Providence

I have a dear friend of mind who was in town, and we always trying new restaurants. I have heard so much about this restaurant that I recommended to go there, and check it out. The restaurant is fairly small, but the atmosphere is elegant. The decor was fabulous, and warm. Now getting to what's more important...the FOOD. Not what I expected. The food was ok. I have been to plenty of other fine dining restaurant that have much better food. The presentation of the food is beautiful, but you have to follow up with flavorful food. Not the case here. The service was good, but my friend is known throughout the food and wine industry, and we tend to get top notch service usually no matter where we are. The amuse bouche was quite disappointing. The foie gras parfait was the star of the night. They did have a nice cheese selection. The sommelier was quite good, he choose some fabulous wines to go with our courses.

Was it worth 534 dollars.....no. We would have rathered have gone to another one of our favorites for this price, and actually be satisfied, instead of a roller coaster evening with the food.

Pros: Ambience, Wine List, food presentation

Cons: Food, pricey for the quality of food

Posted 12/01/06

Took a friend of mine for a b-day dinner there last night and was not impressed. The host and the busboys were the best thing about the restaurant. Our waiter provided subpar service. It seemed as if he didn't want to be there and was not helpful at all. Bare minimum service at high end prices. Thought food might make up for the lackluster treatment, but was wrong there too. Friend got duck that tasted like roasted pork you get from a Chinese restaurant. I got the striped bass. Quality didn't seem too exceptional and to top it off, the "crispy skin" was not crispy at all. I almost felt like they let my dish sit there for well over 30 minutes and then just reheated it and served it to me. Spent well over $200 for a meal that my friend and I both agreed was okay, at best. Really, the only great thing about our experience was the company.

Pros: Ambience

Cons: Food not up to par

Posted 11/15/06

Recently, checked out Providence for their 9 course tasting menu and wine paring. Unfortunately, I had too high of expectations since it was rated a 9.7.

I dont mind the high prices, but I expect the all of the plates to be better then average. Out of the 9 dishes only 2, the curry scallops and asparagus soup, could be considered delicious and memorable. Website also not up to date with menu.
The staff was nice, but not very knowledgeable about the food and wine. They knew what was being served and basically read the labels off the wine bottles.

Nice, not great

Posted 10/14/06

My wife and I had the 9-course market menu with wine pairing, as we felt that this is the best way to sample high-end restaurants. We were not disappointed with any course (although the salmon was a little dull). The presentation of each dish was a work of art, and the combination of flavors, complex and sometimes unusual, worked very well indeed - the wine pairings were well selected and complimented each dish perfectly. The service was impeccable and flawless, although I felt a little sorry for the waiters as it looked like they were wearing brown sacks, not very flattering for them. Everyone was very polite and attentive and our overall dining experience was a great one, the meal lasted about 3 hours and we were not hurried at any point throughout the evening. The waiters took the time to describe each dish in great detail, and the same with the wines, and were keen to answer any questions we had about the food. I'd highly recommend this restaurant for that special occasion, and don't hold back, go for the full dining experience.

Pros: Seafood, Special Occasion, Service

Cons: Price, Parking

Posted 08/31/06

I went on a fantastic special occasion date here recently and had a great meal! The atmosphere is minimalist, with a slight nautical influence, in keeping with the chef's seafood theme. My boyfriend and I had the 9-course tasting menu with wine pairings. We also had very stiff martinis in advance of our meal - whoa baby! The food itself was exemplary - Quite inventive and with highly complimentary flavors and textures. The raw oysters were so good that we ordered an extra dish of them! Providence is a restaurant worth going to if only once for the experience, but it is unfortunately too expensive (our meal was over $450 with tip for 2 people) for a repeat visit.

Pros: Food!

Cons: Expensive!

Posted 08/22/06

I should have known when we pulled up to the restaurant...There was no valet in sight at the valet stand, and when I finally saw them they gave us attitude. It was as if we were bothing them. Some other people pulled up and they would not even help them!! I completely agree with the other review: Too expensive for too fancy, unflavorful food. Waitstaff was attentive. Nice decor.

