Velvet Margarita

323-469-2000

1612 N Cahuenga Blvd Hollywood, CA 90028

www.velvetmargarita.com

view the menu
#1 Mexican Restaurant in Hollywood

Categories:

Restaurants, Mexican Restaurants

Details:

Late Night Dining, Lunch Spot

Bookmark and Share See hours

Mon-Thu 11am-2am Fri 11am-4am Sat. 6pm-4am Sun 6pm-2am

Message from Velvet Margarita

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Velvet Margarita is the #1 Mexican restaurant in Hollywood: Voted #1 Zagat restaurant by Newsweek Magazine. Voted #1 Tequila Bar by Tu Ciudad Magazine. Voted #1 Top Night Spot by LA Times Magazine. Voted Top Restaurant by Channel 7 ABC News, Who's Who Heritage Registry for a living museum. At Velvet Margarita we serve up family recipes handed down through the generations in an ambiance that is Hollywood Swank with Mexican flare. Aside from the extensive menu, a long list of colorfully titled drinks include the Pink Puta, the Velvet Gringo, and of course, the restaurant's namesake: La Velvet Margarita served in a pineapple. We are a Hollywood hot-spot that will satisfy your craving for tasty Mexican food, your thirst for a premium drink and your desire to enjoy a great night in Hollywood. At Velvet Margarita; come for the cuisine stay for the scene!

Editorial by Citysearch

In Short
You'd never guess from the grungy garage facade that this is one hot tamale of a place. Inside, the trendy Mexican lounge and restaurant is carnival fun house-meets-Tijuana kitsch: Blue velvet walls, black-lit Elvis portraits, sombreros on the ceiling and a palette consisting almost entirely of deep shades of red set the scene. Roving mariachis serenade hipsters and revelers sipping pineapple and coconut margaritas, while energetic salsa music booms during their breaks. A full menu is comprised of many calorie-conscious twists on traditional cantina favorites like ahi ceviche, turkey empanadas and tequila-flavored shrimp bisque.

Hits: The crowd is fun and the chips and salsa trio (chipotle, tomatillo and hot bean dip) are some of the best items on the menu. Note: they're free with dinner.

Misses: Unless you have a reservation for a large group, you'll have to wait for a table, which can be painfully slow on weekend nights. Also, the margaritas are very pricey.

Key Points

  • Premium Margaritas
  • Delicious & Unique Plates
  • Trendy & Hip Ambience

The Inside Scoop

  1. Know Before You Go - Table reservations can be made for parties of four or more only. Otherwise, seating is first come, first served.
  2. Parking - The restaurant offers its own valet services, and there's also a private lot across the street.
  3. Save Money - Fixed-price lunch and dinner menus offer soup, salad and entree specials.

Editorial and merchant content by Citysearch

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Insider Pages Reviews for Velvet Margarita

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Nice patio

by Diana H. | insider_expert Insider Expert | Rank: 7,037

I've only been here for drinks and it gets pretty crowded inside, they have an nice patio in the back though with a bar, and it's never crowded there so it's the best place to be!

Posted 10/03/09 | Report Abuse

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Good Food/Drinks

by Sylvia G. | insider_guru Insider Guru | Rank: 216

My friends and I had a get-together at this restaurant/bar and they reserved us a separate room upstairs. The room was great and the atmosphere was still very bar-ish which was nice because we didn't feel isolated or separated from the scene (we could see over and out into the bar and restaurant areas). The food was good and the portions were good, but it was a bit pricey for the quality of food. The drinks were amazing. One of my friends got an amazing pina colada that came in a coconut!

Posted 12/15/08 | Report Abuse

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Love it. Love it. LOVE THIS PLACE!

by Lucy V.

Its so refreshing to come to a restaurant/ bar where everyone from the servers to the bar tenders and everyone in between is so friendly. This place is so unique, the dcor, the ambience, its my favorite place for a special occasion to have dinner or to just have a couple drinks and hang out with friends
Finally yet most importantly, the food happens to be AMAZING! Cant wait to go back!

