Highly recommend for a special occasion. I loved the decor and dark ambiance of this place. It's meant to replicate the sound experience of a recording studio in a lush supper club. (I belatedly realized the connection to the name Verse as I bopped along to 90s and 2000s hip hop.) There are a lot of small speakers, but the music was not overwhelming or obnoxious. There's also a stage to enjoy live music, but true to the restaurant's claim, you can still hear your dining companion easily. Okay but how was the FOOD? It's a steakhouse, but not your traditional steakhouse where you only have a couple of cooked veggie sides and a seafood tower. It's LA, so of course gojuchang and quinoa are incorporated in the menu. We got Peruvian scallops, steak tartare, kale sprouts (with said gojuchang), and crispy vegetable quinoa for starters and sides. We got a New York strip as the main. This was plenty of food for 2 people. My favorite were the scallops. The citrus foam paired nicely and really brought out the sweetness of the shellfish. Steak was perfectly cooked, and it came with plantains and beans, so it was nice to have some additional filling sides. I loved the kale sprouts. It was a twist on your typical roasted brussels sprouts in a sweet tangy vinaigrette. The spicy red pepper gave it an interesting twist and the raisin added some more sweetness. The crispy vegetable quinoa bowl was chock filled with avocado, so it was very filling and a great side to have if you aren't loading up on the red meat. Overall, all the dishes had interesting crunch or sauce and were meticulously prepared. I want to come back and try some of their other pastas and grains.

Romantic Beautiful lite ambiance Live music but not to loud Food is five star The fluffy fresh bread and whipped butter is a must Worth the hype

We travel a lot. We've had a lot of fine dining experiences. This is literally top of my list for favorite dining experiences. Live music. Amazing ambiance. Even better food. There's no other way to say it. Go experience it for yourself. You can thank me later.

It's really hard to beat the food, service and vibe at Verse. The food is top notch across the board. I've had almost everything on their menu and nothing had disappointed, the duck is my favorite. The service is impeccable and the ambiance is second to none. You get a true "LA" vibe while feeling alone in your own group, it has a lot to do with the acoustics of the build out. This is a must try when in the area!

For my 500th review I'm choosing Verse for this memorable milestone! During our visit we celebrated a special Birthday. I loved the speakeasy curb appeal. Only discovered by those in the know. Walking through the main entrance was magical. The city bustle silenced as the dim intimate lighting glistened across the table settings of wine glasses and silverware, polished gold table touch lamps with luscious velvet seating. The acoustic wall treatments and focal wall behind the stage warmed the space with an inviting elegance. As we walked further inside, the bar area illuminated like lighting a match to ignite a candle that glowed throughout the night. Upon check in we were warmly greeted and welcomed by front of house. Escorted to our seats, front and center one of the best seats in the house. Our personalized five course menu was displayed at our table. Our mouths began to water and eyes widened as we read what was in store for us. We admired the instruments awaiting the musicians to bring them to life. Benjamin Ring then took the stage on drums, jazzy compilations with stand up bassist and keyboardist holding down the night. The accomplished talents of these individuals was mesmerizing. Sommelier Matias Marroquin welcomed and introduced us to the wine selections. A whole menu of opportunities to pair with dinner. Shortly after our server checked in on us and we awaited our experience. Fun facts: Verse was created by 18 time Grammy winning mixer Manny Marroquin, he designed a recording studio big enough to fit a restaurant. With 52 speakers guests are treated to a fully immersive environment that blends perfect acoustics, enabling private conversation while enjoying live performances. Executive chef Oscar Torres then graciously welcomed and introduced himself and our journey began. He personally explained every dish as the progression of each course was presented. 1st course Kingfish Crudo: leche de tigre, pickled Fresno and parsnip chips. 2nd course Grilled Kushii oyster: Potato, smoked ikura and ginger oil. 3rd course Croquettes: Pepian chicken, burnt tomato and mustard frill. 4th course Lamb Risotto: Pepita seeds, butternut squash and chives. 5th course Dry aged duck: pommes purée, potato pave and duck jus. Dessert Cookies and Cream: waffle crisp, coffee soil and brown butter. Everything was absolute perfection! We appreciated the building of flavors from sweetness, umami, spicy, salty, floral, herbaceous and savory complexities creating a symphony as each texture worked to compliment one another. We savored every bite. Our journey lasted two and a half hours which flew by. We were so enraptured by the evening and thankful for every minute. Thank you chef Torres and Verse family for an unforgettable evening. We will be back again!

