Eclectic Wine Bar & Grille

My husband and I "refound" The Eclectic a couple yrs ago and are pretty much hooked. The food is always tasty ,they really know how to poach an egg perfectly , and I would know this as we usually are there for Sun. champagne brunch. The staff is knowledgable, highly competent, friendly and attentive. We know most of them personally now and are treated like family. I also quite often have lunch with them , solo, during the week on my days off and am always comfortable with a glass of wine, a book and great food

Pros: consistently good food and THE WAIT STAFF

Cons: not always easy parking

Posted 11/01/09

Whenever I get the chance to travel to NoHo (live in SF Bay Area), there's always one place I always go to, that's this place!! Can't beat the location. Most of the time I go for the "white wine" palatable dishes (out of habit, usually there during the day), which are great (haven't had any bad dishes all the times I went), and priced reasonably, but I do have a nice steak dinner with the great red wine selections when I can. Love the staff, always treat me right.

Pros: Friendly atmosphere, cool staff

Cons: None

Posted 10/14/09

I have been eating here at the Eclectic for 10 years now & tonight i had the experience of eating the best fillet with pepper sauce ever...!! I understand they have a new chef that is taking them to a new level....& hey...did i mention the delicious Souffle.!! i will be back really soon..!!

Pros: Great ambiance...

Posted 10/13/09

Went for happy hour ... going back for more. This was a grown up science project involving art, architecture and music to create the setting for simple to complex meals and wines. The presentation felt calculated, like the proprietor?s experience was the patron?s value. The menu could entice the most finicky and please a crowd because it reads like a ?favorites? list. The wine list is not snob level and that added passion to the character of this establishment. The service we experienced seemed fortified with the ?know how? to pair your meal to your palette. The prices seemed fair, if you want good food it isn?t cheap; the pricing was fair and reasonable. I grew up in NoHo and admit I was shocked by the offering, service and atmosphere. I would recommend the Eclectic Wine Bar and Grille for anyone who truly believes their relationships are enhanced by the experiences they share.

Pros: Art, atmosphere, menu , and happy hour.

Cons: Location and parking.

Posted 10/07/09

My friend was in town for the weekend so we wanted a nice cozy spot for brunch. We ended up coming to Eclectic and had the chilaquiles for breakfast. It made our day.
Excellent food, and awesome service.
Also their pricing is very reasonable. I will definitely be back to this restaurant.

Pros: Amazing food

Cons: n/z

Posted 09/13/09

The chicken pesto sandwich (on a baget), second to none!
Ceasar salad w/ cajun scallops, another favorite. Many great dinner selections, chicken madera, lobster ravioli & a great wine selection too.

The new chef has many new specials

Pros: wine selection and customer atmosphere

Cons: parking

Posted 09/10/09

i like the food

Posted 03/04/09

I have been dining at the Eclectic for some time now and I think my favorite thing is the consistency. So many restaurants are changing their menus to help with the decline of sales, changing from fresh to frozen, but the Eclectic stands by their organic and fresh foods. I have some old standbys which always fill me up and make me happy, first is the Rosemary Chicken Pasta, I love the artichokes and sun dried tomatoes, also the Goat Cheese Pizza is a personal fav, for a lighter meal I love the Eclectic Chop Salad, and there Soup of the Day is always a treat. I find it odd that there are mixed reviews, as I have never had a bad experience at this place. The wait staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and highly entertaining, the ambiance is relaxed, and artistic. Overall I love this place, and so does everyone I know, its been a staple in the area for well over 17 years.

Pros: Large Menu and Great Food, Fantastic Wait Staff

Posted 02/08/09

After nearly two decades in North Hollywood, the Eclectic Wine Bar and Grill, right in the middle of the Noho theater district, is still going strong. Every dish is mind blowing, as well as above average. Incredible soups, salads, seafood, poultry, pasta (Lobster Ravioli my favorite), and high quality meats, including New Zealand Lamb. Be sure to order the Chocolate Soufle with a Molten Chocolate Filling for dessert, it's consistently fantastic. Sunday brunch, as well as the French Toast, is the best I have ever had! Excellent service, outstanding food, wonderful atmosphere, I love this place and its warm inviting decor and staff. The owner is also amazing; he really takes care of us and is warm and inviting to all his patrons. It?s much more than a meal at the Eclectic!