Posted 09/02/08 | Report Abuse

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ugh

by Laura G. | insider Insider | Rank: 24,505

This place makes me angry. I looove a good margarita and some Mexican food, but this restaurant has neither. The service was incredibly slow, and instead of apologizing, the waitress gave attitude. The drinks are really overpriced, and the food was blah. If you want crappy drinks and Mexican food, save yourself some money and go to El Coyote.

Posted 05/20/08 | Report Abuse

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Delicious Spanish Cuisine

by Joann S. | top100 Top100 | Rank: 43

This place has great food! I usually get the ceviche appetizer which is amazing and then a burrito of some sort. When you first sit down they give you chip with three different dips which includes two salsas and one beans. Margarits are fantastic and the interior decor is like no other with their celebrating the dead theme. Would highly recommend.

Posted 05/05/08 | Report Abuse

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Latest reviews from Citysearch.

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yumm.

by steph J

tasty food and drinks

Pros: great mexican

Posted 11/17/09

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Trendy Atmosphere & Tasty Food

by HighFive

I love Velvet Margarita!!! From the funky, trendy decor to the free chips & amazing dips to the out of this world drinks...it's all around a great time here. The food is tasty and huge portions for the price. I'm a sucker for their margaritas...esp their Velvet Margarita served in a pineapple. This is a great spot to enjoy dinner with friends before heading to the club.

Pros: Best Margarita's in LA

Posted 10/14/09

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Favorite joint

by CSMobileUser

This place is by far the coolest joint on the cahuengaq corridor. Friendly staff and strong drinks. If your not trying to spend tons of $ stick to the $5 house margarita. The place is hip and has a cool vibe to it

Posted 07/29/09

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Not open for Cinco de Mayo

by LiveDeliberately

Look, it's Hollywood. Anyone expecting top notch service in a crowded bar atmosphere at a place called The Velvet Margarita is a moron. The food is fine, drinks are great, atmosphere is like a Three Amigos vision of a Mexican restaurant. But they are CLOSED for Cinco de Mayo for a private party. Unbelievable.

Pros: Great margaritas and decent food

Cons: packed, bad parking, mediocre service

Posted 05/04/09

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Great if you're a kid

by Jorge101

I had a reservation for $8pm and wasn't seated until 9:45pm. We waited at the bar which became VERY crowded. The host was nice as was the waiter. Very attentive waiter. The drinks are pricey so expect to buy a lot waiting for 2 hours at the bar. If you want the same quality of food and don't want to wait 2 hours to be seated even though you have a reservation, go to La Barca.

Pros: Good Food

Cons: Ultra long wait

Posted 03/14/09

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Quirky, festive atmosphere

by afrange

My husband and I had Saturday night reservations with five friends who were visiting for the weekend. We were greeted warmly by the hosts, and after our entire party arrived, we were seated promptly. Jeremy, our server, was personable and attentive, and the service was impeccable. The food is standard Mexican fare, and house margaritas only set you back $5 -- a bargain for Hollywood. The restaurant's decor is kitchy, funky and inspired, and provides the perfect backdrop for a festive night. Overall we were very pleased with our experience; it was the perfect setting for a night out with friends.

Pros: atmosphere, service

Posted 02/14/09

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La velvet margarita awsome place!!!!

by dizastrous

la velvet margarita cantina is a MUST!! if you havent been,i highly reccomend it:)
the place on the outside is hidden.but once you've entered it,it is amazing. love thier style of the resturant.dim lighting, video projecters with old skol movies, cool art.its great.food was so delicious.service was excellent.great place!!! its my favorite.

Pros: Food is delicious!

Posted 02/04/09

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Great for a big group!

by thedede

It was my birthday and I made reservations for 10 three weeks before the date. I ended up having to add 6 more people to our reservation the week of and Velvet Margarita was completely accommodating. They gave us a whole corner of the restaurant near the bar. Our server, Travis, was super polite and treated us incredibly well. The food was the great, the drinks were great and even our friends who weren't "drinking" seemed to have a good time. This was my favorite restaurant in Hollywood before my birthday and it still is!

