Fabulous food and service. Music was nice for true modern jazz lovers! Overall, we shall definitely be returning soon!

I rarely complain about food but I had to write this. First off, the staff was amazing and the venue is amazing. That being said we dined there with a group of four my buddy and I ordered the tomahawk to share. We were told the Tomahawk was 28 ounces and more than enough for two people when the steak came we not only finished it but left hungry. It was definitely not 28 ounces of meat. Perhaps it was 28 ounces with the bone. I feel cheated. Leaving a 1 star not for the staff but for the wrong information told to us. read more

Went to have a nice dinner hubby and I. When we walked in we were the 3rd party, so the place was quiet. The room is somewhat dark and vintage, giving you a speakeasy vibe. Our waiter (Italian guy) was very friendly. And was very helpful with the menu. The food was very tasty, it's a fusion of Asian and American with a kick of Mexican. Will definitely be visiting again. read more

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Food was absolutely delicious. Cooked to perfection. What a hidden little gem. I live around the block and I never knew it existed. Might be our new favorite restaurant! Great service, ambience and food!!! Special shout out to the bread loaf. I'll be thinking of you often. read more

The ambiance of the restaurant is a cool supper club vibe. Pros: cool vibe and music Cons: Food is mediocre and is served on chipped plates (everyone at our table had a chipped plate). Considering the price of an entree, I would expect excellent service. No one cleared our plates between dishes or when we were done eating! We finished our drinks with dirty dishes on the table. Don't understand how this place gets such good reviews. I expect more when I dine! read more

So sexy!!!!! LA has been needing this for so long! Chef Oscar executed the menu to perfection and the service was very good. Terrace Martin performed with a trio set the ambience off! Perfect night! So happy this place is down the street from me! read more

Verse - Duck breast, mushroom linguini - Seafood Near Me - Toluca Lake, California

Great and professional severance. Compliments to the chef for perfectly preparing the meal. Also to the bartenders for preparing the drinks. The music and the atmosphere were amazing. All around very satisfying. We were celebrating our wedding anniversary with my wife and we were really impressed. Thank you read more

All I can say about this place is wow! The entire staff was amazing so kudos to all of you first! The drinks were very good great infusion and mixes very tropical flavors, now the best part, the food was great well it was better than great it was fantastic, you could taste all the blends that the chef uses almon wood smoke on some items and sugers and other flavors aswell you definitely did a great job. I admire the taste of food and let me tell you sir, you nailed it. read more

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I title this one "the Valley's hidden gem"! The ambiance, service, and food is outstanding here. The buns are simply and delicious, braised beef is hearty and tasty, the band is a talent and pleasure to watch. The only con is parking, it's not the most convenient but definitely wouldn't stop me from going back. Give this place a chance, you won't regret it! But be sure to go after 7, that's when the live music starts. And that music really enhances the atmosphere. read more

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Food was amazing every single dish other than the dessert. The waiter was very professional recommend us the foods and it was right on top very good recommendation. The place is beautiful. read more

Experience from start to finish: $12.00 valet, not insane pricing, my vehicle was parked in a secure area next to the restaurant. Venmo Zelle and cash excepted. Reservation was on time, promptly seated. Waiter was very experienced and knowledgeable. The cocktails on their list are made "prebatched" there for the type of spirits cannot be altered or changed for any preference. They taste prebatched as well and my second cocktail was way stronger than my first. I ordered a French 75 off menu and the champagne portion of the cocktail was completely flat. Not good at all. The food: The milk bread was FANTASTIC! Wow! The salmon appetizer was simple and just okay. Thoughtful presentation was appreciated but the caramelized potato and the sauce didn't make me finish the small plate. The apple salad was fresh and crisp not over dressed, I enjoyed it. The veggie and quinoa dish was my main dish and omg, garlic overload... I love garlic but this was way too much. Same thing goes for the green sauce. It was tasty but there was way too much, the veggies were swimming in it. The quinoa was crispy which was good but was totally lost in the sauce. Jazz band was a really nice touch but in-between there was very random headache inducing music playing. Strange combination of excellent live music and horrible choice of regular music. Overall, I would probably not go back, when dining out (in that price range) I really enjoy trying a craft cocktails by a mixologist. I would have also appreciated a couple more main dish options as the menu is extreme meat forward. read more

