Insider Pages Reviews for Taste on Melrose

5 Stars: I LOVE TASTE (by Miss Elizabeth)

Miss Elizabeth — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Love the atmosphere, trendy, inexpensive ( for the area). Very friendly staff.

5 Stars: Great food, great ambiance (by Therese N.)

Therese N. — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 23:56:00 GMT

I highly recommend Taste on Melrose. Dined there several times and absolutely loved their truffle oil and mushroom mac and cheese as well as their wild mushroom risotto. Definitely plan on going back to try more of their menu items!

4 Stars: Taste on Melrose - a Great Neighborhood Restaurant (by Stewart P.)

Stewart P. — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:18:00 GMT

Taste on Melrose is a great neighborhood restaurant. It's friendly and relaxed, yet still has an elegant feel about it and the staff are exceptional.

Taste is situated in the heart of the trendy and sophisticated stretch of Melrose - at 8454 Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood. They have a moderately priced wine list and they've recently obtained a full bar license.

For starters I always recommend one of their Pizzettas. My favorite is the pear & caramelized onion pizzetta with walnuts, gorgonzola and arugula.

For the main course you definitely should try the braised short ribs in a red wine reduction, with gremolta, onions, carrots and a delicious papardelle pasta. Another great dish is the grilled wild alaskan salmon with dill fingerling potato salad, cucumber slaw & lemon-yogurt sauce.

For dessert I recommend the chocolate brioche bread pudding with creme anglaise and creamy vanilla gelato or the black berry cobler, served with vanilla cream.

2 Stars: Mediocre at Best (by dch122)

dch122 — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:00:00 GMT

I went here for brunch and the portions were extremely bland and small. We waited for 10 mins as waiters and waitresses passed by our table without acknowledging us and we had to literally stop one of them to say we were ready to order. I got a breakfast burrito and basically the eggs had the consistency of a sponge and had absolutely no taste. I am not sure how this place got such a high rating.

5 Stars: Great place in LA (by MarcusG)

MarcusG — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Great restaurant in the heart of Los angeles, Testing Facebook connect with this review, is going to be deleted just testing lorem ipsum lorem ipsum are this already about 200 characters?

3 Stars: Example: great place for good bread (by Poeticalmath)

Poeticalmath — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 02:00:00 GMT

I didnt know what to get, so i kept it simple and safe with a burger and some fries. i was pleased and felt really good about spending my money on it. The place was really jumping, but it made me want to stay longer like I would actually miss something, lol...........

4 Stars: Nice Sunday Brunch (by escalera23)

escalera23 — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 02:00:00 GMT

The food was great and the potatoes and french toast were amazing. It was a bit noisy at times, but overall, I had a great dinning experience here.

1 Stars: DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY! (by epicurist)

epicurist — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 02:00:00 GMT

We have frequented here a hand full of times. Albeit the food is overpriced for nothing special and the service average, the pleasant atmosphere used to be enough to offset the unpleasantries. However the last time we went there was literally our last time. We were seated close to 45 minutes beyond our reservation time and no we did not arrive late. As a matter of fact we arrived 10 minutes early. The hostess was extremely standoffish and snooty. When we were finally seated the waitress did not take our order for another 20 minutes. We had to hail down the bus boy numerous times to get service. Our food arrived cold and bland. We were so unhappy with the food and service we asked for the check early but didn't get the check for another 20 minutes. Save the time, money and aggravation, go somewhere else!! We will never come back again!

4 Stars: Tasty, mellow brunch (by Peedler)

Peedler — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:00:00 GMT

I came here for brunch on a Saturday. Started off with a couple of very nice pomegranate bellini's. Next, a bowl of fruit. Very nicely cut, but a bowl of fruit for $6 is a bit steep. Oh well, another sip of the bellini's smoothed over any worries about paying $6 for some fruit. Next, the Crab Cakes Benedict and the Mushroom Lasagna. Both were quite good, though the crab cakes were a more special than the lasagna. Our server was very nice, the food came quickly, and the over mood was nice and relaxed. Nice way to spend a lazy Saturday!

1 Stars: Rudest host & hostess I've ever encounted in a dining experience (by jadeelectric)

jadeelectric — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT

I passed Taste a few months back on my way to Lucques and thought this place looked cozy and cute. So I made a reservation for my best friend and I to try it out that weekend. A lot of disappointment was in store! Unfortunately, we arrived 20 minutes past our reservation, and once we arrived the hostess informed us they gave our table away. That was expected, since we were afterall late. So we agreed to wait until the next available table opened up (they told us the wait would be about 30 min.). We were the only ones waiting at the time. About 25 minutes of waiting, we noticed more and more people arriving (apparently many people did not make reservations that night). My girlfriend and I sat back and watched every last person (who came way after us) get seated. Finally, after 45 minutes the host approaches us and the couple next to us and informed us that we would all be seated in a few min. Finally, I thought! The host returned and seated the couple next to us, but not us! We just sat there like idiots waiting, but he never came back for us! So I got up and asked him why weren't we seated, to which he responded "Oh, I thought your table would be opening up but its not available yet." I told him that we had been waiting almost 1 hour and every person that came in was seated except us. He then said, in a rather nasty and condescending tone, "Well you WERE late." WTF? I told him, "you know what, nevermind. I don't think we'll be eating here after all." My girlfriend and I then went to retrieve our car from valet (only good thing about this place-cheap valet and super nice attendants) and here comes the host shouting, "Your table opened up afterall! Do you want to be seated??" I turned to him and shouted "H*ll no". All that punishment for arriving 20 min late! I DO NOT recommend this place! No cust service skills AT ALL.