Posted 09/26/08

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Like No Other...

by MsLucyV

Love it. Love it. LOVE THIS PLACE! It?s so refreshing to come to a restaurant/ bar where everyone from the servers to the bar tenders and everyone in between is so friendly. This place is so unique, the decor, the ambience, it?s my favorite place for a special occasion to have dinner or to just have a couple drinks and hang out with friends
Finally yet most importantly, the food happens to be AMAZING! Can?t wait to go back!

Posted 09/10/08

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Velvet Margarita

by tishtosh

What do ya get when you take...

one part - "Welcome to the Jungle",
one part - "Margaritaville",
one part - "Wasted Days & Wasted Nights",
and blend it on high with a splash of every Salsa anthem you can think of ???

Duh. Velvet Margarita of course!

Posted 09/01/08

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great atmosphere, okay food, what happened to the drinks?

by rachelaschwartz

we live around the corner and had never been to this place. we decided to check it out (on a saturday night) without reservations. the atmosphere is fun - loud, but pleasant at the bar, the back patio slightly more quiet and more hip. very much the hollywood cattle call scene. all of our service was particularly friendly and pleasant, if a bit on the slow side (nothing that would deter us). the real surprise was the drinks: they were a bit gnarly. the velvet margarita in a pineapple is fun, but of four drinks, we sent two back because they just didn't taste good (i can't remember ever having done that before - with even one drink, let alone two). the quesadillas were delicious and the tamales were excellent too (warning - lots of stuff has olives in it, so ask if you aren't an olive person) though the steak burrito was average. the menu was interesting, though limited.

Pros: fun atmosphere; great location

Cons: hit-or-miss drinks; limited menu

Posted 08/23/08

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Awesome Grub...Drinks I will Pass..

by Mariachristina333

Having heard the hype about this place I had to taste for myself.
When you walk in it has it's own vibe ...Host was super friendly..
Love the dancing dolls above the bar ... Since the drinks were
organic with nothing mixed in .. I went for a Pink Puta which turned
out to be NASTY.. I told the bartender it was bitter and he just added
more tequila although i was more then willing to accept but
the tequila was cheap and made it 10 times worse..
for a 12 drink not worth it service at the bar lousy..
we sat at our table excellent menu full of yummy chooses..
and $5 house margaritas no one's arguing here it pretty much made up
for the lousy drink.. I ate the Sprimp Scampi.. Although it was the smaller portion
of the table it was fantastic .. THe creamy sauce with the rice was delish...
everyone was happy all around... This was a wonderful experience.. although i recommend to
eat earlier then 5 cause if not your in a for a night of heartburn and full belly the food is super heavy.
but sooooooooooo GOOOD!!! I will be back!

Pros: the Chips and DIp and the Ambience

Cons: The Pink Puta For SHizzy

Posted 07/26/08

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Not great, but not bad either

by farfrompukin

So I'm going over to meet some friends at Velvet Margarita for a quick bite and drink or two last night and the first thing that bites me in the wallet is the $10 for parking. Oh well, I enter the place and it looks like somebody dropped acid and designed the place with junk they found from a Mexican swap meet.

That being said, food was just OK, drinks were pricey but good and it's a "different" kind of place to go and hang.

I'd go back, but I would just have drinks.

Pros: Very interesting decor

Cons: Expensive parking and drinks. Bland food.

Posted 07/24/08

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Best Mexican Food Around!!!!

by 1hodgson

We had a group of 10, we started with appetizers- Wow what a selection - my favorite was the salmon casadias.
Their main courses were beyond what I expected, my favorite dishes are the chilli rellenos and green Chili Enchilada's!
The atmosphere is amazing and of course the the velvet margarita in the pineapples made with real fresh fruit are the best I have ever tasted!
I even saved room for their wonderful dessert, our whole table shared 4 different Desserts all great.
The service and the staff make you feel welcome.
I can't wait to go back and try more of the wonderful selections on their menu!!!!
What a great evening''''''
Mexican Food is my favorite & I have eaten at many restaurants, The Velvet has the Best Mexican Food I have ever tasted!!!!!!

