Delicious and fresh food. It's more of a place for the older crowd. Dress up! We parked on the street in a nearby neighborhood because we might as well walk a little after our huge meal instead of valeting. The restaurant is located to the side of the Four Seasons. There is a Marilyn Monroe statue outside and it's fun to take pictures with. Service was great and we had a reservation so we were seated without a problem. A MODO MIO 5/5 Three tomatoes with burrata. Super fresh, very delicious. ORDER IT! RUSTICA KALE SALAD 4.5/5 A bunch of toppings tossed with kale salad. Again, very fresh. I would order it again. Get it. BRANZINO 3/5 The pictures on here don't do it justice. It looks so much better in person! Presentation wise, it was beautiful but it was quite fishy. I would not order it again. TORTINO 5/5 Omg get in my belly. 100% would order again. The tortino was so moist and delicious and went great with the honey gelato. The Whiskey Gelee was super strong, but I guess it is supposed to be consumed with the tortino and gelato.
(4)
Mike S.
Arrived a bit early to meet an old friend for dinner. Was kind of directed to "wait" with no real direction as to where. Asked if the bar was closed...answer was no...question, can I sit at the bar...answer, sure. Think that question and answer should have not happened and the suggestion made to begin with. Needed to use the restroom and attempted to flag someone down to locate it...being given directions did not seem to be their strong suite. Well...after finally stepping in front of someone (the first three people looked and walked a different path), got to wash my hands. Got the sausage penne pasta...very bland Got the Cesar salad to start...tasty but nothing special When the meal was complete...we ask for coffee and was brought the bill. Something tells me I did not belong or at least was not welcomed. Maybe wearing jeans is frowned on...but wore a button down shirt with a collar even.
(1)
Jessica W.
Located on the ground floor of the Beverly Hills' Four Seasons hotel (Doheny location as there are two Four Seasons Hotels in BH) Culina is an elegant yet casual restaurant offering an exquisite dining experience with both traditional and vegan options. Their knowledgeable and professional staff know the difference between being friendly and familiar vs intrusive, which is key in a setting where celebrities frequent. Also key is treating ALL customers well, whether they are recognizable or not and they manage to do this too. The Sunday Brunch is the place to be seen, but mid week boasts the classic power lunch. Some might find it overpriced but you're in Beverly Hills AT A HOTEL. What do you expect? The patio is comfortable and pleasant but few areas allowing for privacy. The food: Culina boasts having the first and only "Crudo Bar" in L.A. I no longer eat fish but my friends said it was great. They had the CAPPESANTE which is served with fava beans $14 and the TONNO which comes with salsa verde, capers, and micro parsley $12 I devoured the Rustica salad (Kale, Sundried Tomatoes, Ceci Beans, Pickled Lemon, Oregano, Almonds, Pecorino) and they made it without the cheese for me. $16. We also had the Chopped Salad Radicchio, Lettuce, Hearts of Palm, Zucchini, Corn, Tomato and Herb Vinaigrette. $18 It was great. They're open open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven nights a week. And they have great vegan and gluten free options if that is something that matters to you. Bring your appetite but also bring your wallet.
(4)
Genesis R.
DON'T ORDER THE BRANZINO. (flavor was too fishy for what should be a very mild fish) extremely good wine list AND the wine stems were high quality, further enhancing the experience. they also brought over an ice bucket for the bottle of white that we ordered immediately without being asked. asparagus salad terrific as was the salmon crudo pizza was fine, but, truly, one can get pizza everywhere these days. also, not sure why the crust seemed so oily. parking was $12 WITH validation GREAT service (zach was our waiter, joey and alex at the crude bar and the bar). very little for vegetarians VERY PRETTY RESTAURANT --comfortable
Relatively new place in the Four Seasons Bev Hills, with entrance off the parking lot. Very common, ordinary modern upgrade, a little dark, nothing special. The best (and almost only) good thing about this place was the very friendly staff and the fact that there was hardly anyone in the place so we got a lot of attention. My friend Alida likes weird food. She does not eat just ordinary normal food. Luckily they had raw fish dishes and that's what she had, for appetizer and main course. I'm not a sushi-type girl, so I could hardly look at her dishes. I had the grilled shrimp with arugula salad. Sounds simple, no? The shrimp came out undercooked. Big yuck. So I sent the plate back. Meanwhile, Alida ate her meal and she was finished by the time they came back with a new plate with shrimp, supposedly, cooked well. Still weren't cooked well and were sort of tasteless. I would only come back here if I happened to be here. Thought it was very overrated.
(2)
Rebecca H.
Had a lunch meeting here at the Four Seasons this past week, though my boss is the regular here ..i find the lunch menu a bit lack luster for Vegetarians. The Lemonade was overly sour..but i must say the spaghetti when brought out had a very chewy texture and i didn't hate it! It was just really small ..and simple..which was fine. once again wished they had a bigger range for vegetarians.
Located inside the Four Seasons Beverly Hills this "Modern Italian" is a great choice in expensive BH. Beautiful Room and Outdoor Patio outstanding service and Interesting (not too expensive) Menu. Perfect location for special occasion or comfortable every day meal. Interestin menu with good choices well prepared. Cooking perhaps not the very best Italian in town but certainly quite acceptable.
(4)
Britt H.
Came in on a Sunday evening. The hostesses looked good, really pretty. Although, I thought their short black dresses might not have been an appropriate choice. The ambiance was classy, and relaxing. I liked how they decorated. The Ladies' room was clean and the hand towels and lotion were a nice touch. Camden was a good server, attentive and friendly. Chilean Sea Bass was delicious and went well with the wine chosen for me. Dessert was decadent and amazing!!!
(4)
Jessica M.
Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Cleanliness: 4.5/5 The Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills is known to be one the most beautiful hotels in the city, and that is a true statement! One step into the hotel and you are welcomed by beautiful decor, luxury, and great service. Culina Restaurant is one of two restaurants at the hotel and it's won numerous awards just one year after its grand opening in 2011. I've read that the restaurant is one of the hottest places to spot Hollywood celebrities on a regular basis, so if you want to get see some of your favourite stars, this might be a good place to start. We booked our 1,000 points OpenTable reservation for 6:45pm on a Monday evening, but we arrived a bit earlier because we had some time leftover. We asked the host if it was possible for them to seat us earlier and thankfully, we were seated in the main dining room soon after. As soon as we were seated, our waiter brought us our menus and asked if we wanted still or sparkling water. We opted for sparkling and then fell into a big dilemma on what to order for dinner. We decided to order an appetizer (antipasti) and a salad (insalate) to share, a main dish each, and a dessert to share as well. Our menu for the night: Antipasti: Polpo Alla Griglia ($14.00) Insalate: A Modo Mio ($14.00) Le Paste: Cappellacci ($26.00) - me Secondi: Merluzzo Nero ($38.00) - hubby Dessert: Tortino ($9.00) After we ordered, we started our dinner with the restaurant's classic focaccia bread. It was delicious and got my appetite asking for more food very quickly! Soon after, our appetizers were served. Overall, our dinner at Culina Restaurant was a very enjoyable one. We had superb service (though one of the servers refilled my sparkling water cup with still water by mistake), all the dishes were delicious and there was not one that we didn't like. In particular, my Cappellacci gave me a WOW factor that I can still vividly remember today. The restaurant seems like a place I'd come for brunch with my parents or girlfriends, or a romantic dinner again with my husband.
(4)
Melanie D.
Happy hour review. Happy hour, or what they refer to as 'crudo hour' is M-F from 6-8PM in the bar area right next to the dining room only. They have select cocktails and wines for $7 and select beers for $5. Complimentary pistachios are served with drinks. Their happy hour food menu features a variety of appetizers, oysters, and crudo ranging from $2-9. The cocktails are interesting and made well. Bar staff is friendly and unpretentious. Happy hour is a welcomed addition to this beautiful place, as drinks can be quite expensive during regular hours. ** my dinner review is also available, if you have interest
(4)
Digna B.
Took my friends from out of town. We had the Travel Zoo menu, a few choices of appetizers and Mains. It's a nice restaurant nestled inside the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. The patio area for dining was nice. Service was good. Food was good too! If you want to just have a nice relaxing lunch with friends, try this place. We didn't feel rushed at all, we just had a good time!
(4)
Raiza C.
Valet only Service 1/5: our waiter seriously took FOREVER TO tend to us. Order wasn't taken until maybe 20 minutes after we were seated. The table who arrived after us got their orders in before we did! I really wasn't thrilled with the lack of attention we received for my party of 6. There was a lot of neglect and nothing to make up for what we experienced with the service. I really expected so much more considering it's connected to one of the best rated hotels in the area! Food: meh, I've had better. We ordered: Lobster risotto (their special) 2/5: one giant goob of porridge. Nothing too crazy about this dish except for the price they charge! You get a few specks of lobster here and there but it's mostly porridge - like risotto. No difference in color, they didn't even bother adding fresh parsley or pepper or cheese to make it look appealing. Rack of lamb 3/5 probably the better dish of the evening. It's seared lamb coated in their herb crusted seasoning. I thought the sauce was a bit much as it masked the taste of lamb, but it was tender and cooked pretty well. Bolognese 3/5: my dish. I was very excited for this one but the flavors were kind of monotonous, lackluster, and bland. They pureed the sauce so it was mush plopped on to pasta. Again, monotone and no difference in color or texture. I get that they're trying to maintain the traditional style, but for $24 dollars, portion can be a little bit more generous and how about a sprig of greenery in there? Ravioli 2/5: an oily mess is all I can say. They have this bacon wrapped egg yolk in the middle of the plate for an attempt at fancy but you get 4 little pieces and nothing in the filling but an ooze of oil and specks of filling. This fine dining has failed in my book and will definitely not be returning anytime soon as it really didn't leave a lasting impression on me. I'd rather go to osteria mama on Melrose and get my fix for really good, authentic Italian food!
(3)
Bruce N.
I love this place for meetings, quiet, paparazzi free allow for those great meetings with notables. The happy hour bar and food menu are delightful with many items heavily discounted..the breakfast are terrific.service is very solicitous, friendly and helpful.. I am a Benedict fan and they do an absolutely dynamite job at this as well as their various juices which can be ordered to your liking from the table.
(4)
Diana B.
My first experience here was truly an unforgettable one. The staff are very friendly and welcoming. Their food truly is fresh and made with such detail, delicious ingredients and great seasoning. An appetizer we had was a crudo sample plate and all of them were so delicious. My favorite was the Salmon that had a tangerine in top, deliciously flavorful and fresh! For the main course I had rigatoni and it was very good. The pasta felt as if it was freshly made as well as the seasoning and sausage. It left me very full but not that nasty I can't breathe kind of full. Following that we had tiramisu and it honestly is the best tiramisu I've ever had! Each bite you could taste the layer of flavors! Through out our entire time their the waiter was so attentive and so kind! He, along with the rest of the staff truly made this first time a night to remember.
(5)
Nancy N.
Came here for lunch with a few girlfriends yesterday and it was a lot of fun! We had our own private area, the place is beautiful, the service was impeccable and the food was delicious! Our waitress recommended a very nice Pinot Grigio for me, and I loved it!! I typically don't like Pinot Grigio! To start I had their Kampachi I was going to get the soup of the day which was tomato funnel but I found out it comes in a big serving and I just wanted some thing light to start. The Kampachi was perfect, it was sprinkled with salt and promegrante! Beautiful and delicious! For my entree , I got the Branzino and it was AMAZING!!! I don't even like Branzino but it was very very scrumptious here! The skin was nice and crispy and the flavoring was light but still packed with a lot of oomph. A girlfriend of mine pointed out that the lemon that came with the fish was not properly wrapped in mesh. This is so funny because I thought only I would notice stuff like that! But it's good to know I am not alone , and I quickly realized that it would have bothered my husband as well if he had to squeeze the lemon without a mesh because the seed would have popped onto his entree and the juices would have ran everywhere. Just something to note. Get the Branzino if you are a fish lover! To finish I had the Affogato! My girlfriend pointed it out to me since my husband has gotten me hooked on this dessert. Cucina tops it off with cotton candy!! And the minute the espresso is poured over it half of it would collapse into the dessert - thus adding more sweetness. See photo for demonstration! And unlike the other hotels in the area of the same caliber the Four Seasons has free valet if you're dining there for lunch, so please remember to tip the valet guys generously! Speaking of valet guys, they're top shelf here! I drove here with the top off and when I came out 3 hours later it was SO windy and cold. My girlfriends and I had to hover by the outdoor heater with the valet guys blocking the wind for us and when my car was brought around they had put the top up and adjusted my heater for me! So attentive!! I can't wait to come back! Oh and lunch here this time ran about $92 (including tip and tax) per person. However with the free valet it's still less than what I would have spent had I gone to lunch at another hotel down the street. Cheers!
(4)
KayRenee H.
I've been meaning to come back to Culina for DineLA, but due to circumstances beyond my control, I ended up back there with another Travelzoo voucher. Yeah, I know. My bad. They did have some new menu choices, which I appreciated. Culina stepped its game up from my last visit! We had a really great appetizer, filet and Seabass. All of the dishes were worth returning for. As always, service was amazing. Our server, Joey, gave great cocktail recommendations and was super accommodating. It was a genuinely personal experience. Now I want to go back for their brunch I keep hearing about! I want to try out more of the menu!
We came here last night for my friends birthday. Our waiter was Zack, who was really good and attentive the whole time. For our main course, my husband ordered the rib eye steak, asking for it to be medium rare. When the steak came out, it was way more than medium rare - even more than medium, which he didn't mind as much as his steak being mostly all fat. My husband kindly asked our server to take it back and ordered the lamb chops. A little after, the manager came up to him with a raw piece of steak, trying to prove my husband wrong - saying that rib eye has a lot of fat. But it didn't even get cooked how he asked. My husband and our friends were appalled to see this. He has ordered rib eye many times before and knows how it should be. You don't ever try to argue with a customer over food, ever, especially at a place like the Four Seasons. It was very unprofessional. Also, my friend who's birthday it was ordered pasta and when she got it, said it was undercooked so she sent it back. Later I asked her how it was after they brought it out the second time, she said it was still undercooked. Anyway, I was really looking forward to eating here since we've been here for a wedding and the food was fantastic and delicious. Unfortunately was very disappointed last night with the food quality and the unprofessional way the manager handled it.
(2)
R. W.
A full range of top-shelf foods, outstanding service, and wonderful ambience. Arguably the best Sunday brunch in LA. Kid friendly with a really excellent kids' section--so good we frequently sneak food from it. You simply cannot go wrong with brunch here. Make reservations; they get extremely busy.
(5)
Nikki B.
I love dining at hotels so I'm so happy we got a deal at Culina at the Four Seasons Hotel in LA. My friend and I had lunch here today. We used a travelzoo voucher, which covers lunch for 2. The hotel is not that big, but it's nice. Valet parking is complimentary if you dine at the restaurant. Sweet! We chose to sit outside in their patio since it was such a beautiful day. My friend and I ordered the same appetizer and entree for both of us. We ordered the following - Heirloom tomato with cheese and basil seeds - really nice presentation and tastes pretty good too! Its a big tomato topped with cheese and basil seeds sprinkled on it. 4/5 Chicken Parmesan- the chicken was baked perfectly and has the right amount of cheese on it. It came with an arugula salad. 4/5 Complimentary bread and olive oil- the bread was soft and oh soooo good. We had to ask for more! 5/5
(4)
Melanie S.
We used the dinner-for-two travelzoo voucher to dine here. No hassles when making the reservation. Everyone was very professional. The food and service was excellent!!! Unlike some other places I read on yelp, this place did not treat us like a second class citizen despite the voucher. We will definitely come back!!!! Tips: no free valet, but you get a discounted price if you dine here.
(5)
Megan M.
I love this place! My boyfriend and I found this place on Blackboard Eats. I had never heard of it, as I usually don't pay too much attention to restaurants in hotels. The atmosphere is chic and modern. From the moment we walked in, the hostess led us to a bustling dining room. Our waiter was attentive and very helpful. We were brought bread and water immediately, and no one rushed us as we debated what to order. We started with the burrata and the scallops. I don't eat seafood but my boyfriend loved the scallops. I thought the burrata was done creatively, and loved the seasoning. We then ordered the sausage appetizer. This dish was delicious! I've never seen it done this way in a nice restaurant, but loved the way different condiments were displayed with the bread. The manager came out and brought us free cauliflower and meatballs. He also poured us some wine. The service was really impeccable, and they were really making all the right moves to entice loyal customers. We then had our pasta dishes, the rigatoni and the ravioli. My personal favorite was the ravioli which was a play on traditional carbonara. I have to say, I think my favorite dish was the hazelnut milk chocolate mousse. It played on a lot of different flavors and consistencies, and it was truly delicious. We will definitely be back!
I have been here for dinner, lunch, late night dessert and happy hour (certainly not all in one day but on different occasions) - i have always had great food and impeccable service. The happy hour cocktails tend to be on the weak side though. Thumbs up on the Arancini, Polenta, Chitarra al nero di seppia, polpette and tortino for dessert. Valet parking is $9 with validation.
(5)
Morgan J.
Although this place is quite expensive, it is beyond worth the splurge. Inside the luxury Four Seasons Hotel, there's plenty of outside, inside, and lounge seating with a luxe, modern, and very chic ambience--perfect for a date or special occasion. There's even a live band Thursday-Saturday that goes on at 9:30. The staff is excellent and very knowledgable of the menu, more than happy to tell you their personal favorites if you're not quite sure what to get. And the food? Let's just say my mouth couldn't move fast enough to eat the mushroom risotto--seriously the BEST I've ever had! Sadly, it's not a regular item on the menu, but if you go and it's one of the specials, you have to get it. I'll definitely be back here the first chance I get.
(5)
Emma B.
I was here 2x. First was for Christmas dinner. The buffet selection was pretty good and the price I thought was reasonable compare to other Christmas buffet at other 5 starts hotels. They had diff selection of caviars, nice salads options and cold appetizers. The 2 stars was for the 2nd time. Went there since our friend bought the tripadvisor deal. Service was so so.. food was terrible. None that we ordered were good. Branzino was fishy, the black ink pasta was tasteless, the tenderloin was chewy eventhough I ordered medium rare, jidory chicken just simply boring. Not sure what happened back in the kitchen , maybe diff chef??
(2)
Victoria V.
Amazing service and absolutely delicious food! Love the outside patio and lovely garden. I had the amberjack crudo (think Italian sashimi) with pomegranate reduction and the salmon with beluga lentils. My grandmother (who barely eats anything) went to town on the prosciutto and burrata sandwich! Must try the affogato for dessert (tableside espesso on melted cotton candy and ice cream)! Their managers Josh and Shantel were very nice and invited us to come by for their new happy hour. They will definitely see me again and my grandmother when she's visiting from Canada.
(5)
Melissa L.
My husband and I tried this place for our Friday night, date night through a deal we purchased through GiltCity last year. We valeted the car at the hotel and once inside, we were seated quickly and an intimate table. It was quiet and a good date restaurant (most of the people around us were on dates). The Gilt deal had a 4 course menu and included a cocktail or prosecco. Also, included a bottle of still or sparkling water. I started with the prosecco. With dinner, we ordered a bottle of wine. Overall, the food was good and the items that stood out included: A Modo Mio (burratta & tomatoes) Jidori chicken Mushroom Risotto My only complaint, it was very cold inside the restaurant. I was wearing a dress, but I definitely needed a light jacket, as well. Thank goodness for cocktails to warm you up.
(4)
Jeff S.
Relaxed elegant dining. You can feel the relaxed vibe from every member of the staff. However, the service will be exceptional. Everything I've had here is perfect. House-made sausage appetizer, burrata with heirlooms, bolognese, Branzino, Salmon, pizza. Everything will be perfect. Even if you bring kids, the kids will be perfect. That's just how it is there. I love this place.
(5)
Sonja H.
Alex behind the bar and Joey at Crudo were amazing! They spoiled us!! Rebekah the wine sommelier sent out pairings with the chefs special & multiple other courses.. Couldn't have asked for a better meal very talented kitchen staff, food was amazing!
(5)
betzalel l.
Although all of their dishes were good - we had the arancini with pork belly and the tono crudo- the homemade pasta dishes are not to be missed. We did the rigatoni with garlic sauce and fennel sausage which was great and the spaghetti and meatballs were unbelievable. I will def be back for more of their handmade pasta. Also, the location in the four Seasons is beautiful, plus they have a nice patio. And any restaurant connected with the four Seasons is going to have absolutely perfect service, and they didn't dissapoint.
(5)
Loreta B.
Just returned after experiencing an amazing dining experience at this true culinary masterpiece. My sister and I are spending a long weekend at the Four Seasons on Doheny. We heard so many consistently wonderful comments about this restaurant so we decided to experience the restaurant. From the time we entered the restaurant, we felt as if we were kings and queens. On arriving at the restaurant, we were greeted by Amir and Ms Rogers who were so sincere and caring and we both felt that they were sincerely pleased that we were dining in Culina. It was easy to understand why. They so believed in the restaurant and were so enthusiastic with the presentations that they could not help but to transmit this spirit to guests. This restaurant is beautiful and I would urge readers to sit in the outdoor garden. There is nothing more romantic then sitting in this garden full of fresh plants, trees and flowers. Our server was Ella and I would urge requesting her. She was knowledgeable about the menu but her goal was to match menu chices with guests desires. We started the meal with focaccia which was "to die for". It had a crispy crust but was very fresh. I than had the panzanella salad. It was delicious, had some watermelon in it and was flawless. My sister had an unusual presentation of burata stuffed in a tomato that was amazing. For main course, we shared a ribeye and a pasta dish. The steak was properly cooked and seasoned to perfection. The desserts consisted of many dishes along with homemade sorbets that bring out three letters-OMG. There was homemade gelato and sorbet with combinations of flavors. There was a peanut butter and jelly sorbet, pomegranate blackberry sorbet and other flavors. In my opinion it is a must restaurant and I cannot wait to return.
(4)
David C.
This review is for the Sunday brunch buffet. I've had better for a much lower price. $69 per person is the going rate here. Not to say there wasn't a lot to love here. The salmon crunch rolls with tempura bits on top was amazing. The prime rib carving station over satiated my need for beef. The sea bass in cream sauce tasted incredible, which is why I had to go back for seconds and thirds. The jumbo shrimp in garlic and spicy sauces were delightful. I loved how they served pastries straight off the cooling rack, warm and gooey fresh out of the oven. There was a donut station where fresh donuts were served hot out of the fryer and you could garnish it however you wanted with chocolate or sprinkles or powdered sugar. They had an omelet bar and standard breakfast fare. The eggs benedict was awesome too. However, Maison Akira in Pasadena serves a better executed Sunday brunch for half the price. Castaway in Burbank serves a more impressive brunch with many more items and a killer view for a lot less. I can now say I've tried Four Seasons but I will probably never go back.
(3)
Nicole L.
The garden setting here is serene and beautiful, truly the best in town. The authentic Italian food is also delicious and service is excellent!
(5)
Kel F.
Culina is an oasis in Beverly Hills. A chic, trendy interior with pops of bright color and design lends itself to a culinary atmosphere of those "in the know." I absolutely loved my lunch al fresco--their serene outdoor patio has tables nestled in amongst the palms and waterfall. The lunch menu had a great variety--lots of salads, entrees and a few tasty looking sandwiches & burgers. Culina is known for their crudo, so we naturally started with some Hawaiian kampachi with jalapeno, watermelon and cherry tomato as well as my first time trying sea urchin! Their ricci di mare was so flavorful and rich. My main was the branzino--perfectly cooked with capers, lemon and light greens. It was simple and perfect. The large salads that my lunch dates devoured looked incredible as well and I might need to try next time. Fresh iced tea, constantly refilled with a smile and excellently homemade bread only added to the experience. You can tell every morsel is handmade from local, farm fresh ingredients. I hear their pastries are to die for so next time, I'm getting dessert!
(5)
Brittany F.
It's been a long time since I ate here and after incredible lunch here I can admit it was way too long. Pleasant atmosphere, wonderful food with fresh ingredients and free valet are making this a must on my lunch spots. Soft foccacia arrives as you look over a menu of things like crudos, sandwiches, handmade pastas and pizzas. The ricciola, which was Hawaiian yellow tail with persimmon, diced pear and chive was a melody of flavors that worked so well together. Who would have thought this combinations would work over a piece of yellowtail? The kampachi, which was amberjack was also great although, I found the raw celery root to have an off putting texture. There are so many wonderful sounding things on this menu that I found it hard to choose. I wanted to try everything. I decided on the salmon with venetian black rice, basil, shallots and tomatoes. It was a perfect medium rare. The fish was delicate and flaky and the rice brought a lovely texture and color to the dish. I can't wait to come back and try their pastas, pizzas, salads and meats. There really is something for everyone on this menu.
(5)
Mia C.
The pork belly here was AH-MAZING. I could have had the appetizer as an entree. I had the hangar steak which was also delicious. They brewed fresh green iced tea for me which was a nice customer service touch. The ambiance was perfect -- al fresco dining, dimly lit, fireplace close by, and intimate. Our server was well knowledgeable on the menu and drinks. I expect nothing less from the Four Seasons. Afterwards, I hung out at their bar, Windows which had a live band. The music was too 40 mixed with 70s hits, and the singer thought loudness equates to high quality singing. I still found it amusing/entertaining.
(5)
Lucy K.
We came here because of a Gilty City deal. I can honestly say I was a little worried about the food because most of the items were things we wouldn't particularly order when dining out - but we were so happy with everything. We started wtih Mele e Finocchio and A Modo Mio. The Finocchio is basically a salad of fennel, pink lady apples, dates and almonds with a sherry vinaigrette. What a pleasant surprise. It was fresh and tangy and so tasty! I really loved this dish. The Mio was basically a take on Tomatos with Mozzarella. I love burratta so it tasted delish to me. The second course was a mushroom risotto which was rich and had a nice mix of mushrooms. I thought it was great, the portion wasn't too big as to make it too heavy of a dish. The third course I had the Jidori Chicken and he had the salmon. My husband loved the crispy skin on it -took it ot the next level for him. I am not normally a polenta fan but i thought it was SO FREAKING GOOD in this dish. The chicken was tender, the sauce poured over the polenta was perfect, it was soft and buttery. So good! For dessert we had rice pudding and tiramisu. Two desserts I don't particularly like. They both tasted good but weren't very special dishes to me.
(4)
Giulianna N.
Wonderful overall experience! The hubby and I recently hosted a Sunday Brunch baby shower in one of their private dining rooms and I am happy to report we had excellent service from start to finish! From the planning stage, the events manager Kimberly, was extremely professional and accommodating and made all the arrangements for any special requests we had.On the actual day of the event, all of the servers were extremely courteous to my guests and made everyone feel welcomed. As for the food itself, the Sunday brunch selection was outstanding!!! Everyone was very delighted with the meal, seriously just slap on an all-you-can-eat invitation for my friends and everyone came crawling out of the wood-works for this occasion! Their selection included a wide variety of traditional American breakfast items, international cuisine and special dietary food stations for gluten free, as well as kids stations, etc. My guests enjoyed items from their traditional breakfast bar including made to order egg omelets with all the fix-ins, items from the dim sum & taco stations, a large selection of salads and cutting stations, fresh pressed juices to dessert stations, while my plate was consistently stacked high with belgian waffles, crispy bacon strips and short ribs all covered in maple syrup... oh yeah and a side of vegetables to, you know, 'keep it healthy'. The entire experience was top-notch and this pregnant-mama had a great party!
(5)
Caroline A.
3.5 stars. We came in for a late breakfast, and I thought it was just ok. The restaurant itself is lovely. Snag yourself a seat outside on a nice day. Once we were seated, the service was incredibly slow. Our server somehow ditched us, and another server came to take our order 15 minutes later. We had our food 35 minutes after that. I did like all of the menu options, especially their healthy options and fresh squeezed juices. Bill and I both had the breakfast burrito with egg whites. Have it without the spinach wrap for a nice low carb breakfast. Both kids had scrambled eggs with bacon. They seemed to enjoy it. Considering we were on a time crunch, the service was incredibly frustrating. Not sure we would ever come back.
(3)
Jane S.
We decided to have our double date night at Culina during DineLA in January. We planned on ordering from the DineLA menu, but we changed our minds once we took a look at the regular menu. I'm glad we were offered the regular menu. Our server was also helpful with going over the wine list. Service was attentive even though we were sitting on the patio. The temperature outside was perfect and the heat lamps nearby were an extra plus. The kampachi and arancini were tasty and perfect to sample before our main dishes arrived. We left with no regrets!
(4)
Rachel R.
Waited an hour for our wine. The salmon was fishy with terrible flavor pairing. The bruschetta was frozen in the center (seriously, did they microwave it?!). The bolognese tasted like a dish from the kids menu at IKEA. All in all the food was very bad. The place looks great, but at the $200 level, the service and especially the food should be a lot better.... Sadly the table beside us was having all of the same problems, I sincerely think Culina needs a makeover.
(1)
Cassandra Y.
The Service: Again, the service is "A+"!! All the staffs provide excellent customer service. Special thanks to the General Manager, Joseph Ramaglia, for his hospitality. Great recommendation on all the dishes!! One he knows our taste, he knows exactly what dishes we would enjoy. The Food: TARTARE DI DENTICE - red snapper. tomato marmelata. fennel. castelveltrano. parsnip crisp. (The red snapper is super fresh & tender. This dish is so refreshing.) POLENTA - croccante crispy polenta. prosciutto. parmesan. spicy tomato sugo. (LOVE the spicy tomato sugo, a little kick to go with the crispy polenta) SALSICCIA CASERECCIA - house made pork sausage. grilled flatbread. seasonal fruit mostarda.(very interesting dish~ pork sausage with fig mostarda) INSALATE MELE E FINOCCHIO - pink lady apples. fennel. medjool dates. sicilian almonds. piave. sherry vinaigrette. (the dressing is so light. The dish has lots of texture! FUN~) BUDINO - coffee and hazelnut budino. caramel. crème fraiche. (OMG!! It is heavy but not overpowering. The crunchy hazelnut & toffee candy on top of the budino.... so addictive!) The food is very authentic. Very fresh ingredient. We sat in front of the Crudo Bar. So much fun seeing the chef in action preparing the food. Everything is made to order. Love the presentation on the plates, just like piece of art! What a pleasant dinning experience! Culina is now one of my favorite restaurants in LA. Will definitely be the regular customer there!
(5)
Bomi L.
Furniture has many stains on the fabric. My Tatar red snapper was not fresh, I sent it back. Squid ink pasta was the worst I ever had. They need to learn from Drgo Centro and Celestino how to make the squid ink past right! Scallop crudo was salty and pretty bad. Il Grano knows how to do crudo right! The waitress and the chef said their fish was fresh! What could iIsay? They did not show any apologies at that night, Totally ruined my husband's birthday dinner. BBE code gave me 30%off but still not worth the money. Espresso sorbet was like iced coffee, coffee has no taste , like water. No water refill for a while. Steak was ok. Fingering potato was like breakfast potato. Not coming back! After 3 weeks the manger left me a message. what do they want? who knows.
(1)
N J.
really unimpressed w/the execution and flavors of the food. went for dinela and besides the scallop, which i liked, everything else was highly forgettable. don't think i'd return. full review w/pix on my site.
(2)
Crystal L.
Went for the much ballyhooed Sunday brunch. I was very disappointed and frankly feel like this may be one of the biggest rip offs in LA. I have no idea what (if any) drinks were included in the way over-priced $69 brunch because our waiter seemed to have a "less is more" philosophy when it came to service. I'm not sure he said 10 words to us the entire time. I had to find HIM to ask if I might get a Mimosa. I thought I had heard there was a "make your own Bloody Mary" bar but if there was, I have no idea where it was. That was a theme throughout the entire brunch. There is food basically shelved everywhere - and there's really no way to get a clear idea of what is where. For the first 10 minutes I walked around and felt like there was absolutely nothing I wanted to try. I mean - nothing. There appears to be someone making omelettes but you're going to have to search 'em down because they're hiding behind a rather paltry display of breakfast foods. There may or may not be a waffle station - I couldn't say although I did see another chef hiding behind the breakfast area but no real idea what they were offering. Correction, they weren't "offering" anything. Same deal with the dim sum station. There are some steamers basically sitting in a corner. I tracked someone down to ask about them. Otherwise you would just think it was kitchen equipment sitting out. I saw what appeared to be a raw bar sitting rather high up on a shelf area - that's one way to ensure that not many people eat the pricey items I guess. I don't eat sushi so I basically paid at least $70 (again, not sure what if any drinks were included) for an omelette that was no better than one at Norms, some really sub-par "truffled" potatoes, and a few boring dumplings. I was happy when I finally found the kids table but the mac n cheese was almost surely Kraft's blue box and the mini grilled cheese was dull and greasy. The food is marked so poorly and organized so haphazardly that I really can't tell if I missed out on anything that might have been better. I can tell you I left feeling completely ripped off, angry and certain that I will never return. LA's best brunch? This isn't even close.
(2)
David V.
Been coming here for years and love the staff and the new menu but as of 2015 you can no longer smoke cigars here. However we were allowed to smoke during the academy awards. I figure they have lost business with us not being able to go and smoke and have drinks and dinner especially since the cigar smokers order many drinks usually. Sad to announce that this is one more Cigar Unfriendly place to add to LA.
(1)
Alessandra A.
I would say one of the best restaurants I've ever dined at! Michael, our server, was excellent!!! Have great suggestions! All of our food was very original and absolutely delicious!!!! Cannot wait to come back here!! Best scallops I've ever had!
(5)
Kristen Q.
I had the privilege of enjoying appetizers outside on the patio (champagne, horderves, etc.) for a private event and then a late dinner in the private dining room created for intimate events, but in our case, a business event. I enjoyed the beauty of the fire lamps and the polite staff being prompt about serving appetizers and unlimited champagne/drinks made-to-order. Not one of the staff members was snooty for such an upscale venue. Late into the night, we dined and again, the staff was very accommodating and I had sashimi with a glass of red and a glass of white wine. RICCIOLA hawaiian yellow tail. diced pear. pink peppercorn.chive. 12 TONNO ahi tuna. olive. lemon. basil oil. 12 TARTARE DI DENTICE red snapper. fennel. tomato marmellata. castelvetrano. parsnip crisp. 13 KAMPACHI hawaiian amberjack. watermelon. tomato. jalapeno. micro cilantro. 12 I had all of the above, and (sadly) honestly, with sashimi, I cannot tell the difference (blindly) between red snapper, albacore, white tuna, and yellowtail. They all taste very similar at various places. Sure, some places are *very* bad and the fish is stringy but at most places it's really either a thinner cut or more moist, closer to "melt-in-your-mouth" but really not a huge difference. And, then there's always the basil oil or various other oils or ponzu sauces added atop which distort the natural flavor of the fish. And, also, I am not a wine snob---whether it's a $75 glass of Quintessa or a $25 bottle of Alouette Pinot Noir== I love them both and the latter even more:) This is a fancy schmancy joint for a special occasion, it's peaceful and not too packed so perfect for an intimate conversation with your date.
(3)
Laura P.
I went for a business lunch on Monday and the waiter recommended the 4 course prix lunch: soup-a vegetable with risotto, a salad ( arugula & watercress-I opted to not have watercress) a main entree of filet mignon and a dessert that looked like a mousse. The restaurant is beautiful and the ambiance is lovely. There was a whitish sauce on the Filet that tasted strange so i would try scraping it off throughout the meal. The soup was wonderful and the salad was ok. The filet was delicious and tender. I got violently ill later that day, evening and throughout the wee morning hours. I am assuming I had food poisoning and that it was from the sauce that tasted strange. I have put several calls into the hotel & restaurant but no one has called me back. It is a very high end hotel and restaurant so it's disappointing when no one calls you back
(2)
Grace S.
Love the decor of this place , ambiance is very relaxing , place is not to loud. Perfect for romantic and relaxing dinner or even lunch. PARKING: for lunch its a complimentary parking brunch and dinner : they will validate your parking SERVICE: They are very attentive and they attend to all our request which is a big plus . They are polite and made sure we have the best time which I absolutely love. And our waitress is knowledgable with the menu which is a good plus. and able to explain every single dish we ordered . PLACE: I love the outdoor , its just simply relaxing . i heard many complains of other yelpers about the noise level. its pretty standard for me , a casual meal and can definitely can have a comfortable chat .the scenery are simply gorgeous . modern yet with a warm touch of nature mediterranean style. FOOD: I love the complimentary bread they serve while you are waiting for your meal . their faltbreads and breadstick are light . I like as well how they serve it to you so pretty . *Arancini : The truffle risotto croquettes , the size is perfect for single bite. not too salty and very rich in flavor. Gnochi lobster , peas black truffle: its light , fluffy but it doesnt have the creamy texture i am looking for . Branzino: the capers tomatoes and lemon a perfect combination to draw out the real flavor of delicious fresh sea bass. it just complete my meal love this place but these are one of the dishes stands out with me alot . my boyfriend like the ravioli and Mandarino: Wild Arugula, Shaved Fennel, Pomegranate, Hazelnut, Black Olives w/ Tangerine Citronette and pork belly and if you are not a drinker , you can special request for a cocktail that has no alcohol :)
(5)
Azita M.
I was really looking forward to a nice dinner at Culina, but left pretty disappointed. The service was great and the restaurant has beautiful ambiance (although seriously, get your music selection in order - this isn't a dance club), but the food is mostly just okay, and some of it is simply bad. And yes, I know that the restaurant is in Beverly Hills and whatnot, but the prices are so out of line with the quality of the food, that it's jarring. The pork chop ($34) was tough, but had pretty good flavor, and came with some really delicious pureed butternut squash. The squid ink and lobster pasta ($34) was bland, overly salty, and skimped on the lobster. The mushroom pizza ($18) and the clam/lemon pizza ($16) were dry, bland, overly-salty, and generally really awful. The pear and fig crumble ($11) was bland and boring. The marzipan gelato and the chocolate/orange/toffee gelato were SERIOUSLY delicious, but at $11 each, they inspired Portlandia-esque wisecracks ("Oh, were the cocoa beans used in this gelato hand-harvested by artisan Columbian mountainfolk who say a prayer for every batch picked? Are there gold-leaf flakes sprinkled atop this ice cream?"). Ultimately, we left Culina very underwhelmed. It's a "fancy" restaurant, but absolutely not worth the price - and frankly, those gross pizzas were not worth any price. Oh, and the cherry on top is that after you've spent over $200 at their restaurant, they still make you pay for parking ($9). So tacky.
(2)
Andrew K.
A mixed and ultimately negative experience. The ambiance was beautiful (especially the outdoor patio) and Judi Dench was dining there and the food was all solid. My friend who had lived at this four seasons for a month has been raving about this place and finally took me for breakfast. I am Paleo and did ask for some substitutions (per usual - I go out to eat for every meal). I ordered their custom juice and it was delicious. I had about a third of a glass left and the busser grabbed it without asking - and zipped away. I felt there was no way of stopping him without making a scene. Then the food came out. My friend's toast was charred to a crisp and inedible. The waitress never checked on us, so we let her know at the end (about the toast and the juice) and even showed her the toast. No apology - just attitude. She said she would tell the kitchen. I told her I was there on business. She did not bring an itemIzed receipt and when I asked for it she seemed totally annoyed. On my way out, I asked the hostess for the email address if the place mentioning we had some issues. She have me the hostess email address and seemed to ignore my suggestion re: issues. I was so annoyed I called the restaurant - and the phone rang and rang - no answer and no voicemail. So I called the main hotel and let them know. Update: I spoke with management from the hotel and they were helpful, kind and responsive - held to Four Seasons standards.
(2)
Stuart B.
Everything about this restaurant was great. We stayed at the hotel so were pretty much comped for breakfast every morning. I'd say for breakfast, you're definitely going there for the ambiance and the "show" (deal conversations and the occasional celebrity you might see -- we were 3 tables away from Harry Connick Jr. one morning) The prices for breakfast a quite high otherwise -- we weren't there on a Sunday so we missed brunch. For dinner we were amazed. The best appetizer to get is the risotto which we were told has been a mainstay since day one. The other appetizers we got which were sushi based were amazing. We tried two. Each one had 5 different flavors that you experience simultaneously. Mains were very good too. I got pork-rack one night and veal the next. My GF tried the chicken and also the ribeye. Desserts are also amazing we tried 2. One was a mixture of everything and one was mostly ice cream. Black russians as always were also very well made. Service top notch every time we went. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Both very comfortable. We had a 4 night stay in LA and were so impressed, we went here for the first and last nights.
(5)
C. K.
My boyfriend and I came here for the Sunday brunch at the Four Seasons Hotel to celebrate our anniversary. We loved the spread they had---it was divided amongst 3 rooms with a very diverse, international array of foods for brunch in addition to the classic american breakfast items. They also have a juicing bar available! Everything tasted wonderful and was presented beautifully. We couldn't get to all the stations because there were so many items---all the more reason to return a second time. The service here is great, we appreciated how everyone from the doormen, hostess, and servers were incredibly welcoming. We can't wait to come back and look forward to our next visit!
(5)
Vanessa L.
I have not yet dined Culina. Only wined Culina. And without a doubt this wine list is 5 star worthy. Even more. It is an Italian restaurant of course so it is an Italian based BTG list. It's so rare to find this quality and range of wines on one menu. I highly recommend trying out something you have never had before, as you will certainly see some of that on the menu: Kerner, Zibibbo, Cannonau. And don't be afraid to ask about it. It is completely normal to not be familiar with some of these wines and the staff is more than happy to give you some information about them as well. After all, one of the best thinks about wine (other than drinking it) is that there is so much to learn. Every glass is full of a history, a geography, a climate, a family, and more. And here you can drink well and get an outstanding education. The Sartarelli Verdicchio is a personal favorite if you are going the white wine route. I will be back for a full meal soon and will be sure to add to this review at that time. Salud!
(5)
Cherie H.
3.5 stars Enjoyable dinner - octopus salad was delicious but could have used more octopus. The yellowtail crudo was good too. Veal chop was good, as was the veal cheek ragu. Good banana and gelato dessert.
(3)
Manuela G.
Terrific Italian restaurant in a lovely setting at prices that, if not exactly moderate, are not what I expected at a Four Seasons. Great service and the food was all delicious ,well prepared and presented and inventive .
(4)
Gloria Y.
Beautiful spot with impeccable service. But we were seated by a window and there was literally a fly infestation. That'll get rid of your appetite really quickly. Otherwise the caesar salad was amazing and the pasta was decent.
(3)
Travis I.
A privilege. And here we go... - Crudo Plate. Ahi, Mackerel, and Amberjack. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ) This is probably the finest raw fish I've EVER had. Each piece was perfectly portioned (no easy feat, for those who know) and topped with the most thoughtfully complimentary garnish one could conceive. The Amberjack, however, was a life-altering experience. It was sweet, savory... mild without being boring. I rarely say this: It was PERFECT. - Arancini. Wild mushroom, fontina, and risotto croquettes. Nice and crunchy with a soft interior, but they were a bit drier than I'm used to. Still, tasty. - Pulpo. For those familiar with octopus, we know how difficult this little cephalopod can be. Cook it quickly and it's tender, a bit longer and it's tough for hours, until it gets back to tender after a six-hour long braise. Here, at Culina, it was grilled and served with salsa verde (like a pesto), and a flat leaf parsley, arugula, and peewee potato salad. Here's the thing: It was more tender than ham. No hyperbole, this was the single most tender piece of octopus I've EVER had - My fork sailed through it like it was butter. A beautiful dish, and yet another item that exemplified perfection. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ) - Caesar Salad. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ) Seriously underrated. The waiter kind of steered us towards the Rustica salad, but we ended up ordering both. The Caesar salad at Culina is a brilliant departure from tradition. Ligurian olives, Tuscan kale, black olive croutons.... Seriously, an epic innovation. If there are more Caesar salads like this in the city, will someone PLEASE lead me to them? - Rustica Salad. Kale, sundried tomatoes, garbanzo beans, artichokes, fresh oregano, pine nuts, Percorino, topped with a crispy piece of Prosciutto. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ) Good, but trust me... Try the Caesar, if you're a Caesar fan. - Bucatini Carbonara. Does this really need an explanation? ( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ) - Tortelloni With Crab, Lemon, Caper, Herbed Ricotta, Egg Yolk, and Basil. This was over-cooked, mushy, and seemed like more of a Raviolo. I dunno. It didn't wow me at all. - Mushrooms with Anchovies and Herb Butter. Earthy, bold, and savory without any trace of fishiness. Just a seriously well-rounded savory side dish. You are going to LOVE these things. For people afraid of mushrooms, GET THESE. - Bronzino. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ) This was just... not good. Texturally lacking, soggy skin, ambiguous garnish, and I found a couple pin bones in my fish. I'd renovate this dish, ASAP! When almost everything else on your menu is unreal, a fish preparation like this sticks out like a squeaky hinge. And the lemon garnish was put on the side.... almost as an afterthought. If you want acid in the plate, add it to the sauce. This isn't a Red Lobster. - Pizza Prosciutto San Daniele, Burrata, Heirloom tomato, Arugula, Rosemary oil, whole wheat crust. This was a very good pizza, but I felt the Arugula was a bit overwhelming and perhaps could have been more carefully dressed with olive oil before they were added to the pizza. The dry arugula was the only thing that wasn't AWESOME about this pizza. Otherwise, it was better than it's cousin, at Pizzeria Mozza.( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ) - Tortino - Molten Chocolate Cake with Amaretto Sauce and Salted Caramel Gelato. A bit of crumbled Biscotti on top... The perfect end to a truly enchanting meal. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ) - Sorbet Trio. The bow on top of a stunning meal. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ) Culina boasts some stunning interior decor with an AMAZING chandelier ( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ) as well as great outdoor dining & lounge areas ( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ). Service is friendly and informative, and the food is thoughtfully composed, well-balanced, and executed with near flawless technique. If you get a chance to dine at Culina, take that chance. It is truly a gift to those who enjoy remarkable food.
(5)
Hassan A.
We went there my wife and I celebrating my 29th birthday , what a place!! nice atmosphere, very very kind staff and delicious food. we tried the Arancini truffles and those little small pieces are sooooo yummy , we ordered the margarita pizza and it was just perfect. I would definitely come again and recommend the restaurant for best of my friends..
(5)
Joana Z.
Not all that, food was not bad, service was 5 star, but not a comfortable ambiance. But our servers were very nice. My mom enjoyed the ambiance but not the food at all. So it was a food that you can get in very cheap restaurant without paying high prices.
(3)
Asif F.
Great decor and a modern environment. Service was good. Now to the food. Had the vongale pizza. Unfortunately it was dry and the claims were a bit dry. Ordered the bisteka. Wonderful piece of meat that was very tender. Tad bit on the pricey side but it's worth it for what you get. Also had the smashed potatoes. Great tasting but it was Luke warm. I really want to give it a 3.5 star -1 for the dry pizza and -.5 for the not hot potatoes.
I went there for dinner and I was blown away. Each dish was a masterpiece. Started of with Sashimi. Tuna incredibly flavorful and slightly spicy. The uni was my favorite so delicious and delicate. Next dish was heirloom tomato stuffed with burrata cheese. It was amazing!! The pasta was beautifully created as well. We had the rigatoni with sausage and oxtail gnocchi. Each bite was better than the last. The desserts looked so beautiful I was afraid to eat them. Rich and delicious. Our server Kerry made our night memorable. Loved my experience. Can't wait to go back
(5)
Diana R.
Culina was a beautiful surprise. Because of the nature of business, I am often jaunting from one restaurant to another, jumping from one price range to another. I can be "food trucking" one day then private dining at Joel Robuchon on another. So after a while, restaurants and dining stop being an experience and more a matter of a convenience depending on the project I am working on and who I am meeting. Which leads me to saying "Culina was a beautiful surprise." Why? I mean after all I've been to the Four Seasons before. Several of them, in fact FS-San Francisco is my favorite [great art work] but I digress; back to Culina... The restaurant is BEAUTIFUL. I repeat the restaurant is BEAUTIFUL. I remember the other 4S restaurant prior to Culina and I wasn't impressed. But, what an amazing job they did at renovating and redecorating the space. I love that it's beautiful and modern but still has a sexiness about it. The room doesn't overpower you. It's just beautiful. Now about the food and service. First of all, the staff was great. They were attentive without being overbearing; which is perfect when you are doing business over lunch. I have been at so many restaurant where the constant "checking in" hampered our ability to have a business lunch. The staff of Culina was unobtrusive and yet somehow they always knew when we needed something. It's an art. Now for the food. DELICIOUS!!! I decided to save my review of the food for last so I hope anyone reading this stayed with me... My halibut was cooked to perfection. It's not always easy getting fish that's prepared just right. It wasn't dry or undercook. The sauce wasn't overpowering either. Everything was balanced. My favorite part of my meal was the soup, Roasted Peppers with Fennel. I really enjoyed it. I wish I had more. The soup was creamy and velvety. Perfect with the bread I dip into it. My only regret was I was too busy talking business to fully enjoy my dessert. I only had a few bites and it was time to go. Next time maybe I'll start with dessert first.