3 Stars: Taste (by liltamby5)

liltamby5 — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 01:00:00 GMT

This place is definitely overrated. And you're paying for the name/atmosphere. I had the ahi burger and it was not great at all

5 Stars: Great (by jerrymcgwire)

jerrymcgwire — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:00:00 GMT

How did i not know about this place? This place is great.. The people are cool and the food is delicious

1 Stars: Mediocre at best. Nothing special. Lots of other great places in L.A. (by lovetoeatinla)

lovetoeatinla — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 01:00:00 GMT

At best, this place is mediocre. I had the kobe beef burger. It came with caramelized onions, which I don't care for (I think they overshadow most things). I asked for raw onions instead and the waiter seemed annoyed, as if these caramelized onions were something a) special and b) were really going to make this meal. It also came with fancy mayo and I prefer mustard. Since I'd never had kobe beef, I wanted to taste it rather than the condiments. Again, the waiter seemed annoyed. Except I eat out often and I'm used to waiters being annoyed. I don't care. When you're paying nearly $20 for a burger, I damn well want it how I want it. There was nothing special about my burger except that it was nearly raw despite asking for it to be cooked medium rare. The environment was nice enough, typical LA-cafe, but nothing special. Overall, I'd never make a point of going back.

3 Stars: Very average (by billygoat342342)

billygoat342342 — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Went here with some friends and tried many things... the ONLY thing I was impressed with was the truffle mac and cheese. The burger we got was burned on one side and undercooked everywhere else. The drink barely had any alcohol. Not too impressive.

5 Stars: Taste is in a catagory of its own! (by HungrynLA)

HungrynLA — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 02:00:00 GMT

So, I do not ordinarily write or respond to food critiques. However, after reading the last review of Taste I feel compelled to say something! I LOVE Taste. The menu has influences from across the globe. I bring my family, friends, and business colleagues there to satisfy their every craving. Whether it be Indian, Chinese, Italian, French, Californian, Creole, Comfort... you cant go wrong its there!

The ambiance inside of Taste is very intimate and welcoming. NEVER have I seen any creepy crawlers and or any disgruntled employees. The service is great. The staff seems to remember faces very well. It took my wife and I only two times for us to be greeted like family. Taste is a "regulars place." I see a lot of the same faces. I even see other patrons talking to people seated at tables next them about their food! Taste is the kind of place that you know everyone there appreciates you. As I am sure you know, that is very hard to come by in this city!

For those of you wanting a great dinner with very friendly and personal service without having to sell your Land Rover... go there, you wont be sorry!

And oh yeah try the pork chop or chicken masala!

1 Stars: Average food/Terrible service (by nologica)

nologica — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I have eaten here twice and I find the food to be okay, not great, but nothing to write home about. What bothers me more about this place is the dismal lack of customer service. I was seated on the front patio when several termites fell from the overhang and into my food and coffee. When I pointed this out to the waiter, he quickly referred me to the hostess/manager and guess what? She moved us to another table, no apologies, no embarassment, no kidding! She even seemed annoyed that I wanted to replace my coffee. It's a good thing I was finished with my food. Needless to say, I am clearly baffled why this restaurant is still open...

4 Stars: Great brunch! (by diamamamia)

diamamamia — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I used to eat out, A LOT. For a month I tried almost every West Hollywood restaurant for their brunch. This one had a great menu, super-friendly and helpful waiter, and a great deal on their carafe mimosas (wink, wink). Tight, cozy atmosphere and my entire party enjoyed their dish. Fun place with celebrity sightings and great for people watching. We had the breakfast panini and breakfast burrito. Personally, I liked the burrito better.

5 Stars: Best breakfast panini I've ever had (by RockerRick)

RockerRick — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:00:00 GMT

The breakfast panini is the BEST breakfast sandwich I've ever had... sun dried tomatos, egg, bacon, GOAT CHEESE, and avacado! I think it was for about $10. Seriously. Amazing.

4 Stars: Risotto Lover! (by Strawberypowder)

Strawberypowder — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 02:00:00 GMT

The website's menu has not been updated in a long time. I was looking forward to the Wild Mushroom Filet on Lemon Risotto dish but the waiter informed me that that hadn't been served in a while and was off the menu. I was disappointed by that. However, I ordered the Summer Risotto (with choice of chicken or shrimp) and to my delight found that it was delicious!!! I've been on a mission to find the best Risotto in town and although not the BEST, still very good. It was a little salty, but buttery and savory enough to make me want to come back for more! The service was excellent, staff friendly, casual yet trendy atmosphere.

3 Stars: Good food, horrible customer service (by MD772)

MD772 — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 02:00:00 GMT

My friend and I went there to celebrate our birthdays for brunch. We arrived a few minutes before the restaurant opened so we sat on the bench directly outside the restaurant. Unfortunately they had sprayed wood cleaner (an oil based one) all over the bench earlier and had neglected to wipe it. So it was all over our purses and dresses. When we got up to tell them, they said "oh we must have forgotten to clean it." We still went in and ate our meal. The food was good although it took about twenty minutes for them to take our order. Not a huge deal since it was a nice day and we were sitting outside. What was a huge deal was the fact that NO ONE came to apologize to us about the fact that we both needed to get our clothes drycleaned and now had stains all over us that we couldn't remove. I would have appreciated the manager saying sorry and of course a small discount should have been offered.

1 Stars: Awful service, mediocre food. (by hermosagal)

hermosagal — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 02:00:00 GMT

This place is overrated. The food is OK - not great. Service is AWFUL! It took 20 minutes to take the order and another 20 to bring it to our table.....no apologies from management. Not even worth a visit....unless you like a restaurant for just its looks. Not worth it at all. Better try one of the MANY other restaurants on Melrose....just keep driving when you see this one.

