Medusa Lounge

I love this place. Super swanky and great drinks and ambiance. Highly recommend!!

Pros: Everything

Cons: Nothing

Posted 07/16/09

WOW! I came to Medusa Lounge for the first time like a year ago for a friend's birthday and it was awesome! The music was cool, the people were cool, and the waitress was really great and gave us good service. Now the place is full of weirdos and the music (if you want to call it that) is terrible! I brought friends and was so embarrassed! I asked the bartender what happened and she said she didn't know because she was new. (She must be new to bartending also because the service was horrible.) I felt like I walked into the twilight zone and don't plan on returning EVER! So unless you're a freak who likes ear-piercing sounds coming out of a Dj booth, and bartenders that don't know how to make anything, I'd skip this place at all costs.

Pros: Rob the door guy was really cool...

Cons: Horrible music, horrible staff, strange people

Posted 07/06/09

I checked this place out at their official website and it's a bit misleading. The website makes it seem like a very nice restaurant, but I went during a weekend and it's 100% lounge - no tables and not typical menu. They simply have couches and ottomans set up around the perimter of the place and have a shortened "cocktail menu". I know "lounge" is in the name, but if you check out their website and images posted online you will see what I'm talking about.

The waitress was nice, but way over worked. She had to tend to about 30 or more guests so the service wasn't too hot. I will say that pretty much their entire staff is really cool.

I'm not much of a club person mostly because of the crowd that you find at such places, but this place had a really chill and diverse crowd with ppl that simply wanted to have a good time.

I will probably be going back now that I have a better feel for the place....oh, and the music was really cool.

Pros: Atmosphere, the crowd, the music, the food

Cons: the area, size

Posted 04/18/09

I set up a birthday party for my boyfriend with Medusa's people. They hooked us up with lots of saved space and they constantly checked with me to make sure everything was OK. Even when our friends arrived late in the evening when there was a line, the bouncer let them in.
Inside the decor was cool with red couches and crazy chandliers. The dance floor was rockin' on the Friday night and the place was packed with fun people. It was a wonderful place for a party and I can't thank Mitch and his staff enough.

Pros: very un-la in that the staff were super nice and accomodating; the bartenders were hot; the drinks were stiff; djs were tons of fun

Posted 02/18/09

Checked this place out a few times with a group of friends, first time in we opened a tab with the blonde bartender who introduced herself as Manda, she was cool to us all night and remembered our drink order everytime one of us came back up to the bar. After the third time she knew everyone's name!! Did i mention the place was PACKED! She was super quick and she seemed to be having fun, she was play ninja fighting with the barback, the girl can kick HIGH! The place itself is really different all the stained glass and velvet, the drinks aren't overpriced either so it doesnt hurt your pocket. The back dance floor has a whole different atmosphere and we learned there is another set of bathrooms back there.. The food overall is not all that great but the sweet potato fries are worth having twice. There was a big mix of people there and plenty of girls to talk to. Really had a great time, have been back several times and was shocked that Manda remembered my name and my drink. If you want a non-Hollywood kind of bar but still like nice surroundings i would check this place out. Thanks.

Pros: Great service from Manda at the bar, not too pricey, ambience is chill

Cons: food isnt that great

Posted 01/18/09

I checked this place out recently with a few of my girlfriends and we loved it. The inside is so beautiful and nothing like I have ever seen before. The crowd is cool and mature - everyone's out to have a good time. Drinks were good, but the food was a little pricey for what was served, we thought. The music was excellent. Overall, we had a really good time here and would definitely go back.

Posted 01/14/09

This place is gorgeous- absolutely beautiful to look at. The decor is gothic but not in the black-hair-dye sense. The staff is incredibly helpful, which I experienced firsthand planning my birthday party there. I reserved an area for my friends to gather and we were treated exceptionally well.

The drinks were the usual Hollywood prices, the music was, well, strange, and the dance floor was fun once we had some drinks in us. This bar could use more bathrooms and a smoking area so people don't have to stand out front.

Valet parking is only $5, but two (TWO!) of my friends who valeted had their cars broken into. WATCH OUT.