A little confusing walking up to the place as there is no sign but liked the ambiance as we walked into the dim lit restaurant with the live music. The servers were nice, but a little over-attentive (asking to clear plates multiple times with food still on it and interrupting conversations). And the food was good, I recommend the filet with the side of crispy polenta and the tuna tostada; the drinks and sides were lacking for the price they were. Would give this place more of a 3.5 but want to give them the benefit of the doubt and for this new restaurant to stick around. read more

I cannot speak highly enough about Verse. First found the spot through renowned food writer Andy Wang, so you know it has to be special, and I have to say it's the best thing to happen to Toluca Lake since Whole Foods (I realize that could sound pretentious but listen). It's so hard to find a really elevated cocktail or dining experience without going over the hill or to Studio City and Verse solves this problem. On top of this, live music indoors has never been a good idea until now. The owner is a decorated music engineer and producer and he put so much thought (and $$) into engineering this room to sound perfection. You can always clearly hear the band at the front of the room no matter where you sit while also hearing your dinner mates and NOT the every word from the table beside you. It's incredible. And the hospitality and food -- this is where Verse shines. What's a great restaurant without an excelling staff and kitchen? Mike, the marketing director, is wildly accommodating and you can tell he loves being part of this team. He is also responsible for their gorgeous photography and videography and partnerships. And Chef Oscar's SoCal flavor sensibilities combined with Mexican and Latin tradition are going to earn him legendary status. Get the appetizer buns on the menu (soooo craveable with sweet butter on the side) and the tomahawk. NOTE: Many dishes have finishing sauces that are often poured table side by your waiter. If anyone in your party isn't into it, just let them know ahead of time and they'll accommodate, leaving the sauce for you to use or not at your discretion. I encourage you to book the chef's table experience with a group of 10 or less and if you need a really special dinner for a significant other who is a musician or music lover. When booking, ask if they have bandwidth to take you on a private tour of legendary Larabee Studios next door, which Verse's owner owns as well. The likes of Elton John, Whitney Houston, and Miles Davis have recorded here, as well as modern artists like Kendrick Lamar and Miley Cyrus. Okay, I could go on and on. But instead, I'll just go to Verse. *chef's kiss!* read more

The restaurants live jazz music gave it a unique, moody ambiance. The service was spectacular, the recommendations on point. The food and drinks were great. I would definitely come back! read more

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Absolutely love this restaurant so much. The food and ambience are amazing. There is always some sort of live music playing and it makes the whole experience so wholesome and enjoyable. The service is impeccable. Our servers Morgan, Jake & Marcus were so kind & wonderful. They really made our experience so much better with their hospitality. The milk buns are always a must when I visit. SO GOOD. Any of their tostadas are so worth it. Not pictured but the mushroom linguine was the best linguine I've ever had. read more

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WOW what didn't I like about this place? It was absolutely wonderful - everything about it was fantastic & highly recommended for celebration, date night or just catching up. I booked this place on OpenTable for 6:30pm for my boyfriend's birthday but the manager texted me if I could push it to 7pm due to a music charity event. Totally fine with me. Found street parking in the front & it was free! The restaurant is next to a white chiropractor office & it is very subtle (see pic of the front door). It's just a door & doesn't seem like a lot is going on since there's no lights shining to the entrance or any noise. But as soon as you open the door, it's an entirely different situation. There's live music playing, dim lights, lit bar, decorative bookshelf. The entire ambiance of the restaurant was just on point. The attention to detail was also on par (e.g the V on the napkin holder) so you know it's fancy. Our waiter, Gabriel was also another thing on point. He was very attentive, described the menu well (with some bomb recommendations), checked in on us, funny, just all around great guy! FOOD: my boyfriend is a fan of an Old Fashioned so he obviously got the Smokey Old Fashioned and it's a SHOW lol - comes inside a smokey lantern thing as if you're in Harry Potter or something. We ordered the: -Kale Chips (very flavorful & nice blend with the sweetness of the raisins with a pinch of spicy), -Hokkaido Milk Buns (sweet with a bit of savory from the bun & the butter is a great mixture), -Braised Lamb Pasta (my bf's favorite) -Maple Leaf Duck Bolognese (my favorite) Everything was delicious & just on point. We both enjoyed our experiences. And at the end of our meal, Gabriel got us a free dessert for my boyfriend. It was great! He sang him happy birthday too hahah. Overall, an amazing experience for dinner & highly recommend. read more