5 Stars: 1/2 Price wine on Mondays!! (by jfh323)

jfh323 — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

We happened to go to Taste on a Monday - the food was great, and the 1/2 price bottles of our favorite wines was even better! Nice neighborhood spot for dinner & brunch, we love it...

4 Stars: Good Local Spot (by LAreviewsforDATass)

LAreviewsforDATass — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

When I think of this restaurant, the one word that always comes to mind is "consistency." I have had numerous meals here, both dinner and brunch and I would honestly compare their food to the waitresses at Hooters...not mindblowing, but consistently above-par. The truth of the matter is, if you are planning to go to a moderately-priced, hassle-free dinner with 4-6 people, this is an ideal place to go. There is no 6'4" wanna-be actor standing outside with a clipboard asking the name of your reservation, the atmosphere is comfy and cozy with a good West Hollywood crowd, and the food is decent. For dinner, I would reccommend either the chicken paillard which is their signature chicken cutlet served lightly breaded with mashed potatoes and veggies, or their Kobe beef cheeseburger which features a rich filet of Kobe beef between a toasted seasame bun. It is also a a decent brunch place as well with dynamic egg dishes that you wouldn't find at Norm's or IHOP. A solid neighborhood spot definitely worth stopping by.

1 Stars: No Taste (by kim527)

kim527 — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Went for dinner and had been highly recommended by friends. Maybe we went on an off night? Maybe the chef was in a bad mood? Whatever it was, none of our food was very memorable. We ordered with several items including the mac and cheese, crab cakes, kobe beef burger and ravioli. Ended with the cheese plate. All very bland and unoriginal, the crab cakes in particular. They tasted like unseasoned bread crumbs, I barely got any crab flavor at all. All the reviews point to this being a great spot, but we're not likely to return anytime soon with all the other options in the area.

4 Stars: great stuff (by Kristin C.)

Kristin C. — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:53:00 GMT

Taste on Melrose is a fabulous spot. Its small, but its really packing everything in it. The food is good, the rustic vibe is great, and the people are so much fun.

4 Stars: Good local spot (by savvyeater13)

savvyeater13 — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I went here with a friend for dinner and I thought the food at this place was quite good. The menu was well thought out and they have an option of outside or inside seating. Excellent for warm summer nights in WeHo... We went there when it was raining like cats and dogs and even though the outside patio was covered, it was warmest inside. The place is small but very cozy with elegant decor. I do think this place is great for couples and a very small group of friends. The grilled artichoke starter was absolutely something to die for! It was grilled to perfection... I had the fennel seed ahi tuna which was amazing and my friend had the Kobe Beef burger. All delicious! There were two things that bothered me though. One, it took a very long time to get our grilled artichoke (almost like it was forgotten) and so the wait staff brought our food while we were still eating the artichoke! They should have waited until we were finished with the appetizer. It doesn't seem like they have efficient communication between the wait staff and chef. Being that the restaurant was very small so were the tables, there really wasn't any room for the appetizer and main entrees. We in turn, rushed through the appetizer so that our entrees did not get cold and to make room on the table... That was disappointing!! Two, the wait staff did not really check in about the food or if we needed more wine? We always had to ?find? our waiter? We also had the hardest time getting our check! Now, because of the rain, there were hardly any patrons in the restaurant and I honestly do not think this should have been a problem for consistent service. But there was a big problem. I would definitely recommend going there? I just hope they iron out the kinks with the wait staff.

5 Stars: Best pizza anywhere (by jserene)

jserene — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

lazy service or tasty pizza

4 Stars: Cute place, great food, no LA fuss! (by buybarbie)

buybarbie — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I found this place to be a welcomed change from the LA scene, even though it is in the middle of Melrose Ave. Food is great, staff is warm and not LA beautiful, clientele are diverse. It has a relaxed and modern feel without the "nnce-nnce" and club-like scene. Translation- it's ok to take your parents there. You can actually hear each other and have a conversation.

5 Stars: I LOVE IT ALL! (by happygolucky27)

happygolucky27 — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 02:00:00 GMT

The first two times I went there, it was by myself. I live in the neighborhood and I wanted a nice dinner at a low-key but yummy restaurant. God bless my instincts on picking this place out. I was immediately seated(weekday nights around 8) No one looked at me like I was nuts for going in by myself(except for a few other customers) and the service was great. Food is AMAZING! I recommend the grilled romaine and crab cake appetizers and the Tiger shrimp tacos. Everything was cooked to perfection and the flavor combinations were superb. I loved the Chardonnay(the less oaky one.) LOVED the berry cobbler, but the lemon creme brulee was average. One of my waiters, Danny, was a total doll...and mighty cute too:) I took my dad there to celebrate a special occasion and he was equally impressed(though our drink service was a little on the slower side.) I know this might sound tacky, but I have learned to have great food on the cheap(hey, I'm in college) - order an appetizer(8-9 dollars) and dessert(8-9 dollars) and water. The appetizers are plenty for an individual meal. Tip well, and they remember you:) I COULDN'T RECOMMEND THIS PLACE MORE!

