Note: This review was originally posted under “Vitello’s Restaurant.” However, since The Rendition Room is the speakeasy located in the basement of Vitello’s it’s only appropriate that the review be shared here as well.
We were really looking forward to this spot, but unfortunately, the experience was disappointing from start to finish. Upon arrival, we were told by a staff member that the bar (The Rendition Room) we had hoped to visit was full (which is understandable—definitely make a reservation in advance). He mentioned he’d check on something and come back, but never returned. Eventually, another employee seated us, which felt like a recovery at first, but things only went downhill from there.
What followed was unacceptable: while seated, we watched five separate parties arrive and receive immediate attention—while we continued to sit there, ignored, just a few feet away. Multiple staff walked by and never once stopped to ask if we had been helped or needed anything. It was incredibly frustrating and made us feel unwelcome and overlooked.
It was hard not to feel judged based on how we looked—young, casually dressed, and not flashy. The vibe was clear: if you don’t look like you’re ready to spend a fortune, good luck getting service. After 20 minutes of being completely disregarded, we got up and left. Not a single person asked why.
A truly poor showing in hospitality, and a place we won’t be returning to. Disrespectful service, lack of communication, and zero acknowledgment of their guests. It’s one thing to be busy. It’s another to make people feel like they don’t belong. We went out of our way to be here, hoping for a fun night, and instead left feeling dismissed and honestly kind of embarrassed. Just a terrible experience all around.
s k
The interior of the restaurant is very nice, but the food and drinks are not that good.
Hannah Ledger
We ate at Rendition Room the evening of March 22. The service was terrible. My husband was exited to take me he had been before. However we had to wait 10 minutes before getting water, 20 minutes before getting a drink. I noted a table with a bit more light opened up when we sat down and the waitresses lied to us about a party of 4 coming, and they sat a party of two there 2 minutes later. We were surrounded by a group of people getting a sales pitch for the membership a couple of times. We ordered a second round of drinks before dinner that never came so had zero hydration through dinner. We had to get up and ask for our own cutlery. When we asked for the bill we had to ask a second time. The bill came with the drinks we never had, we asked for them to be taken off but then they made us wait and tried to give us free drinks, also we had a birthday gathering to go to, so my husband got up to ask for the drinks to be taken off the bill again, only to find the waitress on her phone, who snapped at him to say the drinks where coming which isn’t what we asked for. I guess the service was so slow because the waitress was on her phone at the back. So the whole experience was just bad and the snappy attitude at the end when there were only 4 tables to serve was the nail in the coffin. As two people who also used to be servers in restaurants it pained us to not leave a tip. I left a review on resy to give feedback and initially wasn’t going to make our thoughts on the place public. Only to find out looking at the credit card they have over charged us. Our bill was $153 and they charged us $180. So just be careful when you eat here, you may have a terrible experience with the services.
Jack Smith
The Rendition Room is hands down my favorite spot in LA. From the moment you step through the hidden bookshelf door, it’s like you’ve been transported back to the 1930s… intimate, cozy, and just the right amount of mystery.
But what really makes this place shine is Richy. He’s not just a bartender; he’s a mixologist in every sense of the word. Every drink he makes feels like it’s been crafted just for you. Beyond that, Richy’s warmth and sincerity are what truly set him apart. You’re not just another customer to him…he makes you feel welcome, like an old friend, every time you stop by.
The Rendition Room nails it when it comes to atmosphere, cocktails, and overall vibe. Whether you’re celebrating something big or just want a cool night out, this is the place. It’s a hidden gem that never disappoints!
Jack
The Rendition Room is hands down my favorite spot in LA. From the moment you step through the hidden bookshelf door, it’s like you’ve been transported back to the 1930s… intimate, cozy, and just the right amount of mystery.