Pros: ambiance

Cons: location

Posted 11/06/08

I brought my sister here who lives out of town and I had never been here.
The place is easy to find due to the huge lions outside as well as red lit up medusa.
They had valet for $5, but about 10ft. over is a side street you can park on for free.
We got there about 10, it was quiet, relaxed, and a lot of seats were open.
The place is absolutely amazing with its never ending decor, with always something to talk of.
Whether it be the ginormous chandelier's, the stained glass windows, the beautiful details are really amazing.
Only one bathroom, which is always annoying when you have to wait in line for a one holer.
By 11:00 the place was hopping with the most incredible characters.
It felt like being in london, with a dash of hipster, a dash of normal, a dash of indie.
Most ladies were wearing dresses, but by no means do you feel strange just wearing jeans.
I can't believe how much the men were into fashion.
If you like to people watch, on a nice big couch with tufits, gargoyles above your head, awesome music that sounds like early 60's redone in a modern way, go here.
Go here just for the atmosphere, and to look at all the amazing things.
Good mixture of men and women.
The bartenders were all sweet, but by 11:00 there was a large line at the bar.
Be patient, be nice.
The only thing that sucked was we had friends meeting us there, who came later and they could not get in due to the huge line out the door and they weren't allowing anymore people in.
Thats when we paid our tab of 5 drinks,($40) and left for the night.
At least 3 more people got to get in!

Pros: Great place all round.

Cons: 1 toilet,

Posted 10/10/08

are you for real? This restaurant is so beautiful and full of potential! The guy to girl ratio is 10 to 1. Too bad my girlfriend and I waited at the bar for 45 MINUTES to get a drink. The bartenders were all women. The one closest to us spent the entire time flirting with the guys and trying to sort out their credit slips. Everyone was complaining about the wait, it wasn't even that busy! The asian girl with the tramp stamp was so rude to everyone, men and women. She got my drink wrong twice because she walked away before I was finished ordering! It is very obvious that these bartenders have little or no experience, step it up a notch, medusa lounge and you will have something great!! Right now you are coming across as amateur, rude, and DIRTY!
The bald doorguy was very nice and apologetic. I will give this place 6 or so months before I even THINK of going back.

Pros: rad decor

Cons: poor, rude, slow bartenders

Posted 07/04/08

We have been to Medusa a few times now and we will continue to go there. We absolutely love that it is about 10 minutes away from our downtown apartment, the valet is only $5, we've always had either a table or the choice to sit at the bar. One downfall is that the menu isn't very big so you don't have a lot of choices, but if you go there enough, you'll find what you love (Sweet potato fries). They usually have a DJ late night on the weekend and usually play great music and a great mix. The cocktails are so much fun to try them all and find your go to drink (try The Blue Violet martini). We've never had a bad experience here and we'll continue to dine here or just come for the drinks!!!

Pros: Great drinks, great sweet potato fries, very chill place

Cons: Small menu

Posted 05/24/08

It's off the beaten track and not the easiest to find, but once you get there it's completely worth it. The food is impeccable, the staff is friendly, and the atmosphere is amazing. I cannot for the life of me understand maybell's one star either. I had a glass of Pegase Merlot, and the pour was perfect. The only thing I can think of is that maybe maybell is not a normal wine drinker and therefore doesn't know that a wine glass shouldn't be filled to the brim. Not only does this place exude taste, style, and excellence, it's overall charm is something everyone should experience. But don't take my word for it -- go see for yourself!

Pros: Everything

Cons: hard to find

Posted 05/07/08

I am pretty excited about this place, being in the neighborhood for a few years. It's exactly what the gentrified south-of-silverlake area needs, and here's why.. It's quite possibly the funkiest bar you can find in L.A. without being pretentious, has great tap beer and a full bar and it feeds people with really good food. It was a german german place and was hardly open most the time until the new owner came in. The lodgey, almost gothic interior is strange and intimate at the same time. There are a bunch or beers on draught (mirror pond being my favorite) and a menu that is very ambitious and delicious. I have not been let down by anything on this menu. Seriously, I cannot understand the review with one star. It's a tapas-style menu, but larger portions than other tapas places. Get the tomato stuffed with mac & cheese and the garlic shrimp to start and then treat yourself to the pork chop. Or the kobe burger. and the steaks have an excellent flame touch taste. Awesome all around. My only criticism is the music: the predictable pop-funk-dance-r&b lazy dj mix that is tedious, annoying and gets really loud on the weekend. A much better idea would be new alt-dance stuff. Or new alt-rock.(think ting-tings, vampire weekend, she wants revenge, etc). They will lose me and many more if i hear justin timberlake mashups once too often. Better, smarter music would put this place on the map. And I understand it's being built out to have an event space in back. I can't wait.