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Amazing, intimate spot. The food, service and atmosphere was incredible. I had the yellowtail crudo, milk buns, oysters, lamb pasta, and salmon. The only thing, which in some instances isn't a bad thing, was that the entrees came out too fast. I was still working on the appetizers. It's definitely a spot I would frequent and recommend to others. read more

I loved it here!!! The food, service, and ambiance were all a vibe. Our waitress was so knowledgeable about the menu and sweet, I think her name was Genie. The live music was FANTASTIC! read more

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What a hidden gem!! The milk buns are a MUST, and the smoking old fashion was the best I've ever had! Adds a roasted marshmallow smell and flavor to an already delicious drink! Service was impeccable and really enjoyed the live music too! read more

Verse - Seafood Near Me - Toluca Lake, California

Drink: Blue Moon! Amazing music, food, acoustics and dessert. Beautiful attention to detail. Delicious memory! read more

Unique place with great entertainment. Great service too. I would have loved it if they use less salt in their food, especially the steak. A touch brighter in the lighting too. It's supposed to be a dark space, but juuuuust a tiny notch brighter so patrons don't use flashlight app so much inside the restaurant. read more

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I almost want to refrain from a review because I want to increase my chances of getting a table here whenever I want! AWESOME place with great food, drinks and music. They specialize in a tapas style menu, but they do have mains. We opted for all tapas and will have to go back to try more dishes asap. One of the best dishes was the Croquettes! I have to say, the only disappointment was they come in an order of three, so we had to fight over the last one. Pretty sure my wife intentionally tried to stab me with a fork going for the last one, but she swears it was innocent, so... Anyway, it's probably a crafty move on the part of Verse to sell an extra plate (which we DID opt for), but I request they consider making it a 4 piece plate to avoid squabbles. We did all of the fish options on the left side of the menu save for the prawns, and the oysters. All were epically good, with the Seared Albacore Tostada being the favorite. Not to be missed! Drinks were beautifully prepared and quite good. I will say, though, The Smokin' Old Fashioned is pretty much just smoke and mirrors. It's served in a mirrored box with smoke (see what I did there?) but it's not in there long enough for the drink to take on the smokiness. I'm glad we tried it, but we probably wouldn't bother again. The Tennessee Blues was excellent. I was worried it would be too sweet, but it is a delicious drink and I'd revisit that anytime. I also did a Sazerac that was quite good. There was a great trio playing and the sound is amazing. There is a story behind that and it's worth reading up on or asking about when you're there. Our server tipped us on a number of facts about the place and he was excellent, too! Daniel from Australia, so ask for him when you go! Outstanding vibe, and 100% worth your time. read more

Vibes here are everything. Cozy, moody vibe, beautiful live jazz music to top off the vibe. The food and service also on point!

Ambiance is phenomenal, everything else is subpar for the price point. Our $200 cowboy ribeye was barely big enough for 2 and definitely under salted, which is a cardinal sin imho. Also, they trimmed pretty much all the fat off the meat thus reducing the flavor substantially. I've had better steaks for much less money. Hokkaido milk buns- good but not 14$ good. I've had complimentary bread that was just as tasty. Jumbo prawns were by far the worst item- prawns were a little chewy and tostada was STALE. Unforgivable. Lamb pasta was the best thing we ate. Super savory, well seasoned, and satisfying. The waiter recommended this and I'm glad we went with his recommendation. This place might suffer from having too big of a menu. Maybe they should shrink it and focus on doing a few things really well, rather than many satisfactorily. And maybe we just picked lackluster items. Also, the servers, while extremely nice, aren't super knowledgeable about what they serve- if you don't know the answer, fine, but gosh darn it go find out. At these prices that ain't asking too much. read more

This place was really cool. The food was just okay but the live music and ambiance were awesome.