Pros: Thumbs up on parking, Ambience and service

Posted 05/07/08

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Cinco de Mayo!!!

by caseygoode

Went here Monday nite for Cinco de Mayo and had the best time ever!!!! We did have to wait in line a bit though. It seemed like everyone in Hollywood was there also trying to get in. Anyways, once we got in, IT WAS ON! Open bar, free food all night long, who does that??? Well I also heard it was their 4 year anniversary so they were feeling generous, to my delight. I danced too, which I never do, I guess I can thank those free-flowing margaritas for that. It was a blast!!!! Thanks VMC.

Posted 05/07/08

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Just okay.

by msmerymac

I've been to this place at least three times now: once for drinks and twice for birthday parties. Even dining with largish groups (between 8-12) for the parties, we were virtually ignored. If it takes more than 2 hours to have dinner, that's a bad sign. And each of us ordered 2-3 drinks, appetizers, and dinner. Even with reservations we had to wait around until all of our party showed up. Their house margaritas, for $8, are nothing special, and not that big (think - the size of a well drink). If you want a great drink, it will cost you (about $15 for a specialty margarita). The Velvet Heart was the best drink I had, but at $10, I'm only going to splurge on one, maybe two. It's like a margarita without the citrus flavor, so it was sweet, but subtle. The food has always been mediocre. The trio of dips you get is decent, though the bean dip goes cold fast, and the two salsas, while good, aren't any better than what I've gotten at cheaper Mexican places in LA. Same with the guacamole. The prix fixe dinner entrees, however, are a nice touch - everything is $15. The decor and the back patio are lovely if you just want to stop by the bar for an appetizer and quick drink, though. Honestly, it's not "authentic" Mexican food - the best thing this place has going for it is location and the crowd. If you're doing a bar crawl on Cahuenga, it's worth a peek, before hitting up Tiny's, Burgundy room, Beauty Bar, Cinespace or even Big Wangs (where I never feel cheated by my bill!) Parking is rough, so do your self a favor and valet at Big Wangs for $5 plus tip, or park at the ArcLight garage and walk the 3 blocks. The most you'll pay there, even without validation, is $6. It's my little Cahuenga corridor parking secret. (Validation at ArcLight can bring it down to $2 for 4 hours.)

Pros: Good specialty drinks (for a price), good back patio, good decor and ambience

Cons: Pricey for what you get, mediocre mexican food, parking, slow service

Posted 05/05/08

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BEST TIME!

by DeniseDavenport1

This was my second year ay the VMC for Cinco de Mayo. The best party!! Margies were soooo good. I had the mole which was delish! Saw my big crush Dean Cain. He actually smiled at me and I froze but i've seen him here before so hopefully I'll get a second chance. Mariachis were so fun. Lot's of good looking people. Vince Vaughn was there with his crew. I've seen him there a few times too. I hope they invite me next year. Thank you to vmc for a gooood time and congrats on your 4 years of biz. awsome place!!

Pros: great drinks!

Posted 05/05/08

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First Timer

by dridrock

Hello Citysearch! Well, here it goes... my first review. I can't say for sure what makes me an expert on the nightlife or the vast dining scene in Los Angeles. I am hardly a "foodie", I've never worked in the restaurant industry, hell, I?m not even that good of a cook! What I am though is a regular guy who appreciates a good meal, a cold beer, and a little respect from the person who I plan to show appreciation to when the check arrives. I love places like the Rainbow on Sunset, Musso & Franks and Miceli's in "old" Hollywood, Taylor's in K-Town, you know... comfortable, cozy. I am a true L.A. native and I've seen most trends that most transplants here find so fascinating come and go. I don't need all the bells and whistles and almost as a rule I try to avoid the new "place to be" if possible (which is why I was a bit hesitant to meet my girl and her friends at the Velvet Margarita) but I was pleasantly surprised by what could be a new favorite...

The Ambiance: I would have to agree with everyone that the ambiance is brilliant, but what really got me going was the music. Iron Maiden?s ?Run To the Hills? played by a mariachi group? Yesss!!!

The Food: I can only recommend what I had ordered (fish tacos & a few Stella?s on tap) but everyone at my table seemed to enjoy themselves.

The Scene: I apologize for the name-dropping but the best way I can describe the crowd is like this? Robert Duvall, Nikki Sixx, the chubby kid from Superbad (presumably not all there together I hope) and everyone in between. I was psyched that Velvet Margarita wasn?t as ?clubby? as I had imagined.