Pros: very popular with celebrities

Cons: better to make reservations

Posted 12/27/08

I live down the street from this place. I drove by it a few times and thought it looked interesting from the outside: "Eclectic Cafe" - looks sort of, well, eclectic. I went the first time and had an okay meal. I thought it was bland. I went back, well over a year later. I thought I'd give it another chance. The second time I ordered the pasta arrabiata and added chicken to it. It was, well, bland again. The pasta was overcooked and the bowl of pasta was $18. I don't mind paying $18 for a bowl of pasta when it's good, but this was bad, really bad. I've had better frozen arrabiata from trader joe's. The two things I like about this place are, (1) the location - near the theater; and (2) the wine list. For dinner, I'll be sticking with the excellent places on Ventura Boulevard.

Pros: location, ambience

Cons: overpriced and gross food

Posted 09/18/08

delicious! can't say enough. go there now! the food was outstanding! the wine selection was expansive. we loved it.

Posted 06/11/08

Usually one engages in a dining experience to explore the sensation of taste. Upon entering the Eclectic Wine Bar & Grille, the neon blue and yellow sign behind the front door and the framed National Geographic photos of waterfalls masquerading as works of art on the wall behind us should have been clue enough that there wouldn't be much taste involved. However, against our better judgement, we let the "exemplary" reviews encapsulated within Citysearch win over our desire to judge this book by its cover. We are now convinced that no one but the proprieter of this establishment could have been responsible for writing these reviews considering this was, by far, one of the most unpalatable meals we have ever had. The grilled salmon atop the salad nicoise was totally inedible as it had obviously passed its expiration date because it was inexcusably fishy and tough. As a replacement, our waitress brought the ahi tuna version as a substitute, which was equally unsuitable for consumption. The Chicken Madeira, noted as a favorite among patrons, not only lacked any notes of actual Madeira wine, it tasted like cream mixed with raw curry powder poured over rubberized, cube cut chicken. On the upside, our waitress was very sweet and apologetic and she had obviously argued with her boss to get a meal removed from our bill. While the prices are not outrageous for what is advertised on the menu, what you get in the end would have you in a fit of rage much like getting swindled by a used car salesman.

Pros: Service

Cons: Everything else.

Posted 04/05/08

My friends and I were going to a show at the El Portal Theater and wanted a place to dine before the show.
We decided on Eclectic because we could walk to the theater after dinner. We ended up having the BEST time. It is sort of an artsy, jazzy wine bar with a GREAT VIBE!. The place seemed very "New York-y" Our server was really nice. The food was really good. I had the Calamari -which was more of a calamari steak that was pan fried...not the usual deep fried rings you get at other places- it was tender and very nicely prepared. for my entree, I had the Mahi-Mahi. It was came with a white wine caper sauce. It tasted really fresh. The best part, was the wine flight. They had several, I chose the Latitia flight. It was fun to get to taste several different wines from the same winery. I thought their wine selection was really good, not your run of the mill wines. We didn't have dessert on this visit. This was our first time here and my friends and I so excited we found a new spot for us to go to.. regardless of going to the theater or not.

Pros: NIce vibe, great service, good selection of wine

Cons: Parking, although they do have valet

Posted 03/27/08

Listen, the people who run this place and the staff are really awesome, and they treat you well, but seriously, their WINE LIST is comparable to that of say, an Olive Garden. They have all the standard crappy red and white wines by the major labels that sell crappy red and white wines. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING of ANY QUALITY or QUANTITY in the wine list. Just to let you know, a wine bar is supposed to have HUNDREDS of wines. That's why it's a wine bar. A wine bar that has 30 wines is not a wine bar.

What is SO SAD about this is, if they had a REAL wine drinker who owned the bar or ran it, the number of INCREDIBLE wines at DECENT prices would be on the list. Not your standard Rodney Strong and Stag's Leap or Kendall Jackson.

The BEAUTY of being a retail establishment is YOU CAN GET WINE FROM EVERYWHERE. You can get wine that CONSUMERS have no access to. For example, the Frank Family wines, which are sold at the vineyard only to consumers, and who produce an oppulent, delicious, cab for around $40-- sell DIRECTLY to restaurants.

There are amazing Chilean wines for say, 13 bucks a bottle retail, that are powerful, delicious, special, that this place should be seeking out and tasting EVERY WEEK, trying to get SPECIAL wines into their list. It's obvious there is no one there doing this. With their usual mark-up, this place could sell such a wine for 40-45 a bottle and have incredibly pleased customers. The food was allright, the wine selection trully awful, the staff amazing. But, someone is NOT DOING their work at this place.

