Dakota at the Roosevelt Hotel

03/29/09

A Mixed Bag - I doubt I will return

by RestaurantAficionado at Citysearch

Restaurant has great atmosphere and excellent food. It was also very accessible for a Saturday night. We had no problem getting a reservation. Our food server Suzanne was very attentive.

All in all it was a mixed bag though. It seemed that they were out of several items on the menu. I have no proof, but it tasted like the bar used plastic bottle vodka under the guise of serving Ketttle One. The bar cocktail waitress had the temperment of a mannequinn in a bad mood and moved about as fast.

And the worst part was that someone on the staff obviously wanted to keep my leftover NY Strip and two side orders, of which I only ate half. After spending $400 for a dinner for two I would expect to able to bring my food home when I request it.

I doubt I will be going back. Mastros or the Madison seem to be better alternatives.

• Pros: Excellent Food
• Cons: Lackluster Bar & Staff kept leftovers

02/15/09

Perfect Atmosphere & Service...All Negated By Pretty, But Terrible Food!

by NoelleF at Citysearch

My husband and I went last night for the Valentine's Day tasting menu. We were very much looking forward to a great steak and a great meal--as this is supposed to be what Dakota is known for. The food and the $300+ it cost to eat there completely ruined our evening.

The Roosevelt itself is gorgeous, the restaurant's atmosphere is perfect. Low lighting, sophisticated, warm, comfortable hip. The servers and bus staff were excellent and professional. The staff even at the front door of the hotel was awesome! I asked if there was a store within the hotel so I could grab some lip gloss and because it was closed, he offered to run across the street to a pharmacy and would bring it up to me at our table! I felt so spoiled!

The good times ended there. Although every course we had looked beautiful, it was fatty and waaaaay too salty! I just couldn't believe this supposedly amazing restaurant could put out food like this! I'm a big tuna lover and was anticipating the 1st course of tuna tataki. I couldn't finish it because it was drowned in a super fatty avocado creamy thing. The tuna was also not cut small enough. The 2nd course was pork and my husband ordered the scallops. The pork was flavored well, but again, very fatty. I took one bite of the scallop and although it was nicely cooked, it was so salty I didn't take another bite!

I could excuse the 1st and 2nd courses if the main dish was excellent, particularly because I had been salivating over having a great steak all week. To my dismay, the medium rare petite felit wasn't bloody at all. I had to touch it to check if it was warm! What completely confirmed by negative opinion of this restaurant was this steak. I couldn't even finish it because it was SOO salty!

To put this evening over the top was the "dessert extravaganza" buffet in the next room. The band was so loud we couldn't speak to each other (on Valentine's Day!), I didn't even try any of the gelatin-looking desserts, and we left.

• Pros: atmosphere, service
• Cons: food

01/10/09

so very hollywood

by randi333 at Citysearch

we went here on a friday. it was four girls and one guy. the hostess, at first, did not want to let us in. she asked us wat guest list we were on. my friend, who is a frequent to this place expressed that she never had this problem of getting in and needing a guest list especially on a friday. another group had been waiting outside when we walked up and was having the same problem. one thing both of us had in common was each of us had a black girl in our group. now i am not implying that this place might discriminate, but im merely making an observation. meanwhile 4 guys were let in ahead of us with no problem. after ten min of making us wait, she said it was ok to go in and let the other group in as well.

inside, the place was pretty empty, mainly pple were dressed to the tens sitting down tlking. we got our drinks, which were pretty expensive, so not a place to consider having several drinks at unless u dont mind mind the spending. the place was pretty monotonous as far as diversity, mainly white pple. i prefer a diverse crowd, you kno asians whites blacks hispanics, something different, but not gonna get that here. and the crowd is pretty pompous, sedity in a sense, very hollywood. i expected it to be different given its location. the decor is beautifulllllll!!! and the music is great!!!! lotta 80s early 90s rock. we danced all night considerin most pple sat down. it doesnt seem like a big social function unless ur a regular and know pple that always go there...

i dont kno, i really enjoyed myself overall, but its not the friendliest atmosphere. it didnt keep me from having a good time tho :) i like this place it has good music and i enjoyed dancing all night with my friends. it has its drawbacks, but dont let that keep you from having a good time!