(4)
Tyler S.
This is a very nice restaurant for a warm sunny day lunch. The patio outside was perfect for a group of 5. We went this afternoon (Thursday noon) and it wasn't too busy. You might see a few well known people here at the Four Seasons/Culina ( we ended up spotting Dr. Phil and LA blogger Damsel in Dior). The wine list had a good selection and the kitchen made bread was AMAZING! Here is what I tried: app: Burrata/tomatoes/basil - must eat! app: Yellowtail sashimi (w/ pear) Yum! But small portion Lunch: Steak salad (unsure of the exact name) But VERY good and filling! Dessert: Tiramasu (yum) and a selection of Vegan ice cream. All good but not mind blowing! Would love to come back here for the sunny space and great service!
(4)
Carlos M.
Babe took me here for my birthday dinner, and I must say its deserving of more stars than Yelp permits me to give. We were greeted promptly by the very nice hostess who also gave us the choice of sitting either inside or outside and would have no problem accommodating us either way. I usually like sitting outside but the ambience inside was simply amazing- it defined what "cool" should be. I also had no problem with the playlist, I'm not really sure why anyone would compare the music to a club soundtrack. Clearly they don't go out much because what was playing was trendy/lounge music. Our server was extremely knowledgable and definitely helped us maneuver our way around the menu. The food was everything. The bread, pasta, pizza- it was all heaven in my mouth. I didn't have a cocktail because I was hungover all day and alcohol wasn't very appealing to me at the moment, so I can't really comment on that. During our dinner the on duty manager came over to make sure everything was going smoothly and it definitely was. Overall I'm certain we'll be coming back and we'll be bringing more people with us.
(5)
Tasha H.
The short rib burger was to die for! Must try. The fichi salad was refreshing and flavorful and the bread and oil + vinegar was delicious. The service was friendly and consistent and our server Caroline was very sweet. Great brunch/lunch spot. Sit on the patio ;)
(5)
Margaret N.
Friendly service and beautiful outdoor seating area! Had their salmon, quinoa and kale platter and it was delish! Portions were perfect! And their dessert options are great! Had their tiramisu and it was decadent and perfect! I also went here for breakfast and their food is great! Definitely recommend their freshly squeezed juice! You can pick and choose exactly what you want in your juice!
I only have one more year of school until I'm done and can finally start earning some real money! Until there sites like Travelzoo and Groupon are my best friend. My BF and I decided to get a travelzoo deal for Culina to celebrate our 4 year anniversary. We were able to find street parking right down the street. We made reservations but still ended up waiting a good 20-30 minutes until we were seated. There are only like 3 seats for people who are waiting so that kinda sucked. We were seated in the bar like area which was also a little disappointing, seeing how we told them that we were celebrating our anniversary. After we got over the innitial disappointment we had a great time. My BF was peeved about the portion sizes but once we had all 5 of our courses he was stuffed and realized that if the dishes were any larger, we wouldn't have been able to get through all the courses! I took a look at the regular menu and the prices weren't horrible. I'll definitely keep this place in mind the next time I feel like dressing up and want a nice place to eat.
(3)
Eric H.
We went back on February among our many return visits. What made this one more memorable was we won a raffle they were having for the lunar new year. $100 gift card at the beverly center. Thank You Culina. You guys never disappoint. Also caught a pic of Silent Bob in the back ground of a family pic one of the waiter took for us. The guy really goes around in jeans and hockey jersey. Too funny.
(5)
Will C.
One of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time. Upon arriving with my open table reservation, I was promptly seated and greeted by the server. He was great, a bit casual, but that is how I would rather a sever be. Restaurant is just beautiful. I've been to a lot of great restaurants around the world and I would say this is a solid 4.5/5 quality restaurant. Not sure what these other reviews are talking about when it comes to service because when we got there the restaurant was at 30% capacity and had literally 25 people standing greeting us and looking busy. We had a total of 5 people: hostess 1, hostess 2, busser, busser2, sever, breadservice guy wait on us in the first 10 minutes. My dad used to be in hotel management and this over-staffing really reminded me of the days where the economy was good in the USA (which, to think of it, is kinda sad). It was so grand and luxurious feeling. I'm sure they just move all hotel staff down to the restaurant during dinner, but it felt awesome. Food 5/5 : Amberjack Appetizer, Spaghetti, Squid Ink Lobster, Brocolini Service 5/5 Ambiance 4.5/5 Value: 4/5 (152 with tax 2 people) Would go back!
(5)
Wayne L.
Disappointed...no service whatsoever. Consistently had to flag down someone to take our empty plates, had to ask for beverage refills. I did not expect this for a Four Seasons Hotel restaurant.
(2)
Anthony V.
This place is located in the 4 seasons, and we had reservations for thanksgiving dinner. Cost/person was about $100, and every bit was worth it. It was really crowded, but there was plenty of food for everyone. Some highlights: -Cranberry sauce- best I've ever had bc it had cinnamon in it ! -Prime rib- so moist -Pumpkin pie -Crab legs -Sushi -Donuts -Grilled cheese sandwiches There was plenty of traditional thanksgiving dishes, dessert, with fish and veggies. I appreciate people that can do things well. The chefs at this restaurant really gave me one of my most memorable experiences during thanksgiving. They really set the bar high, and I wonder if I'll ever make my own thanksgiving dinner because I know the quality will never be as good as this place. If you decide to visit LA for thanksgiving, or you're in LA and want to eat some amazing food without the fuss and clean up, definitely give this place a try! Would I go back ? HELL YEA.
(5)
Kelly J.
Loved this place the last time I was here and wanted to pop in for a little dessert this time and I'm oh, so happy I did. The service is excellent and I loved that our waiter didn't snub us upon hearing we simply wanted a drink, coffee and a few desserts. Sometimes service staff can frown on this even if you're dropping upwards of $100 of such little things. Not the case here. The coffee is perfect, we each had a glass of wine to go with the panna cotta and budino. Come for the gorgeous scenery and delicious food, but do not leave without having the budino. Oh Lawd...It's amazing! I'm almost embarrassed to say I don't even know what kind of pudding it was, because we just devoured it. Trust me and get it to round out what can only be a spectacular evening here.
(4)
Kobi D.
Love this place! My favorite Italian Restaurant in LA. My wife and I been going there every couple of weeks since we try it for the first time. The Beef Tartar is a must to try!
(5)
Nini H.
My friend and I did the travel zoo deal but we did order a lot more items outside of the menu. The brussels sprouts were very good. The risotto was nice. I liked the jam that went with the pork belly dish as well. Funny thing is, I was there only 3 weeks ago but I have no memory of the food so that's not a good thing. Not even the dessert =(. The ambience was actually great, different seating sections with different moods. The maitre D was super fine. =) However they did make us feel like we couldn't change our reservations over the phone more than 30 minutes but the place wasn't even packed for over 2 hrs. Another thing, they charged us for water. Still can't believe it! If you offer me water, I assume it's free. Do not charge me for it except I request something special or fancy.
(3)
j w.
The food is fine. Lovely room. Our server was informed and helpful, however, the front desk is a disaster. Emily, our hostess, acknowledged our reservation and despite the dining room being half empty, led us to back room with several families with about 13 children total. Think a scene from Chuck E. Cheese. We politely asked Emily if we could sit in the main room which had many tables open. She said, "What's wrong with this?" Kids. Screaming. Us - Party of four. Adult conversation. We told her we'd prefer the main room. We stood in front of an empty booth and she said, "Well, I'm glad to see you're so tolerant." Customer Service - fail. Our friends wanted to leave. There is simply far too much competition for good restaurants in L.A., so why put up with such appalling behavior. We'll return when the front desk gets a major reboot.
(2)
Paolo C.
Food was very good. Service was great! We really loved it! we had a large party (7 adults 5 kids) and we were attended to with patience and professionalism. The burrata salad was delicious and so were the arancini! Love this place!!!
(5)
Ana S.
The service at this place was like...I can't believe I am in LA, and I get this class of service. I wish I remembered our waiter's name. It felt like being in an old black and white movie where everyone has perfect manners. The food was mediocre. The atmosphere is very nice.
(4)
Martin B.
I took my wife here for her 30th birthday. I grew up on the east coast and have experienced very good Italian food, having lived in Battery Park CIty, NY and in Miami, FL, as well as L.A. for some time now and growing up in Italian households. That being said, I don't expect that kind of food at an upscale restaurant like this. What I do expect, is overly pretentious Italian fusion, and, very good service. We just barely got the first. The food was decent, there were some old world classics like pappardele with a roasted lamb ragu (this would be boar if traditional, but decent, mostly rosemary flavor in a light broth and no tomato), and my wife had the caesar salad with grilled hanger steak, again, decent but not anything to write home about. The drinks on the other hand were excellent, the appetizer (Arancini) was perfect, and the figs and speck was a great accompaniment to our meal. Now, the service. HORRIFIC. Our waiter was polite, but that was after I demanded a better table from the manager, which we were 22 minutes past our reservation when they seated us... IN THE BAR. NO apologies and in fact the hostess was rude to me when I brought it to her attention that we had waited 22 minutes beyond our reservation time to get seated in the bar, where we were already drinking. A very cordial manager did approach us and after about 15 minutes found us a new table. So we didn't sit for an intimate and what should've been special meal until about 40 minutes into our reservation. Like other posters have said, the service felt rushed....and although it is cool that we saw the cast of 30 Rock there, you shouldn't have to be a celebrity to get decent service in a restaurant this size and with these prices. Our meal was almost $200 when we got out the door. Long story short, I've had better upscale Italian.
(2)
Jordan S.
The Travelzoo deal that a few others have mentioned prompted us to come here Saturday night. It was a great dinner at a fantastic price. The food: Crudo trio (tuna, ginger oil, coriander seed, lemon salt; salmon, caper salt, blood orange; yellow tail, star anise oil, orange sea salt): All three were very good. My favorite was the tuna. I thought the yellow tail was a little plain. Brussel leaf and shaved vegetable salad: Not my favorite salad ever, but good a generous sized portion. I liked the julienned beats. It did have pomegranate seed, but I thought it could have used another sweet element. Perhaps pear or apple. Tagliatelle with ragu bolongese: Well textured pasta and flavorful sauce. Meat sauce isn't something I'm extremely fond of, though. Black bass with kale: Very good. Flavorful, well seasoned, perfectly cooked. Wonderfully crispy skin. I found you had to use the saba syrup sparingly or it completely overwhelmed the fish. Profiteroles with coffee, vanilla and pistachio gelato: Decent. The pistachio was my favorite. Dinner also came with a glass of bele cassel processeco (as a not very big fan of sparklers, I enjoyed this) and a flight of grapa (moscato, chardonay and merlot). I never had grapa before, so it was a good experience. I'm not sure I'd rush back to get some more. Instead of the grapa, my girlfriend received a glass of their house made limencello. We also loved the soft bread (with delicious olive oil) and the assorted olives. Service was absolutely perfect.
(4)
Greg G.
Very nice atmosphere but pretty disappointing for what I am sure was pretty pricey. I was here as part of a private dining event with a preplanned menu. I chose the Niman Ranch NY steak, medium. It was preceded by a mixed greens salad with a very interesting Meyer lemon vinaigrette. There was also some very fresh focaccia served along with the salad. When my steak arrived, it appeared to have been prepared just as I ordered. However, I was a little disappointed at the fact that the meat was not as tender as NY steak usually is, coupled with disappointment at the lack of sufficient and adequate pairings. There were about 4 very small fingerling potatoes which were roasted and served along with some carmelized onions and some artichoke hearts. I don't mean to be picky but steak is the one meat that in my opinion is designed for potatoes, good potatoes. Giving such a small amount that were really unimaginatively prepared and presented with hardly any nice green vegetables such as green beans, broccoli, asparagus etc was surprising and disappointing. Dessert was also a bit of a non starter. There was a choice between a tiramisu and a rice pudding mousse. I chose the mousse with fresh berries. It was just OK at best. I would perhaps give this place another try when I could order off of the menu and perhaps enjoy a little star gazing. However, I give most places one time to impress and on that basis, I would not be back. I am guessing that this place is just too caught up in the sustainable/local bs and is sacrificing quality in the name of being PC.
(2)
Linh N.
Came here last night with my hubby and had an awesome time at dinner inside the Beverly hills Four Season Hotel restaurant Culina. Had their 5 course tasting menu and we were definitely impressed with the all the selection. Presentation was great. We started off with a cheese/olive platter with some excellent prosciutto and a perfectly blend radicchio salad. Our 3rd course is grilled octopus on a bed of arugula and Jerusalem artichoke paired with a side of meatball marina sauce. The meatball was tender and so tasty I wanted a second one! Our 4th course was a pasta dish which was light and refreshing. The sauce was zesty and packed with flavors. Finally our main course was a grilled sea bass sprinkled with little capers and cherry tomatoes. The sauce on the sea bass was light and tangy. The fish was fresh and so tender that it melts in your mouth. I really love the combination of the tender meat and the crispy grilled skin of the fish. I can definitely come back again for more!!!
(5)
richard f.
First let me state that we use Culina for business as well as family entertaining and dining. The service has generally been good. Certain menu items which were ill thought out such as ahi tuna on a salt bar are now gone, allowing most physicians to breathe easier. Today, A Saturday, we had a reservation for a lunch for a group at 2:30 pm. When I arrived at 2:20pm the receptionist seemed tentative about seating us. I did not know why. She seemed to indicate I should wait! When I asked to be seated, before the chairs could be pulled out, we were assailed, literally, by the server, who announced proudly that the kitchen was closed and she would not serve us. She said the kitchen closed at 2:30pm. However it was 2:20pm and they took the reservation without a problem. The tone of the server was so severe that I went to the front desk and ask for the manager. She appeared promptly but seemed afraid of the server. She had no answers. We left. For good. We proceeded to Scarpetta. We were served an excellent meal in a great spirit. Something is obviously wrong in management at Culina. It is surprising for a Four Seasons establishment. Compared to the cheerful environs of the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills, I will stay away from Culina. I will not spend substantial money to be sassed by a server and then deal with a weak manager.
(2)
Miss S.
Awesome food, great service, nice outdoor ambiance at night! Good wines and good vegetarian Italian food. Well-priced and great location. Valet parking was reasonable. We had a great time and will surely return. Will highly recommend.
(4)
Cole K.
Definitely pricey - a special occasion restaurant -- but well worth it. The food is out of this world and they have a really solid wine list. Service is great. I was very impressed with the flavors, the quality of ingredients and creatively delicious presentation. Highly recommend.
(4)
Kimberly H.
Four Seasons - $55 billion renovation well spent! Such care goes into the preparation and presentation each detail of this evening, its hard to imagine why any one would provide a poor review! We started our evening off at the crudo bar! * Tuna on the pink stone is DELISH! Make sure to snag a piece of the cucumber that it comes out on as well, it only enhances the flavor. * Uni is a bit small in portion, but definitely necessary as the taste is extremely strong and pungent - perfect little bite. * I really loved the lobster crudo, the sauce is amazing * Oysters to to die for, I would get a least a dozen so you can try out various sauce combinations. * Bread appetizer is delish - foccaia :] I also really appreciated the olives and other bread sticks that were sitting in the center of the table. Though EVERYTHING on the menu looked fabulous, I decided on the lamb ragu pasta. The pasta was thicker than I would have liked, but I the ragu was tender and well seasoned. Dessert, the main attraction - TORTA AL GIANDUJA is a MUST order. I loved the hint of citrus from the Blood Orange Granita! A few bites was all that was needed to round out the meal. But the kicker for me were the chocolates that came out after and the biscotti parting gift - this was certainly a dining experience that lasted until morning. LOVED the ambiance LOVED the food DEFINITELY planning to come back again soon!
(5)
Lesley M.
Massively overpriced. Really wish I'd read the reviews here before going. Wanted to treat hubby and myself to a nice meal over the Christmas period, so we went with high expectations. Pluses: very few. The servers were nice enough. Minuses: nearly everything. Appetizers were massive (not necessarily a good thing) - the rice cakes included (unadvertised) truffles, which I hate; meatballs were decent. Mains of salmon and short ribs were fine, but hugely overpriced (around $35). Desserts of chocolate cake and three scoops of ice cream were also okay, but not extraordinary, aside from the coconut sorbet, which was amazing. The woman at the front desk had asked us if we wanted to sit inside or out. I asked which was busiest, as I wanted to sit where there was some atmosphere. She said they were about the same. So we sat outside. Turns out most people left shortly, so there was just us and one other table. It just wasn't special enough, compared to the inside, which seemed much nicer and had a lot more buzz. Our total bill was $250 including a tip - that's for two people eating three courses each, plus one bottle of wine between them. Honestly, if I'd have paid half that it would've been too expensive. It just wasn't worth it at all - the setting wasn't special enough, nor was the food. Not going back!
(2)
Vivi T.
The Travel Zoo dinner was a great deal! The dining room was surprisingly full for a week night, but we didn't feel rushed and service was exceptional. The Crudo and Halibut courses were spot on (both of which are on the regular menu) and the server suggested a wine deal for $20 where you were able to buy already opened bottles of wine (they were still fresh). He suggested a Barbaresco that paired very nicely with our meal, and we got about 3 glasses from the bottle. The restaurant was beautiful, service exceptional, and the overall atmosphere was lively. I will definitely return!
(4)
Nadia L.
So I love always getting super cool Travelzoo deals and was so intrigued when I saw a deal for Culina come across in my inbox. After taking a look at it, I was so excited but my biggest concern was when the heck was the next time I was going down to LA! Lucky for me, we decided to take a trip down to celebrate the bff's mom's birthday so we decided to get the get the certs and do a celebratory birthday dinner at Culina. When we arrived at the Four Seasons, we walked through the lobby and loved the giant floral arrangement at the center, so pretty! We walked through the bar and finally arrived at Culina. The restaurant itself apparently hasn't been opened that long, I think since March/May of 2010. The decor itself was gorgeous. It was too bad it was raining because the outside seating area looked beautiful and comfy. I loved the flames and all the foliage they have out there. At one point we even saw a waiter picking fresh lemons from the tree out there, how cool :) It seemed that the restaurant was pretty full due to the Travelzoo promo (I could tell since everyone using the promo got a nicely printed green menu). With the deal, we received: - Glass of champagne - Basket of baked goodies (thin breadstick like things and what looked like a crisp of some sort) - Bowl of Olives - Yummy soft foccacia bread (bff's fave!)- Absolutely wonderful dipped in balsalmic/olive oil - First course- trio of sashimi (drizzled with some sort of sauce, interesting presentation but delicious, very fresh), this included Tuna with ginger oil, coriander seed and lemon salt, Hamachi with orange and star anise and Salmon with caper salt and blood orange. - Second Course- Brussel Sprouts Salad with a pomegranate apple cider vinaigrette (out of the 5- nothing special) - Third Course- Ragu Bolognese- Delicious, the sauce was very good - Four course- Wild striped bass, tuscan kale with a roasted blueberry glassato (absolutely spectacular!)- Normally I am not a fan of fish skin but this was perfectly crispy while the meat itself was nice and flaky. Perfectly cooked and the vegetables just complemented it so nicely! - Fifth Course- Dessert- Trio of profiteroles (flavor: pistachio, vanilla and coffee)- very good as well, especially since it was drizzled with a chocolate sauce - Flight of grappa- So I've never had grappa before but OMG this was so strong, I couldn't finish it, I couldn't even shoot it, fail on my part but yes, we got a flight of 3 to taste which I gladly shared with the bff. Since it was his mom's birthday, we also ordered an extra dessert where they were able to put a candle in it which was a milk chocolate pana cotta served with a poached pear. This too was very good and I loved how they wrote happy birthday in chocolate sauce on the plate. Lastly, as a parting gift, they gave a tiny bottle of oil tied with a pretty green bow. Overall, the service was fantastic, loved the ambiance the restaurant offered and the food was really good as well. For $89 per couple it was a GREAT deal and a great way to celebrate the special occasion!
(4)
Shannon M.
PERFECT!!!!! This was the best lunch I've had in a long time! The staff was amazing the second I walked in the door. My friend went to the restroom before we were seated, I stood to the side to wait for her and was offered a complimentary soda, wine or water while I waited for her! :) The food was DELICIOUS!!! I've been dreaming about the Crudi appetizer (could be the best thing my mouth has ever had inside it) and the lobster and cheese pizza ever since I left! I'm going back now lol!
(5)
Brandon F.
Sunday Brunch was a huge disappointment, and I usually love it. Just had Christmas Brunch there with some friends and we all agreed it was pretty bad. The biggest problem was that the food was bland and boring. There was not much to choose from. They basically have three very limited sections, the first being sushi, the second being breakfast and the third being a carving station. There is also a small dessert area with no ice cream of sorbet. Also the $95 dollars does not include alcohol. You would think champagne would be included but is isn't. I can't complain about the service. It was great. Try the St. Regis in Monarch beach for a great Sunday brunch with unlimited champagne. Never Again.
(1)
Melanie Y.
Arrived on time for reservation made months in advance. Hostess found my reservation but the table was not ready. Waited at the bar over an expensive cocktail with my huz over 30 min. Hostess had "forgotten" about us. What's the point of making a reservation? It was not very busy as such was her claim. Only patio seating was available. As luck would have it, the patio was beautiful, warm and afforded conversation. Food was good however room for improvement, Crudo sashimi flight had mild fishy odor but tasted good. Chef did best possible but some ingredients could have been fresher.
(2)
asuzak H.
I had a Travel Zoo dinner with my friend here. I made a reservation but somehow the host lost my reservation. It was a week day, so they had a lot of tables open. I don't know how they lose a reservation when I had a confirmation and everything... We were seated at the patio and it is so pretty! I wish tables were not too close.... I could hear every conversations from next tables and I know they could, too. We felt that we had to talk quietly because it was a girls talk. Haha. The bread was awesome. Nice, soft and warm. I love that they give you marinated olives and bread sticks to snack on, also. A+ Crudo, Salad, Pasta, were so good! Halibut was little too dry.. Their Wine List is well priced and they have a lot of half decanter selections. A+ Grappa flights was not my favorite but nice server was exchanged them to Lemonchello. He was very nice but it was not a good Lemonchello and we couldn't finish it. :( I think it was good deal overall and I will go back there to try something else.
(4)
Ramzi E.
To quote Yelp, "Meh. I've experienced better."
(2)
Rossana V.
This is the newly opened restaurant at the Four Season Hotel in Beverly Hills. Wet there on Tuesday to celebrate my birthday with family and friends. Great menu, wine list, cocktails. Service is amazing. I'm already planning another celebration to go back.
(5)
Jenny I.
I went here w a girl friend on a TravelZoo coupon for a four course meal! I had the most incredible time there~ The staff was kind and very inviting but not overbearing... The food was amazing and delicious! The manager came by and said hello spoke about the restaurant and the food. We got just incredible service. The patio in the back was very lovely! I would for sure go back there and recommend this place! Worth a try!
(5)
Liz T.
Except for breakfast, I have seldom eaten at the restaurant within the hotel where I stayed. This time was different. I had the opportunity to try their breakfast and dinner service. The menu selection and execution were excellent. Breakfast was a little pricey but somewhat expected at Four Seasons. The dinner pricing was reasonable for LA. For breakfast, I sampled their egg white scramble with turkey sausage. It was at least a 3-egg dish because I couldn't finish the lot. On another day, I tried their eggs benedict and the poached eggs were perfectly done. Breakfast service was impeccable and very thoughtful. I was sick while travelling, and when I asked for a cup of hot water - they brought me a pot + lemon + small jar of Viennese honey. 5-star service! For dinner, I sampled their 3-item Crudo sampler - superb! Defintely a must-try. Extremely fresh and inventive dressing . My favourite was the uni. I landed on a simple green pasta with bolognese sauce for entree. It was really good and just right for my appetite that evening. No complaints about their dinner service. They were attentive enough, and my waiter knew his menu well. The ambience was really great at Culina. Contemporary without trying too hard. I had a view to their patio and the landscaping was gorgeous. Flowers, plants, lemon trees, and a small fountain all added to the tranquility and kept the street noise away from the oasis.
(4)
michael r.
Culina is a very comfortable restaurant, with great service and fresh food. I've only been for lunch (several times), and while I've enjoyed the meal i've had, i can think of a hundred places i'd rather be. the lobster gnocchi is fabulous, the salads are good sized, but it's pricey and doesn't have much of a vibe to it. I have no real complaints about Culina; it's solid across the board, but i wouldn't call it an interesting restaurant by any stretch. Worth a look for the food, but be prepared to eat at what still feels like a high-end hotel eatery.
(4)
Kaz K.
Did not know it was in the Four Seasons. It is. So it was really nice! Went for dineLA, and it was bombbb seriously! The servers and everyone that works here are really nice. The table has those crunchy breadsticks and flat bread that you can munch on. We thought that they had no bread to eat, but this nice server came up to us with rosemary focacia bread and gave it to us with a bowl of olives and some olive oil! Appetizer: got the Chopped Salad and Caprese. The chopped salad was very very refreshing, and the caprese was delicious too. The cheese on the caprese was so good. Entrees: got the ravioli, which was actually kind of sweet like apple pie at first. It was interesting. The manzo was SOOO good - we got lucky because the kitchen ran out of steak and gave us rib eye instead. Oh my god I got medium rare and it was cooked deliciously, im seriously salivating right now just thinking about it. I am so hungry now... AHHH Dessert: got the nuvola di riso - delicious and refreshing and light. Also the cannoli - this was good. But everyone should get the AFFOGATO because it looks like a friggin maltese dog/cotton candy and they pour the espresso over it and it all melts and oh my god so awesome! parking is $$$ because its Four Seasons but its validated... we actually got lucky and parked right across the street on Doheny - major roads in this area don't have the "permit only" parking but the side streets too, so good luck finding free parking.
(4)
Mark R.
Culina surprised me. I was fully expecting a 5 star experience from this Four Seasons Hotel restaurant but did not get it from the moment we walked in. We entered the restaurant thru the Hotel and the Valet greeting and doormen were outstanding . I thought " YEA, this is how the entire night will go" ! Unfortunately, it was downhill from there. I arrived at the hostess stand and told them I was there for dinner for 2 and she immediately said " you'll have to sit on the patio as dinner is full with reservations". It was a cold night and my only reply was "um excuse me . . . I DO have reservations". The lame hostess just assumed I did not have reservations. Why would she do such a thing? The waiter was pleasant when I could understand what he said and 1/2 thru the meal i just gave up. He would describe something and I would just politely nod my head. I LOVE the Four Seasons Hotels and have stayed at them in 12 different countries and this was without doubt my least impressive dinner at any of the restaurants connected to the hotels around the world.
(3)
Caroline K.
Thanks to Travelzoo, the BF and I had the lovely 5 course dinner. I will have to say that we weren't that happy with our seating arrangements. It appeared as though anyone who was there with the Travel Zoo deal was seated in this back corner booth-away from the entire restaurant. I know this because there was a couple sitting next to us when we arrived-and they had the Travel Zoo menu...and after they left, another couple sat down who had the same deal as well. I would have much preferred sitting at one of the tables where the ambiance was a bit nicer. The restaurant itself was beautiful and the outdoor seating and patio area is where I would definitely want to be seated next time. The food was pretty good. The sashmi appetizer was the best-fresh and tasty. The reason that I didn't give it more stars was because we felt very rushed. Our food came out so quickly that we didnt' really get to enjoy the ambiance that much. As soon as one course was done-it was quickly whisked away and the next one brought. I kind of felt like they were just trying to get us in and out :( I have a feeling that it had to do with the fact that we were using a Travel zoo deal...I hope that no one else experienced this because it wasn't the greatest feeling. We really wanted to savour the entire dinner-the food, the company, and the ambiance. I would say that we got a great deal for the both of us...I would probably go back maybe for dessert or just a few cocktails out in their back patio. Valet Parking is available-I think it's $14 but with validation it's $8. The prices are pretty steep-but this is Beverly Hills and you are at the Four Seasons.
(3)
D C.
Have been here twice for the brunch. The buffet is pretty standard for a high end hotel . A couple of things that I especially like is that they always have some type of "hangover" section. First time it was tacos and quesadillas with bunch of salsas and fresh guac. The second time there were a variety of different grilled cheese sandwiches and chiliquiles. I also like the juicer section where you can pick and choose a bunch of fruits and vegetables to be juiced up. The food is pretty good but doesn't make it four stars. The outdoor patio and the wait staff bring the place up to a four star level.
(4)
stephanie a.
DATE NIGHT!!!! Came here a few nights ago for date night with my partner in crime! :) Started off with items from the CRUDO bar, which is what attracted me to this spot in the first place. We ordered the Salmon, Tuna, Hamachi, AND the Uni (yes I LOVE it!) honestly, my hunny is not the biggest fan of Uni, but did appreciate this one quite a bit. Didn't give him that rotten mayo look on his face. Nice! So to be clear UNI was fantastic, then the hamachi was buttery and yummy, the tuna was tasty, and the salmon was good with the blood orange sauce. We washed all this down with a nice Pinot, recommended by our waiter. Lovely man, very attentive, and NOT annoying! Always a plus! :) For our entree's my BF went with the Bone in pounded veal chop....... I liked it and so did he! Good choice, although the scuttlebutt around the joint suggest the rib eye to be epic, the BEST EVER we hear! He will have that next time for sure! :) I went with the Branzino, beautifully prepared, with a light sauce. I hate it when restaurants mask their sh*tty fish with some heavy sauce. **COUGH***cough*** Pinot Bistro...... ehh hem. Moving on.... Both entrees were nice, we enjoyed them. Finally we ended it all with 3 scoops of the gelato with mixed berries (the obvious choice for the BF), and I had the panna cotta. WOW!!!ME likey so much I want one now! I see myself coming here more frequently when it warms up and enjoying a seat outside with friends. Food is great and the atmosphere is energetic. Solid experience! Can't wait to go back! :)
(4)
Jojo L.
So disappointed!! Nice place and service...but the food was not good at all! I didnt even finish 1/5 of it!!
(1)
Carolyn T.
On this side of town, you'd expect to eat at the best restaurants.. and at the Four Seasons you would really believe so! Man, oh man was I wrong! First of all, the menu isn't written in English! Haha.. I had to ask the waiter to translate almost all the dishes. When he was gone, we sat there Googling all the dish names! The breadsticks that they serve as starters are bland. Ordered the sausage pizza and the sausage was salty beyond belief.. like pour some salt into my mouth and watch me chew it! Bleh. I couldn't even eat it! I felt especially bad for the couple who sat at a table next to us. They were celebrating a birthday or anniversary and sent their food back twice. The sea scallops were just okay, nothing spectacular. The drinks were good, so was the decor, but that's where the compliments end. I'm not sure if Culina normally serves food like this, or if the chef was just not on his game that night. The manager came out to ask how we were doing, which was nice, but we weren't happy campers. It's unfortunate because I live right across the street and was hoping I'd have easy access to a nice restaurant I could bring my friends to when they visit. Oh well, $110 and a tummyache later, I've learned my lesson. Never coming back!
(2)
Sarah P.
Perfection! Dining room decor, menu, service- exemplary. Meatballs are mouth watering and have pine nuts in the middle! =) Fava beans w/ english peas and mint were a good combo, the herbs and dressing are a wonderful balance of flavors (great side). Halibut- cooked impeccably. Even the toasted basil leaf garnish was tasty. I only order seafood at quality restaurants to ensure that it's cooked properly. Pet peeve: going to an average restaurant and getting overcooked fish. Ruins everything! There was no room for dessert but it's rare to find pistachio gelato. That's the best flavor, you got to try it. There are 2 versions of gelato, house made and vegan. Can't wait to come back to try the kale salad, and beets. Hear the Sunday brunch is real treat!
(5)
J K.
Was there for lunch...for an Italian restaurant, modern or not, they do Italian food very poorly. My friends and I ordered a few dishes to share. Had the Insalata RC (seafood salad), Garganelli (pasta quills w/ asparagus, artichokes, peas, spinach, tarragon), funghi pizza/flatbread, and rosemary fries. The best items (we all agreed) were the non-Italian items (salad and fries). We had ordered the pasta b/c it sounded light with all the veggies...it was very rich (although not as rich as a cream sauce). The pizza allegedly had tomato sauce on it, but there was none. The yolk was way to overpowering and made the crust (which was chewy and tasty) soggy. I will say that the restaurant had great ambiance. It was a fun place for a ladies' lunch. Next time, I'd say go for salad and drinks...skip the "Italian" part of the menu.
(2)
Stephanie B.
Culina is a spectacular restaurant. A true dining experience. We were invited to join friends to enjoy a 5 course tasting menu (apparently, this was a Travel Zoo promotion). The restaurant is gorgeous. Tucked into the corner of the Four Seasons hotel, it is a beautiful space with soft lighting and gorgeous dark words. Considering all the hard surfaces in the restaurant, I was surprised that the restaurant was not louder. I am not sure what they were doing, but it is a very enjoyable environment to dine within. We started with a glass of Prosecco, which is one of my favorites. This glass did not disappoint, and it was a great way to start the meal. Then, we had teh Crudo flight. Hamachi with orange and star anise, ahi tuna with ginger oil and lemon salt, and salmon with caper salt and blood orange vinegar. The salmon was divine! That blood orange vinegar was amazing. I also loved the hamachi. The ahi tuna was tasty too, but it was the least WOW on the plate. We ordered a bottle of wine to share. A 2005 Italian white for only $48!!! At the Four Seasons!!! And, it was delicious. There are many good values on their wine list. It went especially well with the next course - salad. It was a mixture of watercress, shaved asparagus, shaved mushrooms, shaved artichoke hards, shaved favas, chives, pecorino and meyer lemon. Very fresh, very balanced - delish! For the past course, we had garganelli (tubes) with tomatoes, olives, pecorino and fresh oregano. This course was the biggest let down. The pasta was a bit overcooked, and the sauce was somewhat dull. Then, the entree (trumpets please). We had arctic char with crispy skin on english peas with lemon and sweet onion fonduta. The arctic char was delicious - a bit overcooked on the thin edges, but absolutely perfect in the middle. And the skin - perfectly crispy and salty. I don't know what sweet onion fonduta is, but I need to learn how to make it. I could have eaten that over sawdust. For dessert, we had a trio of profiteroles (espresso, vanilla and pistachio) with housemade limoncello. The profiteroles were tasty - the gelato and chocolate sauce were delicious. The profiteroles were tasty. The limoncello was POTENT. But, very tasty. The service at Culina puts it over the top. We never wanted for some of the delicious warm focaccia or water. The waiter was always available to answer questions. And, the wine steward was actually prepared to open another bottle for us because one person in our party did not like the wine - impressive! (By the way, he did not like the wine because he does not like dry white wine...it was not the wine). I would not likely have come had I had not been invited. But, it you are looking for a special place to celebrate something, I highly recommend Culina. What a great experience!
(5)
Howard Y.
I absolutely love this place! Food is delicious and service is very professional! The atmosphere is very luxurious (I think that's the best way to put it). But more importantly... their desserts are AWESOME! If you like peanut butter, please have a few scoops of their peanut butter gelato. I don't know how they make these ridiculously delicious gelato, but I still dream about it!
(5)
Fatty D.
The over-all experience was, ok, nothing to strongly suggest a later visit. Service was a bit below expectations, although, ok just not an overly satisfying evening. Lips was wearing the new Gucci Mod shoe wear. Adding to the Ralph Lauren pants with a print on em, shirt was a Gucci conservative number. Lips wanted to go a bit more conservative because of the Four Seasons locale. Jewelry was a Vintage Patek Phillipe with just one Dark Emerald Ring. We began with the following; Scallop. shaved black truffle. lemon. It was ok. Flavor could have used less lemon, more seasoning. VONGOLE Tagliatelle pasta. manila clams. garlic. lemon. sea urchin. Lips didn't care too much for this ap. Stated the Clams were definitely on the chewy side. Lobster. pink peppercorn. grapefruit. chives. Our host felt the meat was on this side of being over-cooked. Enjoyable, however just a shade on the side of falling a bit under whelming. For entrees: I had the lamb chops. Cooked perfectly Mid Rare, nicely seasoned. I thought it was a good dish. Lips ordered the chicken with sweet potato gnocchi. According to Lips, the bird needed a much heavier hand with seasonings. Just was meh, at best. Rib Eye cooked a bit more than Mid Rare. One could see on his face that this was not what was hoped for. There were some sides dishes. Some were great, some were ok. Kind of all over the place. Meh,
(3)
Teresa C.
For a restaurant in the heart of the Four Seasons, frequented by celebs and wealthier folk, either they give service depending on your wallet size or they just aren't doing it right. Their service overall wasn't terrible but it was much like their food- mediocre, lacking in effort and not enough where it counted. Bread and water came by only once and we had to ask for our glasses to be refilled. Our waitress was nice but didn't explain the menu just put down the prix fixe and left till check time (and when she brought our complimentary grapa). The waiters that brought us the dishes were quick as the wind and left before we could ask for them to repeat what they'd brought. The nicest people were the ones that took away our plates actually. Food was meh. I'm reminded of Nobu where it felt ambience and the crowd was more important than the dishes but even Nobu at dineLA gave you enough to be satiated. The dishes were small and even the pasta was tiny. Flavours were okay but unremarkable. Halibut wasn't dry but lacked flavour and was drowned in English Peas. Sashimi wasn't cold. The dessert was my favourite, three gelato profiteroles. Thank god for the dessert. The foccacio bread they brought originally to the table was pretty good and the plate of olives was a nice thought. Grapas were so-so. They didn't give us our olive oil and I was too disappointed to bother walking back and asking for it. (another negative point.) All in all, I'm glad this was a travelzoo deal and one I wouldn't bother buying again. We both were hungry in another hour after we left. Skip the ridiculous valet parking by the way and street park. Also, if you get a chance, take a walk through the tiny garden inside the Four Season. It has creepy statues. (Don't blink.)
(2)
Andy R.
It's not a perfect 5, but it close enough! My stars: (5=epic "best of") (4=really tasty and want to go again and again) (3=good and will go back once in a while) (2=fair, might return for a visit if there was some glimmer of hope) (1=avoid at all costs) Go or No? Go! Tease: Culina is an upscale modern Italian restaurant inside the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills. Why I went: We had a Blackboard Eats deal for 30% off, and we like Culina! When: 7/13/13 Food: We started off our memorable meal with some tasty cocktails. I have an extremely tasty barrel aged Negroni (not too bitter, and smooth including some rye whiskey) and my wife had a Picasso's Pear, which she loved! Later on, I got a Culina Manhattan, which was also barrel aged, and it was just about the tastiest take on a non-traditional Manhattan I've had! The house-made baked apple bitters were a nice twist! We ordered 3 plates of crudo (Italian version of sashimi). Amberjack (whitefish) with blackberry mint and pepper...diver scallops with tangerine, mint, chili, and smoked sea salt (RIDICULOUSLY GOOD!)...and lastly, urchin with lemon. All 3 were super fresh and super tasty! Crudo is a must here! Between the 2 of us, we split a pasta and pizza. The pizza we got was smoked mozzarella, speck, grilled hen of the woods mushrooms, and thyme. Stupid good! The crust was thin, soft, and melt-in-your-mouth good! It appeared almost not done enough, but that chew on the crust was literally perfect for the toppings. The pasta was a house-made Pappardelle with lobster in a brown butter sauces with summer squash and petite onions. It's so tasty it's not fair! The lobster was perfectly cooked, and the pasta was superb! We concluded out meal with an Affogoto and a trio of gelatos and sorbet. My wife's Affogoto was a delicious Espresso poured over a vanilla gelato...with cotton candy on top! The hot Espresso melted parts of the cotton candy and added a little sweetness to it. My wife was in heaven! The dish simply looks really amazing and many patrons next to us were asking what she ordered! My gelatos and sorbets were excellent. The sorbet was a campari (bitter citrus), and the gelatos were fig & walnut and cherry. Service: Excellent. Zachary, our server, did a great job. Additionally, the managers and bussers were also super friendly and attentive! Hints/Final thoughts: This place is pricey, but it is possible to navigate without spending too much. Go for the crudo. Go for the pasta. Go for the pizza. Go for the desserts. Go for the drinks. Just go.
(5)
Elana B.
Best breakfast in Los Angeles. The food is divine. Always clean, healthy and beautiful. The service is friendly and helpful. Whenever I need to get away without getting away I go and sit in the outdoor garden and have breakfast at Culina
(5)
Carrie R.
Would give Culina 4 stars if we hadn't been rushed through our meal. It would have been nice to linger between courses, given the 4 courses we ordered. Overall service was attentive and efficient but we felt hurried throughout with no spacing between courses. The manager made a point of coming to say hi but when we told him the dish was great but the chicken too salty (it really was almost inedible), he tossed us a put-down regarding the fact that we were there with a Travelzoo voucher and explained that our portions were the same size as 'regular' diner (not what we were complaining about) then poured us more water to help with all the salt! Highlight was the branzino.
(3)
Li J.
I attended a luncheon at Culina in the Four Seasons Hotel and it was A-OK. They claim to have modern Italian cuisine. Italian is one of my favorite types of food and I like traditional, modern, Northern, Southern, all of it. The luncheon started with pizzas - they didn't look warm or appetizing so I passed. Next was a ceasar salad - ick! I hate a ceasar salad that looks wet and white. I took a few bites and then moved on. Next was the roasted chicken - yummy. Finally I had the sorbet with fresh berries -- the highlight of my meal. Coffee was also good. Service was excellent. In all, it was fine. Nothing to write home about and I likely won't return unless attending another hosted event.
(3)
Akiko T.
3.5 stars - I feel like being nice right now. Visited Culina with a friend visiting from NY. We opted to visit this place since she was already staying at the Four Seasons... I guess I should have been a better host and whisked her away from the Hotel but we both have always wanted to give this place a try since I'd heard only fabulous things about the Crudo bar! The interior of this restaurant is quite beautiful. I love the glass bubble chandelier that's beautifully showcased in the center of the restaurant. We were seated off to a corner table which was in a low traffic area of the restaurant. The service moved like molasses, I had to ask for ice water three times. We were situated in an area that the wait staff could easily forget you're even there. Since we'd heard so much about their crudo, (say yes to Italian sashimi!) we opted to try two variations: * Kampachi Crudo with Lemon Oil, Avocado Puree and Pomegranate Garnish * Salmon Crudo with Blood Orange Oil and Caviar People, seriously come here just for this! The crudo here absolutely melts in your mouth, and the way that they delicately seasoned the fish was pretty exquisite. The next time I come here, I'm sitting right at the crudo bar and pairing it with their crisp proseco. On to our entrees, we ordered the Lasagna Verde, a nice spinach lasagna which arrived all bubbly, cheesy and gooey. This came with a ragu and out of this world. We also ordered the Black Spaghetti that came tossed in sea urchin, tomato, basil and citrus. I was really put off by the presentation of the spaghetti. I always envision black spaghetti to be on the thinner side, not as thin as cappelini but a bit more delicate. This on the other had was grotesquely thick, in fact I snapped a photo and the noodles look like sea worms. Ugh! We also ended up splitting an order of Satueed Baby Spinach which came tossed in pinenuts and black currants. Yum! All in all, it was a good experience, was not anywhere near mind blowing and the service needs some manners and polishing up. Come here for the crudo. Prego.
(4)
Ron F.
Went for lunch here. Beautiful place and ritzy. Prices are what you would expect at a Beverly Hills area hotel. The food is good and some are quite unique. The people working there seemed happy to work there. Which is refreshing. There's a Marilyn Monroe statue at the front of the hotel. I couldn't resist looking under her skirt. Oink.
(3)
Maribeth E.
We came here for a birthday and had a reservation for 8. Half of us arrived on time and the other half were "fashionably late." The hosts went ahead and sat the four of us so that we could order appetizers and drinks while we waited. Well, that idea failed. Nobody acknowledged us until 30 minutes later when the late arrivals showed up. Really? We had to go to the bar and order drinks and bring them back to our table. The Four Seasons is known for their great service to their clients. I guess that stops before you get into their restaurants. The food was ok. Nothing memorable. Nothing to outweigh the terrible service. I do know I got sick later that evening and it wasn't from drinking; so there's a good possibility it was from the ok food. There's no way to know for sure though. There's a million restaurants in the area, you should take your money anywhere but here.
(2)
Steph H.
As most everyone else as mentioned, went to Culina to redeem our Travelzoo voucher. The restaurant was very classy, modern, and elegant. We sat on the heated patio which was nice. Our waitress was very professional and good at her job. In addition to the 5 courses they also provided delicious bread, olive oil, and a bowl of olives. Here were our impressions of the 5 courses: Crudo: We both loved the hamachi, less impressed with the salmon and tuna. A glass of Prosecco was served with this which was delicious. Salad: We both loved the flavor combination of the asparagus, artichokes and chives...very fresh tasting. Pasta: This was my least favorite. Mine was overcooked and I had marinara sauce as I don't eat meat, however, my friend raved about his. Must've been the ragu bolognese that made this dish. Fish: loved the Halibut! Cooked perfectly and served with these delicious peas and sweet onion sauce. Dessert: three different little pastries with gelato, pretty good! Grapa Flight: Wasn't a fan of the chardonnay or merlot grapa, but the Moscatto grapa tasted like lavendar, so delicious! I do find it hard to believe that this meal would normally cost $225 and as some others have mentioned I definitely don't think it was worth that amount. That being said, however, overall this was a very nice experience.
(4)
Kimmy N.
Food: Average Drinks: Average Service: Good Ambiance: Casual or Semi-Formal Portions: Average Facility Type: Hotel Restaurant (Four Seasons Beverly Hills) Cuisine: Italian Price: Moderate Parking: Valet or Street Parking across the street if you get lucky What I've tried: Insalata Tricolore ($10): Good Margherita Pizza ($15): Average Caprino Pizza ($17): Average Linguine Alle Vongole ($25): Average Cavatelli ($22): Average Lasagna Della Nonna ($19): Average Milk Chocolate Panna Cotta ($9): Good Nuvola Di Riso ($9): Very Good Tiramisu ($9): Average Overall, food was salty. There are many other better Italian restaurants in LA.
(2)
Katherine D.
Visited this restaurant on a weekend trip to LA back in June... it made for a lovely, yummy date night. Prices seemed pretty fair, and the food was excellent. They start the table with a bowl of marinated olives(which honestly may have been my favorite thing we ate, but I'm a sucker for olives). I had the Tortelloni, which was excellent, only thing I wish is that the portion was slightly larger. The house made gelato is definitely the way to end your meal!
(4)
Min I.
I was highly impressed with Culina. From the decor to the 5 star service to the exquisite presentation of each dish - all far exceeded my expectations. The burrata salad was small but a great appetizer, tasty and fresh heriloom tomatoes with just the right amount of burrata. Ravioli with amazing-ness inside and sweet corn.. Died and went to heaven. They brown it in butter and brown sugar and sage. What a divine combination. Salmon was cooked just perfectly and served on a bed of small salad and beets. Super good. Spaghetti and Meatballs - my boyfriend loves and BTW all their pasta is homemade. he said it's the best spaghetti he's ever had. Banana chocolate pizza desert - holy s*** GOODNESS. This is by far the best desert I've ever had in my life. Nutella, hazlenuts, just the perfect amount of pizza dough, bananas. gosh I can't believe nobody thought of this amazing concoction sooner. Tiramisu - not as amazing as the banana chocolate pizza but still quality and a huge serving BTW. Rosemary bread and olives - ummm yes PLEASE it's free and it's endless and probably the best bread i've ever had in my life. Like the softest pretzel bread with the perfect amount of herbs. Seriously. Culina is hands down awesome and it's not every day I can write such a glowing review.. Writing this makes me want to eat there right now. It's really good and you won't regret eating here.
(5)
Shan C.
Culina, my favorite modern Italian, sushi restuarant on the planet... mostly because I think that it's the only one on the planet. I expected fantastic service from Culina because of it's association with The Four Seasons. The food and atmosphere were wonderful, but the service was only average. I figure that this is because many of the waiters are very young and look like they are more interested in auditioning for Hostel Part 4, or Saw 27. If you are okay "settling" with traditional Italian, go with Madeo or La Dolce Vita. You will not have to worry about encountering the kind of poor service that I experienced.
(2)
Alex H.
Crudo and their panzanella salad are AWESOME!! The service is top notch and on a Saturday night, this place is bumping. The bad news, this place will burn a hole in your wallet. Be ready to drop at least a benji per person.
(4)
Carol L.
Dined here with my cousins who treated my husband and I with a Travelzoo tasting course. The food was great and we loved the ambience! It was perfect for catching up with my cousins and enjoying a nice meal together. What a treat.
(4)
todd s.
Not usually where I would plop down for dinner (a bit fancier than I'm used to), but a business associate of my wife invited us & I was pleasantly surprised. They have a nice heated patio in front for cocktails, and a seperate one inside the restaurant if that's your thing. We loved the several varieties of breads they brought. I had the ravioli with sage butter; it reminded me of my favorite dish at Il Fornio, very tasty. My wife couldnt stop raving about the t-bone steak she got; she said it was the best steak she has ever had.