Pros: eclectic, chill, almost gothiic lounge feel. friendly staff. draught beer and great food.

Cons: when the dj 's take over, it's over. music is awful.

Posted 05/05/08

I am not sure how this restaurant got so many good reviews but after eating there last night I am suspicious of where they came from. After being promptly seated by a friendly hostess our waitress took our drink orders and returned with the smallest glass of wine I have ever been served anywhere in my life. I started laughing and asked the waitress if that really was the size of the pour and she looked at me with a straight face and replied yes and walked off.
Next up came the starters. I ordered a Greek salad which arrived on iceberg lettuce, had zero feta cheese on it and black (not greek)canned olives all over it.
I had the salmon and my husband ordered the cod which were both so ridiculously salty it almost seemed like a joke.
Easily one of the worst meals we've had. The bill was almost $100.00 dollars which really hurt since we couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Pros: ambience

Cons: everything else, especially the food

Posted 04/26/08

This place was awesome!! The decor and the ambience was super cool. The food was AMAZING! The Summer Wrap was delicious and the Pan-Seared Salmon I got was to die for. The drinks were skillfully made by the cute bartender there. I am so going back.

Posted 03/07/08

The food here is excellent. I didn't try the sushi, but the rest was really good. I was surprised at the crowd though, i was there for a friday night and it was virtually empty and the people that were there were very... mixed. Some older people (40s) some younger people (20s) but overall not crowded. I guess because they haven't had their grand opening yet?
It's kind of funny the reactions imacolatta got for her review, makes me think it's people from the lounge, but i found her review to be spot on and i don't think she ever said they weren't attractive! She was much nicer than some of the people on YELP, i think one said, ''they looked a little scary, like grumpy, sad face twins'' Agreed that all the waitresses were gorgeous, but the 2 blond wigs when you walk in the door did absolutely throw me for a second. Not in a bad way, just unexpected. The corseted waitresses were so friendly and the bartender makes great drinks. I'll definitely visit this place after the grand opening, especially to see if the crowd works itself out!

Pros: Ambiance, Food, seated quickly.

Cons: depending on where you are, location is a bit out of the way.

Posted 02/25/08

The food is to die for. The decor is flawless. The music kicks booty. The beer, wine, sake and cocktail selection is extensive. The staff is knowledgable, helpful and friendly (love the fishnets and boots). And the 2 bartenders are absolutely gorgeous. Need I say more? GO NOW!

Pros: Food, bartenders, service

Cons: Nothing

Posted 02/18/08

Let me just say i have left my boyfriend to go in search of the chef who made that food. I plan on proposing to him/her on site...

I love this place. If not for the 2 lions(griffins?) guarding the entrance i would have missed it, but thankfully i didn't. I walked in and was greeted by well, 2 nicole richie with breasts bobsy twins. WHAT is with those wigs and fake... um, eyelashes =D Luckily the decor distracted me quickly enough with its bizarre but utterly acid trippy cool over the top space. We were quickly seated in a dark booth, perfect for nuzzling whomever you're with. i fell in love with the look of the place to start with.. then i fell in love with the food..

Fried Ravioli - heavenly little pockets of tastiness that is a must try.
Gnochi - was delicious and like little pillows...
Baked Alaskan - delicate, melt in your mouth with a not to sweet ponzu and delicious tiny tomatoes
Bruschetta - the bread was soft in the inside and grilled lightly on the outside, the tomato mixture was perfect, not too garlicky.
Stuffed Tomato - tomato not too much, stuffed with macaroni and cheese. i didn't try it, but my boyfriend loved it.