Again, take my word for what it?s worth. After all, and like most of you guys I?m not an expert? I?m just bored at work with nothing else to do.

Posted 04/03/08

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Fun Place!

by bossass

I took some clients here this weekend and we had a blast! We were very impressed with the originality and great energy that made Velvet Margarita something more than just Hollywood "hype"...

Pros: Originality, Great Energy...

Posted 03/23/08

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Great Ambiance!

by zzrain13

The moment you walk-in you can't help but look all around at the fabulous decor! The restaurant has a very mellow and low-key vibe. Very cool furniture and lots of awesome pictures on the walls. There was very little light, it is very poorly lit inside. So, if you're trying to have a conversation with someone next to you, turn on the candles! Then, our waiter kept forgetting to bring us our waters. Then, the acting manager would just stand in the front overlooking the dining area. We felt like we were being watched the whole time. I ordered a Pink Puta, not that good of a drink for $12!!! However, there is a cool patio in the back! ....The food was good, but I could easliy go to a taco truck and have better food and service! You definately pay for ambiance!!

Pros: ambience, decor, food, patio

Cons: drinks, parking, service

Posted 03/19/08

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Fun Margie Night Bar

by ashwprincess

Fun bar to get some chips and salsa and a margie but not a place to have a good mexi dinner. Don't choose to go here for the food, go for the drinks and atmosphere.

Pros: Great Atmosphere and Decor

Cons: Not so great food, drinks a bit weak

Posted 03/06/08

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Great Ambiance!

by rbarscht

LOVE THIS PLACE. LOVE. Every time i go i have a great time with great service, good food, amazing drinks. You walk in and it's like you've walked into the middle of a room Prince decorated. It's all purple velvet and black lace on red everywhere. It's nice and dark & a very loud fun place to go...

Margarita's are a must try!

Pros: Drinks, ambiance

Cons: Sometimes have to wait to get in, so make a reservation!

Posted 02/25/08

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Mouth-watering mole, perfect service, sultry ambiance

by tralaladida

This is a great place to entertain people from out of town. Real Mexican flavors. The salsa are awesome, chips are delicious, and the moles were as rich and nutty as those I had traveling in Oaxaca. The margaritas were PERFECT.

The service deserves a note of its own: from the host to the witty bartender to the server, everyone really contributed to the atmosphere and made us feel welcome.

Pros: Authentic food, margaritas, ambiance, service, great date place or group place, summer patio

Cons: parking a pain at crowded lot down the street

Posted 01/12/08

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The BEST free chips & salsa & bean dip!

by marpop

I've been here on numerous occasions & every time I am reminded just why I love their complimentary chips (cripsy, fresh corn tortillas fried to perfection with just a few red ones thrown in for fun) that come with the three-tiered serving cups of pico de gallo, roasted salsa and warm bean dip -- YUMMY! I also love their albondiga (meatball) soup, which is made with turkey -- traditionally, it's a soup made with beef so this is a great alternative and still very tasty. Even though some of their entrees are hit-and-miss (like the tacos), I still like coming here and have even had a few birthday parties here. You gotta love the hanging sombreros & kitschy Mexican tsotchkes like the crushed velvet paintings of people like Lucha Libre and Herve Villachaize (Tattoo from "Fantasy Island") !!!

Pros: Super fun decor, ultra-yummy chips & dips

Cons: The drinks are SUPER pricey, so watch out!

Posted 11/28/07

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Is this mexican food?

by danger_j

Bein from San Diego I am really surprised... is this bland, tasteless stuff what Los Angeles calls Mexican food? I went with a big group of people because we heard it went off at night. I tried a lot of dishes and everything was not great. People with me that live in L.A. agreed that this place has a lot of hype, but doesn't really deliver. Plus I could definitely go without the accompaning L.A. attitude shown by the wait staff. I have read the other reviews and I agree that this is a fun place to get drinks. But I am wondering if the positive reviews were written by friends of management.