5 Stars: Amazing find! (by hiella)

hiella — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 02:00:00 GMT

For some reason I thought that this restaurant was related in some way to Eat on Sunset so I avoided it like the plague. However, once I was corrected by a co-worker, I ventured here and was pleasantly surprised. I love the decor of the restaurant, very polished and trendy and sitting on the outside patio was very nice. The host and server were both very nice and helpful, starting the evening out on a perfect note. The truffle oil and mushroom mac and cheese was amazing and the watermelon salad was so light and very good. My boyfriend's only complaint was his salmon with bok choy needed a tiny bit more flavor. The server recommended we have the chocolate parfait for dessert. We were hesitant fearing that it would be too rich. However, it was light and delicious and I loved the carmelized banana and cream that accompanied it. I loved this restaurant and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a relaxing, yummy meal without the pretense of some other L.A. restaurants.

5 Stars: Awsome spot! (by littlesis3845)

littlesis3845 — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

We went to Taste for the first time on Saturday night and LOVED it!!! The food was AMAZING! I got the pork chop with the mac n cheese. I've never tasted anything like it, I wish I could eat it all the time. Our server was great too. She was very attentive and helpful and funny. The decor was hip and the vibe was relaxing. I'm recommending this place to everyone I know, and a few I don't! I can't wait to go back!!

5 Stars: Amazing (by MVC M.)

MVC M. — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 11:51:00 GMT

All the details of this restaurant are absolutely amazing. The decor is outstanding and the staff is surprisingly courteous! Oh, and the food was wonderful too! The one problem we had (no fault of the restaurants) is that there was a larger party next to us who thought it was a bar and hovered over us in our corner, so that when I was eating, I got an elbow to my back twice! Management saw this problem immediately and quickly rectified the situation, which I thought was outstanding. Most businesses don't have a backbone when it comes to that sort of thing, so I was very impressed. Our waitress was completely courteous, professional and patient as we took our time when ordering/eating. Highly recommend. I can't wait to go back.

5 Stars: A charming, slightly upscale restaurant with great food at fair prices. (by katemcg)

katemcg — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Great for an informal business lunch, a small family dinner or a romantic first date. The restaurant offers outdoor porch seating, or more formal upstairs rooms which are airy and comfortable. The food is always excellent (although they don't have mayonnaise which is a minor disapppointment) and the service ranges from fine to very good. They are friendly and accommodating and the ambience is relaxed and un-trendy/snobbish, which I like. It is one of my favorite places to eat and no one I have taken there disagrees.

5 Stars: had perfect service with a group (by cipher7)

cipher7 — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Had a reservation for 7, and they seated people as they arrived instead of making us all wait. Our server (her name sounded like "Jerko") was awesome and attentive and took very good care of us. We all liked the food ( esp the mac and cheese) and the aptmosphere was nice as well. Overall, a great experience.

3 Stars: Good Food, Poor Service .. (by pbbread)

pbbread — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

If you are looking for good food, yes this is the place, but if service is of importance to you than you should seek another restaurant. The staff is not service oriented AT ALL, and lacks a level of professionalism.

5 Stars: Really Cool Brunch Spot (by tinyriot)

tinyriot — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

This place is amazing all around! Great, vibe, service, location, menu selections, and food! Never made a bad choice ordering.

5 Stars: Great group dining experience (by moonbeam2)

moonbeam2 — Sun, 13 May 2007 02:00:00 GMT

The pork chops and mac & cheese were wonderful. The server ws very attentive and friendly, and the ambience was warm and welcoming. I'd highly recommond this place.

4 Stars: Lovely Place, nice settings and food (by toffeylatte)

toffeylatte — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 02:00:00 GMT

My friend and I had brunch here last month. It was Saturday afternoon and we had to wait in line for the seats, but it didn't take us too long. After we had our seats, we had a ommelet and french toasts individually. The food looked good and tasted better. And the price was quite reasonable. If there is any more can be asked to improve, oh well maybe i'd like to hve more choices in the menu and larger portion of food(hehe....) Anyway I still want to recommend others to go there.

5 Stars: Our new Favorite Hangout! (by thatgreengirl)

thatgreengirl — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 02:00:00 GMT

My husband and I just moved into the neighborhood and decided to check out Taste. We walked in and got a nice table on the patio. We liked the atmosphere, it seemed very chill. We got the mac and cheese- simply amazing! We also got the crabcakes too, a little "too fishy" tasting for me, but my husband like it. I was wowed by the Chicken Curry dish. It was a good portion and that curry sauce is not spicy, but packs a lot of flavor. My husband got the Kobe burger and practically swallowed it whole. I didn't care for the fries too much. They seemed too hard or stale. Our waitress Jerica was really sweet and let us sample a few wines to figure out which one we liked. She made some good recommendations. The downside, they don't have liquor there. Overall, we had a fun time and definitly want to come back and check the rest of the menu.

2 Stars: DON'T GO HUNGRY.. YOU'LL LEAVE STARVING!!! (by jaysplace)

jaysplace — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 02:00:00 GMT

In looking forward to enjoying an evening with a friend in from out of town who I hadn't seen in a while, the evening turned out to be more of a challenge. Instead of the focus being on sharing some quality time with my friend, we were distracted on how unbelieveably horrific the service was. It's amazing how unprofessional and inadequate the entire staff of this restaurant was. By the time we actually did receive our food it was barely warm, which obviously meant it was sitting in the window for a bit. I highly recommend you seek out another location for an evening of dining out.

4 Stars: Food good, Service bad (by texash)

texash — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Went here on a Thursday around noon, had a beautiful seat on the patio, the place was not very crowded at all, and we still sat for about 20 minutes waiting for the check until finally my girlfriend had to go inside to fetch our waitress for it. I had the Taste Club which was really great, a little messy, but great. My girlfriend had the Penne, which could be a little less sun-dried tomatoey, but it was also good. Overall, it was a nice lunch experience - just wish the service was a little more on point...

