The Tasting Kitchen is an eclectic mix of food, atmosphere and clientele, capturing the heart & soul of New American dining. The dimly lit dining room is the ultimate in intimate upscale dining while remaining a place you would be comfortable finishing a bottle of wine with friends until closing time. The menu changes daily and exemplifies our scratch kitchen philosophy, with pastas made by hand daily, meats cured in-house, produce from the local farmers' market, and everything made and sold the same day. We offer handcrafted neo-classical food, epic design and atmosphere, and service that is both guide and companion throughout the experience. Come, ask questions, and enjoy
"Whether its because the chef is spread too thin from other projects, or if they've just decided to rest on their laurels, The Tasting Kitchen is not as good as it used to be. That doesn't mean its not good, but the greatness that was here has worn off a bit. We had the 5 course tasting menu, and everything was prepared well. I just remember a time when I was wowed by every dish. Not anymore."
Dined on 5/14/2013
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, romantic, hot spot, special occasion
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"I've been coming here regularly for the past year. It's the perfect date spot because it's charming, hip, and the food rustic yet perfectly executed. While their small plates and pastas are generally excellent, there main plates are very underwhelming and a bit overpriced. Try to avoid the hangar steak, which is tough, and boring. The branzino is a staple, but after having it once, I never felt compelled to retry. If you're going, order some charcuterie, and a couple small plates, then split a pasta. Or get two pastas to bring a snack home. Their menu does change regularly, so don't miss seasonal items. And their cocktails are the very best in la. They also have my favorite brunch menu, try the braised short rib hash."
Dined on 5/14/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, vibrant bar scene, great for brunch, notable wine list, romantic, neighborhood gem, hot spot, special occasion
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"The food was better than expected. Every dish was unique and well presented. The wait staff was superb and very helpful navigating our guests through the menu. One of our party cannot tolerate alcohol and every dessert had some type of liquor in it. The kitchen sent her a lovely trio of gelato gratis. Very classy. Tasting Kitchen is the best of Abbot Kinney."
Dined on 5/13/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, hot spot
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"I have to say that if I'm going to Abbot Kinney for brunch I am usually heading to Gjelina, but my brother and his girlfriend were in town and we decided to finally try out The Tasting Kitchen. Luckily we made a reservation for 11 a.m. so that they were still able to make their 3:55 p.m. flight. Yes, you read that correctly.
We arrived right on time and were seated immediately. Within the next ten minutes we had ordered drinks and coffee, and by 11:15 a.m. we had ordered a sausage-stuffed waffle for the table and four entrees. And then we sat. The waffle arrived at 11:45 a.m. and was devoured in minutes as by then we were all verging on starving. Our entrees didn't arrive until 12:15 p.m. Yup, an ENTIRE HOUR after we had ordered. While t"
Dined on 04/28/2013
2005
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"Dinner was just okay here. The small dishes were delicious but the entree pasta dishes were not impressive. I prefer to go here for brunch only. The service seems a lot more attentive during brunch and the entire brunch menu is delicious."
Dined on 04/17/2013
2007
Special Features: great for brunch, neighborhood gem, special occasion, hot spot
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"Visited based on a friend's recommendation for my wife's Birthday. The entire staff was very friendly and the food far and beyond our expectations. My wife commented that it was the best Halibut dish she had ever had. The specialty cocktails are a must have as well."
Dined on 04/13/2013
2008
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, special occasion, hot spot
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"Food and drinks surpassed my expectations. Excellent service and amazing vibe in this place! Was also obsessed with the chairs, which were gorgeous and comfy."
Dined on 04/06/2013
2011
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, great for brunch, neighborhood gem
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"The best food and the worst service! This was my second time there. Each course was terrific, nicely plated and an interesting blend of flavors. But the service was really awful...long waits at strange times, couldn't find the wine we ordered and took forever to come back and tell us, double charged us on an order, very little coordination with drinks. Sad. People are still flocking here, but they need serious work."
Dined on 04/07/2013
2007
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, hot spot
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"The name says it all - Tasting Kitchen. If you're looking to spend $50-$100 and leave hungry, then this is the place for you. We ordered two pasta dishes, spent over $50 and had to eat when we got home. Tiny-tiny portions. We nearly burst out laughing when the waiter served the meals. Terrible experience except for the funny story. Would never go back.
Walk 100' south and go to Lemomade. You'll get twice as much food for 1/3 of the price. Lemomade's food even tastes better then Tasting Kitchen and you can see all your meals and even sample before you choose."
Dined on 03/31/2013
2010
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"Ambiance was nice and cozy. We were upstairs so it was a little quieter than the downstairs. Decor is a nice combo of simple, casual, dark varnished wood tables and bar, and touches of steam punk here and there...chandelier encased in a metal sphere. Hostess was VERY sweet and welcoming, may have been the assistant GM. Food was very tasty. Bread was yummy. Gnocco fritto w Salumi & burrata were delicious. I could have done without the gnocco fritto (fried puffed dough) my friend liked it though. Leg of lamb was my fav. The corzetti pasta w braised pork was tasty. Didn't care for the rigatoni noodles in the rigatoni lamb/anchovy pasta. Chicories salad was great! Drinks were great too! Nicely made cocktails like Varnish or 1886."
