Eight-18

02/11/08

Great hip place, for the young and young at heart!

by hipster2007 at Citysearch

So after reading all of the previous reviews I came to a conclusion.....

Who are these people?! Are they 70+ years old? Look, Eight-18 is definatly not for you. Its loud, they play rap and hip hop, but what's wrong with that? And they play that music after dinner hours. If you are a boring old person then go somewhere else. Eight-18 is meant for those of us who want to have good food, good wine AND have a FUN night; without having to go to Hollywood. The DJ is amazing! She has been in People Magazine and has been at Celebrity Parties. Koodos to Eight-18 for having her. Now as for the food... It's great! and their menu changes every couple months so we customers don't get bored with there food. Most people are just accustomed to restaurants that have there food in freezers and it's the same menu as it was 10 years ago, and that's what they expect. Well you wont find that at Eight-18, and that's probably why you don't like it. It's REAL food. I love this place! It's a breath of fresh air to the Valley scene. OH! And the Servers are some of the classiest, Sexiest girls I've met. Ok... I'll get down my Soap Box now...

• Pros: Hip spot, Great service, Menu always changing, Quiet Back room dining
• Cons: Always need a reservation!

09/22/08

Horrible Experience!!!

by Kyeots at Citysearch

Initially I was pleased a wine bar opened in Toluca Lake. Now, this place can close and I wouldn't miss it! I recently tried to make reservations for the "Eight 18" back room for a function. I was given less than professional service by the owner, BRAD. He never returned phone calls, was never at the restaurant, it seemed for more than five minutes on any given night and when inquiries were made to the staff regarding pricing and what was involved in renting the "Eight 18" back room, no one but this "Brad" seemed to know the informaiion. I even was hung up on by a waitress! I will not suggest or recommend Eight 18 as a place to go and will travel miles to avoid support of this establishment. I found Brad and the "Eight 18" staff to be unprofessional and strongly suggest he seek a locale which suits him -- I think there's space available on the planet Saturn.

• Pros: None come to mind
• Cons: Brad as the Owner; staff not knowledgeable re pricing for reservations for large party

09/19/08

Awful!

by Lola97 at Citysearch

The service was slow, the bread was stale, the food was cold and the restaurant was dirty. Enough said.

04/06/08

Finally! A Wine bar in the area

by sfvrealestate at Citysearch

What a great hang for the neighborhood! Although true wine afficianados might think the wine list could go further, it's fabulous for those of us that know what we like and want help in trying something new. The staff is friendly and helpful. Although they have a full menu, I've only had the cheese plates. Get there early for a table and allow plenty of time to street park.

• Pros: Great, classy hang out was desparately needed in this neighborhood
• Cons: Not inexpensive, allow plenty of time to park, get there early for a table

02/12/08

For Further Clarification.....

by winechick98 at Citysearch

I have been hearing the rumor of 661 in Valencia closing for sometime... I am one of the main bartenders there and frankly, I am tired of the rumors. We are still open and doing better then ever! We are getting all new wines and revamping our selections this month. I have yet to see an eviction notice and to this day we are still operating and going strong.

If the writer of the first blog was unhappy with the wines being offered perhaps he would feel more comfortable in the wine section of the grocery store. We and Eight-18 offer various wines from all over the world that will give you a taste of something new every time you visit.

Come and try either bar... I guarantee it will be a pleasant experience you will NEVER forget!!!

• Pros: Exciting atmosphere, Cool hip crowed, The Feeling of Hollywood/WeHo in Toluca Lake
• Cons: Always crowded!

01/25/08

Revisiting was Wonderful! Glad we Came Back!

by barbarabarrielle at Citysearch

In our most recent visit to 8-18, the food was wonderful, the wine was more creative and the ambiance one I will revisit time and again. I love finding good wines by the glass (always the same tired lists at most restaurants but here they actually contemplate what sophisticated customers may want ) and Toluca Lake needs this kind of experience. Glad we came back and found a true good neighborhood restaurant.

01/16/08

Going out of business?

by coolcarol at Citysearch

This bar is part of Wine 661 in Valencia who is being shut down for not paying their debts. I have seen eviction notices posted on the door. How long will it be before this bar also closes down. The wine selections are very poor, hardly ever will have your first choice on the menu, they do not keep a full inventory. There is limited selection of food and is served like someone threw it on the plate, in the microwave and out to you. Could this all be because of the monetary problems this owner is having and is losing interest ? I strongly suggest taking your time and money elsewhere. Like Trader Joes where you can but a bottle to take home.

• Pros: Great location, good staff
• Cons: Poor wine choices, cold, uninteresting food

11/28/07

Bad Bad Bad

by bestofem1958 at Citysearch

I went to check it out b/c people continued raving about it. I have no idea why! Wayyyyy to loud in there....horrible choice of music. I would say I am pretty knowledgable when it comes to wine.....the wine list was very mediocre. I waited 45 minutes for my food to come out....I ordered short ribs. They were cold.....and not very good, dry. Everything is overpriced. I don't mind paying for an expensive meal, but It should be worth it. We ordered dessert, what a joke. Our server was delightful, but thats the only positive thing I can muster up about this place! Do not go there, thats all I can say.

11/11/07

music horrible way tooo loud.....food inconsistent all around bad experience

by razzmataz1021 at Citysearch

Horrible place. Used to be my favorite place to eat.....all of my favorite servers are no longer there. I also used to love the food, but they have changed the chef so many times......the plates are always different. either that or they are out of the dish i want to order. Out of chicken? who ever heard of such a thing? also liked the cheese girl June....who is no longer there. My food often comes out 30 min late.....and sometimes cold. Excellent bottle list.....but everytime i went to order a bottle.....it took 3 or 4 tries to get a bottle they actually had.......A wine bar without wine? whats the deal........maybe the owner should pay attention to whats going on in his restaurant a little more.......this is one customer who is never going back

• Cons: loud, always out of everything, food always changing

10/16/07

What?! What Did You Say?!

by lulu74 at Citysearch

Eight 18 has a good selection of wine and cheese, and pretty friendly service. The only thing I had a serious problem with was being accosted by the incredibly loud and overwhelming MUSIC - which was not only in bad taste (i.e. Rap and bad Rap at that), but at a decible so high that I seriously could not hear the person next to me. A wine bar is and should never be a nightclub. It's a place to enjoy the finer things - to expand the palate and slowly sip fine wine with tasty accompanyments, all while enjoying good conversation. It's not a place for chain wallet wearing Jack and Coke drinkers - which seems to be the type of crowd Eight 18 is attracting with a DJ spinning eardrum thumping music on the overhead speakers (yes problem 2: who ever heard of DJ music on overhead speakers?). I really wanted to try a second glass of wine but the music was so unbearable we got the check and dodged out as fast as we could to prevent permanent hearing loss. Management should consider trying to attract a crowd that's willing to pay $15 for a glass of wine, which is probably not the type of crowd that cares to listen to Biggie Smalls rapping about big bootie byotches at a decible that could shatter the glass they're drinking from. It's no wonder the place was practically empty on a Saturday night. Decent food and wine will only get a restaurant so far - ultimately it's about an overall experience, and unless you are deaf or going deaf this is not the place for you.

• Pros: Decent wine and cheese
• Cons: Unbearably loud and terrible music