4 Stars: love the mac and cheese (by pinays)

pinays — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 01:00:00 GMT

my friend and i had dinner here and we enjoyed the mac and cheese (with truffle oil and mushrooms). it was cheesy, creamy and good. we also enjoyed the crab cakes -- not overdone. my friend had the chicken salad, and she had no complaints. i had the pork chop, which i thought was not doing it for me. it was juicy enough but the flavor was not doing it for me. parking was not bad -- if you can find metered parking on melrose. the price was fair -- entrees are under $20. i would probably go back for the mac and cheese.

5 Stars: Great Neighborhood Dining (by wilby120)

wilby120 — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I went to Taste for my 3rd time last night and really enjoyed my meal. A great ambience with very friendly service. The truffle mac and cheese was AMAZING and the salmon was great as well.

Sit on the patio for a cool vibe.

3 Stars: decent lunch spot (by luvtamunch)

luvtamunch — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Had lunch with a friend here a couple of weeks ago. The pizettas were a delight. The crabcakes and calamari were very good as well. My friend had the chicken salad and enjoyed it. I had the alaskan salmon salad... I felt the smoked salmon was way too salty, waaay too salty.... but i did enjoy the pizettas and my wine. The decor was delightful and service was pretty good as well. Will come back for lunch (especially because the prices are soooo reasonable)....hmm.. perhaps I'll come for brunch during the weekends

5 Stars: Cool vibe (by alex1974)

alex1974 — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Got an invite to a T shirt sample sale for NATION Ltd. from Daily Candy the other day but had
no idea it was in this cool, funky restaurant on Melrose. Great idea though! Not only did I get
some trendy new T's for a great price but I had a glass of wine and they were giving out comp
apps during the sale! How cool is that? The intimate space is perfect for small dinner parties and I'm going back now to book my Xmas party!! More sample sales too, please!!

5 Stars: A perfect addition to any restaurant selection (by kevmoolah)

kevmoolah — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

The moment my party and I arrived, our every need was met. The hostess was welcoming and seated us promptly. The staff is extremely courteous and knowledgeable about the menu and fabulous wine selection. If you're a lover of wine, you will appreciate this restaurant. The ambiance is perfect for a romantic date or a relaxing dinner with friends. The menu is compatible with any palette, offering vegetarian-friendly dishes as well. I highly reccommend this restaurant to anyone, especially those who are looking to break out of a restaurant rut. Don't forget that they are also open for lunch, offering a diverse selection of salads and sandwiches. The brunch is perfect for out-of-towners to experience. Definitely a winner.

5 Stars: Taste is great! (by guccimanch)

guccimanch — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I was looking for a restaurant in my neighborhood recently and came across Taste through City Search. I was delighted by the service, food and atmosphere so I was compelled to come back to the site and share my thoughts. When I saw these recent reviews, I was quite confused! The service me and my wife recieved was more than satisfactory, it was beyond expectation. In addition to the amazing food, wine selections, and service, the employees made us feel very much a part of the nieghboring community, as we quickly learned through our delightful waitress that that is primarily Taste's objective, to make the locals, and anyone who enters Taste's doors feel welcome and assured that they will have the best dinning experiance in town. So, my hat's off to Taste, and I very much look forward to visiting again soon!

5 Stars: Monday nights are the best date night, Avoid not making a reservation, walking in, you may not get in (by caroj77)

caroj77 — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I went here with my boyfriend on a Monday night, for my birthday. I didn't realize every Mon. night, they have half priced bottles of wine!!! Schweeeet! We sat out on the patio on a perfect summer's night. We started with the roasted beet salad with goat cheese.... um, can we say, YUM. I had the short ribs and my boyfriend had the baked penne. It was so good, we practically licked our plates clean. Our waitress was so sweet and she always checked in on us regularly. She found out it was my birthday and brought me a slice of the decadent chocolate cake with a birthday candle lit on top. It was so cool that the restaurant did that! I loved everything about that night and TASTE was part of the reason that night was one of the best birthdays I've had in a long time! Cheers!

1 Stars: Rude awakening. Rushed service in poor taste... (by markkanok)

markkanok — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I usually don't feel compelled to write these kind of reviews, but I was truly disappointed by the unbelievably rude service. I came in with high hopes based on some of the earlier reviews, but just don't get it. There are hundreds of great restaurants in LA, so I recommend going somewhere else.

The venue itself is nice, but the service was abrupt and we felt rushed along. The owner or the manager came by and basically told us to hurry up. I've never experienced anything like that in LA before! If you want to feel like a valued customer, don't come to TASTE. There's something to be said for an establishment that understands basic manners.

1 Stars: Rude experience (by graysacsac)

graysacsac — Sat, 19 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Not sure where all these rave reviews are coming from? Mediocre food, less than par service topped off with a rude owner. Definitely not worth your time.

4 Stars: Really great barfood! (by placecard)

placecard — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

We chose Taste based upon their reasonable appetizer menu. For a bottle of wine, 3 appetizers, and service it was under $70. The fries were more like potato chip strips, as they were super thin, but long like a fry. The crabcakes were better than most of the ones we've tried at some of LA's best seafood restaurants, seared crispy but not burnt on the two faces, the center was all crab (not googey or crumbling apart - perfect consistency), and zesty with red pepper. Two are served on a mini bed of arugula with a healthy dallop of sauce. The grilled artichoke could have been zestier (garlic?) or carmelized on the grill longer, but it was still cooked fine and fun to eat. Our server was attentive, we'll definitely be back.