Leaving a review for the Valentine's Day Tasting Menu experience. This restaurant definitely lives up to its photos. Ambiance: elegant and intimate. Perfect for a romantic date night or dinner to impress some out-of-town business friends. The seats are comfortable and the tables are just high enough to accommodate most guests that aren't in too restrictive formal wear. If you are a taller guest (6'0'' or up), I think the seating along the walls is better suited. The restaurant is dimly lit so you won't necessarily get the best look at your dishes. Music: When there isn't a live band/singer performing, the music is at a good volume. I was especially disappointed with the live musical performances. The main singer that performed during our reservation sounded nice. But she chose to sing songs that did not match her range or tone. If you choose to sing Etta James or Alicia Keys, I would expect the music to emulate the 'feel' of the songs at least. If patrons are paying for live music, the music should not sound like background music from a playlist. Service: Our main waitress was very nice. She was timely and didn't interrupt us in the middle of a conversation during the entire tasting course. However, there were a few waiters that did not take the same level of care. When we got our appetizers (I got the lobster tostada), the waiter interjected in the middle of our conversation. He read the ingredients off the menu like an auctioneer so there wasn't a need for him to interrupt us. A big complaint I had regarding service, is that I made a reservation for an anniversary and specified to have seating for tall guests. These notes were not taken into consideration. We were seated at one of the smaller tables (closer to the performance corner) and it did affect the dining experience. When the waitress asked if we wanted "tap" or "sparkling", she failed to mention that the sparkling water was an extra charge and did not leave us the bottle top nor an ice bucket to keep our water cold. Warm sparkling water is not cute. Warm FLAT 'sparkling' water is on another level. Additionally, after the dinner, if patrons indicated that there is a 'special occasion', I would expect the restaurant to provide something in addition to what is already being provided. Food: some of the food is hit or miss. My partner and I got different items on the tasting menu so we could try as many items as possible. We really enjoyed the seafood dishes. The ribeye was a little on the bland side which was disappointing. The sprinkle of potatoes had more flavor to them. My chocolate flourless cake was on the heavier side. My partner got a sorbet dessert and said he would have loved to take some home. The cocktails were probably my favorite part. The names and presentations of each drink told a story. All the portion sizes were reasonable for the tasting menu experience. I am curious if this will be the case for the regular menu options. Value: on the pricier side. The tasting menu total was $270 for 2 people. We got 4 cocktails, each was $18 a glass. Our experience wasn't 'bad' but it wasn't 'great' either. I would be willing to try this restaurant again to try their regular menu and see whether the restaurant improves on the complaints some of the other patrons have echoed. read more

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I keep forgetting to post my review, but a certain nonsensical 1-star review spurned me to finally write this, as a feeble attempt to combat their illegitimate rating. ----- Verse is a hidden GEM in my neighborhood. When I moved from Philadelphia to LA, one thing I set out to find was a moody bar with live jazz and good bourbon that would live up to what I was leaving behind in PA. Verse DELIVERS - not only on the jazz and cocktail front, but the food is *INCREDIBLE*. Don't sleep on their seafood tostadas + baby bok choi, but honestly - you can't go wrong with anything on their menu. The ambiance is wonderful + the servers are delightfully helpful, knowledgeable and patient regarding questions on their menu when trying to decide what to order. From apps, mains, to dessert - the food is I had such a great experience on a date night, and look forward to coming back for another one in the very near future. read more

One of the best fine dining places I've been to in LA! We went for my mother's birthday and this was such a special spot. The food was absolutely fantastic. The Hokkaido milk buns were a warm and satisfying way to start off the meal and I highly recommend coupling it with a few of the raw starters. The highlights for me were the unique pastas. Every single one was absolutely delicious. The crab pasta with the uni was creamy and well-seasoned, whereas the charred green onions in the lamb pasta cut through the richness perfectly. The olive oil cake was definitely my favorite dessert with its slightly floral flavor profile. The restaurant was dimly lit and had lovely live music. A bit too loud for my taste, but I appreciate the enthusiasm. The servers were lovely and thoroughly explained each dish as they were serving it. This was great because of the complex blend of flavors in each dish. This is a hidden gem in Toluca Lake and I highly recommend making this your next special occasion destination! read more