(4)
Irene C.
Hmm, I've never had a meal that went from so high to so low so quickly. First off, our server was fantastic (very personable and I asked a lot of stupid questions and he never seemed put out by them) and most of the food was excellent. Highlight was all of the crudo (we ordered a sampler plate of three fish plus the scallops), this is definitely a must-get over any of the appetizers I tried. The restaurant interior was beautiful and I saw lots of options for outdoor seating. Maybe I was too full from the many appetizers we ordered, but the $42 rib eye steak was just okay although it was perfectly cooked (and they split the entree for us, very nice). The falling off point was after receiving the bill and seeing that the cocktail I ordered (pisco sour) was $22. Wow. Did I get a cocktail made from the rarest and most expensive of pisco? Well, honestly, I have no idea, it's possible, but seeing as how a specialty cocktail with the same liquor was $16, I can't imagine what caused the bump in price when my drink came with less of their fancy mixology additions (I essentially ordered the well version of their signature cocktail that cost $12 tops at any other restaurant I've been to). If it had been the most delicious pisco sour I'd ever had in my life, I would've understood. But the reason why I'm really stung and making a big stink (I try not to write rants like this in my reviews) is because it tasted like pure sour mix that I even had the server send it back at one point because I wasn't quite sure it was actually what I had ordered. I only drank it because I didn't want to be difficult and send it back a SECOND time when he returned it saying that that's how the bartender said it was supposed to be. Maybe they charged me twice for the inquiry. So 4/5 stars for excellent service and food, 1 star for the drinks.
(3)
Natalie M.
this place is enjoyable in all the possible ways. we were driving by this hotel a week ago, and I really wanted to check this place out. It looks very nice from the outside. so yesterday we went there. Very friendly and funny hostess (beautiful girls!!). The design of this place is great - i love the huge chandelier above the seating area- I saw the same style fixtures at lamps plus but this one is the biggest one. Also I love the glass chandelier at the hotel entrance - they are amazing expensive too. All the atmosphere of the place is simple luxury: natural wood floor, the bar is made out of big natural stone slabs. very simple but looks amazing! Then the food. First we were served the bread - I love the crispy one - the best!! I recommend it. Champagne was good (lol champagne could never be bad) then we ordered some "fansy name" salad - like Capreese but with lobster meat. - good! then we ate our main course - it was not bad but I was so full with the bread and lobster that I didnt really feel the taste of my dish. I think to feel the real taste of the food you have to be hungry and eat very small amount of food. When I dont eat I feel all the smells and tastes brighter. After the dinner we went to their bar, they have live music - some rock band - it was pretty much fun. I loved it. Great place! I recommend it to everybody. if you are thinking about remodeling of your house, visit this place just to check out the design.
(5)
Vishal S.
This is my 2nd time coming to a restaurant. The place is elegant, classy, and trendy. The staff is friendly and attentive. The restaurant is at the 4 Seasons Hotel. Valet parking is validated by the Culina restaurant. The place opens at 6pm. We went to the bar and bartender was very nice and professional. We were asking about good wines and he brought over the Sommelier to discuss about the wine selection. We ordered Ricciola (yellow tailed, star anise oil, and orange sea salt) from the Crudo Bar menu. It came with 4 pieces of yellow tail. Tasted great. Once our table was ready the bartender told us to leave our wines at the bar and they would bring it to our table. We had the fixed 4 course menu. Burrata cheese Green Past with Squid Salmon and Ahi Tuna (wife and I got opposites) Dessert (Elderflower Panacotta) All four courses tasted great. Staff was nice. Just a positive experience every time. Will come back again on special occasions.
(5)
Andrea L.
I don't know about you, but I'm totally guilty of signing up to get daily emails on deals in my local area. My email is flooded with deals from Living Social, Groupon, Yelp, Open Table, and Travel Zoo. Every single day I'm tempted to purchase a deal because it's so inexpensive. Of all the deals I've purchased, the one that I consider to be the best deal was the one I purchased from Travelzoo. I purchased a 5-course dinner for two at Culina which included two glasses of champagne, two grappa flights and a bottle of custom olive oil to take home. This would regularly cost $250 but for Travelzoo subscribers, it was only $89. That's insane, right? How could I pass up such a great offer? I bought this offer back in November and I had 6 months to use it. I chose to use it this weekend for a Pre-Valentine's dinner with the hubby. We like to avoid all the craziness of V-Day so we always have a nice dinner a few days before the actual day. When we got to Culina, we were a few minutes early. The hostess told us it would be a few minutes so we went to the lounge area and waited to be seated. A waitress immediately checked to see if we wanted a cocktail, and both the hubby and I ordered the Caipiroska. It was absolutely delicious. It was very refreshing. A few sips later, and the hostess was showing us to our table. This is what was included: -Two glasses of Prosecco -Focaccia bread and Olive Oil -Olives & Marcona Almonds -Crudo Flight Ahi Tuna, Ginger Oil, Coriander Seed, Lemon Salt Hamachi, Orange, Star Anise Loch Duarte Salmon, Caper Salt, Blood Orange -Mandarino Wild Arugula, Shaved Fennel, Pomegranate, Hazelnut Taggiasca Black Olives, Tanerine Citronette -Tagliatelle (Ragu Bolognese) -Cirenga Wild Stripped Bass, Tuscan Kale, Salsify Roasted Blueberry Glassato, Lemon -Flight of Grappa & Limoncello -Trio of Profiteroles At the end, they even gave us a small sample of the olive oil they use in house. Our dinner at Culina was pretty solid. Every single dish was so on point. I was very pleased with the meal, and would love to return to try the rest of their menu.They are definitely doing something right over there.
(4)
John-Michael C.
She tells me that there is this deal and so we go. That's how it works right? I'm celebrating my moms bday... apparently with the entire family and my bff in tow. I mean, if you are going to do something, then I suppose it might as well be a grand gesture. And it doesnt hurt if the grand gesture was relatively dirt cheap. We walked over to the restaurant through the lobby and bar area of the four seasons. When we arrived at the Four Seasons, we walked through the lobby and love d the giant floral arrangement at the center, so pretty! We walked through the bar and finally arrived at Culina. We were seated promptly at the far side of the room with great views of the interior and exterior. If the weather was nicer, I would have preferred to have sat outside along with the amazing fire sculpture things. The travelzoo pre-fixe menus were nice and unassuming and the food was delicious. Judging by the number of menus I was able to see, it looked as if I was not the only one partaking of the amazing deal at this lovely venue. The champagne was good and the bread was bread but I'm not much of an olive person. The sashimi was delicious. The salad was a salad. Ragu bolognese.... I dont remember. The bass was great - the skin was crisp and the meat flaky. Profiteroles was decadent. And the grappa... it was something else. I drank as much of the stuff on the table as I could... but in the end there was simply too much for me.. I know, blasphemy! It was nice to see that they did a lil something extra for my moms bday with the choco writing and bday candle. It's the details! Since it was his mom's birthday, we also ordered an extra dessert where they were able to put a candle in it which was a milk chocolate pana cotta served with a poached pear. This too was very good and I loved how they wrote happy birthday in chocolate sauce on the plate. I cant wait to go back! ;D
(5)
Annie L.
I'm surprised at all the negative reviews. I thought the setting was nice, the food delicious, and the service excellent. Maybe we ordered particularly well - salmon crudo, kampachi crudo (loved it), scallops with truffle (delicious), lamb chops (perfect), and veal chop (very good). Yes, it's expensive, but there are a lot of extremely expensive restaurants in LA, and in my mind, none of them are ever truly "worth it." At a restaurant like Culina, you just have to kind of suck up the prices and enjoy it for what it is.
(4)
Gaby F.
Certainly beautiful restaurant, courteous service, but still doesn't justify the mediocre food. Menu sounds good but actual food is uninteresting to the palate. Disappointed.
(1)
Barclay S.
Incredible! Great food and service. Highly recommended for a low key dinner with friends and family.
(4)
Jean L.
Monday evening for dineLA - Culina stole my heart, filled it up, and graciously returned it replete with everything wondrous under the moon. We arrived separately and on time: Ed K., Hyura C., Mike N., Hovik N., Conor K., and Mark L. 7 foodies. 5 men and 2 women. 4 glasses of wine. 6 yelpers, 2 elite. All committed seekers of remarkable restaurants and savory experiences. Appetizers: I got the fichi to start: sliced and soft california figs divided on a round spread of sheep's milk ricotta, drizzled with aged balsamico, topped gently with rucola. SENSATIONAL. The 3 of us who ordered this dish could not stop raving about it. Everyone at the table agreed this dish won the appetizer round. FICHI. 3 others had the caprese "a modo mio": - seriously a fist-sized almost neon yellow-orange heirloom tomato erupting burrata cheese, sided by basil and manni evoo. The presentation was worth the camera flashes. The tomato though, alas, was too large for the amount of cheese and frankly, couldn't top the fichi. 1 person ordered the culina chopped salad - tuscan farro. garden fresh vegetables. fresh herbs. chianti vinaigrette. It was all right, a little too 'healthy' for me that night. ;) Entrees: Merluzzo nero: alaskan black cod. caramelized brussel sprouts. pancetta. concentrated tomato. sweet onion fonduta. red wine glassato. The menu had me at BLACK COD. The brussel sprouts - sweet, knobbly, soft - set me back to warm autumn evenings roasting my own. The sweet onion fonduta - I wished they ladled a steakhouse-sized mashed potato side of it. OH, back to the BLACK COD. Do you believe fish can separate like butter and taste like a fragrant cloud? Believe!! 2 others got the manzo - niman ranch flat iron steak. aromatic herbs. heirloom tomatoes. shaved parmigiano reggiano. The piece I got was absolutely DIVINE. Alas, I loved my cod but I had to hand it to them - that steak was one juicy and aromatic hunk of meat. Desserts: Cannoli - 2 large pieces bursting with olio d'oliva gelato and tipped with caramelized pistachios. OUT OF THIS WORLD. The olive oil gelato had this .... ESSENCE ... like the umami of sweets, smoothly matched inside a thick outer cannoli crust and sweet roasted golden green pistachios everywhere. I wanted to go to the kitchen to personally thank Chef Victor Casanova and his entire crew for this alone, not to mention everything else! I also tried their affogato. I've had affogato before. I have never had affogato like this before. Again, presentation alone was worthy of the camera snapping. The waitress brought out a platter with an 8 oz. cup of vanilla bean gelato topped with a higher 6 inch. spray of cotton candy. She poured the espresso over the cotton candy, melting it into what became the affogato. Pinoli cookies sided the dish. The gelato was deeeeelish. All this? $34 before tax and tip. Service was fabulous. The end of the meal had us giving the waitress 7 credit cards. The pile of credit cards she returned with each in their own folder was a scene to behold. Remember to validate for $6 valet parking. Oh, and since you'll have your camera for food anyway, you may as well take pictures in the lobby, waiting area, etc...this place is drop-dead handsome.
(5)
Nari L.
Excellent! The atmosphere was very nice and romantic! The food was all so delicious! The portions are a bit on the smaller side. We ordered the halibut which is literally just the halibut. It doesn't come with anything. So for just a halibut for $35 bucks may not be something you're looking for but it was delicious! I had a 30% off BBE so I didn't feel guilty at all! The pasta was delicious! As well as the molten cake with salted caramel. Yum! Their rosemary bread and olives are to die for! Love everything about this place!
(5)
W L.
Travelzoo 5 course dinner. The ambiance was very nice. We sat indoors, but the outdoor seating was very nice. We noticed most of the restaurant had travelzoo dinners. 1) Crudo Flight - sashimi dish of tuna, yellowtail and salmon. not a lot of flavor. salmon tasted funny. We were also served flutes of champagne which were very good. 2) Salad with watercress, asparagus mushrooms and artichokes in a lemon dressing. - this was okay, not a fan. 3) Bobolotti Verdi - basically a green pasta /w bologenese. Was too salty. 4) Halibut /w english peas - this dish was decent, nothing to rave about. 5) Mini Profiteroles with 3 kinds of gelato. - Best course out of the whole meal. We didn't try the grappa flight. Lemoncello was okay. Pros - nice ambiance. Service was very good. Good bread and olives. Cons - Food was disappointing. Travelzoo voucher says the $89 meal was worth $225. The dinner was not worth the $89 spent on it.
(2)
Zoe R.
Loved it. Go there now!
(5)
Kristine L.
Came in on Travelzoo's $89 voucher for Dinner for 2. Here's the breakdown: Parking: Easy and free street parking, restaurant does offer validation for valet parking at the Four Seasons Deco're: Trendy and upscale, outdoor patio looks "HOT" with lots of flaming heat lamp. Ambiance: Romantic, good for date night. Lots of pretty people, but they all seem to be at the bar or outside on the patio. Food, Presentation: Excellent presentation and plating Food, Quality: Fresh ingredients that's seasonally appropriate. Food, Taste: Mediocre, some of the flavor don't quite mesh together Service: Excellent, attention to detail, wait staff are prompt and knowledgeable. Highlight of the meal: The complimentary focaccia bread Lowlight of the meal: The salad was less than impressive Lesson of the night: Grappa= Italian Moonshine..... (shiver....) I had a great date night with BF, the place was romantic and we spent 2.5 hours eating and chatting. Overall it's a okay deal if you have a Travelzoo Voucher, but I wouldn't dine here on its regular priced menu.
DineLA woohoo! Honestly, I would not be able to come to a place like this if it wasn't for DineLA or someone was taking me out here... One of the nicer restaurants I've been too. It's located insided the Four Seasons Beverly Hills, so you know right off the bat this isn't going to be some ratg-tag place. I LOVED the ambience and decor- low lighting but not TOO dark with pretty lights and comfy seating. They have a full drinks bar and a crudo bar near the entrance. The outdoor area looked amazing too. They have a fire wall! And plush seats! I would like to sit outside if I were to ever come back. For the food I got the Caprese, Manzo, and Affogato. My friend got the Fichi, Black Cod, and the Nuvola di Riso. My oh my they were all so delicious. My caprese came out with some heavenly, very creamy burrata, drizzled with some olive oil, basil leaves, and heirloom tomatoes. I don't really like raw tomatoes, but the combination of all these things, plus some salt, just exploded in my mouth with delectable goodness. My friend's fichi was also to die for, The sweet figs and slightly salty cheese together just burst with flavor. My friend didn't really like the ricotta that came with it, so I basically licked every last bit of it from her plate. SO GOOD. My manzo, which is a steak dish, was grilled absolutely perfectly. It was medium rare, soft, like buttah, juicy, meaty... I LOVED. I kept wanting to eat more of it and was sad when it time for my last bite... My friend's black cod with miso was also VERY GOOD. I've been loving fish dishes more and more her cod was just DELICIOUS. Flaky, flavorful, big... YUM For dessert i got the affogato which was served in a long cup with like this cotton candy on top which I totally would've taken a picture of had I know the server was going to pour the espresso over it immediately. But it was good. Just your standard vanilla ice cream and hot espresso. My friend's rice pudding also tasted like a creamier version of rice pudding you get anywhere. Overall a great, fun experience at a beautiful restaurant. I would love to back next time.
(4)
MrSantaMonica K.
Very disappointed with the food.... Way overpriced for what you get.... The servings are ridiculously small and the food is average at best. You are paying for the ambiance and service, which serves the Four Seasons well. For the same price you can go a few blocks away and enjoy much better quality food!
(1)
Rebecca M.
We also went to Culina to redeem our travelzoo voucher. We sat on the heated patio, which was pretty, but cramped. We were shoved into a banquette seating arrangement of two-tops in a row that I was not a fan of. It was difficult to have a conversation with my dining partner when the other tables were so close. It felt like we were interrupting them whenever we said something. Plus, when you got up from the table you had to do so carefully, in order to keep from knocking over a wine glass on one of your tables as you slid between the narrow opening between the tables. On to the food. Marinated olives, focaccia, breadsticks, and flatbread: Flatbread was bland and almost too flat, for lack of a better description. I would have preferred lavash. Breadsticks and focaccia were a better choice, and the olives were a true treat with a delicious nuttiness and a subtle citrus flavor. Crudo: This was our favorite course. Very delicate flavors and we enjoyed the way the three selections mingled with our glasses of champagne Watercress salad: So-so. There was hardly any vinagrette or pecorino to offset the bitter ingredients composing the bulk of this dish. Great idea but poor execution. Pasta: Fantastic. Al-dente, and the Bolognese was spot-on. A very simple course, but it was done exceedingly well. Entree: The halibut was cooked perfectly, moist and tender with a nice sear on the outside and seasoned well. The peas were a smidge too raw, but the pea tendrils and the sweet onion fonduta were wonderful. House-made Grapa Flight/ Lemoncello: Pure rotgut, all of it. I'm sorry, I wanted to be impressed here, but this was a huge fail for me. Dessert: A trio of profiteroles, with espresso, vanilla, and pistachio gelato, drizzled generously with chocolate sauce, how can you go wrong? The pistachio one was easily my favorite. I also ordered a decaf espresso with a twist with my dessert. It came with a whole lemon slice instead of a twist, but that was an easy fix. They gave us little travel-sized bottles of Monini EVOO to take home - not the house-made olive oil described in the travelzoo promotion. The tables around us that were also on the promotion got small, wrapped packages of biscotti to take home, but our server did not give us these for some reason, although we lingered for a while after our meal as we finished up our coffee drinks. Despite not receiving the biscotti to take home, I feel that the service was impeccable. There was staff coming at us from everywhere, and they all blended their tasks seamlessly and stayed professionally in the background. Still, overall, I would have to say the experience was just ok. Nothing to write home about. When you go to a restaurant that is hyped like Culina is, in the location that Culina is in, you expect a memorable meal. I don't think I would go back to this place, even with another promotion in hand.
(2)
Sherry S.
My husband and I enjoyed a delicious 5 course meal at Culina's thanks to a Travel Zoo deal. Culina has excellent service and we were treated beautifully from the moment we walked in. The food was beautifully presented and each dish was delicious. Our waiter was very attentive, but not overly pushy or annoying. We spent almost 2 hours enjoying a wonderful meal and beautiful ambiance. The restaurant was pretty packed for a Tuesday night. Their patio is gorgeous with some of the most unique heat lamps I have seen, but it was much too cold to be seated outside. For the deal we got, this meal was well worth it, but their full prices looked pretty steep. Too expensive for my blood. Travel Zoo- thanks for offering such a great bargain! They have valet parking, but you can also park on the street for free.
(4)
Jessica B.
I was looking forward to dining at Culina because I have heard such great things. Unfortunately it didn't live up to our expectations. We started off with the Piccolo Piatti, 3 small plates. We had the Melanzane (eggplant), a cheese and the prosciutto. The only star was the cheese and I cannot remember what it was called. The proscuitto was totally bland and had no flavor whatsoever. The eggplant was just boring. My husband had the oysters, they were kumomoto and he said they were whatever- definitly nothing special. We also had a crudo, chose the ahi tuno. He liked it, I didn't. It is served on cured salt with cucumber which makes it tastier. The foccacia bread was good... Our entrees were ok also. My husband had the branzino, it was a very large portion but there were no vegetables on the plate. I think our waiter should have mentioned that and suggested a side dish. I had the lamb chops, which I enjoyed. I was served 4 large chops, beautifully frenched and cooked. It came with cauliflower and a puree which was nice. I was definitely satisfied with my entree but not overly stuffed. We opted for no dessert, because a. we were full and b. the table next to us was enough to drive you crazy. Being that this is at the Four Seasons Hotel, you would think the valet service would be good.... Yeah after waiting for 20 minutes for my car we were told that it was missing....lovely. They tried to blame it on us for giving the wrong ticket but that wasn't possible. So after 10 more minutes they decided to bring up two versions of my car, so we could choose which was ours. I only wish I had a ferrari... So no, I won't be back and suggest you keep an eye on the ticket you give to the valet! Oh, and I won't even mention the girl who was escorted out of the hotel for public intoxication and the present she left on the front steps of the hotel.....
(2)
Kris T.
Everything was delicious here. My bf and I tried this place during la dine restaurant week. For appetizers I had that caprese and he had the figs. Both were absolutely perfect. For our entree, I got the ravioli with sweet corn and my bf had the flank iron steak --- both were so mouth watering but I think my ravioli was a tad better that even my bf wanted to trade some of his steak to eat the ravioli. The rice cloud dessert was amazing!!! The cannoli is yummy too! In addition, we ate some yellowtail and ahi tuna off a salt plank (delicious!) Downside: hahah we did not get our complimentary bread basket that everyone else had and had to keep asking for more bread. If you do valet and get your ticket valeted then it's $6. And I'm just not one for the rich, stuffy sort of ambience. Oh the service was great!
(5)
Efrain G.
Awesome first-time experience at Culina. We sat in a beautiful outside/patio area in the massive restaurant. Our host, servers, and staff were very friendly, professional, and welcoming. We were served some great focaccia, and a few other breadstick/cracker snacks which were also hard to resist. John, our server, was cool - helpful, smiling, gracious. He made some suggestions and they were excellent. Our party of 3 had: The Abbacchio was crazy good: tender fall-apart lamb with a wonderful crust of deliciousness. Tableside Panzanella: refreshingly sumptuous salad Sweet corn ravioli: good Lord, they may have been the best ravioli I've had at a restaurant Lasagna: huge layered portion, comfort food and not heavy :) Dessert: torta al gianduja - yum! nuvola di riso: light, fluffy, and unique - like fluffy arroz dulce. Ambience, decor, staff, food, restrooms, space - overall, Culina was total coolness; it was the best dining experience in L.A., my favourite so far. Looking forward to returning soon!
(5)
John C.
It is so nice there now. Remember all that location prior to remodeling. This new decor is so cool and modern. Food is great!!!
(5)
Harrison G.
Ate a very classy meal here with some classy people. Luckily, my meal was comped by my friend who was working an event here. Otherwise, I would not have been able to afford dinner for a week afterward. I'll list what we ate: prosciutto, mushrooms, ham with three cheeses - delicious although it was hard to eat. Don't order if you don't like using your hands. scallops - I loved these Delightfully pillowy with a subtle salty taste. croque - I honestly don't remember what this was but I think it was good. meatballs - can't go wrong with these. 28oz porterhouse steak - cut up at the table. I ordered medium well and it was more well done that I generally like. I should've ordered just medium. Great as leftovers! salted caramel desert - too salty for my tastes but good nonetheless. Wine was also flowing. It was a great meal. I'm only holding off on the 5 star rating because of the price but it's the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills so if you don't want high prices you're probably not even reading this review.
(4)
Joseph S.
Hands down the best Italian restaurant in LA! The staff, service, food, ambience and patio are perfection! Excellent wine selection at affordable prices considering it's at the Four Seasons. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Laura S.
The food here was absolutely amazing and the decor is beautiful. The Gamberoni crudo was to die for and even though it wasn't the most highly recommended dish on the menu, I ordered the yellow tail as my main course and liked it very much. You cannot leave without ordering the Nuvola di Riso for dessert. It's one of the best things I've ever had. The other great dessert at our table was Affogato- they bring you vanilla ice cream with cotton candy on top and then pour hot espresso over it. Minus one star for having to ask our waitress repeatedly to bring us almost everything we asked for: water, bread, olives...
(4)
Nikki F.
Molto Bene! This new Italian fusion restaurant at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills (the one on Doheny) has class, sass and a flair amazing flavor! I had the opportunity to work an event here Monday night and not only is the food immaculately prepared and delicious, the staff is tremendously friendly and courteous. Beautiful and modern amber-colored decor with an inviting outdoor seating area make this up and coming restaurant a must-dine! I tried several different amuse bouche and they were all meticulously positioned on their perspective serving dishes and bursting with interesting flavors. Forgive me if I don't recall exactly what was in each dish but here are some highlights... -sweet roasted corn mascarpone ravioli- creamy and tender -medium rare fillet with pesto aoli- savory, melted in my mouth -pan seared tuna atop thinly sliced veal fillet w/ cream sauce- O Lord. -lightly sweet and creamy tiramisu- the best I've ever had -Italian breaded Parmesan chicken arugula salad- crispy and palette cleansing -pulled beef with gnocchi and roasted tomato sauce- and i hate gnocchi! I didn't get a chance to try any cocktails since I was working :( but they all looked delicious to me! I will return ASAP. Bravo Four Seasons Culina!
(4)
Lillian R.
We had reservations that were made several days in advance. We were going there for a friend's birthday. Could they have given us a worse table? when we objected were were shown a table that was even worse! We were wondering if the maitre'd was waiting for use to slip him a $50 for one of the many EMPTY tables in the main dining area. We have been there several times and have had similar experience the last couple of times - each time we wonder if we should have flashed the $50! Last time we are going here until they change staff.
(1)
Angelica A.
The short version: dining at Culina was regrettable. It was not only wholly dissatisfactory but insulting and embarrassing as well. I literally told the manager "I'm embarrassed...for you." Ultimately, it was the worst dining experience I have ever had. Read on for details. My story: I purchased Travelzoo's $89 voucher for a 5 course dinner for 2. "With dinner, each person will receive a complimentary glass of champagne and grappa flight. Finally, take home a bottle of specially pressed and labeled olive oil, valued at $25." *uploaded pic of voucher to my photos. I won't waste much time discussing the food. It was mediocre (at best) , and served by a less than attentive server (MICHAEL). Actually, he was quite attentive to the female form...we watched him ogle every female form that passed (incl mine) and then comment about some to other wait staff. We noticed this because we were trying desperately to get his attention through much of the meal and apparently peripheral vision is just the idea from which Lollapalooza sprang. With the bill, Michael left 2 small sample sized bottles of olive oil on the table and walked away. I said thank you, thinking they were an extra bonus. But when he didn't return with our promised full size bottle, I called the busboy (Jose). I asked if the olive oil bottle on the table is the full size bottle, and if it were available for purchase. He said yes, for $25. I asked for Michael again. He came over, asked if there was a problem to which I replied "I hope not". I asked if we could get our full size bottle of olive oil (reg price $25) per the certificate offer. To which he replied "Well, I didn't want to say anything, but you got quite a few refills on your cherry coke..., but I didn't charge you for them. I just well, you know...evened things out, with the bottle" He looked sheepishly at me, like that was a real answer, not a joke. I said "no, that isn't really acceptable. Besides the fact that even Taco Bell gives free refills on soda, I didn't ask you to do me any favors. So if you must charge me for refills, go right ahead. However, I would like my full size bottle that I was promised. He then said sorry, but he could not accommodate that request, as they were unable to... cost-wise. I then asked to speak to his manager. Rick then came over. Now Rick had already come by to introduce himself randomly, and to ask how everything was. He had seemed nice at that time. He came now, looking defensive and not at all willing to see reason. He said "I'm sorry, but we simply can't afford to give all our guests $25 bottles of olive oil." I said that sounded personal and they should have thought about that before they offered it in writing (see my pic). He flashed his eyes indignantly and said "Well, I don't know what to tell you.". I was civil and soft spoken, I had prefaced with "I know 'coupon customers' have a certain rep, maybe deservedly, but rest assured, I am a quite generous tipper for great service and I only want what I was promised. I read many reviews, most of which were not positive, but thought I'd give this place a shot nonetheless. I would like to write my own review on a more complimentary tip. Nothing in his face registered that he had been spoken to. I implored him to make this right, that their blatant disregard of good business practice, was embarrassing to me. I was actually embarrassed more for them, but the fact that I was needing to haggle over what was rightfully mine (in front of a dinner companion, no less) was just beginning to piss me off. Nothing. It was like playing handball with oatmeal. I grabbed my coat, and made a point to tip the busboy (Jose) significantly more than the server. To prove my point, and also because he was the only one that had provided good customer service. As I was leaving, I was almost clothes-lined by yet another gentleman (Asst MANAGER-Mateo). He was running after us to grant us the olive oil request, he gave me bottle and asked about 6 times (in 2 minutes) if that made everything ok???? I thanked him but said that I still feel the same way about their establishment, and their treatment of us. But that at the very least, after all that, at least I was given what was promised to me, to begin with. A truly regrettable dining experience.
(1)
Elissa R.
Culina is beautiful. Esp if you sit outside. I love their raw crudo bar... the yellowtail is AMAZING. Great Cheese/Salami, Plates get it with the mushrooms. The Meatballs and Truffle Pasta were fantastic. The watermelon/heirloom tomato salad is very good. Even though its italian its a great place to go to not eat carbs. Deserts are great too! Everynight they have music playing at the Four Seasons Bar which is next to culina. Fri/Sat is a funky jazz band and its very fun ( great people watching )
(4)
Mark L.
I went during DineLA restaurant week. It was such a great deal and the food... wow. I really enjoyed the steak. It's not like Mastro's or CUT's but definitely tasty and perfectly cooked ( I like medium rare) The atmosphere is really nice. I'm goin here again.
(5)
Conrad K.
Brunch at Culina was not planned. But, When hungry at the Four Seasons Hotel on Sunday this is an obvious choice. The food choices boggle the mind: sushi, salads, Cheeses, Mexican station, house made hoho,s jelly beans, make your own doughnuts, and a children's station... The restaurant is an Oasis in the city with lemon trees outside. The staff are knowledgeable and personable.
(4)
Jillian R.
First impression, the decor of this place is fantastic--modern but still comfortable. We did a 5 course prix fixe. The best part of our meal at this modern Italian cuisine restaurant was the sushi appetizer (which is better at Scarpetta). Oh, and the wine, they have a good wine list. Second course was insalate tricolore...meh. Next was the lamb ragu pappardelle, which was just okay. Then came the sea bass. The fish was overcooked and bland, in fact, the best part of that dish was the potato garnish that came underneath the fish. For dessert, profiteroles with gelato. The profiteroles were stale, the gelato was fine but I'm guessing store-bought. Overall I was less than enthused and it's doubtful I'll be back.
(2)
Victoria L.
My friends and I have eaten here twice, once for dinner and once for Easter brunch. On both occasions we had an incredible experience. Upon arriving, we were greeted not only by the hostess, but also the general manager of the restaurant and the assistant general manager, both of whom also checked on use during our meals. They treated us like VIPs from the very beginning and consistently since. The service is absolutely impeccable. For dinner, we started with the Piccoli Piati (small bites) and shared: Fave el Pecorino - fava beans with mint & pecorino, Carciofi - artichoke with rosemary & lemon and a nice aged Parmigiano. We followed that with Cappesante con Finochio - scallops with fennel & sambuca - to die for! You must try this dish! Lastly we had the seabass Branzino with tomatoes, capers& lemon. I don't even remember what we had for dessert. I'm sure I was in a food coma by then. But I do remember that every aspect of our meal was impeccable. We wondered if we would be treated as well after the restaurant had been open awhile and yet had the same fabulous experience during Easter brunch. We experienced the most incredible lobster benedict, truffle pasta, shrimp and dessert to wheel-barrow you away by. Add to the delectable food and impeccable service, star sightings galore. During dinner, we sat next to the owner of Ed Hardy and during Easter Brunch, sat next to the Jonas Brothers and saw Heidi Klum, Seal and Natalie Cole. Both experiences were delicious, fun and luxurious. As Arnold would say....."I'll be back!"
(5)
Mona N.
Five stars alone on the unreal patio, the landscaping is immaculate. If any of my dates consistently take me here -like, weekly- I'd be all theirs. I am a total sucker for experiences. The pre-packaged take home biscotti in lieu of a mint is a marvelous touch. As for the food? Typically overpriced for average tastes - no surprises here. I hate paying for Italian food, as I can cook something equally tasty or even more delicious at home. But there are a few exceptions, and Culina is one of them as I am more than happy to pay twice what the dishes are worth so long as the funds are applied to maintaining the breathtaking patio garden. The interior is nice, too, but you may feel ripped off. The price points for their average pasta is offensive, borderline criminal. Make sure to specify the fountain patio and prepare yourself for some magical serenity.
(5)
Christine V.
This review is only relating to the Thanksgiving holiday buffet. First of all, the hotel is very beautiful, so is the garden, and the bathrooms are wonderful! The atmosphere however, seems to be rather confused. Some portions of the hotel are very classic, Victorian and inviting, while others, (The actual restaurant dining rooms) are much too modern. The dinner ware, decorations and lighting within Culina do not match the class of the hotel. The food, which was buffet only, was good. I would not say exceptional, but certainly good. The turkey and all that typically comes with it was delicious, and the variety of other foods was fun to look at, that's about it. I don't particularly care for buffet for such a holiday, but it was decent. Honestly, I would rather spend a whole day making my own turkey dinner, then come here again. The experience was nice, however, the cost of the experience was not. I felt that the buffet was not worth what I paid. Considering the Turkey holiday buffet is almost $100 per person, charging me ($16) for one alcoholic beverage is a little ridiculous. Coffee is to die for there! As is the service. Our waiter was very kind and attentive. Unfortunately, the table I had requested while making my reservation was near a large group of people who had two screaming children. ***Note to the restaurant. Please make it a rule to NOT allow children under the age of 15. It certainly dampened our experience. The seating, is wonderful. If you do go, remember to ask for a table by the window. This way you can see outside where there are heaters and greenery. It's quite nice. There are other dining rooms with different motifs, but the dining room with the windows, is where you should request to be seated. Other than that, my time there was OK. I don't see myself going back. It is definitely a "Meh" review for this restaurant.
I found this to be a bit "pricey" for me so I was a happy that a friend of mine was treating with a TravelZoo coupon. The set menu was actually very good. It stared off with a bit size taste of raw tuna, salmon and hamachi, each with light drizzle of a different flavored oil. I really enjoyed this, especially the tuna. Along with my glass of Prosecco. Next was a salad of some sort but I can't recall other than there were fresh peas. I guess that means it wasn't so memorable. There was a very nice flavorful pasta which followed and then a good size portion of halibut that was done to perfection. Dessert was lovely, three little gelato stuffed pastries in Espresso, Vanilla and I think Strawberry. What I do remember was that the lemonchelo was fabulous! And, I had two glasses of it. Overall, it was a excellent dining experience in a wonderful setting. Loved the modern decor. Strong presentation. Good location. Luckily we were seated at a larger oval table in about the center of the dining area. The noise level was great because we were all able to carry on a conversation with the entire table without having to raise our voices. But to me the service is second to the food. The service was excellent. The server we had was very kind and patient with our group of eight and the general manager went so far as to provide us with two complimentary desserts for our next visit. All in all, I'd save up a few extra bucks to come back here again because the portions were not overwhelming and the service was wonderful.
(4)
Jerrold S.
I wanted to like this place much more. The interior is gorgeous, well lit and nicely spaced. There are some great light fixtures and its definitely a good addition to the area. The service was friendly buy not overbearing. Ultimately the food didn't meet my expectations. It's modern Italian cuisine and maybe thats where I got thrown off. Baby octopus with chickpeas in a harissa tomato sauce - excellent. By far the best part of the night. The baby octopus was supremely tender and the harissa sauce complimented the smokey char from the octopus beautifully. Lasagna with sausage ragu - just ok. We thought there was a missing element in the dish. Very pedestrian because of the watery sauce and lack of flavor in the dish. You couldn't tell if the meat you were eating was sausage, meat, veal, chicken, etc... Pappardelle with lamb ragu and mint - we took a shot here and were not rewarded. The addition of the mint was interesting and after a few bites realized why its not an ingredient in pasta dishes I've ever had anywhere else. The dish would have been so much better minus the mint or with basil. The ragu itself was tender, full of big chunks of lamb and tasty but spoiled by the mint. Broccolini with sardines - yuck. There were so many sardines you couldn't taste anything. The broccolini were limp and well overcooked. Yuck. I see a lot of promise but the 2 pasta dishes let us down and that is my barometer of a good Italian joint. Culina looks like it might be trying to hard and straying from the classics with their own interpretations. The menu itself seems interesting with the crudo bar, different apps, pizza, main courses and pastas. I'll have to give Culina a 2nd chance based alone on the octopus dish because the kitchen can put out good food.
(2)
Mr. N J.
Elegant setting with a great menu on hand. We sat in the large private room that reminded me of a friend's living room at home...impressive! Celebrities often frequent this place so watch out!
(5)
Timothy B.
My husband found a TravelZoo tasting dinner at Culina. He has been 2 times before. This was my first... We were seated outside on a Thursday night. The restaurant wasn't too crowded. The inside section looked very nice. The outside dining area is very nice and relaxing. Service was perfect. Our dinner included a 5 course meal, champagne, and lemoncello. The Crudo Flight was wonderful. It had Hamachi with orange and star anise. Ahi Tuna with ginger oil, coriander seed, and lemon salt. Also Salmon with caper salt and blood orange. All 3 were fantastic. Culina has a Crudo bar inside. The second course was a mista salad of watercress, asparagus, trumpet mushrooms, artichokes, favas, and chives in a meyer lemon vinaigrette. It was delicious. The perfect spring salad. The third course was a short green rigatoni in a ragu bolognese. It was great. The pasta was cooked perfectly, the sauce rich with just the right amount. This was probably my favorite of the evening. The fourth course was a halibut with english peas with a sweet onion fonduta. Very lovely. The fish may have been slightly overcooked, but just. Dessert was a trio of profiteroles. They were OK. I probably would have given this dinner 5 stars, but the dessert was just so lackluster. I will most definitely return.
(4)
Kimi L.
The food wasn't terrible but it wasn't memorable either...we love the decor in this restaurant and the outside terrace areas. There is ample room to select the perfect table and they have wonderful private areas off of the main dining area for small parties. The prices are surprisingly good for the Four Seasons Hotel location. For the well heeled, I am thinking the wine selection and excellent cocktails rather then the food is the draw. If you are staying in and don't want room service/ or are meeting a friend in the hotel or area...the Culina is a pretty cool place to hang out in. The best surprise of our night was when the obviously 'buzzed' maitre'd appeared out of no where to inform us that our meal had been 'comped' by Hotel management! Honestly..the pizza looked pretty darn good and we noted some very 'experienced' martini slurpers beside us having some loud discussion about the poverty and devastation in Haiti of all things?? Yep, we will be back..but we'll hang in the wonderfully lit bar area and slurp a little ourselves!
(3)
Tylene T.
Had the most FANTASTIC dinner here EVER! Came in with a group of 20 for a birthday dinner and was treated like royalty. A few of our friends come here on a regular basis and have said time and time again that we have to try this place. Boy, were they on the money. This restaurant had around a 5 million dollar renovation and is located inside the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. It is beautiful and most importantly the food could not have been better. They have an amazing chef that I heard is soon to be on the Iron Chef Show. I ordered the stuffed tortelloni, which was like heaven in your mouth! Everything was just so amazing all 20 of us ended up sampling each other's dishes. Some things I tried that I highly recommend ordering, the lamb chops, Weinersnitzel, caprese salad, eggplant salad, carbonara, and the gnocchi. They also have these sushi like slices of fish with their own spin on it, I recommend the salmon. And of course, they have a lot of great wines to choose from and some of the best italian wines around. Bottom line, YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS PLACE OUT!! You will NOT be dissapointed.
(5)
Mark P.
My wife and I have differing opinions of "Blackboard Eats", the website that usually gets you 30% off at particular restaurants. She feels that if they need to do this, they can't be that good. I feel that maybe they just want to try and attract new clientele. I am afraid she was right this time. Despite having a good lunch at Culina a few months ago, dinner was another story. Her NY strip was chewy. My snapper was kind of dry and the sauce was a little strong. The salad was OK, the pizza just so-so. Culina charges hotel dining prices but, in my experience, it is not in the same league as other hotel dining rooms.
(2)
Gwyneth J.
Service and ambience are excellent, as is the food. First off, the restaurant is beautiful. Dimly lit with a modern romantic feel. We opted to sit inside (so I could crush on the interior), but they have a large heated patio with lots of greenery and a cozy fireplace. We started off with the Cappesante, a crudo of diver scallops, fresno chili. tangerine. mint and smoked salt. The vibrant flavors of the citrus and mint with the delicate flavor of the scallops really worked, especially paired with the Friulian wine our somm suggested (I think it was a Verduzzo). Next we had a simple kale, romaine caesar salad. Then for our entrees we both ordered pastas: I had the lamb papardelle, he had the sausage rigatoni. They were just incredibly satisfying in every way - tender flavorful lamb, fresh pasta (which I'm obsessed with), mint and pecorino. How can you go wrong? We were much too stuffed for dessert but they had some tempting choices. We were impressed with the service as well. When we mentioned to our sommelier we would be taking a trip to Paso Robles, he brought us a list of his favorite wineries in the region. It was really thoughtful. Our server was spot on at all times and very friendly. A great date spot or for cocktails.
(4)
Stella C.
This was our first time to Culina. The experience was just amazing. We were so content. My husband wasn't aware that he had to wear long pants, instead of refusing us entry the Maître d was so pleasant she offered my husband a pair of trousers so we could still enjoy our dinner. It was fabulous. Our waiter helped us with any issues we had like wine selections and food. We were so pleasantly content by the service and good. Definitely will go back the next time we are in Los Angeles. Thank you to the staff at Culina for the amazing night!
(5)
Eric C.
Great place. Brought a loved one here on Valentine's Day and I was not disappointed. Great food, very romantic, especially if you choose to dine outside. Not to mention the waiter was really helpful and talkative. Highly recommend this place.
(5)
Kelly L.
* Price: reasonable for Beverly Hills, 3+ star * Ambiance: beautiful, 4+ star * Location: in the lobby of the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills. 4 star * Meals: excellent, 4+ star * Service: mixed. The hostesses were not friendly nor helpful. (2 star) Our server was great and right on with his recommendation. 4 star. Had a dinner with a group of friends at this place after work... so everyone came separately. When I asked the receptionist for the group, apparently it was not listed. She then talked on the phone and ignored us. Another receptionist came to the desk and told me to go the hotel lobby in stead. The restaurant is beautiful with many dinner rooms and patio seating. The menu is very modern and inventive. We had yellow tail, amberjack and ahi crudo which are prepared raw with different additive flavors. all is tasty! For main dishes, we had red snapper, branzino, salmon, veal and ribeye. Everything was cooked perfectly. Over all, we were having a great time and pleased with our choices. I did enjoy the food experience here but would be hesitant to come back due to my experience with the hostesses...
(4)
John V.
We went for the Sunday Brunch! One of the more well known brunches in the Beverly Hills area I'd have to say. Little spendy ranking in around 100 bucks a person. There is so much food to choose from there though, and as much as you want! They include drip coffee and juice too so beverages are essentially taken care of unless you require something outside of that box. The service was impeccable! Probably would have given three stars but the great service made me bump up to four! The food was tasty but hot food wasn't really hot which was a drag to me. They had a ton of desserts to pick from though so after my first plate I got some meat and cheese an moved to the dessert round after that! A wonderful experience that I'm glad I got to try although I'm sure my wallet wont want me coming back anytime soon. :-(
(4)
Anton S.
Dinner was very tasty, had the pork and it was filling but not too heavy. Pretty expensive, but well worth it. Food was excellent and the ambiance of the place was really nice. My family tried the peach cobbler which they all recommend.
(5)
Lucky B.
Beautiful, sexy dining room with delicious Italian-inspired food and some of the very best service in Beverly Hills. Lunch is speedy and a great value, while dinner is consistently excellent, from the wonderful Lombatina Capriciossa to the Niman Ranch Manzo and of course, the stellar crudo bar selection. You really have so many choices to please all palates and the chef is adept at turning out beautifully balanced flavors and perfectly cooked seafood and meats. PS: do NOT skip dessert. You will thank me later.
(5)
Kristina G.
"We came in on a Wed evening with friends, it was our first time and have heard such positive things about Culina. We started with items, from there version of sashimi, (crudo bar) as described by our server. We had the Modo Mio and the Tonno, it was amazing. Good quality and tasty. We then ordered a 2 pastas and 2 protein dishes. We got the Squid Ink pasta and the Rigatoni, amazing. Then we got the Veal and Steak..both awesome. Our server Yon was amazing, going into detail with every dish. The manager Smith stopped by and was very helpful describing the ambiance and style of the restaurant. Overall a great first experience, will definitely be back. Thank you Yon and Smith for a great first time. We will be back!" Kristina Gonzalez
(5)
Sulia J.
This place has a great Sunday brunch. They have a large selection of food, including a create-your-own-omelette station (egg whites are an option as well). They have carving stations with prime rib and ham. They also have a chocolate fountain with strawberries, marshmallows and Rice Krispies treats, which is fun. I didn't try the fresh juices, but they make it on the spot. Service was impeccable, from the hostesses to the servers. They were even kind enough to bring us complimentary champagne since we were celebrating an engagement!
(4)
Juliet Rachel C.
My clients were raving about this restaurant, so the 4 of us decided to venture out here for lunch one day after a business meeting. Culina is at the Four Seasons Hotel & since I've read several reviews stating different prices regarding the cost for valet parking, I don't know exactly what the actual price is. On the day I went, during lunch, valet parking only cost $5 without validation. Maybe the cost changes for lunch, dinner, and on different occasions? I do not know. Anyway, the restaurant is modern, classy, with simple and clean designs, and you'll feel very relaxed and comfortable while dining here! Service was excellent throughout our entire meal. The complimentary breadsticks and bread were scrumptious. I couldn't stop munching. However, the dishes we ordered for lunch were just mediocre. I expected more creativity and flavor, but maybe I need to come here for dinner. I've heard awesome things about their dinner menu. Here's what we ordered for our lunch: - TACCHINO ($19): Turkey burger. Spicy tomato pesto, avocado, mozzarella on a mediterranean ciabatta. The spicy tomato pesto was too strong and seemed to overpower the burger. The turkey patty was cooked nicely, though. - SPADA GRIGLIATO ($25): Grilled hawaiian swordfish. Eggplant caponata, castelvetrano olives, and tomato vinaigrette. I've never really been a fan of swordfish, but I took a bite of this. It was just too lean and dry for me, but the sauces were good. - HALIBUT MILANESE ($23): Pounded. Ciabatta crust, arugula, sweet 100 tomatoes, & lemon vinaigrette. The halibut tasted a bit overcooked and dry to me, so I didn't really like this dish. - PROSCIUTTO E BURATTA ($18): Prosciutto San Daniele, burrata, heirloom tomato, arugula, rosemary oil, whole wheat crust. Out of all the dishes I tried, I liked this simple pizza the best. It was pretty tasty with all of the toppings. - AFFOGATO ($9): Vanilla bean gelato, espresso, pignoli cookies. Who can resist vanilla gelato, espresso, and Italian cookies? Yummy! Very rich flavors and very delicious. - GELATI E SORBETTI ($9): This was simple and refreshing. Sorbet is always so good! I want to come back for dinner, but I don't think I'd come here for lunch again unless someone wanted me to go with them.
(3)
Joseph L.
Slipping We have eaten at Culina numerous times. The food and service are slipping based on our last two visits. The sommelier is excellent but the food service and quality of food has lost its edge. What a shame.
(3)
Isaac E.
Very Good . The place is Beautiful , elegant but friendly and almost cozy . The service is excellent . I assume the cocktails are good , I don't know because when I couldn't make up my mind , the waiter decided to make me a special one with my fav drink ( that's class) The food was excellent , 4 stars . But overall 5 stars
(5)
Bryan Z.
Got a phenomenal TravelZoo deal for dinner here. I definitely wouldn't have paid $300 for the dinner I had though. The libations were tasty and the food was very good but I'm glad we ended up paying $150 out the door (combo of TravelZoo and personal) vs $300. The valet was quick, each course on menu was great, we were treated like "normal people" despite having a deal. Overall very happy!
(5)
Jeff M.
Solid all around... Food, service, ambience, drinks...............
(4)
Jennifer C.
Like a reviewer stated before, the food here wasn't horrible but wasn't memorable either. Ooh-wee was this place fancy though! Beautiful interior. Shouldn't expect anything less from the Four Seasons. Parking is valet only. It's $20 if you don't get it validated and $8 with validation. Steep, I know. Our party was seated at an oval table near the side of the restaurant, which was comfortable and semi-secluded. Immediately, we were given a rundown of their popular wines and their wine of the day. They have a good selection and a full bar near the entrance. To start, they go around the table and individually offer guests bread and olive oil. Never have been the biggest fan of that combination, so it was just alright for me. They also place a vase-like centerpiece at the center of the table filled with bread chips. I don't know how to describe it to be honest. It's very unique and appealing to the eye, but doesn't taste like anything special. They also offer small bowls of olives that was filled with 3-4 different varieties. Extremely salty, so it was difficult to have more than a few. I had the waitress recommend me an entree from their pastas. It was difficult to know exactly what you're ordering because some of the things were described with fancy Italian ingredients that most of us never heard of! I had my eye on the Lasgne Verdi ($19) and when the waitress described it as being "hearty," I went with it since I was starving... I saw why it was hearty when I took my first bite. It had cheese filling for days. Definitely a heavy dish and not recommended for those who are lactose intolerant. It got a bit sickening after a while. I also had a bit of my friend's Stracotto ($35), or short ribs, and it was just mediocre in flavor. I've tasted a lot better elsewhere, especially for the price. The Ippoglosso ($30), which was Alaskan halibut, was only okay as well. Considering the price and dishes that Culina offers, I probably won't be returning. Maybe just for wine and appetizers if anything, but even then, the valet cost is a bit over the top.