5 Stars: Excellent food, great location (by boginia)

boginia — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

We went here for brunch on sunday; at first I thought the menu was pretty limited, but our eyes jumped right over to the "favorite salad" (we ordered it with chicken) and the breakfast panini. Little did we know that each of us also got a complimentary appetizer (and these were very sizable portions) - roasted tomato soup (the best I've had), fruit salad (perfectly ripe fruit), or mixed greens. The food that we ordered arrived promptly and the portions were huge - the panini was over stuffed and served with country potatoes; and everything about the salad was sooooo delicious. Really the best meal I've had in a casual restaurant. Oh yeah, and their bread was delish too.
The staff was attentive, yet not overbearing.
Overall, a really really nice place (can't wait to go back for dinner).

4 Stars: Casual and Delicous (by whynotsoup)

whynotsoup — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 02:00:00 GMT

We got there at 5 on a weekday and it was empty. We really didn't need a reservation at all, but I imagine later at 7 or so it's busy. The portions are large, the menu items are inventive. It wasn't as cozy as I expected from the outside. It is not dressy as it may appear from the pictures but instead casual and gourmet.

The food is delicious. The mushroom risotto that came with my salmon would have been an excellent meal by itself. If you like Hot Chocolate don't miss the entire Hot Chocolate menu!

3 Stars: Its okey.. (by nikkimouse)

nikkimouse — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I decided to give it a try since this place had a great rating.
Its a nice little place but food? food here is not like any other places. it does taste different. but I don't think I will ever go back.

5 Stars: Best Brunch in LA (by stephpuleio)

stephpuleio — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Every weekend I go to brunch and try new places, but I think Taste has been my absolute favorite as far as quality of food and price. I went with my boyfriend and our friend who does restaurant PR and we all agreed it is the best kept secret in LA. The brunch comes with a starter of soup, fruit, or salad and every selection on the menu sounded as good as it tasted. The homemade ketchup was excellent for out breakfast panini and roasted potatoes. Seeing the cloth napkins, we were expecting an outrageous bill but for three people we got out of there for under $40, and not the least bit hungry. But best part...there were plenty of open tables, unlike the scene in front of Doughboys, Toast, or The Griddle where you can wait for an hour for a restaurant that doesn't hold a candle to Taste.

5 Stars: Best French Toast in L.A. (by wodthebod)

wodthebod — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 02:00:00 GMT

My friends and I stopped by on Sunday for Brunch and I have to say that it was truly the best time we have had at a restaurant in awhile. The banana french toast with nutella was fantastic as well as the crab cake benedict. I loved the food, the prices and the atmosphere!!!!!! The servers were friendly and attentive!! Will be back every sunday!

5 Stars: An Evening Well Spent! (by martiniup)

martiniup — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 02:00:00 GMT

My wife and I were looking for someting different to eat as we always like to try new restraunts. We stumbled apon Taste on melrose ave and had one of the best night's out we have had for a long time. The restraunt had a great atmoshphere, even though we did not have a reservation we were seated after a drink at the bar. The staff were very friendly at attentive to our needs. we started the meal off with a grilled artichoke and ahi tuna, very delicious i could of ordered it again. My wife had the salmon with risoto which she is still raving about and i the short ribs, one of there top sellers our attentive British waiter told us. We finished the meal off with a berry cobbler. The best meal out we've had for a longtime and great value. We will be going back.

2 Stars: Overrated! (by foodsnob06)

foodsnob06 — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 01:00:00 GMT

The food is mediocre at best. But it is cheap for WEHO neighborhood. We started the night with your basic, standard starters -- calamari fritti and pomme frites. Not sure how they can get fries wrong, but our orders came out soggy. Perhaps they were sitting around in the kitchen too long....My halibut main course was decent, but my BF's penne was too salty. When we mentioned it to the waiter, he just shrugged. Next time, I'd rather eat at cafe at the Fred Segal for a fraction of the cost.

2 Stars: Not impressed (by megbri)

megbri — Fri, 17 Mar 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I do not get the hype...
Ove crowded, noisy and service lacking. My husband had to ask for water 3-4 times before we got it

5 Stars: Really good comfort food (by tonydanzaisking)

tonydanzaisking — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Visited LA from SF and chose Taste based on reviews here. Needed a romantic spot for a special occasion within my moderate travel budget. My expectations were exceeded. Salmon was average but risotto was outstanding. Short Ribs GOOOD. Food came out superfast, and waiter was both attentive and helpful recommending wine and a local bar. Would recommend to those looking for upscale comfort food or date spot.

4 Stars: Great Lunch Spot (by adelly)

adelly — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Had a nice weekday lunch with my girlfriend yesterday. Came as they exactly opened, so obviously seated asap. Tried the much-reviewed salmon spring roll- yum. The salmon is very mild, and they fried the wrappers just right. The caprese sandwich was so-so but the fries were awesome. The ahi tuna appetizer was really tasty, too. My friend had the penne - really creamy. The service was really attentive, the only problem was that it seemed there was only 1 waiter for the whole place, so wait for the food was a little longer than usual. Parking is easy during the day (lots of metered parking). 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, 1 dessert, 2 drinks pre-tip only came out to $63.

3 Stars: What happened?? (by missfoodie2006)

missfoodie2006 — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I used to love Taste, and I used to be a regular. But the last couple of times I have gone, the food just not what it used to be. My beloved romaine salad was a bit charred, my friend's tomato basil soup was inedible, the short ribs were tender and flavorful, but a very heavy dish with the goopy potatoes, and my pork chop dish was downright bad. The meat was tough and dry, the mac n' cheese sidedish was burned on top and dry throughout (with not a hint of truffle flavor as advertised) and the greens were salty. I hope whatever has gone awry will soon be fixed. Until then, Taste is not on my dining list, sorry to say.