But what really makes this place shine is Richy. He’s not just a bartender; he’s a mixologist in every sense of the word. Every drink he makes feels like it’s been crafted just for you. Beyond that, Richy’s warmth and sincerity are what truly set him apart. You’re not just another customer to him—he makes you feel welcome, like an old friend, every time you stop by.
The Rendition Room nails it when it comes to atmosphere, cocktails, and overall vibe. Whether you’re celebrating something big or just want a cool night out, this is the place. It’s a hidden gem that never disappoints!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lasagna, Ravioli, Meatballs
Jack Smith
The Rendition Room is hands down my favorite spot in LA. From the moment you step through the hidden bookshelf door, it’s like you’ve been transported back to the 1930s…intimate, cozy, and just the right amount of mystery.
But what really makes this place shine is Richy. He’s not just a bartender; he’s a mixologist in every sense of the word. Every drink he makes feels like it’s been crafted just for you. Beyond that, Richy’s warmth and sincerity are what truly set him apart. You’re not just another customer to him…he makes you feel welcome, like an old friend, every time you stop by.
The Rendition Room nails it when it comes to atmosphere, cocktails, and overall vibe. Whether you’re celebrating something big or just want a cool night out, this is the place. It’s a hidden gem that never disappoints.
Jack Smith
The Rendition Room is hands down my favorite spot in LA. From the moment you step through the hidden bookshelf door, it’s like you’ve been transported back to the 1930s…intimate, cozy, and just the right amount of mystery.
But what really makes this place shine is Richy. He’s not just a bartender; he’s a mixologist in every sense of the word. Every drink he makes feels like it’s been crafted just for you. Beyond that, Richy’s warmth and sincerity are what truly set him apart. You’re not just another customer to him—he makes you feel welcome, like an old friend, every time you stop by.
The Rendition Room nails it when it comes to atmosphere, cocktails, and overall vibe. Whether you’re celebrating something big or just want a cool night out, this is the place. It’s a hidden gem that never disappoints.
Mark Chaplin
Vitellos is not only an institution, it has great food and service and atmosphere. Lots of vegan options too. Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joe Farina
What a pleasant/ Chill atmosphere, the rules obviously work! It was my first time, the full (restaurant) menu was available. The house cocktails were really fantastic as well as the food. I need to visit again for a proper dinner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jean M
This was just like stepping into old Hollywood, Scott the bartender and cultivator of the rendition room really knows how to make an experience. Where most speakeasy’s are just another bar behind a secret door, Scott has created a beautiful menu in which each drink is unique to the last- well balanced and beautiful in presentation. Although there are some “rules” to entry it’s only in preservation of the environment he’s created and that classy ambiance that is so hard to come by. My friend and I thoroughly enjoyed our time here and will be back to see what other fun drink Scott can whip us up ??
Ok atmosphere, but for the prices there are so many better bars and restaurants in this area that don’t have a pretentious attitude. Fine if you’re a local in walking distance, but not worth the trip.
Atmosphere: 2
Susan Facklam
Great bar in Vitello's restaurant before dinner. They make great cocktails and the ambiance is great!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Ian Clarkson
Such a neat little speak easy. The vibe and atmosphere here is really chill and the drinks are strong but delicious. Friendly staff who make you feel at home.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Isabelle Erickson
TLDR: Speakeasy bartender tricked us into stepping out and then locked us out.
Welp that ruined our night. We had a nice, if not a bit overpriced, meal and drink at the bar. Were about to leave when I saw signs for the speakeasy. I asked the hostess if we could see. She kindly took us back and we thought it looked neat and might want to stay for a drink. The bartender inside said he could seat us. As soon as my boyfriend stepped in, the bartender quickly said "wait let me show you something outside". We followed, excited and curious at the little speakeasy nuance he was going to show us. Once out he said "we have a dress code, no shorts" and slammed the door in our faces. Neither of us would've minded not being served due to dress code but the way he tricked us to leaving and then locked us out was...bizarre. The whole way home we were in shock and hurt.