Maybe one of the most enjoyable dining experiences we've ever had. The jazz trio and sound mixing were perfectly integrated. Every server looked delighted to be there and assisted each other seamlessly. I had one of the best dirty martini's I've ever had. We had the yellow tail, beef tartare, and octopus and flavors were light and it was also the best cooked octopus we've ever had. Cannot recommend enough, we look forward to going back for the entrees.

Drink: Blue Moon! Amazing music, food, acoustics and dessert. Beautiful attention to detail. Delicious memory!

Last week, I came here to celebrate my anniversary with my partner, and overall, it was a memorable experience. However, we faced some challenges finding parking, as it's valet only and there's limited street parking available. Once we walked inside, we were immediately struck by the dim lighting and beautifully designed interior. The ambiance was lovely--intimate and romantic, enhanced by live music that was perfectly balanced, allowing for conversation without overwhelming us. Throughout the evening, we noticed many other guests celebrating birthdays and special occasions, which added to the festive atmosphere. Our server, Daniel, was exceptional--friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and the restaurant's history. He shared that the establishment used to be a studio, and the owner has a unique vision that combines art and culinary excellence. Daniel suggested several dishes, and we decided to try a few. We ordered scallops, croquettes, almond steak, Australian wagyu, and finished with the olive oil cake. Every dish was bursting with flavor and beautifully plated, making each bite truly satisfying. The olive oil cake was a standout--it was incredibly moist and just the right amount of sweet, serving as the perfect cherry on top of our wonderful evening. Overall, it was a fantastic dining experience, and I would highly recommend this romantic spot for anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion.

I recently had the pleasure of dining here, and it was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere exudes class and sophistication, with dim lighting, elegant decor, and the smooth sounds of live jazz filling the air. The menu offers a wonderful selection of dishes, each artfully presented and bursting with flavor. I particularly enjoyed the pasta with uni, which was so tasty with a kick of spice. Service was top-notch--attentive without being intrusive, and the staff made sure every detail was perfect throughout the night. If you're looking for a sophisticated night out with delicious food, great ambiance, and incredible live music, Verse is the place to be. Highly recommend!

TL;DR: Beautiful, unique LA restaurant with live music, studio acoustics, and delicate-yet-flavorful dishes PARKING: The restaurant is nondescript with basically no signage. I had an "uh, is this the right restaurant?" moment if it weren't for the.l valet standing in front, but I had to confirm with him first because I was confused. It's located on Lankershim so parking is valet... but I had no problem finding street parking and walking about half a block. AMBIANCE: We arrived for our 5:30 PM reservation on a Friday night and were surprised with how empty the restaurant was! I found out quickly that it fills much closer to when the live music starts, which is about 6:30 PM every night. Even though it was empty at 5:30, it felt so intimate, with dark lighting and all the tables facing where the musicians would be. The server told us Verse was opened in 2019 and meant to have studio-quality sound, with the speakers perfectly placed so the sound is even all throughout the open restaurant. The musicians were incredible: live jazz! SERVICE: Our server was very nice and attentive! You can tell there are some high class people (director-like people?) coming, but we normies still felt valued, heard, and cared for. FOOD: Normally I'm not one for fancy food, but I felt like these dishes were all very well-balanced and flavorful! Per the server's recommendation, we ordered 4 dishes for my husband (good appetite) and me (medium appetite) (basically one on each page: appetizer, raw starter, grain/pasta, and main) and were pretty full by the end of the meal! Hokkaido buns: The bread is incredibly soft and the butter is nice and sweet to counteract the slight saltiness of the bread! While it was good, it was my least favorite dish of the ones we got, only because I think we are used to having soft Asian bread from other bakeries. But if you have never had bread like this before, it is a must try! And it is still good, even though it was not as impressive as the other dishes we got. Yellowtail crudo: DELICIOUS. It was so light, bright, citrusy, and delicious. I just wish there were more!! But ooh, I can't wait to have it again. Pork belly risotto: verrrry good. The pork belly melts in your mouth. It got a little heavy for me by the end of the meal (when I was really full) but the way the flavors fuse together was delicious. Dry aged duck breast: perfectly cooked duck with a great ratio of fat and meat. It was soft and crispy and tender. The potato/cheese cube thing was a little too cheesy for me (I'm a little lactose intolerant) so I couldn't eat too much of it, but it had good flavor. Overall, even though I don't usually frequent restaurants like this, the quality of the food for the price AND the legit musicians with the ambiance are definitely worth it. I was thinking about how you pay admission for jazz clubs and concerts, but this comes with the meal, which made it feel worth it to me. Overall, a lovely meal for a special occasion!