The most AmAzInG Culinary adventure i ever Savored! Went here for my birthday, walked out with euphoric bliss. If you love food, art, flavor, ambience, this place is for you. If you are expecting a Wagyu Surf N' Turf, this definitely is not for you. The scallops, fish, Deep Ocean.....we're my favorites, but actually, everything on the menu was a flavor explosion. From the moment we arrived, to the friendly host and knowledgeable staff, Vaspertine will not disappoint. We opted for the mocktail pairing which complimented each dish and was refreshing. read more

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I've been wanting to come here for ages! Finally got it down in the calender for the Mr's birthday. Given that the menu changes I can't really rave about their "house signature" etc etc. all I could say is that from the moment you pull up to the moment you leave - the experience is nothing short of spectacular! They do have valet and it's $25. Every dish that was presented with beautifully crafted, it's basically a theatrical experience coupled with dining. I'm stilling thinking about the dark/black pearl dish that you scope with a mussel shell. Literally melts in your mouth and the other dish that I couldn't stop thinking about was the "layered" cake that looked like a winding staircase from above with each layer being something different. I also particularly love the variety of patrons in the dining room. Illustrating yet again that food connects everyone from all walks of life. Service was attentive, there are several staffs who will come out to serve the various dishes with a special story and history behind each dish. They do give you an enveloped menu at the end to take home so that you can look back at your culinary journey at a later date. Expect to drop $1k+ for a meal with beverage pairing for two. But it is a nice thing to do once or twice a year! Cheers! read more

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Unreal experience. Went here a couple weeks ago. The level of service is unimaginable. It feels like an orchestra and a theater in one. Sure the food is great and the desserts are very tasty but you don't come here strictly for the food. You come here for the service, the orchestra, art, and the information. Everything about this place from the architecture to the music to the food to the service is a level I would have never expected. I don't come from a place with a lot of money but that said I think its worth every penny if not more. I left feeling overwhelmed in the best way possible and no regret in seeing the bill. read more

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It was a very fun eating experience. The dishes were artistic, yummy and unique. I'm so glad I got to experience it. Would I go again? Yes I would, but I would go a different season because they say that each theme of each dish stays the same but the ingredients change. I would definitely not pay extra to do the juice vitality pairings. I was expecting like an awesome mocktail with every dish but it was kind of a let down. It was like mainly kombucha juice, mushroom water, etc. My husband regretted not doing wine instead. I would definitely pay extra to get the Uni again, that was my favorite dish!! read more

This was an amazing experience all around. I have been wanting to dine here for years and i'm so happy that i finally did. It's very obvious how much time, effort, and creativity goes into every single dish that you are served. I loved how a lot of courses had some sort of fruit component, i'm not used to that but it worked so extremely well! The aged kinmedai was insanely good, the papaya paste with it was incredible. My favorite savory dish of the night was the quail that was served with an emulsion of quail eggs, and deep fried sourdough porridge bread. I mean fried sourdough? I have no idea how they thought of that but it was mind blowing! One of the dessert courses was a lamb fat caramelized sourdough pancake and WOW was it amazing, it was also just such a fun course that you wouldn't expect to get in a place like this. The final two desserts were actually life changing, by far some of my all time favorites, they were both extremely complex and unique but tasted so dang perfect. I loved how i didn't feel gross and stuffed after the meal, but nourished and satisfied. Jordan (the chef) even came around the dining room and spoke to us towards the end of the meal, it was cool to hear about his inspiration for the tasting menu and meet the mastermind behind it all! If you read more

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My friend had been waiting since the pandemic for this to open. If you go before sunset, you can see a beautiful view of Culver City and beyond. It really sets the tone of the entire fine dining experience. All the dishes were very beautiful, but I think the fried sourdough ball was my favorite of the entire meal, flavor wise. From the obsidian dish to the spring flowers, there is so much to take in. We were introduced to douglas fir tea and birch ice as it was the first time we had ever tried these flavors; so neat. Everything looks artistically presented. The only gripe I have is the seating since we are oddly facing other people, which gives me bad flashbacks to the herringbone configuration on Air New Zealand business class but I digress! The food and service is amazing here and there is a reason for the hype. They even let you see the kitchen before you get to your seat; it feels like an experience. Parking is valet or there is some nice street parking nearby. read more

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What an exceptional experience. Everything was a work of art (and delicious). I cannot wait to come back!!! read more