5 Stars: Good Food (by keshnik)

keshnik — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I went there for Valentines.
Food was really good,especially the raspberry champagne.
It was a bit of wait even with reservation ,maybe cause it was a holiday.
Good ambience

4 Stars: Understated ambiance, good food. (by lorathomas)

lorathomas — Tue, 14 Feb 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Taste has good food for good prices. The dim lighting makes it romantic and chic. Friendly wait staff. I don't like trendy places where people like to be seen and this is not one of them.

5 Stars: Good stuff (by eblittle)

eblittle — Fri, 10 Feb 2006 01:00:00 GMT

We were looking for a romantic night out and we got one. Definitely make reservations because the place was packed, but still nice and romantic since we ate on the patio. The food was amazing. I've never had such good food come out of the kitchen so quickly. The wine was a bit pricey, but I kind of expected that. We're definitely going back.

4 Stars: Good food OK service (by mpineau)

mpineau — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 01:00:00 GMT

The atmosphere is what really makes this place. The food is quite good, and the service is fine for L.A. The ravioli is excellent, and they have a decent wine list. Nice for a romantic dinner.

5 Stars: definitely a good spot (by yeah88)

yeah88 — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I went on a Monday and it was pretty quiet. The ambience was nice, and the food was good! The wine deal was the best! On Monday nights, the bottles of wine are half off which I think is huge! We had a pizzetta with gorgonzola that was good and I had the salmon which was pretty good. My friends had the steak and they enjoyed it as well. I would definitely go back!

3 Stars: Didn't have time to TASTE (by ralftomandl)

ralftomandl — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Always on the lookout for a new eatery, we thought "Taste" might be a good choice. While the food was pretty good, the service was off. We had barely sat down when we were repeatedly asked what we wanted to eat and or drink. With the arrival of the main course, we told our waiter that we felt a little rushed since we just finished our appetizers and had barely sat down 20 minutes ago. She was proud of her efficiency. To make a long story short if you are in a rush and want to eat your food really fast, you should go there. But you could do that at McDonalds for a lot less money as well.. :(

5 Stars: NOT another pun off the restaurant title. (by mylilpony)

mylilpony — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 01:00:00 GMT

All the people that complained about the service seemed to have gone during dinner/peak hours. You can expect service to be slightly worse during those times of the day. I went during lunch with a friend on a weekday. There weren't that many people, and we were seated promptly. Service was great, constant refills, the manager came over to us several times to check on us. I had a fettucini caprese(ok) and my friend had a beef tenderloin pizetta (delish.) Food wasn't too pricy, most of the items were under 15, and our bill came to 30 bucks, including 2 drinks. Not too bad. And I forgot to mention my friend and I were in very casual (jeans, t-shirt) clothing and they still treated us very well.

4 Stars: It's tasty! (by ladining)

ladining — Sun, 15 Jan 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I finally had a chance to try this new restaurant which did not let me down. Service was very good, food was tasty and it came in big portion - good deal as a whole. The beef tenderloin pizzetta was delicious and so did the creamy mushroom risotto. The devil cake was also perfectly done. It's a very enjoyable evening.

1 Stars: Sadly Ew (by amlwesthol)

amlwesthol — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 01:00:00 GMT

The food was bland, and for the price, I expect a little flavor. The service was great. My party of 4 was seated right away on a Thursday night. The wine was pretty good, but both my guests and I were bummed out by the food. My roommate and I love Ago, but Taste is closer to our apartment so we thought we'd give it a shot. Not so good. I'll wear flats and make the treck to Ago. I live two blocks a way from Taste, but I don't think I'll be back for anything other than a glass of wine.

5 Stars: What a Taste (by crtamb100)

crtamb100 — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 01:00:00 GMT

First, I do have to mention a point about a previous review of this restaurant. It's always amazing to me how people in LA yack and yack about waiting for 30 minutes for a table. I wonder if some LA'ers have ever been to other large cities. The Only town I have lived in where people expect to be seated immediately and not wait for 15-30 minutes is LA. Try NYC! or Chicago!! yikes...30 minutes is a blessing. Drinks at the bar....it's great. Have fun! Don't rush!
Anyway, this restaurant has amazing decor, great service, and the food is very well done. It is nice to find a restaurant that adds a little flair to American cuisine. I wouldn't miss the covered patio or close romantic setting. Don't miss this one...even for 30 minutes.

3 Stars: taste the middle of the road (by hiposse)

hiposse — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 02:00:00 GMT

unfortunatley, my evening at Taste got off to a bad start having made reservations for 8:15 on a wednesday night and not being sat untill 8:45. after finally sitting at our table, the slow service continued. our waiter was below average, at best. the chicken dish i ordered was good, not great. even though the decor is quite beautiful, i will not not be returning to what i consider a very mediocre retaurant.

5 Stars: They passed the TASTE test! (by fireball48)

fireball48 — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 02:00:00 GMT

My friends and I gave Taste a try and we had a fantastic experience. Our server was very kind, and when offering tips on the wine list he wasn't pushing a pricey bottle, but recommended his favorite, which was absolutely tasty and reasonable. We felt comfortable and welcome. He was very attentive throughout the entire evening and the ladies at the table especially enjoyed his Irish accent. The menu is divided into two large sections: starters and entrees. For starters, we ordered the heirloom tomato and mozzarella salad and the pear and caramelized onion pizzetta. For our entrees, we chose the special of the night, which was halibut, and the Chopped Roasted Chicken Salad. I would order all of those again. We finished with the desert sampler and loved every bite. Everything we selected was terrific and reasonably priced. We had no complaints the entire evening and really enjoyed ourselves.