Posted 10/21/07

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fun night!

by mst26

Had dinner with a group of freinds. first timer. we had such a great time. good energy place food was so tasty could'nt stop eating those chips and salsa with that bean dip unbeleivable! Have to come here just to see the interior design! Pretty amazing. Owner was sitting next to us with her freinds. She was so nice (pretty too! ) bought us drinks and dessert. Hung out on patio after dinner great vibe. Will definetley be hanging out there more often!

Pros: good vibes, good service

Posted 09/07/07

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Are we talking about the same place?

by cochino

I am not one to write reviews but I am a bit surprised at some of the comments a few have made regarding Velvet Margarita. I cant help but think these reviews come from competing restaurants. Personally I've always had a blast and always have been treated like a king!

Pros: Great Ambience! Great Music! Great Food!

Cons: Cahuenga

Posted 09/05/07

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AMAZING FOOD, LATE NIGHT DINING!! LOVELY STAFF

by msmackenzie

Seriously I will never eat Mexican food anywhere else if i can help it!
the food is amazing - so reasonable, huge portions and Monday nights 2 for I margaritas!!!! Imagine that - a $4 margarita in a hip Hollywood spot!!!! the staff were all so friendly.. some are kinda hot - so trust me.... you WANT them to be as friendly as poss!!!!
a really good experience everytime!!!!! and the door guy always gets a cab for me and waits until I am in it and safely on my way home. attn: smokers! they have not just a patio but an OUTSIDE bar!! all kinds of cool Aztec art on the wall outside too! this place is a visual symphony in every aspect, and the food, staff, and drinks ROCK!!!! check it out! great vegetarian menu too!! kitchen closes really late too!!!!

Pros: food, service, staff, drinks, decor, late night dining

Cons: none

Posted 08/24/07

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Strange Decor

by djp818

These guys would get a 5 star rating if they had a bigger selection of beers. They didn't have Coronas or Sam Adams. The bartender told me they don't carry Anheuser-Busch beers. I got a Tecate and it came in a can with a lime thats kinda lame if you ask me. The food was simply amazing. The waiter never came by once to take the order but he never came to check on us buth then again i was there around 1:00 AM and the restaurant areas was empty.

Pros: Good Food

Cons: Bad Service small selection

Posted 08/19/07

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good scene, great calamari

by tessatessa

swung by here the other night w/my girls, had the calamari and stuffed churros. yes, i said STUFFED churros. so amazing!!! we had a blast and the service was so on point. If i wasnt sitting at a table eating, i def would have been making trip after trip to the bar to have a reason to talk to the hot bartenders......oh and bumped in Kat Von D too, NICE!

Posted 08/15/07

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Fun place, Good vibe, Awesome decor!!

by cgood6

I went here for my friend's birthday. They gave us a great table and the service was awesome! The decor was so cool and different. There was a nice size smoking patio in the back. I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!!!!!!

Pros: FOOD, DRINK PRICES, SERVICE, DECOR

Cons: NONE!

Posted 08/15/07

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Good food, weak drinks

by drswordfish

First, let me state that I've been to La Velvet Margarita many times. The decor and ambience is amazing. Everything on the menu tastes great. However, beware the bar. The margaritas are consistantly weak and taste like something you would expect to receive at TGIFridays or Acupulco.

Pros: Decore, ambience, food.

Cons: margaritas, parking (buy hey, that's Hollywood)

Posted 08/12/07

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Tips from a Regular...

by brenda_w

Ok, since it seems that I practically lived at La Velvet Margarita this Summer I think I have this place wired. Here's the scoop...

1) The parking on Cahuenga can be a hassle BUT there are a few $5 lots along Selma (don't blink or you might miss them) if the valet is too steep for ya!

2) On weeknights I have never had longer than a five-minute wait for a table BUT for weekends I would definitely recommend making reservations!

3) Don't be shy to be specific when you order! I am a picky eater and they have always accommodated my requests to my liking. My girls and I usually stick to the Cobb Salad and Tequila Bisque... yum! Oh and you have to order the Churros for dessert... double yum!

4) Ask about their "Drink Specials"... they don't advertise them but they got em!

5) Don't expect to hear contemporary music... as I was once informed by the very large heavily tattooed owner (Big Daddy) that the Velvet Margarita is a "restaurant" and not a "nightclub" and that "bumping Jay-Z would not contribute to the authenticity of his establishment."