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A sensory-focused, culinary experience of a lifetime. My husband and I have enjoyed several luxury dining experiences and multiple Michelin star rated establishments, most of which have been overseas in Italy and Paris. This nearly takes the cake. The courses are original, with gorgeous presentations, and detail-oriented concepts for actual consumption of the courses. Wine pairing were also spot-on. From start to finish the ambiance is unlike any other. You begin with an incense-rich trip to the restaurant's garden, followed by an escorted visit to the kitchen where you are granted the opportunity to see the talented individuals preparing your dinner for the evening. You make your way to the mezzanine where you dine for your first 7 courses, and lastly brought to the ground floor where you'll enjoy 4 courses transitioning to dessert. The architecture is a treat for anyone who enjoys the creative art of engineering. Service was impeccable and engaging throughout the experience. If you're looking to celebrate something special, consider Vespertine! read more

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Dinner at Vespertine has a base price of $395 per person, and I'm not totally convinced the place makes money. It's in a crazy sculptural building designed by architect Eric Owen Moss, who's named as chef Jordan Kahn's collaborator in this one-of-a-kind restaurant. The whole building is dedicated to running Vespertine, as is a giant staff of skilled chefs and servers. Matt B. and I went for my birthday, on an otherwise random Tuesday. We showed up a few minutes early for our 6:15 reservation and were invited to wait in the garden, which looked like a futuristic cemetery. There was a lot of seating, smooth stone slabs heated against the cold. Eerie, soothing music came in over our heads, singing bowls and elusive, not-quite melodies. The sound bath continued when we went inside, and played throughout our two-and-a-half hour meal. Service was immaculate, starting with a guided visit to the kitchen, where we saw chef Kahn and his cooks at work. Then we went downstairs to the main dining area, where we settled in with the help of our waiter Ryan. He presented us with a single sheet listing beverage pairings and extras--every decision we had to make for the night. We picked our pairing and we were off, with Ryan and team attending seamlessly to our every need. Vespertine doesn't have a bar or a readily available wine list, so a beverage pairing is the default option. We went with the standard pairing, which came with nine different wines apportioned in 4 oz. pours. We had to drink steadily to keep up, a wonderful new wine appearing with each course. The food was astonishing. Ingredients, flavors, presentation--every dish was delicious and unlike anything I've eaten at another restaurant. We started with Wild Scallop: raw scallop and aerated scallop mousse with passionfruit, aji amarillo, petunia flowers, and horseradish crisps. Cold and delicate, with layered textures and a gentle heat. Next was the Seasonal Paradox, a taste of summer in the depths of January. Sugar snap peas came with kiwi, Meyer lemon rind, puffed buckwheat, almond milk and wild onion custard, and a vinaigrette made with pea shells and wild onion oil. The whole dish was carpeted with tiny flowers from Vespertine's garden. Deep Ocean brought sweet, succulent wild prawns from 2,500 feet under the sea, with gooseberries and Mountain Rose apple vinegar. They came in a round depression carved into a giant cube of crystal-clear ice. The Obsidian Mirror was another stunner, glossy and black, served in a heavy black bowl with a polished mussel shell in place of a spoon. This was the only visual clue to the contents of the dish. The black surface was a mussel gelée, and underneath, we found a smoked mussel panna cotta with salted plum. The Deep Seven was a more straightforward dish, a beautiful piece of grilled kinki served with an Indian mallow flower stuffed with peppery red papaya paste. This was designed to be eaten in a single bite, and it was an incredible mouthful, smoky and buttery, tangy and savory. One of my favorite courses of the night. Another top contender was the Coturnix Quail, without question the best quail I've ever had. This was apparently some kind of mutant XL quail, and we enjoyed its bounty a few different ways. First we got the breast, dry aged and cured with koji, then grilled to honest-to-goodness perfection. It was tender and juicy, with a sweet lacquer on the skin, served on a bed of heather flowers with a side of quail egg/trumpet mushroom/butter emulsion. Then there was Oat Porridge Bread made with quail fat, and smoked and butter-grilled quail thigh in sacred pepper leaf. Superb. Pine-Fed Lamb was our last course upstairs, a gorgeous hunk of meat with yeast fudge, magnolia, mitsuba, and cherry. We moved to the ground floor for the final courses, beginning with the Red Earth, a warming dish of heirloom corn custard with dried strawberry, chile, smoked pepper broth, and palo santo water. We drank Douglas fir tea infused with roasted pear, then received the Caramelized Pancake. This was amazing, rich with salted lamb fat, served with whipped cream, Laphroaig-infused birch syrup, and blueberries. Matt got the Icy Birch, a disc of frozen birch juice over parsnip and reduced milk, while I got the Sea Urchin. This was a creative dessert of Hokkaido uni with white chocolate ganache, black walnut, candied kelp, and 1931 Pedro Ximenez sherry. I'm not sure it was worth the extra price, as I loved the birch, but it was my birthday and I'm glad I tried it. The last course on the menu was a brilliant dessert made of several Layers--black raspberry panna cotta, sheep's milk yogurt, and sponge cake, to name a few. We got one final gift: a taper-shaped cylinder of black sesame and Amazonian cacao, with a candle in one end. Is Vespertine over the top and a little ridiculous? Sure. But the experience is both exquisite and utterly unique. If you're looking for a special fine dining restaurant in L.A., nothing is going to beat it. read more