Atar Edri
They need to have better ? meetballs was so dryyyyy
Note: This review was originally posted under “Vitello’s Restaurant.” However, since The Rendition Room is the speakeasy located in the basement of Vitello’s it’s only appropriate that the review be shared here as well.
We were really looking forward to this spot, but unfortunately, the experience was disappointing from start to finish. Upon arrival, we were told by a staff member that the bar (The Rendition Room) we had hoped to visit was full (which is understandable—definitely make a reservation in advance). He mentioned he’d check on something and come back, but never returned. Eventually, another employee seated us, which felt like a recovery at first, but things only went downhill from there.
What followed was unacceptable: while seated, we watched five separate parties arrive and receive immediate attention—while we continued to sit there, ignored, just a few feet away. Multiple staff walked by and never once stopped to ask if we had been helped or needed anything. It was incredibly frustrating and made us feel unwelcome and overlooked.
It was hard not to feel judged based on how we looked—young, casually dressed, and not flashy. The vibe was clear: if you don’t look like you’re ready to spend a fortune, good luck getting service. After 20 minutes of being completely disregarded, we got up and left. Not a single person asked why.
A truly poor showing in hospitality, and a place we won’t be returning to. Disrespectful service, lack of communication, and zero acknowledgment of their guests. It’s one thing to be busy. It’s another to make people feel like they don’t belong. We went out of our way to be here, hoping for a fun night, and instead left feeling dismissed and honestly kind of embarrassed. Just a terrible experience all around.
The interior of the restaurant is very nice, but the food and drinks are not that good.
We ate at Rendition Room the evening of March 22. The service was terrible. My husband was exited to take me he had been before. However we had to wait 10 minutes before getting water, 20 minutes before getting a drink. I noted a table with a bit more light opened up when we sat down and the waitresses lied to us about a party of 4 coming, and they sat a party of two there 2 minutes later. We were surrounded by a group of people getting a sales pitch for the membership a couple of times. We ordered a second round of drinks before dinner that never came so had zero hydration through dinner. We had to get up and ask for our own cutlery. When we asked for the bill we had to ask a second time. The bill came with the drinks we never had, we asked for them to be taken off but then they made us wait and tried to give us free drinks, also we had a birthday gathering to go to, so my husband got up to ask for the drinks to be taken off the bill again, only to find the waitress on her phone, who snapped at him to say the drinks where coming which isn’t what we asked for. I guess the service was so slow because the waitress was on her phone at the back. So the whole experience was just bad and the snappy attitude at the end when there were only 4 tables to serve was the nail in the coffin. As two people who also used to be servers in restaurants it pained us to not leave a tip. I left a review on resy to give feedback and initially wasn’t going to make our thoughts on the place public. Only to find out looking at the credit card they have over charged us. Our bill was $153 and they charged us $180. So just be careful when you eat here, you may have a terrible experience with the services.
The Rendition Room is hands down my favorite spot in LA. From the moment you step through the hidden bookshelf door, it’s like you’ve been transported back to the 1930s… intimate, cozy, and just the right amount of mystery.
But what really makes this place shine is Richy. He’s not just a bartender; he’s a mixologist in every sense of the word. Every drink he makes feels like it’s been crafted just for you. Beyond that, Richy’s warmth and sincerity are what truly set him apart. You’re not just another customer to him…he makes you feel welcome, like an old friend, every time you stop by.
The Rendition Room nails it when it comes to atmosphere, cocktails, and overall vibe. Whether you’re celebrating something big or just want a cool night out, this is the place. It’s a hidden gem that never disappoints!
The Rendition Room is hands down my favorite spot in LA. From the moment you step through the hidden bookshelf door, it’s like you’ve been transported back to the 1930s… intimate, cozy, and just the right amount of mystery.