(3)
Cecilè C.
Service, A+, I enjoyed a Caesar salad, and the tortellini which was amazing for lunch. Although the restaurant is inside the Four Seasons we decided to eat in the adjacent room because the restaurant's kitchen was closing and my waiter gave me the option of staying put. Great thought, enjoyed the lunch, topped off with basic tea. Overall, good food, service is/was the best (as usual) when visiting the Four Seasons property.
(4)
Liz A.
Brought my boyfriend here for his birthday dinner and this place was so great! the ambiance, the food and the decor is perfect. Will definitely be back again!
(5)
ada b.
We recently visited for dinner. Really has gone down hill in the last couple of yrs. /had mushroom soup. Couldn't eat it. Ordered pasta without peppers. Came almost raw. So undercooked pasta. Filled with chili pepper. Too spicy. Told manager. He offered to make it again "to go". He was unapologetic. Never seen this kind of customer service at a four seasons. Manager should work for the government. Like dealing with a brick wall.
(1)
Corinne L.
The best things about Culina are its service and ambiance. The food was hit or miss; we had good selection of menu items but most dishes were way lacking on the flavor while some were oversalted. The biggest disappointment was the pasta - for an Italian restaurant, you'd better get your pasta right. In terms of my overall rating for Culina, I was initially going to give it 3 stars because there were some (only 2 out of 8 though) dishes that I'd order again and because the service and ambiance were great. But in a city like LA where there are a ton of other Italian restaurants serving awesome food, truth is I probably wouldn't go back to Culina. And at those prices, I'd better be eating food that actually tastes good. I hate to do this because 2 stars seems harsh, but 2 stars it is, because service and ambiance alone aren't enough to make me return to Culina. Details below. THE FOOD (Overall: 3/5) Cappesante (3/5 stars). Diver scallops, off the crudo menu. The scallops were really fresh and had a refreshing mix of toppings. The dish was oversalted though. Carpaccio di manzo (2/5). The filet was fresh and cut thicker than usual - I prefer a thinner cut personally. They were out of bone marrow, so instead the meat was topped with truffles. Despite the awesome substitution, the dish still fell flat - not enough olive oil and salt/pepper, so I felt like what I had was a plate of sliced meat, truffles and cheese that didn't quite come together. Polpo alla griglia (4/5). Grilled octopus. The reviews on the octopus are pretty accurate - perfectly grilled and as soft as butta! A modo mio (5/5). Burrata stuffed in tomatoes. Such simple, fresh ingredients and so full of flavor. Loved it. Rustica (4/5). Kale salad. Quality ingredients. Tagliatelle nere e vongole (2/5). Squid ink pasta vongole. They gave an OK amount of clams. The dish still underwhelmed though, not enough flavor. Pappardelle con agnello (2/5). Braised lamb pasta. The lamb was very tender, but again not enough flavor. Tortino (2/5). Molten chocolate cake with salted caramel ice cream. The cake was OK but they finally decided to get heavy handed with the salt...on dessert. Hoo boy. THE SERVICE (5/5). Awesome service from the assistant manager and our server. Friendly guys. THE AMBIANCE (5/5). Nice and romantic, especially the outdoor patio.
(2)
Clara L.
we had a great christmas party here the wait staff was terrific the event coordinator was very accommodating to our needs and everything flowed seamlessly on the day of the location was beautiful, the food was above average (although not stellar) and the service was great in the past, we've done our christmas parties at the thompson hotel, the blvd, other venues around bev hills but the overall experience at culina was as good as it gets
(5)
Kwiri Y.
My 5 yelp friends with strong elite credentials gave this place 5 stars. Anticipated mind blowing dining experience here for past few months... Expectation = disappointment. Appetizer culina chopped salad - tuscan farro. garden fresh vegetables. fresh herbs. chianti vinaigrette. Entree Manzo - niman ranch flat iron steak. aromatic herbs. heirloom tomatoes. shaved parmigiano reggiano. Dessert Candy Floss! Not too bad - probably was the highlight of the evening =D $20 parking - woohoo! NOT a Gem in the neighborhood.
(2)
Danielle Y.
Not surprised that it was empty on a Wednesday night. I got the fennel and sausage rigatoni (very salty & oily). Leftover oil even got through to the exterior of the takeout box. I give the food 2 stars and the ambiance/service 3.5 stars. I loved the bread and breadsticks beforehand but had to ask another server what the jar of red concoction on my table was (sun dried tomato paste of some sort). Valet is $8 with validation. The cheapest most appetizing drink I could find was $18 each, so I got two (of course lol) from the "Windows Lounge" before dinner. Comes with complimentary nuts and my sister's favorite Cesar flavored pea pod chips.
(3)
Donna J.
MANAGER SHAWNTELLE got caught giving customers evil looks for overstaying(?) their welcome. I had lunch this week from 11:50 to 1:30 (1 hour 40 mins). I saw the manger circling our table and caught her giving us evil looks and complaining to the wait staff about us. There were empty tables around, though it was unusually busy that day. At 1:30, however, there wasn't going to be another seating til dinner. She was inappropriate and rude, not to mention unprofessional. I called the restaurant and reported the incident. I am a regular customer at this place, but I am not sure if I will be returning. As for the food, my friend and I both had the lunch special which was a four course meal. Unfortunately it was not a good choice and neither one of us enjoyed anything that was offered. Too bad The manager made it far worse than it needed to be. Going to Four Seasons Hotel, you expect at least some level of service and professionalism.
(1)
Mayer D.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHÂHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM I am overtly excited for Sunday brunch this weekend at Culina! mmmmmmmmm! Culina is by far in my top 3 favorite restaurant list in LA. The fresh food, the delicious seasons, the great food presentation, and most of all the great tastes! Its worth it! Making reservations here shouldn't be too difficult but I would recommend over the phone first.
(5)
Jayde Y.
This is definitely one of the best restaurants for a romantic date. I love to dine inside, but outside was even more romantic. The food is delicious and the presentation was fantastic. Tiramisu was to die for. Service, food, everything is great. You can't go wrong with this restaurant for a date.
(4)
Anthony N.
***Culina has a near perfect Southern Californian outdoor patio and their panzanella salad is near perfect as well; Culina's food in general is good and it might be one of LA's best Italian restaurants*** Culina is located in the Beverly Hills' Four Seasons hotel, but it is not in a location near Rodeo Drive--the area that many think of when they hear Beverly Hills. Instead, this Four Seasons is located in a more residential area near West Hollywood. The tucked away hotel is a lot like Culina's tucked away outdoor patio, which feels private. Culina's outdoor patio combines many greens that provide both shade and privacy (from the busy adjacent street); there is also water as well as a contemporary and sharp decor that is still warm and approachable. The outdoor dining area has a casual upscale lounge-like atmosphere. Despite some standard hotel restaurant touches (place mats, overly designed water glasses, salt and pepper shakers), Culina's outdoor patio is what I picture when I think dining on a sunny day in LA. Culina also has a perfect dish to go with this outdoor atmosphere--their summery and vibrant panzanella salad. Even though Culina is Italian, there is a more Californian slant with lighter dishes like crudo and seasonal salads. Their panzanella salad consisted of heirloom tomatoes, watermelon, cucumber, red onion, basil, rustic bread, and ricotta. The salad was fresh, light and very vibrant. While the salad was simple and straightforward, it would be hard to replicate at home. Not because you cannot find good heirloom tomatoes and watermelon. But it is rare to find both ingredients like this at such peak form--sweet, juicy and tangy tomatoes with incredibly juicy watermelon. The red onion and cucumber were also great. And the basil provided a good fragrance. The combination of basil, tomatoes and watermelon made me think gazpacho as a salad. The salad was also nicely dressed--light and balanced. The ricotta was just okay and I would have preferred a burrata. The toasted bread was too crouton-like and while it felt freshly made, it lacked the great mix of crispy and chewy texture of a good housemade toasted bread (like the toasted ciabatta I had at Naha). I also had the salmon crudo and while small, it was very good. The salmon was fresh and soft and the dressing of caper salt and blood orange was flavorful but not too strong. I also had the ricotta gnocchi with lobster, black truffle and peas. I prefer a more crispy seared gnocchi. This one was all soft. It was good though. The lobster was incredibly soft and fresh. While the lobster was perfectly cooked (and a generous portion), it did not have as good of a flavor as I have had at other restaurants. The dish was very fragrant with the addition of the black truffle and I enjoyed the peas. It was a very creamy dish. I would not say it was too rich, but there was definitely a lot of cream. I tried several of their dishes and there definitely was a strong attention to detail; it even showed up in their bread. They featured both crispy and addictive breadsticks as well as warm and freshly made herb and salt crusted focaccia (flavorful top crust with a soft bottom). For dessert, I opted for their affogato, which consisted of vanilla gelato and cotton candy that was drowned in a shot of espresso. The gelato was good. It had a good vanilla flavor and was very creamy. It was cold enough that it held up pretty well after the pour of espresso (it held up much better than Pizzeria Mozza though not as well as Angelini Osteria). The cotton candy garnish though disintegrated after the espresso shot and while I liked the flavor, the soft cotton candy texture was pretty much gone (maybe it would have worked better on the side). The dessert was accompanied by two pine nut cookies. With desserts like this, I've seen crispy-only pine nut cookies. These cookies were filled with pine nuts and were incredibly chewy. They were good and sweet, but the cookie was just sweet and lacked a unique flavor, which could have made them great. Service was great. The staff was pleasant and friendly as well as attentive and polite. And as to be expected with a restaurant in this area, the hostess was very attractive (not that it impacted the overall dining experience). Prices were high here, but Culina offers several lower price options at lunch like sandwiches, pizzas or even more entree-like salads. Culina was impressive in how it combined good food and good service with a very appealing atmosphere (the indoor dining room seems nice as well). The panzanella salad was exceptional while everything else was at least good (and even showed some signs of greatness). I will have to come back and try more of their dishes, but I think Culina has the potential to be one of LA's best Italian restaurants. Valet parking is available (so is street parking).
(4)
Tavip T.
Went here for the day after Valentine's Day dinner. Ambiance is perfect. If you want the romantic feel, then this is the place to go. Even the outside seating area is temperature controlled so you won't get cold even if you seated outside. The rating OK is for the food only. We ordered the pork and the red snapper for the entree and they are just not up to our likings. Sorry, but at least the place is very nice. Maybe, we just need to order other dishes, who knows, I might change the rating.
(3)
Gina S.
Brunch Review: I'd long heard that Culina was THE place for brunch. I was excited to find my holy grail of brunch. Spoiler alert: this was not it. Upon walking in, we were greeted by pleasant hostesses and promptly shown to our table. The restaurant was lovely, however, as soon as I took a seat, my dress got snagged on the Chilewich-style place mats that was pushed to the edge of the table. as soon as I sat down. NOT a good start. The way they had all the food laid out was a bit confusing and cumbersome. FIRST ROOM: Egg/breakfast station in the first room (a variety of eggs benedict (lobster, traditional/ham, and florentine (I believe!) under heat lamps - most of these were looking pretty sad, and omelet stations) and on the opposing side, a sushi, crab legs, oysters, shrimp. The platters of seafood were up high on a bar type counter - making it really hard to get to. In addition, even though they had two stations with the same seafood, only one person at a time could get to one station. It made for a lot of bumping into each other. I wasn't impressed with anything in this room. SECOND ROOM: cheese trays, misc salads, fresh fruit, Indian food, carving stations, dim sum, fresh-made donuts, ice cream/gelato bar. All I can say is this room was a hot mess. My biggest issue with this room was the way they had the salads and fruit. This was jammed in the corner and horribly labeled. They had a build your own salad with dressing in the beginning and then pre-made salads and fruit in the corner. There was a sign on the wall with all the salads, but you could NOT tell what was what, until you dug around the salad (who wants to do that?!?!). In addition, again, only one person at a time could get to the salads. The dim sum was tucked away and served in a cart - many people overlooked this, as you couldn't really tell it was anything! The indian food had a nice display and was well laid out and labeled. The coconut rice was AMAZING. I wish I could get a recipe for that! The donut and ice cream bar I felt should have been moved to the dessert room (leaving more room for the salads). It felt like it was in the wrong space (and was a very popular feature). THIRD ROOM - desserts on the bar - they set up all the desserts on the bar off the main dining room. The display was vast and serving was somewhat easy. The star of selection was the basque cake - I had never heard of or tried this cake before absolutely amazing! SERVICE: In a word - SUCKED! Our waitress asked for our drink order when we arrived, and while she was present in the room, she barely glanced our way. Dishes were bussed when we left the table, but our waitress was hard, if not impossible, to flag down. Most of the time, she was just hovering at the station looking off into the distance. Thankfully, a most helpful manager overheard me saying I wanted to ask the waitress for a beverage, and he quickly attended to us. He also made sure our water was filled and checked in on us. I wish I got his name, because he was a gem and the epitome of excellent service. The hotel itself is lovely and it was a beautiful location with plenty of gorgeous floral displays. The restaurant also is lovely and aesthetically pleasing. It's too bad the food quality wasn't up to par. I won't be back. Parking: I scored a free parking spot just outside the hotel. But, otherwise, valet is available.
(2)
Marty B.
Very Nice Dinner! We had the TravelZoo Voucher and got the fixed menu: - bowl of mixed olives and bread - glass of proseco - salad with watercress and asparagus and cheese - burrata with heirloom tomato - spaghetti with tomato and basil - branzino seared - roasted baby chicken - panna cotta with blood orange and grapefruit - bottle of Conanau from Sardinia Our server was Ella and she took good care of us. There's ample street parking, unless you'd like to pay $20 for valet parking. The voucher was $89, and the dinner was $190, along with the bottle of wine, but we ended up paying $60 at the end. We definitely plan to return.
(4)
Jeff R.
We went to Culina for my wife's birthday and it was great. The hotel is amazing and the restaurant was top notch. We sat next to the bar close to the front and that was a good place to sit and watch everyone come in. Our food was really good....and our waitress had fun with us. We had Salmon and Steak... both tasted so fine. Great place to go !
(4)
J G.
Went for the NYE prix fixe. Disappointed at the slow service by the kitchen. Came in for 10pm reservations didnt get 1st course until 1/2 hr later. Chef Ramsay would have been expletively profane. The oyster/caviar was modest in size but the gold leaf made it somewhat special. Then we wait. And wait. Another 1/2 hr goes by and the second course arrives, we get the soup with duck confit and the raw fish/pomegranate seeds. Eh... Then we wait. And wait, 15 mins goes by and then we get a risotto that is uncooked. We send it back. And wait. We get a new risotto that is better and things are looking up...then we wait. We get the main entree 1and 1/2 hr into dinner service. We then ask for dessert to follow immediately and the check. We got the John Dory and the Coniglio. Nemo was nothing special. Thumper was tasty and cooked right. Dessert was the highlight of the chess match with a cotton candy/ ice cream/mousse/ meringue and I had the sugar crusted mousse sphere with gold leaf. Would I come again? Depends if I am wearing Depends. BTW parking is free valet during lunch, but $16 for visitors and $14 for other functions. I saw alot of people parking at the Ralph's two blocks up.
(3)
Raymond M.
Omg. This place was amazing. I am reading some of these reviews and you guys are freaking insane to give this place bad reviews. The rigatoni with fennel sausage was spectacular. The ravioli with sweet corn was phenomenal. The wine was pretty great. They have an amazing moscato that stands on it's own. The pistachio gelato was superb. Overall service was outstanding. The valet was quick and had my car waiting before I even payed. The chef cane to our table and talked to us and told us about their new menu coming up. So easily 5 stars and would recommend this to anyone and everyone. We used a groupon and still were treated like royalty.
(5)
J C.
Came here for a friends bday celebration. The room we were seated in was perfect, right across from the bar. I only had appetizers. Their modo mio (burrata on individual tomatoes) and brown butter corn ravioli. Both were exactly what I was hoping for. Everyone(18 people) enjoyed their food and wine. The wait staff are very attentive. Thanks Culina!
(4)
Lori M.
I didn't expect much and was surprised in such a tasty way. The words "hotel restaurant" is enough to turn me away from eating somewhere. After all, with a captive audience, they don't have to be anything but okay. However, when the family suggests a place, it's important to play nice and go along. Likewise, expectations should be set low as to avoid disappointment. We remind ourselves that food can revert to being simple sustenance. With a reservation, we were seated promptly. This place feels a bit like a scene with its smooth ambiance and a scattering of flashy people. However the staff seemed genuinely courteous. Within moments of sitting down, the sommelier came by to ask us if we would like help with their wonderful wine list. This type of service, provided without having to ask, definitely earns a star and a smile of gratitude. Our special appetizers were heart-stopping. This is looking good, I suddenly find myself thinking. Our meals were lovely. Pesche Bianche, Coda di Rospo, Tagliata, and Manzo, everyone became tellingly quiet at the first bite. Nuvola Riso, a rice pudding mousse with fresh berries, finished off our meal leaving us sated. After ordering an appetizers, a dish for each of the 5 family members, and a slight splurge bottle of wine, a few beers, and two glasses of scotch, and two desserts, dinner was still less expensive than Spago where we didn't order a bottle or any extra beverages. Dare I say that it was easily as good if not better? Okay, I'll say it. There. We weren't looking for a deal here, but in comparison find that perhaps we got one. It wasn't lowered expectations that earns Culina and their staff 5 stars. It was that i could not find fault with anything. I have tried and failed. Our picky family was happy and we all vowed to return.
(5)
remy Ryu A.
Cullina is a charming restaurant by four seasons. It would be a great place for a special occasion dinner or a date night -sure to impress your counterpart. The good: setting is great especially if you seat outside on a warm California night. Food is mostly very good, comes out timed perfectly. Service is exactly what you would expect. The bad: squid ink pasta. It wasn't bad ... But it is wasn't really good. For a $30+ plate I expected so much more. And by more I don't mean more lobster, I mean more balanced flavor profile. It tasted more like black colored pasta in creamy seafood sauce than a true squid ink pasta. The ugly: valet parking. Yeah I know it's a customary to have a valet service and let's face it if you can afford $170 diner tab, $9 +tip valet is not a big deal. But somehow I feel it cheapens over all experience. They should figure out way to validate the valet service. After all it's the last thing you remember leaving the restaurant.
(4)
Meagan B.
Culina, you were great, less your pompous, inattentive service. 3 stars for yummy food and a beautiful patio. People, you can have the 5 star experience here if you care to play the role. No, thank you.
(3)
Caitlin M.
Not all that impressed. The food was mediocre, but great scene for people watching. Probably will only go back for the bar.
(3)
Peter S.
My wife and I have dined numerous times here and without qualification our experience has been excellent. The wait staff, and management are cheerful, engaging and professional. The restaurant is comfortable and inviting. The food is carefully prepared and is absolutely delicious. You can gauge a restaurant by whether you want to return or move on. We keep returning and besides ordering favorites, like the amazing veal chop, we try new items on the menu and are consistently pleased. The weekend brunch is equally outstanding. If you have not yet dined here I urge you to do so. It is one of the best restaurants in the city!
(5)
Robert L.
I must say Culina is probably one of the best "Neighborhood" Restaurant I ever been to. What is a "Neighborhood" restaurant? Before Chili's ruined the moniker, it meant comfort, friendly faces, consistent service, an old faithful... your go to. Granted the neighborhood in question is Beverly Hills, so it bit glitzy, pricey, and bit more eye candy than the neighborhood I live in. The service is reminiscent of a 1 Michelin Star caliber with prompt Bus staff, great wait staff, and a knowledgeable sommelier to boot. But what made this place great was how friendly and approachable everyone was. Food was good. Everything properly cooked with generous but not monstrous portions. If you are ever stuck in Beverly Hills and don't know where to eat, you can't go wrong with this place. Happy Eating - R
(4)
Ellen C.
Great food and service - came home full and happy!! My friend and I had the modo mio (burrata on individual tomatoes / great presentation), brown butter corn ravioli as another appetizer (sweet balanced perfection!), lasagne (came home and hubby scarfed it down...bye leftovers), rigatoni (fennel and white wine created a great flavor) and gelato for dessert (black mission fig, peanut butter and jelly, and pistachio. The PB&J was fun and surprisingly good!). Each course was excellent! Service was exceptional as the food timing was perfect and our waiter was informative without being too long-winded and pleasant without being toooo friendly. Just like the food - a great balance. Am definitely coming back.
(4)
Robin Z.
Was it worth it? Yes. I suppose so. I certainly won't make this a regular stop but for a big night out, dressed to the nines and using a Travelzoo discount, it's a wonderful experience. The decor is unrivaled, tastefully finished in clean high-end class. The food was served perfectly, set with just the right amount of seasoning and temperature though the proportions might leave a big eater unsatisfied (the pasta serving was about 2 tablespoons). The service was impeccable, timely and we were made to feel special without any trace of snoot to sour the moment. I'm just glad I'm not a big eater. I would be less than satisfied. (the special gift "$25 valued" bottle of EVOO was 0.05L (like those tiny bottles served on planes)
(4)
Glen W.
Celebrated my mom's birthday last week and enjoyed a superb dinner, champagne, and excellent service. I'm sure the whole staff is good but Victor is especially good. Next time I'll try the patio. PS, the rigatoni was amazing.
(5)
Jenna R.
Went to a beer pairing dinner at Culina this past weekend and was pleasantly surprised by the great flow and timing of the pairings and the quality of the food. Each course was very unique and you could tell the chef had free reign to cook what she wanted. A highlight was her braised short rib over grits! Absolutely delectable! The dessert was also a favorite. The ambience and service only added to the quality. I look forward to coming back to Culina the next time I am in the area. I am even more interested to try their regular menu to see if it lives up to the pairing dinner I got to experience,
(4)
Ashley B.
I love this restaurant for its food, ambience, and the fact that it always has 1000-point tables on Open Table. Best thing on the menu is the Modo Mio. Also love the crudo bar and their rigatoni with sausage. Strangely enough, I've never sat outside, but I imagine on a warm summer night and with the cocktails flowing, it's got to be a pretty spectacular way to pass away the time.
(5)
Christie O.
Had several incredible meals here while spending a few weeks catching up with an old friend @ FSBH. Our credited night was a party of 8 which came in staggered & the service was incredibly accommodating. The crudo bar alone is reason enough to eat here: sashimi lovers take note. All the dishes I had contained fish and were well executed and presented. Staff took note of dietary requests & personal likes (I'm not a chocolate person but fancy caramel & by 3rd visit salted caramel gelato was sent over gratis) Various guests enjoyed all of their dishes ranging from pasta to steak and the outdoor patio is lovely. Servers also made great suggestions. All around gem and a must when in LA.
(4)
Andrew Z.
I only tried the vegan ice cream. It is $12 for 3 flavors. The choices are vanilla, pistachio, chocolate brownie, oatmeal raisin. I tried vanilla, pistachio, chocolate brownie. Chocolate brownie was my favorite. It is Stella's Best ice cream. Currently only available here or Craig's in West Hollywood. At Craig's they tend to have flavors like coconut, red velvet, chocolate brownie toffee, and peanut butter (they can change daily so call first if you want a certain flavor). I recommend going to Craig's if you are a fan of the vegan ice cream because you can also get their vegan chocolate cake (life-changing) which comes with the vegan ice cream (or better yet get ice cream from both places for take out along with the cake since they are less than a mile from each other - that's what I did). Anyway, back to Culina - it is a classy place!
(5)
Shirley F.
The new chef is trained by Wolfgang Puck, the food is spectacular, she Has moved far beyond her mentor....travel to Paris often, and this is the single restaurant that could do well in The City Of Light... Her take on lamb is something that would inspire celebration... All appetizers mouth watering, and use of artichokes is sensational, ( yes, am a serious foodie ). Don't miss this dining experience......
(5)
Caroline C.
I have been dying to try this place for their Sunday brunch, but the cost has always deterred me. With the help of Travelzoo, I was able to try it for dinner. I've got to say that Culina is now my favorite Italian restaurant! I made a reservation on Opentable for Saturday night and got 1000 points for dining there! Finally got enough points to redeem for a $20 gift certificate! No one called to confirm the reservation, which kind of bothered me considering this is a classy restaurant, but I put that aside for a fabulous night. Checking in with the host was easy, and we got seated right away in the patio area. It was really cold despite there being heaters around us and tarp to close out the outside cool air. I informed the waitress that it was a bit chilly, and she got someone to move one of the heaters closer to me, which helped a lot. The decor inside and outside the restaurant was simply stunning. Wreaths filled with blue and silver ornaments surrounded the restaurant and the Four Seasons Hotel. There was also a very beautiful glass ornament decor on the ceiling of the main room. The outdoor area was filled with lemon and lime plants, as well as a small fountain of water with flames. It was uber romantic. With the Travelzoo voucher, we were able to get a 5 course tasting menu for 2 with two glasses of prosecco for $89. We had choices to choose from for 4/5 of the courses, and we opted to go with one of each for all of the courses and split. Our first courses were prosciutto and cheese with dried fruits, walnuts, and toast and a tricolore salad. We also got one herb bread each with a container of sesame seed bread sticks and thin, crispy bread. Our second courses were a wagyu meatball and grilled octopus. The third course was a plate per person of rigatoni with wild mushrooms. The fourth courses were sliced steak and Mediterranean sea bass. The last courses were rice pudding surrounded by berries and a coffee tiramisu. I enjoyed EVERY bite I had that night. It would be impossible for me to choose which dish I liked the most since this is probably one of the few times I liked everything I ate at a restaurant after trying so many different things. To top it off, service was excellent and deserving of the 18% gratuity that was required with the voucher. Parking came out to $8 after validation. Culina, you've got my heart. I will be back soon to try your brunch! P.S. Their ladies' restrooms have sinks in each stall!
(5)
Dawn W.
Such an awesome restaurant! See my review: jetsetextra.com/destinat… Loved it.
(5)
Alexandro Z.
Loved Culina and been there many times in last few years, but it did change. It's a very different place from that it was. Food become just plane tasteless so as service become mediocre. This restaurant doesn't deserve to be at Four Seasons any longer!!!
(1)
Natalie D.
Weekend lunchtime: Had a Bloody Mary which was only average and certainly not worthy of $19. After switching to Mimosas I shared a Margarita pizza. Same thing. Ok but not great. I expected great at the Beverly HIlls Four Seasons! Sigh!
(2)
Todd V.
Despite being located in stuffy Beverly Hills, I was pleasantly surprised with Culina's hospitality, quality, ambience, and authenticity of Italian food sent out by their kitchen. It was almost like eating some my mother's/grandmother's home cooked, amazing Italian cooking only it wasn't - it was better :-) And that's hard for me to admit having been raised on Brooklyn italian food. In addition to the authentic/delicious food, the venue and ambience were second to none and just breathtaking. From the draping chandeliers to the beautifully crafted tables to the perfect outdoor seating area with fire pits to keep me and my guests warm, Culina is in my opinion one of, if not the best restaurants and environments I've every visited on the West Coast and I will definitely return the next time I'm in Los Angeles. The staff at Culina was also so unexpectedly great, hospitable, and engaging; especially their manager, Joe (hopefully that's his name lol), and their fantastic event coordinator, Kim, who was just amazing from the beginning of our experience, helping make our special night and event at Culina exactly how we pictured it and truly special. Thanks for everything. Btw, Cuilna is a perfect place to take a date, hold an important business meeting or impress someone - I know it impressed my group ;-).
(5)
Wayne H.
I've read a lot of the Yelp reviews and I want to point out a couple things that were different from our experience at Culina. Firstly, the service was exceptional--knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive, without being too overbearing. Secondly, with validation from the restaurant, valet parking was only $8 (I've seen lots of mentions of $20 valet parking). What we ate (see pics): - Kampachi (Hawaiian amberjack crudo) was excellent--very fresh and excellent flavor combination with accompaniments - Aragosta (spiny lobster crudo) - amazing! Thin slices of the tail meat were unbelievably fresh and sweet - Granchio (dungeness crab salad) - pretty good. I found the grapefruit overpowered the crab, but when eaten with just the endive and a bit of dressing, it was delicious - Polipo Harissa (grilled octopus) - good but not "wow!"--probably wouldn't order again - Coda di rospo (monkfish) - similar tomato base to the grilled octopus and was slightly overcooked but excellent flavors. Again, pretty good but not something I'd rush back there to order again - Gelato pie - WOW, this is one of the best desserts we've ever had! Light and refreshing, a perfect way to end the meal. I would return to Culina just to have this again. Overall, we were quite impressed with the food at Culina. As I mentioned already, the service was exceptional. We'll definitely be returning!
(4)
Richard S.
was hoping for more.. Beautiful setting, but didnt come through on the food. Crudo didnt have much taste and the seafood as a main wasnt much better, Veggie wasnt tasty, desert was good. Service was usual Four Seasons. Price was high. Wouldnt run back.
(3)
Mr. Voracity I.
Great interior and ambiance, but the food is not all that special. We tried three different dishesn (two pastas and the veal chops) and it all felt very middle of the road and unambitious. The ravioli with corn was the best thing we had. That said, the interior space is very well designed and it would be a great place to come for a drink and just hanging out. At least as of March 2010, it feels like a hip (or wanna-be-hip) Hollywood crowd, but not to the point of being unbearable.
(3)
m m.
I will not come back unless I am looking for a quick meal. This could be just a total one person experience, however I see nobody mentioning anything about the service. I felt rushed from the get-go, for such a pricey meal one should be able to sit back and enjoy each dish. Our table was constantly interrupted by servers picking up plates (without us even finishing the food), pouring water when it didn't even get low and our bill was dropped on our table after a few minutes our desserts were served. My table spent most of the evening speaking to the staff saying please and thank you than having a nice long conversation over a nice meal. This place needs to have less people working in their, and have the ones that are working pay attention to customer. There too many great restaurant to repeat here...
(1)
Alex J.
The "Italian" sushi, was impressive but truthfully, the Japanese are still one up on this game. It was an interesting journey into an Italian cuisine that I wasn't familiar with, which was a good thing. I had the rib eye. It was adequately seasoned and prepared well. I can't rave about the quality of the meat since I am very much now steak connoisseur. I'm actually a bit of a meat snob and having dined in many of LA's finer (and NYs) steakhouses, I can tell you that the rib eye here was just okay. The ambiance was spectacular, the service was tight and the sommelier and wait staff were highly attentive, professional and courteous. The check was expensive. Although if you've got the gots, you're not that interested in what it's going to take to get it. One thing that was easy enough and impressive was the ice cream in a cup that had a bouffant of cotton candy atop and they drizzled espresso on it, melting the candy down and converting the espresso into a very sexy ice cream treat. Yum. Do it again!
(3)
Sandy S.
Food was flavorless, service was slow, place was empty.
(1)
andrew l.
I purchased a Travelzoo voucher as many of the reviewers. We had an exceptional experience at Culina. We sat right in the middle of the main dining room in one of the large booths. Our server and wait staff were very friendly and attentive. The food was excellent and everything was very fresh. Our server went through some of her favorite items on the regular menu and we are excited to go back.
(5)
Kat K.
Came here with the travel zoo deal, and we like the food, especially the fresh made pasta with meat sauce. We love it. Overall a great experience.
(4)
Sandy L.
I joined yelp, specifically so that I could write this review. We went to Culina on a Travelzoo deal with a set 5 course meal with 2 glasses of champagne, grappa flights, and a complimentary bottle of gourmet olive oil for $89 ($225 stated value). We had the dinner that's been referenced already in other yelp reviews: crudo flight, salad, bobolotti verdi, halibut, profiteroles. The food was average. It wasn't bad, but nothing impressive. However, I think what ruined the dinner was the service. When we arrived it seemed that most of the tables that night were also on the same Travelzoo deal. We overheard some tables near us complaining that the olive oil which was supposed to be included in the deal was not being offered because the restaurant had run out. We nicely asked our server about the olive oil as it was part of the deal we purchased and because the olive oil with our bread was so delicious and the server just rudely said, "no we're out." Usually, at nice restaurants, the more polite thing would to be to say that they've run out, but let me see what I can do etc. Even if they come back and can't do anything at least they tried. The service went downhill from there, it was as though we'd offended our waiter by asking for something that was clearly spelled out as part of the deal we'd purchased. Before the halibut course, the server asked if we wanted wine and my husband asked which wine the server would suggest and was that part of the meal? I'd thought the meal included 2 glasses of wine, so I mentioned that I thought wine was included with dinner and the server abrupty said in a harsh tone "No it doesn't. Where does it say that. Show me where it says that" and he actually pulled out the Travelzoo voucher shoved it in our faces. As it turns out, looking at the fine print, I was mistaken - it was 2 glasses of champagne, not wine, so I was mistaken, but the manner in which he said it was not only rude but uncomfortable. My husband tried to smooth it over and asked if it would be possible to exchange the grappa flights for a glass of wine instead as we're not really hard liquor fans, and the server replied "No, you can't do that and left the table." The rest of the meal he'd bring us food but not say anything. We continued to say thank you as he brought us our halibut, and profiteroles, but the meal was not a pleasant one. I understand restaurants may not be able to substitute items on a set menu and I had mistaken wine for champagne (which I admitted was my mistake and apologized to the server), but I didn't think the tone was appropriate. Also, because they ran out of olive oil they gave us a card for free dessert on our next visit. Frankly, if we didn't have a good experience why would we come back to pay for another meal just to have free dessert? We seriously considered asking to speak with the manager, but we decided to let it go, maybe it was just us and the tables near us. However, while we were outside waiting for our car at valet there were two couples who were actually arguing with the manager of Culina about the service as well. It was causing quite a scene and 4 security guards came to stand by. It sounded like there were multiple instances of not so great or bad service that night. All in all the food was average at best. It was disappointing not to even get just what was included in the deal we purchased (i.e. the olive oil). Plus, the service was rude as well - and not just to us! I've stayed at the Four Seasons hotel and dined at its restaurants all around the world and this restaurant and our experience there did not hold up to the Four Seasons reputation. I will not be returning and would not recommend it to anyone.
The Four Seasons has a winner here! Excellent service, knowledgeable staff, delicious food...quite possibly the most fun meal I've had here in Beverly Hills with beautiful people on a beautiful outdoor patio. Culina takes delicious Italian food one step further, adding creative touches to simple sounding dishes. The menu features Los Angeles' only Crudo bar with the finest selections of hand prepared raw seafood. A perfect example of the simplicity of the Crudo menu is the Hamachi (yellow-tail) with Star Anise Oil and Orange Sea Salt. Not to be missed are the Prosciutto Di Parma Pizza, Lasagna Della Nonna or Spaghetti Alla Chitarra. The dessert Affogato which rolls off your tongue and is fun to say and also fun to eat is a cotton candy, vanilla bean gelato, and espresso treat. Best of all, they have an amazing wine list to complement the meal. Culina definitely merits another visit - hopefully many more.
(5)
Jason C.
The housemade ravioli at lunch will make your eyes roll up into your head with joy....they should put it on the dinner menu! Great patio! The homemade Limoncello (only if you're feelin' frisky...sweet!) Staff are very helpful and super friendly (refreshing). Very moderately priced...would have never known I was dining at the Four Seasons. Definitely will come back...great coffee too!
(5)
Tom M.
Terrible, over priced and silly. The pizza was cold and came out on a stone that was two sizes two big, the rapini came out cold and flavorless the service was busy and oppressive. The decor is silly with a large bubble sculpture in the middle of the dining room that makes one think that the air bubbles represent the money flying away as this place sinks like a stone. Then there is the "live action" crudo bar, what a bunch of ridiculousness, a raw seafood bar is called are you ready? a sushi bar! who wants to wait for a few slices of tuna when you can just go to a sushi bar, I'm not sure they thought through this one. The waiters were nice but seemed nervous and gittery as about five managers seemed to be watching there everymove. Trendy, silly and done in about six months...next.
(1)
Diane W.
Used to love this restaurant so uch when it was the traditional FS restaurant Gardens. We want to keep loving it so we have come a few times. The staff knows us by name from coming at least once a month for at least a decade...a happy habit. The new decor is beautiful. Service is still great. Food has gone skimpy, not on quality or ingredients but on portion size and I am a thin woman who generally is pretty careful about what she eats...it's just not enough, even for me. Busier and a little hipper but when I go to a restaurant at a fine hotel I want to feel spoiled and indulged. The butternut squash ravioli was so tasty. Four pieces. The chopped salad, also tasty, filled up a third of the bow. If you are going to give a tiny portion at least shrink the plate. There are so many other Italian places in the BH area it's a shame. Parking and service are great here. Just wish they gave you more to eat.
(4)
Indy B.
I'm giving this restaurant 3 stars mostly because it looks good. And the service was quite good. But the food was incredibly ordinary. The wine list was very good. You can have a 12 oz carafe of anything on the wine list. I thought that was very cool. We started with zucchini blossoms stuffed with cheese. Pretty good. I ordered the special. Some sort of spanish mackerel cooked in parchment. The waiter talked about the strong tomato and olive flavors. Sounded great. It was served in the parchment, which was bulky and hard to get around on the plate. The fish was skin side up in the parchment - a thick, leathery, dark gray, uncooked skin, and when I turned it over, I was horrified to find that it was raw in the middle. I love sushi, and I like mackerel sushi, but that's not what I ordered. My host ordered halibut. It was dry, overcooked, although the crust was tasty and nicely crunchy. Another ordered the lamb on some sort of bed of beans. The beans were good. The lamb was ordinary and just plopped on the beans in a very visually flat way. Which would have been ok if the lamb had been first rate. One of us ordered an heirloom tomato salad - the mozzarella was wonderful, but the "heirloom" tomatoes were colorless and worse, tasteless. the martinis are terrific, the wine that I ordered was first rate, thankfully, since the martinis were $18 and $21 apiece. I would say that Culina really missed the mark. I wanted to like the place, since it's so pretty. The other thing I think they should notice more carefully is the temperature. We were all uncomfortably warm. We asked them to turn the air conditioning on twice, but it didn't seem to help much. Too many other restaurants to ever return to this one.
(3)
Jenny L.
Culina has very good food with a great vibe. I ordered the Ostriche (oyster, Campari, shllot, white balsamic, and prosecco geletina) as an appetizer and it was amazing. Also, my boyfriend and I shared an order of meatball as an appetizer too and it's definitely a must have! Yummy veal chop as a main course and service was excellent! Price is very reasonable consider the food you're served with and the very romantic and comfortable environment you're in. I enjoyed it and will definitely want to go back again!
(5)
Michelle C.
I'm going to disclaimer this and note that this may be a slightly biased review since I came here for a coworker's surprise birthday party and enjoyed my wine and tapas next to Daniel Radcliffe. As an enormous Harry Potter fan, I was a tad star struck. If only Daniel hadn't been intensely talking to an agent - I would've definitely asked him to cast a spell on me... HAHA. Ok, nerd moment over. Thank you for humoring me. Culina's attention to our private party of about 30 was phenomenal. We gathered in the outside patio for 3+ hours amid the soothing water fountain, plush couches, and candlelit lighting, and were treated like royalty. We had the choice of a red or white wine the moment we arrived (the Sauvignon Blanc they offered that night was stellar!) and our waiter Alex was a complete gentleman as he periodically brought out plates of delicious finger foods. I tried fried risotto balls, meatball sliders, margherita and salsiccia pizza slices, cucumber wrapped ahi tuna rolls, and amazing bruschetta that night. The vases of breadsticks adorning each table top presented a chic, and wonderfully nibbly, touch as well! However, the best part was the birthday girl's face as she walked onto the patio. Word around the office is that no one ever surprises her... It was simply wonderful and Culina contributed to a lovely evening amongst friends. If you're looking to host a private party (and keep in mind that this is in the Four Seasons so budget yourself accordingly), I definitely recommend!
(4)
A. C.
This review is for Sunday Brunch on 12/16. This is my new favorite brunch restaurant besides The Hamptons (Four Seasons in Westlake Village). Decor - Grand, festive and elegant Food - Plenty of quality food, fresh, creative and tasty dishes. They have a breakfast station, Chinese station, 8 different kinds of sushi, Mexican station, Carving station (the prime rib is mouthwatering) There must be at least 10 different kinds of salad. Dessert station is a great hit, you need to bring another stomach for their desserts. Service - friendly and professional I would give Culina a 5 star if they don't set up the tables so close to each other. You know the tables are too close if you can hear your "neighbor" arguing over money matter. I also noticed other guests had a hard time getting in and out of their chairs due to limited spaces. Will be back for sure! $69 well worth spent!
(4)
L N.
Dragged my friend here after seeing the new chef earn her position on Chef Wanted. Starters Nectarine, burrata, and prosciutto - yum! Kale salad - one of the best my friend has had 2nd course Spaghetti alla chitarra - perfect level of spicy Main New York steak - I don't care for the cut, but would definitely have it here White fish w/ clams in a broth - the fish was a bit chewy, but was very good Dessert Tiramisu - intended to only have a bite, but it was too good to stop Very nice ambience, attentive service, beautiful patio for dining.
(4)
Bonnie G.
I haven't been this excited to write a review in a long time. A foodie friend and I headed up to the 90210 area on a Sunday night with minimal expectations, as a Travelzoo voucher was involved. Of all of the vouchers I've purchased in the last year, I can say that this was a true deal and a real 5 star dining experience! My friend and I ordered the same dishes: 1. starter: burrata cheese atop an heirloom tomato. Simple yet divine! 2. First: pasta. At first glance, I thought it was going to be unmemorable but was delighted at the spiciness and texture of the spaghetti! 3. second: branzino. The herbs were perfectly infused and the portion was generous 4. dessert: something "melone". It had a small scoop of honeydew ice cream surrounded by small pieces of watermelon. Off to the side was this doughy glob (for lack of a better word) of something that I simply cannot explain. Its consistency was probably most similar to that of oatmeal. The flavor, though, was not comparable to anything I've ever had before. Simply put, it was delicious! Everything at this place was fabulous, from the food to the ambiance of the place. Victor, our server, was delightful and even gave us some biscotti "para el desayuno". :) This place is a bit of a hike from home, but I'd go back in a heartbeat. 89.00 well spent (for two!) That included a free valet. I love it when I get my money's worth...and then some!
(5)
Chris B.
Great food. Good staff. Very accommodating to the 2 toddlers we had with us. The gnocchi was spectacular. And the kale pizza was ridiculously good.
(4)
Justin H.
I came hear for dinner and my group agreed the specials we ordered were the best dishes (flatbread with ricotta, spinach, and kale). The tuna crudo was fine as were the rest of the dishes we ordered. Presentation is elegant and the food is well made, but I didn't really find anything especially memorable. Service is very friendly, though our server was particularly talkative and I personally thought he was a bit too chatty. Dessert was the best part! (Panna cotta with salted caramel!) Tips - Don't do valet if you have legs and good shoes. There's plenty of parking on Burton Way. If they sit you in the patio area and it's cold, they have tons of space heaters on. It was really hot in there for me, but I think they can turn down the heat if you ask. I saw a decent number of guests with kids so it seems kid-friendly. Keep a look out for a Blackboard Eats discount. They participated in the past and once in a while a discount or free drink for Culina comes up on that website's coupon listing.
(3)
Yuki N.
Real quick. Order sweet corn ravioli to share. It is an outstanding dish,so u must try. Out of all the entree, rib eye was the best dish!
(4)
Stephanie S.
This place is excellent. My boss is a regular here, so we're a bit spoiled, but Culina does a good job in spoiling all of their guests. Not only is this a beautiful restaurant with beautiful service and food, but I almost always spot a celebrity here (John Mayer, Pitbull, Larry Flynt...). The moment you enter the restaurant, you are welcomed with extremely professional and friendly hosts that take care of you. Let your eyes wander as you walk to your seat. I usually sit outside in the back patio where they have comfy sofas to sit on and fresh floral arrangements (for lunch, but candles for dinner) as you delight yourself with food. They serve you the best focaccia bread and olive oil while you await your meal. I always get two pieces of their bread because I cannot help myself. The food is great, but the thing that you will die for is their decadent lasagna. I know it sounds simple and not very interesting, but I swear by it. You absolutely must do it! They usually serve it only for dinner, but try asking for it (call ahead of time) during lunch hour and they may do it for you. I can keep going on with their other dishes, but I think the lasagna is it's own star of the show. Love it, love it, love it!! **Please check out their bathrooms! It's a glorious place. Each stall is it's own mini room with a sink!
(5)
Greg B.
Salmon was great at lunch but it's super fun to be here just before the Golden Globes when Hollywood is rolling in
(4)
Joe K.
Great food, amazing ambience and wonderful service. The wine selection is very thorough and of great quality. Lamb was excellent. Crudo apps great as well. The classic movies projected on to a waterfall was very interesting.
(5)
Alan K.
Bought a deal TravelZoo, 89 dollars for a 5 course meal for 2 people. It was excellent. They treated us like a full paying customer. Only complaint was the wait was 20 minutes with a reservation. But the food choices was very good. I would definintely go back again.
(5)
Stacey R.
Lamb chops! Lamb chops! Lamb chops! Service was good, ambiance was good...a great date spot! Can't wait to try their Sunday Brunch!!!
(3)
Jean L.
You would think that the point of Travelzoo/Groupon is to entice people to try things they normally wouldn't, and to intrigue them enough to return. But alas, it seems that this experience was anything but. Came here for the prix fixe four course dinner. We started off with a glass of prosecco, and honestly it was one of the worst things I've ever tasted. It lacked robustness, a flavor of any kind, and was just bleh. I felt as though I was being served tonic water. From this initial experience, we decided not to buy any bottles of anything (originally we had planned on getting bottle of wine). Appetizer- A raw green heirloom tomato with extremely salty cheese on top. Tasted exactly how it looked. 2nd course- Squid ink pasta. This was the dish I looked forward to the most, and was sorely disappointed. The pasta was dry, and did not have much flavor either. It looked like pennoni, which was weird, because I was expecting it to be served with something more noodley-like, for the sauce. But OH yeah, there was no sauce. It was dry. Sad pandaface. Main- Seared Ahi Tuna with rapini. I don't know why they served such a bitter vegetable with something not-as-pungent; as a result, it ruined the flavor of the tuna itself. I couldn't even pick out that the breadcrumbs were anchovy. Dessert- The Elderflower Panna Cotta was probably the best thing on the menu. Strawberry sorbet was a nice reprieve after a grueling palate torture, but the tapioca pearls did nothing for me, even texturally. I probably wouldn't order this on its own, though. Tried the other dishes on the prix fixe. I have nothing to say, really. It's such a shame that a great ambiance is ruined by the food- after all, it's the food that keeps people coming back, not because there are hand towels in the bathroom and definitely not because olives are present in nearly every dish. I also noticed that some of the items on the prix fixe were not on their regular menu. Are we guinea pigs? Culina is the reason why I don't like to dine in hotels- all fluff n' stuff, no substance.
(1)
S. T. V.
5 of us came here with a BBE deal and we were all impressed by the decor and the service. Our waiter was a polite Asian man with glasses... forgot to get his name. He was awesome eventhough he knew we were one of those BBE discount users. We had 2 appetizers to share... both excellent. I loved the tempura fried squash blossom with some kind of yummy sauce (can't remember the exact names and too lazy to look it up!). We also had an appetizer with homegrown tomatoes and cheese... that tasted really fresh. The portions are small, so each of us only had a few bites of each dish, but that was enough to get us started. I also enjoyed the bread basket they put in the middle. I had the rigatoni and I'm still thinking about the excellent consistency of the pasta. I believe they make almost all their pasta in-house. SO GOOD. The rest of my party had the special pork dish and they devoured it. The steak was also really good according to my friend. Food was so good we had to get dessert! It's a beautiful place with good food and great service. Valet was only $8 if you get it validated, but you can find parking on the street around the hotel.
(4)
Fia R.