Impeccable service, stunning presentation, but lacking flavor. The garden salad tasted bitter, and most of the rest was underwhelming. Kinmedai, sourdough bread, and deconstructed cake were good, but everything else was pretty meh. And the drinks were vinegary and not good at all. For the price point, I wouldn't recommend it. If you don't care much about the price/food quality and want to eat beautiful food with great service, you'll probably like this place read more

Service and ambiance is incredible. The food and the flavor profiles do not work at this price point. Considering the options in fine dining, I was expecting SO MUCH more but our experience was well below expectations for a dinner that was well over $1K including beverage pairings for a party of 2. Money not well spent and a total miss. Rarely do I review negatively but this was just a disappointment and a disaster, especially for a special occasion. Now I have to do damage control with my significant other. read more

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I recommend everyone to visit this magical place. food as a work of art. Amazing vibe read more

While the venue was beautiful and staff was very attentive you come to the restaurant for the food. Everything was plated in unique, eye pleasing arrangements, but most of the dishes did not taste good. There was a heavy reliance on mousse and pastes being the primary volume of the dish. There were only 4 of 11 dishes that had small portions of protein. The "dessert" felt like a trick, a 7-layer cake that have zero properties of a cake and was red beat flavored for good measure. Music was sleepy, like you're in a spa waiting room. We love fine/experiential dining, but for an exorbitantly high priced experience like this one, it did not live up to expectations. read more

A breathtaking and transformative experience - truly a once in a lifetime kind of meal. Everything from the architecture of the building to the interior design and flow of the evening is so incredibly well thought through. I loved every single second of my time here and am grateful to have experienced it. The springtime dish with the flowers and almond paste was the most beautiful and awe inspiring dish I've ever seen/had. The details that the culinary team here put into everything is truly seen, felt and tasted. My favorite dish of the night was the uni with white chocolate creme and candied kelp - I've never tasted anything like this! Such a wonderful experience coupled with beautiful ambiance and superb service. Definitely a dinner I'll be thinking about for a long time. read more

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3.5 stars maybe?? Really hard time reviewing this one. Of course, there was so much hype going into vespertine- there is a reputation! From an experience standpoint- it delivers. It's interesting to walk down the building between the savories and the sweets. I think the plating was all beautiful so my eyes definitely feasted well. "Wildflowers" was probably the stand out dish in presentation. I liked feeling all the plates, utensils. Playing with the shadows, lights, shapes of the restaurant. As a group, we didn't enjoy the sounds of the places (kind of akin to meteora - super meh). As for the food, the savories I generally really enjoyed and found them all quite delicious. I think I enjoyed every bite that I had. The only thing I was getting a little tired of was the wildflowers dish but... I don't like vegetables and it tastes so vegetable-y. The transition and dessert courses were all meh for me. I'm a big dessert person and I finished none of them which is super unfortunate because it makes up like 1/4 of the meal. I even did the white truffle add on which costs over $100 - did not finish and would not recommend. The last "dessert" looked beautiful but had a beet base and I do not like beets at all... Honestly, I really loved the savories but the end of the meal left such a bad taste in my mouth it's all I can remember! After tip, tax, the truffle addition, and one glass of sake- I paid over $700 for this meal. Looking back, while the taste was great, I feel like im not seeing a ton of expensive ingredients to justify the price tag. Many many people asked me if it was worth it and I told them probably not for most people. I don't regret going but I would not go back. I DO regret getting that truffle add on though! One of my companions got the wine tasting - I dunno if that was worth- won't comment on it bc I dunno wine. Another companion got the non alcoholic drink tasting, personally did NOT think that was worth (I sipped each drink) but you're interested... give it a go! read more

