Insider Pages Reviews for Vibrato Grill Jazz...etc.

5 Stars: Best of the Best (by annmurphy)

annmurphy — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:00:00 GMT

You can't beat Vibratos if you love Jazz, good food and great ambiance. We need a sixth star here!

4 Stars: Excellent dinners for special occasions (by bpw7)

bpw7 — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Vibrato sometimes suffers from lackluster service. the food is very good though very expensive. Entrees are stand alone, no sides and the bill will shock you if you are not prepared.

4 Stars: Pricey but worth it for a fancy occasion (by foodloversarah)

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

This place is a fun night out, but definitely for an older crowd overall. My boyfriend and I were there for Valentine's day to see some live jazz which was amazing, but the people next to us were celebrating their 56th wedding anniversary when we just graduated from college last year, and that was pretty much the average age there, minus two other younger couples, but as long as you are with a good conversation partner it is worth going. The food is VERY WELL done but a bit pricey with the cheapest entree at $28 but there is no cover for the live jazz so it evens out. The service was very good, but at times with the music it was hard to talk with my boyfriend across our table since our table was abnormally long. Go prepared to spend some money and make sure you call in advance to check what time the jazz shows are starting. Also try and ask for a booth table if possible which will give you and your date a better date experience. Great romantic spot either way up in the hills of bel air.

1 Stars: This Restaurant SUCKED! (by slivideo)

slivideo — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I wish I had listened to the review about lazy service and overpriced food! We went on Valentine's Day (admittedly, not a good day to judge a restaurant) and waited forever to get seated. I was told that they had "120 people on the waiting list" but when we arrived there were eight empty tables downstairs. We waited for over an hour to get seated upstairs away from the stage where there were another 6 empty tables (even though there were many open tables downstairs).

The food wasn't bad but the service was extremely poor. An 18% gratuity was automatically added to the $125 per person fixed price menu so the waiter had no incentive to provide good service. We waited 20 minutes between courses while the people next to us came in 1/2 hour later and were served before us.

The oysters and the steak were OK but not worth the $125 price per person for four skimpy courses. The drinks are overpriced, though good, and the band played for about 45 minutes of the two hours we were there.

The upshot is that we paid $450 for two people to sit in a corner of a half-empty restaurant and get ignored. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone and I won't be back. IGNORE THIS REVIEW AT YOUR OWN PERIL! For this kind of money, go to FOGO de CHAO and enjoy a fabulous meal instead.

4 Stars: Romantic and good food (by finedine2008)

finedine2008 — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

If you are a Jazz lover, this is definitely the place for you.
Even you are not much of a Jazz or Classical music person, the food here is remarkable.

The crispy duck is awesome, the skin is crispy and the duck meat is very tender.
The Grilled filet mignon is also magnificant

1 Stars: lazy sevice, bad food and overpriced (by shar77)

shar77 — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

One of the worst resturants I have ever been too. We had a reservation at 9:00 and just had to wait 40 minutes to order drinks and dinner. Well 90 minutes later we received our beet salad that was highly recommended which tasted like nothing. Literally it was one beet cut in 4 pieces. For dinner we had the filet which was one of the worst pieces of steak we had ever had. It was cold and way over cooked and tasted like a expensive frozen dinner. Anyways $700 later for a party of six for unedible food and terrible service this is not a place to recommend.

5 Stars: A hidden GEM!!! (by omdspace)

omdspace — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Hidden away in the middle of bellaire, this l'il gem of a restaurant is a MUST try. The live jazz on the stage each and every night adds so much to the ambiance that you could literally just go there and order a bottle of wine, enjoy great conversations with your friend(s) and be able to thoroughly enjoy yourself. The acoustic of the restaurant is amazing and not overwhelming as in other places that you won't be able to hear your company. And that's just about the music. The food was amazing with a wide selection of wines and delicious dishes. Haven't had a single bad one yet. The wait staff is stupendous, welcoming and will help you pick out, if needed, what you will enjoy from appetizers to entrees to the right wine for your meal without the typical pretentiousness of LA. This is in fact where I proposed to fiancee and it's a definite gem. If you haven't been here, you will want to, I promise you.