Alright! For Post V-Day dinner my date & I went to this new WeHo/BH restaurant, blatantly located on 1st floor of 4 Seasons Hotel. (Yes, I was here instead of the YEE ^_^..) Let me first describe the stuff I loved. Dude, service was just incredibly impeccable. Our waiter was so knowledgeable w/ every single, A-quality food & drink presented, & the rest of the staff was downright attentive w/o being too distracting. That alone deserved 5 stars, along w/ the modernistic atmosphere that enhanced a non-coincidentally thematic, olive green color; the eclectic sorts of delicious olives; easy peezy valet parking; & the freebies--thanks to Travelzoo--such as the Focaccia, soothing champagne, the potent @ss Grappa Flight (3 mini glasses filled w/ shot's worth of Chamomile, Chardonnay & Merlot), & the 2 teeny bottles of high-quality olive oil. Now on w/ the food, & I will say this candidly: I'm NOT impressed w/ Italian cuisine easily--don't matter if it's authentic, modern, or Japanese-fusion. That's why I rarely go to these places by my own choice & why this is my 1st Yelping on Italian food. So with that said, from the Travelzoo offer, these were the 5 Pre-Fixe Courses ($250 if in original price O_O)... Crudo Flight: ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… , yelp.com/user_local_phot… , yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) Yup, they're raw Japanese-esque appetizers (crudo means "raw" in Italian, btw). For the salmon it was extremely more orange-y than salmony, but the hamachi tasted quite brilliantly from this subtly zesty star anise, & the ahi tasted pretty archetypal, just more lemony. Actually I like the 3rd one the best, while my date AND the waiter & busboy raved the hamachi. Mandarino: ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) Yummy salad--well my date thought it's alright =P. Without the pomegranate & tangerine the veggies would've been way too peppery. All the ingredients listed in my pic added a terrific contrast to this very filling salad -.- Tagliatelle: ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) That's the moderately portioned Italian dish, & it's unsurprisingly the least exciting. Don't get me wrong, it's modestly good, but even w/ al dente noodles & freshly grated parmigiano reggiano, I've had Ragu-branded pasta & those from the frozen food aisle that taste the same as this =/. Cirenga: ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) By itself, if my mom can cook this bass so deliciously, then I cannot warrant Culina's version over 3 stars. However, the decadently purplish Roasted Blueberry Glassato w/ the fish widened my pupils, along w/ the tasty, wilted kale to balance the filet's light texture. More blueberry, please :D. Trio of Profiteroles: ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) Why does dessert have to be the BEST of the 5 courses...The gelatos were airy yet creamy, the chocolate sauce was sooooooo divine, & I enjoyed the freshly made pastry puffs, which I'm not generally a fan of this! My favorite of the 3 flavors was rich Espresso =). Whew. Nevertheless, we left overstuffed. I'm grateful for my date to take me out on a rare fine-dining experience & for the service. In terms of food, though, I may be just satisfied over wowed, but if you are a die-hard fan of Italian food, then by all means, go to Culina!
(3)
Annie G.
Love it. Beautiful, food always good and wait staff, reception always pleasant and helpful. Perfect for a business breakfast or lunch, but I also like to come here with friends. (And Sunday brunch is to die for. That would be worth five stars if it were on its own, but I save my five stars for my absolute favs. -- their Sunday brunch is one of them.)
(4)
Sasha N.
I bought the Travelzoo deal a really long time ago and then realized it expires this month! We had an early reservation on a Tuesday night so the place was not very full while we were there but business started to pick up as we were leaving around 815. The restaurant is beautiful. Very sleek and trendy. I didn't feel like we were in a restaurant hotel at all. We dined inside but when I go back, I'll be sure to request the patio - it just looked so inviting and peaceful out there. As soon as we were seated, out waiter (I cannot remember his name), brought us out our respective glasses of prosecco. Yum! And Alan, our very personable busser, brought out olives and delicious focaccia bread with olive oil. Course #1: Crudo Flight - very nice light way to start off the meal. I loved the hamachi while the boy preferred the salmon. I'm not sure I would order it again but it was nice to try Course #2 Salad with watercress, asparagus mushrooms and artichokes in a lemon dressing. - I really enjoyed this. Yes, it's just a salad but everything blended together in a delicious way. Course #3: Bobolotti Verdi - (aka green past with a ragu bologenese) SOOO Good. I mean, I love pasta and this was perfect to me. The generous portion of Parmesan cheese that they grated for me didn't hurt either ;) Course #4: Halibut with English peas and an Onion Fonduta. I was stuffed after the pasta but I forged ahead (for the sake of the review of course) and ate the 4th course. The peas were delicious. The onion fonduta meshed really well with the halibut. I wish there had been more of it. The halibut was good - nothing amazing. Course #5: Mini pastries with three different flavors of gelato -espresso (my fave) vanilla and pistachio with chocolate sauce. I was stuffed and barely ate this but it was pretty good. Desert also came with the grappa flight. Oh man - grappa is not for me! I almost fell over just from the powerful smell. I took one sip and that was it for me! During our meal, the GM, Sandro, came over and introduced himself and chatted with us for a few minutes. I really appreciated that. He was super nice and very enthusiastic about his restaurant. Customer service was on point at Culina! I'll definitely be back to this place. They serve lunch and they offer free valet for anyone dining at that time.
(4)
Y. C.
I am so in love with this place! Well, who wouldn't? It's Four Seasons after all. I brought couple of my girlfriends here for their joint-birthday celebration, and I couldn't have thought of a better place. The service was impeccable, the ambience was beautiful, and the foot was amazing. Probably one of the best Italian restaurants in town. Culina's sweet corn ravioli is a must. It literally melted in my mouth. Lasagna and rigatoni were superb as well. I am definitely going back to this place over and over again...!
(5)
Mama K.
What a fabulous experience. We were drawn into Culina from BBE. We sat at the crudo bar because it was early and the restaurant hadn't filled up yet. It was bustling by the time we left at 8:30pm. Clientele is a mix but mostly made up of the over 50 crowd. Anna at the crudo bar MADE our night, literally and figuratively. Such a sweet, talented, (young), chef. Like the foodies we are, we talked her ear off about local eateries and her menu ingredients. Almost like a mini cooking lesson. ;) Micheal, the bartender, was knowledgeable and generous. Lastly, our waiter, gasp, I can't remember his name, cute Asian guy with glasses...I knew if before my third drink, was attentive and friendly. Eats: Mackerel Crudo Summer Salad with Prosciutto and Burrata (my favorite dish) Lamb Pizza (ask for some chili oil if you like spicy like me) Octopus (I didn't like the mushy mini potatoes but the Octopus was perfect) 3 cocktails and 2 glasses of wine. = $128 (less bbe %) Everything was served beautifully and tasted super fresh.
(5)
Jen D.
Located in the four seasons hotel, this restaurant can definitely stand its own. The decor was decadent and beautiful and the food was equally delicious. It is pricey and reserved for those special occasions in one's life.
(5)
Heather R.
Waitstaff friendly, informed and punctual. Sommelier is very Italian, very knowledgeable, and approachable / easy to talk to. Service is swift and attentive Il crudo ahi tartare (4 pieces) was OK, a lot of tuna - not a lot of flavor. I love sashimi - so I was still thrilled. Lamb chops were perfect. You get 4 small chops, at chop 1 I was convinced this wouldn't be enough, by chop 4 I was full and satisfied. Super delicious!
(4)
Susanne W.
What a joke my purchase on travelzoo turned out to be. I wanted to have a special evening and after viewing the images and information offered on travelzoo about an offer for $89 for 2, with Prosecco, I purchased it. We went to the restaurant last night. Absolutely beautiful restaurant, impeccable service, no complaints there. However, the photographs and portion size pictured in the advertisement do NOT accurately reflect what you receive at the table. Cut in HALF, for sure. How this dinner would have cost $220 as stated if it was not offered through travelzoo, I don't know. Definitely false advertising. I wish I had taken photos of our plates, because the only proof I have is in my memory. What a disappointment. The biggest joke was the Tiramisu. If you blink you miss it. This has taught me a lesson. Do I need to print out what is in the advertisement now every time?
(2)
Patrick B.
Wow! First, the restaurant and bar area looks fantastic! So beautifully done.... the crowd is good looking and the drinks are solid. The service just can't be beat. Truly attentive and friendly... really knowledgeable. The food was also amazing. The squash appetizers were to die for! I could have made a meal just from that! The choices were varied and all looked tasty. It is pricey...but certainly worth it!
(5)
Ruben Q.
My wife and I recently celebrated our anniversary at Culina. We were pleasantly surprised by our experience. It started with a very warm reception. The outdoor dining area was not yet crowded and although it was a bit chilly, the staff quickly made us warm with the heaters. The waiter was friendly but not pushy. He helped us pick a great wine to celebrate our occasion. The meal was creative. The salad, the appetizer, especially the pork belly was fantastic. The portions were all adequate size. The ambiance was classy yet relaxed and private without being stuffy or noisy. We have eaten in many great restaurants from Europe, Far East and the United States. Culina food was right in par with our finest eating experience. We enjoyed the meal and the service very much and look forward to coming back. Seem like a well kept LA Secret....
(5)
D.J. D.
I don't understand how this place could get a bad review. This is the second time my husband and I visited with a Travelzoo voucher and each time has been exceptional. Outstanding customer service, delicious food, great ambiance. Its the Four Seasons. I wouldn't expect anything less.
(5)
Jennifer L.
Classy clientele? Check. Sexy ambience? Check check! What more can you expect from Four Seasons? The girls and I chose Culina for the 1st round of dineLA. First of all, I must commend them for the all-around excellent service we experienced throughout the night. From when our valet guy opened the door to when the doormen said goodbye as we left. The manager even took the time to greet each table. The service seemed very sincere. Stay classy Culina! Culina is your traditional Italian cuisine with a fresh contemporary twist. The Caprese was as fresh as can be. A handful of heirloom tomatoes sprinkled with extra virgin olive oil topped with burrata. I don't take a liking to cheese but the burrata had more of a creamy buttery taste. It was a nice balance between the tomatoes and cheese. The Alaskan Black Cod was cooked so soft it was like butter melting in your mouth. It was like it was still cooking as I was eating it because it was pretty much mush when i was almost done. The skin was cooked to a perfectly crispy texture. Dip that in the sweet onion fonduta, pair it with the bits of pancetta and it will be an experience you will never forget. I didn't think I'd like it but the caramelized brussel sprouts were insane. I couldn't stop eating them! They were very sweet and juicy. The night ended with rice pudding surrounded by a medley of fresh berries. It was ordered because Grant, our waiter, suggested it. I didn't have high expectations but this did not disappoint. The rice pudding was the right amount of sweet. The fresh berries gave it that sour tang. Definitely a winner! I have every intention of coming back and ordering off of the regular menu. Good times!
(4)
Ed K.
Had the good fortune to start off DineLA fall 2010 with this hidden gem of an Italian restaurant tucked away in the Four Seasons Beverly Hills hotel. Never having heard of it before but following the lead of fellow yelper Jean L, I made my way to the hotel entrance where valet parking is $6 with validation. It was a rainy day and while you can enter Culina directly from its outside entrance, I made a quick beeline for the hotel lobby entrance as not to ruin my nice shoes and found you can easily enter the restaurant by cutting through the hotel's lounge and bars. I arrived a little early so I decided to take a seat in the restaurants own cocktail lounge which was like a plush living room, complete with plasma tv showing the game for the night. The hostess was very friendly and let me hang out with a cocktail and free snacks until the rest of my group arrived. Being part of a big group, we got to try most every option on their 3 course menu, some of the highlight's included: Caprese a modo mio - a BIG yellow heirloom tomato topped in soft creamy burrata cheese, seasoned with basil and extra virgin olive oil. While at first it looks simplistic and almost lazy cooking, it was actually quite good as an opening appetizer once you took the time to cut it with a fork & knife Merluzzo Nero - Alaskan black cod with caramelized brussel sprouts, pancetta, sweet onion fonduta and red wine glassato. Buttery and soft almost like a sea bass but with stronger flavours, the brussell sprouts actually offered a nice crispy counterpoint to the flaky meat of the fish. Manzo - Niman ranch flat iron steak. I was expecting a rather thin and dainty slice of prime beef and instead what was served was a very healthy sized cut of cow, accented with various herbs, heirloom tomatoes and shaved parmigiano reggiano. Not expected from an Italian place, this had me wishing that I ordered the steak instead of the cod, and the slices I tried were fantastic Cannoli - crispy round cigars of desserty goodness bursting with gelato, topped with caramelized pistachios. I never thought an olive oil flavoured gelato would appeal to my taste buds but the whole combination worked wonderfully with the light pastry shell Affogato - vanilla bean gelato served in a glass with expresso poured in right at the table, melting the cotton candy topping in a display that made you feel like you weren't simply eating food, but enjoying a living, breathing work of art. Again, a winner of a dessert Service was attentive and quick, and the atmosphere of the dining room was fun, energetic but never felt crowded, noisy or obnoxious. Complements to whoever was in charge of the acoustics as we were able to speak with our inside voices and still enjoy dinner conversation along with our food. Because of the service and ambiance alone I'll definitely have to make a return visit in the near future.
(5)
Jay K.
I'm a huge fan of anything 4-seasons but this dining experience was probably one of the worst I've had in a long time. The server checked in with us - not once. My mother-in-law was pouring the wine (in front of the waiter and he didn't apologize or take over). There was no one who came after serving us so I could get pepper with my lamb chops. Food was mediocre at best. I wouldn't come back here.
(1)
Ray K.
Amazingly food. Superb service!! Ambiance to die for (outside) The cod is to die for. Tuna appetizer is a must have!!!!
(5)
Hovik N.
Meet up here with a few foodies for DineLA. This place was picked by Jean L. who I have infinite respect for when it comes places too eat. The ambiance is very pleasing and the set up inside the hotel is very well done. We did have to wait longer then expected to be seated even tho the place was not crowded. But if you know me at all you know I'm all about the food! Appetizer: Fichi: Figs in sheep's milk ricotta. Amazing! wow what flavors and the ricotta slight sweetness complimented the figs perfectly. Main Black Cod: I don't know what was surrounding the fish but it was cooked perfectly and was soft and flaky. Very very good! As far as fish goes this is about as much you can ask from a chef. Steak: WOW. I should have gotten the steak! I tryed a piece of my friends and was overtaken by the wounderful flavours of a good piece of meat! I'm a red meat kinda guy so I was in love. Dessert Cannoli: Just amazing! gelato and caramelized pistachios?!?! I could have ate 10 of them. I loved that it was only slightly sweet. It was just perfect. Total with the DineLA menu came out to be $44 WITH tax and tip! A steal, it was so good that I am going back again Sunday! But this time I'm getting the steak. Service is little lack luster for this type of restaurant but the food is just amazing.
(5)
German A.
Food was amazing. Really enjoyed all five courses with perfect wine pairings. Service was excellent and experience was incredible. Celebrated wedding anniversary here and chef came out during our meal and introduced herself. Antipasti had a great mix of salami, cheese, olives, nuts and marmalade. Pasta was delicious and fresh. Steak was amazing, perfectly cooked and seared on the exterior. Dessert was very good! Ambiance was great and interior design was nice.
(5)
Giang L.
We had the travelzoo dinner. I noticed that they placed all of us travelzoo diners out in the patio! the travelzoo menu said we'd have halibut. Unfortunately, the waiter informed us they were out of halibut and were going to serve salmon instead. However, we overhead another waiter tell non-travelzoo diners that they have an excellent halibut. I guess they ran out of travelzoo halibut...? The patio area is nice. We sat against the wall and like another reviewer mentioned, I didn't like how close I was to the next table over (it's too close when I can smell their perfume!). They really promoted their wine list. 95% of the wines listed can be ordered as a half bottle. They have a system that lets them store bottles for up to three weeks. So that's kind of neat. It's too bad they didn't even let us have a glimpse of the regular menu...but I know for sure it has halibut.
(3)
Michael V.
Normally I don't write a review until I've dined at a place 3 or more times, but here it is after only 2. This is a 4.5 review. My first visit was 5 star. The place was beautiful - especially the patio. The service was outstanding by Michael. This is the kind of excellent service I try to never expect because I'd be frequently disappointed. Michael was very attentive and able to educate on all facets of the menu. The food was magnificent. Yellowtail crudo was great, though easily the least of the dinner. The risotto balls were decadent and probably the best of all. The simple san marzano tomato spaghetti with added polpette was fantastic and the short rib entree was out of this world. The second visit was nearly as good as the first. The food was every bit as good, but the service dropped just a bit. We were served by Dale instead of Michael and he was good, but the place was busier the second time around and there four of us instead of two, so I won't dump on Dale for the slightly slower process and some martinis coming to the table warm and in need of re-shaking. The food this time was tonno crudo, all the salads, minestrone soup (just okay, but that's because minestroni is bland ass soup anyway), pizza salsiccia, branzino, rigatoni salsiccia, monkfish and veal. Amazing. The significant reason for dropping Dale's service is that he charged me for a bottle of wine we didn't order (or receive). I didn't notice this until the next day because I had to track Dale down and give him my credit card before my friend tried to grab the check - you know, that whole thing. So I didn't realize as I paid that there was an error. When I discovered it and notified Culina, they refunded the errant charge, which was $155.00, so all was good in the end. However, had I not taken a good look at the receipt, I would have been out all that $$. Official verdict: Excellent food and service. Well worth the trip and money. Just make sure to look over the bill before you pay!
(4)
Lisa S.
Everything here is top notch. The service is excellent!
(5)
Max N.
Impeccable service but the kitchen needs work still, the lamb cosciotto was almost burnt and most dishes were salty and left a salty aftertaste. The garlic sauce on the arancini was too strong and the arancini lacked originality. The ahi tuna was too thick and chewy.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Emily C.
Delicious and fresh food. It's more of a place for the older crowd. Dress up! We parked on the street in a nearby neighborhood because we might as well walk a little after our huge meal instead of valeting. The restaurant is located to the side of the Four Seasons. There is a Marilyn Monroe statue outside and it's fun to take pictures with. Service was great and we had a reservation so we were seated without a problem. A MODO MIO 5/5 Three tomatoes with burrata. Super fresh, very delicious. ORDER IT! RUSTICA KALE SALAD 4.5/5 A bunch of toppings tossed with kale salad. Again, very fresh. I would order it again. Get it. BRANZINO 3/5 The pictures on here don't do it justice. It looks so much better in person! Presentation wise, it was beautiful but it was quite fishy. I would not order it again. TORTINO 5/5 Omg get in my belly. 100% would order again. The tortino was so moist and delicious and went great with the honey gelato. The Whiskey Gelee was super strong, but I guess it is supposed to be consumed with the tortino and gelato.
(4)Mike S.
Arrived a bit early to meet an old friend for dinner. Was kind of directed to "wait" with no real direction as to where. Asked if the bar was closed...answer was no...question, can I sit at the bar...answer, sure. Think that question and answer should have not happened and the suggestion made to begin with. Needed to use the restroom and attempted to flag someone down to locate it...being given directions did not seem to be their strong suite. Well...after finally stepping in front of someone (the first three people looked and walked a different path), got to wash my hands. Got the sausage penne pasta...very bland Got the Cesar salad to start...tasty but nothing special When the meal was complete...we ask for coffee and was brought the bill. Something tells me I did not belong or at least was not welcomed. Maybe wearing jeans is frowned on...but wore a button down shirt with a collar even.
(1)Jessica W.
Located on the ground floor of the Beverly Hills' Four Seasons hotel (Doheny location as there are two Four Seasons Hotels in BH) Culina is an elegant yet casual restaurant offering an exquisite dining experience with both traditional and vegan options. Their knowledgeable and professional staff know the difference between being friendly and familiar vs intrusive, which is key in a setting where celebrities frequent. Also key is treating ALL customers well, whether they are recognizable or not and they manage to do this too. The Sunday Brunch is the place to be seen, but mid week boasts the classic power lunch. Some might find it overpriced but you're in Beverly Hills AT A HOTEL. What do you expect? The patio is comfortable and pleasant but few areas allowing for privacy. The food: Culina boasts having the first and only "Crudo Bar" in L.A. I no longer eat fish but my friends said it was great. They had the CAPPESANTE which is served with fava beans $14 and the TONNO which comes with salsa verde, capers, and micro parsley $12 I devoured the Rustica salad (Kale, Sundried Tomatoes, Ceci Beans, Pickled Lemon, Oregano, Almonds, Pecorino) and they made it without the cheese for me. $16. We also had the Chopped Salad Radicchio, Lettuce, Hearts of Palm, Zucchini, Corn, Tomato and Herb Vinaigrette. $18 It was great. They're open open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven nights a week. And they have great vegan and gluten free options if that is something that matters to you. Bring your appetite but also bring your wallet.
(4)Genesis R.
DON'T ORDER THE BRANZINO. (flavor was too fishy for what should be a very mild fish) extremely good wine list AND the wine stems were high quality, further enhancing the experience. they also brought over an ice bucket for the bottle of white that we ordered immediately without being asked. asparagus salad terrific as was the salmon crudo pizza was fine, but, truly, one can get pizza everywhere these days. also, not sure why the crust seemed so oily. parking was $12 WITH validation GREAT service (zach was our waiter, joey and alex at the crude bar and the bar). very little for vegetarians VERY PRETTY RESTAURANT --comfortable
(3)Gary I.
Appetizer/starters will be reviewed later: 2) Lasagna was the pasta portion of the meal & was Braised Leg of Lamb, Béchamel, Purple Kale, Mushrooms. Probably the lamb w/ the bone was simmered for hours since the meat was so soft & cushy. The lamb & bone infused the béchamel with a hyper-meaty Umami & made this white sauce into something that looked more like a meat ricreddish brown Salsa Bolognese. Topped w/ oozing melted Mozzarella, the Culina Lasagna was exquisite in a rustic, hearty manner. Be care as you eat since strings of Mozzarella will hang down from your fork & a string of Mozarella can land on your chin. A refreshing, bracing Ruccola Argente Verde/arrugula salad dressed simply in a bit of olive oil, light vinegar, salt was a great palate cleanser. This was my most favorite dish of the night. 2a) Brunello di Montalcino was full of fruit such as cherries, & black fruit, lightly smoky bouquet, and a nice smooth grapy finish was a good complement that upped the meaty, saucy, Umami rich lasagna. 3) Agnello/lamb: Ciabatta and Herb Crusted Lamb Rack, Heirloom Cauliflower, Mint Marmelata. As much as I like the ultra thick pieces of Carre d'agneau/lamb ribs, touch of Sauce Demi-glace cooked a pinkish medium rare so that the meat was moist, soft, lamby tasting, the combination of the strong herb crust & the Mint Marmelata/jam was overkill. The flavours clashed as well as being too busy in flavor so that the good quality of the lamb meat was lost in the sensory shuffle. Make it either the herb crust or the mint marmalata but not both which detracted from this dish. The cauliflower seemed flash seared & a bit of Aceto Balsamico & chopped herbs. 3a) Barolo is considered to be the uebermeister of all the Italian wines so the pairing of this vino nobile, I thought, was appropriate for the Agnello. Deep dark fruits, bit of tobacco, leather, nice tannins & bit of acid was a good accompaniment to the meatiness of the lamb. However, it did not pair so well with the overly sweet mint marmolata so I stopped using it as a dipping sauce. 4) Sometimes classic desserts should not be tinkered with too much. Tiramisu is just such a dish made of Savoiardi/lady fingers dipped in espresso matched with sweetened mascarpone cheese, eggs, powdered chocolate. The Culina version had Espresso Meringue, Coco Snow, Marsalla Foam. The white meringue was rather dry. The dried crushed roasted coffee bean on top of the dry meringue made this portion of the Tiramisu even more dessicated. The more traditional part of the Tiramisu, which would be the Savoiardi may have been soaked in espresso or Marsalla foam & the sweetened mascarpone, became almost an afterthought. I thought Caffe Americano would pair well but didn't seem to happen at least w/ this version of updated Tiramisu. Extremely pleasant outdoor dining that lasted a leisurely 4 1/2 hours. The service was very good & unrushed. Since the patio afforded a comfortable venue, even the other guests were sociable to the point we talked with two different parties with a bit of small talk. Food here is good, but there needs to be a bit more of a culinary awareness for that 4th star. Definitely 3+ Yelp stars.
(3)Laura D.
Relatively new place in the Four Seasons Bev Hills, with entrance off the parking lot. Very common, ordinary modern upgrade, a little dark, nothing special. The best (and almost only) good thing about this place was the very friendly staff and the fact that there was hardly anyone in the place so we got a lot of attention. My friend Alida likes weird food. She does not eat just ordinary normal food. Luckily they had raw fish dishes and that's what she had, for appetizer and main course. I'm not a sushi-type girl, so I could hardly look at her dishes. I had the grilled shrimp with arugula salad. Sounds simple, no? The shrimp came out undercooked. Big yuck. So I sent the plate back. Meanwhile, Alida ate her meal and she was finished by the time they came back with a new plate with shrimp, supposedly, cooked well. Still weren't cooked well and were sort of tasteless. I would only come back here if I happened to be here. Thought it was very overrated.
(2)Rebecca H.
Had a lunch meeting here at the Four Seasons this past week, though my boss is the regular here ..i find the lunch menu a bit lack luster for Vegetarians. The Lemonade was overly sour..but i must say the spaghetti when brought out had a very chewy texture and i didn't hate it! It was just really small ..and simple..which was fine. once again wished they had a bigger range for vegetarians.
(3)Pat C.
Located on the ground floor of the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills, this is the kitchen that fed our guests along with my wife and I on our wedding day a few years ago ; today we spent a very posh night in at the hotel ( thank you four seasons! And for the wonderful experience that was our wedding!!), so when it came to deciding where or what we were doing for dinner it was a no brainer ( per my review of the Four Seasons LA @ Beverly Hills) Everything from the house-made limoncello to the entrées were exquisite. This kitchen is something special, well worth going out of your way. Love this place, 5 stars.
(5)Joanne H.
Located inside the Four Seasons Beverly Hills this "Modern Italian" is a great choice in expensive BH. Beautiful Room and Outdoor Patio outstanding service and Interesting (not too expensive) Menu. Perfect location for special occasion or comfortable every day meal. Interestin menu with good choices well prepared. Cooking perhaps not the very best Italian in town but certainly quite acceptable.
(4)Britt H.
Came in on a Sunday evening. The hostesses looked good, really pretty. Although, I thought their short black dresses might not have been an appropriate choice. The ambiance was classy, and relaxing. I liked how they decorated. The Ladies' room was clean and the hand towels and lotion were a nice touch. Camden was a good server, attentive and friendly. Chilean Sea Bass was delicious and went well with the wine chosen for me. Dessert was decadent and amazing!!!
(4)Jessica M.
Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Cleanliness: 4.5/5 The Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills is known to be one the most beautiful hotels in the city, and that is a true statement! One step into the hotel and you are welcomed by beautiful decor, luxury, and great service. Culina Restaurant is one of two restaurants at the hotel and it's won numerous awards just one year after its grand opening in 2011. I've read that the restaurant is one of the hottest places to spot Hollywood celebrities on a regular basis, so if you want to get see some of your favourite stars, this might be a good place to start. We booked our 1,000 points OpenTable reservation for 6:45pm on a Monday evening, but we arrived a bit earlier because we had some time leftover. We asked the host if it was possible for them to seat us earlier and thankfully, we were seated in the main dining room soon after. As soon as we were seated, our waiter brought us our menus and asked if we wanted still or sparkling water. We opted for sparkling and then fell into a big dilemma on what to order for dinner. We decided to order an appetizer (antipasti) and a salad (insalate) to share, a main dish each, and a dessert to share as well. Our menu for the night: Antipasti: Polpo Alla Griglia ($14.00) Insalate: A Modo Mio ($14.00) Le Paste: Cappellacci ($26.00) - me Secondi: Merluzzo Nero ($38.00) - hubby Dessert: Tortino ($9.00) After we ordered, we started our dinner with the restaurant's classic focaccia bread. It was delicious and got my appetite asking for more food very quickly! Soon after, our appetizers were served. Overall, our dinner at Culina Restaurant was a very enjoyable one. We had superb service (though one of the servers refilled my sparkling water cup with still water by mistake), all the dishes were delicious and there was not one that we didn't like. In particular, my Cappellacci gave me a WOW factor that I can still vividly remember today. The restaurant seems like a place I'd come for brunch with my parents or girlfriends, or a romantic dinner again with my husband.
(4)Melanie D.
Happy hour review. Happy hour, or what they refer to as 'crudo hour' is M-F from 6-8PM in the bar area right next to the dining room only. They have select cocktails and wines for $7 and select beers for $5. Complimentary pistachios are served with drinks. Their happy hour food menu features a variety of appetizers, oysters, and crudo ranging from $2-9. The cocktails are interesting and made well. Bar staff is friendly and unpretentious. Happy hour is a welcomed addition to this beautiful place, as drinks can be quite expensive during regular hours. ** my dinner review is also available, if you have interest
(4)Digna B.
Took my friends from out of town. We had the Travel Zoo menu, a few choices of appetizers and Mains. It's a nice restaurant nestled inside the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. The patio area for dining was nice. Service was good. Food was good too! If you want to just have a nice relaxing lunch with friends, try this place. We didn't feel rushed at all, we just had a good time!
(4)Raiza C.
Valet only Service 1/5: our waiter seriously took FOREVER TO tend to us. Order wasn't taken until maybe 20 minutes after we were seated. The table who arrived after us got their orders in before we did! I really wasn't thrilled with the lack of attention we received for my party of 6. There was a lot of neglect and nothing to make up for what we experienced with the service. I really expected so much more considering it's connected to one of the best rated hotels in the area! Food: meh, I've had better. We ordered: Lobster risotto (their special) 2/5: one giant goob of porridge. Nothing too crazy about this dish except for the price they charge! You get a few specks of lobster here and there but it's mostly porridge - like risotto. No difference in color, they didn't even bother adding fresh parsley or pepper or cheese to make it look appealing. Rack of lamb 3/5 probably the better dish of the evening. It's seared lamb coated in their herb crusted seasoning. I thought the sauce was a bit much as it masked the taste of lamb, but it was tender and cooked pretty well. Bolognese 3/5: my dish. I was very excited for this one but the flavors were kind of monotonous, lackluster, and bland. They pureed the sauce so it was mush plopped on to pasta. Again, monotone and no difference in color or texture. I get that they're trying to maintain the traditional style, but for $24 dollars, portion can be a little bit more generous and how about a sprig of greenery in there? Ravioli 2/5: an oily mess is all I can say. They have this bacon wrapped egg yolk in the middle of the plate for an attempt at fancy but you get 4 little pieces and nothing in the filling but an ooze of oil and specks of filling. This fine dining has failed in my book and will definitely not be returning anytime soon as it really didn't leave a lasting impression on me. I'd rather go to osteria mama on Melrose and get my fix for really good, authentic Italian food!
(3)Bruce N.
I love this place for meetings, quiet, paparazzi free allow for those great meetings with notables. The happy hour bar and food menu are delightful with many items heavily discounted..the breakfast are terrific.service is very solicitous, friendly and helpful.. I am a Benedict fan and they do an absolutely dynamite job at this as well as their various juices which can be ordered to your liking from the table.
(4)Diana B.
My first experience here was truly an unforgettable one. The staff are very friendly and welcoming. Their food truly is fresh and made with such detail, delicious ingredients and great seasoning. An appetizer we had was a crudo sample plate and all of them were so delicious. My favorite was the Salmon that had a tangerine in top, deliciously flavorful and fresh! For the main course I had rigatoni and it was very good. The pasta felt as if it was freshly made as well as the seasoning and sausage. It left me very full but not that nasty I can't breathe kind of full. Following that we had tiramisu and it honestly is the best tiramisu I've ever had! Each bite you could taste the layer of flavors! Through out our entire time their the waiter was so attentive and so kind! He, along with the rest of the staff truly made this first time a night to remember.
(5)Nancy N.
Came here for lunch with a few girlfriends yesterday and it was a lot of fun! We had our own private area, the place is beautiful, the service was impeccable and the food was delicious! Our waitress recommended a very nice Pinot Grigio for me, and I loved it!! I typically don't like Pinot Grigio! To start I had their Kampachi I was going to get the soup of the day which was tomato funnel but I found out it comes in a big serving and I just wanted some thing light to start. The Kampachi was perfect, it was sprinkled with salt and promegrante! Beautiful and delicious! For my entree , I got the Branzino and it was AMAZING!!! I don't even like Branzino but it was very very scrumptious here! The skin was nice and crispy and the flavoring was light but still packed with a lot of oomph. A girlfriend of mine pointed out that the lemon that came with the fish was not properly wrapped in mesh. This is so funny because I thought only I would notice stuff like that! But it's good to know I am not alone , and I quickly realized that it would have bothered my husband as well if he had to squeeze the lemon without a mesh because the seed would have popped onto his entree and the juices would have ran everywhere. Just something to note. Get the Branzino if you are a fish lover! To finish I had the Affogato! My girlfriend pointed it out to me since my husband has gotten me hooked on this dessert. Cucina tops it off with cotton candy!! And the minute the espresso is poured over it half of it would collapse into the dessert - thus adding more sweetness. See photo for demonstration! And unlike the other hotels in the area of the same caliber the Four Seasons has free valet if you're dining there for lunch, so please remember to tip the valet guys generously! Speaking of valet guys, they're top shelf here! I drove here with the top off and when I came out 3 hours later it was SO windy and cold. My girlfriends and I had to hover by the outdoor heater with the valet guys blocking the wind for us and when my car was brought around they had put the top up and adjusted my heater for me! So attentive!! I can't wait to come back! Oh and lunch here this time ran about $92 (including tip and tax) per person. However with the free valet it's still less than what I would have spent had I gone to lunch at another hotel down the street. Cheers!
(4)KayRenee H.
I've been meaning to come back to Culina for DineLA, but due to circumstances beyond my control, I ended up back there with another Travelzoo voucher. Yeah, I know. My bad. They did have some new menu choices, which I appreciated. Culina stepped its game up from my last visit! We had a really great appetizer, filet and Seabass. All of the dishes were worth returning for. As always, service was amazing. Our server, Joey, gave great cocktail recommendations and was super accommodating. It was a genuinely personal experience. Now I want to go back for their brunch I keep hearing about! I want to try out more of the menu!
(5)Kim T.
Culina - from the Latin word for "kitchen" - infuses modern technique with traditional Italian cuisine to create a fashionable dining experience. Simply put: the decor is divine, the portions are perfect and the ambiance is everything you'd expect from a Four Seasons. Whether you choose to dine over small plates and wine, spend the evening at the authentic crudo bar, or dine in the garden or the wine room, you won't be disappointed. Here's what we ordered: POLENTA CROCCANTE (crispy polenta. prosciutto. parmesan. spicy tomato sugo) -. lackluster in everything but description. Polenta I've realized taste like nothing and when left to it's own device, is nothing more than a depressed obese french fry. CARPACCIO DI MANZO (prime filet. lemon oil. toma brusca. sautéed bone marrow. fresh horseradish. chives) - nice, classically prepared carpaccio. PORCHETTA DI MAIALE (confit pork belly. celery root puree. blood orange gastrique. crispy cipolini.) - one of my favorite dishes of the night. The porchetta is super crispy without being dry and is in fact, incredibly tender. This has to be one of the most flavorful porchettas I've ever had and is more reminiscent in my mind to lechon than to porchetta. GNUDI (ricotta dumplings, braised oxtail, brussel sprouts) - definitely the best pasta we had for the night. The sauce is thick and coats each soft and pillowy gnudi perfectly. CHITARRA AL NERO DI SEPPIA (squid ink spaghetti, maine lobster, chorizo, calabrian chili, bottarga) - a great briny pasta that's kicked up a notch by the chorizo. Love the kick. BRANZINO (mediterranean sea bass. tomatoes. capers. lemon) - another well prepared dish, the branzino was perfectly cooked, tender and herbaceous. MANZO (niman ranch rib eye. herb oil. heirloom cherry tomatoes. shallots. parmigiano reggiano.) - I'm a steak lover but I felt this steak was totally under seasoned. Pass. TIRAMISÚ (espresso. meringue. coco snow.) - This place makes a damn good tiramisu. Light with just the right amount of richness and coffee, the meringue added a nice contrasting snap to this smooth and delicious dessert.
(4)Anna S.
We came here last night for my friends birthday. Our waiter was Zack, who was really good and attentive the whole time. For our main course, my husband ordered the rib eye steak, asking for it to be medium rare. When the steak came out, it was way more than medium rare - even more than medium, which he didn't mind as much as his steak being mostly all fat. My husband kindly asked our server to take it back and ordered the lamb chops. A little after, the manager came up to him with a raw piece of steak, trying to prove my husband wrong - saying that rib eye has a lot of fat. But it didn't even get cooked how he asked. My husband and our friends were appalled to see this. He has ordered rib eye many times before and knows how it should be. You don't ever try to argue with a customer over food, ever, especially at a place like the Four Seasons. It was very unprofessional. Also, my friend who's birthday it was ordered pasta and when she got it, said it was undercooked so she sent it back. Later I asked her how it was after they brought it out the second time, she said it was still undercooked. Anyway, I was really looking forward to eating here since we've been here for a wedding and the food was fantastic and delicious. Unfortunately was very disappointed last night with the food quality and the unprofessional way the manager handled it.
(2)R. W.
A full range of top-shelf foods, outstanding service, and wonderful ambience. Arguably the best Sunday brunch in LA. Kid friendly with a really excellent kids' section--so good we frequently sneak food from it. You simply cannot go wrong with brunch here. Make reservations; they get extremely busy.
(5)Nikki B.
I love dining at hotels so I'm so happy we got a deal at Culina at the Four Seasons Hotel in LA. My friend and I had lunch here today. We used a travelzoo voucher, which covers lunch for 2. The hotel is not that big, but it's nice. Valet parking is complimentary if you dine at the restaurant. Sweet! We chose to sit outside in their patio since it was such a beautiful day. My friend and I ordered the same appetizer and entree for both of us. We ordered the following - Heirloom tomato with cheese and basil seeds - really nice presentation and tastes pretty good too! Its a big tomato topped with cheese and basil seeds sprinkled on it. 4/5 Chicken Parmesan- the chicken was baked perfectly and has the right amount of cheese on it. It came with an arugula salad. 4/5 Complimentary bread and olive oil- the bread was soft and oh soooo good. We had to ask for more! 5/5
(4)Melanie S.
We used the dinner-for-two travelzoo voucher to dine here. No hassles when making the reservation. Everyone was very professional. The food and service was excellent!!! Unlike some other places I read on yelp, this place did not treat us like a second class citizen despite the voucher. We will definitely come back!!!! Tips: no free valet, but you get a discounted price if you dine here.
(5)Megan M.
I love this place! My boyfriend and I found this place on Blackboard Eats. I had never heard of it, as I usually don't pay too much attention to restaurants in hotels. The atmosphere is chic and modern. From the moment we walked in, the hostess led us to a bustling dining room. Our waiter was attentive and very helpful. We were brought bread and water immediately, and no one rushed us as we debated what to order. We started with the burrata and the scallops. I don't eat seafood but my boyfriend loved the scallops. I thought the burrata was done creatively, and loved the seasoning. We then ordered the sausage appetizer. This dish was delicious! I've never seen it done this way in a nice restaurant, but loved the way different condiments were displayed with the bread. The manager came out and brought us free cauliflower and meatballs. He also poured us some wine. The service was really impeccable, and they were really making all the right moves to entice loyal customers. We then had our pasta dishes, the rigatoni and the ravioli. My personal favorite was the ravioli which was a play on traditional carbonara. I have to say, I think my favorite dish was the hazelnut milk chocolate mousse. It played on a lot of different flavors and consistencies, and it was truly delicious. We will definitely be back!
(5)Felicia K.
The food was amazing! Staff and manager very friendly! Wasn't sure what to order and their suggestions were perfect from the rosé to the meatball they brought out so delish.
(5)Carla R.
I have been here for dinner, lunch, late night dessert and happy hour (certainly not all in one day but on different occasions) - i have always had great food and impeccable service. The happy hour cocktails tend to be on the weak side though. Thumbs up on the Arancini, Polenta, Chitarra al nero di seppia, polpette and tortino for dessert. Valet parking is $9 with validation.
(5)Morgan J.
Although this place is quite expensive, it is beyond worth the splurge. Inside the luxury Four Seasons Hotel, there's plenty of outside, inside, and lounge seating with a luxe, modern, and very chic ambience--perfect for a date or special occasion. There's even a live band Thursday-Saturday that goes on at 9:30. The staff is excellent and very knowledgable of the menu, more than happy to tell you their personal favorites if you're not quite sure what to get. And the food? Let's just say my mouth couldn't move fast enough to eat the mushroom risotto--seriously the BEST I've ever had! Sadly, it's not a regular item on the menu, but if you go and it's one of the specials, you have to get it. I'll definitely be back here the first chance I get.
(5)Emma B.
I was here 2x. First was for Christmas dinner. The buffet selection was pretty good and the price I thought was reasonable compare to other Christmas buffet at other 5 starts hotels. They had diff selection of caviars, nice salads options and cold appetizers. The 2 stars was for the 2nd time. Went there since our friend bought the tripadvisor deal. Service was so so.. food was terrible. None that we ordered were good. Branzino was fishy, the black ink pasta was tasteless, the tenderloin was chewy eventhough I ordered medium rare, jidory chicken just simply boring. Not sure what happened back in the kitchen , maybe diff chef??
(2)Victoria V.
Amazing service and absolutely delicious food! Love the outside patio and lovely garden. I had the amberjack crudo (think Italian sashimi) with pomegranate reduction and the salmon with beluga lentils. My grandmother (who barely eats anything) went to town on the prosciutto and burrata sandwich! Must try the affogato for dessert (tableside espesso on melted cotton candy and ice cream)! Their managers Josh and Shantel were very nice and invited us to come by for their new happy hour. They will definitely see me again and my grandmother when she's visiting from Canada.
(5)Melissa L.
My husband and I tried this place for our Friday night, date night through a deal we purchased through GiltCity last year. We valeted the car at the hotel and once inside, we were seated quickly and an intimate table. It was quiet and a good date restaurant (most of the people around us were on dates). The Gilt deal had a 4 course menu and included a cocktail or prosecco. Also, included a bottle of still or sparkling water. I started with the prosecco. With dinner, we ordered a bottle of wine. Overall, the food was good and the items that stood out included: A Modo Mio (burratta & tomatoes) Jidori chicken Mushroom Risotto My only complaint, it was very cold inside the restaurant. I was wearing a dress, but I definitely needed a light jacket, as well. Thank goodness for cocktails to warm you up.
(4)Jeff S.
Relaxed elegant dining. You can feel the relaxed vibe from every member of the staff. However, the service will be exceptional. Everything I've had here is perfect. House-made sausage appetizer, burrata with heirlooms, bolognese, Branzino, Salmon, pizza. Everything will be perfect. Even if you bring kids, the kids will be perfect. That's just how it is there. I love this place.
(5)Sonja H.
Alex behind the bar and Joey at Crudo were amazing! They spoiled us!! Rebekah the wine sommelier sent out pairings with the chefs special & multiple other courses.. Couldn't have asked for a better meal very talented kitchen staff, food was amazing!
(5)betzalel l.
Although all of their dishes were good - we had the arancini with pork belly and the tono crudo- the homemade pasta dishes are not to be missed. We did the rigatoni with garlic sauce and fennel sausage which was great and the spaghetti and meatballs were unbelievable. I will def be back for more of their handmade pasta. Also, the location in the four Seasons is beautiful, plus they have a nice patio. And any restaurant connected with the four Seasons is going to have absolutely perfect service, and they didn't dissapoint.
(5)Loreta B.
Just returned after experiencing an amazing dining experience at this true culinary masterpiece. My sister and I are spending a long weekend at the Four Seasons on Doheny. We heard so many consistently wonderful comments about this restaurant so we decided to experience the restaurant. From the time we entered the restaurant, we felt as if we were kings and queens. On arriving at the restaurant, we were greeted by Amir and Ms Rogers who were so sincere and caring and we both felt that they were sincerely pleased that we were dining in Culina. It was easy to understand why. They so believed in the restaurant and were so enthusiastic with the presentations that they could not help but to transmit this spirit to guests. This restaurant is beautiful and I would urge readers to sit in the outdoor garden. There is nothing more romantic then sitting in this garden full of fresh plants, trees and flowers. Our server was Ella and I would urge requesting her. She was knowledgeable about the menu but her goal was to match menu chices with guests desires. We started the meal with focaccia which was "to die for". It had a crispy crust but was very fresh. I than had the panzanella salad. It was delicious, had some watermelon in it and was flawless. My sister had an unusual presentation of burata stuffed in a tomato that was amazing. For main course, we shared a ribeye and a pasta dish. The steak was properly cooked and seasoned to perfection. The desserts consisted of many dishes along with homemade sorbets that bring out three letters-OMG. There was homemade gelato and sorbet with combinations of flavors. There was a peanut butter and jelly sorbet, pomegranate blackberry sorbet and other flavors. In my opinion it is a must restaurant and I cannot wait to return.
(4)David C.
This review is for the Sunday brunch buffet. I've had better for a much lower price. $69 per person is the going rate here. Not to say there wasn't a lot to love here. The salmon crunch rolls with tempura bits on top was amazing. The prime rib carving station over satiated my need for beef. The sea bass in cream sauce tasted incredible, which is why I had to go back for seconds and thirds. The jumbo shrimp in garlic and spicy sauces were delightful. I loved how they served pastries straight off the cooling rack, warm and gooey fresh out of the oven. There was a donut station where fresh donuts were served hot out of the fryer and you could garnish it however you wanted with chocolate or sprinkles or powdered sugar. They had an omelet bar and standard breakfast fare. The eggs benedict was awesome too. However, Maison Akira in Pasadena serves a better executed Sunday brunch for half the price. Castaway in Burbank serves a more impressive brunch with many more items and a killer view for a lot less. I can now say I've tried Four Seasons but I will probably never go back.
(3)Nicole L.
The garden setting here is serene and beautiful, truly the best in town. The authentic Italian food is also delicious and service is excellent!
(5)Kel F.
Culina is an oasis in Beverly Hills. A chic, trendy interior with pops of bright color and design lends itself to a culinary atmosphere of those "in the know." I absolutely loved my lunch al fresco--their serene outdoor patio has tables nestled in amongst the palms and waterfall. The lunch menu had a great variety--lots of salads, entrees and a few tasty looking sandwiches & burgers. Culina is known for their crudo, so we naturally started with some Hawaiian kampachi with jalapeno, watermelon and cherry tomato as well as my first time trying sea urchin! Their ricci di mare was so flavorful and rich. My main was the branzino--perfectly cooked with capers, lemon and light greens. It was simple and perfect. The large salads that my lunch dates devoured looked incredible as well and I might need to try next time. Fresh iced tea, constantly refilled with a smile and excellently homemade bread only added to the experience. You can tell every morsel is handmade from local, farm fresh ingredients. I hear their pastries are to die for so next time, I'm getting dessert!
(5)Brittany F.
It's been a long time since I ate here and after incredible lunch here I can admit it was way too long. Pleasant atmosphere, wonderful food with fresh ingredients and free valet are making this a must on my lunch spots. Soft foccacia arrives as you look over a menu of things like crudos, sandwiches, handmade pastas and pizzas. The ricciola, which was Hawaiian yellow tail with persimmon, diced pear and chive was a melody of flavors that worked so well together. Who would have thought this combinations would work over a piece of yellowtail? The kampachi, which was amberjack was also great although, I found the raw celery root to have an off putting texture. There are so many wonderful sounding things on this menu that I found it hard to choose. I wanted to try everything. I decided on the salmon with venetian black rice, basil, shallots and tomatoes. It was a perfect medium rare. The fish was delicate and flaky and the rice brought a lovely texture and color to the dish. I can't wait to come back and try their pastas, pizzas, salads and meats. There really is something for everyone on this menu.
(5)Mia C.
The pork belly here was AH-MAZING. I could have had the appetizer as an entree. I had the hangar steak which was also delicious. They brewed fresh green iced tea for me which was a nice customer service touch. The ambiance was perfect -- al fresco dining, dimly lit, fireplace close by, and intimate. Our server was well knowledgeable on the menu and drinks. I expect nothing less from the Four Seasons. Afterwards, I hung out at their bar, Windows which had a live band. The music was too 40 mixed with 70s hits, and the singer thought loudness equates to high quality singing. I still found it amusing/entertaining.
(5)Lucy K.
We came here because of a Gilty City deal. I can honestly say I was a little worried about the food because most of the items were things we wouldn't particularly order when dining out - but we were so happy with everything. We started wtih Mele e Finocchio and A Modo Mio. The Finocchio is basically a salad of fennel, pink lady apples, dates and almonds with a sherry vinaigrette. What a pleasant surprise. It was fresh and tangy and so tasty! I really loved this dish. The Mio was basically a take on Tomatos with Mozzarella. I love burratta so it tasted delish to me. The second course was a mushroom risotto which was rich and had a nice mix of mushrooms. I thought it was great, the portion wasn't too big as to make it too heavy of a dish. The third course I had the Jidori Chicken and he had the salmon. My husband loved the crispy skin on it -took it ot the next level for him. I am not normally a polenta fan but i thought it was SO FREAKING GOOD in this dish. The chicken was tender, the sauce poured over the polenta was perfect, it was soft and buttery. So good! For dessert we had rice pudding and tiramisu. Two desserts I don't particularly like. They both tasted good but weren't very special dishes to me.
(4)Giulianna N.
Wonderful overall experience! The hubby and I recently hosted a Sunday Brunch baby shower in one of their private dining rooms and I am happy to report we had excellent service from start to finish! From the planning stage, the events manager Kimberly, was extremely professional and accommodating and made all the arrangements for any special requests we had.On the actual day of the event, all of the servers were extremely courteous to my guests and made everyone feel welcomed. As for the food itself, the Sunday brunch selection was outstanding!!! Everyone was very delighted with the meal, seriously just slap on an all-you-can-eat invitation for my friends and everyone came crawling out of the wood-works for this occasion! Their selection included a wide variety of traditional American breakfast items, international cuisine and special dietary food stations for gluten free, as well as kids stations, etc. My guests enjoyed items from their traditional breakfast bar including made to order egg omelets with all the fix-ins, items from the dim sum & taco stations, a large selection of salads and cutting stations, fresh pressed juices to dessert stations, while my plate was consistently stacked high with belgian waffles, crispy bacon strips and short ribs all covered in maple syrup... oh yeah and a side of vegetables to, you know, 'keep it healthy'. The entire experience was top-notch and this pregnant-mama had a great party!