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Vespertine is my personal favorite Michelin star restaurant I've visited. I enjoyed the music, dark and relaxing ambiance. It's a really unique sensory experience. The staff are all very nice. I only wishes they didn't rush through the service I went with my bf for new years it was our 2nd time going! Still my favorite restaurant and I look forward to returning when the menu changes read more

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Parking is valet. My daughter wanted to bring me to this restaurant for our June birthday celebration. She was super excited and impressed. As for me, someone who grew up in Huntington Beach, lived in Europe & Asia, i have been to all 50 states, I was not so impressed. As we get escorted inside, the host took us to the kitchen first, then dine at 2nd level, and finish the dessert at the first level was kind of gimmicky. Knowing, this is not like a fine dining at Sendero, 24th floor of the Ritz. Bathroom is non gender conforming, have a toilet & urinal, no bathroom attendant. You need to have a plenty of time to experience the full course. This could improve. First thing I have noticed was a dirty utensil, I told the waiter to bring me an another one. My spoon was smudgy. 2nd thing I have noticed was all these narratives. Oh, it's from Pakistan or from Hawaii, etc, ok I have been to all these places the guy has mentioned. Hawaii, the fish can be fresh, but LA, that fish has been frozen and defrosted, that's just distribution system facts. Then the guy mentioned about Chef Jordan. Ok, he is from South and the food doesn't reflect that. So why bother mentioning about the chef? Food was ok. A sous-vide quail may be served slightly pink, but only after precise temperature control at safe pasteurization levels. With that said, I was skeptical about eating that quail. Red snapper was decent. As we're eating I have noticed two insects, one flew away, the other was stuck on the window. Oh and the Table was not clean, the waitress spilled green sauce of some kind and didn't wipe it off right away. Lamb was ok but I had it better at Traktior in WeHo. I guess the guests are paying for the experience? It might impress those LA transplants came from other states and or never been outside of the U.S.. To me, pricy doesn't equate to a fine dining. This was just all too gimmicky to me. This place doesn't have a bathroom attendant. The other thing I have noticed was the valet. The valet attendant didn't lock my doors. How do I know this? I had a notification from my app saying my doors are unlocked. I immediately turned on the sentry mode and locked my doors from my phone. I think that is irresponsible. Overall, I was not impressed. I would not come back here, With $1000, I would fly from LAX to JFK, uber to Manhattan and eat at Indochine or Russian tea room and come right back. This place doesn't even have a dress code, this Asian guy was there with his cargo pants on and older white lady had a revealing dress which was not age appropriate? For having all these good reviews, this was over hyped and or those people never have been to fancy restaurants. My food was ok. And the water tasted like a tap water. So much can be improved. If you lived in NYC or NorCal too long, you would not be impressed by this restaurant. I wasn't. It was colorful but not for me. I hope I don't get a food poisoning from the quail. read more

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Price gouging at its finest, 2 thousand dollars for utter shit, I brought a notebook and rated the water highest, The Ambiance was great the food was NOT, I repeat do not under any circumstances eat here. read more

Vespertine was the perfect pick for our anniversary. Smooth, attentive service and a beautifully balanced tasting menu that felt inventive but never overdone. The pacing was spot-on, and the flavors lingered after each bite. Pairings were well chosen and never overpowering. Ambience was intimate and modern, calm, elegant, and just right for a celebration. Everything went seamlessly from start to finish. We'll definitely be back. Highly recommended. read more

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Oh my God... This experience was next level, even the building that was built just for this restaurant was awe-inspiring. Every guest gets to meet the chefs for the night and meet the owner/chef of the whole establishment. A real treat. The food was masterful; absolute works of art. I was in awe of every dish. I went with my husband and some friends and we were amazed with every new plate that came out. I didn't want the night to end. The experience was over two hours and it was fun to dress up. I count my stars that I had the chance to experience this place. Thank you, stars. read more

It was an absolutely unforgettable experience. Every single dish was incredible, and the tasting menu was rich, diverse, and full of surprising flavors. We also had a gentleman around his fifties who guided us through the wine pairings his knowledge was impressive, and the stories he shared made the evening even more special. Everything was exceptional from start to finish. It's a place where beauty, creativity, and taste come together in the best possible way. read more

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"5-". Very Creative Innovative American Temporary. Unique 'Futuristic' Design Building. Very Delicious Savory 1st Seven Cuisines. Great Services. read more