Posted 07/29/06

We had the 5 course tasting menu plus paired wines. We ended up paying somewhere in the neighborhood of $400. To me, for that price, the food should have been out of this world. While tasty, it wasn't terribly complex. You could tell that the ingredients were very fresh, however, I think the chef relied too heavily on the freshness of the ingredients to speak for themselves. That may be what some people want, but to me, I would have preferred more liberal use of herbs and spices. The scant sauces dribbled on the plate appeared to be more about the color and artistry than imparting their flavors on the food. The portions were ridiculously small - literally two small bites per plate. We left, not full. During dinner, we joked that we'd need to stop at McDonalds for a burger on the way home. The service was extremely attentive with out being obsequious, and the decor was very elegant. But I've had far better food for far less money.

Pros: Ambiance, Service

Cons: Fresh but bland food.

Posted 07/18/06

The food was superb. Last time I ordered the prix fixe menu, and I loved each one of it. They are unique, tasty, and delicious. The foie gras was super! They have friendly staffs too. Very satisfied. Can't wait to go back.

Pros: Food, decor, friendly straffs.

Cons: none

Posted 07/13/06

Perfect is the word to describe our recent dinner. The sommelier was very knowledgeable, down to earth and friendly. His wine list was broad, affordable, and unique. The seafood was perfect in preparation and presentation. The extras such as amuse busche (forgive the spelling), after dinner sweets, even lowering of the background music made the dinner perfect.

Pros: Seafood preparation and presentation

Cons: Can't think of one

Posted 07/02/06

The only other time I have had a dining experience that even approached the incredible meal at Providence is when Cimarusti was at Water Grill. Being from the East Coast I have often found L.A. lacking in upscale dining experiences, however, Providence has remendied that. We had the 13 course tasting and were not disappointed. Service was excellent my wife enjoyed the accompaning wine pairings. I have seen some reviews from people who have not had such an experience but I would highly reccomend for them to return. Providence is not to be missed.

Pros: service, wine, food presentation

Cons: not a sister restaurant in the east

Posted 07/01/06

What an incredible dining experience! EVERYTHING exceeded my expectations--the tasteful & relaxing décor, the attentive & knowledgable wait staff, the artful presentation of each course and OH! the smells, textures & tastes... The presentation of each dish was like individual sculptures that were appealing to sight, smell and taste! The simplicity, yet uniqueness of the dishes provided the perfect backdrop to showcase each masterpiece. The wine pairings allowed my tastbuds to spring to life and helped to create a warm, comfortable and intimate dining experience. Chef Michael Cimarusti has honed his skills to an amazing level. I have NEVER had a meal that compares to the tasting menu I experienced at Providence. I think LA has a real winner on their hands. (Now, how about opening a Providence in NY!)

Pros: service, ambience, food presentation & quality

Cons: Not a "Providence" in NY!

Posted 07/01/06

we had the 9 course tasting menu and loved each dish. i too had heard mixed reviews, but it turned out to be a wholly positive experience. the oyster course had a wonderful lemon ice that blended perfectly and the monkfish - which previously both my husband and i despired in general - was fantastic. i would definitely recommend.

Pros: food, service

Cons: nothing else nearby

Posted 06/01/06

We had heard a great deal about this restaurant (mixed reviews) from friends, and found ourselves with mixed feelings as well after dining here. The service was excellent, our waiter attentive and knowledgable. We had the 9-course tasting menu with wines well-paired by the sommelier. The presentations of all dishes were lovely; however of the 9 courses, only 1 (an amuse bouche) stood out as excellent, several more were good but by no means outstanding, and 3 were actually unpleasant to eat for a variety of reasons (delicate fish drowned/overpowered by a too-spicy and too-abundant sauce, one over-salted, and one under-salted to blandness). The dining room tables were generously spaced, but the room had a very cold feel. (And the "art installation" -- what one can only assume are meant to be barnacles -- are off-putting at best.) In spite of the gracious service, the overall experience left us disappointed.