Dined on 03/26/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, notable wine list
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"I have to say that my experience at The Tasting Kitchen was less than ideal. We were seated adjacent to the back door and there was an uncomfortable burst of wind that swept past our table each time the door was left open. Our table was also located adjacent to the bar area and the music that permeated the entire restaurant was extremely loud and irritating. Our waitress seemed to have little regard for our complaints regarding the above. The food was very meat-centric and not as inspired as I had expected based on recommendations. Can't say I would rush back, when Gjelina is one block away and if I have to put up with mindnumbing noise, the food at Gjelina and friendly staff makes up for the noise and space limitations."
Dined on 03/23/2013
2012
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"Over the top in every way that counts! Food was spectacular, service was spot-on even at the peak of business, and the cocktails were very well crafted!
Add this place to your "bucket list""
Dined on 03/22/2013
2009
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, hot spot
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"WE had the Chef's Choice - 3 courses. It was delicious, and enough food. I do not know what we would have done with the 5 courses. Service was a little slow, and the maitre d returned to apologize twice. Plan ahead because reservations are hard to come by. We had a 9:45PM reservation, but got hungry so we sat at the community table. With friends, it would work, but with family, it was a little inconvenient. BUT all tha said, the food was unbelievably original and good."
Dined on 03/19/2013
2005
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem
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"NOT HEALTHY,,,,but very tasty. Dont go there looking to get a salad w Vegan Dressing. These are more traditional french fusion dishes. Ive only eaten brunch there."
Dined on 03/16/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem
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"I have no idea why anyone would rave about this restaurant. If you don't know enough to request the main room, they will seat you above the bar and blast the music so loud and with so much bass that you cannot have a conversation without screaming (or vibrating). The chef dictates how your meat will be cooked and refuses to cook the temperature requested. The food was so overly salted that I could not tell you whether the rest of it was any good or what it was. The experience was miserable, the food an accessory to the salt and the staff pretentious. If you are insecure with something to prove by eating somewhere so trendy that the staff acts as though they are doing you a favor by allowing you to be there,then this is the place for you."
Dined on 02/28/2013
2005
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"Interesting menu. Tasty dishes. Some Very salty. VERY NOISY- couldn't hear person across the table from me. Wine list very pricey. Service diffident. Had asked waiter about less salty options, not responsive."
Dined on 02/25/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies
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"The service was very attentive. The food was local, fresh, and perfectly prepared. The variety of music kept you realizing that someone actually cares about music. Whether you tried the chicken wings, the local spotted shrimp from Santa Barbara and fresh bib lettuce to the server, it was all very, very good."
Dined on 02/24/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion, hot spot
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"While the food was great, but not spectacular, a very rude waitress with more attitude than any one person should have really ruined the experience. It's noisy too, which can be fun on occasion, but it made conversation next to impossible."
Dined on 02/13/2013
2009
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"the kitchen was a little backed up, but the manager took amazing care of us. i love this place. the bloody mary's are to die for. Everything on the menu is good. go hungry!"
Dined on 02/17/2013
2004
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for brunch, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"Took an old friend who was visiting from out of town. It was very nice. Having been there before, and loved it, I thought this would be a nice encore to show an out-of-towner. Unfortunately, we both ordered pastas - and they were good, just not great. Too much sauce on both. We ate them, so we did like them, but prefer a more balanced menu with much less sauce that covers the true flavor of the meal. I will come back. Our table position was perfect. At first they were going to sit us near a table with children. We objected. The hostess was able to find us a wonderful other option. I love the serve staff. So one meal that was not A+ will not deter me from returning."
Dined on 02/11/2013
2005
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"FANTASTIC meal at Tasting Kitchen. We actually dined next to a major celebrity chef, and unabashedly modeled our menu for the evening on what he and his party were eating. ;)"
Dined on 01/28/2013
2005
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, hot spot
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"We have been having NYE dinner at the Tasting Kitchen for years. It is usually amazing. It was only ok this year. The appetizers were a let down and the dessert was so over the top it was practically inedible. The only thing that was noteworthy was the main course, which saved the day."
Dined on 12/31/2012
2010
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"This was my second time to the tasting kitchen. I live in northern Cal and I was coming down to LA and made a reservation and really talked it up to my family. My initial visit had been amazing.
I have to say I flat out did NOT like the food last night. It was OK at very best. I was really disappointed and will not be coming back. I was embarrassed I talked it up so much.
It's worth going to check out the trendy want to be LA types attempt a place you would likely see in SF but it tastes like it's in LA and we all now that's no where near the caliber of SF. LA has a good 50 years of catch up to do in the dining scene but it's coming along."
Dined on 01/25/2013
2008
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, good for groups, neighborhood gem, hot spot
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"The service was sub par. They forgot our main courses -- put dessert menu down before mains were served. Also, we ordered Branzino that was de-boned, but every bite had bones."
Dined on 01/24/2013
2005
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"Full of energy in Venice on Abbott Kinney - one of the greatest streets to walk around, enjoy the bar and restaurant and art scene. Its a true neighborhood gem. We had 7pm reservations and within an hour the place was hopping and completely full, with all tables filled with lively conversation. Food is excellent, drinks are refreshing. We'll definitely go back again and again."
Dined on 01/18/2013
2005
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, hot spot
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