Pros: Great staff

Cons: Everything else

Posted 03/16/08

MY ROUTINE ON A FRIDAY EVENING AFTER WORK IS TO HAVE A WORKOUT AND WALK ON INTO THE ECLECTIC AND RELAX WITH A GLASS OF WINE AND DELICIOUS FOOD. ALTHOUGH WE GO IN DRESSED IN OUR WORKOUT ATTIRE, WE ARE TREATED LIKE WE ARE DRESSED TO THE HILT! WE ARE ALWAYS WELCOMED AND GREETED WITH WARMTH AND ATTENTIVENESS. WHATEVER YOU CHOSE TO DINE ON HERE, YOUR TASTES BUDS WILL DANCE AND YOUR SPIRIT BE AT PEACE.
VICTORIA

Posted 03/16/08

I went here with a few friends just expecting a regular meal and ended up being pleasantly surprised.
Breadsticks served when you arrive, outrageously good!
Wait staff, perfectly friendly and helpful
Drink Selection, great
Food, truly fresh, truly good, well prepared.
It's one of those times where its so great you can't even describe it in a review.
Eat here

Pros: Food, Wait Staff, Parking, everything

Cons: Bread is so good you fill up fast

Posted 01/06/08

I've tried many other restaurants in the area and not one quite compares to the Eclectic. The food is absolutely fantastic and the vast menu has something for everyone, even the most finicky eaters. Every dish is prepared with great care and consistency. I've tried many things on the menu expecting to find a dish that was not so great but that hasn't happened yet. The bolognese sauce is one of the best! Not too heavy, just right and so full of flavor. The salads are always fresh and tasty and the pizzas.....wow!!!! If you want a little decadence, the Chocolate Goddess is sheer bliss. It makes me wiggle with delight! The staff is very friendly and knowledgable, pairing the perfect wine with your meal. The ambience is really great with the everchanging original artwork, the cozy booths and comfortable tables. They can accomodate large parties as well as romantic tables for two. I just can't say enough about the quality and freshness of the foods. I'm so happy that they now have valet parking. It really makes a big difference on busy nights. I highly recommend The Eclectic to everyone! This is a place I know I can always count on for a great meal. Thank you Eclectic for consistency in a town that is always changing!!!!!

Pros: All around Great restaurant!!

Cons: none

Posted 08/11/07

This place is, hands down, the best in town. Everything was top notch, from the atmosphere, to the service, to the food. When I want to eat out, I usually go to one of a few restaurants that I like, but I am so glad that my friend introduced me to Eclectic! When I walked through the door, I was impressed with the artistic decor, original artwork, and rave reviews on the walls. The staff was very friendly and we were seated immediately. Our waiter was not only handsome and charming, but really helpful when I had a lot of questions about the menu. The focaccia bread was so delicious that I had to remind myself to save room for the main course. My grilled chicken sandwhich and rosemary chicken pasta were incredible, not too heavy and at the same time delicious and fulfiling. This place is definitely my new favorite, and I will be back very soon!

Pros: Ambience, Service, Food, Location

Posted 08/07/07

Not sure what people see in this place. The atmosphere is cool but the food is below average. I wont be back.

Pros: Scene

Cons: Food

Posted 07/29/07

Eclectic seems to want to be fine dining, but can't shed some old habits that make it kind of tacky. When you walk in, there's a diner-style "Please wait to be seated" sign. Put a hostess stand in. People know how to eat out and they'll stop there, even if you have no one at the stand. The menu is diverse, but it seems like a product of indecision rather than culling together different cuisines. Goat cheese apetizer was tasty, though the greens it was topped with were limp. Tortellini carciofi was overcooked. Chicken a la Madeira was good. Portions were ample.

But then a dessert tray was brought out. There's nothing more unapetizing than dried foods on a platter. Price was moderate for what you get. All in all, this retaurant still needs to grow up a bit. Take these other rave reviews with a grain of salt. My suspicion is they were all written by the same person.

Posted 05/10/07

I haven't been this pleased with a restaurant in quite a while! The atmosphere was my favorite... I almost didn't notice how boring my date was because I was so captivated by all the artwork on the walls. Usually going to restaurants is more of a hassle than fun because I'm such a picky eater. This place actually had more than a few things on the menu I would gladly try out!!! The service was great ... quick and friendly! Infact our waiter was more entertaining than my date. Of course he did get cool points for introducing me to the restaurant. I can't wait to go back... in better company ;)!!