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More like 3.375 stars. Food was delish and the live music was a plus, but service was sub par. Ambiance: 4 - Verse is an interesting idea. Owner of the Grammy-winning studio next door decides to open up a restaurant that is themed and built as an extension to his studio--it actually is apparently a studio with microphones dangling from the air (above tables--I get these Omnidirectional mics are prob meant to record the crowd sounds during a live recording or something--or are they? - things that make you go hmmm), and wall coverings and tapestries that are sound muffling so even the occasional V6 drag racing down the street won't disturb your dinner and music. Oh and let's not forget the fun backdrop behind the stage of several Grammy awards reminding you not to forget about the music. - place is cozy and warm. Unfortunately even though we'd made reservations well in advance, we got the least comfy spot in the place in the back on high tops. If you sit back there, it's challenging to see the performance--though the sound quality was great anywhere (obviously) Service: 2. Server was cool, yet made no effort to let us know the hold up in the kitchen was. I think we waited for about 45ish minutes for our entire meal to arrive. Quite a long time...especially when you're hungry. Fortunately there's live music...so that helps. Another annoyance was that he Asked us if we wanted water, still or sparkling--when I said still, I didn't realize it was bottled...I have a strong aversion to bottled water (not only is it bad for the environment, it's also marked up by 100s of %! Rather spend my cash on the food and not on water that my Reverse Osmosis machine at home cranks out daily for Pennies!) and I'm even more annoyed when restaurants make it sound like it's the only option. Anyway, I digress. Service here was lacking. Food: 4.5 - food here was delish. Plated beautifully, and incredibly hearty with good portions. I had the 16oz pork which came with a bowl of grits flavored with avocado blistered cherry tomatoes and basil. Wonderful. They also left me the rib which I was indeed happy to go to town. My wife had the duck--skin was so crispy and reminded me of chicharron. Sides were also amazing--how do you get mushrooms to taste like that? Value / price: 3 Drinks were on the pricy side: 18 per drink--sip that sucker slowly! Food is on the high end but you get what you're paying for here! Also another weird thing here...most of the photos posted are owners posted photos. Odd. I couldn't really find a post from another yelper. read more

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To say this place is a hidden gem is total and complete understatement. Absolute perfection in every facet, from the ambiance to the music to the amazing food and impeccable service. I'm already planning my next visit to Verse.... read more

Just spent the evening here, I've been here previously and really enjoyed the food and music. Tonight my service started off great with our excellent server, I believe her name was Ari. At 7:45pm the band was nowhere to be found, Ari told us they were taking a quick break but would be back. The band appeared sometime later with nice music, but the bliss was cut short as they took 2 more breaks throughout the duration of our meal. I understand the band needs a break, but for whatever reason- whether it be because the music on the overhead was a different completely different vibe or the breaks were just long, it felt long and it was noticeable. In my last visit here I don't remember such long pauses for the live music, after all it's largely the reason I decided to come here again, so I just wanted to note. At some time during our visit, our server went on break. Someone us came over to let us know they were taking over but the restaurant was so busy the priorities seemed to be with the newer arriving tables. After receiving our last drinks, there for no follow up. We sat for 30 minutes wanting to flag someone down to grab our check. We finally got the check dropped after some time, and waited an additional 15 minutes for someone to pick it up until I got fed up and walked myself up to the host stand to ask them if I could pay. The server stopped me on my way up and met me back at my table with the credit card machine. Considering the machine was portable, I'm not sure why this wasn't brought when our check was delivered initially. We had such a great experience to begin with and it doesn't help that I had such high expectations after an evening here prior that the shift in service towards the end and lack of the band at times were noticeable. I'm having mixed feelings about my experience tonight. I wish I had an opportunity to speak with someone about our experience but after waiting so long to close out I just wanted to go. The food was better than I remember it however- definitely add that gnocchi special to the menu!! I also find it shocking that the parking is only street and not valet for such a fancy place! read more

Place is beautiful and very classy waitresses are amazing very elegant. The food was very good. I would give it five stars they kale salad was a hit, but the desserts are not so good and I am a dessert person. For the dessert I would give them a two star. The cocktails are very professional and good. I will definitely come here again. read more

Brought my husband here for his birthday seeing as though I knew he would enjoy the live music, and it turned out to be a great evening! Very unassuming from the outside but has a great open format that allows for a great view from any table. We had a variety of items for dinner but throughly enjoyed everything. Perfect for date night or music lovers! Looking forward to making it back in soon. read more

