Had to make at least one last visit to Otium before it closes. The service was fantastic and the staff should be commended for how polite and professional they were. I could imagine it must be some stressful or sad times. Regardless, they were top notch. We were served the food we remembered that always made us happy. The old standbys. At the same time we tried new dishes that we never had. I complement chef for his imagination and the technique and quality that go into the dishes. The one new dish we never had was the seared scallops. The scallops were on point but the accoutrements that were part of the dish, took it to a new level. I was lucky enough to say thank you to the chef, as he was there. Yes we will miss this place. It will hold special memories of lovely dinners and brunches, of friends enjoying each others company, of being treated special by the staff, of delicious food that filled our hearts and souls. I hope the best for all here at Otium.
Steven
Incredible experience! We enjoyed everything that we ordered. The bread and tomato tart were amazing. In addition, we had the roasted chicken with potatoes, skirt steak, and scallops. We shared everything family style. The service was spot on, including the Sommelier who was very knowledgeable. Unfortunately, It is my understanding that they will be closing this location soon☹️. I am hopeful that they will relocate soon!!!
Jennfer
My favorite restaurant. Every dish was perfection. The salmon tartare is incredible. You wrap it in a shiso leaf and seaweed. The corn agnolotti was so delicious. Also their chicken is on another level. I can't say enough good things. Everything we ordered was amazing!
Ava
Always a lovely vibe here. The food is superb. The tomato tart is a favorite. The naan. The potatoes. The eggplant. I could go on. Service was above and beyond. From the hostess to the bussing team (especially Angel) to our waiter whose name I can't recall but who was so passionate about the food and kind. The only downside was the word that the place is closing in a few weeks. I'll miss it. Bravo to all who made it a perfect downtown LA moment for so many years. Well done.
Sjjama
Loved it. It's beautiful inside. The tomato tart with curry onion jam was unexpectedly good - as was everything else. Service was also fantastic. Attentive but not too intrusive.
We arrived early for our reservation, quickly were greeted and seated. It was a little tough to find the restaurant, the entrance is around the side with no obvious sign , but that was ok, made it a little mysterious.. Food was delicious and elegant. The kitchen can be seen from sitting , which I find very interesting watching staff work together. We did feel the amount of food for the price was a little high , but the dishes were delicious. We had the salmon tartare for a starter and shared the skirt steak and street corn pasta. I ordered the truffle butter for the sourdough bread , which was also delicious, but I didn't pay attention the butter was $15 for a tablespoon full. The entire staff was friendly , knowledgeable and efficient. We would still recommend dining at Otium, it was yummy before our play at the Ahmanson theater.
Sarahk12
Dined here a few times pre Covid and some things have definitely shifted since then. Cocktail selection used to be a book of all Jonathan Gold's favorites which was really special and unique- we got a Desert Sting and another one that was mezcal based- loved them! Espresso martinis were also excellent. Standout food items were the street corn anglotti and and pork chop. Presentation for all items were beautiful. Would go back and sit on the patio next time.
JayY
My experience was somewhat of a mixed bag. On one hand, the ambience was great - casual, not too loud, just enough background noise. Otium has always been very tastefully decorated. We were seated against this cupboard/wall, where directly behind us was where the servers and bus staff went to gather utensils & plates and we were privy to some interesting gossip about other members of the staff lol (I don't think they realized we were right on the other side of the curtain). As for food, we ordered the steak tartare, salmon tartare, duck rolls, naan bread, pork shoulder, and the fatty fish collar. The steak tartare and naan bread were super good, and I'd highly recommend them. The duck rolls were way too salty, and our server kindly took that off our bill. The salmon tartare is basically a tiny poke bowl, so I'd recommend just skipping it since you can get poke anywhere. The fatty fish collar (basically a Salmon head) and pork shoulder were both very delicious but also a bit too salty. Unlike the duck rolls though, they were delicious enough that if you paired them with bread or some rice, it wasn't too bad. Service was good, not great. Everyone was very professional and kind. We got hot waters instead of cold, and I think the support staff was primarily carrying around cold water refills, so we were reliant more on our server to fill our cups, which did go empty until we flagged someone down (again, the food was salty so we drank more than usual). Overall, it was a pleasant experience. There was no one thing that marred the meal, though it was a bit more disappointing than my previous visits.