3 Stars: Not too bad (by fortinbras79199)

fortinbras79199 — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 02:00:00 GMT

Well I went there for my birthday and had a mixed time. We arrived at 6:30 to an empty house which is fine. And it did fill up as time progressed. The problem is that our server, as he got busier, became more and more negligent in his duties. Our dinner was more or less complete inside of 45 minutes and then we waited for 30 minutes for dessert. The food was good albeit not exceptional and the portions large. The manager was good enough to take care of our dessert for the long delay but it is not a large restaurant and the waiter was a little flakey. I would venture to say he was hired for the wrong reason.

5 Stars: User review by elisehwall (by elisehwall)

elisehwall — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 02:00:00 GMT

Worth every penny, and you do not need many! The food was amazing and the decor was very comfortable and stylish. Our server was a bit slow, but management made up for it. We were very please and can not wait to go back for more!

5 Stars: Taste THIS! (by t_roch)

t_roch — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 02:00:00 GMT

My girlfriend and I ate at Taste for the first time last night. We were seated quickly (around 9pm on a Friday night) and service was friendly and prompt. We had a special of heirloom tomatoes & fresh mozzarella, then a chicken salad and rigatone pasta. While everything was very good, the rigatone was a real standout - and I really don't even like pasta that much! The decor is nicely done, but the restaurant is a little cramped, especially inside. It's nice to sit outside, even more so because they DO NOT permit smoking on the patio - how pleasant!

5 Stars: new, wonderful and surprising (by robertinexile)

robertinexile — Fri, 12 Aug 2005 02:00:00 GMT

"taste" is such a nice and surprising addition to the west melrose restaurant scene... no attitude, delicious and satisfying food in a really lovely setting, all at good prices (even the wine list!)... what more could we hope for? last night's special caprese of heirloom tomatoes was worth the trip alone. do make reservations... there's more than one reason both seatings were full here on a thursday night, with guests lingering after dessert. i almost felt badly for those waiting on the sidewalk outside... go and enjoy!

3 Stars: Not sure what all the hoopla is about... (by bhug)

bhug — Tue, 09 Aug 2005 02:00:00 GMT

Expectations were high but Taste dissapointed on several levels. Despite being extremely hot, our waiter was mostly unattentive. Busboys did all the legwork. And really, the food was just okay. The braised wine shortrib lacked any complexity. My boyfriend had the duck...it was good but we have had much better. I suppose the pricing is competitive but it's not superbly cheap as other reviewers would have you think. Entrees are $16-20, everything a la carte. Great ambience but we won't be going back, just b/c there are too many other places to explore.

2 Stars: Don't waste your money (by pmauro)

pmauro — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I had an expense account dinner here for 3 people and even though I wasn't paying for it I still felt swindled. The problem is that this restraunt was highly rated so I went in with big expectations. Well there is no way that this place deserves a 9.4 rating.

We tried 3 different wines by the glass and each one was worse than the last. The service was great but food was uninspired.

5 Stars: great food, better prices (by grubcire)

grubcire — Sun, 12 Jun 2005 02:00:00 GMT

had a great time at Taste. service was great, food was better and the prices the best. the salmon rolls with the spicy, sweet sauce were awesome and i don't even like salmon. were were a group of 5 and we all ordered different dishes to try it out. all were tasty except that the spicy, garlic shrimp with blood oranges should've been called just orange shrimp. ended with this chocolate cake desert layered with caramel, whipped cream, nuts, banana and ice cream that sounded way too sweet, but was not at all. very good dining experience overall!

5 Stars: My New Kitchen (by laurent05)

laurent05 — Mon, 06 Jun 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I happened into this place in my neighborhood a couple of months ago when they were just beginning to put this place together. After learning that the guy opening this place was the son of Cathy Halter I became immediately excited. She is the Executive Chef and has two of her own places on the Island of Kauai. I eat at no other place when I'm on the Island. She really understand flavor, and I can't think of a more perfect name than "Taste" for her new menu. Additionally, they have hired a woman who has many years of experience with one of the big restaurant companies to run they place. I can walk to the place from my house and I've been about twice a week on average since they've been open. BRAVO!

5 Stars: "New Hot Spot" (by quietheart)

quietheart — Sat, 04 Jun 2005 02:00:00 GMT

Gotta Try!! Although it's a new restaurant and working out its kinks, you HAVE to try. The pizzettas are great to share and the red wine chuck roast is wonderful. The spicy garlic shrimp was good but a tad bit on the bland side. enjoy!!

5 Stars: Very tasty! (by giglgrl789)

giglgrl789 — Wed, 25 May 2005 02:00:00 GMT

We come here every Sunday for brunch and it is always tasty food and a great atmosphere. We mainly come for the delicious kobe burger, but the patio and the very friendly staff are reasons why we always come back!!!

5 Stars: Best Spicy Garlic Shrimp (by marksmith20)

marksmith20 — Fri, 20 May 2005 02:00:00 GMT

If you're looking for the "next best place to eat", this is it. I of course could not get a table at Ago, so I decided I would try this new restaurant just a block away. I loved it! We sat on the patio out front and enjoyed a few cocktails before dinner and then I had the BEST Spicy Garlic Shrimp ever. Taste is a beautiful restaurant and it's actually not expensive if you can believe that.

5 Stars: a Wonderful new restaurant (by casaozeta)

casaozeta — Thu, 12 May 2005 02:00:00 GMT

They have a great wine list and absolutely delicious food. What more could anyone want?