For dessert we split the mango mochi - beautiful presentatin, but still just mochi =)

Each dish was fantastic, and i was happy to see it very vegetarian friendly. I will definitely be going back for more!!

It's still in it's soft opening, but in case the owners are reading, a few things i think would make this place have a line out the door:

- Upgrade your sound system, and start playing some CDs and music that fits the decor!!
- lose the sushi. NOt only does it not fit the ambiance, but it just doesn't blend well and sushi enthusiasts will scoff at it being served alongside deep friend ravioli.
- stay open on SUNDAYS! =) ok, that's more for me, but...

Pros: decor, ambiance, FOOD, price was very reasonable.

Posted 02/17/08

This place is a gem!!! Food was amazing and what a great place to go on a Friday or Saturday night!!! Not to mention, the bartender is a hottie!! This place is going to be very popular after the grand opening!

Pros: Food, decor, staff

Cons: none yet

Posted 02/14/08

Wow, this place is quite a find. The bar has an extensive selection of fine wines, beer, and liquor. The atmosphere is very inviting. Prices are great and the food is fantastic. Some highlights: the deep fried ravioli, and the salmon. I will definitely be back.

Posted 02/05/08

I was really happy to find medusa lounge. They have put together a wonderful, eclectic tapas-style menu. Everything we tried was great, especially the lamb chop! The decor is very unique - beautiful fresco walls, rod iron chandelliers, and interesting sculpture. And the perfect lighting, music, and ambiance to enjoy it. The service was great - very friendly, accomodating, and easy on the eyes. Just make sure you have time to take it all in - you are going to want to spend at least a couple hours here.

Pros: Unique, interesting, fun

Posted 01/27/08

What an amazing find! Great food and a fantastic interior. I was told that the restaurant was built by a set designer for Billy Wilder. The food was delicious with a selection that will satisfy anyone, even the pickiest of eaters. Loved the Deep Fried Ravioli and Pan Seared Lamb Chop! Also the sushi was so yummy and fresh. The Lady Medusa martini is a must try. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Great place to go with friends, visitors and on a date! Oh and good prices too. Definitely will be back!

Pros: Great food, Unique and inviting atmosphere

Posted 01/27/08

This place was amazing! The atmosphere really makes you feel like you are in a different world. The food was amazing as well! Especially the deep fried ravioli! I would recommend to anyone to give this place a try. Im sure you will find yourself going back many times.

Pros: Service was great! Variety in food is amazing!

Cons: non! it was great!

Posted 01/15/08

A great stylish place to relax with friends or take business affiliates to meetings. Very upscale with descent prices. A variety of great foods makes this place a definite favorite. No matter what your taste is Medusa has something for everyone.

Pros: Awesome atmosphere, full of character and great food.

Cons: A little hard to find on the street so look carefully!

Posted 01/15/08

I have found this really cool diamond in the rough on Beverly Blvd. Me and my girlfriends were driving around looking for a place to have a drink and hang out, and are tired of going to the same old played out bars and clubs, been there done that!!! We wanted something with some character to it, not just abunch of flashing lights and loud techno music... you know what I mean the typical LA scene. So we landed at this place called the Medusa Lounge, we seen the Two Lions gaurding the entrance so we pulled up to the valet and walked in... Wow this place is so incredibly unique, the thing that my girlfriend love most was all the really cool staind glass windows, they were really sheek and the decor was so awesome, everywhere you look there was something new and eye catching. Come to find out they actually have the iron gates from the movie spartacus!!! How cool is that. The cocktail servers were totally Hot, they were all wearing corsets. The atmosphere was chill plus they have tapas and sushi, not to mention there drinks were not horribly over priced and they stayed open till 2:00am, food was served untill 10:00pm then after 10:00 the lights go down, and it gets really fun they have cool music plus they throw really cool events, the bartender was talking about a masquerade party coming up, we are totally in!!! If anyone is looking for a really cool, unique place before it becomes a main stream diffenitly check it out!! We did now its our new spot. Ciao

Pros: Great decor, valet parking, nice variety in wine, great prices, different.