But what really makes this place shine is Richy. He’s not just a bartender; he’s a mixologist in every sense of the word. Every drink he makes feels like it’s been crafted just for you. Beyond that, Richy’s warmth and sincerity are what truly set him apart. You’re not just another customer to him—he makes you feel welcome, like an old friend, every time you stop by.
The Rendition Room nails it when it comes to atmosphere, cocktails, and overall vibe. Whether you’re celebrating something big or just want a cool night out, this is the place. It’s a hidden gem that never disappoints!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lasagna, Ravioli, Meatballs
The Rendition Room is hands down my favorite spot in LA. From the moment you step through the hidden bookshelf door, it’s like you’ve been transported back to the 1930s…intimate, cozy, and just the right amount of mystery. But what really makes this place shine is Richy. He’s not just a bartender; he’s a mixologist in every sense of the word. Every drink he makes feels like it’s been crafted just for you. Beyond that, Richy’s warmth and sincerity are what truly set him apart. You’re not just another customer to him…he makes you feel welcome, like an old friend, every time you stop by. The Rendition Room nails it when it comes to atmosphere, cocktails, and overall vibe. Whether you’re celebrating something big or just want a cool night out, this is the place. It’s a hidden gem that never disappoints.
The Rendition Room is hands down my favorite spot in LA. From the moment you step through the hidden bookshelf door, it’s like you’ve been transported back to the 1930s…intimate, cozy, and just the right amount of mystery. But what really makes this place shine is Richy. He’s not just a bartender; he’s a mixologist in every sense of the word. Every drink he makes feels like it’s been crafted just for you. Beyond that, Richy’s warmth and sincerity are what truly set him apart. You’re not just another customer to him—he makes you feel welcome, like an old friend, every time you stop by. The Rendition Room nails it when it comes to atmosphere, cocktails, and overall vibe. Whether you’re celebrating something big or just want a cool night out, this is the place. It’s a hidden gem that never disappoints.
Vitellos is not only an institution, it has great food and service and atmosphere. Lots of vegan options too. Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What a pleasant/ Chill atmosphere, the rules obviously work!
It was my first time, the full (restaurant) menu was available. The house cocktails were really fantastic as well as the food. I need to visit again for a proper dinner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was just like stepping into old Hollywood, Scott the bartender and cultivator of the rendition room really knows how to make an experience. Where most speakeasy’s are just another bar behind a secret door, Scott has created a beautiful menu in which each drink is unique to the last- well balanced and beautiful in presentation. Although there are some “rules” to entry it’s only in preservation of the environment he’s created and that classy ambiance that is so hard to come by. My friend and I thoroughly enjoyed our time here and will be back to see what other fun drink Scott can whip us up ??
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Meatballs
Restaurantji Recommends
Ok atmosphere, but for the prices there are so many better bars and restaurants in this area that don’t have a pretentious attitude. Fine if you’re a local in walking distance, but not worth the trip.
Atmosphere: 2
Great bar in Vitello's restaurant before dinner. They make great cocktails and the ambiance is great!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Such a neat little speak easy. The vibe and atmosphere here is really chill and the drinks are strong but delicious. Friendly staff who make you feel at home.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
TLDR: Speakeasy bartender tricked us into stepping out and then locked us out.
Welp that ruined our night. We had a nice, if not a bit overpriced, meal and drink at the bar. Were about to leave when I saw signs for the speakeasy. I asked the hostess if we could see. She kindly took us back and we thought it looked neat and might want to stay for a drink. The bartender inside said he could seat us. As soon as my boyfriend stepped in, the bartender quickly said "wait let me show you something outside". We followed, excited and curious at the little speakeasy nuance he was going to show us. Once out he said "we have a dress code, no shorts" and slammed the door in our faces. Neither of us would've minded not being served due to dress code but the way he tricked us to leaving and then locked us out was...bizarre. The whole way home we were in shock and hurt.
They need to have better ? meetballs was so dryyyyy
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Swedish Meatballs
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