambiance all deserve genuine 5 stars. We were greeted by the warmest welcome at the host counter, and were led through the dimly lit restaurant to the front seats of the live entertainment. We were worried it would be awkward to sit so close facing the musicians, but their performance was so lowkey and only added to the vibe and mood of the place. Our server gave us so much time and space to be able to enjoy everything, which was perfect since we wanted a place to sit and enjoy our food and cocktails for a longer time. What we ordered for 2: - Hokkaido milk buns: the softest bread you will ever eat. They're like pillows and are salty and creamy at the same time. - Tiger prawn tostada: Really generous with the prawn and toppings, deliciously seasoned - Almond wood New York steak: cooked nicely, wished it was softer, but the plantains were amazing. - Pork belly risotto: Our favorite, tasted asian inspired--slightly sweet and savory, really creamy and the risotto was a good texture. - Oyster mushrooms: Not too oily, which was good. Pretty normal compared to the others. - Cocktails: Went with more fruitier options. Were a bit sweet in my opinion, but still really tasty and good amount of alcohol. I would go back for a special occasion next time so I have more of a reason to splurge on other items such as desserts, which looked amazing from the tables around us. Overall, an amazing experience all around! read more
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Mike P.
Thank you for sharing your experience and 5-stars Katie, we look…
1 year ago
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Mike P.
Thank you for the kind words Nancy, we look forward to welcoming you…
1 year ago
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Mike P.
Thanks for joining us Michael, we love the commitment and passion to…
2 years ago
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Mike P.
Thank you for such an incredible review! We’re thrilled to hear that…
1 year ago
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Mike P.
Thank you for allowing us to host your night Patricia, we're happy to…
2 years ago
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Mike P.
Thank you for the kind words, Artak; we appreciate your feedback.…
Highly recommend Verse to everyone even if you don't like live jazz music. Great food, nice ambience, and great service. Make reservations and try this restaurant. Our waiter was very nice and helpful. Starts off explaining the menu and how the last pages is the explanation of all the terminology used on the menu to understand better. Live jazz music starts from 7-7:30pm to 10:00pm. Not too loud where you can't hear each other it's perfect. Started off with Hokkaido Milk Buns - like eating a soft 1000x better pretzel Kale Brussel sprouts - crispy and flavorful Mary's chicken - half chicken with some greens, carrots delicious Maple Leaf Duck Bolognese Pappardelle - gotta try tastes amazing Beignets - house made vanilla ice cream with fresh made beignets amazing read more
Business owner information
Mike P.
Hi Hamlet, thanks for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful…
Verse lives up to its promise - mixing food, sound, and libations in a perfectly acoustic environment. All are top notch. Food: Nice variety on offer. We tried the Hokkaido Milk Buns, Seared Albacore Tostada, Oysters & Sashimi, Pork Belly Risotto, Mushroom Linguini, Grilled Sea Bream, and Beeler's Pork. Everything was nicely seasoned and well executed. Not a single miss. My favorites were the two pork dishes. Sound: Talented musician on our night. He was so fun to watch and played all night long. We were impressed he could play piano one hand and percussion on the other. Libations: Beautifully crafted drinks and fun names. All have unique styles and served in special glasses. A lot of thought went into the cocktail menu. Overall a solid 5 star meal. Perfect for a romantic night out or a splurge with a fun group to celebrate. I'd definitely go back and recommend you visit soon. read more
Business owner information
Mike P.
Thanks for taking the time to leave a review David! We pride…
3 years ago
Food 10/10 Service 10/10 Ambiance 10/10 Recommend We came here for my birthday dinner. As soon as we walked in we were welcomed and greeted with a smile. Out waitress was Morgan. She had fabulous recommendations. EVERYTHING we got was on point and made with love. The food was delicious, the service was great and attentive, and the ambience with the live music and vibes were out of this world! Felt like we were at a very intimate speakeasy, but it was spacious. We will be coming here again! Greatest hidden gem! read more
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Mike P.
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful feedback…
1 year ago
Business owner information
Mike P.