5 Stars: Vibrato Vibrations! (by dgc1987)

dgc1987 — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 01:00:00 GMT

My girlfriend and I went here as part of my birthday weekend. She surprised me with a place that I didn't even know about even though I pass it all the time. The food was great! I had chicken and potatoes. Somehow they put a terrific spin on this down home favorite. The drinks were pretty good as well and the Jazz was decent. The service was good and the ambiance was just as impressive as the food!

5 Stars: Best intimate steakhouse... (by escrowprincess)

escrowprincess — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 02:00:00 GMT

This is by far one of the best dinner experiences of my life. My husband and I had such a great time. Tim our waiter was the greatest. Patient and very helpful with the recommendations. My husband had the double cut lamb chops with the mint jelly. Wow!! what a combination. It explodes in your mouth. He truly enjoyed every piece. I had the Alaskan Halibut and it was delicious! We also enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine after our meal, which made the experience even better. We enjoyed the Jazz and stayed till closing time. And did I mention we saw quite a few celebrities? Parking was a breeze. We got lucky on finding a spot as the lot was full at around 9pm. The drive back home was amazing, as we drove back through Mulholland Drive and the views were spectacular! I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a great dinner experience.

5 Stars: Hidden Gem! (by lgreenhouse)

lgreenhouse — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I've been trying to get to vibrato for months - and it was totally worth the wait! I fell in love instantly. Warm vibe, great service (at the bar and once we sat down for dinner) plus delicious food and a great wine list (especially if you like pinot). Kinda pricey, but well worth it. I dont know anywhere else you can listen to great music, have a great dinner and be treated like a super star. I'll be back soon!

1 Stars: Not Worth It (by willdabo)

willdabo — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

The restaurant has an ambiance that makes you excited and gets you ready for a great night out. This place SHOULD be awesome!
We were greatly disappointed....
I believe our waiter was on something. He couldn't stand still while he was talking, and he grabbed my wine right before I took a drink, says "Whoa, I think it may be bad!" He puts his nose in my glass (literally) and says "Oh, no, nevermind, it's fine."
Speaking of which, the wine was Ravenswood, Merlot - Vibrato charged us almost $50 a bottle for this wine. A standard benchmark for wine mark-up is twice retail. I discovered at BevMo that Ravenswood retails for $8 a bottle!
The jazz stage is really awesome. We were all ready to hear someone really go at some Jazz... the Jazz was played by old white guys (this should have been our first warning) It sounded worse than elevator music and at a lighter tone than when you are on hold for a Sprint operator..
The menu was really not very exciting. A few things sounded OK... we got the dory and the veal marsala. The dory was not too bad, but not worth $30, and the veal was hanging half off my plate and was without a doubt a reheated, frozen dish. It tasted like a tough shoe! After only ordering a bottle of wine and two entres, the bill was about $170 and I had to go home and eat a bowl of cereal to fill up since my food was so bad.

So there you have it. I would love to see this place under new managment, a new chef and different music.

5 Stars: great food, nice wine list, (by sorod)

sorod — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 02:00:00 GMT

With a new chef on board, This place is better than ever. I've been eating Marc's food for a while. He's finally in an environment that will really show his skills. The wait staff are very attentive but not over the top. The food came out hot and timely and the wine service was spot on. The desserts were amazing. I had the Pana Cotta with poached pear in some kind of red wine reduction. Outstanding. We will be there many nights to follow. Bravo!

4 Stars: Vibrato Vibe was... (by therealdiningdiva)

therealdiningdiva — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 01:00:00 GMT

incredible! great place for jazz lovers & "lovers" just the same. very cozy.
MY FAVORITE DISH: POUNDED VEAL CHOP PARMIGIANA

5 Stars: Favorite New Place (by bradwalker)

bradwalker — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Vibrato was absolutely amazing!! Its everything i image an old old super club to be. The music and ambiance were fantastic as was the food and service. The staff was attentive, accomodating and genuinly seemed to care - a rare treat these days!! The steaks were great but the scallops were as good as I've had anywhere. Vibrato should be on everyones list of restaurants to go to.

5 Stars: MOST Romantic Restaurant in L.A. (by marinagirl78)

marinagirl78 — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I Loved this place! I went with my husband and sat for a couple of hours drinking champagne and listening to the beautiful music. The restaurant looks funky from outside because it's located in a strip mall but trust me, go inside and you'll forget all about that. This is a gorgeous restaurant, with really fantastic food and excellent service. I highly recommend it for any special occasion.