• Pros: GREAT MUSIC, Beautiful decor
• Cons: Atmosphere, crowd, drink prices, doormen

09/21/08

Like all trends, this one has ended

by jxhxl at Citysearch

Not hot anymore - after the Lisa Loeb wanna be up front and her little manservant doorman let us in, the place was filled with not so great looking people and it wasn't even crowded inside. Always judge a place by the person working the door and the doorman. If they aren't good looking, then you know they are not letting good looking people in. I think like all trends, this one has passed. Don't waste your time, it was really lame. The crowd is mostly white, not a lot of diversity. For a city like LA, you'd expect the progression to be a little better than that.

05/13/08

Have stepped up.

by TrueAngelino at Citysearch

The new team at Dakota has turned the place around. I eat there about three times a month the bartenders are amazing the servers friendly however sometimes a little pushy but non the less the food has been consistant and delicious. Seasoned perfectly and served hot! Great Job.

• Pros: Ambience, Quality of product used

05/04/08

Worst club ever

by drmorris at Citysearch

THE WORST PLACE EVER. Its not even hard to get into, all we did was grease the guy $50 for like 6 people, even though I got in, I actually lost respect for the place. The people inside are so WANNABE HOLLYWOOD club kids I wanted to puk#; not to mention the UGLY bartenders which were mostly girls who were the rudest people ever. If you insist on having girl bartenders they should at least be good looking. They actually gave me the wrong credit card to close my account with and ended up never finding the right one, I ended up leaving the bar without my credit card. Oh and the fat, rude, miserable witch working the front door YOUR NOT ALLOWED TO SMOKE IN THE CLUB, I should report your fat miserable a$$.

Elegant hotel restaurant balances modernist regal design with straightforward steakhouse favorites.

by Tara Lis at Citysearch

Anchored by wood-boxed, backlit columns, Dodd Mitchell's signature design elements dominate this chic steakhouse: Comfortable milk-chocolate brown suede chairs are positioned against medieval black leather tabletops and slick benches, forming clean lines throughout the space. A mix of professionally dressed servers, from young actors to more experienced international staffers, offer steak and sauce pairing advice to hungry hipsters, industry honchos and curious hotel guests. Husband and wife restaurateur team Tim and Liza Goodell have crafted a standout in L.A.'s surge of trendy steakhouses with dishes like the Deconstructed Caesar salad, rib-eye in blue cheese topping and filet mignon. Sides range from skillet-stacked onion rings and crispy au gratin potatoes to creamy spinach.

04/22/08

Cool place

by TJJW at Citysearch

I know Teddys very well. The people are good at what they do. Its a distinct atmosphere and wish it were easier to get into... That's just the way it goes. Don't get steamy or take it personally. Take the time to get to know promoters.

• Pros: Interesting spot.
• Cons: Hard to enter.

03/25/08

Be careful and watch out for criminals spiking drinks

by TakeCare at Citysearch

However great this place is please be careful. It's probably not the only place in Hollywood/LA that someone has had their drink spiked. Be careful and watch out for criminal clubbers who pray on others.

• Cons: Fellow clubbers spiking drinks to take advantage

03/19/08

Consistently great food and service.

by ilovetoeatinla at Citysearch

I eat at Dakota quite often; in fact, almost once a month. However, this is the first time I have been compelled to write a review. The food is fantastic and the service is equally as good. I feel sad for the guest who felt that his/her server was pushy and snobby. The guest was obviously just having a bad day and went in with a chip on the shoulder because anyone who frequently dines at steakhouses would know how to spell bearnaise. Anyway, I always find the service to be consistently top notch and almost comparable to NY service, not exactly but close compared to most Los Angeles restaurants. My most recent visit was last week. After being in New York on business for 10 days I just wanted to come home, relax, and have Dakota. I started with the Heirloom Tomato salad with watermelon and fromage blanc, which was incredible. As always the Ribeye was FANTASTIC, however the server suggested combining the, ahem, Bearnaise sauce with the Red Wine Bordelaise, another OUTSTANDING suggestion from him. He was very informative, knowledgeable, and charming as well. I had never tried the Fingerling potatoes before but he assured me I would enjoy them and I did. I skipped dessert and opted for an espresso instead since I still had work to finish up. The only quam I had was that my espresso arrived in a coffee cup and not a demitasse cup. The server personally apologized for the coffee cup letting me know that he searched all over the building for one and even promised to bring his own the next time I eat there, which made me smile and remember why I enjoy Dakota so much.

• Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere, Lighting, Design
• Cons: Music, Broken Tables