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We ordered from here during the pandemic and my family and I were very closely knit. They packaged the food with care. I never had such delicious fried chicken with caviar!!!! Thank you to my lil brother LS for introducing me to this spot. The architecture was indescribable and I loved staring at it. read more

Pictures won't do the meal justice. Service was excellent and so was the atmosphere. Do brunch the morning after you have dinner, at the sister restaurant Destroy to round out the experience. read more

I thought I knew fine dining. I thought I saw it all. Enter Vespertine. My lady and I started our night at our 8:30 pm reservation. Just arriving at the restaurant makes you realize that you're in for a true experience. The Waffle Building (that's what it's actually called) stands out amongst other art-centric, concrete-clad buildings like a flower on pavement. The garden outside transports you away from the hustle and bustle of the city, just mere meters away. The music choice was different from other fine dining restaurants; rather than blaring pop music or even classical music, Vespertine opted for... sounds. Music that was composed of tones and sounds of nature meaning to convey emotion, especially as you move throughout your dining experience. The hostess guided us to an elevator to the top floor, where we got a view of the kitchen. Everyone was working silently and diligently, like fine-tuned machines. After briefly describing the view from the top floor, the hostess guided us to the mezzanine, where our culinary journey started. Every staff member that came to our table brought elegant, proper mannerism. Throughout the course, they were attentive to the supplies needed for the next course: paired drink, then Cutlery, then the presented food. Each course consists of food with a story. There's rationale behind every ingredient included. Chef really outdid himself, bringing his adventures around the world back home to LA and translating it into an edible tale to tell. Each course was meticulously crafted, with so much thought put into each step of the process. One thing that I haven't done in a restaurant was to get up and go to a different table downstairs, where we had our transitional courses and desserts. The ambiance pairs beautifully with the food. The bathroom was interesting; instead of your traditional soap, you grabbed a bit of powder from a bowl then rub it on your hands like soap. Never did that before. The overall price for the experience was steep, but I'd say it was well worth it. I think Vespertine did gastronomy very well. I'd come back again for any major celebrations. Kudos to all the staff for the VIP treatment! TL;DR - DAMN! read more

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Never had a chance to try Vespertine before the pandemic, and then it unexpectedly shut down without warning to the point that we all thought it was never coming back. Then..it surprisingly came back! Had to nab a rare reservation immediately. I will start with the ambience, since it is major part of what Vespertine offers. The thing about Vespertine is that it's a fully immersive dining experience. Vespertine still remains at the Waffle building, which fits in with Jordan Kahn's futuristic theme. They take you up to the third floor, which has the kitchen. Then they walk you down to the main dining room on the second floor. Each dish is supported by an accompanying soundtrack. All of the staff wear the same minimalistic, black uniforms. The tables are minimalistic too, but are surprisingly comfortable. Lighting is perfect, especially for pictures. Dessert is on the first floor, which is probably the most conventional part of the restaurant. The one thing I can say for certain is that this is like no restaurant that I have ever been at before. The food is obviously the main reason why we are all here. But it is just one aspect (albeit the main one) of the overall experience. The $395 tasting menu is a 12 course meal, with potential (and very pricey) add-ons should you elect to go that route. Every dish is expertly crafted and has a story behind it. No question that there was immaculate attention to detail behind the preparation of each dish. Spring and Obsidian Mirror stand out the most in terms of that creativity. As far as the food itself, I thought all of it was above average. The dishes that stood out to me were the Obsidian Mirror as it hid smoked mussels and plum under it, Coturnix Quail as it was the most well-cooked quail I have ever had, and the Pine-Fed Lamb, which honestly tasted more like steak than lamb. My only gripe? These portions were WAY too small even for a tasting menu. I have been to my fair share of fine dining restaurants and I don't expect huge portions from a tasting menu, but even for me this was surprisingly small. Could have also used a few more courses I thought. Service, as you would expect, is impeccable here. They have a small army of staff on hand to make sure your dining experience goes as planned. Each dish has its own set of unique utensils. As stated before, they tell a story for every dish to contribute to the overall experience. What I wasn't keen on was them suggesting certain wines without telling us how much each glass was since they don't have a printed wine menu. Maybe I should have asked about that and I'll put that on me, but it did leave a bit of a sour taste in my mouth when two glasses of wine came out to $125 and $75, respectively. If I had known that was going to be the cost, I would have probably opted for one of the add-ons. There is a parking lot, but I read about the $20 charge despite the parking lot having no valet so I skipped it. Besides, there is plenty of easy street parking here anyways. Overall, I can't say that I left Vespertine blown away. I get the whole immersive dining experience, but the $395 price point is higher than all of the three star Michelin restaurants I have been to in the U.S. thus far. And the food at those restaurants was unquestionably better than that of Vespertine. If the menu had been closer to $300, I would probably have been less aggrieved. As it stands, I still think Vespertine is good value to recapture its missing two Michelin stars, but I would be surprised if they were bestowed three Michelin stars. read more