Pros: attentive service, presentation

Cons: unexceptional food, decor, somewhat overpriced

Posted 05/26/06

We arrived there around 6:00pm, on time for our reservation and the host lead us to our table flawlessly. We both had the 9 tasting menu with wines; it was wonderful! From the appetizer to main course to desserts; it's all seafood: crab, fish, shrimp, to cheese sampler are all presented nicely and wonderfully. The wine accompany the meals nicely; except the portion is really small and there are so many blend / strong flavor that at the end I don't taste the uniqueness of each dish. It's around $350 for two people. Overall, I'd say go for it if you got the money, if not; you are only missing of being spoiled =)

Pros: Nice presentation , Ambience, Service

Cons: pricey?

Posted 04/09/06

This was absolutely one of the best meals I have had in a long time. The 5 course Prix Fixe menu was superb! The cocktails are "stiff" and the staff is great... Really, Really excellent. I can't wait to go back.

Pros: Delicious, Attentive Staff

Posted 02/19/06

We went there 2 days after this restaurant opened . We already knew of the chef from Water grill and were expecting a lot .... WE WERE BLOWN AWAY ! . The food was FANTASTIC . We have now been back 6 times since our first experience and even though we miss the original sommelier and the 2 last experiences have been less satisfying I would still rate this restaurant top 3 in LA right .
If you like seafood you will be in paradise .

Posted 02/01/06

I've dined twice at Providence and had superb meals both times. The food is extraordinarily inventive (don't miss the "Chowda") and the service is the best I've had in any restaurant in years. I never once had to ask to have my water glass refilled which is very important to someone who drinks a lot of water! I'd take anyone here and know that they'd have a great experience.

Pros: Superb food, Exceptional service, Beautiful room

Cons: none that I found

Posted 01/31/06

I love Hollywood Nightlife and I love great food. I went to Providence last week for a lavish bite before stopping by some of my local haunts. The cuisine is imaginative and delicious and don't forget to visit the bar. The cocktails are freshly fantastic and make for the perfect fuel for hitting the dance floor. Lots of friendly staff, too. I'm totally going back.

Posted 01/25/06

Of the three times Ive been to Providence the last was by far the best. My first visit was before theyd smoothed out all the kinks, but in that time they most certainly have. The only flaw was the wait for our table, but the drinks at the bar quickly negated that defect. We ordered the 5 course tasting menu with wine pairing, and were dazzled throughout. Most memorable was the dish of bay scallops with salsify puree and red beet jus. The courses were perfectly timed to arrive just as the prior one had settled in our stomachs, and were served by an unfailingly warm and gracious staff that has neither the pretense and condescension nor the obsequies of other restaurants. We left satisfied but not stuffed, and the best part was the price: $100 a person, including wine.

Pros: Great food, Great service, Great Price

Cons: brief wait for table

Posted 01/12/06

Dined here for my husband's birthday - ended up very disappointed. We were seated at a table in the main room right at the entrance to the patio. The table was FREEZING due to a direct draft from the uncurtained door. We expressed our discomfort and the maitre'd acknowledged the table was freezing and that it was a problem they had to fix (my feeling was we were knowingly seated there as we weren't "important diners"). He acknowledged our experience was probably ruined, yet we were offered no consideration for our discomfort and were even charged for coffee ordered solely to warm up. To make matters worse, my husband's dessert with a b-day candle was brought to the table while I was in the ladiesroom. Despite spending $300 we were extremely disappointed. Skip this place - much better places to go for the type of experience we were hoping for.

Cons: over-priced, avg food, service lacking

Posted 12/28/05

Our reservation was made three weeks in advance for a speccial occasion. It was confirmed twice by the restaurent but when we arrived we were shown two tables in a side room as the tables avaliable to us. At this time the main dinning was almost empty as it was early and also a Wed Night. Need I say more. We are not second class eaters and certainly not second class customers but we were treated as such. We planned on spending between 200 and 300 dollars for this occasion but we were treated as if we just walked in off the the street. The owner came over and spritz with us but the evening was over. Who needs This for 300 dollars. Dr E Zakaryan

Posted 12/21/05

One of the best dining experiences to be had in Southern California, bar none. Great food coupled with friendly, knowledgeable service. The 9 coursee tasting was an experience I will not soon forget. We did the wine pairing, which was well chosen and complimented the food perfectly.