Amandaa
Everything we had was absolutely wonderful. I am not a huge pate person but my husband is so we got it and it was the best pate we have ever had. The duck was cooked perfectly, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Highly recommend trying this place!
We opted for the roasted chicken and scallops entree. The chicken and potatoes were delightful, although our scallops were slightly underwhelming as they were a bit cold. Nonetheless, the service was excellent, and we thoroughly enjoyed our tasty wine. We will certainly return for another visit.
Otium lives up to its reputation as one of LA's best restaurants. Amazing, inventive food, perfectly executed. Gracious, attentive service. Pricey, but worth it! Naan and mousse were great starters along with strawberry salad. Cauliflower was incredible. Pork chop was perfect. Scallops and pork were dancing on our tongues. Onion soup dumplings were so fun and tasty. Love love love this restaurant. Got there early because we had Disney hall tickets. But we were never rushed and had a great time. Thank you Otium!
Knightsy
We had a lovely time celebrating our weeding anniversary so much so it didn't matter that our food came out separately and we got to watch each other eat. The comped meal and free Espresso martinis made up for it!
NicholasA
I have visited Otium Restaurant several times and always had a great experience, so I brought my family here for a special Mother's Day celebration. Unfortunately, this visit was incredibly disappointing. Given our previous visits, we expected much better quality and options for the price we paid. The buffet was overpriced, the food was mediocre, and the choices were limited. I immediately regretted my decision after viewing the buffet. This experience was a huge letdown for a restaurant that we once loved. We had high hopes, especially for such a special occasion, but Otium Restaurant failed to deliver. Sadly, they lost a customer, and I will not return.
RJGZ
Went for the Mother's Day Brunch, the restaurant was not ready to open at the time of our reservation (10:30am), but the food was good and well presented. We ordered 2 Bloody Mary's and only one came out, and second was delayed by 20mins since they ran out of the mix and were re-making it. This was a brunch buffet and was charged full adult price for my 9y old son. Food was very good, but not enough selection for kids (considering this was a special event for Mother's Day), and essentially paid $40 for an omelet and some cookies for my son.
Fantastic experience. We have a few food allergies at our table and they were accommodating and made us delicious food and gave us a great evening! The heaters outside kept us comfortable even on a chilly evening.
Had to make at least one last visit to Otium before it closes. The service was fantastic and the staff should be commended for how polite and professional they were. I could imagine it must be some stressful or sad times. Regardless, they were top notch. We were served the food we remembered that always made us happy. The old standbys. At the same time we tried new dishes that we never had. I complement chef for his imagination and the technique and quality that go into the dishes. The one new dish we never had was the seared scallops. The scallops were on point but the accoutrements that were part of the dish, took it to a new level. I was lucky enough to say thank you to the chef, as he was there. Yes we will miss this place. It will hold special memories of lovely dinners and brunches, of friends enjoying each others company, of being treated special by the staff, of delicious food that filled our hearts and souls. I hope the best for all here at Otium.
Incredible experience! We enjoyed everything that we ordered. The bread and tomato tart were amazing. In addition, we had the roasted chicken with potatoes, skirt steak, and scallops. We shared everything family style. The service was spot on, including the Sommelier who was very knowledgeable. Unfortunately, It is my understanding that they will be closing this location soon☹️. I am hopeful that they will relocate soon!!!
My favorite restaurant. Every dish was perfection. The salmon tartare is incredible. You wrap it in a shiso leaf and seaweed. The corn agnolotti was so delicious. Also their chicken is on another level. I can't say enough good things. Everything we ordered was amazing!
Always a lovely vibe here. The food is superb. The tomato tart is a favorite. The naan. The potatoes. The eggplant. I could go on. Service was above and beyond. From the hostess to the bussing team (especially Angel) to our waiter whose name I can't recall but who was so passionate about the food and kind. The only downside was the word that the place is closing in a few weeks. I'll miss it. Bravo to all who made it a perfect downtown LA moment for so many years. Well done.
Loved it. It's beautiful inside. The tomato tart with curry onion jam was unexpectedly good - as was everything else. Service was also fantastic. Attentive but not too intrusive.