5 Stars: Perfect for jazz lovers... (by jimmyray)

jimmyray — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

The acoustics and overall design of Vibrato set it apart from all other jazz venues in the city. It's extraordinary. Excellent drink selection and the food is a pleasant suprise (decent filet mignon, salads), but the music and drinks are the main draw. Great for locals especially, but well worth the drive if you're from either side of the hill.

5 Stars: This is a winner! (by gamafx)

gamafx — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 02:00:00 GMT

This place is outstanding. Perfect ambiance reminiscent of old Chicago, great food and... all that jazz! Perfect location for a sophisticated yet romantic date. I highly recommend it.

5 Stars: Perfect! (by chadelbert)

chadelbert — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Went here for my 1yr wedding anniversay. They had a bottle of champagne on ice waiting for my wife and I at the table. Beautiful decor. Very nice spot to make the Mrs. feel romanced. The live music was a perfect compliment to the atmosphere and the volume level was perfect so as to not hear conversation at another table but still didnt have to speak up to talk to each other. I had the Kansas City Bone In 20oz - perfectly prepared. Sauteed spinach was also very tasty. Garlic fries were not great. Best of all - - -NO valet and plenty of parking.

5 Stars: WOW!!!!!!! (by mariahrc)

mariahrc — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I loved this place!!!! Very romantic. The food although a little too much garlic was fantastic. The ambience and the look of the restaurant is absolutely outstanding. Ladies dress to impress.

Can't wait to go again.

Reservations are a must!

5 Stars: So romantic! (by queen4124)

queen4124 — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Such a romantic place. Though the place was packed, I felt like my boyfriend and I were the only ones there, listening to the fantastic music, eating incredible food. We had a great wine, the spanish prawns, the ribeye for him, the petite filet for myself with grilled brocolini and baked potato. for dessert, had the apple crostada. We were completely impressed with the whole package, I can't wait to come back here.

5 Stars: A new multiple of excellence in F&B and Jazz (by talljjparis)

talljjparis — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I've been in F&B for 7 years working for only 5 star-Fairmont, Hilton, Stars S.F., etc. This restaurant was totally striking for me. Walk into a room with soulful jazz artfully performed by seasoned professional and you will be transported. Perfect for an evening with close friends or a fantastic date. The food quality rates a 8.9-9 on my maticulous scale-I highly recommend the Filet. The wine list is very composed with many varietals from many regions-all good to compliment the food. On service, these people aim to please. If I had to complain, it would be that the food comes out almost too fast. After all: I want my evening at Vibrato to last. Also, the salads maybe slightly over dressed by my taste. To summerize: too good for LA ambiance, wonderful food preparation, excellent presentation, tremendous service. See you there on my 50th birthday. Simply Go. Bravo.

5 Stars: Great Food & Entertainment (by romanround)

romanround — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 01:00:00 GMT

We had an excellent meal with world class jazz entertainment & tremendous service. Since there is no cover or admission charge the price of food is very reasonable for value received.

3 Stars: I want to love this place. (by couchotter)

couchotter — Mon, 23 Jan 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I was very excited to revisit my old haunt in its new incarnation.

The decor managed to exude warmth while remaining very classy. A wonderful
place to bring a date. No cover for jazz on the night I went- there was a nice
balance of music and conversation in the room.

The service was beyond excellent.

Now for the disappointing bit... the food did not justify the extremely high prices.
I eat out a lot and am not easily shocked by high priced menu items. I let out a gasp
when I opened Vibrato's menu! If I'm going to spend like I'm eating at Asia de Cuba,
I better be completed WOWED by my meal.

I entered Vibrato, wanting to be a regular, and left wondering if I would return.
Maybe I will, but just for cocktails...

2 Stars: It was Okay, but I've been to a better one (by evita_chu)

evita_chu — Sat, 24 Dec 2005 01:00:00 GMT

The ambience was very nice. The food taste was average yet too pricey. There are better food, better music, better ambience than this place. I was taken aback when the tomato salad ($14) was actually a 3-slice tomato! OMG! Yes, 3 slices of a tomato.
The service was great, though. That's all I could say.