Cons: not open on sundays

Posted 01/14/08

My partner and I just moved to LA and excited to see Lowenbrau Keller listed in LA magazine. We love German food and decided to give it a try last Saturday night (Aug 4th). We arrived at 8:30pm and waited at the door to be seated. As we waited we took a good look around and admired the over the top interior design. We also noticed that the restaurant was nearly empty. We waited, and waited, and waited to be noticed by restaurant staff but nobody seemed to care. We went to look for someone and found a lone woman washing glasses behind the bar. To our shock she stated that they had a party of 15 people in the back and only one cook. They were too busy to seat addtional customers and they were no longer serving for the night. 8:30PM ON A SATURDAY NIGHT IN LOS ANGELES!! 15 guests had them so busy they had to close the restaurant. This place is a joke. Don't bother.

Posted 08/06/07

I've been eating here for over 25 years and though I always order the Wiener Schnitzel, it's a great bargain and a full meal in itself. My father is from Vienna and my Polish mother cooked like this when I grew up, so I know the food is authentic and a full dinner including bread (and sometimes, pate), salad, entree with potatoes and vegetables is less than $20. Parking is free and it's only a five to ten minute drive from the Music Center and Disney Hall. It's owned and run by the widow of the set designer who created the interior which is worth the trip alone.

Posted 02/25/07

The Lowenbrau Keller is just like the Ratskellers I visited in Germany. The over-the-top decor is authentically German, and the food is too. Lowenbrau serves some of the best sauerkraut ever (homemade by the owner herself), and the potato salad and sweet salad dressing are particularly good as well. Service can be a bit surly, but that only adds to the authentic German experience -- except here in the U.S. location you don't have to pay for bread. :) Definitely worth at least one visit, and if you're like me, you'll return again and again. I'm planning lunch with a friend there next week even though I now live in Orange County -- Lowenbrau is that good!

Pros: Quaint, old-world, authentically German atmosphere, awesome decor, excellent German food, will in general impress your friends!

Cons: Out-of-the-way location, sketchy service

Posted 02/15/07

Old neighborhood restaurant is well preserved. Supposedly founded by a set dresser who worked for Billy Wilder.

Posted 10/15/06

We've been going to Lowenbrau for at least 20 years, and each time we go, it's just a wonderful, unique experience. There really is NO place like this. It needs a little work but that doesn't matter. IT never left it's original roots and hasn't changed with the times, which in some cases is a good thing. The food is OUTSTANDING even to this day. WE all love the ladies that work there and they are just delightful! I will be very sad the day Lowenbrau closes it's doors, let's hope not for years to come!

Pros: Great food!, Great prices!, Great ambiance!

Cons: , none, none

Posted 10/20/04

This place is just like having dinner inside a kitschy Bavarian tchotchke. It's fantastic, like nothing else in L.A., really. It's eye-popping fun. Okay, the food's nothing to write home about, and the German beers on tap - Spaten and Lowenbrau - aren't my personal choice. The service can be a bit short, but this is a small place, patronized by regulars who've been going there forever. With repeated visits, the welcomes get warmer. It won't be everyone's stein of beer, but I've got a real soft spot for Lowenbrau Keller.

Pros: fantastic ambience, low key

Cons: , brusque service

Posted 06/22/04

This place is not for everyone. Call for reservations, not because it'll be packed, but because they need to know how much food to have on hand! Service is slow, sometimes brusque, sometimes flirty. But the ambience is quirky and MAGICAL! We're having all our birthday celebrations here because it's so special, but we have few friends or family to share it with who would be able to chill out and enjoy the long ride.
Food is tasty and satisfying and the space is a must-see. Just come in for a Spaten and check it out and see if it's for you.

Pros: authentic, unique, parking

Cons: slow service, not cheap

Posted 10/05/03

While the fare consists of tasty German staples (albeit a little too salty), this place is all about the atmosphere! It feels like an amusement park the decor is so interesting -- perhaps more than any other place I've been in L.A. There's even a rare Bösendorfer grand piano that the manager sometimes allows guests to play!

Pros: free/adequate parking, AMBIENCE!

Cons: slow service

Posted 01/09/03