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By far an experience you will never forget. Every dish was amazing. The staff was so kind too. Walking in the music and ambiance is so inviting. The food is delectable. Each dish takes you on a trip of the chefs vision. I will definitely come back. read more

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Wow where to begin. Was super excited to find out this restaurant was elevated to 2 stars recently. Very unique building all for the restaurant. 3 stories tall with the kitchen on top, main dining in the middle, and dessert dining on the bottom. They took us to the top to see the kitchen before taking us to the 2nd floor to the main dining room which I thought was a lounge at first. I felt all the seats were a bit too close to each other. I could hear the neighboring parties pretty clearly. The background music they were playing was also way too loud. The meal. First of all, everything was beautiful. But every dish except for the quail dish was just lacking. From average to just plain bad, the whole experience went from excitement to anger to disappointment very quickly. Even the main meat course, the lamb, was very tough. The foam sauce they added did nothing to the dish. Why was only 2 small pieces of lamb given? They were "kind" enough to give us all an extra quail course which turned out to be the only good meal of the whole dinner. There's this uni course that they have where they add some kind of sherry to the dish. I do not recommend it at all. Completely overpowers the uni. It seemed like every other diner enjoyed their meal. Not sure if they their standards are just low or my date and i's are just too high. With this experience, I don't know how Michelin gave them 2 stars let alone 1. read more

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Had the pleasure of dining here with my boyfriend and his parents, and it ended up being one of the most memorable meals I've ever had. From the moment we arrived, everything felt intentional and elegant. The building itself --designed by Eric Owen Moss--is this striking, futuristic structure made of oxidized steel. Valet parking was available for $25, which was super convenient. Once inside, everything from the lighting to the pacing of the evening felt curated and artistic. The tasting menu is $395 per person, and it really is more of an art experience than a traditional dinner. Each dish was beautifully presented, and the servers explained everything in detail--where the ingredients came from, how it was prepared, and the meaning behind it. Each course was beautifully presented, not just in flavor but in presentation and storytelling. I would've loved to take photos, but considering I was trying to make a good impression with my boyfriend's parents (first time meeting them - no pressure right?), I figured I'd keep the phone tucked away haha. No regrets though, the experience spoke for itself. Some of my favorite dishes were the Coturnix Quail, which was beautifully glazed and smoked. It was rich, tender, and full of flavor. Deep Ocean also stood out, served in a block of ice with sweet prawn, gooseberry, and nectarine vinaigrette. It was refreshing, fragrant, and so well balanced. But the dish that really stole the show for me was the Obsidian Mirror. It was bold and savory, with layers of smoked mussel cream and salted plum hidden beneath a glossy black gel. They give you a mussel shell to eat it with which was such a cool and unexpected touch. Not every dish was something I'd crave again, but the entire experience was so thoughtfully constructed and immersive that I appreciated every moment. If you're someone who loves experimental food, this is definitely a bucket list place. I just feel very lucky I got to experience it, especially with such meaningful company. read more