5 Stars: Amazing! (by littlegiant)

littlegiant — Sat, 01 Oct 2005 02:00:00 GMT

Something has changed at Vibrato, and I think it has a lot to do with the new chef, Chris Ennis. The ambience and music have always been great, although the food previously was somewhat less than spectacular. Vibrato now seems to be firing on all pistons - I've been twice in the last month alone and both times the food far surpassed my expectations. I would highly recommend Vibrato to anyone, although it's certainly not cheap! Great wine selection, and they pour a mean cocktail as well.

5 Stars: A special, special place (by piperfoodie)

piperfoodie — Sun, 07 Aug 2005 02:00:00 GMT

AMAZING dining room...Approaching the building from the parking lot, there's no way you can know what's inside...

Great food, good service, great music, and no cover charge the night we went.

Loved my veal chop and the short ribs. Desserts so-so, but who cares when everything else is so perfect?

5 Stars: I love it! (by wilbern)

wilbern — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I've been in three times in the last two weeks - I love it. The bar scene is great, the food delicious and the staff is warm and friendly. No attitude or pretension - and in the heart of Bel Air. The music was amazing two of the nights!

5 Stars: Fantastic!!! (by robertadams)

robertadams — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I had no idea what to expect - but it was like stepping into a 1950's Jazz club in New York. The food was excellent and the service was warm and welcoming. One of my new favorite spots!!!

5 Stars: Amazing and romantic (by ruegirl)

ruegirl — Wed, 11 May 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I'm not sure where some of these other people ate but I've had nothing but fantastic food at this restruant. Why would it be rated one of the best steaks in L.A otherwise?
I've had the steaks great! I had the fish great! The pounded veal chop out of this world and huge portions what more could you ask for? I think its one of the most romantic places in L.A. and they no longer charge $50 for shows..

5 Stars: A great experience (by ginasj55)

ginasj55 — Wed, 11 May 2005 02:00:00 GMT

This is one place I like to bring out of town visitors! The ambience, music and service are superb. I had the filet mignon and it was served medium rare as requested - perfect! And the desserts - oh my, absolutely wonderful!

1 Stars: Great "Prime Beef"....dry as hell !!!! (by jshapi)

jshapi — Sat, 30 Apr 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I was finally able to go to Vibrato, last week end with a party of 4.
The place was beautiful and the music perfect. The drinks were well served and the staff very nice. Unfortunately for us, the main reason why we picked the Bel-air spot was also the base of the mediocre evening. The renowned great "Prime Beef" aged 40 days, and that, was a complete disaster. From filet to porterhouse it was dry as hell.
It was like if they had forgotten the meat somewhere in the kitchen and had tried to send it back again after re-heating it. A shame!!
The place is beautiful but next time we'll go only for drinks before to enjoy a real dinner somewhere else.

5 Stars: Fabulous food (by robyn_dean)

robyn_dean — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 02:00:00 GMT

I had the pleasure of eating at Vibrato several times within one week while I was on vacation in LA. I tried something different each time and each meal was delicious---from the perfectly prepared vegetables to the tenderly cooked meat. The food and the friendly/engaging staff was why I kept coming back! All the restaurants in LA and I went almost exclusively to Vibrato! No regrets here!

3 Stars: Great music, great space, 86 the food! (by daisyd)

daisyd — Fri, 25 Jun 2004 02:00:00 GMT

Headed into the wilds of Beverly Glen on a quiet Tuesday night to check out Vibrato. GREAT space. GREAT ambience. GREAT music. NO cover charge. FREE parking.
BUT....we waited 25 mins for water and bread, longer still for our order to be taken. Service was slow-non existent. Creamed spinach was sauteed - why - for $9- unacceptable! "Tandoori Tuna Salad" was seared tuna on a bed of arugula and shaved parmesan - not bad - but it had never even smelled an Indian spice - and parmesan??? Hazelnut Dacquoise was sold out. Apple pie was average and enjoyable. C'mon Vibrato - you can do better! It had to be the chef's night off? For now, go for a great glass of Santa Barbara pinot noir, a snack and some terrific jazz and you won't be disappointed at this great, grown up music venue.