(5)Caroline A.
3.5 stars. We came in for a late breakfast, and I thought it was just ok. The restaurant itself is lovely. Snag yourself a seat outside on a nice day. Once we were seated, the service was incredibly slow. Our server somehow ditched us, and another server came to take our order 15 minutes later. We had our food 35 minutes after that. I did like all of the menu options, especially their healthy options and fresh squeezed juices. Bill and I both had the breakfast burrito with egg whites. Have it without the spinach wrap for a nice low carb breakfast. Both kids had scrambled eggs with bacon. They seemed to enjoy it. Considering we were on a time crunch, the service was incredibly frustrating. Not sure we would ever come back.
(3)Jane S.
We decided to have our double date night at Culina during DineLA in January. We planned on ordering from the DineLA menu, but we changed our minds once we took a look at the regular menu. I'm glad we were offered the regular menu. Our server was also helpful with going over the wine list. Service was attentive even though we were sitting on the patio. The temperature outside was perfect and the heat lamps nearby were an extra plus. The kampachi and arancini were tasty and perfect to sample before our main dishes arrived. We left with no regrets!
(4)Rachel R.
Waited an hour for our wine. The salmon was fishy with terrible flavor pairing. The bruschetta was frozen in the center (seriously, did they microwave it?!). The bolognese tasted like a dish from the kids menu at IKEA. All in all the food was very bad. The place looks great, but at the $200 level, the service and especially the food should be a lot better.... Sadly the table beside us was having all of the same problems, I sincerely think Culina needs a makeover.
(1)Cassandra Y.
The Service: Again, the service is "A+"!! All the staffs provide excellent customer service. Special thanks to the General Manager, Joseph Ramaglia, for his hospitality. Great recommendation on all the dishes!! One he knows our taste, he knows exactly what dishes we would enjoy. The Food: TARTARE DI DENTICE - red snapper. tomato marmelata. fennel. castelveltrano. parsnip crisp. (The red snapper is super fresh & tender. This dish is so refreshing.) POLENTA - croccante crispy polenta. prosciutto. parmesan. spicy tomato sugo. (LOVE the spicy tomato sugo, a little kick to go with the crispy polenta) SALSICCIA CASERECCIA - house made pork sausage. grilled flatbread. seasonal fruit mostarda.(very interesting dish~ pork sausage with fig mostarda) INSALATE MELE E FINOCCHIO - pink lady apples. fennel. medjool dates. sicilian almonds. piave. sherry vinaigrette. (the dressing is so light. The dish has lots of texture! FUN~) BUDINO - coffee and hazelnut budino. caramel. crème fraiche. (OMG!! It is heavy but not overpowering. The crunchy hazelnut & toffee candy on top of the budino.... so addictive!) The food is very authentic. Very fresh ingredient. We sat in front of the Crudo Bar. So much fun seeing the chef in action preparing the food. Everything is made to order. Love the presentation on the plates, just like piece of art! What a pleasant dinning experience! Culina is now one of my favorite restaurants in LA. Will definitely be the regular customer there!
(5)Bomi L.
Furniture has many stains on the fabric. My Tatar red snapper was not fresh, I sent it back. Squid ink pasta was the worst I ever had. They need to learn from Drgo Centro and Celestino how to make the squid ink past right! Scallop crudo was salty and pretty bad. Il Grano knows how to do crudo right! The waitress and the chef said their fish was fresh! What could iIsay? They did not show any apologies at that night, Totally ruined my husband's birthday dinner. BBE code gave me 30%off but still not worth the money. Espresso sorbet was like iced coffee, coffee has no taste , like water. No water refill for a while. Steak was ok. Fingering potato was like breakfast potato. Not coming back! After 3 weeks the manger left me a message. what do they want? who knows.
(1)N J.
really unimpressed w/the execution and flavors of the food. went for dinela and besides the scallop, which i liked, everything else was highly forgettable. don't think i'd return. full review w/pix on my site.
(2)Crystal L.
Went for the much ballyhooed Sunday brunch. I was very disappointed and frankly feel like this may be one of the biggest rip offs in LA. I have no idea what (if any) drinks were included in the way over-priced $69 brunch because our waiter seemed to have a "less is more" philosophy when it came to service. I'm not sure he said 10 words to us the entire time. I had to find HIM to ask if I might get a Mimosa. I thought I had heard there was a "make your own Bloody Mary" bar but if there was, I have no idea where it was. That was a theme throughout the entire brunch. There is food basically shelved everywhere - and there's really no way to get a clear idea of what is where. For the first 10 minutes I walked around and felt like there was absolutely nothing I wanted to try. I mean - nothing. There appears to be someone making omelettes but you're going to have to search 'em down because they're hiding behind a rather paltry display of breakfast foods. There may or may not be a waffle station - I couldn't say although I did see another chef hiding behind the breakfast area but no real idea what they were offering. Correction, they weren't "offering" anything. Same deal with the dim sum station. There are some steamers basically sitting in a corner. I tracked someone down to ask about them. Otherwise you would just think it was kitchen equipment sitting out. I saw what appeared to be a raw bar sitting rather high up on a shelf area - that's one way to ensure that not many people eat the pricey items I guess. I don't eat sushi so I basically paid at least $70 (again, not sure what if any drinks were included) for an omelette that was no better than one at Norms, some really sub-par "truffled" potatoes, and a few boring dumplings. I was happy when I finally found the kids table but the mac n cheese was almost surely Kraft's blue box and the mini grilled cheese was dull and greasy. The food is marked so poorly and organized so haphazardly that I really can't tell if I missed out on anything that might have been better. I can tell you I left feeling completely ripped off, angry and certain that I will never return. LA's best brunch? This isn't even close.
(2)David V.
Been coming here for years and love the staff and the new menu but as of 2015 you can no longer smoke cigars here. However we were allowed to smoke during the academy awards. I figure they have lost business with us not being able to go and smoke and have drinks and dinner especially since the cigar smokers order many drinks usually. Sad to announce that this is one more Cigar Unfriendly place to add to LA.
(1)Alessandra A.
I would say one of the best restaurants I've ever dined at! Michael, our server, was excellent!!! Have great suggestions! All of our food was very original and absolutely delicious!!!! Cannot wait to come back here!! Best scallops I've ever had!
(5)Kristen Q.
I had the privilege of enjoying appetizers outside on the patio (champagne, horderves, etc.) for a private event and then a late dinner in the private dining room created for intimate events, but in our case, a business event. I enjoyed the beauty of the fire lamps and the polite staff being prompt about serving appetizers and unlimited champagne/drinks made-to-order. Not one of the staff members was snooty for such an upscale venue. Late into the night, we dined and again, the staff was very accommodating and I had sashimi with a glass of red and a glass of white wine. RICCIOLA hawaiian yellow tail. diced pear. pink peppercorn.chive. 12 TONNO ahi tuna. olive. lemon. basil oil. 12 TARTARE DI DENTICE red snapper. fennel. tomato marmellata. castelvetrano. parsnip crisp. 13 KAMPACHI hawaiian amberjack. watermelon. tomato. jalapeno. micro cilantro. 12 I had all of the above, and (sadly) honestly, with sashimi, I cannot tell the difference (blindly) between red snapper, albacore, white tuna, and yellowtail. They all taste very similar at various places. Sure, some places are *very* bad and the fish is stringy but at most places it's really either a thinner cut or more moist, closer to "melt-in-your-mouth" but really not a huge difference. And, then there's always the basil oil or various other oils or ponzu sauces added atop which distort the natural flavor of the fish. And, also, I am not a wine snob---whether it's a $75 glass of Quintessa or a $25 bottle of Alouette Pinot Noir== I love them both and the latter even more:) This is a fancy schmancy joint for a special occasion, it's peaceful and not too packed so perfect for an intimate conversation with your date.
(3)Laura P.
I went for a business lunch on Monday and the waiter recommended the 4 course prix lunch: soup-a vegetable with risotto, a salad ( arugula & watercress-I opted to not have watercress) a main entree of filet mignon and a dessert that looked like a mousse. The restaurant is beautiful and the ambiance is lovely. There was a whitish sauce on the Filet that tasted strange so i would try scraping it off throughout the meal. The soup was wonderful and the salad was ok. The filet was delicious and tender. I got violently ill later that day, evening and throughout the wee morning hours. I am assuming I had food poisoning and that it was from the sauce that tasted strange. I have put several calls into the hotel & restaurant but no one has called me back. It is a very high end hotel and restaurant so it's disappointing when no one calls you back
(2)Grace S.
Love the decor of this place , ambiance is very relaxing , place is not to loud. Perfect for romantic and relaxing dinner or even lunch. PARKING: for lunch its a complimentary parking brunch and dinner : they will validate your parking SERVICE: They are very attentive and they attend to all our request which is a big plus . They are polite and made sure we have the best time which I absolutely love. And our waitress is knowledgable with the menu which is a good plus. and able to explain every single dish we ordered . PLACE: I love the outdoor , its just simply relaxing . i heard many complains of other yelpers about the noise level. its pretty standard for me , a casual meal and can definitely can have a comfortable chat .the scenery are simply gorgeous . modern yet with a warm touch of nature mediterranean style. FOOD: I love the complimentary bread they serve while you are waiting for your meal . their faltbreads and breadstick are light . I like as well how they serve it to you so pretty . *Arancini : The truffle risotto croquettes , the size is perfect for single bite. not too salty and very rich in flavor. Gnochi lobster , peas black truffle: its light , fluffy but it doesnt have the creamy texture i am looking for . Branzino: the capers tomatoes and lemon a perfect combination to draw out the real flavor of delicious fresh sea bass. it just complete my meal love this place but these are one of the dishes stands out with me alot . my boyfriend like the ravioli and Mandarino: Wild Arugula, Shaved Fennel, Pomegranate, Hazelnut, Black Olives w/ Tangerine Citronette and pork belly and if you are not a drinker , you can special request for a cocktail that has no alcohol :)
(5)Azita M.
I was really looking forward to a nice dinner at Culina, but left pretty disappointed. The service was great and the restaurant has beautiful ambiance (although seriously, get your music selection in order - this isn't a dance club), but the food is mostly just okay, and some of it is simply bad. And yes, I know that the restaurant is in Beverly Hills and whatnot, but the prices are so out of line with the quality of the food, that it's jarring. The pork chop ($34) was tough, but had pretty good flavor, and came with some really delicious pureed butternut squash. The squid ink and lobster pasta ($34) was bland, overly salty, and skimped on the lobster. The mushroom pizza ($18) and the clam/lemon pizza ($16) were dry, bland, overly-salty, and generally really awful. The pear and fig crumble ($11) was bland and boring. The marzipan gelato and the chocolate/orange/toffee gelato were SERIOUSLY delicious, but at $11 each, they inspired Portlandia-esque wisecracks ("Oh, were the cocoa beans used in this gelato hand-harvested by artisan Columbian mountainfolk who say a prayer for every batch picked? Are there gold-leaf flakes sprinkled atop this ice cream?"). Ultimately, we left Culina very underwhelmed. It's a "fancy" restaurant, but absolutely not worth the price - and frankly, those gross pizzas were not worth any price. Oh, and the cherry on top is that after you've spent over $200 at their restaurant, they still make you pay for parking ($9). So tacky.
(2)Andrew K.
A mixed and ultimately negative experience. The ambiance was beautiful (especially the outdoor patio) and Judi Dench was dining there and the food was all solid. My friend who had lived at this four seasons for a month has been raving about this place and finally took me for breakfast. I am Paleo and did ask for some substitutions (per usual - I go out to eat for every meal). I ordered their custom juice and it was delicious. I had about a third of a glass left and the busser grabbed it without asking - and zipped away. I felt there was no way of stopping him without making a scene. Then the food came out. My friend's toast was charred to a crisp and inedible. The waitress never checked on us, so we let her know at the end (about the toast and the juice) and even showed her the toast. No apology - just attitude. She said she would tell the kitchen. I told her I was there on business. She did not bring an itemIzed receipt and when I asked for it she seemed totally annoyed. On my way out, I asked the hostess for the email address if the place mentioning we had some issues. She have me the hostess email address and seemed to ignore my suggestion re: issues. I was so annoyed I called the restaurant - and the phone rang and rang - no answer and no voicemail. So I called the main hotel and let them know. Update: I spoke with management from the hotel and they were helpful, kind and responsive - held to Four Seasons standards.
(2)Stuart B.
Everything about this restaurant was great. We stayed at the hotel so were pretty much comped for breakfast every morning. I'd say for breakfast, you're definitely going there for the ambiance and the "show" (deal conversations and the occasional celebrity you might see -- we were 3 tables away from Harry Connick Jr. one morning) The prices for breakfast a quite high otherwise -- we weren't there on a Sunday so we missed brunch. For dinner we were amazed. The best appetizer to get is the risotto which we were told has been a mainstay since day one. The other appetizers we got which were sushi based were amazing. We tried two. Each one had 5 different flavors that you experience simultaneously. Mains were very good too. I got pork-rack one night and veal the next. My GF tried the chicken and also the ribeye. Desserts are also amazing we tried 2. One was a mixture of everything and one was mostly ice cream. Black russians as always were also very well made. Service top notch every time we went. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Both very comfortable. We had a 4 night stay in LA and were so impressed, we went here for the first and last nights.
(5)C. K.
My boyfriend and I came here for the Sunday brunch at the Four Seasons Hotel to celebrate our anniversary. We loved the spread they had---it was divided amongst 3 rooms with a very diverse, international array of foods for brunch in addition to the classic american breakfast items. They also have a juicing bar available! Everything tasted wonderful and was presented beautifully. We couldn't get to all the stations because there were so many items---all the more reason to return a second time. The service here is great, we appreciated how everyone from the doormen, hostess, and servers were incredibly welcoming. We can't wait to come back and look forward to our next visit!
(5)Vanessa L.
I have not yet dined Culina. Only wined Culina. And without a doubt this wine list is 5 star worthy. Even more. It is an Italian restaurant of course so it is an Italian based BTG list. It's so rare to find this quality and range of wines on one menu. I highly recommend trying out something you have never had before, as you will certainly see some of that on the menu: Kerner, Zibibbo, Cannonau. And don't be afraid to ask about it. It is completely normal to not be familiar with some of these wines and the staff is more than happy to give you some information about them as well. After all, one of the best thinks about wine (other than drinking it) is that there is so much to learn. Every glass is full of a history, a geography, a climate, a family, and more. And here you can drink well and get an outstanding education. The Sartarelli Verdicchio is a personal favorite if you are going the white wine route. I will be back for a full meal soon and will be sure to add to this review at that time. Salud!
(5)Cherie H.
3.5 stars Enjoyable dinner - octopus salad was delicious but could have used more octopus. The yellowtail crudo was good too. Veal chop was good, as was the veal cheek ragu. Good banana and gelato dessert.
(3)Manuela G.
Terrific Italian restaurant in a lovely setting at prices that, if not exactly moderate, are not what I expected at a Four Seasons. Great service and the food was all delicious ,well prepared and presented and inventive .
(4)Gloria Y.
Beautiful spot with impeccable service. But we were seated by a window and there was literally a fly infestation. That'll get rid of your appetite really quickly. Otherwise the caesar salad was amazing and the pasta was decent.
(3)Travis I.
A privilege. And here we go... - Crudo Plate. Ahi, Mackerel, and Amberjack. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ) This is probably the finest raw fish I've EVER had. Each piece was perfectly portioned (no easy feat, for those who know) and topped with the most thoughtfully complimentary garnish one could conceive. The Amberjack, however, was a life-altering experience. It was sweet, savory... mild without being boring. I rarely say this: It was PERFECT. - Arancini. Wild mushroom, fontina, and risotto croquettes. Nice and crunchy with a soft interior, but they were a bit drier than I'm used to. Still, tasty. - Pulpo. For those familiar with octopus, we know how difficult this little cephalopod can be. Cook it quickly and it's tender, a bit longer and it's tough for hours, until it gets back to tender after a six-hour long braise. Here, at Culina, it was grilled and served with salsa verde (like a pesto), and a flat leaf parsley, arugula, and peewee potato salad. Here's the thing: It was more tender than ham. No hyperbole, this was the single most tender piece of octopus I've EVER had - My fork sailed through it like it was butter. A beautiful dish, and yet another item that exemplified perfection. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ) - Caesar Salad. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ) Seriously underrated. The waiter kind of steered us towards the Rustica salad, but we ended up ordering both. The Caesar salad at Culina is a brilliant departure from tradition. Ligurian olives, Tuscan kale, black olive croutons.... Seriously, an epic innovation. If there are more Caesar salads like this in the city, will someone PLEASE lead me to them? - Rustica Salad. Kale, sundried tomatoes, garbanzo beans, artichokes, fresh oregano, pine nuts, Percorino, topped with a crispy piece of Prosciutto. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ) Good, but trust me... Try the Caesar, if you're a Caesar fan. - Bucatini Carbonara. Does this really need an explanation? ( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ) - Tortelloni With Crab, Lemon, Caper, Herbed Ricotta, Egg Yolk, and Basil. This was over-cooked, mushy, and seemed like more of a Raviolo. I dunno. It didn't wow me at all. - Mushrooms with Anchovies and Herb Butter. Earthy, bold, and savory without any trace of fishiness. Just a seriously well-rounded savory side dish. You are going to LOVE these things. For people afraid of mushrooms, GET THESE. - Bronzino. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ) This was just... not good. Texturally lacking, soggy skin, ambiguous garnish, and I found a couple pin bones in my fish. I'd renovate this dish, ASAP! When almost everything else on your menu is unreal, a fish preparation like this sticks out like a squeaky hinge. And the lemon garnish was put on the side.... almost as an afterthought. If you want acid in the plate, add it to the sauce. This isn't a Red Lobster. - Pizza Prosciutto San Daniele, Burrata, Heirloom tomato, Arugula, Rosemary oil, whole wheat crust. This was a very good pizza, but I felt the Arugula was a bit overwhelming and perhaps could have been more carefully dressed with olive oil before they were added to the pizza. The dry arugula was the only thing that wasn't AWESOME about this pizza. Otherwise, it was better than it's cousin, at Pizzeria Mozza.( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ) - Tortino - Molten Chocolate Cake with Amaretto Sauce and Salted Caramel Gelato. A bit of crumbled Biscotti on top... The perfect end to a truly enchanting meal. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ) - Sorbet Trio. The bow on top of a stunning meal. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ) Culina boasts some stunning interior decor with an AMAZING chandelier ( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ) as well as great outdoor dining & lounge areas ( yelp.com/biz_photos/culi… ). Service is friendly and informative, and the food is thoughtfully composed, well-balanced, and executed with near flawless technique. If you get a chance to dine at Culina, take that chance. It is truly a gift to those who enjoy remarkable food.
(5)Hassan A.
We went there my wife and I celebrating my 29th birthday , what a place!! nice atmosphere, very very kind staff and delicious food. we tried the Arancini truffles and those little small pieces are sooooo yummy , we ordered the margarita pizza and it was just perfect. I would definitely come again and recommend the restaurant for best of my friends..
(5)Joana Z.
Not all that, food was not bad, service was 5 star, but not a comfortable ambiance. But our servers were very nice. My mom enjoyed the ambiance but not the food at all. So it was a food that you can get in very cheap restaurant without paying high prices.
(3)Asif F.
Great decor and a modern environment. Service was good. Now to the food. Had the vongale pizza. Unfortunately it was dry and the claims were a bit dry. Ordered the bisteka. Wonderful piece of meat that was very tender. Tad bit on the pricey side but it's worth it for what you get. Also had the smashed potatoes. Great tasting but it was Luke warm. I really want to give it a 3.5 star -1 for the dry pizza and -.5 for the not hot potatoes.
(4)Sun H.
My daughter, her fiancé and I had a great time on Christmas Eve with a great decor, food, service and warm atmospheres. We came here 545pm, 30mins earlier than our reservation. We decided to look around the the hotel first because this restaurant is located in Four Season Hotel, Beverly Hills. The enterance of this hotel was fantastic decorated with lots of lights and ornaments imagined Klimt, the artist. Every staffs we met had lots of hospitality that made this hotel more warm. When we ordered the food, the waiter brought a complimentary bread basket containing the bread sticks, along with the dipping sauce. We ordered a bottle of wine, one price fix menu, veal chop, and lamb pasta. Since Having a great expectation, I was really disappointed with the veal chop. One thing really loved was the foie gras pasta. It was really creamy and so nice. Every food was well crafted but it was not mind boggling. The service was also great. Our water was a old man but he was very attentive having a smile all the time. One thing that I really like was the atmosphere. It was so relaxing and warm that I couldn't leave soon after the dinner. So we decided that we moved to the lounge and get some more drinks. We had some mix, wine and hot chocolate. We stayed for long hours with nice ambience, decor, food and services. They gave us a parking voucher and we didn't worry about the valet parking fee.
(4)Gladys R.
I went there for dinner and I was blown away. Each dish was a masterpiece. Started of with Sashimi. Tuna incredibly flavorful and slightly spicy. The uni was my favorite so delicious and delicate. Next dish was heirloom tomato stuffed with burrata cheese. It was amazing!! The pasta was beautifully created as well. We had the rigatoni with sausage and oxtail gnocchi. Each bite was better than the last. The desserts looked so beautiful I was afraid to eat them. Rich and delicious. Our server Kerry made our night memorable. Loved my experience. Can't wait to go back
(5)Diana R.
Culina was a beautiful surprise. Because of the nature of business, I am often jaunting from one restaurant to another, jumping from one price range to another. I can be "food trucking" one day then private dining at Joel Robuchon on another. So after a while, restaurants and dining stop being an experience and more a matter of a convenience depending on the project I am working on and who I am meeting. Which leads me to saying "Culina was a beautiful surprise." Why? I mean after all I've been to the Four Seasons before. Several of them, in fact FS-San Francisco is my favorite [great art work] but I digress; back to Culina... The restaurant is BEAUTIFUL. I repeat the restaurant is BEAUTIFUL. I remember the other 4S restaurant prior to Culina and I wasn't impressed. But, what an amazing job they did at renovating and redecorating the space. I love that it's beautiful and modern but still has a sexiness about it. The room doesn't overpower you. It's just beautiful. Now about the food and service. First of all, the staff was great. They were attentive without being overbearing; which is perfect when you are doing business over lunch. I have been at so many restaurant where the constant "checking in" hampered our ability to have a business lunch. The staff of Culina was unobtrusive and yet somehow they always knew when we needed something. It's an art. Now for the food. DELICIOUS!!! I decided to save my review of the food for last so I hope anyone reading this stayed with me... My halibut was cooked to perfection. It's not always easy getting fish that's prepared just right. It wasn't dry or undercook. The sauce wasn't overpowering either. Everything was balanced. My favorite part of my meal was the soup, Roasted Peppers with Fennel. I really enjoyed it. I wish I had more. The soup was creamy and velvety. Perfect with the bread I dip into it. My only regret was I was too busy talking business to fully enjoy my dessert. I only had a few bites and it was time to go. Next time maybe I'll start with dessert first.
(4)Tyler S.
This is a very nice restaurant for a warm sunny day lunch. The patio outside was perfect for a group of 5. We went this afternoon (Thursday noon) and it wasn't too busy. You might see a few well known people here at the Four Seasons/Culina ( we ended up spotting Dr. Phil and LA blogger Damsel in Dior). The wine list had a good selection and the kitchen made bread was AMAZING! Here is what I tried: app: Burrata/tomatoes/basil - must eat! app: Yellowtail sashimi (w/ pear) Yum! But small portion Lunch: Steak salad (unsure of the exact name) But VERY good and filling! Dessert: Tiramasu (yum) and a selection of Vegan ice cream. All good but not mind blowing! Would love to come back here for the sunny space and great service!
(4)Carlos M.
Babe took me here for my birthday dinner, and I must say its deserving of more stars than Yelp permits me to give. We were greeted promptly by the very nice hostess who also gave us the choice of sitting either inside or outside and would have no problem accommodating us either way. I usually like sitting outside but the ambience inside was simply amazing- it defined what "cool" should be. I also had no problem with the playlist, I'm not really sure why anyone would compare the music to a club soundtrack. Clearly they don't go out much because what was playing was trendy/lounge music. Our server was extremely knowledgable and definitely helped us maneuver our way around the menu. The food was everything. The bread, pasta, pizza- it was all heaven in my mouth. I didn't have a cocktail because I was hungover all day and alcohol wasn't very appealing to me at the moment, so I can't really comment on that. During our dinner the on duty manager came over to make sure everything was going smoothly and it definitely was. Overall I'm certain we'll be coming back and we'll be bringing more people with us.
(5)Tasha H.
The short rib burger was to die for! Must try. The fichi salad was refreshing and flavorful and the bread and oil + vinegar was delicious. The service was friendly and consistent and our server Caroline was very sweet. Great brunch/lunch spot. Sit on the patio ;)
(5)Margaret N.
Friendly service and beautiful outdoor seating area! Had their salmon, quinoa and kale platter and it was delish! Portions were perfect! And their dessert options are great! Had their tiramisu and it was decadent and perfect! I also went here for breakfast and their food is great! Definitely recommend their freshly squeezed juice! You can pick and choose exactly what you want in your juice!
(4)Pablo W.
My Wife and I decided to try Culina last night and it was excellent. Since My Wife is Vegan I contacted the Executive Chef Mette Williams to ask her if she could prepare a Vegan menu including an Appetizer, Entrée and Dessert ( BTW dessert is always the hardest for restaurants to make ) and Mette said it shouldn't be a problem and that she will talk to the pastry chef. Boy were We surprised !! , the Vegan menu Mette prepared was amazing , with a combination of Flavors, Texture and Creativity ( photo of Menu attached ) that My Wife enjoyed immensely . My Dinner was also really good , The Crudo Kampachi , Uni and the Squid pasta with Lobster Service was also very good and very helpful , and sitting in the patio is a very nice setting for dinner. We will definitely go back because a restaurant that takes so much care in accommodating a Vegan choice and on top of that making such a GREAT menu is worth trying more than once. Mette Thnak you for creating this menu for my Wife !!
(5)Ingrid L.
I only have one more year of school until I'm done and can finally start earning some real money! Until there sites like Travelzoo and Groupon are my best friend. My BF and I decided to get a travelzoo deal for Culina to celebrate our 4 year anniversary. We were able to find street parking right down the street. We made reservations but still ended up waiting a good 20-30 minutes until we were seated. There are only like 3 seats for people who are waiting so that kinda sucked. We were seated in the bar like area which was also a little disappointing, seeing how we told them that we were celebrating our anniversary. After we got over the innitial disappointment we had a great time. My BF was peeved about the portion sizes but once we had all 5 of our courses he was stuffed and realized that if the dishes were any larger, we wouldn't have been able to get through all the courses! I took a look at the regular menu and the prices weren't horrible. I'll definitely keep this place in mind the next time I feel like dressing up and want a nice place to eat.
(3)Eric H.
We went back on February among our many return visits. What made this one more memorable was we won a raffle they were having for the lunar new year. $100 gift card at the beverly center. Thank You Culina. You guys never disappoint. Also caught a pic of Silent Bob in the back ground of a family pic one of the waiter took for us. The guy really goes around in jeans and hockey jersey. Too funny.
(5)Will C.
One of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time. Upon arriving with my open table reservation, I was promptly seated and greeted by the server. He was great, a bit casual, but that is how I would rather a sever be. Restaurant is just beautiful. I've been to a lot of great restaurants around the world and I would say this is a solid 4.5/5 quality restaurant. Not sure what these other reviews are talking about when it comes to service because when we got there the restaurant was at 30% capacity and had literally 25 people standing greeting us and looking busy. We had a total of 5 people: hostess 1, hostess 2, busser, busser2, sever, breadservice guy wait on us in the first 10 minutes. My dad used to be in hotel management and this over-staffing really reminded me of the days where the economy was good in the USA (which, to think of it, is kinda sad). It was so grand and luxurious feeling. I'm sure they just move all hotel staff down to the restaurant during dinner, but it felt awesome. Food 5/5 : Amberjack Appetizer, Spaghetti, Squid Ink Lobster, Brocolini Service 5/5 Ambiance 4.5/5 Value: 4/5 (152 with tax 2 people) Would go back!
(5)Wayne L.
Disappointed...no service whatsoever. Consistently had to flag down someone to take our empty plates, had to ask for beverage refills. I did not expect this for a Four Seasons Hotel restaurant.
(2)Anthony V.
This place is located in the 4 seasons, and we had reservations for thanksgiving dinner. Cost/person was about $100, and every bit was worth it. It was really crowded, but there was plenty of food for everyone. Some highlights: -Cranberry sauce- best I've ever had bc it had cinnamon in it ! -Prime rib- so moist -Pumpkin pie -Crab legs -Sushi -Donuts -Grilled cheese sandwiches There was plenty of traditional thanksgiving dishes, dessert, with fish and veggies. I appreciate people that can do things well. The chefs at this restaurant really gave me one of my most memorable experiences during thanksgiving. They really set the bar high, and I wonder if I'll ever make my own thanksgiving dinner because I know the quality will never be as good as this place. If you decide to visit LA for thanksgiving, or you're in LA and want to eat some amazing food without the fuss and clean up, definitely give this place a try! Would I go back ? HELL YEA.
(5)Kelly J.
Loved this place the last time I was here and wanted to pop in for a little dessert this time and I'm oh, so happy I did. The service is excellent and I loved that our waiter didn't snub us upon hearing we simply wanted a drink, coffee and a few desserts. Sometimes service staff can frown on this even if you're dropping upwards of $100 of such little things. Not the case here. The coffee is perfect, we each had a glass of wine to go with the panna cotta and budino. Come for the gorgeous scenery and delicious food, but do not leave without having the budino. Oh Lawd...It's amazing! I'm almost embarrassed to say I don't even know what kind of pudding it was, because we just devoured it. Trust me and get it to round out what can only be a spectacular evening here.
(4)Kobi D.
Love this place! My favorite Italian Restaurant in LA. My wife and I been going there every couple of weeks since we try it for the first time. The Beef Tartar is a must to try!
(5)Nini H.
My friend and I did the travel zoo deal but we did order a lot more items outside of the menu. The brussels sprouts were very good. The risotto was nice. I liked the jam that went with the pork belly dish as well. Funny thing is, I was there only 3 weeks ago but I have no memory of the food so that's not a good thing. Not even the dessert =(. The ambience was actually great, different seating sections with different moods. The maitre D was super fine. =) However they did make us feel like we couldn't change our reservations over the phone more than 30 minutes but the place wasn't even packed for over 2 hrs. Another thing, they charged us for water. Still can't believe it! If you offer me water, I assume it's free. Do not charge me for it except I request something special or fancy.
(3)j w.
The food is fine. Lovely room. Our server was informed and helpful, however, the front desk is a disaster. Emily, our hostess, acknowledged our reservation and despite the dining room being half empty, led us to back room with several families with about 13 children total. Think a scene from Chuck E. Cheese. We politely asked Emily if we could sit in the main room which had many tables open. She said, "What's wrong with this?" Kids. Screaming. Us - Party of four. Adult conversation. We told her we'd prefer the main room. We stood in front of an empty booth and she said, "Well, I'm glad to see you're so tolerant." Customer Service - fail. Our friends wanted to leave. There is simply far too much competition for good restaurants in L.A., so why put up with such appalling behavior. We'll return when the front desk gets a major reboot.
(2)Paolo C.
Food was very good. Service was great! We really loved it! we had a large party (7 adults 5 kids) and we were attended to with patience and professionalism. The burrata salad was delicious and so were the arancini! Love this place!!!
(5)Ana S.
The service at this place was like...I can't believe I am in LA, and I get this class of service. I wish I remembered our waiter's name. It felt like being in an old black and white movie where everyone has perfect manners. The food was mediocre. The atmosphere is very nice.
(4)Martin B.
I took my wife here for her 30th birthday. I grew up on the east coast and have experienced very good Italian food, having lived in Battery Park CIty, NY and in Miami, FL, as well as L.A. for some time now and growing up in Italian households. That being said, I don't expect that kind of food at an upscale restaurant like this. What I do expect, is overly pretentious Italian fusion, and, very good service. We just barely got the first. The food was decent, there were some old world classics like pappardele with a roasted lamb ragu (this would be boar if traditional, but decent, mostly rosemary flavor in a light broth and no tomato), and my wife had the caesar salad with grilled hanger steak, again, decent but not anything to write home about. The drinks on the other hand were excellent, the appetizer (Arancini) was perfect, and the figs and speck was a great accompaniment to our meal. Now, the service. HORRIFIC. Our waiter was polite, but that was after I demanded a better table from the manager, which we were 22 minutes past our reservation when they seated us... IN THE BAR. NO apologies and in fact the hostess was rude to me when I brought it to her attention that we had waited 22 minutes beyond our reservation time to get seated in the bar, where we were already drinking. A very cordial manager did approach us and after about 15 minutes found us a new table. So we didn't sit for an intimate and what should've been special meal until about 40 minutes into our reservation. Like other posters have said, the service felt rushed....and although it is cool that we saw the cast of 30 Rock there, you shouldn't have to be a celebrity to get decent service in a restaurant this size and with these prices. Our meal was almost $200 when we got out the door. Long story short, I've had better upscale Italian.
(2)Jordan S.
The Travelzoo deal that a few others have mentioned prompted us to come here Saturday night. It was a great dinner at a fantastic price. The food: Crudo trio (tuna, ginger oil, coriander seed, lemon salt; salmon, caper salt, blood orange; yellow tail, star anise oil, orange sea salt): All three were very good. My favorite was the tuna. I thought the yellow tail was a little plain. Brussel leaf and shaved vegetable salad: Not my favorite salad ever, but good a generous sized portion. I liked the julienned beats. It did have pomegranate seed, but I thought it could have used another sweet element. Perhaps pear or apple. Tagliatelle with ragu bolongese: Well textured pasta and flavorful sauce. Meat sauce isn't something I'm extremely fond of, though. Black bass with kale: Very good. Flavorful, well seasoned, perfectly cooked. Wonderfully crispy skin. I found you had to use the saba syrup sparingly or it completely overwhelmed the fish. Profiteroles with coffee, vanilla and pistachio gelato: Decent. The pistachio was my favorite. Dinner also came with a glass of bele cassel processeco (as a not very big fan of sparklers, I enjoyed this) and a flight of grapa (moscato, chardonay and merlot). I never had grapa before, so it was a good experience. I'm not sure I'd rush back to get some more. Instead of the grapa, my girlfriend received a glass of their house made limencello. We also loved the soft bread (with delicious olive oil) and the assorted olives. Service was absolutely perfect.
(4)Greg G.
Very nice atmosphere but pretty disappointing for what I am sure was pretty pricey. I was here as part of a private dining event with a preplanned menu. I chose the Niman Ranch NY steak, medium. It was preceded by a mixed greens salad with a very interesting Meyer lemon vinaigrette. There was also some very fresh focaccia served along with the salad. When my steak arrived, it appeared to have been prepared just as I ordered. However, I was a little disappointed at the fact that the meat was not as tender as NY steak usually is, coupled with disappointment at the lack of sufficient and adequate pairings. There were about 4 very small fingerling potatoes which were roasted and served along with some carmelized onions and some artichoke hearts. I don't mean to be picky but steak is the one meat that in my opinion is designed for potatoes, good potatoes. Giving such a small amount that were really unimaginatively prepared and presented with hardly any nice green vegetables such as green beans, broccoli, asparagus etc was surprising and disappointing. Dessert was also a bit of a non starter. There was a choice between a tiramisu and a rice pudding mousse. I chose the mousse with fresh berries. It was just OK at best. I would perhaps give this place another try when I could order off of the menu and perhaps enjoy a little star gazing. However, I give most places one time to impress and on that basis, I would not be back. I am guessing that this place is just too caught up in the sustainable/local bs and is sacrificing quality in the name of being PC.
(2)Linh N.
Came here last night with my hubby and had an awesome time at dinner inside the Beverly hills Four Season Hotel restaurant Culina. Had their 5 course tasting menu and we were definitely impressed with the all the selection. Presentation was great. We started off with a cheese/olive platter with some excellent prosciutto and a perfectly blend radicchio salad. Our 3rd course is grilled octopus on a bed of arugula and Jerusalem artichoke paired with a side of meatball marina sauce. The meatball was tender and so tasty I wanted a second one! Our 4th course was a pasta dish which was light and refreshing. The sauce was zesty and packed with flavors. Finally our main course was a grilled sea bass sprinkled with little capers and cherry tomatoes. The sauce on the sea bass was light and tangy. The fish was fresh and so tender that it melts in your mouth. I really love the combination of the tender meat and the crispy grilled skin of the fish. I can definitely come back again for more!!!
(5)richard f.
First let me state that we use Culina for business as well as family entertaining and dining. The service has generally been good. Certain menu items which were ill thought out such as ahi tuna on a salt bar are now gone, allowing most physicians to breathe easier. Today, A Saturday, we had a reservation for a lunch for a group at 2:30 pm. When I arrived at 2:20pm the receptionist seemed tentative about seating us. I did not know why. She seemed to indicate I should wait! When I asked to be seated, before the chairs could be pulled out, we were assailed, literally, by the server, who announced proudly that the kitchen was closed and she would not serve us. She said the kitchen closed at 2:30pm. However it was 2:20pm and they took the reservation without a problem. The tone of the server was so severe that I went to the front desk and ask for the manager. She appeared promptly but seemed afraid of the server. She had no answers. We left. For good. We proceeded to Scarpetta. We were served an excellent meal in a great spirit. Something is obviously wrong in management at Culina. It is surprising for a Four Seasons establishment. Compared to the cheerful environs of the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills, I will stay away from Culina. I will not spend substantial money to be sassed by a server and then deal with a weak manager.
(2)Miss S.
Awesome food, great service, nice outdoor ambiance at night! Good wines and good vegetarian Italian food. Well-priced and great location. Valet parking was reasonable. We had a great time and will surely return. Will highly recommend.
(4)Cole K.
Definitely pricey - a special occasion restaurant -- but well worth it. The food is out of this world and they have a really solid wine list. Service is great. I was very impressed with the flavors, the quality of ingredients and creatively delicious presentation. Highly recommend.
(4)Kimberly H.
Four Seasons - $55 billion renovation well spent! Such care goes into the preparation and presentation each detail of this evening, its hard to imagine why any one would provide a poor review! We started our evening off at the crudo bar! * Tuna on the pink stone is DELISH! Make sure to snag a piece of the cucumber that it comes out on as well, it only enhances the flavor. * Uni is a bit small in portion, but definitely necessary as the taste is extremely strong and pungent - perfect little bite. * I really loved the lobster crudo, the sauce is amazing * Oysters to to die for, I would get a least a dozen so you can try out various sauce combinations. * Bread appetizer is delish - foccaia :] I also really appreciated the olives and other bread sticks that were sitting in the center of the table. Though EVERYTHING on the menu looked fabulous, I decided on the lamb ragu pasta. The pasta was thicker than I would have liked, but I the ragu was tender and well seasoned. Dessert, the main attraction - TORTA AL GIANDUJA is a MUST order. I loved the hint of citrus from the Blood Orange Granita! A few bites was all that was needed to round out the meal. But the kicker for me were the chocolates that came out after and the biscotti parting gift - this was certainly a dining experience that lasted until morning. LOVED the ambiance LOVED the food DEFINITELY planning to come back again soon!
(5)Lesley M.
Massively overpriced. Really wish I'd read the reviews here before going. Wanted to treat hubby and myself to a nice meal over the Christmas period, so we went with high expectations. Pluses: very few. The servers were nice enough. Minuses: nearly everything. Appetizers were massive (not necessarily a good thing) - the rice cakes included (unadvertised) truffles, which I hate; meatballs were decent. Mains of salmon and short ribs were fine, but hugely overpriced (around $35). Desserts of chocolate cake and three scoops of ice cream were also okay, but not extraordinary, aside from the coconut sorbet, which was amazing. The woman at the front desk had asked us if we wanted to sit inside or out. I asked which was busiest, as I wanted to sit where there was some atmosphere. She said they were about the same. So we sat outside. Turns out most people left shortly, so there was just us and one other table. It just wasn't special enough, compared to the inside, which seemed much nicer and had a lot more buzz. Our total bill was $250 including a tip - that's for two people eating three courses each, plus one bottle of wine between them. Honestly, if I'd have paid half that it would've been too expensive. It just wasn't worth it at all - the setting wasn't special enough, nor was the food. Not going back!
(2)Vivi T.
The Travel Zoo dinner was a great deal! The dining room was surprisingly full for a week night, but we didn't feel rushed and service was exceptional. The Crudo and Halibut courses were spot on (both of which are on the regular menu) and the server suggested a wine deal for $20 where you were able to buy already opened bottles of wine (they were still fresh). He suggested a Barbaresco that paired very nicely with our meal, and we got about 3 glasses from the bottle. The restaurant was beautiful, service exceptional, and the overall atmosphere was lively. I will definitely return!
(4)Nadia L.
So I love always getting super cool Travelzoo deals and was so intrigued when I saw a deal for Culina come across in my inbox. After taking a look at it, I was so excited but my biggest concern was when the heck was the next time I was going down to LA! Lucky for me, we decided to take a trip down to celebrate the bff's mom's birthday so we decided to get the get the certs and do a celebratory birthday dinner at Culina. When we arrived at the Four Seasons, we walked through the lobby and loved the giant floral arrangement at the center, so pretty! We walked through the bar and finally arrived at Culina. The restaurant itself apparently hasn't been opened that long, I think since March/May of 2010. The decor itself was gorgeous. It was too bad it was raining because the outside seating area looked beautiful and comfy. I loved the flames and all the foliage they have out there. At one point we even saw a waiter picking fresh lemons from the tree out there, how cool :) It seemed that the restaurant was pretty full due to the Travelzoo promo (I could tell since everyone using the promo got a nicely printed green menu). With the deal, we received: - Glass of champagne - Basket of baked goodies (thin breadstick like things and what looked like a crisp of some sort) - Bowl of Olives - Yummy soft foccacia bread (bff's fave!)- Absolutely wonderful dipped in balsalmic/olive oil - First course- trio of sashimi (drizzled with some sort of sauce, interesting presentation but delicious, very fresh), this included Tuna with ginger oil, coriander seed and lemon salt, Hamachi with orange and star anise and Salmon with caper salt and blood orange. - Second Course- Brussel Sprouts Salad with a pomegranate apple cider vinaigrette (out of the 5- nothing special) - Third Course- Ragu Bolognese- Delicious, the sauce was very good - Four course- Wild striped bass, tuscan kale with a roasted blueberry glassato (absolutely spectacular!)- Normally I am not a fan of fish skin but this was perfectly crispy while the meat itself was nice and flaky. Perfectly cooked and the vegetables just complemented it so nicely! - Fifth Course- Dessert- Trio of profiteroles (flavor: pistachio, vanilla and coffee)- very good as well, especially since it was drizzled with a chocolate sauce - Flight of grappa- So I've never had grappa before but OMG this was so strong, I couldn't finish it, I couldn't even shoot it, fail on my part but yes, we got a flight of 3 to taste which I gladly shared with the bff. Since it was his mom's birthday, we also ordered an extra dessert where they were able to put a candle in it which was a milk chocolate pana cotta served with a poached pear. This too was very good and I loved how they wrote happy birthday in chocolate sauce on the plate. Lastly, as a parting gift, they gave a tiny bottle of oil tied with a pretty green bow. Overall, the service was fantastic, loved the ambiance the restaurant offered and the food was really good as well. For $89 per couple it was a GREAT deal and a great way to celebrate the special occasion!
(4)Shannon M.
PERFECT!!!!! This was the best lunch I've had in a long time! The staff was amazing the second I walked in the door. My friend went to the restroom before we were seated, I stood to the side to wait for her and was offered a complimentary soda, wine or water while I waited for her! :) The food was DELICIOUS!!! I've been dreaming about the Crudi appetizer (could be the best thing my mouth has ever had inside it) and the lobster and cheese pizza ever since I left! I'm going back now lol!
(5)Brandon F.
Sunday Brunch was a huge disappointment, and I usually love it. Just had Christmas Brunch there with some friends and we all agreed it was pretty bad. The biggest problem was that the food was bland and boring. There was not much to choose from. They basically have three very limited sections, the first being sushi, the second being breakfast and the third being a carving station. There is also a small dessert area with no ice cream of sorbet. Also the $95 dollars does not include alcohol. You would think champagne would be included but is isn't. I can't complain about the service. It was great. Try the St. Regis in Monarch beach for a great Sunday brunch with unlimited champagne. Never Again.
(1)Melanie Y.
Arrived on time for reservation made months in advance. Hostess found my reservation but the table was not ready. Waited at the bar over an expensive cocktail with my huz over 30 min. Hostess had "forgotten" about us. What's the point of making a reservation? It was not very busy as such was her claim. Only patio seating was available. As luck would have it, the patio was beautiful, warm and afforded conversation. Food was good however room for improvement, Crudo sashimi flight had mild fishy odor but tasted good. Chef did best possible but some ingredients could have been fresher.
(2)asuzak H.
I had a Travel Zoo dinner with my friend here. I made a reservation but somehow the host lost my reservation. It was a week day, so they had a lot of tables open. I don't know how they lose a reservation when I had a confirmation and everything... We were seated at the patio and it is so pretty! I wish tables were not too close.... I could hear every conversations from next tables and I know they could, too. We felt that we had to talk quietly because it was a girls talk. Haha. The bread was awesome. Nice, soft and warm. I love that they give you marinated olives and bread sticks to snack on, also. A+ Crudo, Salad, Pasta, were so good! Halibut was little too dry.. Their Wine List is well priced and they have a lot of half decanter selections. A+ Grappa flights was not my favorite but nice server was exchanged them to Lemonchello. He was very nice but it was not a good Lemonchello and we couldn't finish it. :( I think it was good deal overall and I will go back there to try something else.
(4)Ramzi E.
To quote Yelp, "Meh. I've experienced better."
(2)Rossana V.
This is the newly opened restaurant at the Four Season Hotel in Beverly Hills. Wet there on Tuesday to celebrate my birthday with family and friends. Great menu, wine list, cocktails. Service is amazing. I'm already planning another celebration to go back.
(5)Jenny I.
I went here w a girl friend on a TravelZoo coupon for a four course meal! I had the most incredible time there~ The staff was kind and very inviting but not overbearing... The food was amazing and delicious! The manager came by and said hello spoke about the restaurant and the food. We got just incredible service. The patio in the back was very lovely! I would for sure go back there and recommend this place! Worth a try!
(5)Liz T.
Except for breakfast, I have seldom eaten at the restaurant within the hotel where I stayed. This time was different. I had the opportunity to try their breakfast and dinner service. The menu selection and execution were excellent. Breakfast was a little pricey but somewhat expected at Four Seasons. The dinner pricing was reasonable for LA. For breakfast, I sampled their egg white scramble with turkey sausage. It was at least a 3-egg dish because I couldn't finish the lot. On another day, I tried their eggs benedict and the poached eggs were perfectly done. Breakfast service was impeccable and very thoughtful. I was sick while travelling, and when I asked for a cup of hot water - they brought me a pot + lemon + small jar of Viennese honey. 5-star service! For dinner, I sampled their 3-item Crudo sampler - superb! Defintely a must-try. Extremely fresh and inventive dressing . My favourite was the uni. I landed on a simple green pasta with bolognese sauce for entree. It was really good and just right for my appetite that evening. No complaints about their dinner service. They were attentive enough, and my waiter knew his menu well. The ambience was really great at Culina. Contemporary without trying too hard. I had a view to their patio and the landscaping was gorgeous. Flowers, plants, lemon trees, and a small fountain all added to the tranquility and kept the street noise away from the oasis.
(4)michael r.
Culina is a very comfortable restaurant, with great service and fresh food. I've only been for lunch (several times), and while I've enjoyed the meal i've had, i can think of a hundred places i'd rather be. the lobster gnocchi is fabulous, the salads are good sized, but it's pricey and doesn't have much of a vibe to it. I have no real complaints about Culina; it's solid across the board, but i wouldn't call it an interesting restaurant by any stretch. Worth a look for the food, but be prepared to eat at what still feels like a high-end hotel eatery.
(4)Kaz K.