I'm no stranger to fine dining, been to many Michelin stars restaurants around the world. I can honestly say I had the top 3 meals of my life here. My bf and I made a reservation just hours before on a Saturday in June just to go out on a whim. It's surprising relatively easy to get reservations considering this used to be a 2 Michelin star restaurant! (Update: As I am writing this, the Michelin Guide just awarded Vespertine 2 stars again so reservations may be difficult now). I honestly had low expectations and thought the food would taste mediocre given how provocative they looked. I thought maybe they focused on shock factor of the presentation and less on the taste! The futuristic, minimalist decor with the spaceship-like building gave "removed from reality rich asshole collecting expensive shitty modern art" vibes. It felt like I walked into a satirical scene from Beef where Ali Wong visits billionaire Jordan Forster in her mansion or that scene in Always Be My Maybe where Ali dines at the BS contemporary restaurant with Keanu Reeves. The waiters walking around in plain tunics paired with the weird new age spa music also reminded me of the Sparrows, the religious cult from the Game of Thrones. Everything about the decor and ambience of the place was just major *eye roll*, ridiculous, and over the top. I was fully prepared to come out making fun of the experience just for a good story. When the food came out though, I quickly realized how wrong I was! The food here tasted as amazing as it looked! My favorite dish by far was the "Spring" dish. It was a bowl of salad and cold soup in one and is literally made up with over a hundred pieces of fresh herbs and flowers that are meticulously plated! It was the freshest, most delicious salad ever and oh so beautiful! It probably took them 15 minutes to arrange these flowers with tweezers! If precious jewels were edible, I would imagine it would taste like this. The amount of care and attention put into the plating AND taste of every dish was just mind blowing. The deep sea shrimp course was served on a hollowed out ice block for a bowl! I also opted for the non-alcoholic pairing. I was thoroughly impressed by how crisp and interesting each juice/tonic/tincture tasted. I would say the pairing rivals or is even better than the NA one made by the Alinea group's Aviary in Chicago. My favorites were the juice from redwood saplings and the birch water! The ingredients are so exotic! I felt like I was drinking magic elixirs and potions that were formulated for the gods. Again, one would not expect the weird ingredients to taste good in the drinks but the chef somehow figures out the perfect balance and incorporates the flavors flawlessly. Jordan Kahn is so immensely talented! We toured the kitchen before the meal and Jordan greeted us, but I did not realize he was the head chef. Now I regret not talking to him after trying his food! This man is a culinary genius! Some things I did not like though that could be improved: --The $100 upgraded dessert with the auction grade Japanese sea urchin with the aged sherry was HELLA not worth it. It sounded super cool, sea urchin in a dessert? This was a flop, unfortunately. Nope, sorry, Jordan, you did not pull a seafood dessert off. They also substitute out the regular dessert instead of just adding on the supplement. I had to ask for the regular dessert to also be served. That dessert was an elevated birch water ice. It was so refreshing!! I'm glad I got to try it as well instead of having it swapped out. Be warned if you don't ask for it when you get an upgrade, they won't automatically offer. They should! --The booth seats were the hardest most uncomfortable seats I've ever sat in. I think they selected it to keep the minimalist decor--at the expense of the patrons' backs! It was so hard and cheap feeling, even worse than an inner city public bus seat, super not classy for such an elevated restaurant! I had to ask for a pillow for lumbar support and I'm glad they had one. The pillow needs to be offered to all guests without them asking. --The hand towels they gave to clean up our hands between one of the courses smelled musty like mildew. Again, wtf? Not classy for such an establishment. --The baking soda (I think that's what it is??) they offer as hand soap in the bathroom irritated my skin! Please, cut out the minimalistic, new age theme here, and just provide regular soap! Despite these minor complaints, I still whole heartedly recommend Vespertine. My bf and I loved it so much, we promptly tried out Destroyer and Meteora and love those restaurants, too! Vespertine is quite expensive. You will be out $500 a person on just food. If you're looking for something more affordable, Meteora, the chef's other restaurant, which was awarded 1 Michelin star this year as well, is almost as good at less than half the price. Meteora is like grade A at $200 a person, where as Vespertine is 20% better with grade A++ or S. read more

The dining experience started by touring the kitchen on third floor, moved to second floor for starting and main courses and finished on the first floor transiting to landing sweets. I selected half alcohol half non alcohol beverage pairing, that was a perfect match to the light and refreshing dishes, specially the non alcohol beverage selection, beautiful color and taste that complement food was a success that I would rate the best in LA. Each dish was presented with clear and comprehensive explanation by the staff. There is strong Mexican influence in both the ingredients and flavor in culturally and spiritually interpretation. Chef wants to take me to the places he witnessed through the presentation, taste and perception; and he succeeded with me. Not gonna describe each dish to you as your reception would be different from mine. What I can summarize is from the sexy curvy building deigned by Eric Owen Moss, the tour, the service, the ambient soothing sound and the food combine to an experience I enjoy tremendously. It's one of the few restaurants I would visit repeatedly. read more

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Superb experience and everything you can expect from a 2-star restaurant. Vespertine is different than the other Michelin star restaurants in LA. It has a different "Zen" like vibe accented by the decor, the ambiance, the music. Service was exceptional by the team we met (kiefer, Anastasia, Camile) and the food was outstanding. The level of skill needed to produce these kind of dishes, both look wise and flavor is very high so big kudos to the Chef Jordan and his awesome crew. read more

