The Tasting KitchenAnother ttk nightI'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.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMTasting Kitchen rocks again!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.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMIt's a bit too loud, but theIt's a bit too loud, but the food makes up for it.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was excellent, serviceThe food was excellent, service superb. Sommelier was extremely helpful and generous.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMCan't wait to go back!An outstanding anniversary dinner last week at the Tasting Kitchen! Greeted with champagne and the 5-course tasting menu took it from there, divine!4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything wonderful but theEverything wonderful but the noise level. I think having loud music and patrons just misses the mark for making a 5 star experience.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMHad a wonderful dinner andHad a wonderful dinner and drinks. Great interior with a really fun atmosphere! Highly recommend this place for dinner!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMVisited based on a friend'sVisited 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.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMFood and drinks surpassedFood and drinks surpassed my expectations. Excellent service and amazing vibe in this place! Was also obsessed with the chairs, which were gorgeous and comfy.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing food, ambiance, andAmazing food, ambiance, and service! Very creative menue.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMFood from heaven, wait staffFood from heaven, wait staff were angels with the exception of our waiter who had a tiny bit of an attitude....3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious mealAmbiance 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 1886.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat!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"3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMWE had the Chef's Choice -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.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AM