The Waffle Building

3599 Hayden Ave, Culver City
(323) 320-4023

Recent Reviews

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Kamy

Our second time being there. Truly amazing experience. Food is absolutely outstanding, dessert is not as impressive. Typical pricing for testing menu is worth it BUT charging twice as much for ALMOST the same food and charging twice as much for valentine evening was not justified.

Sapan

Really enjoyed our Vespertine experience. The dishes were as tasty as they were visually stunning! Chef Kahn and team took great care of us. Highly recommend and would love to return someday!

NaoT

Everything was truly amazing. Thank you so much for such a wonderful experience, Chef Jordan and the entire team of Vespertine!!

Massimo

Vespertine in Los Angeles is not simply a restaurant, it is a fully realized artistic statement, anchored by Chef Jordan Kahn, one of the most singular culinary minds working in America today. From the moment you arrive, the experience feels removed from ordinary dining. The stark, futuristic architecture reads like a modern cathedral devoted to flavor, texture, and time. Inside, the pacing is meditative, the service precise yet warm, and every detail, light, sound, ceramics, aroma, has been choreographed into a unified composition. Chef Kahn's brilliance lies in his ability to fuse rigorous technique with philosophical depth and emotional resonance. His cooking is cerebral without being cold, poetic without becoming precious. Dishes unfold like movements in a symphony: whisper-light broths scented with forest and sea, vegetables transformed through fermentation and fire, proteins treated with reverence and restraint. Each course surprises while remaining deeply delicious, a rare balance in avant-garde cuisine. What elevates Vespertine beyond innovation is its discipline. Nothing feels improvised; every element arrives with clarity and intention, as if the kitchen were performing a carefully rehearsed score. Kahn's mastery of fermentation, smoke, acidity, and temperature places him at the forefront of contemporary gastronomy, pushing boundaries while remaining grounded in craft. The service team mirrors this precision, knowledgeable, calm, and quietly confident, while the beverage program echoes the kitchen's daring harmony. Vespertine does not chase trends; it builds its own universe. A meal here is not merely memorable, it is transformative.

Helena

What an incredible experience. My family loved it and the staff made my mother feel very special for her birthday! Everything was so unique. We all had the nonalcoholic pairings and they were deeply appreciated, so unusual. The ambiance is so interesting, it feels as if you are traveling on a space ship and landing on another planet. Highly recommend.

Howard

This is one of the best restaurants we have ever experienced and that includes The French Laundry. From the moment we arrived, the service, the attention to detail, and the execution of every course were flawless. Each dish was precise, balanced, and intentional. There was not a single thing we could point to that could have been done better. Vespertine sits comfortably among the very best restaurants in the world. This was dining at the highest level. You exceeded our expectations in every way. Well done.

Bradley

Amazing service and creative food with perfect pairings. I wouldn't get the add ons again though

Talia

Outstanding meal at Vespertine! Truly one of my most favorite Michelin tasting menus I've ever experienced. The smoked mussel panna cotta and caviar bump add-on will not not be forgotten any time soon. Both presentation and palette were incredible across every single dish! My husband's dietary restriction (no seafood/fish) was easily and graciously accommodated with vegetarian substitutions. We opted for the Vitality (non-alcoholic) beverage pairing which actually really did augment the flavors of the dishes quite nicely, with some surprising/unexpected flavor profiles. We brought our own bottle of wine (they allow 1-750ml bottle per couple with a $100 corkage fee) to enjoy as well, which was decanted and served at the timing of our request (and based on their sommeliers timing recommendation as well). Their wine menu is quite limited if you do not choose a wine pairing add-on and even more limited to only a handful of wines available by the glass if you do not wish to purchase a bottle. Street parking on a Sunday evening was very easy. I would request being seated on the first floor for a better ambience than we seemed to have on the second floor if we were to come back again.

Zhanndorr

Had the opportunity to finally make a reservation and were we impressed. The food was outstanding the ambiance was so soothing and the service impressive. Plan on returning soon

Amy

Incredible menu, wonderful service and attention to detail. Wine pairing was spot on. Very enjoyable experience.

Christine

Vespertine was a fantastic experience. I was pleasantly surprised by how consistently the food landed; nearly every course hit its mark. There were two minor misses for me, but even those were still good. The space was quite cold, though I understand and respect the concept behind it. Overall, the level of execution easily feels three-star worthy in my book. A special touch was the chef coming out to greet us, which made the evening feel even more memorable.

Anna

Overall, I had a pleasant dining experience. The food and ambiance were enjoyable, but I couldn't help noticing moments of confusion and lack of coordination among the waitstaff. There seemed to be some disorientation, which disrupted the flow of service at times. At this price point, I expected a greater sense of fluidity, precision, and attentiveness throughout the meal. While the experience was still positive, a more polished level of service would have made it exceptional.

danh

Waiting outside in the cold not ideal even with heated seats and a blanket. Building is cool. They take you to top level for a quick peak to kitchen and then you make your way down. First few dishes were good, it was pretty mid after. Some utensils shapes were cool, but not really functional. They have you move to another table after dinning for dessert which sounded cool initially, but when you're full and settled in moving to a new table is kinda weird and the table had little leg room and uncomfortable seats due to modern design of it. Although it's an intimate setting, it was still pretty loud and so it was hard to hear each time they presented a dish out.

Binais

Vespertine is not a restaurant—it's an experience. Magical, transporting, and unlike anything else. I won't spoil it with details. Just book it and experience the pinnacle of dining for yourself.

Christopher

There are places to dine and then there are experiences that can move you to your core. Vespertine is not a restaurant but rather an experience in sight, sound, and taste. From the beginning, you are offered added features to bring your dining to another level. Might I recommend the caviar and uni adds as they are unique and worth the up charge. Also, pair the meal with one of their wine or non alcoholic juice combinations. For the food, it is fine dining and art fused together. The courses are small but you will be full when you are finished. You shouldn't come here if you want something bland and unimaginative. This takes some buy in to enjoy the meal. But if you do, you'll be rewarded with amazing tastes of caviar, quail, lamb, Japanese fish, rare shrimp, squid ink, and more. This is art and food pairing with complimentary service from staff who care about your experience. We enjoyed the meal. Iykyk. Thank you to the chef and staff. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with you.

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