Vespertine – sensationell and awe inspiring

After discovering the restaurant over a year ago and waiting feverishly since they reopened to have a trip and opportunity to dine there, finally happened yesterday evening. Below my review I posted on TripAdvisor. In my opinion- flawless and pure art.

Vespertine is an avant-garde dining experience unlike any other, blending food, art, architecture, and atmosphere into a truly surreal evening. It is not just dinner—it is a sensory journey.

Housed in a futuristic, strikingly modern building, designed by renowned architect Eric Owen Moss, Vespertine immerses you the moment you arrive. The design is minimal yet intense, setting a mysterious tone. Everything—from the music to the lighting outside—feels deliberately curated to heighten the experience.

The multi-course tasting menu is incredibly inventive, with each dish resembling a work of art. The flavors are complex, leaning heavily on textures and unusual ingredient pairings. While some dishes are astonishingly good, others may feel more like an experiment than a satisfying bite. It is a meal that is meant to provoke thought as much as it hopes to please the palate.

Highlights were for me: Wild Scallop (1st dish), Deep Ocean – sweet prawn with white nectarines (3rd dish in ice), Obsidian Mirror – smoked mussel with squid ink and plum (4th dish), Layers – Black raspberry and brown sugar crips (12th dish).

Service is attentive, but in a very controlled, almost theatrical way. The staff maintains the tone of the experience, which is formal and synthesized. When placing or removing dishes, each movement was perfectly orchestrated. Every course is explained in great detail, however, brief enough that you’re not getting a novel and are enthusiastically asked to enjoy. As the evening winded down, commencing on 4 hours, the staff took time to talk with me about their path in life, how they feel working with Chef Jordan Kahn and their aspirations. I truly enjoy conversations like that, even after 11 PM.

Vespertine is not for everyone. It’s a deeply conceptual dining experience that feels more like attending an art installation than sitting down for dinner. For those open to experimental cuisine and willing to embrace the abstract, it’s an unforgettable evening.

However, if you're seeking traditional fine dining or comfort, Vespertine may feel more challenging and a bit out there. Expensive, perhaps and definitely daring, it’s an adventure meant for curious palates. Definitely worthy of 2 Michelin Stars!!

This will be a treat each time I come to LA which I hope will be often.