Posted 05/08/07

What a great way to complete an evening in the emerging NOHO art district! The service was friendly and accommodating. The food was beautifully plated and colors and textures blended to create attractive offerings. The menu offered a wide variety of options, and server was knowledgable in wine pairings to best compliment our food selections. Feel free to wander the restaurant as it showcases the work of emerging local artists. Definitely try the stuffed mushroom appetizer, the pizzas are fantastic, but watch out for the bread! It's so yummy that you may not make it to desert. I can live without the sweets, but give me good bread any time!

Pros: great food, reasonably priced, location

Posted 05/08/07

I brought a few people from my family and a couple friends in for dinner and I am always afraid to go out with this group of people because they are such picky eaters. At our table we had two vegetarians and two very "Fat Free" conscious people. Everyone was able to order with ease and was very pleased with how great the food tasted and how helpful the servers were to make sure they got just what they wanted. The place itself is unique and beautifully designed and the whole environment is chill but upbeat at the same time. I am telling everyone I know to go enjoy an evening at this venue. The experience was delightful!!

Pros: They have Valet Parking

Posted 05/08/07

We are so happy to find this place in the neighborhood! We tried the wine flights and there were different and delicious. It would be nice if they added some more wine choices to their offering, but at least what they had was good.
He had the filet and said it was one of the best that he has ever had, incredibly tender and cooked to perfection!
The steak salad is delicous...the tuna...and I am continually trying new things each time. So far, never a disappointment!
The service can be a bit on the slower side, but it's a nice relaxing pace.
Definitely worth a try!!!

Pros: Food, Ambience, Location, good Wine

Cons: Not enough wine options, sometimes slow service

Posted 04/28/07

All I have to say is the stuffed mushrooms are mouth-watering delicious!! Eclectic has such a different appeal to it than most places. When you walk in you don't feel like your just walking into a restaurant. The design and deco of the place keeps you continuously looking around. They have fabulous artwork and photography covering the walls and with the polished service and great food, dining at Eclectic will be an experience that will keep you coming back for more!! They also are always promoting cool deals on their website and newsletters like free appetizers, "wine-flights", gift certificates and more. My opinion is that if you have not dined there... you are missing out!

Pros: They have valet parking

Posted 04/20/07

Stepping from one section of the Valley to the next. This restaurant was a straight top ten. Five minutes from Universal. My dinner of Chicken pasta and a margarita pizza, was only surpassed by the Waiter's and Owner's knowledge and expertise. Killer heart-shaped ice cream desserts, I will try the rest on the next visit. I have lived in LA for over 20 years and this is one of the top three restaurants.

Posted 02/27/07

My husband and I frequent this restaurant at least once a month. We love the owner, love the food (especially the Chicken Madera and the Warm Steak Salad) and love the waiters. The environment is artistic and comfortable at the same time. It is very open and pleasant. By the way, I hear the pizzas are very good, I've just never had one. Would love to see them get some more wines. But I will keep coming either way!

Posted 01/29/07

My wife and I have been going here for well over 10 years. After a few visits it's easy to feel like you're part of Brian's family! Great pizza and pasta and salads too (Salmon or Steak Nicoise!) - but whenever I need to feel homey I order the rosemary chicken or the chicken madeira and a glass of wine, then I'm there! Meat and fish are good too but I rarely order them here. Guess I save that for elsewhere. My complaints, really more my recommendations, are that the menu hasn't changed very much over the years and neither has the wine selection. I'd like to see more wines offered by the glass and some new pasta dishes. Great beers though. Overall the hospitality at the Eclectic is great. I've been to parties here, had meetings here, just stopped in for a bite and always been treated warmly. Romantic? I can see that for a new couple or a first date. But after 15 years of marriage this is our chill joint. La Terza or Campinile are more the romantic ticket for us. But at 3-4 times the price......! Thanks for all the years of great food guys.

Pros: service, food, vibe

Cons: wine selection, parking on weekends

Posted 01/23/07

I'm a salad fanatic and can tell a restaurant's dedication to their patrons by the quailty of the salad they serve. The warm steak salad is by far my favorite. It's just the right size and the flavors make you feel like you've eaten an entree without the guilt. Since I'm simple, I enjoyed the roasted chicken and mashed potatoes, simple yet flavorful...just how food should be.The ambiance is great because it's moody lit and there is always great art on the walls. It's location is great too, right in the middle of the NoHo Arts District. If you like theatre and the arts, it's a great place to dine before or after a show.