Did not know it was in the Four Seasons. It is. So it was really nice! Went for dineLA, and it was bombbb seriously! The servers and everyone that works here are really nice. The table has those crunchy breadsticks and flat bread that you can munch on. We thought that they had no bread to eat, but this nice server came up to us with rosemary focacia bread and gave it to us with a bowl of olives and some olive oil! Appetizer: got the Chopped Salad and Caprese. The chopped salad was very very refreshing, and the caprese was delicious too. The cheese on the caprese was so good. Entrees: got the ravioli, which was actually kind of sweet like apple pie at first. It was interesting. The manzo was SOOO good - we got lucky because the kitchen ran out of steak and gave us rib eye instead. Oh my god I got medium rare and it was cooked deliciously, im seriously salivating right now just thinking about it. I am so hungry now... AHHH Dessert: got the nuvola di riso - delicious and refreshing and light. Also the cannoli - this was good. But everyone should get the AFFOGATO because it looks like a friggin maltese dog/cotton candy and they pour the espresso over it and it all melts and oh my god so awesome! parking is $$$ because its Four Seasons but its validated... we actually got lucky and parked right across the street on Doheny - major roads in this area don't have the "permit only" parking but the side streets too, so good luck finding free parking.
(4)Mark R.
Culina surprised me. I was fully expecting a 5 star experience from this Four Seasons Hotel restaurant but did not get it from the moment we walked in. We entered the restaurant thru the Hotel and the Valet greeting and doormen were outstanding . I thought " YEA, this is how the entire night will go" ! Unfortunately, it was downhill from there. I arrived at the hostess stand and told them I was there for dinner for 2 and she immediately said " you'll have to sit on the patio as dinner is full with reservations". It was a cold night and my only reply was "um excuse me . . . I DO have reservations". The lame hostess just assumed I did not have reservations. Why would she do such a thing? The waiter was pleasant when I could understand what he said and 1/2 thru the meal i just gave up. He would describe something and I would just politely nod my head. I LOVE the Four Seasons Hotels and have stayed at them in 12 different countries and this was without doubt my least impressive dinner at any of the restaurants connected to the hotels around the world.
(3)Caroline K.
Thanks to Travelzoo, the BF and I had the lovely 5 course dinner. I will have to say that we weren't that happy with our seating arrangements. It appeared as though anyone who was there with the Travel Zoo deal was seated in this back corner booth-away from the entire restaurant. I know this because there was a couple sitting next to us when we arrived-and they had the Travel Zoo menu...and after they left, another couple sat down who had the same deal as well. I would have much preferred sitting at one of the tables where the ambiance was a bit nicer. The restaurant itself was beautiful and the outdoor seating and patio area is where I would definitely want to be seated next time. The food was pretty good. The sashmi appetizer was the best-fresh and tasty. The reason that I didn't give it more stars was because we felt very rushed. Our food came out so quickly that we didnt' really get to enjoy the ambiance that much. As soon as one course was done-it was quickly whisked away and the next one brought. I kind of felt like they were just trying to get us in and out :( I have a feeling that it had to do with the fact that we were using a Travel zoo deal...I hope that no one else experienced this because it wasn't the greatest feeling. We really wanted to savour the entire dinner-the food, the company, and the ambiance. I would say that we got a great deal for the both of us...I would probably go back maybe for dessert or just a few cocktails out in their back patio. Valet Parking is available-I think it's $14 but with validation it's $8. The prices are pretty steep-but this is Beverly Hills and you are at the Four Seasons.
(3)D C.
Have been here twice for the brunch. The buffet is pretty standard for a high end hotel . A couple of things that I especially like is that they always have some type of "hangover" section. First time it was tacos and quesadillas with bunch of salsas and fresh guac. The second time there were a variety of different grilled cheese sandwiches and chiliquiles. I also like the juicer section where you can pick and choose a bunch of fruits and vegetables to be juiced up. The food is pretty good but doesn't make it four stars. The outdoor patio and the wait staff bring the place up to a four star level.
(4)stephanie a.
DATE NIGHT!!!! Came here a few nights ago for date night with my partner in crime! :) Started off with items from the CRUDO bar, which is what attracted me to this spot in the first place. We ordered the Salmon, Tuna, Hamachi, AND the Uni (yes I LOVE it!) honestly, my hunny is not the biggest fan of Uni, but did appreciate this one quite a bit. Didn't give him that rotten mayo look on his face. Nice! So to be clear UNI was fantastic, then the hamachi was buttery and yummy, the tuna was tasty, and the salmon was good with the blood orange sauce. We washed all this down with a nice Pinot, recommended by our waiter. Lovely man, very attentive, and NOT annoying! Always a plus! :) For our entree's my BF went with the Bone in pounded veal chop....... I liked it and so did he! Good choice, although the scuttlebutt around the joint suggest the rib eye to be epic, the BEST EVER we hear! He will have that next time for sure! :) I went with the Branzino, beautifully prepared, with a light sauce. I hate it when restaurants mask their sh*tty fish with some heavy sauce. **COUGH***cough*** Pinot Bistro...... ehh hem. Moving on.... Both entrees were nice, we enjoyed them. Finally we ended it all with 3 scoops of the gelato with mixed berries (the obvious choice for the BF), and I had the panna cotta. WOW!!!ME likey so much I want one now! I see myself coming here more frequently when it warms up and enjoying a seat outside with friends. Food is great and the atmosphere is energetic. Solid experience! Can't wait to go back! :)
(4)Jojo L.
So disappointed!! Nice place and service...but the food was not good at all! I didnt even finish 1/5 of it!!
(1)Carolyn T.
On this side of town, you'd expect to eat at the best restaurants.. and at the Four Seasons you would really believe so! Man, oh man was I wrong! First of all, the menu isn't written in English! Haha.. I had to ask the waiter to translate almost all the dishes. When he was gone, we sat there Googling all the dish names! The breadsticks that they serve as starters are bland. Ordered the sausage pizza and the sausage was salty beyond belief.. like pour some salt into my mouth and watch me chew it! Bleh. I couldn't even eat it! I felt especially bad for the couple who sat at a table next to us. They were celebrating a birthday or anniversary and sent their food back twice. The sea scallops were just okay, nothing spectacular. The drinks were good, so was the decor, but that's where the compliments end. I'm not sure if Culina normally serves food like this, or if the chef was just not on his game that night. The manager came out to ask how we were doing, which was nice, but we weren't happy campers. It's unfortunate because I live right across the street and was hoping I'd have easy access to a nice restaurant I could bring my friends to when they visit. Oh well, $110 and a tummyache later, I've learned my lesson. Never coming back!
(2)Sarah P.
Perfection! Dining room decor, menu, service- exemplary. Meatballs are mouth watering and have pine nuts in the middle! =) Fava beans w/ english peas and mint were a good combo, the herbs and dressing are a wonderful balance of flavors (great side). Halibut- cooked impeccably. Even the toasted basil leaf garnish was tasty. I only order seafood at quality restaurants to ensure that it's cooked properly. Pet peeve: going to an average restaurant and getting overcooked fish. Ruins everything! There was no room for dessert but it's rare to find pistachio gelato. That's the best flavor, you got to try it. There are 2 versions of gelato, house made and vegan. Can't wait to come back to try the kale salad, and beets. Hear the Sunday brunch is real treat!
(5)J K.
Was there for lunch...for an Italian restaurant, modern or not, they do Italian food very poorly. My friends and I ordered a few dishes to share. Had the Insalata RC (seafood salad), Garganelli (pasta quills w/ asparagus, artichokes, peas, spinach, tarragon), funghi pizza/flatbread, and rosemary fries. The best items (we all agreed) were the non-Italian items (salad and fries). We had ordered the pasta b/c it sounded light with all the veggies...it was very rich (although not as rich as a cream sauce). The pizza allegedly had tomato sauce on it, but there was none. The yolk was way to overpowering and made the crust (which was chewy and tasty) soggy. I will say that the restaurant had great ambiance. It was a fun place for a ladies' lunch. Next time, I'd say go for salad and drinks...skip the "Italian" part of the menu.
(2)Stephanie B.
Culina is a spectacular restaurant. A true dining experience. We were invited to join friends to enjoy a 5 course tasting menu (apparently, this was a Travel Zoo promotion). The restaurant is gorgeous. Tucked into the corner of the Four Seasons hotel, it is a beautiful space with soft lighting and gorgeous dark words. Considering all the hard surfaces in the restaurant, I was surprised that the restaurant was not louder. I am not sure what they were doing, but it is a very enjoyable environment to dine within. We started with a glass of Prosecco, which is one of my favorites. This glass did not disappoint, and it was a great way to start the meal. Then, we had teh Crudo flight. Hamachi with orange and star anise, ahi tuna with ginger oil and lemon salt, and salmon with caper salt and blood orange vinegar. The salmon was divine! That blood orange vinegar was amazing. I also loved the hamachi. The ahi tuna was tasty too, but it was the least WOW on the plate. We ordered a bottle of wine to share. A 2005 Italian white for only $48!!! At the Four Seasons!!! And, it was delicious. There are many good values on their wine list. It went especially well with the next course - salad. It was a mixture of watercress, shaved asparagus, shaved mushrooms, shaved artichoke hards, shaved favas, chives, pecorino and meyer lemon. Very fresh, very balanced - delish! For the past course, we had garganelli (tubes) with tomatoes, olives, pecorino and fresh oregano. This course was the biggest let down. The pasta was a bit overcooked, and the sauce was somewhat dull. Then, the entree (trumpets please). We had arctic char with crispy skin on english peas with lemon and sweet onion fonduta. The arctic char was delicious - a bit overcooked on the thin edges, but absolutely perfect in the middle. And the skin - perfectly crispy and salty. I don't know what sweet onion fonduta is, but I need to learn how to make it. I could have eaten that over sawdust. For dessert, we had a trio of profiteroles (espresso, vanilla and pistachio) with housemade limoncello. The profiteroles were tasty - the gelato and chocolate sauce were delicious. The profiteroles were tasty. The limoncello was POTENT. But, very tasty. The service at Culina puts it over the top. We never wanted for some of the delicious warm focaccia or water. The waiter was always available to answer questions. And, the wine steward was actually prepared to open another bottle for us because one person in our party did not like the wine - impressive! (By the way, he did not like the wine because he does not like dry white wine...it was not the wine). I would not likely have come had I had not been invited. But, it you are looking for a special place to celebrate something, I highly recommend Culina. What a great experience!
(5)Howard Y.
I absolutely love this place! Food is delicious and service is very professional! The atmosphere is very luxurious (I think that's the best way to put it). But more importantly... their desserts are AWESOME! If you like peanut butter, please have a few scoops of their peanut butter gelato. I don't know how they make these ridiculously delicious gelato, but I still dream about it!
(5)Fatty D.
The over-all experience was, ok, nothing to strongly suggest a later visit. Service was a bit below expectations, although, ok just not an overly satisfying evening. Lips was wearing the new Gucci Mod shoe wear. Adding to the Ralph Lauren pants with a print on em, shirt was a Gucci conservative number. Lips wanted to go a bit more conservative because of the Four Seasons locale. Jewelry was a Vintage Patek Phillipe with just one Dark Emerald Ring. We began with the following; Scallop. shaved black truffle. lemon. It was ok. Flavor could have used less lemon, more seasoning. VONGOLE Tagliatelle pasta. manila clams. garlic. lemon. sea urchin. Lips didn't care too much for this ap. Stated the Clams were definitely on the chewy side. Lobster. pink peppercorn. grapefruit. chives. Our host felt the meat was on this side of being over-cooked. Enjoyable, however just a shade on the side of falling a bit under whelming. For entrees: I had the lamb chops. Cooked perfectly Mid Rare, nicely seasoned. I thought it was a good dish. Lips ordered the chicken with sweet potato gnocchi. According to Lips, the bird needed a much heavier hand with seasonings. Just was meh, at best. Rib Eye cooked a bit more than Mid Rare. One could see on his face that this was not what was hoped for. There were some sides dishes. Some were great, some were ok. Kind of all over the place. Meh,
(3)Teresa C.
For a restaurant in the heart of the Four Seasons, frequented by celebs and wealthier folk, either they give service depending on your wallet size or they just aren't doing it right. Their service overall wasn't terrible but it was much like their food- mediocre, lacking in effort and not enough where it counted. Bread and water came by only once and we had to ask for our glasses to be refilled. Our waitress was nice but didn't explain the menu just put down the prix fixe and left till check time (and when she brought our complimentary grapa). The waiters that brought us the dishes were quick as the wind and left before we could ask for them to repeat what they'd brought. The nicest people were the ones that took away our plates actually. Food was meh. I'm reminded of Nobu where it felt ambience and the crowd was more important than the dishes but even Nobu at dineLA gave you enough to be satiated. The dishes were small and even the pasta was tiny. Flavours were okay but unremarkable. Halibut wasn't dry but lacked flavour and was drowned in English Peas. Sashimi wasn't cold. The dessert was my favourite, three gelato profiteroles. Thank god for the dessert. The foccacio bread they brought originally to the table was pretty good and the plate of olives was a nice thought. Grapas were so-so. They didn't give us our olive oil and I was too disappointed to bother walking back and asking for it. (another negative point.) All in all, I'm glad this was a travelzoo deal and one I wouldn't bother buying again. We both were hungry in another hour after we left. Skip the ridiculous valet parking by the way and street park. Also, if you get a chance, take a walk through the tiny garden inside the Four Season. It has creepy statues. (Don't blink.)
(2)Andy R.
It's not a perfect 5, but it close enough! My stars: (5=epic "best of") (4=really tasty and want to go again and again) (3=good and will go back once in a while) (2=fair, might return for a visit if there was some glimmer of hope) (1=avoid at all costs) Go or No? Go! Tease: Culina is an upscale modern Italian restaurant inside the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills. Why I went: We had a Blackboard Eats deal for 30% off, and we like Culina! When: 7/13/13 Food: We started off our memorable meal with some tasty cocktails. I have an extremely tasty barrel aged Negroni (not too bitter, and smooth including some rye whiskey) and my wife had a Picasso's Pear, which she loved! Later on, I got a Culina Manhattan, which was also barrel aged, and it was just about the tastiest take on a non-traditional Manhattan I've had! The house-made baked apple bitters were a nice twist! We ordered 3 plates of crudo (Italian version of sashimi). Amberjack (whitefish) with blackberry mint and pepper...diver scallops with tangerine, mint, chili, and smoked sea salt (RIDICULOUSLY GOOD!)...and lastly, urchin with lemon. All 3 were super fresh and super tasty! Crudo is a must here! Between the 2 of us, we split a pasta and pizza. The pizza we got was smoked mozzarella, speck, grilled hen of the woods mushrooms, and thyme. Stupid good! The crust was thin, soft, and melt-in-your-mouth good! It appeared almost not done enough, but that chew on the crust was literally perfect for the toppings. The pasta was a house-made Pappardelle with lobster in a brown butter sauces with summer squash and petite onions. It's so tasty it's not fair! The lobster was perfectly cooked, and the pasta was superb! We concluded out meal with an Affogoto and a trio of gelatos and sorbet. My wife's Affogoto was a delicious Espresso poured over a vanilla gelato...with cotton candy on top! The hot Espresso melted parts of the cotton candy and added a little sweetness to it. My wife was in heaven! The dish simply looks really amazing and many patrons next to us were asking what she ordered! My gelatos and sorbets were excellent. The sorbet was a campari (bitter citrus), and the gelatos were fig & walnut and cherry. Service: Excellent. Zachary, our server, did a great job. Additionally, the managers and bussers were also super friendly and attentive! Hints/Final thoughts: This place is pricey, but it is possible to navigate without spending too much. Go for the crudo. Go for the pasta. Go for the pizza. Go for the desserts. Go for the drinks. Just go.
(5)Elana B.
Best breakfast in Los Angeles. The food is divine. Always clean, healthy and beautiful. The service is friendly and helpful. Whenever I need to get away without getting away I go and sit in the outdoor garden and have breakfast at Culina
(5)Carrie R.
Would give Culina 4 stars if we hadn't been rushed through our meal. It would have been nice to linger between courses, given the 4 courses we ordered. Overall service was attentive and efficient but we felt hurried throughout with no spacing between courses. The manager made a point of coming to say hi but when we told him the dish was great but the chicken too salty (it really was almost inedible), he tossed us a put-down regarding the fact that we were there with a Travelzoo voucher and explained that our portions were the same size as 'regular' diner (not what we were complaining about) then poured us more water to help with all the salt! Highlight was the branzino.
(3)Li J.
I attended a luncheon at Culina in the Four Seasons Hotel and it was A-OK. They claim to have modern Italian cuisine. Italian is one of my favorite types of food and I like traditional, modern, Northern, Southern, all of it. The luncheon started with pizzas - they didn't look warm or appetizing so I passed. Next was a ceasar salad - ick! I hate a ceasar salad that looks wet and white. I took a few bites and then moved on. Next was the roasted chicken - yummy. Finally I had the sorbet with fresh berries -- the highlight of my meal. Coffee was also good. Service was excellent. In all, it was fine. Nothing to write home about and I likely won't return unless attending another hosted event.
(3)Akiko T.
3.5 stars - I feel like being nice right now. Visited Culina with a friend visiting from NY. We opted to visit this place since she was already staying at the Four Seasons... I guess I should have been a better host and whisked her away from the Hotel but we both have always wanted to give this place a try since I'd heard only fabulous things about the Crudo bar! The interior of this restaurant is quite beautiful. I love the glass bubble chandelier that's beautifully showcased in the center of the restaurant. We were seated off to a corner table which was in a low traffic area of the restaurant. The service moved like molasses, I had to ask for ice water three times. We were situated in an area that the wait staff could easily forget you're even there. Since we'd heard so much about their crudo, (say yes to Italian sashimi!) we opted to try two variations: * Kampachi Crudo with Lemon Oil, Avocado Puree and Pomegranate Garnish * Salmon Crudo with Blood Orange Oil and Caviar People, seriously come here just for this! The crudo here absolutely melts in your mouth, and the way that they delicately seasoned the fish was pretty exquisite. The next time I come here, I'm sitting right at the crudo bar and pairing it with their crisp proseco. On to our entrees, we ordered the Lasagna Verde, a nice spinach lasagna which arrived all bubbly, cheesy and gooey. This came with a ragu and out of this world. We also ordered the Black Spaghetti that came tossed in sea urchin, tomato, basil and citrus. I was really put off by the presentation of the spaghetti. I always envision black spaghetti to be on the thinner side, not as thin as cappelini but a bit more delicate. This on the other had was grotesquely thick, in fact I snapped a photo and the noodles look like sea worms. Ugh! We also ended up splitting an order of Satueed Baby Spinach which came tossed in pinenuts and black currants. Yum! All in all, it was a good experience, was not anywhere near mind blowing and the service needs some manners and polishing up. Come here for the crudo. Prego.
(4)Ron F.
Went for lunch here. Beautiful place and ritzy. Prices are what you would expect at a Beverly Hills area hotel. The food is good and some are quite unique. The people working there seemed happy to work there. Which is refreshing. There's a Marilyn Monroe statue at the front of the hotel. I couldn't resist looking under her skirt. Oink.
(3)Maribeth E.
We came here for a birthday and had a reservation for 8. Half of us arrived on time and the other half were "fashionably late." The hosts went ahead and sat the four of us so that we could order appetizers and drinks while we waited. Well, that idea failed. Nobody acknowledged us until 30 minutes later when the late arrivals showed up. Really? We had to go to the bar and order drinks and bring them back to our table. The Four Seasons is known for their great service to their clients. I guess that stops before you get into their restaurants. The food was ok. Nothing memorable. Nothing to outweigh the terrible service. I do know I got sick later that evening and it wasn't from drinking; so there's a good possibility it was from the ok food. There's no way to know for sure though. There's a million restaurants in the area, you should take your money anywhere but here.
(2)Steph H.
As most everyone else as mentioned, went to Culina to redeem our Travelzoo voucher. The restaurant was very classy, modern, and elegant. We sat on the heated patio which was nice. Our waitress was very professional and good at her job. In addition to the 5 courses they also provided delicious bread, olive oil, and a bowl of olives. Here were our impressions of the 5 courses: Crudo: We both loved the hamachi, less impressed with the salmon and tuna. A glass of Prosecco was served with this which was delicious. Salad: We both loved the flavor combination of the asparagus, artichokes and chives...very fresh tasting. Pasta: This was my least favorite. Mine was overcooked and I had marinara sauce as I don't eat meat, however, my friend raved about his. Must've been the ragu bolognese that made this dish. Fish: loved the Halibut! Cooked perfectly and served with these delicious peas and sweet onion sauce. Dessert: three different little pastries with gelato, pretty good! Grapa Flight: Wasn't a fan of the chardonnay or merlot grapa, but the Moscatto grapa tasted like lavendar, so delicious! I do find it hard to believe that this meal would normally cost $225 and as some others have mentioned I definitely don't think it was worth that amount. That being said, however, overall this was a very nice experience.
(4)Kimmy N.
Food: Average Drinks: Average Service: Good Ambiance: Casual or Semi-Formal Portions: Average Facility Type: Hotel Restaurant (Four Seasons Beverly Hills) Cuisine: Italian Price: Moderate Parking: Valet or Street Parking across the street if you get lucky What I've tried: Insalata Tricolore ($10): Good Margherita Pizza ($15): Average Caprino Pizza ($17): Average Linguine Alle Vongole ($25): Average Cavatelli ($22): Average Lasagna Della Nonna ($19): Average Milk Chocolate Panna Cotta ($9): Good Nuvola Di Riso ($9): Very Good Tiramisu ($9): Average Overall, food was salty. There are many other better Italian restaurants in LA.
(2)Katherine D.
Visited this restaurant on a weekend trip to LA back in June... it made for a lovely, yummy date night. Prices seemed pretty fair, and the food was excellent. They start the table with a bowl of marinated olives(which honestly may have been my favorite thing we ate, but I'm a sucker for olives). I had the Tortelloni, which was excellent, only thing I wish is that the portion was slightly larger. The house made gelato is definitely the way to end your meal!
(4)Min I.
I was highly impressed with Culina. From the decor to the 5 star service to the exquisite presentation of each dish - all far exceeded my expectations. The burrata salad was small but a great appetizer, tasty and fresh heriloom tomatoes with just the right amount of burrata. Ravioli with amazing-ness inside and sweet corn.. Died and went to heaven. They brown it in butter and brown sugar and sage. What a divine combination. Salmon was cooked just perfectly and served on a bed of small salad and beets. Super good. Spaghetti and Meatballs - my boyfriend loves and BTW all their pasta is homemade. he said it's the best spaghetti he's ever had. Banana chocolate pizza desert - holy s*** GOODNESS. This is by far the best desert I've ever had in my life. Nutella, hazlenuts, just the perfect amount of pizza dough, bananas. gosh I can't believe nobody thought of this amazing concoction sooner. Tiramisu - not as amazing as the banana chocolate pizza but still quality and a huge serving BTW. Rosemary bread and olives - ummm yes PLEASE it's free and it's endless and probably the best bread i've ever had in my life. Like the softest pretzel bread with the perfect amount of herbs. Seriously. Culina is hands down awesome and it's not every day I can write such a glowing review.. Writing this makes me want to eat there right now. It's really good and you won't regret eating here.
(5)Shan C.
Culina, my favorite modern Italian, sushi restuarant on the planet... mostly because I think that it's the only one on the planet. I expected fantastic service from Culina because of it's association with The Four Seasons. The food and atmosphere were wonderful, but the service was only average. I figure that this is because many of the waiters are very young and look like they are more interested in auditioning for Hostel Part 4, or Saw 27. If you are okay "settling" with traditional Italian, go with Madeo or La Dolce Vita. You will not have to worry about encountering the kind of poor service that I experienced.
(2)Alex H.
Crudo and their panzanella salad are AWESOME!! The service is top notch and on a Saturday night, this place is bumping. The bad news, this place will burn a hole in your wallet. Be ready to drop at least a benji per person.
(4)Carol L.
Dined here with my cousins who treated my husband and I with a Travelzoo tasting course. The food was great and we loved the ambience! It was perfect for catching up with my cousins and enjoying a nice meal together. What a treat.
(4)todd s.
Not usually where I would plop down for dinner (a bit fancier than I'm used to), but a business associate of my wife invited us & I was pleasantly surprised. They have a nice heated patio in front for cocktails, and a seperate one inside the restaurant if that's your thing. We loved the several varieties of breads they brought. I had the ravioli with sage butter; it reminded me of my favorite dish at Il Fornio, very tasty. My wife couldnt stop raving about the t-bone steak she got; she said it was the best steak she has ever had.
(4)Irene C.
Hmm, I've never had a meal that went from so high to so low so quickly. First off, our server was fantastic (very personable and I asked a lot of stupid questions and he never seemed put out by them) and most of the food was excellent. Highlight was all of the crudo (we ordered a sampler plate of three fish plus the scallops), this is definitely a must-get over any of the appetizers I tried. The restaurant interior was beautiful and I saw lots of options for outdoor seating. Maybe I was too full from the many appetizers we ordered, but the $42 rib eye steak was just okay although it was perfectly cooked (and they split the entree for us, very nice). The falling off point was after receiving the bill and seeing that the cocktail I ordered (pisco sour) was $22. Wow. Did I get a cocktail made from the rarest and most expensive of pisco? Well, honestly, I have no idea, it's possible, but seeing as how a specialty cocktail with the same liquor was $16, I can't imagine what caused the bump in price when my drink came with less of their fancy mixology additions (I essentially ordered the well version of their signature cocktail that cost $12 tops at any other restaurant I've been to). If it had been the most delicious pisco sour I'd ever had in my life, I would've understood. But the reason why I'm really stung and making a big stink (I try not to write rants like this in my reviews) is because it tasted like pure sour mix that I even had the server send it back at one point because I wasn't quite sure it was actually what I had ordered. I only drank it because I didn't want to be difficult and send it back a SECOND time when he returned it saying that that's how the bartender said it was supposed to be. Maybe they charged me twice for the inquiry. So 4/5 stars for excellent service and food, 1 star for the drinks.
(3)Natalie M.
this place is enjoyable in all the possible ways. we were driving by this hotel a week ago, and I really wanted to check this place out. It looks very nice from the outside. so yesterday we went there. Very friendly and funny hostess (beautiful girls!!). The design of this place is great - i love the huge chandelier above the seating area- I saw the same style fixtures at lamps plus but this one is the biggest one. Also I love the glass chandelier at the hotel entrance - they are amazing expensive too. All the atmosphere of the place is simple luxury: natural wood floor, the bar is made out of big natural stone slabs. very simple but looks amazing! Then the food. First we were served the bread - I love the crispy one - the best!! I recommend it. Champagne was good (lol champagne could never be bad) then we ordered some "fansy name" salad - like Capreese but with lobster meat. - good! then we ate our main course - it was not bad but I was so full with the bread and lobster that I didnt really feel the taste of my dish. I think to feel the real taste of the food you have to be hungry and eat very small amount of food. When I dont eat I feel all the smells and tastes brighter. After the dinner we went to their bar, they have live music - some rock band - it was pretty much fun. I loved it. Great place! I recommend it to everybody. if you are thinking about remodeling of your house, visit this place just to check out the design.
(5)Vishal S.
This is my 2nd time coming to a restaurant. The place is elegant, classy, and trendy. The staff is friendly and attentive. The restaurant is at the 4 Seasons Hotel. Valet parking is validated by the Culina restaurant. The place opens at 6pm. We went to the bar and bartender was very nice and professional. We were asking about good wines and he brought over the Sommelier to discuss about the wine selection. We ordered Ricciola (yellow tailed, star anise oil, and orange sea salt) from the Crudo Bar menu. It came with 4 pieces of yellow tail. Tasted great. Once our table was ready the bartender told us to leave our wines at the bar and they would bring it to our table. We had the fixed 4 course menu. Burrata cheese Green Past with Squid Salmon and Ahi Tuna (wife and I got opposites) Dessert (Elderflower Panacotta) All four courses tasted great. Staff was nice. Just a positive experience every time. Will come back again on special occasions.
(5)Andrea L.
I don't know about you, but I'm totally guilty of signing up to get daily emails on deals in my local area. My email is flooded with deals from Living Social, Groupon, Yelp, Open Table, and Travel Zoo. Every single day I'm tempted to purchase a deal because it's so inexpensive. Of all the deals I've purchased, the one that I consider to be the best deal was the one I purchased from Travelzoo. I purchased a 5-course dinner for two at Culina which included two glasses of champagne, two grappa flights and a bottle of custom olive oil to take home. This would regularly cost $250 but for Travelzoo subscribers, it was only $89. That's insane, right? How could I pass up such a great offer? I bought this offer back in November and I had 6 months to use it. I chose to use it this weekend for a Pre-Valentine's dinner with the hubby. We like to avoid all the craziness of V-Day so we always have a nice dinner a few days before the actual day. When we got to Culina, we were a few minutes early. The hostess told us it would be a few minutes so we went to the lounge area and waited to be seated. A waitress immediately checked to see if we wanted a cocktail, and both the hubby and I ordered the Caipiroska. It was absolutely delicious. It was very refreshing. A few sips later, and the hostess was showing us to our table. This is what was included: -Two glasses of Prosecco -Focaccia bread and Olive Oil -Olives & Marcona Almonds -Crudo Flight Ahi Tuna, Ginger Oil, Coriander Seed, Lemon Salt Hamachi, Orange, Star Anise Loch Duarte Salmon, Caper Salt, Blood Orange -Mandarino Wild Arugula, Shaved Fennel, Pomegranate, Hazelnut Taggiasca Black Olives, Tanerine Citronette -Tagliatelle (Ragu Bolognese) -Cirenga Wild Stripped Bass, Tuscan Kale, Salsify Roasted Blueberry Glassato, Lemon -Flight of Grappa & Limoncello -Trio of Profiteroles At the end, they even gave us a small sample of the olive oil they use in house. Our dinner at Culina was pretty solid. Every single dish was so on point. I was very pleased with the meal, and would love to return to try the rest of their menu.They are definitely doing something right over there.
(4)John-Michael C.
She tells me that there is this deal and so we go. That's how it works right? I'm celebrating my moms bday... apparently with the entire family and my bff in tow. I mean, if you are going to do something, then I suppose it might as well be a grand gesture. And it doesnt hurt if the grand gesture was relatively dirt cheap. We walked over to the restaurant through the lobby and bar area of the four seasons. When we arrived at the Four Seasons, we walked through the lobby and love d the giant floral arrangement at the center, so pretty! We walked through the bar and finally arrived at Culina. We were seated promptly at the far side of the room with great views of the interior and exterior. If the weather was nicer, I would have preferred to have sat outside along with the amazing fire sculpture things. The travelzoo pre-fixe menus were nice and unassuming and the food was delicious. Judging by the number of menus I was able to see, it looked as if I was not the only one partaking of the amazing deal at this lovely venue. The champagne was good and the bread was bread but I'm not much of an olive person. The sashimi was delicious. The salad was a salad. Ragu bolognese.... I dont remember. The bass was great - the skin was crisp and the meat flaky. Profiteroles was decadent. And the grappa... it was something else. I drank as much of the stuff on the table as I could... but in the end there was simply too much for me.. I know, blasphemy! It was nice to see that they did a lil something extra for my moms bday with the choco writing and bday candle. It's the details! Since it was his mom's birthday, we also ordered an extra dessert where they were able to put a candle in it which was a milk chocolate pana cotta served with a poached pear. This too was very good and I loved how they wrote happy birthday in chocolate sauce on the plate. I cant wait to go back! ;D
(5)Annie L.
I'm surprised at all the negative reviews. I thought the setting was nice, the food delicious, and the service excellent. Maybe we ordered particularly well - salmon crudo, kampachi crudo (loved it), scallops with truffle (delicious), lamb chops (perfect), and veal chop (very good). Yes, it's expensive, but there are a lot of extremely expensive restaurants in LA, and in my mind, none of them are ever truly "worth it." At a restaurant like Culina, you just have to kind of suck up the prices and enjoy it for what it is.
(4)Gaby F.
Certainly beautiful restaurant, courteous service, but still doesn't justify the mediocre food. Menu sounds good but actual food is uninteresting to the palate. Disappointed.
(1)Barclay S.
Incredible! Great food and service. Highly recommended for a low key dinner with friends and family.
(4)Jean L.
Monday evening for dineLA - Culina stole my heart, filled it up, and graciously returned it replete with everything wondrous under the moon. We arrived separately and on time: Ed K., Hyura C., Mike N., Hovik N., Conor K., and Mark L. 7 foodies. 5 men and 2 women. 4 glasses of wine. 6 yelpers, 2 elite. All committed seekers of remarkable restaurants and savory experiences. Appetizers: I got the fichi to start: sliced and soft california figs divided on a round spread of sheep's milk ricotta, drizzled with aged balsamico, topped gently with rucola. SENSATIONAL. The 3 of us who ordered this dish could not stop raving about it. Everyone at the table agreed this dish won the appetizer round. FICHI. 3 others had the caprese "a modo mio": - seriously a fist-sized almost neon yellow-orange heirloom tomato erupting burrata cheese, sided by basil and manni evoo. The presentation was worth the camera flashes. The tomato though, alas, was too large for the amount of cheese and frankly, couldn't top the fichi. 1 person ordered the culina chopped salad - tuscan farro. garden fresh vegetables. fresh herbs. chianti vinaigrette. It was all right, a little too 'healthy' for me that night. ;) Entrees: Merluzzo nero: alaskan black cod. caramelized brussel sprouts. pancetta. concentrated tomato. sweet onion fonduta. red wine glassato. The menu had me at BLACK COD. The brussel sprouts - sweet, knobbly, soft - set me back to warm autumn evenings roasting my own. The sweet onion fonduta - I wished they ladled a steakhouse-sized mashed potato side of it. OH, back to the BLACK COD. Do you believe fish can separate like butter and taste like a fragrant cloud? Believe!! 2 others got the manzo - niman ranch flat iron steak. aromatic herbs. heirloom tomatoes. shaved parmigiano reggiano. The piece I got was absolutely DIVINE. Alas, I loved my cod but I had to hand it to them - that steak was one juicy and aromatic hunk of meat. Desserts: Cannoli - 2 large pieces bursting with olio d'oliva gelato and tipped with caramelized pistachios. OUT OF THIS WORLD. The olive oil gelato had this .... ESSENCE ... like the umami of sweets, smoothly matched inside a thick outer cannoli crust and sweet roasted golden green pistachios everywhere. I wanted to go to the kitchen to personally thank Chef Victor Casanova and his entire crew for this alone, not to mention everything else! I also tried their affogato. I've had affogato before. I have never had affogato like this before. Again, presentation alone was worthy of the camera snapping. The waitress brought out a platter with an 8 oz. cup of vanilla bean gelato topped with a higher 6 inch. spray of cotton candy. She poured the espresso over the cotton candy, melting it into what became the affogato. Pinoli cookies sided the dish. The gelato was deeeeelish. All this? $34 before tax and tip. Service was fabulous. The end of the meal had us giving the waitress 7 credit cards. The pile of credit cards she returned with each in their own folder was a scene to behold. Remember to validate for $6 valet parking. Oh, and since you'll have your camera for food anyway, you may as well take pictures in the lobby, waiting area, etc...this place is drop-dead handsome.
(5)Nari L.
Excellent! The atmosphere was very nice and romantic! The food was all so delicious! The portions are a bit on the smaller side. We ordered the halibut which is literally just the halibut. It doesn't come with anything. So for just a halibut for $35 bucks may not be something you're looking for but it was delicious! I had a 30% off BBE so I didn't feel guilty at all! The pasta was delicious! As well as the molten cake with salted caramel. Yum! Their rosemary bread and olives are to die for! Love everything about this place!
(5)W L.
Travelzoo 5 course dinner. The ambiance was very nice. We sat indoors, but the outdoor seating was very nice. We noticed most of the restaurant had travelzoo dinners. 1) Crudo Flight - sashimi dish of tuna, yellowtail and salmon. not a lot of flavor. salmon tasted funny. We were also served flutes of champagne which were very good. 2) Salad with watercress, asparagus mushrooms and artichokes in a lemon dressing. - this was okay, not a fan. 3) Bobolotti Verdi - basically a green pasta /w bologenese. Was too salty. 4) Halibut /w english peas - this dish was decent, nothing to rave about. 5) Mini Profiteroles with 3 kinds of gelato. - Best course out of the whole meal. We didn't try the grappa flight. Lemoncello was okay. Pros - nice ambiance. Service was very good. Good bread and olives. Cons - Food was disappointing. Travelzoo voucher says the $89 meal was worth $225. The dinner was not worth the $89 spent on it.
(2)Zoe R.
Loved it. Go there now!
(5)Kristine L.
Came in on Travelzoo's $89 voucher for Dinner for 2. Here's the breakdown: Parking: Easy and free street parking, restaurant does offer validation for valet parking at the Four Seasons Deco're: Trendy and upscale, outdoor patio looks "HOT" with lots of flaming heat lamp. Ambiance: Romantic, good for date night. Lots of pretty people, but they all seem to be at the bar or outside on the patio. Food, Presentation: Excellent presentation and plating Food, Quality: Fresh ingredients that's seasonally appropriate. Food, Taste: Mediocre, some of the flavor don't quite mesh together Service: Excellent, attention to detail, wait staff are prompt and knowledgeable. Highlight of the meal: The complimentary focaccia bread Lowlight of the meal: The salad was less than impressive Lesson of the night: Grappa= Italian Moonshine..... (shiver....) I had a great date night with BF, the place was romantic and we spent 2.5 hours eating and chatting. Overall it's a okay deal if you have a Travelzoo Voucher, but I wouldn't dine here on its regular priced menu.
(3)Milan V.
The moment you walk in at Culina you will be treated like a royalty with amazing and friendly hostesses, superlative service and management, and of course unbelievable "culina-like" cuisine, that is basically modern italian with amazing flavors, preparations and presentations. I would highly recommend you to dine on their incredible patio filled with outdoor heaters, flame-like waterfalls, lemon garden and castle-like atmosphere. I had a chance to join my great friends from Serbia and share few appetizers, one bottle of wine, few entrées and even five deserts. Halibut was amaaaazing, soft and NOT overcooked like in some other wanna be culinas. Veal Milanesa soft, lightly breaded to perfection, with soft arugula and tasty tomatoes. Salads, appetizers, cheeses and prosciouttos just amaaaaaaazingly tasty and fresh. We had a chance to try Tiramisu, Rice Pudding like desert with berries, their chocolate lava cake with incredible ice cream, profiterolles filled with different ice creams, I must say I treated my palate last night @ Culina. Would hiiiiiighly recommend this place to anyone interested to be treated like royalty and spend reasonable amount of money for impeccable quality and service. Can't wait to go back to Culina.
(5)Sharon P.
DineLA woohoo! Honestly, I would not be able to come to a place like this if it wasn't for DineLA or someone was taking me out here... One of the nicer restaurants I've been too. It's located insided the Four Seasons Beverly Hills, so you know right off the bat this isn't going to be some ratg-tag place. I LOVED the ambience and decor- low lighting but not TOO dark with pretty lights and comfy seating. They have a full drinks bar and a crudo bar near the entrance. The outdoor area looked amazing too. They have a fire wall! And plush seats! I would like to sit outside if I were to ever come back. For the food I got the Caprese, Manzo, and Affogato. My friend got the Fichi, Black Cod, and the Nuvola di Riso. My oh my they were all so delicious. My caprese came out with some heavenly, very creamy burrata, drizzled with some olive oil, basil leaves, and heirloom tomatoes. I don't really like raw tomatoes, but the combination of all these things, plus some salt, just exploded in my mouth with delectable goodness. My friend's fichi was also to die for, The sweet figs and slightly salty cheese together just burst with flavor. My friend didn't really like the ricotta that came with it, so I basically licked every last bit of it from her plate. SO GOOD. My manzo, which is a steak dish, was grilled absolutely perfectly. It was medium rare, soft, like buttah, juicy, meaty... I LOVED. I kept wanting to eat more of it and was sad when it time for my last bite... My friend's black cod with miso was also VERY GOOD. I've been loving fish dishes more and more her cod was just DELICIOUS. Flaky, flavorful, big... YUM For dessert i got the affogato which was served in a long cup with like this cotton candy on top which I totally would've taken a picture of had I know the server was going to pour the espresso over it immediately. But it was good. Just your standard vanilla ice cream and hot espresso. My friend's rice pudding also tasted like a creamier version of rice pudding you get anywhere. Overall a great, fun experience at a beautiful restaurant. I would love to back next time.
(4)MrSantaMonica K.
Very disappointed with the food.... Way overpriced for what you get.... The servings are ridiculously small and the food is average at best. You are paying for the ambiance and service, which serves the Four Seasons well. For the same price you can go a few blocks away and enjoy much better quality food!
(1)Rebecca M.
We also went to Culina to redeem our travelzoo voucher. We sat on the heated patio, which was pretty, but cramped. We were shoved into a banquette seating arrangement of two-tops in a row that I was not a fan of. It was difficult to have a conversation with my dining partner when the other tables were so close. It felt like we were interrupting them whenever we said something. Plus, when you got up from the table you had to do so carefully, in order to keep from knocking over a wine glass on one of your tables as you slid between the narrow opening between the tables. On to the food. Marinated olives, focaccia, breadsticks, and flatbread: Flatbread was bland and almost too flat, for lack of a better description. I would have preferred lavash. Breadsticks and focaccia were a better choice, and the olives were a true treat with a delicious nuttiness and a subtle citrus flavor. Crudo: This was our favorite course. Very delicate flavors and we enjoyed the way the three selections mingled with our glasses of champagne Watercress salad: So-so. There was hardly any vinagrette or pecorino to offset the bitter ingredients composing the bulk of this dish. Great idea but poor execution. Pasta: Fantastic. Al-dente, and the Bolognese was spot-on. A very simple course, but it was done exceedingly well. Entree: The halibut was cooked perfectly, moist and tender with a nice sear on the outside and seasoned well. The peas were a smidge too raw, but the pea tendrils and the sweet onion fonduta were wonderful. House-made Grapa Flight/ Lemoncello: Pure rotgut, all of it. I'm sorry, I wanted to be impressed here, but this was a huge fail for me. Dessert: A trio of profiteroles, with espresso, vanilla, and pistachio gelato, drizzled generously with chocolate sauce, how can you go wrong? The pistachio one was easily my favorite. I also ordered a decaf espresso with a twist with my dessert. It came with a whole lemon slice instead of a twist, but that was an easy fix. They gave us little travel-sized bottles of Monini EVOO to take home - not the house-made olive oil described in the travelzoo promotion. The tables around us that were also on the promotion got small, wrapped packages of biscotti to take home, but our server did not give us these for some reason, although we lingered for a while after our meal as we finished up our coffee drinks. Despite not receiving the biscotti to take home, I feel that the service was impeccable. There was staff coming at us from everywhere, and they all blended their tasks seamlessly and stayed professionally in the background. Still, overall, I would have to say the experience was just ok. Nothing to write home about. When you go to a restaurant that is hyped like Culina is, in the location that Culina is in, you expect a memorable meal. I don't think I would go back to this place, even with another promotion in hand.
(2)Sherry S.
My husband and I enjoyed a delicious 5 course meal at Culina's thanks to a Travel Zoo deal. Culina has excellent service and we were treated beautifully from the moment we walked in. The food was beautifully presented and each dish was delicious. Our waiter was very attentive, but not overly pushy or annoying. We spent almost 2 hours enjoying a wonderful meal and beautiful ambiance. The restaurant was pretty packed for a Tuesday night. Their patio is gorgeous with some of the most unique heat lamps I have seen, but it was much too cold to be seated outside. For the deal we got, this meal was well worth it, but their full prices looked pretty steep. Too expensive for my blood. Travel Zoo- thanks for offering such a great bargain! They have valet parking, but you can also park on the street for free.
(4)Jessica B.
I was looking forward to dining at Culina because I have heard such great things. Unfortunately it didn't live up to our expectations. We started off with the Piccolo Piatti, 3 small plates. We had the Melanzane (eggplant), a cheese and the prosciutto. The only star was the cheese and I cannot remember what it was called. The proscuitto was totally bland and had no flavor whatsoever. The eggplant was just boring. My husband had the oysters, they were kumomoto and he said they were whatever- definitly nothing special. We also had a crudo, chose the ahi tuno. He liked it, I didn't. It is served on cured salt with cucumber which makes it tastier. The foccacia bread was good... Our entrees were ok also. My husband had the branzino, it was a very large portion but there were no vegetables on the plate. I think our waiter should have mentioned that and suggested a side dish. I had the lamb chops, which I enjoyed. I was served 4 large chops, beautifully frenched and cooked. It came with cauliflower and a puree which was nice. I was definitely satisfied with my entree but not overly stuffed. We opted for no dessert, because a. we were full and b. the table next to us was enough to drive you crazy. Being that this is at the Four Seasons Hotel, you would think the valet service would be good.... Yeah after waiting for 20 minutes for my car we were told that it was missing....lovely. They tried to blame it on us for giving the wrong ticket but that wasn't possible. So after 10 more minutes they decided to bring up two versions of my car, so we could choose which was ours. I only wish I had a ferrari... So no, I won't be back and suggest you keep an eye on the ticket you give to the valet! Oh, and I won't even mention the girl who was escorted out of the hotel for public intoxication and the present she left on the front steps of the hotel.....
(2)Kris T.
Everything was delicious here. My bf and I tried this place during la dine restaurant week. For appetizers I had that caprese and he had the figs. Both were absolutely perfect. For our entree, I got the ravioli with sweet corn and my bf had the flank iron steak --- both were so mouth watering but I think my ravioli was a tad better that even my bf wanted to trade some of his steak to eat the ravioli. The rice cloud dessert was amazing!!! The cannoli is yummy too! In addition, we ate some yellowtail and ahi tuna off a salt plank (delicious!) Downside: hahah we did not get our complimentary bread basket that everyone else had and had to keep asking for more bread. If you do valet and get your ticket valeted then it's $6. And I'm just not one for the rich, stuffy sort of ambience. Oh the service was great!
(5)Efrain G.
Awesome first-time experience at Culina. We sat in a beautiful outside/patio area in the massive restaurant. Our host, servers, and staff were very friendly, professional, and welcoming. We were served some great focaccia, and a few other breadstick/cracker snacks which were also hard to resist. John, our server, was cool - helpful, smiling, gracious. He made some suggestions and they were excellent. Our party of 3 had: The Abbacchio was crazy good: tender fall-apart lamb with a wonderful crust of deliciousness. Tableside Panzanella: refreshingly sumptuous salad Sweet corn ravioli: good Lord, they may have been the best ravioli I've had at a restaurant Lasagna: huge layered portion, comfort food and not heavy :) Dessert: torta al gianduja - yum! nuvola di riso: light, fluffy, and unique - like fluffy arroz dulce. Ambience, decor, staff, food, restrooms, space - overall, Culina was total coolness; it was the best dining experience in L.A., my favourite so far. Looking forward to returning soon!
(5)John C.
It is so nice there now. Remember all that location prior to remodeling. This new decor is so cool and modern. Food is great!!!
(5)Harrison G.
Ate a very classy meal here with some classy people. Luckily, my meal was comped by my friend who was working an event here. Otherwise, I would not have been able to afford dinner for a week afterward. I'll list what we ate: prosciutto, mushrooms, ham with three cheeses - delicious although it was hard to eat. Don't order if you don't like using your hands. scallops - I loved these Delightfully pillowy with a subtle salty taste. croque - I honestly don't remember what this was but I think it was good. meatballs - can't go wrong with these. 28oz porterhouse steak - cut up at the table. I ordered medium well and it was more well done that I generally like. I should've ordered just medium. Great as leftovers! salted caramel desert - too salty for my tastes but good nonetheless. Wine was also flowing. It was a great meal. I'm only holding off on the 5 star rating because of the price but it's the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills so if you don't want high prices you're probably not even reading this review.
(4)Joseph S.
Hands down the best Italian restaurant in LA! The staff, service, food, ambience and patio are perfection! Excellent wine selection at affordable prices considering it's at the Four Seasons. I will definitely be back!
(5)Laura S.
The food here was absolutely amazing and the decor is beautiful. The Gamberoni crudo was to die for and even though it wasn't the most highly recommended dish on the menu, I ordered the yellow tail as my main course and liked it very much. You cannot leave without ordering the Nuvola di Riso for dessert. It's one of the best things I've ever had. The other great dessert at our table was Affogato- they bring you vanilla ice cream with cotton candy on top and then pour hot espresso over it. Minus one star for having to ask our waitress repeatedly to bring us almost everything we asked for: water, bread, olives...
(4)Nikki F.
Molto Bene! This new Italian fusion restaurant at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills (the one on Doheny) has class, sass and a flair amazing flavor! I had the opportunity to work an event here Monday night and not only is the food immaculately prepared and delicious, the staff is tremendously friendly and courteous. Beautiful and modern amber-colored decor with an inviting outdoor seating area make this up and coming restaurant a must-dine! I tried several different amuse bouche and they were all meticulously positioned on their perspective serving dishes and bursting with interesting flavors. Forgive me if I don't recall exactly what was in each dish but here are some highlights... -sweet roasted corn mascarpone ravioli- creamy and tender -medium rare fillet with pesto aoli- savory, melted in my mouth -pan seared tuna atop thinly sliced veal fillet w/ cream sauce- O Lord. -lightly sweet and creamy tiramisu- the best I've ever had -Italian breaded Parmesan chicken arugula salad- crispy and palette cleansing -pulled beef with gnocchi and roasted tomato sauce- and i hate gnocchi! I didn't get a chance to try any cocktails since I was working :( but they all looked delicious to me! I will return ASAP. Bravo Four Seasons Culina!