Verse - Seafood Near Me - Toluca Lake, California

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Okay! From the host to the servers and the owner walking up to each table to introduce himself. Makes you feel like family. From the live music to the food it is a great time at Verse. For food we got the Crockets and Butter Buns for entrees we got Mary's chicken and the Steak with a corn on the side. Drink were rosé and vodka tonic. Parking is on the St so accessible, For sure be back with friends to enjoy the vibe at verse. The deco is amazing I loved the green walls. See you guys soon. Xoxo read more

Had the most amazing time on my birthday. Service was very attentive and food was delicious!

If I could give a higher rating than five I literally would... Let me first start from the very beginning from the outside when you arrive you can't really tell if you're about to walk into a restaurant. You can't hear any noise barely any people but right when you walk in you'll be taken away. The details of the walls, the music playing in the background, and the overall vibes were phenomenal. I vibes felt like I was in an old historical library with a jazz band. I was amazed... The service was amazing our waiter Nate gave us an extensive detailed description about the restaurant, and his recommendations. He answered all our questions we had and was very kind. As for food I enjoyed everything except one item the branzino it was missing some flavor. Few must have items are the tuna tostada WOW delish, the yellowtail crudo was the best I've ever had, corn with cilantro had a tangy delicious twist, mushroom linguine was great, and the quinoa salad. OMG how can I forget the bread you need to order the bread it will melt in your mouth. Keep some room for dessert the olive oil cake was great but the cookies and creme dessert just seemed like scoop of ice cream so I'd pass on that. Had a great time and can't wait to come back. read more

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Can't believe this place exists! The live music is always great. The vibe is perfect. The lighting is perfect. The sound system is wonderful. The food is fantastic. Whatever you order you can't go wrong. We really love the Peruvian Scallops to start, the mushroom pasta and the Braised Beef is perfection. We also order the Hokkaido Milk Buns with our meal. Every time we go Matt is "The Man" that makes sure your evening is special. The service is top notch. Definitely a destination for a special evening. read more

After countless times of me telling myself I need to Yelp more, my experience tonight at Verse had me headed straight to Yelp once I got home. Our experience was hands down 5 stars, from the food, drinks, service, music, and vibe. Our server, Arthur, could not have been better. He was attentive, pleasant, and polite, and all of his recommendations were on point! Everything he recommended was everything I had my eye on. The table ordered: Tiger Prawns Hokkaido Milk Buns Oysters Pork Belly Risotto Braised Beef Iberico Pluma Lobster Tagliatelle A variety of libations, and we finished it off with the olive oil cake. Everyone tasted a bit of everything, and it was all done to perfection...my favorite, though, was definitely the Pork Belly Risotto. The music and vibe were perfect, and I couldn't have picked a better place to celebrate my birthday with my favorite people. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back soon. Well done Verse, you definitely have a few new fans read more

The other evening, my wife and I found ourselves leaving our practice late, and she was in the mood for steak. Wanting to surprise her, I decided to take her to Verse. From our initial call to inform them of our arrival, to being warmly greeted by Matt and served by Roger & Jeannie, every aspect of our experience was exceptional. The ambiance, the entire staff, the live music, and of course, the food and drinks, were truly phenomenal. We started our meal with the Hokkaido Milk Buns, Apple Salad, and the Aged Yellowtail Crudo. For our main course, we shared the 30 Day Aged Tomahawk with Bone Marrow, Heirloom Tomato, and Charred Serrano, accompanied by a side of their Crushed Potato. Each bite was a delight, perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor. Chef Oscar Torres' skill was evident, making it the ideal dinner after a long day that began at 5:30am! We will certainly be returning soon. My wife was so impressed that she's going to be renting out the entire restaurant for future events. read more

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The food is delicious, the drinks are delicious and the service has been great every time I've been to Verse. We've tried almost every item on the menu and they all great: favorites - milk buns, kale sprouts, pork belly risotto. The atmosphere is amazing. They have live music, and since it's in a recording studio the acoustics are great. read more

Verse - Pork belly risotto, crushed potatoes, New York strip - Seafood Near Me - Toluca Lake, California

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