6) If you ever find yourself inebriated enough to build up the courage to approach Vince Vaughn just to say hi... be warned that you may also find yourself in the middle of a rockabilly swing with him before you even get a chance to say... hi!

Posted 08/04/07

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DISAPPOINTED

by letyg

It had been over a year since we were last at Velvet Margarita. My husband and I walked in on saturday night and it was half empty and they still sent us to the bar while they got our table. There were two empty booths and I asked the host if we could sit at one of them. The host said NO we have two HUGE parties with reservations coming in. They sat us a regular table across from the two booths. Five minutes later they sat two girls and one booth and a man and a women at the other. I was livid. We waited until we were done with dinner and I asked the host about the booth and thier HUGE reservations. NOT ONLY DID HE NOT APOLOGIZE BUT HE WAS RUDe. This place is SO unaccomating. We dine out way too much to be treated in this manner. Doesn't the Velvet Margarita know that "customer service" is everything in this town.

Pros: Decor

Cons: Customer Service, Hosts, Bad Attitude

Posted 07/29/07

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Sir Paul!

by mrb6622

Have to write in my dream has come true saw sir paul mcartney at this place. I'm the biggest Beatle fan!!!! My year has been made...That's all I wanted to say and of course I know your suppose to review places on this site so I say this place the vmc margarita is way cool decor pretty spectacular after i calm down will come back and eat just had drinks & chips &salsa margaritas were sooo good. Chips were soo good too. They come with this bean dip could not stop eating them. One request please invite him back and maybe he can bring ringo!

Pros: cooest decor

Cons: none

Posted 06/27/07

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Perfect Night for Mom...

by re_run

My mother loves Mexican food! So for her birthday this year I decided to do something a little special for her and take her to Velvet Margarita for dinner before heading to the Pantages to catch "Wicked". Having never been there myself, the only thing I knew of Velvet Margarita was that it was always in Us Magazine for something or other. Although I was impressed by Velvet Margarita's Citysearch reviews the clincher to make this my choice for such a "special night" was a recommendation I received from a co-worker who was taken there recently by a group of culinary arts students. WOW!!! I have to say that first off, I never could have imagined this place would look like this. In fact, i got a little nervous at first that my mother would be overwhelmed by all the flare but, SHE LOVED IT... every bit of it! The decor, the food, the music, the staff... everything was perfect! Unlike a few "Citysearchers", I was quite impressed with the fixed price of $15 for several courses seeing that it is $8 for a tostada at Poquito Mas...

Posted 06/26/07

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Best Mexican Food in Hollywood...

by fay_wray

I was bread and spread in this city and believe me... this side of my tia cuca's kitchen there aint no better place in town!

Posted 06/26/07

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Food: not good

by hollywood_gansta

I think this is more of a drinks and meeting people kind of place. The food was not good. Had the enchilada and it was bland. The margaritas were okay. Sad that in L.A. a $15 entree in a mexican restaurant two hours from the border was so pedestrian and forgettable. Eat at Citizen Smith and then come here for drinks and a cool atmosphere.

Pros: The decor

Cons: Food

Posted 06/19/07

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Fun place to go

by sap7270

I am new to LA and I recently went to the Velvet Margarita for the first time a few months ago. I naively thought it was an upscale punk club, ha, anyways...I was really pleasantly surprised by this place. I loved the decor. The dead Elvis motif, the puppets, pinatas, it was such an eclectic mixture but it all meshed surprisely well. I expected the drinks to be a lot more expensive but they were actually reasonable. All of their specialty drinks are around $10 and the drinks are pretty stiff which is fantastic. I ordered a Pina Colada served in an actual coconut, again that new to LA thing, I was pretty excited about drinking out of a coconut, awwww the good life.

Long review, short....this place is awesome for atmosphere, service, drinks and is busy but not annoyingly so which all equals a great time.