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After trying the interesting dishes at Destroyer (love!) and Meteora (meh) as well as Vespertine's to go menu during the pandemic, I was super interested in trying out this 2 Michelin star restaurant with its specially designed building structure. At $395 (March 2024) for the base tasting menu, this ranks as the most I've ever paid for a meal. Is it worth the price? No. Is it worth the experience? Yes. Service: impeccable as expected, some slight mix ups in what types of utensils we were given at a few points but with this many courses and this many unique utensils, I don't blame them. Also walking up and down stairs (kitchen is on top floor) can't be easy. Ambience: amazing as expected from a building created with this restaurant concept in mind.. you start with a short kitchen view, then walk down to the main dining area, then dessert on the ground floor. Food: some of the dishes were absolutely fantastic both in taste and presentation -- the dish with flowers stuck onto the bowl with almond paste looked and tasted amazing. Really enjoyed the scallop, akamatsu fish, quail, and beef dish, as well as the fried bread. The smoked mussel dish looked cool in all black but it was way too salty, to the point I couldn't finish it. The prawn dish also had a weird aftertaste. I usually love desserts and while I applaud the uniqueness of the dishes, none of them were super delectable on this tasting menu. read more

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After a way too long hiatus, Vespertine is back and as great as ever! While there were some very minor hiccups in the first two weeks of service as the new team finds there way, everyone was pretty amazing both in their hospitality and service. The food was stellar! Gorgeous and absolutely delicious, there wasn't a single miss. Our menu offered quail done three ways and that was our highlight. One thing that was new, was a valet parking charge at a lofty $20. Lofty because the lot was completely empty, save for the 10 tables of diners. Just be aware. We were so excited to have the opportunity to dine at Vespertine again and already look forward to a return visit! read more

Wow just wow, simply flawless experience. The entire meal is a work of art. Each dish is carefully curated to evoke some experience or inspiration. Each dish absolutely blew me away. The building which the restaurant occupies is super cool, the whole compound it resides in was designed by some architect giving it a really unique feel. The way the chef set up this restaurant is an experience in itself. The meal was 12 courses. 8 savory 4 dessert. You have options to purchase drink pairings with the meal. A must. One option is all alcoholic drinks, 2nd a mix, 3rd various juices. Each detail is thought of here. From different utensils to accompany each dish, to the details in each dish. A flawless experience. The staff is flawless as well. Experts in guiding the experience. I wont go into the breakdown of each dish because they must be experienced in person. The careful selection of ingredients in each dish is truly masterful. The same sentiment applies to the pairings. Very pricey however but worth it. It was truly like experience art through food. 10/10 experience. read more

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A really incredible experience. Beyond top notch service. Every bite was creative and perfect and well thought out. A once in a lifetime dining experience that felt interactive and immersive. Mind-blowing. You'll love it and never forget the experience. read more

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If you are reading this review to decide whether to go here for dinner and a bite to eat you probably should not go... you probably won't get it, won't actually thoroughly enjoy it, can't afford it and certainly wouldn't see the value in it... If you know you want to go, and are just wasting time on yelp, I can promise you that it will be the kind of unique culinary journey all gourmands crave... Hopefully you'll track down Paul one of the many extraordinary service professionals and have a little chat with him... he's the best "waiter" I've ever had to pleasure of meeting. read more

We did the basic service for Vespertine as part of my sister's birthday! The ambiance was by far the best part of the experience. Really nice and thoughtful environments, and honest servers and staff. The food was the most shocking part. It was mostly hippy food like flowers in a bowl, not like actual food (e.g. steaks, salads, etc.). It did not taste good at all, and everybody in my party agrees that we will never go back. Egregious price. read more

I could not have been more skeptical entering this restaurant' and expecting style over content. Boy, was I in for a surprise. Every single dish was so beautiful, visually sumptuous and each had a story build on high-quality and highly original ingredients. Every bite was epic. A feast for the senses. Service as impeccable. This is a must for a special occasion or an indulgent night out. A celebration of creativity. read more

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This is truly a 5 star restaurant with 2 Michelin stars. It's an experience beyond food, service and ambiance. Creative and a different level than I've experienced .Food served is sourced from all the world and creatively served. Relax and savor and wonder what the next experience awaits you. You might enjoy some dishes better than others because of your preferences but you will experience different flavors. The restaurant is expensive but it's an experience beyond food that you will remember. read more