We arrived early for our reservation, quickly were greeted and seated. It was a little tough to find the restaurant, the entrance is around the side with no obvious sign , but that was ok, made it a little mysterious.. Food was delicious and elegant. The kitchen can be seen from sitting , which I find very interesting watching staff work together. We did feel the amount of food for the price was a little high , but the dishes were delicious. We had the salmon tartare for a starter and shared the skirt steak and street corn pasta. I ordered the truffle butter for the sourdough bread , which was also delicious, but I didn't pay attention the butter was $15 for a tablespoon full. The entire staff was friendly , knowledgeable and efficient. We would still recommend dining at Otium, it was yummy before our play at the Ahmanson theater.
Dined here a few times pre Covid and some things have definitely shifted since then. Cocktail selection used to be a book of all Jonathan Gold's favorites which was really special and unique- we got a Desert Sting and another one that was mezcal based- loved them! Espresso martinis were also excellent. Standout food items were the street corn anglotti and and pork chop. Presentation for all items were beautiful. Would go back and sit on the patio next time.
My experience was somewhat of a mixed bag. On one hand, the ambience was great - casual, not too loud, just enough background noise. Otium has always been very tastefully decorated. We were seated against this cupboard/wall, where directly behind us was where the servers and bus staff went to gather utensils & plates and we were privy to some interesting gossip about other members of the staff lol (I don't think they realized we were right on the other side of the curtain). As for food, we ordered the steak tartare, salmon tartare, duck rolls, naan bread, pork shoulder, and the fatty fish collar. The steak tartare and naan bread were super good, and I'd highly recommend them. The duck rolls were way too salty, and our server kindly took that off our bill. The salmon tartare is basically a tiny poke bowl, so I'd recommend just skipping it since you can get poke anywhere. The fatty fish collar (basically a Salmon head) and pork shoulder were both very delicious but also a bit too salty. Unlike the duck rolls though, they were delicious enough that if you paired them with bread or some rice, it wasn't too bad. Service was good, not great. Everyone was very professional and kind. We got hot waters instead of cold, and I think the support staff was primarily carrying around cold water refills, so we were reliant more on our server to fill our cups, which did go empty until we flagged someone down (again, the food was salty so we drank more than usual). Overall, it was a pleasant experience. There was no one thing that marred the meal, though it was a bit more disappointing than my previous visits.
Everything we had was absolutely wonderful. I am not a huge pate person but my husband is so we got it and it was the best pate we have ever had. The duck was cooked perfectly, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Highly recommend trying this place!
We opted for the roasted chicken and scallops entree. The chicken and potatoes were delightful, although our scallops were slightly underwhelming as they were a bit cold. Nonetheless, the service was excellent, and we thoroughly enjoyed our tasty wine. We will certainly return for another visit.
Restaurantji Recommends
Otium lives up to its reputation as one of LA's best restaurants. Amazing, inventive food, perfectly executed. Gracious, attentive service. Pricey, but worth it! Naan and mousse were great starters along with strawberry salad. Cauliflower was incredible. Pork chop was perfect. Scallops and pork were dancing on our tongues. Onion soup dumplings were so fun and tasty. Love love love this restaurant. Got there early because we had Disney hall tickets. But we were never rushed and had a great time. Thank you Otium!
We had a lovely time celebrating our weeding anniversary so much so it didn't matter that our food came out separately and we got to watch each other eat. The comped meal and free Espresso martinis made up for it!
I have visited Otium Restaurant several times and always had a great experience, so I brought my family here for a special Mother's Day celebration. Unfortunately, this visit was incredibly disappointing. Given our previous visits, we expected much better quality and options for the price we paid. The buffet was overpriced, the food was mediocre, and the choices were limited. I immediately regretted my decision after viewing the buffet. This experience was a huge letdown for a restaurant that we once loved. We had high hopes, especially for such a special occasion, but Otium Restaurant failed to deliver. Sadly, they lost a customer, and I will not return.
Went for the Mother's Day Brunch, the restaurant was not ready to open at the time of our reservation (10:30am), but the food was good and well presented. We ordered 2 Bloody Mary's and only one came out, and second was delayed by 20mins since they ran out of the mix and were re-making it. This was a brunch buffet and was charged full adult price for my 9y old son. Food was very good, but not enough selection for kids (considering this was a special event for Mother's Day), and essentially paid $40 for an omelet and some cookies for my son.
Fantastic experience. We have a few food allergies at our table and they were accommodating and made us delicious food and gave us a great evening! The heaters outside kept us comfortable even on a chilly evening.
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