Posted 06/13/07

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The Hollywood Scene

by thelwani

Went for a friend's birthday this passed weekend. Of course, Hollywood parking $10. On the good side, no cover charge. Some of the interior decorating I thought was a bit cheesy like the pinatas hanging. I did like the Mexican puppets. Got the pomegranate martini was really good, but then my cousin's was way too strong compared to the one I had. Outside patio was where the action was but I had a hard time breathing due to the smoke. Overall, the night was fun. Big con: no music to dance or vibe to.

Pros: no cover charge, not too crowded, friendly people

Cons: no music to dance to, parking

Posted 06/09/07

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decide for yourself Los Angeles...

by valen_tino

who does this? who's life is apparently so pathetic and dull that one would "put aside time" in their day to trash a place of business in some feeble attempt to fill a void in their apparent lack of accomplishments. of course i've had less than enjoyable experiences at many restaurants, bars, etc., but never have i felt the urgency to spread such petty and childish garbage online when i could think of so many more positive things i could be doing with my time. if i ever have a disappointing experience someplace, i simply don?t go back! what i found most interesting about "hiella?s" comments is that every review that he/she has posted on citysearch has been negative. yes, your right, i am close friends with the owners of the Velvet Margarita and because of that i know first hand of all the passion, time and energy that goes into even the smallest characteristics of one of the most top rated restaurants in the country. I guess Newsweek Magazine was wrong with bestowing the Velvet Margarita the top newcomer honor in 2005. I suppose the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Magazine, Ciudad Magazine, and countless other publications as well as the other sixty or so positive reviews on citysearch lack the expertise and insight that ?hiella? so gracefully celebrates.

Pros: decor, music, food, friendly staff with no pretentious "Hollywood" attitudes...

Cons: critics

Posted 05/13/07

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Just okay...

by hiella

I went to Velvet Margarita last night and I'd have to say that I'm disappointed. First, in response to a previous poster, I am going to complain about the parking. I've lived in L.A. for five years, and yes, parking is horrible... but charging your customers ten dollars to park is a crime. And if you know the area of Hollywood... there really aren't any other options, finding street parking in the evening is impossible. The margaritas (I had the classic) were just okay and were definitely outmatched by the scratch margarita at El Coyote. They had an odd taste that my group commented on, a taste I can't really describe, but definitely didn't like. The three different dips that were provided with the chips were good, the shrimp bisque was very good and the calamari was pretty good, but the rest of the meal (I had the steak tacos) was forgettable. Not nearly as good as the food at Cha Cha Cha or El Cholo. Just kind of bland, like something you would get at Acupulco or some other chain, and not worth the price. The service wasn't great either, and after the waitress took our order, we never saw her again. One member of our group had to track her down for a box and the check. The inside is kind of cool, but I wouldn't go there obviously just for that. In general, I would not come here again because it is overpriced and the good soup and dip doesn't make up for the overwise lackluster food and drinks.

Pros: Dip, shrimp bisque, and the atmosphere

Cons: The margaritas, the main courses, and the parking!

Posted 05/09/07

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Top notch fun

by lulu1992

The Velvet Margarita never disappoints. Try their tamales --- OH MY GOD they are good. The food portions are huge, too! Great value for your money. The pomegranate margaritas are what dreams are made of. DE-LI-CIOUS. The staff is incredibly fun. It is always a great night out.

Pros: Food, drinks, bartenders

Cons: No reservations (for parties of less than 4)

Posted 04/30/07

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tasty drinks, neat atmosphere

by k24jones

Meant to post a while back, now I finally have time. Checked this place out with some girlfriends after drinks at nearby Citizen Smith, and really dug the atmosphere. I didn't stay long, but I drooled over the menu and the crowd seemed cool. I'll have to stop by again for those famous margaritas and some tamales. Seems like Cahuenga is the place to be!

Posted 04/15/07

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best cinco de mayo ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by mackenziemorelion

FREE DRINKS, FREE FOOD, AND THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD IN HOLLYWOOD!
Mariachis and the red carpet completed a celeb & tequila fueled evening!!
this is the only place to do Cinco De Mayo - all tequila drinks etc FREE!!! and a walk up mex food buffet - a fabulous fabulous night!!!! so many tv/film/music names everywhere it was def the place to be!

Pros: great food, great service, no wait, great prices

Cons: none

Posted 11/29/06

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