Posted 01/18/07

I love this restaurant! The food is amazing. They have the best pizza I've ever tasted especially the Four Caesars Pizza.The salads are fantastic and the steak is to die for! If you like tiramisu, you won't find any better. They have a great wine selection and the staff is very attentive and friendly. I've had romantic dinners for 2 and fun birthday parties for 30 and they have always been very accomodating. Overall, The Eclectic is just a really great place to eat, drink and be merry!!! I highly recommend it!

Pros: food, wine selection, service, price

Cons: parking

Posted 01/04/07

My wife and I love to try new wines....well this answered our call......i think they call them "wine flights"....3 tastes of different wine varietels...from one winery! How fun.....(and safe)....but anyway, the food was delicious too. We spilt the Ribeye steak salad to start then added another appetizer -the chinese Pot-stickers! yumm. We had the Grilled salmon and a special - Chilean Seabsss , done perfectly.
Our server was attentive, but not intrusive like some are; she knew a lot about wine and our new neighborhood.
For dessert I'd reccommend the Tiramisu...it's for real; or the chocolate Mousse in a wine glass!
We're gonna try their famous Champagne Brunch next sunday.......

Pros: WINES, FOOD, SERVICE, ROMANTIC

Cons: NO VALET PARKING

Posted 01/03/07

My friends and I dine here at least 4 times a month and we have been customers for the last 5 years. We look forward to the very friendly service and we all have our favorite foods.. I love the seared ahi tuna, and the yummy cholcolate soufle topped with whipped cream.. Sometimes we even go there after the movies, just for pizza or dessert...It lives up to its name of Eclectic as there is such a variety of menu choices, Oh, yes and the crab cakes are fabulous .. My husband and I have a group that meets there once a month for their Sunday Brunch...Delicious and relaxed and friendly.. Easy to become a regular at this place...

Pros: Great Ambience, Very Friendly service, lots of menu choices

Posted 01/01/07

I have been eating at the eclectic cafe now for 11 years..this resturant has always been consistant with it's food quality & expert service.
I turned a girlfriend of mine on to the four ceasars pizza last year & she loved it so much she would order it to go & take it to her friends house just so they could taste it.
I would also recommend the specials,i have always found them to be great tasting & great value.The best ever was the lobster ravioli in the pink sauce.
i'm salivating just thinking about it.

Pros: parking,service,ambience

Posted 12/20/06

Went here with friends, and was really disappointed with the food. My girlfriend and I ordered different dishes, and both were terrible. I have never eaten food so bland. It was a similar experience to drinking Heineken Light or water, there was no taste.

With all of the incredible restaurants in this part of LA, don't waste your time here.

Pros: Friendly Staff

Cons: Food, Value

Posted 10/29/06

I finally decided to check this place out since I live around the corner and love wine. But if you are going for the wine, don't bother. The wine list is very short and unimpressive, and I couldn't figure out why they are calling themselves a 'wine bar.' They don't even have nice glasses for tasting. The food and service were ok, but without a full-bar and a poor wine list, this won't become my neighboorhood hangout.

Posted 07/30/06

I usually dine here @ lunch time. The food is ok but I have to agree with the above poster who said that the wait staff does nothing. THye are not friendly and act like they are doing you a favor. The only thing that is exceptional is the scallop salad. The spicy Chicken soup is also good. The rissotto is so so @ best as is most of their pasta. the place is pretty and looks extremely clean.

Pros: Near my work, clean, not too expensive

Cons: waitstaff, loud outdoor patio

Posted 03/24/06

Food was good but service was lacking from entrance into restaurant until we left. No hostess - up to wait staff to sit you. Wait staff only took orders and delivered check, busing staff did all the work. While busing staff worked, wait staff stood around together and chatted. Impression that wait staff was doing customers a favor by waiting on customers. Too many other restaurants of this quality with better service.

Pros: convenient to theater

Cons: no parking

Posted 02/18/06

The food is always good and not too expensive. The service and decor are a nice touch too! Wish they had full bar I'd hang out there more often....wine & beer only!

Pros: Food, Price, Decor

Cons: Beer & Wine only

Posted 03/26/03

Offering foods such as seared ahi tuna with wasabi dipping sauce, this place is great on the tastebuds and also pleasing to the eye. The restaurant shows work from local artists and everything you see that hangs on the wall is available for sale. The waiters are also nice, which is always a bonus.

Pros: great food

Cons: parking

Posted 10/10/02