Dakota at the Roosevelt Hotel

Restaurant has great atmosphere and excellent food. It was also very accessible for a Saturday night. We had no problem getting a reservation. Our food server Suzanne was very attentive.

All in all it was a mixed bag though. It seemed that they were out of several items on the menu. I have no proof, but it tasted like the bar used plastic bottle vodka under the guise of serving Ketttle One. The bar cocktail waitress had the temperment of a mannequinn in a bad mood and moved about as fast.

And the worst part was that someone on the staff obviously wanted to keep my leftover NY Strip and two side orders, of which I only ate half. After spending $400 for a dinner for two I would expect to able to bring my food home when I request it.

I doubt I will be going back. Mastros or the Madison seem to be better alternatives.

Pros: Excellent Food

Cons: Lackluster Bar & Staff kept leftovers

Posted 03/29/09

My husband and I went last night for the Valentine's Day tasting menu. We were very much looking forward to a great steak and a great meal--as this is supposed to be what Dakota is known for. The food and the $300+ it cost to eat there completely ruined our evening.
The Roosevelt itself is gorgeous, the restaurant's atmosphere is perfect. Low lighting, sophisticated, warm, comfortable hip. The servers and bus staff were excellent and professional. The staff even at the front door of the hotel was awesome! I asked if there was a store within the hotel so I could grab some lip gloss and because it was closed, he offered to run across the street to a pharmacy and would bring it up to me at our table! I felt so spoiled!
The good times ended there. Although every course we had looked beautiful, it was fatty and waaaaay too salty! I just couldn't believe this supposedly amazing restaurant could put out food like this! I'm a big tuna lover and was anticipating the 1st course of tuna tataki. I couldn't finish it because it was drowned in a super fatty avocado creamy thing. The tuna was also not cut small enough. The 2nd course was pork and my husband ordered the scallops. The pork was flavored well, but again, very fatty. I took one bite of the scallop and although it was nicely cooked, it was so salty I didn't take another bite!
I could excuse the 1st and 2nd courses if the main dish was excellent, particularly because I had been salivating over having a great steak all week. To my dismay, the medium rare petite felit wasn't bloody at all. I had to touch it to check if it was warm! What completely confirmed by negative opinion of this restaurant was this steak. I couldn't even finish it because it was SOO salty!
To put this evening over the top was the "dessert extravaganza" buffet in the next room. The band was so loud we couldn't speak to each other (on Valentine's Day!), I didn't even try any of the gelatin-looking desserts, and we left.

Pros: atmosphere, service

Cons: food

Posted 02/15/09

The new team at Dakota has turned the place around. I eat there about three times a month the bartenders are amazing the servers friendly however sometimes a little pushy but non the less the food has been consistant and delicious. Seasoned perfectly and served hot! Great Job.

Pros: Ambience, Quality of product used

Posted 05/13/08

I eat at Dakota quite often; in fact, almost once a month. However, this is the first time I have been compelled to write a review. The food is fantastic and the service is equally as good. I feel sad for the guest who felt that his/her server was pushy and snobby. The guest was obviously just having a bad day and went in with a chip on the shoulder because anyone who frequently dines at steakhouses would know how to spell bearnaise. Anyway, I always find the service to be consistently top notch and almost comparable to NY service, not exactly but close compared to most Los Angeles restaurants. My most recent visit was last week. After being in New York on business for 10 days I just wanted to come home, relax, and have Dakota. I started with the Heirloom Tomato salad with watermelon and fromage blanc, which was incredible. As always the Ribeye was FANTASTIC, however the server suggested combining the, ahem, Bearnaise sauce with the Red Wine Bordelaise, another OUTSTANDING suggestion from him. He was very informative, knowledgeable, and charming as well. I had never tried the Fingerling potatoes before but he assured me I would enjoy them and I did. I skipped dessert and opted for an espresso instead since I still had work to finish up. The only quam I had was that my espresso arrived in a coffee cup and not a demitasse cup. The server personally apologized for the coffee cup letting me know that he searched all over the building for one and even promised to bring his own the next time I eat there, which made me smile and remember why I enjoy Dakota so much.

Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere, Lighting, Design

Cons: Music, Broken Tables

Posted 03/19/08

So, I ended up at Dakota by accident. No really. It was only after I agreed to dinner at "The Roosevelt" did it dawn on me. But let me tell you, had I been offered the chance to think about it, I probably would have declined, and that would have been a mistake. Very rich atmostphere, deep chocolate tones, low light, very romantic. Unfortunately, I do not feel like our server matched the quality of the establishment. She was a little snobby, and it sort of set the tone for the rest of the meal. I've never worked as a server, so I don't know what goes on behind the scenes (I have an idea) but, after initially discussing the "a la carte" style of the sides, and suggesting that we share (there were three of us), she didn't even let us finish ordering before she mentioned the sides again. I found that to be a little pushy, and condecending - we heard the first time thankyouverymuch. And it's not like I've never been to a steak house before, and nice ones at that: Ruth's Chris - check, Capital Grille - check. After we all ordered, sides incld., she feined deep concern for our growing appetities by suggesting a salad because it was going to take the food a while to arrive. I'm glad we fought that one off- the food was certainly not too long to arrive, and we had plenty of it. So, about the food - amazing! It pretty much made up for the attitude! My medium 6 oz filet was "like butta," just incredible!! Tender, flavorful. I had the bernaise, yea, the texture combo was perfect. Mixed Mushroom side was equally amazing, tender, delicious sauce; not sure what was it in other than it must includea narcotic. Poached asparagus was perfectly done and fresh. We did get fries, which always seems like a good idea, but we did it to ourselves - not amazing in any way, shape or form, don't do it. Total waste. Overall, I was so taken with my filet and it's overall quality, I would recommend this place to those looking for a special evening, and I too would return.

Pros: Incredible food and atmostphere

Cons: Slightly pushy, snooty server

Posted 02/18/08