Providence

Rating: 5/5

"The food was great, but the portions were extremely small—which is to be expected at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Each course was beautifully presented, but the bites were so tiny that it felt more like a tasting experience than an actual meal. You do get a lot of courses, though, so you won’t leave starving—but you also won’t leave feeling full. The dishes themselves were hit or miss. Some were absolutely amazing, while others felt unnecessarily experimental and honestly just kind of strange. The cheese add-on was definitely the standout—I’d highly recommend adding it if you go. Overall, Providence is a place I think is worth trying once for a special occasion, especially if you’re into fine dining experiences and don’t mind adventurous flavors. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere was elegant but not stuffy. That said, for the price point, I wouldn’t go back. It’s a one-time experience for me."

Rating: 5/5

"We recently dined at Providence in LA for a friend’s birthday, and it was truly an outstanding experience. The food was absolutely amazing — each dish was beautifully presented and delivered incredible flavors that exceeded our expectations. The level of creativity and attention to detail in every course was top notch. The staff and waiters were also exceptional: professional, attentive, and knowledgeable, which made the entire evening feel special and seamless. Overall, this was one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in Los Angeles. I would definitely go back and recommend Providence to anyone looking for a memorable fine dining experience."

Rating: 5/5

"WOW OMG WOW OMG WOW OMG WOW !!! From the moment we entered this outstanding restaurant we were captivated by caring staff, zen like ambiance & some of the best food in the world. Superlatives would spring forth with every bite taken into each & every dish we consumed. We were truely amazed & full of gratitude. Having been fortunate over the decades to have eaten in some of the world’s best restaurants, this restaurant was a highly successful stand out of pure perfection on a plate, from preparation to presentation. Our celebratory evening with our son was a truely memorable event thanks to all the staff involved. We normally don’t take photos at restaurants but felt compelled on this occasion to capture the sensational attention to detail in every serving. Finally, to be invited back of house into the kitchen to meet with the head chef & legion of staff preparing our food & to be able to provide them first hand with the praise they richly deserve was also a privilege. . THANK YOU ALL FOR CREATING MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME !!"

Rating: 5/5

"So we visited again, our annual June dinner at Providence. It's nice that the automatic Yelp-sort defaults to your own past reviews; so I did a quick rereading of past write-ups. And there's no real change of how I feel about Providence. Our experience, like the menu, was different; though, there is no change in how I feel...I still LOVE them. This year, we brought another couple so when the call came to confirm our reservation and check for allergies/dietary restrictions (there were none), they also asked if we'd like the Chef's Table!!! Well, YES, absolutely! We had dined at the chef's table once before. And in the time in between, there was a remodel. The chef's table is a luxurious U-shaped booth: it seats two facing the kitchen, and one seat each side, with a fifth seating (a chair) with the back to the kitchen (so optimally, you'd want no more than 4, but a fifth seat is available should your party need it). After a quick review on OpenTable, my guess is that we were long-time diners (since 2010) and a party of four (instead of our usual two) that lead them to offer us the coveted table. Then came the cocktail and food menus. Carlos, who appears so serious and professional, is actually very charming and engaging. In fact, they ALL are; they all have this air of professionalism, astuteness, and graciousness, but they are all so extremely personable, each in their own way. Enoch, our other service professional, is mellow, sweet, funny and informative. Then there's Mr. Poto, famous for his congeniality (admittedly, I'm a fan), who has the best table-side manners anywhere. He comes by, welcomes us, shakes our hands, and everything feels right with the world (even though this administration just bombed Iran that evening.) New this year is that there are now TWO menus: a $325 Classic and a $450 Chef's Tasting. The difference is that for the Classic, you'll select your main (usu salmon, duck or A5 wagyu); with the Chef's Tasting, you get all three. Knowing our appetites, we all elected to do the Classic (the men ordered duck; my sister and I chose salmon) and added a couple of their sinfully delicious and artfully beautiful uni egg. (The only reason we did not select A5 wagyu is that we all visited Japan this year, where we had wagyu. Also, Providence being a seafood restaurant, it only made sense for us to stick with seafood [duck, while poultry, is kinda seafood adjacent].) The thing about Providence that I - who spent half my pre-adult life in Japan - absolutely love is the Japanese aesthetic, through and through. Their logo is evocative of the Zen/Japanese enso/circle. Their approach to seafood is of a thoughtful, masterful craftsman, continuously working toward improvement or kaizen. The flavours are deliciously understated. Everything is just enough, nothing is heavy handed or 'extra'. Both the food and the flavours are delicate, ephemeral and harmonious. Their service speaks to 'omotenashi'. For anyone who's been to and raves about Japanese service, omotenashi is that underlying trait...with an Italian flair (a nod to Mr. Poto's warmth). The evening went by extremely smoothly and far too quickly; a three hour dinner sounds long, but our evening went by in a flash. The first-timer in our group was wowed by the evening. He was in amazement with the 'inexplicably delicious' food, the mindful service, and being able to see a busy kitchen working so smoothly. I had to apologise to him that this experience will ruin him to all others, because nothing will compare. And huge appreciation to Chef Michael Cimarusti for acknowledging us in person. My apologies that you had to chase us down during a busy kitchen service, but I'm extremely grateful you caught us at the front door. It was an exceptional, memorable dining experience and we look forward to visiting again for many years to come. Congratulations on your 20 years and your third Michelin star!"

Rating: 5/5

"At a cost of $800 for two people this place better be damn well 5 stars!! A 2 Michelin Star establishment that delivered and excelled in their service. Made me feel like I was a Bond villain the way staff was at my disposal. The tasting menu was amazing and also 3 hours long so be prepared and bring a pillow. There is a briefing of every dish so be prepared to listen! The craft cocktails were great and for $50 I got a table side show. Awesome, I’m paying so much already so might as well go all in. I decided to break my sobriety on this fancy cocktail! Shhh don’t tell my AA groupo about it though. I left full so that’s a plus. I lost count of the courses but they were all very pleasant. There is an Asian version influence in there ingredients used and the seafood was fresh. My main was duck and my partner had seafood. Both were prepared perfectly with accompanied sauces. (The sauce for fish felt slightly salty). There are several upgrade options, I did not care of the A5 supplement nor the cheese. I was more interested in seeing labor and skilled put onto a micro dish. I want to feel the hardship and hours spent putting a puzzle together. At one point the came out with some home made sour dough bread made with grains “grown 100 miles from Los Angeles”. It was paired with French butter that was divine. Although the crust of the bread was hard enough to cut diamonds, the inside was soft and fluffy. I broke my molars making sure to eat all the bread because I couldn’t justify leaving even a crumb left. The variety in their courses deserves a round of applause. The creativity and presentation was very fun and unique. At the end of dinner came a few varieties of desert accompanied with tea. Great way to round the dinner. The plating was most impressive, so unique it left a lasting memory. Food is art for sure here. A great signature of their experience! At the end, as I prepared to leave they went ahead and called my vehicle for me. I never had that kind of service before so it is worth mentioning what a 2 Michelin experience gets ya! Over all it was amazing but it does feel a bit dated on the inside. Interior was intimate but did not feel new which I did not like very much. I’m not sure if I can handle a 3 hour dinner (as opposed to a 3 hour lunch) but it was definitely an experience worth trying."