Posted 12/19/05

My wife had the lobster which she enjoyed. I had the prime rib which was decent, but by no means great. My dissatisfaction, however, lies in the service. The food took about an hour to get to us, and the dessert took an equally exhorbitant time. To make it worse, the ice cream was half melted by the time it got to the table. I brought my wife there for her birthday expecting a great experience but was rather dissappointed.

Cons: Food took too long, service was mediocre

Posted 12/17/05

Earlier posters complained about poor service at Providence, and it seems clear that the management has worked hard to correct the problems. My lengthy (10 course) dining experience there last weekend was extremely pleasant, and I'd say that the service was the high point. Food was very good, though not flawless, and the price is obviously in the range of restaurants where it's reasonable to expect the food to be flawless. But I would still recommend it for diners who want a leisurely fine dining experience in a comfortable environment. Don't mistake not being rushed for bad service!

Pros: Good service, Food above avg, Don't feel rushed!

Cons: "Swarm" serving style

Posted 11/08/05

We drove more than 1 hour to visit this highly recommended restaurant...certainly with lots of expectations and anticipations. The food, and the wine selection, didn't fail us. However, the service was not as good as what you'd expect to receive in high scale restaurants like Providence. The setting was mis-placed, the water glass was waiting for more than 10 min. to be refilled at times, the entrees were sent to the wrong table. Napolean was a good desert to indulge yourself in. The high point came when the sommelier came to recommend wines to pair with our dinner, without me asking for help. The wine selections were impressive..making the delicious dinner complete. Overall, it's a place I'd like to go back to, for the food and wine... hoping that the service will be much improved by then.

Pros: food, wine, ambience

Cons: service, wait staff

Posted 10/05/05

Had dinner here & totally blown away! Our new favorite LA restaurant! It was great news to someone who didn't eat red meat that LA was going to have a French seafood restaurant, w/ so many dishes to choose from. For appetizers, we had the oysters w/c were delectable. I had the lobster w/ hazelnuts (very good) & my hubby got what must be the best dish of all - ahi tuna. Wow!!! It felt like it just melted in your mouth!! Service was impeccable, as was everything else. Chef Michael came out to talk to some diners & we could not stop gushing. Reasonable too (pre-tip for 2 was $240).

Pros: Fabulous Food, Great Service, Reasonably priced

Cons: nothing!!!

Posted 09/26/05

Fantastic! I highly recommend it! Some of the best seafood I have ever had anywhere. My table had the 5 course tasting menu expertly paired with wines. The scallops were my favorite-sweet and plump. Dessert was unlike the usual homey (read boring) offerings in LA. A really delicious chocolate napoleon with hazelnuts and oranges. I also found the portions generous. I went home fully satisfied but not overstuffed.

What really appealed to me was the vibe of the place. Not at all stuffy. The service was totally unpretentious and professional. I look forward to going back soon.

Pros: great chef, great service, great wine list

Posted 09/21/05

I have never in my life had a worse dinning experience. I eat out often and never have I encountered a more arrogant staff.

I was entertaining 8 clients and everyone apologized to me for the experience. What a nightmare!

If youre looking to entertain an important client or have a nice evening with a loved one, please consider another restaurant. There are only around 500 other to choose from.

Posted 09/06/05

The restaurant decor is pleasing to the eye and the lighting is excellent and romantic, but do not go here if you have any sort of appetite whatsoever. I ordered the salmon, which was flavorful and beautifully presented; however, the portion was about one-third of what I expected and the same was true for my companion's dish. In sum, we felt severely short-changed with the quantity of food provided, but enjoyed ourselves and the wine until the dinner arrived. For these prices, we'd rather go to the Ivy for a much better overall experience.

Pros: Romantic lighting, Good ambience, Stylish decor

Cons: Tiny portions, High prices

Posted 08/28/05

The most enjoyable dining experience I can ever remember having!
The service was perfect and the food was fresh and flavorful. This restaurant just opened and usually I wait a few months to try new places, but I am glad I didn't wait this time. The decor is beautiful also. This place is a must!