Hi Emma, thanks for leaving feedback; if there's anything besides the…
5 years ago
Love, love the ambiance and vibe of this place. It's built like a sound studio which is a restaurant and cocktail bar. The building storefront is very unassuming with no signage but I actually loved that. Not flashy on the outside but such a cool vibe once you enter. Definitely a hidden gem. They have live music Thursday to Saturday . Our waiter Brian was awesome. He explained the background of the restaurant, the menu and provided some great recommendations. He checked on us frequently without interrupting our girl talk. They have an awesome menu with unique specialty cocktails and such a great food menu. They even have a glossary in the menu so you don't have to guess what's what in the dishes which was very unique. We went the appetizer route with the Hokkaido milk buns, peach and prosciutto and the kanpachi. We shared one entree the sea bream as the entree. Awesome presentation of the cocktails and dishes, everything was super delicious. Definitely coming back to try more dishes and just to enjoy the awesome atmosphere. read more
Business owner information
Mike P.
Hi Katherine, thank you for taking the time to leave those kind…
1 year ago
Business owner information
Mike P.
Ramon—thank you for such a fantastic review! We’re thrilled you loved…
2 years ago
Very unique place, to me. My wife and I came here with 4 kids after Universal Studios. It was NOT what I expected but the food, staff and atmosphere was quite unique and after my shock went away, I enjoyed myself and so did all the kids. read more
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Mike P.
We are happy to hear about your experience Brandt, that is a common…
1 year ago
Business owner information
Mike P.
Thank you for the kind words Maya, we're here to serve whenever…
Don't expect some grandiose sign to tell you where this hidden gem is so drive slow and look for the big V on the wall. Ambience was great and the live music was amazing. Say at the high chairs by the bar which meant the bartender took care of us. He was amazing too. Drinks Shaolin Sting- gin, lillet bland, mandarin, tangerine syrup, yuzu citrus The Smokin' Old Fashion- angels envy bourbon, simple syrup, angostura bitters, smoke Food Kale sprouts- green onions, prickled raisins, Korean pepper, mint Yellowtail crudo- leche de tigre, snow peach, Fresno pepper Oyster & Sashimi- sesame seed, Chi- pec, ginger, white soy Grilled sea bream- Thai chili, roasted brocolini, steamed kashihikari rice All dishes were delish. My fav was the yellowtail curdo. It was packed with so many flavors along with the kale sprouts. That one hits all of your taste bud zones. Amazing! The sea bream wasn't dry but moist. The skin was lathered with some good seasoning so definitely try this dish! read more
Business owner information
Mike P.
Thanks for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful and detailed…
2 years ago
Business owner information
Mike P.
Thanks Howard, see you again soon!
I booked a last minute reservation and was pleasantly surprised. The food, ambiance, service, everything was exceptional. They had live music entertainment that was great. I enjoyed my time and will definitely be going back read more
Business owner information
Mike P.
We look forward to having you back Louis. We have live entertainment…
10 months ago
Business owner information
Mike P.
Thanks for the kind words, Ladeanna. We try our best to create a vibe!
5 years ago
Verse is a great cocktail bar and restaurant tucked away in Toluca Lake. The restaurant is owned by a music producer who has built the space to be acoustically perfect. They have several mikes hanging from the ceiling where the artist performs. We went for dinner on a Saturday night and they had live music until 9:30 pm. The menu is extremely detailed and well thought out, they even have a glossary! The dishes are more small plates and meant to be shared. We tried the croquettes, maple leaf duck bolognese and Mary's chicken. All the dishes were delicious and cooked to perfection! For the cocktails, we tried the Malamente and Shaolin Sting. Both drinks were very well done. The wait staff were very polite and spent time going over the menu in detail. This a great date spot and perfect to celebrate an occasion. Looking forward to visiting this spot again in the near future. read more
Business owner information
Mike P.
Hi Prathika, thank you for taking the time to write such a kind…
2 years ago
Business owner information
Mike P.
Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback, and we're sorry we…
2 years ago
Who knew the valley could be fancy? Perfect for a special date night or when you want to have a night out without going over the hill. Pretty much everything was excellently prepared: - Milk buns (5/5): Absolutely get! Super soft rolls served with the best butter I've ever had. - Croquettes (4/5): Good but nothing special to me. - Wagyu Tartare (3.5/5): Not bad but surprising that it was wagyu. I looove tartare but this one was just ok for me. I like my tartares more lemon-y and with bread more fresh. - Mushroom Linguine (5/5): Perfectly al dente - both the pasta and the oyster mushrooms. Very balanced - would get again! Portion is a bit smaller than expected. - Crispy vegetable quinoa (4/5): Surprisingly good! Serves more than enough if you want to use this plate as a shared side of veggies. Love the almond crunchies. - Iberico Pluma (6/5): Favorite dish we tried, unanimously. The pork was cooked perfectly, the Asian notes in the marinade were chef's kiss, and even the chicken porridge on the side was comforting and flavorful!!! - Almond New York (3/5): The steak was dressed well, flavors were there but the only reason I didn't like it as much was because it was cooked to a well done when we asked for it medium rare. - Desserts (3/5): We got an Oreo dish which was okay, and their chocolate flourless cake that was a little too dense for my preference. I'm a dessert girl so was a little bit disappointed that I didn't like these more than I did! - Smokin Old Fashioned (5/5): Great aromatics and cool presentation! A little bit on the sweeter side for my taste but would get again. Server was incredibly knowledgeable and loved that there was live jazz. Would recommend! read more
Business owner information
Mike P.
Thank you for visiting and your feedback, we're sorry we weren't able…
1 year ago
Business owner information
Mike P.
Thanks for 5 stars Alexander!
2 years ago
Business owner information
Mike P.
Thanks for the kind words and great descriptions of your experience,…
More info about Verse
4212 Lankershim Blvd
Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Toluca Lake
Directions
(818) 747-2135
Call Now
Visit Website
https://verse.la
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Ask the Community - Verse
Is there a dress code?
No dress code is enforced, and we encourage our customers to come as they are, but tend to attract a smart-casual crowd.
Hi Anyone know if kids (7yrs old) are allowed, we're celebrating my partner's birthday ? Thank you?
Yes, they are allowed to go in and dine with you.
Do we need reservations for the bar area?
Is there always jazz music playing? Or different type of music?
When the jazz musicians finished playing the restaurant played rock music like Fleetwood Mac.
W what kind of music do they play?
They feature a diverse range of live music, including a variety of jazz, salsa, and Latin American genres.
I can't find a listing anywhere of who will be playing. Since the music is a significant draw for me, knowing the performance schedule will guide my reservation. Where can I find that information?
They do not provide one. Each night it's a surprise If you go on their Instagram account you can… Read more
I need to reserve for my husband's birthday. November 10. Would you have music that evening?
Hi, there is live music every night.
How late to you serve dinner on Mondays?
This varies nightly but the best way to ensure dinner is by making a reservation through the website.
Do you have live jazz on Mondays?
We have a variety of genres and artists every day, and the curation of live music changes nightly. Just as with our taste in cuisine and wine selection we hope our guests trust us with our choice in live performances.
What time does music start nightly?
We typically start music at 6:30 Friday/Saturday and 7 on Tuesday-Thursday, but this is subject to change. We schedule music so that everyone has an opportunity to enjoy the live experience.
Are you still doing brunch service on weekends?
We are not; for the most up-to-date information, please visit our website. www.verse.la thanks!
Is there live music every night?
Check their website - I read this: DO YOU HAVE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT EVERY NIGHT?… Read more
What is the corkage policy?
Hi Runt, as of now, it's $35 per bottle, $50 per magnum. If a bottle is bought at the restaurant, the corkage fee is waved.
Hi! I am celebrating my birthday here in a couple of weeks. Is this place 21+ only? Would it be okay if two teenagers join the dinner if family is present?
Teenagers are ok if family is present
What time does the music usually start?
It differs every night but it’s programmed so that each reservation has an opportunity to enjoy it.
Is this restaurant casual, or dressy? Can I wear jeans?
It’s dressy but personal style is always encouraged. Jeans can be worn
Do we need reservations for only coming for drinks?
Yes, especially on the weekends
What is the current live music schedule for 2023? Is it every night starting at 7 PM OR only on select days?
I recommend checking their website, which provides the schedule and artists for their live music. I would definitely check them out, Verse is a great venue and food and cocktails are top notch.
We are going with a couple we haven't seen in a while and have lots to catch up on. Would the music get in the way of us doing this? Should we reschedule for when we want to relax and enjoy the music?
If you go early like 6 there will be no live music . But honestly even when the band is playing it is not too loud. This place is very dialed in as far as sound and not being too loud… Read more
Can you just go to the bar?
I am not sure. My suggestion, call the restaurant. I am sure they are more than willing to answer that question.
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
45 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
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Verse - seafood - Updated July 2026
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