The Dresden Restaurant & Lounge

1760 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles
(323) 665-4294

Recent Reviews

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Lou Medina

This legendary spot was on my bucket list since the movie Swingers came out. It did not disappoint! Beautiful old school restaurant with a classic high end menu. Awesome food and great staff. Highly recommended!!!

Marisa Tarpey

historical and amazing, still holds up after all these years! Live jazz & delicious food, not a gimmicky tourist trap

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Christopher Carlsson

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS !
Oh Heaven , Oh Bliss , Angel trumpets and Devil trombones , you are invited ! !”
If I die prop me up in a lifelike position and leave me here .

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

G. Christensen

Solid martini. Prompt service even for a busy place in a Friday night. The service stands out actually. We’ll try the food later. Altogether solid…

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Lenko Lette

Had the French dip. Was so good I'll probably never be able to eat one any place else lol.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Redparade87

Great live music

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Jessica Jurado

Best Whiskey Sour with fresh eggs whites I’ve had in a while! Ask for Isaac to make it for you.

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Raquel Kalina

The Dresden has the vibe and history, but the food has really slipped into mediocrity the last couple of times I’ve been.

I usually order the salmon, but it’s been consistently bland and forgettable. My husband’s second attempt at the filet mignon came with a béarnaise sauce that was way too thick, lumpy, and gritty, with a strange chemical taste. It completely lacked the smooth, creamy consistency you’d expect from a proper béarnaise. The steak itself, however, was cooked perfectly medium rare and was excellent. His sides of potatoes and broccoli were just basic.

The Caesar salad was another letdown — very mild in flavor and in desperate need of more lemon and some anchovies to give it that tangy, umami kick that makes a Caesar shine. The escargot was just okay; two shells were completely empty, and the ones that did have something inside were tough to remove. Honestly, I’ve had better escargot on a cruise ship.

Service is usually a highlight here, and our waiter was as nice and friendly as ever, but this time it was slow and dragged the evening out. My husband’s martini was even forgotten and didn’t arrive until after our food. That said, once the drinks came, they reminded me why people still love this place — strong, classic cocktails that fit the iconic atmosphere perfectly.

Bottom line: come for the cocktails and the old-school vibe, especially with the live jazz, and you’ll have a good time. But if you’re looking for a memorable meal, you’ll probably leave disappointed.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 4

Michael Fiedler

This is a really cute spot. Went there on a Thursday night and there was live jazz. I really enjoyed the special cocktail menu. Our waiter Michael was very friendly and helpful. Great ambiance too. Parking is street only and that was a little tricky.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Jared B. Hughes

Amazing experience. This is a bucket list restaurant and be sure and get there so you can enjoy the piano bar. We ate in the dining room and the music was just the right volume from there. My lamb chop was amazing at my guests, rainbow trout almondine was delicious.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Daniel

Our waiter Fred made our first experience at Dresden so memorable! You can feel history kiss you on the lips as you walk through the door and enter a different world. The forest motif of the dining room, the live music in the lounge, the dim lights and lively chatter add to the warmth and delight of this place! We started with delicious calamari, and then had a Prime Rib (comes with potato and veggie), Filet Mignon, and Chicken Piccata. Everything was amazing! We ended the night with the Spiced Apple Tart and Flourless Chocolate Cake (a la mode)! This place is a must visit. My only regret is that I’ve waited so long to dine here.

RESERVATIONS recommended. Parking on neighboring streets was fine.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Umay Isik

What a nice vibe this place has! If you like live music and atmosphere id recommend this place for sure. I went there on wednesday night and it was packed and the music was insane.

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Kris Rollins

Great jazz & great drinks!

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 4

Darlene Islas

Let me start by saying that I am very disappointed with this place . When we first arrived . We went straight to the lounge area . As we wanted to have dinner and drinks . Once we were told that they only serve appetizers sandwiches in the lounge area . We decided to get a table on the other side where they serve a full dinner menu . Everything was going great , until our food arrived and I asked the waiter for thousand island dressing for my fries . He immediately replied with a no in a very rude tone and walked away . At that pointed I was very bothered by his behavior . I decided that I was just going to enjoy my dinner with my fiancé . As we continued through our dinner . Not once did he come and asked if we needed anything else , if we were ready for another drink etc . “NOTHING” he disappeared for the whole time we were there . We saw the bus boys more than what we saw our server . The restaurant wasn’t busy to where they can say , they were overwhelmed. At the end I was very upset with the service that was given to us . We were treated as if we didn’t exist. Once we were done one of the bus boys came and asked if we wanted a dessert . That’s when I said no . I was very unhappy with their service . He then went to go tell our actual waiter that we were upset . That’s when he finally decided to come to our table and asked if we wanted desert . I replied no . Asked for my bill. Paid and ask to speak to the manager . Once the manager came up to me , I expressed my unpleasant experience with customer service and all he did was try in find excuses on why his strongest server was not performing as he usually does . It’s unfortunate that we will not be returning to this restaurant again as our food was delicious. Thank you for our dinner proposal celebration date .

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 1

Frank Montes

A Fortunate Twist of Fate: Dining at The Dresden

Sometimes the best meals are found by chance. Our family of seven had originally chosen another nearby restaurant, but after a frosty welcome from the host, we turned around and let serendipity guide us. Just a few steps away, we walked into The Dresden, not knowing what to expect—and what a discovery it turned out to be.

From the very start, the difference was night and day. The host at The Dresden greeted us warmly, and without hesitation, made accommodations for our group of seven—even on a night when we had no reservation. Her graciousness set the tone for the entire evening.

The service was nothing short of impeccable. Our server struck the perfect balance of professionalism and personality, offering thoughtful suggestions for first-timers like us. Every member of the team, from bussers to servers, worked in seamless rhythm—smiles, attention to detail, and genuine care infused into each interaction. It felt less like dinner service and more like a well-conducted symphony, where every role mattered and every note was in tune.

The food itself? Exceptional. Each plate delivered the kind of quality you’d expect from fine dining, yet without pretension. Every bite reflected both craft and care. Combined with the attentive service, it made for an experience far beyond what we had anticipated when we wandered in by sheer luck.

What began as a frustrating evening quickly transformed into one of our most memorable dining experiences. The Dresden turned a disappointing start into an unforgettable finish, reminding us that sometimes the best nights are the ones you never planned for.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — A hidden gem we’ll be returning to, not by chance, but by choice.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

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