Pros: service, food, decor

Posted 08/15/05

We went to Providence and enjoyed every aspect of our dining experience so much that I returned just a few days later. The seafood was wonderfully created by Michael Cimarusti and team. Favorites were the melon soup with Riesling air (served in a mini beer-mug) and poached lobster with vanilla sauce, the seared sea scallop with Washington cherries and chanterelles, the duck confit, and the chocolate feuilletine desert. Service was also superb with managers Donato and Thierry both stopping by every table and sincerely engaging customers to ensure that all guests enjoyed their meals. The waiters were friendly and professional at the same time, enthusiastic and very accommodating. The space is modern with a slight seaside feel. I'm not sure I would have chosen faux barnacles for the design but the colors, textures, lighting and elegant fabrics are simple and luxurious. Providence is my new favorite restaurant.

Pros: Amazing seafood, Fantastic service, Tasting Menu value

Cons: No raw bar

Posted 08/09/05

Providence is truly a fabulous dining experience. I was fortunate to get a late reservation last Saturday night. From the host staff to the lighted oynx bar with specialty drinks, the enjoyment began upon our entrance. We found Providence to be a wonderfully comfortable setting that immediately embraces a relaxed and fun ambience. The food was exceptionally in taste and presentation. Each course is prepared like a work of art on the canvas of white plates. Many of the courses were presented on plates that appeared to be custom designed for the food. With wonderfully refreshing and eclectic music swimming in the background and impeccable service, I can't wait to return. I certainly plan to soon.

Posted 08/06/05

We made our reservations, the table was great, the service was above expected, and the food was to die for. I was taken on a tour of the place by the GM (GM of the year 2004) Thierry and fell in love with this place. A bit off the beaten trail, but worth it. A definate destination dining spot!

Pros: Excellent food, Great service, Very romantic

Cons: location

Posted 07/27/05

I totally disagree with the former post. I have had the pleasure of dining at Providence on three occasions thus far and every meal was a new and exciting experience. The food and service becomes more refined with each visit. I had the chef's market menu on my last visit and had some of the most interesting dishes I have ever tasted. With each course the freshness of the seafood is clearly apparent. The first course of whelks was a revelation and every course thereafter was better than the next. The desserts are unlike anything being served in Southern California. The wine list has so much to offer-and all at a fair price! The space, service, and ambiance is sophisticated but utterly unpretentious. Bravo!

Posted 07/26/05

It's funny, because I was there during the same night as the previous reviewer..and what a vastly different experience! We were seated on the romantic "terrace." Service was flawless. And now the menu degustation..amazing! Whoever heard of cobia, lemonfish? Whelks? Insane and insanely delicious. Cimarusti has searched the waters for some incredible seafood taste sensations and delivered them with fanatical perfection. The portions in the 9 course meal were just the right size. Truffled, poached, incredible taste bombs bursting in my mouth. And the wine pairings were French and fabulous. The wine director, Thierry, deserves a medal for these finds. Dessert was superb. And the cheeses at the end were interesting and RIPE. Please, do yourselves a favor and do the tasting menu with the wine pairings. It's worth it ($135/person and worth every penny!) I wish I could eat here every day. It was like being in Paris!

Pros: gastronomical temple, great wines, perfect service

Posted 07/14/05

WOW! This is an experience you won't forget. The best seafood , a great wine list and a fair price for perfection. 95- is a deal for the Chef's Tasting menu when you look at the quality and quanity of the food selections. Great Service too!

Posted 06/28/05

Must try is the tasting menu which is heavily on side of seafood. All dishes were expertly executed, perfectly cooked and plated with a flair for artistry. Food tasted as good or if not better than it tasted. Timing was excellent. Service was outstanding from busboys to waiters. The winelist paired nicely with seafood. Would like to see more interesting reds. Had a great bottle of 1996 Joseph Phelps Insignia reasonably priced for a restaurant of this caliber. Overall fantastic restaurant. All class no pretense. Great!!!

Pros: food, artistic, great service

Cons: expand wine list

Posted 06/23/05