The Tasting Kitchen

Great find on Abbott Kinney

by MeginLA

When going to The Tasting Kitchen I had to try the chef's tasting menu and I wasn't dissapointed. We started with the charcutterie board followed by salads, pasta, meat and dessert. Only one dish didn't meet expectations (the pork was rather bland) but everything else was full of flavor. My dinner companion almost licked the pasta plate clean. The only draw backs for me were the noise and limited wine list. While the wine by the bottle list is great I only found 3 glasses on the menu by the glass. Also, after 7 it became almost impossible to hear my table. However, I'll go back if just for the fava beans with burrata, that was incredible.

• Pros: great food
• Cons: limited wine by the glass, loud

Pretentious Rip Off - Save Your Money

by djc2003

Ok. I had read all the negative comments from yelpers and for SOME reason I chose to ignore them. Thought I knew better. Big mistake. Y'all are totally right. I implore you, please take your hard earned dollars and go somewhere else. This place, sadly, is a pretentious rip off.

I ordered a cocktail purporting to contain "gin, meyer lemon, and fennel"

When the drink came it was clear that it contained pernod or absinthe, neither of which I like. When questioned the waiter went to ask the bartender, returned, said that it did indeed contain absinthe but there were some infused fennel seeds in there somewhere. Ummmm. I sent it back.

We ordered the scallop appetizer - $16 - and we got TWO SCALLOPS

We order the lamb entree - one chop appeared - balanced on iiterally about 12 peas.

Hey listen, I am not into supersizing but this was ridiculous.

No bread although we were served an amuse-y thing - some type of endive and pear salad. Come to think of it maybe that was a mistake and we got someone else's salad.

Dessert - we had the bread pudding and the gelato which were again small portions, but tasty.

The chamomile tea was...of course...lavender tea...but the lavender was never mentioned.

The crowning glory was the coffee. No espresso machine, ok. My friend ordered a regular black coffee. She asked for more coffee "a refill" and was brought another cup. She was charged $5 for the second cup! WHAT! You're gonna serve filter coffee by the cup and charge five bucks for each cup!! Outrageous. Fortunately the bill and the coffee came at the same time so back it went.

Left hungry and more than a little cranky. Bill for two WITHOUT tip and including ONE app ONE entree (we shared both) TWO desserts, THREE glasses of wine THREE cocktails, ONE coffee, ONE tea $150.

This MIGHT have been worth it if everything was abundant and amazing...but it was far from it.

You can do a lot better things with this money. Skip the Tasting Kitchen people. Shame on whoever owns this place.

• Pros: The food was relative tasty Attentive server trying valiant
• Cons: Menu is "typed on a 1971 typewriter" and is not only unreada

Great Food and Amazing Service!!!

by trell15

Sexy atmosphere, friendly and attentive service staff. Best cocktails in Venice and the food continues to wow every time! In love with The Tasing Kitchen!

• Pros: Superb Cocktails, seasonal small plates

One negative review does not a bad restaurant make...

by arambrazilian

We had a terrific experience and dinner was delicious. Despite the negative review below (which I don't doubt), I would say the service was through-the-roof good for us. Our waiter was a hip cool dude and super attentive and accomodating. I had the toast appetizer that came w/ goat cheese and figs, etc. - yeah, the bread was pretty charred, but I liked it that way - maybe a bit on the crunchy side. We tried the mussels - the broth of course made for perfect bread-dipping - tastey but not life-changing. The flank steak was super with a nice spicey-sweet sauce and fingerlings + shitakes done just right. The Halibut was stand-out incredible - its sauce should win some prize on the food channel - I could eat their halibut all the live-long-day and be the better man for it! And did I mention they serve Mexican Coke in a cold frosty bottle! The scene was very hip - mostly progressive young professionals w/ thick-rimmed trendy glasses - the grad schools should be proud their alumni are eating so well.... the noise factor is pretty loud, and yes there are some big tables w/ rich college girls, having fun laughing the night away and swapping frat-guy stories... And there is a bar area. This place is definitely happening and scores high by me!

• Pros: staff, food, ambiance
• Cons: parking but there is valet

Charming Decor, Worst Service on Abbot Kinney

by nyc_girl

We were tired of the crowds at Gjelina so decided to try Tasting Kitchen one weekend night. Was initially impressed w/ the handsome space and interior. We were seated right away and ordered our drinks. Unfortunately, it took over 15 minutes for those drinks to arrive. Our French waitress seemed overwhelmed when we asked to at least bring us water ... which she kept forgetting. Finally we asked if we could just order our food - she said she forgot her notebook and would return. 10 minutes later she came back and asked if we were ready. Wow. We realized we weren't going to be eating for awhile so ordered an appetizer. When the fig toast appetizer arrived blackened and charred so badly charcoal had broken off all over the plate and the toast was rock hard, she told us she thought it was suppose to be that way and that it had been grilled along w/ the hamburgers so someone probably just forgot it was on the grill (?). Bigger wow. We finished our appetizer and then waited over 30 minutes for our main course. We kept having to ask for more water. By the time our meals came, we were exhausted. Waitress never apologized for the ridiculous and repeated wait or offered to comp our drinks, appetizer or anything else. Ironically the one thing she did bring us promptly was the check!

I'd wait to try this place until management hires competent waitresses and trains the kitchen staff on delivery/timing of food. Space itself has potential.

• Pros: Nice Ambiance
• Cons: HORRID service, Expensive Food, Poor Wine Selection