(4)Lillian R.
We had reservations that were made several days in advance. We were going there for a friend's birthday. Could they have given us a worse table? when we objected were were shown a table that was even worse! We were wondering if the maitre'd was waiting for use to slip him a $50 for one of the many EMPTY tables in the main dining area. We have been there several times and have had similar experience the last couple of times - each time we wonder if we should have flashed the $50! Last time we are going here until they change staff.
(1)Angelica A.
The short version: dining at Culina was regrettable. It was not only wholly dissatisfactory but insulting and embarrassing as well. I literally told the manager "I'm embarrassed...for you." Ultimately, it was the worst dining experience I have ever had. Read on for details. My story: I purchased Travelzoo's $89 voucher for a 5 course dinner for 2. "With dinner, each person will receive a complimentary glass of champagne and grappa flight. Finally, take home a bottle of specially pressed and labeled olive oil, valued at $25." *uploaded pic of voucher to my photos. I won't waste much time discussing the food. It was mediocre (at best) , and served by a less than attentive server (MICHAEL). Actually, he was quite attentive to the female form...we watched him ogle every female form that passed (incl mine) and then comment about some to other wait staff. We noticed this because we were trying desperately to get his attention through much of the meal and apparently peripheral vision is just the idea from which Lollapalooza sprang. With the bill, Michael left 2 small sample sized bottles of olive oil on the table and walked away. I said thank you, thinking they were an extra bonus. But when he didn't return with our promised full size bottle, I called the busboy (Jose). I asked if the olive oil bottle on the table is the full size bottle, and if it were available for purchase. He said yes, for $25. I asked for Michael again. He came over, asked if there was a problem to which I replied "I hope not". I asked if we could get our full size bottle of olive oil (reg price $25) per the certificate offer. To which he replied "Well, I didn't want to say anything, but you got quite a few refills on your cherry coke..., but I didn't charge you for them. I just well, you know...evened things out, with the bottle" He looked sheepishly at me, like that was a real answer, not a joke. I said "no, that isn't really acceptable. Besides the fact that even Taco Bell gives free refills on soda, I didn't ask you to do me any favors. So if you must charge me for refills, go right ahead. However, I would like my full size bottle that I was promised. He then said sorry, but he could not accommodate that request, as they were unable to... cost-wise. I then asked to speak to his manager. Rick then came over. Now Rick had already come by to introduce himself randomly, and to ask how everything was. He had seemed nice at that time. He came now, looking defensive and not at all willing to see reason. He said "I'm sorry, but we simply can't afford to give all our guests $25 bottles of olive oil." I said that sounded personal and they should have thought about that before they offered it in writing (see my pic). He flashed his eyes indignantly and said "Well, I don't know what to tell you.". I was civil and soft spoken, I had prefaced with "I know 'coupon customers' have a certain rep, maybe deservedly, but rest assured, I am a quite generous tipper for great service and I only want what I was promised. I read many reviews, most of which were not positive, but thought I'd give this place a shot nonetheless. I would like to write my own review on a more complimentary tip. Nothing in his face registered that he had been spoken to. I implored him to make this right, that their blatant disregard of good business practice, was embarrassing to me. I was actually embarrassed more for them, but the fact that I was needing to haggle over what was rightfully mine (in front of a dinner companion, no less) was just beginning to piss me off. Nothing. It was like playing handball with oatmeal. I grabbed my coat, and made a point to tip the busboy (Jose) significantly more than the server. To prove my point, and also because he was the only one that had provided good customer service. As I was leaving, I was almost clothes-lined by yet another gentleman (Asst MANAGER-Mateo). He was running after us to grant us the olive oil request, he gave me bottle and asked about 6 times (in 2 minutes) if that made everything ok???? I thanked him but said that I still feel the same way about their establishment, and their treatment of us. But that at the very least, after all that, at least I was given what was promised to me, to begin with. A truly regrettable dining experience.
(1)Elissa R.
Culina is beautiful. Esp if you sit outside. I love their raw crudo bar... the yellowtail is AMAZING. Great Cheese/Salami, Plates get it with the mushrooms. The Meatballs and Truffle Pasta were fantastic. The watermelon/heirloom tomato salad is very good. Even though its italian its a great place to go to not eat carbs. Deserts are great too! Everynight they have music playing at the Four Seasons Bar which is next to culina. Fri/Sat is a funky jazz band and its very fun ( great people watching )
(4)Mark L.
I went during DineLA restaurant week. It was such a great deal and the food... wow. I really enjoyed the steak. It's not like Mastro's or CUT's but definitely tasty and perfectly cooked ( I like medium rare) The atmosphere is really nice. I'm goin here again.
(5)Conrad K.
Brunch at Culina was not planned. But, When hungry at the Four Seasons Hotel on Sunday this is an obvious choice. The food choices boggle the mind: sushi, salads, Cheeses, Mexican station, house made hoho,s jelly beans, make your own doughnuts, and a children's station... The restaurant is an Oasis in the city with lemon trees outside. The staff are knowledgeable and personable.
(4)Jillian R.
First impression, the decor of this place is fantastic--modern but still comfortable. We did a 5 course prix fixe. The best part of our meal at this modern Italian cuisine restaurant was the sushi appetizer (which is better at Scarpetta). Oh, and the wine, they have a good wine list. Second course was insalate tricolore...meh. Next was the lamb ragu pappardelle, which was just okay. Then came the sea bass. The fish was overcooked and bland, in fact, the best part of that dish was the potato garnish that came underneath the fish. For dessert, profiteroles with gelato. The profiteroles were stale, the gelato was fine but I'm guessing store-bought. Overall I was less than enthused and it's doubtful I'll be back.
(2)Victoria L.
My friends and I have eaten here twice, once for dinner and once for Easter brunch. On both occasions we had an incredible experience. Upon arriving, we were greeted not only by the hostess, but also the general manager of the restaurant and the assistant general manager, both of whom also checked on use during our meals. They treated us like VIPs from the very beginning and consistently since. The service is absolutely impeccable. For dinner, we started with the Piccoli Piati (small bites) and shared: Fave el Pecorino - fava beans with mint & pecorino, Carciofi - artichoke with rosemary & lemon and a nice aged Parmigiano. We followed that with Cappesante con Finochio - scallops with fennel & sambuca - to die for! You must try this dish! Lastly we had the seabass Branzino with tomatoes, capers& lemon. I don't even remember what we had for dessert. I'm sure I was in a food coma by then. But I do remember that every aspect of our meal was impeccable. We wondered if we would be treated as well after the restaurant had been open awhile and yet had the same fabulous experience during Easter brunch. We experienced the most incredible lobster benedict, truffle pasta, shrimp and dessert to wheel-barrow you away by. Add to the delectable food and impeccable service, star sightings galore. During dinner, we sat next to the owner of Ed Hardy and during Easter Brunch, sat next to the Jonas Brothers and saw Heidi Klum, Seal and Natalie Cole. Both experiences were delicious, fun and luxurious. As Arnold would say....."I'll be back!"
(5)Mona N.
Five stars alone on the unreal patio, the landscaping is immaculate. If any of my dates consistently take me here -like, weekly- I'd be all theirs. I am a total sucker for experiences. The pre-packaged take home biscotti in lieu of a mint is a marvelous touch. As for the food? Typically overpriced for average tastes - no surprises here. I hate paying for Italian food, as I can cook something equally tasty or even more delicious at home. But there are a few exceptions, and Culina is one of them as I am more than happy to pay twice what the dishes are worth so long as the funds are applied to maintaining the breathtaking patio garden. The interior is nice, too, but you may feel ripped off. The price points for their average pasta is offensive, borderline criminal. Make sure to specify the fountain patio and prepare yourself for some magical serenity.
(5)Christine V.
This review is only relating to the Thanksgiving holiday buffet. First of all, the hotel is very beautiful, so is the garden, and the bathrooms are wonderful! The atmosphere however, seems to be rather confused. Some portions of the hotel are very classic, Victorian and inviting, while others, (The actual restaurant dining rooms) are much too modern. The dinner ware, decorations and lighting within Culina do not match the class of the hotel. The food, which was buffet only, was good. I would not say exceptional, but certainly good. The turkey and all that typically comes with it was delicious, and the variety of other foods was fun to look at, that's about it. I don't particularly care for buffet for such a holiday, but it was decent. Honestly, I would rather spend a whole day making my own turkey dinner, then come here again. The experience was nice, however, the cost of the experience was not. I felt that the buffet was not worth what I paid. Considering the Turkey holiday buffet is almost $100 per person, charging me ($16) for one alcoholic beverage is a little ridiculous. Coffee is to die for there! As is the service. Our waiter was very kind and attentive. Unfortunately, the table I had requested while making my reservation was near a large group of people who had two screaming children. ***Note to the restaurant. Please make it a rule to NOT allow children under the age of 15. It certainly dampened our experience. The seating, is wonderful. If you do go, remember to ask for a table by the window. This way you can see outside where there are heaters and greenery. It's quite nice. There are other dining rooms with different motifs, but the dining room with the windows, is where you should request to be seated. Other than that, my time there was OK. I don't see myself going back. It is definitely a "Meh" review for this restaurant.
(2)Jonathan K.
Culina is a posh restaurant with impeccable décor and rich ambiance. The dimly lit rooms and artistic chandeliers add a nice touch of class to an already ritzy destination. There is also a fairly spacious veranda lined with chic-looking braziers that make for comfortable outdoor dining. The servers are reasonably amicable and attentive, although I will point out that the same cannot be said of the hostesses and valet service. As for the food itself, I unfortunately find it to be quite pedestrian and, at times, downright flavorless. For example, I had a fish prepared with a crispy skin and fleshy underbelly. It could have been good, except that the skin had no seasoning, which left the dish underpowered even if it did have a nice texture contrast. The bed of seafood and exotic vegetables upon which the it rested was equally bland. I also tried the pasta, which was tasty, but quite plain--lacking the innovation for a restaurant touting itself as "modern" Italian. The food simply wasn't anywhere near the caliber one would expect given the surroundings. This might have been an isolated incident, but based on my experience, and especially considering the price, I cannot recommend going back.
(3)Selina H.
I found this to be a bit "pricey" for me so I was a happy that a friend of mine was treating with a TravelZoo coupon. The set menu was actually very good. It stared off with a bit size taste of raw tuna, salmon and hamachi, each with light drizzle of a different flavored oil. I really enjoyed this, especially the tuna. Along with my glass of Prosecco. Next was a salad of some sort but I can't recall other than there were fresh peas. I guess that means it wasn't so memorable. There was a very nice flavorful pasta which followed and then a good size portion of halibut that was done to perfection. Dessert was lovely, three little gelato stuffed pastries in Espresso, Vanilla and I think Strawberry. What I do remember was that the lemonchelo was fabulous! And, I had two glasses of it. Overall, it was a excellent dining experience in a wonderful setting. Loved the modern decor. Strong presentation. Good location. Luckily we were seated at a larger oval table in about the center of the dining area. The noise level was great because we were all able to carry on a conversation with the entire table without having to raise our voices. But to me the service is second to the food. The service was excellent. The server we had was very kind and patient with our group of eight and the general manager went so far as to provide us with two complimentary desserts for our next visit. All in all, I'd save up a few extra bucks to come back here again because the portions were not overwhelming and the service was wonderful.
(4)Jerrold S.
I wanted to like this place much more. The interior is gorgeous, well lit and nicely spaced. There are some great light fixtures and its definitely a good addition to the area. The service was friendly buy not overbearing. Ultimately the food didn't meet my expectations. It's modern Italian cuisine and maybe thats where I got thrown off. Baby octopus with chickpeas in a harissa tomato sauce - excellent. By far the best part of the night. The baby octopus was supremely tender and the harissa sauce complimented the smokey char from the octopus beautifully. Lasagna with sausage ragu - just ok. We thought there was a missing element in the dish. Very pedestrian because of the watery sauce and lack of flavor in the dish. You couldn't tell if the meat you were eating was sausage, meat, veal, chicken, etc... Pappardelle with lamb ragu and mint - we took a shot here and were not rewarded. The addition of the mint was interesting and after a few bites realized why its not an ingredient in pasta dishes I've ever had anywhere else. The dish would have been so much better minus the mint or with basil. The ragu itself was tender, full of big chunks of lamb and tasty but spoiled by the mint. Broccolini with sardines - yuck. There were so many sardines you couldn't taste anything. The broccolini were limp and well overcooked. Yuck. I see a lot of promise but the 2 pasta dishes let us down and that is my barometer of a good Italian joint. Culina looks like it might be trying to hard and straying from the classics with their own interpretations. The menu itself seems interesting with the crudo bar, different apps, pizza, main courses and pastas. I'll have to give Culina a 2nd chance based alone on the octopus dish because the kitchen can put out good food.
(2)Mr. N J.
Elegant setting with a great menu on hand. We sat in the large private room that reminded me of a friend's living room at home...impressive! Celebrities often frequent this place so watch out!
(5)Timothy B.
My husband found a TravelZoo tasting dinner at Culina. He has been 2 times before. This was my first... We were seated outside on a Thursday night. The restaurant wasn't too crowded. The inside section looked very nice. The outside dining area is very nice and relaxing. Service was perfect. Our dinner included a 5 course meal, champagne, and lemoncello. The Crudo Flight was wonderful. It had Hamachi with orange and star anise. Ahi Tuna with ginger oil, coriander seed, and lemon salt. Also Salmon with caper salt and blood orange. All 3 were fantastic. Culina has a Crudo bar inside. The second course was a mista salad of watercress, asparagus, trumpet mushrooms, artichokes, favas, and chives in a meyer lemon vinaigrette. It was delicious. The perfect spring salad. The third course was a short green rigatoni in a ragu bolognese. It was great. The pasta was cooked perfectly, the sauce rich with just the right amount. This was probably my favorite of the evening. The fourth course was a halibut with english peas with a sweet onion fonduta. Very lovely. The fish may have been slightly overcooked, but just. Dessert was a trio of profiteroles. They were OK. I probably would have given this dinner 5 stars, but the dessert was just so lackluster. I will most definitely return.
(4)Kimi L.
The food wasn't terrible but it wasn't memorable either...we love the decor in this restaurant and the outside terrace areas. There is ample room to select the perfect table and they have wonderful private areas off of the main dining area for small parties. The prices are surprisingly good for the Four Seasons Hotel location. For the well heeled, I am thinking the wine selection and excellent cocktails rather then the food is the draw. If you are staying in and don't want room service/ or are meeting a friend in the hotel or area...the Culina is a pretty cool place to hang out in. The best surprise of our night was when the obviously 'buzzed' maitre'd appeared out of no where to inform us that our meal had been 'comped' by Hotel management! Honestly..the pizza looked pretty darn good and we noted some very 'experienced' martini slurpers beside us having some loud discussion about the poverty and devastation in Haiti of all things?? Yep, we will be back..but we'll hang in the wonderfully lit bar area and slurp a little ourselves!
(3)Tylene T.
Had the most FANTASTIC dinner here EVER! Came in with a group of 20 for a birthday dinner and was treated like royalty. A few of our friends come here on a regular basis and have said time and time again that we have to try this place. Boy, were they on the money. This restaurant had around a 5 million dollar renovation and is located inside the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. It is beautiful and most importantly the food could not have been better. They have an amazing chef that I heard is soon to be on the Iron Chef Show. I ordered the stuffed tortelloni, which was like heaven in your mouth! Everything was just so amazing all 20 of us ended up sampling each other's dishes. Some things I tried that I highly recommend ordering, the lamb chops, Weinersnitzel, caprese salad, eggplant salad, carbonara, and the gnocchi. They also have these sushi like slices of fish with their own spin on it, I recommend the salmon. And of course, they have a lot of great wines to choose from and some of the best italian wines around. Bottom line, YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS PLACE OUT!! You will NOT be dissapointed.
(5)Mark P.
My wife and I have differing opinions of "Blackboard Eats", the website that usually gets you 30% off at particular restaurants. She feels that if they need to do this, they can't be that good. I feel that maybe they just want to try and attract new clientele. I am afraid she was right this time. Despite having a good lunch at Culina a few months ago, dinner was another story. Her NY strip was chewy. My snapper was kind of dry and the sauce was a little strong. The salad was OK, the pizza just so-so. Culina charges hotel dining prices but, in my experience, it is not in the same league as other hotel dining rooms.
(2)Gwyneth J.
Service and ambience are excellent, as is the food. First off, the restaurant is beautiful. Dimly lit with a modern romantic feel. We opted to sit inside (so I could crush on the interior), but they have a large heated patio with lots of greenery and a cozy fireplace. We started off with the Cappesante, a crudo of diver scallops, fresno chili. tangerine. mint and smoked salt. The vibrant flavors of the citrus and mint with the delicate flavor of the scallops really worked, especially paired with the Friulian wine our somm suggested (I think it was a Verduzzo). Next we had a simple kale, romaine caesar salad. Then for our entrees we both ordered pastas: I had the lamb papardelle, he had the sausage rigatoni. They were just incredibly satisfying in every way - tender flavorful lamb, fresh pasta (which I'm obsessed with), mint and pecorino. How can you go wrong? We were much too stuffed for dessert but they had some tempting choices. We were impressed with the service as well. When we mentioned to our sommelier we would be taking a trip to Paso Robles, he brought us a list of his favorite wineries in the region. It was really thoughtful. Our server was spot on at all times and very friendly. A great date spot or for cocktails.
(4)Stella C.
This was our first time to Culina. The experience was just amazing. We were so content. My husband wasn't aware that he had to wear long pants, instead of refusing us entry the Maître d was so pleasant she offered my husband a pair of trousers so we could still enjoy our dinner. It was fabulous. Our waiter helped us with any issues we had like wine selections and food. We were so pleasantly content by the service and good. Definitely will go back the next time we are in Los Angeles. Thank you to the staff at Culina for the amazing night!
(5)Eric C.
Great place. Brought a loved one here on Valentine's Day and I was not disappointed. Great food, very romantic, especially if you choose to dine outside. Not to mention the waiter was really helpful and talkative. Highly recommend this place.
(5)Kelly L.
* Price: reasonable for Beverly Hills, 3+ star * Ambiance: beautiful, 4+ star * Location: in the lobby of the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills. 4 star * Meals: excellent, 4+ star * Service: mixed. The hostesses were not friendly nor helpful. (2 star) Our server was great and right on with his recommendation. 4 star. Had a dinner with a group of friends at this place after work... so everyone came separately. When I asked the receptionist for the group, apparently it was not listed. She then talked on the phone and ignored us. Another receptionist came to the desk and told me to go the hotel lobby in stead. The restaurant is beautiful with many dinner rooms and patio seating. The menu is very modern and inventive. We had yellow tail, amberjack and ahi crudo which are prepared raw with different additive flavors. all is tasty! For main dishes, we had red snapper, branzino, salmon, veal and ribeye. Everything was cooked perfectly. Over all, we were having a great time and pleased with our choices. I did enjoy the food experience here but would be hesitant to come back due to my experience with the hostesses...
(4)John V.
We went for the Sunday Brunch! One of the more well known brunches in the Beverly Hills area I'd have to say. Little spendy ranking in around 100 bucks a person. There is so much food to choose from there though, and as much as you want! They include drip coffee and juice too so beverages are essentially taken care of unless you require something outside of that box. The service was impeccable! Probably would have given three stars but the great service made me bump up to four! The food was tasty but hot food wasn't really hot which was a drag to me. They had a ton of desserts to pick from though so after my first plate I got some meat and cheese an moved to the dessert round after that! A wonderful experience that I'm glad I got to try although I'm sure my wallet wont want me coming back anytime soon. :-(
(4)Anton S.
Dinner was very tasty, had the pork and it was filling but not too heavy. Pretty expensive, but well worth it. Food was excellent and the ambiance of the place was really nice. My family tried the peach cobbler which they all recommend.
(5)Lucky B.
Beautiful, sexy dining room with delicious Italian-inspired food and some of the very best service in Beverly Hills. Lunch is speedy and a great value, while dinner is consistently excellent, from the wonderful Lombatina Capriciossa to the Niman Ranch Manzo and of course, the stellar crudo bar selection. You really have so many choices to please all palates and the chef is adept at turning out beautifully balanced flavors and perfectly cooked seafood and meats. PS: do NOT skip dessert. You will thank me later.
(5)Kristina G.
"We came in on a Wed evening with friends, it was our first time and have heard such positive things about Culina. We started with items, from there version of sashimi, (crudo bar) as described by our server. We had the Modo Mio and the Tonno, it was amazing. Good quality and tasty. We then ordered a 2 pastas and 2 protein dishes. We got the Squid Ink pasta and the Rigatoni, amazing. Then we got the Veal and Steak..both awesome. Our server Yon was amazing, going into detail with every dish. The manager Smith stopped by and was very helpful describing the ambiance and style of the restaurant. Overall a great first experience, will definitely be back. Thank you Yon and Smith for a great first time. We will be back!" Kristina Gonzalez
(5)Sulia J.
This place has a great Sunday brunch. They have a large selection of food, including a create-your-own-omelette station (egg whites are an option as well). They have carving stations with prime rib and ham. They also have a chocolate fountain with strawberries, marshmallows and Rice Krispies treats, which is fun. I didn't try the fresh juices, but they make it on the spot. Service was impeccable, from the hostesses to the servers. They were even kind enough to bring us complimentary champagne since we were celebrating an engagement!
(4)Juliet Rachel C.
My clients were raving about this restaurant, so the 4 of us decided to venture out here for lunch one day after a business meeting. Culina is at the Four Seasons Hotel & since I've read several reviews stating different prices regarding the cost for valet parking, I don't know exactly what the actual price is. On the day I went, during lunch, valet parking only cost $5 without validation. Maybe the cost changes for lunch, dinner, and on different occasions? I do not know. Anyway, the restaurant is modern, classy, with simple and clean designs, and you'll feel very relaxed and comfortable while dining here! Service was excellent throughout our entire meal. The complimentary breadsticks and bread were scrumptious. I couldn't stop munching. However, the dishes we ordered for lunch were just mediocre. I expected more creativity and flavor, but maybe I need to come here for dinner. I've heard awesome things about their dinner menu. Here's what we ordered for our lunch: - TACCHINO ($19): Turkey burger. Spicy tomato pesto, avocado, mozzarella on a mediterranean ciabatta. The spicy tomato pesto was too strong and seemed to overpower the burger. The turkey patty was cooked nicely, though. - SPADA GRIGLIATO ($25): Grilled hawaiian swordfish. Eggplant caponata, castelvetrano olives, and tomato vinaigrette. I've never really been a fan of swordfish, but I took a bite of this. It was just too lean and dry for me, but the sauces were good. - HALIBUT MILANESE ($23): Pounded. Ciabatta crust, arugula, sweet 100 tomatoes, & lemon vinaigrette. The halibut tasted a bit overcooked and dry to me, so I didn't really like this dish. - PROSCIUTTO E BURATTA ($18): Prosciutto San Daniele, burrata, heirloom tomato, arugula, rosemary oil, whole wheat crust. Out of all the dishes I tried, I liked this simple pizza the best. It was pretty tasty with all of the toppings. - AFFOGATO ($9): Vanilla bean gelato, espresso, pignoli cookies. Who can resist vanilla gelato, espresso, and Italian cookies? Yummy! Very rich flavors and very delicious. - GELATI E SORBETTI ($9): This was simple and refreshing. Sorbet is always so good! I want to come back for dinner, but I don't think I'd come here for lunch again unless someone wanted me to go with them.
(3)Joseph L.
Slipping We have eaten at Culina numerous times. The food and service are slipping based on our last two visits. The sommelier is excellent but the food service and quality of food has lost its edge. What a shame.
(3)Isaac E.
Very Good . The place is Beautiful , elegant but friendly and almost cozy . The service is excellent . I assume the cocktails are good , I don't know because when I couldn't make up my mind , the waiter decided to make me a special one with my fav drink ( that's class) The food was excellent , 4 stars . But overall 5 stars
(5)Bryan Z.
Got a phenomenal TravelZoo deal for dinner here. I definitely wouldn't have paid $300 for the dinner I had though. The libations were tasty and the food was very good but I'm glad we ended up paying $150 out the door (combo of TravelZoo and personal) vs $300. The valet was quick, each course on menu was great, we were treated like "normal people" despite having a deal. Overall very happy!
(5)Jeff M.
Solid all around... Food, service, ambience, drinks...............
(4)Jennifer C.
Like a reviewer stated before, the food here wasn't horrible but wasn't memorable either. Ooh-wee was this place fancy though! Beautiful interior. Shouldn't expect anything less from the Four Seasons. Parking is valet only. It's $20 if you don't get it validated and $8 with validation. Steep, I know. Our party was seated at an oval table near the side of the restaurant, which was comfortable and semi-secluded. Immediately, we were given a rundown of their popular wines and their wine of the day. They have a good selection and a full bar near the entrance. To start, they go around the table and individually offer guests bread and olive oil. Never have been the biggest fan of that combination, so it was just alright for me. They also place a vase-like centerpiece at the center of the table filled with bread chips. I don't know how to describe it to be honest. It's very unique and appealing to the eye, but doesn't taste like anything special. They also offer small bowls of olives that was filled with 3-4 different varieties. Extremely salty, so it was difficult to have more than a few. I had the waitress recommend me an entree from their pastas. It was difficult to know exactly what you're ordering because some of the things were described with fancy Italian ingredients that most of us never heard of! I had my eye on the Lasgne Verdi ($19) and when the waitress described it as being "hearty," I went with it since I was starving... I saw why it was hearty when I took my first bite. It had cheese filling for days. Definitely a heavy dish and not recommended for those who are lactose intolerant. It got a bit sickening after a while. I also had a bit of my friend's Stracotto ($35), or short ribs, and it was just mediocre in flavor. I've tasted a lot better elsewhere, especially for the price. The Ippoglosso ($30), which was Alaskan halibut, was only okay as well. Considering the price and dishes that Culina offers, I probably won't be returning. Maybe just for wine and appetizers if anything, but even then, the valet cost is a bit over the top.
(3)Cecilè C.
Service, A+, I enjoyed a Caesar salad, and the tortellini which was amazing for lunch. Although the restaurant is inside the Four Seasons we decided to eat in the adjacent room because the restaurant's kitchen was closing and my waiter gave me the option of staying put. Great thought, enjoyed the lunch, topped off with basic tea. Overall, good food, service is/was the best (as usual) when visiting the Four Seasons property.
(4)Liz A.
Brought my boyfriend here for his birthday dinner and this place was so great! the ambiance, the food and the decor is perfect. Will definitely be back again!
(5)ada b.
We recently visited for dinner. Really has gone down hill in the last couple of yrs. /had mushroom soup. Couldn't eat it. Ordered pasta without peppers. Came almost raw. So undercooked pasta. Filled with chili pepper. Too spicy. Told manager. He offered to make it again "to go". He was unapologetic. Never seen this kind of customer service at a four seasons. Manager should work for the government. Like dealing with a brick wall.
(1)Corinne L.
The best things about Culina are its service and ambiance. The food was hit or miss; we had good selection of menu items but most dishes were way lacking on the flavor while some were oversalted. The biggest disappointment was the pasta - for an Italian restaurant, you'd better get your pasta right. In terms of my overall rating for Culina, I was initially going to give it 3 stars because there were some (only 2 out of 8 though) dishes that I'd order again and because the service and ambiance were great. But in a city like LA where there are a ton of other Italian restaurants serving awesome food, truth is I probably wouldn't go back to Culina. And at those prices, I'd better be eating food that actually tastes good. I hate to do this because 2 stars seems harsh, but 2 stars it is, because service and ambiance alone aren't enough to make me return to Culina. Details below. THE FOOD (Overall: 3/5) Cappesante (3/5 stars). Diver scallops, off the crudo menu. The scallops were really fresh and had a refreshing mix of toppings. The dish was oversalted though. Carpaccio di manzo (2/5). The filet was fresh and cut thicker than usual - I prefer a thinner cut personally. They were out of bone marrow, so instead the meat was topped with truffles. Despite the awesome substitution, the dish still fell flat - not enough olive oil and salt/pepper, so I felt like what I had was a plate of sliced meat, truffles and cheese that didn't quite come together. Polpo alla griglia (4/5). Grilled octopus. The reviews on the octopus are pretty accurate - perfectly grilled and as soft as butta! A modo mio (5/5). Burrata stuffed in tomatoes. Such simple, fresh ingredients and so full of flavor. Loved it. Rustica (4/5). Kale salad. Quality ingredients. Tagliatelle nere e vongole (2/5). Squid ink pasta vongole. They gave an OK amount of clams. The dish still underwhelmed though, not enough flavor. Pappardelle con agnello (2/5). Braised lamb pasta. The lamb was very tender, but again not enough flavor. Tortino (2/5). Molten chocolate cake with salted caramel ice cream. The cake was OK but they finally decided to get heavy handed with the salt...on dessert. Hoo boy. THE SERVICE (5/5). Awesome service from the assistant manager and our server. Friendly guys. THE AMBIANCE (5/5). Nice and romantic, especially the outdoor patio.
(2)Clara L.
we had a great christmas party here the wait staff was terrific the event coordinator was very accommodating to our needs and everything flowed seamlessly on the day of the location was beautiful, the food was above average (although not stellar) and the service was great in the past, we've done our christmas parties at the thompson hotel, the blvd, other venues around bev hills but the overall experience at culina was as good as it gets
(5)Kwiri Y.
My 5 yelp friends with strong elite credentials gave this place 5 stars. Anticipated mind blowing dining experience here for past few months... Expectation = disappointment. Appetizer culina chopped salad - tuscan farro. garden fresh vegetables. fresh herbs. chianti vinaigrette. Entree Manzo - niman ranch flat iron steak. aromatic herbs. heirloom tomatoes. shaved parmigiano reggiano. Dessert Candy Floss! Not too bad - probably was the highlight of the evening =D $20 parking - woohoo! NOT a Gem in the neighborhood.
(2)Danielle Y.
Not surprised that it was empty on a Wednesday night. I got the fennel and sausage rigatoni (very salty & oily). Leftover oil even got through to the exterior of the takeout box. I give the food 2 stars and the ambiance/service 3.5 stars. I loved the bread and breadsticks beforehand but had to ask another server what the jar of red concoction on my table was (sun dried tomato paste of some sort). Valet is $8 with validation. The cheapest most appetizing drink I could find was $18 each, so I got two (of course lol) from the "Windows Lounge" before dinner. Comes with complimentary nuts and my sister's favorite Cesar flavored pea pod chips.
(3)Donna J.
MANAGER SHAWNTELLE got caught giving customers evil looks for overstaying(?) their welcome. I had lunch this week from 11:50 to 1:30 (1 hour 40 mins). I saw the manger circling our table and caught her giving us evil looks and complaining to the wait staff about us. There were empty tables around, though it was unusually busy that day. At 1:30, however, there wasn't going to be another seating til dinner. She was inappropriate and rude, not to mention unprofessional. I called the restaurant and reported the incident. I am a regular customer at this place, but I am not sure if I will be returning. As for the food, my friend and I both had the lunch special which was a four course meal. Unfortunately it was not a good choice and neither one of us enjoyed anything that was offered. Too bad The manager made it far worse than it needed to be. Going to Four Seasons Hotel, you expect at least some level of service and professionalism.
(1)Mayer D.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHÂHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM I am overtly excited for Sunday brunch this weekend at Culina! mmmmmmmmm! Culina is by far in my top 3 favorite restaurant list in LA. The fresh food, the delicious seasons, the great food presentation, and most of all the great tastes! Its worth it! Making reservations here shouldn't be too difficult but I would recommend over the phone first.
(5)Jayde Y.
This is definitely one of the best restaurants for a romantic date. I love to dine inside, but outside was even more romantic. The food is delicious and the presentation was fantastic. Tiramisu was to die for. Service, food, everything is great. You can't go wrong with this restaurant for a date.
(4)Anthony N.
***Culina has a near perfect Southern Californian outdoor patio and their panzanella salad is near perfect as well; Culina's food in general is good and it might be one of LA's best Italian restaurants*** Culina is located in the Beverly Hills' Four Seasons hotel, but it is not in a location near Rodeo Drive--the area that many think of when they hear Beverly Hills. Instead, this Four Seasons is located in a more residential area near West Hollywood. The tucked away hotel is a lot like Culina's tucked away outdoor patio, which feels private. Culina's outdoor patio combines many greens that provide both shade and privacy (from the busy adjacent street); there is also water as well as a contemporary and sharp decor that is still warm and approachable. The outdoor dining area has a casual upscale lounge-like atmosphere. Despite some standard hotel restaurant touches (place mats, overly designed water glasses, salt and pepper shakers), Culina's outdoor patio is what I picture when I think dining on a sunny day in LA. Culina also has a perfect dish to go with this outdoor atmosphere--their summery and vibrant panzanella salad. Even though Culina is Italian, there is a more Californian slant with lighter dishes like crudo and seasonal salads. Their panzanella salad consisted of heirloom tomatoes, watermelon, cucumber, red onion, basil, rustic bread, and ricotta. The salad was fresh, light and very vibrant. While the salad was simple and straightforward, it would be hard to replicate at home. Not because you cannot find good heirloom tomatoes and watermelon. But it is rare to find both ingredients like this at such peak form--sweet, juicy and tangy tomatoes with incredibly juicy watermelon. The red onion and cucumber were also great. And the basil provided a good fragrance. The combination of basil, tomatoes and watermelon made me think gazpacho as a salad. The salad was also nicely dressed--light and balanced. The ricotta was just okay and I would have preferred a burrata. The toasted bread was too crouton-like and while it felt freshly made, it lacked the great mix of crispy and chewy texture of a good housemade toasted bread (like the toasted ciabatta I had at Naha). I also had the salmon crudo and while small, it was very good. The salmon was fresh and soft and the dressing of caper salt and blood orange was flavorful but not too strong. I also had the ricotta gnocchi with lobster, black truffle and peas. I prefer a more crispy seared gnocchi. This one was all soft. It was good though. The lobster was incredibly soft and fresh. While the lobster was perfectly cooked (and a generous portion), it did not have as good of a flavor as I have had at other restaurants. The dish was very fragrant with the addition of the black truffle and I enjoyed the peas. It was a very creamy dish. I would not say it was too rich, but there was definitely a lot of cream. I tried several of their dishes and there definitely was a strong attention to detail; it even showed up in their bread. They featured both crispy and addictive breadsticks as well as warm and freshly made herb and salt crusted focaccia (flavorful top crust with a soft bottom). For dessert, I opted for their affogato, which consisted of vanilla gelato and cotton candy that was drowned in a shot of espresso. The gelato was good. It had a good vanilla flavor and was very creamy. It was cold enough that it held up pretty well after the pour of espresso (it held up much better than Pizzeria Mozza though not as well as Angelini Osteria). The cotton candy garnish though disintegrated after the espresso shot and while I liked the flavor, the soft cotton candy texture was pretty much gone (maybe it would have worked better on the side). The dessert was accompanied by two pine nut cookies. With desserts like this, I've seen crispy-only pine nut cookies. These cookies were filled with pine nuts and were incredibly chewy. They were good and sweet, but the cookie was just sweet and lacked a unique flavor, which could have made them great. Service was great. The staff was pleasant and friendly as well as attentive and polite. And as to be expected with a restaurant in this area, the hostess was very attractive (not that it impacted the overall dining experience). Prices were high here, but Culina offers several lower price options at lunch like sandwiches, pizzas or even more entree-like salads. Culina was impressive in how it combined good food and good service with a very appealing atmosphere (the indoor dining room seems nice as well). The panzanella salad was exceptional while everything else was at least good (and even showed some signs of greatness). I will have to come back and try more of their dishes, but I think Culina has the potential to be one of LA's best Italian restaurants. Valet parking is available (so is street parking).
(4)Tavip T.
Went here for the day after Valentine's Day dinner. Ambiance is perfect. If you want the romantic feel, then this is the place to go. Even the outside seating area is temperature controlled so you won't get cold even if you seated outside. The rating OK is for the food only. We ordered the pork and the red snapper for the entree and they are just not up to our likings. Sorry, but at least the place is very nice. Maybe, we just need to order other dishes, who knows, I might change the rating.
(3)Gina S.
Brunch Review: I'd long heard that Culina was THE place for brunch. I was excited to find my holy grail of brunch. Spoiler alert: this was not it. Upon walking in, we were greeted by pleasant hostesses and promptly shown to our table. The restaurant was lovely, however, as soon as I took a seat, my dress got snagged on the Chilewich-style place mats that was pushed to the edge of the table. as soon as I sat down. NOT a good start. The way they had all the food laid out was a bit confusing and cumbersome. FIRST ROOM: Egg/breakfast station in the first room (a variety of eggs benedict (lobster, traditional/ham, and florentine (I believe!) under heat lamps - most of these were looking pretty sad, and omelet stations) and on the opposing side, a sushi, crab legs, oysters, shrimp. The platters of seafood were up high on a bar type counter - making it really hard to get to. In addition, even though they had two stations with the same seafood, only one person at a time could get to one station. It made for a lot of bumping into each other. I wasn't impressed with anything in this room. SECOND ROOM: cheese trays, misc salads, fresh fruit, Indian food, carving stations, dim sum, fresh-made donuts, ice cream/gelato bar. All I can say is this room was a hot mess. My biggest issue with this room was the way they had the salads and fruit. This was jammed in the corner and horribly labeled. They had a build your own salad with dressing in the beginning and then pre-made salads and fruit in the corner. There was a sign on the wall with all the salads, but you could NOT tell what was what, until you dug around the salad (who wants to do that?!?!). In addition, again, only one person at a time could get to the salads. The dim sum was tucked away and served in a cart - many people overlooked this, as you couldn't really tell it was anything! The indian food had a nice display and was well laid out and labeled. The coconut rice was AMAZING. I wish I could get a recipe for that! The donut and ice cream bar I felt should have been moved to the dessert room (leaving more room for the salads). It felt like it was in the wrong space (and was a very popular feature). THIRD ROOM - desserts on the bar - they set up all the desserts on the bar off the main dining room. The display was vast and serving was somewhat easy. The star of selection was the basque cake - I had never heard of or tried this cake before absolutely amazing! SERVICE: In a word - SUCKED! Our waitress asked for our drink order when we arrived, and while she was present in the room, she barely glanced our way. Dishes were bussed when we left the table, but our waitress was hard, if not impossible, to flag down. Most of the time, she was just hovering at the station looking off into the distance. Thankfully, a most helpful manager overheard me saying I wanted to ask the waitress for a beverage, and he quickly attended to us. He also made sure our water was filled and checked in on us. I wish I got his name, because he was a gem and the epitome of excellent service. The hotel itself is lovely and it was a beautiful location with plenty of gorgeous floral displays. The restaurant also is lovely and aesthetically pleasing. It's too bad the food quality wasn't up to par. I won't be back. Parking: I scored a free parking spot just outside the hotel. But, otherwise, valet is available.
(2)Marty B.
Very Nice Dinner! We had the TravelZoo Voucher and got the fixed menu: - bowl of mixed olives and bread - glass of proseco - salad with watercress and asparagus and cheese - burrata with heirloom tomato - spaghetti with tomato and basil - branzino seared - roasted baby chicken - panna cotta with blood orange and grapefruit - bottle of Conanau from Sardinia Our server was Ella and she took good care of us. There's ample street parking, unless you'd like to pay $20 for valet parking. The voucher was $89, and the dinner was $190, along with the bottle of wine, but we ended up paying $60 at the end. We definitely plan to return.
(4)Jeff R.
We went to Culina for my wife's birthday and it was great. The hotel is amazing and the restaurant was top notch. We sat next to the bar close to the front and that was a good place to sit and watch everyone come in. Our food was really good....and our waitress had fun with us. We had Salmon and Steak... both tasted so fine. Great place to go !
(4)J G.
Went for the NYE prix fixe. Disappointed at the slow service by the kitchen. Came in for 10pm reservations didnt get 1st course until 1/2 hr later. Chef Ramsay would have been expletively profane. The oyster/caviar was modest in size but the gold leaf made it somewhat special. Then we wait. And wait. Another 1/2 hr goes by and the second course arrives, we get the soup with duck confit and the raw fish/pomegranate seeds. Eh... Then we wait. And wait, 15 mins goes by and then we get a risotto that is uncooked. We send it back. And wait. We get a new risotto that is better and things are looking up...then we wait. We get the main entree 1and 1/2 hr into dinner service. We then ask for dessert to follow immediately and the check. We got the John Dory and the Coniglio. Nemo was nothing special. Thumper was tasty and cooked right. Dessert was the highlight of the chess match with a cotton candy/ ice cream/mousse/ meringue and I had the sugar crusted mousse sphere with gold leaf. Would I come again? Depends if I am wearing Depends. BTW parking is free valet during lunch, but $16 for visitors and $14 for other functions. I saw alot of people parking at the Ralph's two blocks up.
(3)Raymond M.
Omg. This place was amazing. I am reading some of these reviews and you guys are freaking insane to give this place bad reviews. The rigatoni with fennel sausage was spectacular. The ravioli with sweet corn was phenomenal. The wine was pretty great. They have an amazing moscato that stands on it's own. The pistachio gelato was superb. Overall service was outstanding. The valet was quick and had my car waiting before I even payed. The chef cane to our table and talked to us and told us about their new menu coming up. So easily 5 stars and would recommend this to anyone and everyone. We used a groupon and still were treated like royalty.
(5)J C.
Came here for a friends bday celebration. The room we were seated in was perfect, right across from the bar. I only had appetizers. Their modo mio (burrata on individual tomatoes) and brown butter corn ravioli. Both were exactly what I was hoping for. Everyone(18 people) enjoyed their food and wine. The wait staff are very attentive. Thanks Culina!
(4)Lori M.
I didn't expect much and was surprised in such a tasty way. The words "hotel restaurant" is enough to turn me away from eating somewhere. After all, with a captive audience, they don't have to be anything but okay. However, when the family suggests a place, it's important to play nice and go along. Likewise, expectations should be set low as to avoid disappointment. We remind ourselves that food can revert to being simple sustenance. With a reservation, we were seated promptly. This place feels a bit like a scene with its smooth ambiance and a scattering of flashy people. However the staff seemed genuinely courteous. Within moments of sitting down, the sommelier came by to ask us if we would like help with their wonderful wine list. This type of service, provided without having to ask, definitely earns a star and a smile of gratitude. Our special appetizers were heart-stopping. This is looking good, I suddenly find myself thinking. Our meals were lovely. Pesche Bianche, Coda di Rospo, Tagliata, and Manzo, everyone became tellingly quiet at the first bite. Nuvola Riso, a rice pudding mousse with fresh berries, finished off our meal leaving us sated. After ordering an appetizers, a dish for each of the 5 family members, and a slight splurge bottle of wine, a few beers, and two glasses of scotch, and two desserts, dinner was still less expensive than Spago where we didn't order a bottle or any extra beverages. Dare I say that it was easily as good if not better? Okay, I'll say it. There. We weren't looking for a deal here, but in comparison find that perhaps we got one. It wasn't lowered expectations that earns Culina and their staff 5 stars. It was that i could not find fault with anything. I have tried and failed. Our picky family was happy and we all vowed to return.
(5)remy Ryu A.
Cullina is a charming restaurant by four seasons. It would be a great place for a special occasion dinner or a date night -sure to impress your counterpart. The good: setting is great especially if you seat outside on a warm California night. Food is mostly very good, comes out timed perfectly. Service is exactly what you would expect. The bad: squid ink pasta. It wasn't bad ... But it is wasn't really good. For a $30+ plate I expected so much more. And by more I don't mean more lobster, I mean more balanced flavor profile. It tasted more like black colored pasta in creamy seafood sauce than a true squid ink pasta. The ugly: valet parking. Yeah I know it's a customary to have a valet service and let's face it if you can afford $170 diner tab, $9 +tip valet is not a big deal. But somehow I feel it cheapens over all experience. They should figure out way to validate the valet service. After all it's the last thing you remember leaving the restaurant.
(4)Meagan B.
Culina, you were great, less your pompous, inattentive service. 3 stars for yummy food and a beautiful patio. People, you can have the 5 star experience here if you care to play the role. No, thank you.
(3)Caitlin M.
Not all that impressed. The food was mediocre, but great scene for people watching. Probably will only go back for the bar.
(3)Peter S.
My wife and I have dined numerous times here and without qualification our experience has been excellent. The wait staff, and management are cheerful, engaging and professional. The restaurant is comfortable and inviting. The food is carefully prepared and is absolutely delicious. You can gauge a restaurant by whether you want to return or move on. We keep returning and besides ordering favorites, like the amazing veal chop, we try new items on the menu and are consistently pleased. The weekend brunch is equally outstanding. If you have not yet dined here I urge you to do so. It is one of the best restaurants in the city!
(5)Robert L.
I must say Culina is probably one of the best "Neighborhood" Restaurant I ever been to. What is a "Neighborhood" restaurant? Before Chili's ruined the moniker, it meant comfort, friendly faces, consistent service, an old faithful... your go to. Granted the neighborhood in question is Beverly Hills, so it bit glitzy, pricey, and bit more eye candy than the neighborhood I live in. The service is reminiscent of a 1 Michelin Star caliber with prompt Bus staff, great wait staff, and a knowledgeable sommelier to boot. But what made this place great was how friendly and approachable everyone was. Food was good. Everything properly cooked with generous but not monstrous portions. If you are ever stuck in Beverly Hills and don't know where to eat, you can't go wrong with this place. Happy Eating - R
(4)Ellen C.
Great food and service - came home full and happy!! My friend and I had the modo mio (burrata on individual tomatoes / great presentation), brown butter corn ravioli as another appetizer (sweet balanced perfection!), lasagne (came home and hubby scarfed it down...bye leftovers), rigatoni (fennel and white wine created a great flavor) and gelato for dessert (black mission fig, peanut butter and jelly, and pistachio. The PB&J was fun and surprisingly good!). Each course was excellent! Service was exceptional as the food timing was perfect and our waiter was informative without being too long-winded and pleasant without being toooo friendly. Just like the food - a great balance. Am definitely coming back.
(4)Robin Z.
Was it worth it? Yes. I suppose so. I certainly won't make this a regular stop but for a big night out, dressed to the nines and using a Travelzoo discount, it's a wonderful experience. The decor is unrivaled, tastefully finished in clean high-end class. The food was served perfectly, set with just the right amount of seasoning and temperature though the proportions might leave a big eater unsatisfied (the pasta serving was about 2 tablespoons). The service was impeccable, timely and we were made to feel special without any trace of snoot to sour the moment. I'm just glad I'm not a big eater. I would be less than satisfied. (the special gift "$25 valued" bottle of EVOO was 0.05L (like those tiny bottles served on planes)
(4)Glen W.
Celebrated my mom's birthday last week and enjoyed a superb dinner, champagne, and excellent service. I'm sure the whole staff is good but Victor is especially good. Next time I'll try the patio. PS, the rigatoni was amazing.
(5)Jenna R.
Went to a beer pairing dinner at Culina this past weekend and was pleasantly surprised by the great flow and timing of the pairings and the quality of the food. Each course was very unique and you could tell the chef had free reign to cook what she wanted. A highlight was her braised short rib over grits! Absolutely delectable! The dessert was also a favorite. The ambience and service only added to the quality. I look forward to coming back to Culina the next time I am in the area. I am even more interested to try their regular menu to see if it lives up to the pairing dinner I got to experience,
(4)Ashley B.
I love this restaurant for its food, ambience, and the fact that it always has 1000-point tables on Open Table. Best thing on the menu is the Modo Mio. Also love the crudo bar and their rigatoni with sausage. Strangely enough, I've never sat outside, but I imagine on a warm summer night and with the cocktails flowing, it's got to be a pretty spectacular way to pass away the time.
(5)Christie O.
Had several incredible meals here while spending a few weeks catching up with an old friend @ FSBH. Our credited night was a party of 8 which came in staggered & the service was incredibly accommodating. The crudo bar alone is reason enough to eat here: sashimi lovers take note. All the dishes I had contained fish and were well executed and presented. Staff took note of dietary requests & personal likes (I'm not a chocolate person but fancy caramel & by 3rd visit salted caramel gelato was sent over gratis) Various guests enjoyed all of their dishes ranging from pasta to steak and the outdoor patio is lovely. Servers also made great suggestions. All around gem and a must when in LA.
(4)Andrew Z.
I only tried the vegan ice cream. It is $12 for 3 flavors. The choices are vanilla, pistachio, chocolate brownie, oatmeal raisin. I tried vanilla, pistachio, chocolate brownie. Chocolate brownie was my favorite. It is Stella's Best ice cream. Currently only available here or Craig's in West Hollywood. At Craig's they tend to have flavors like coconut, red velvet, chocolate brownie toffee, and peanut butter (they can change daily so call first if you want a certain flavor). I recommend going to Craig's if you are a fan of the vegan ice cream because you can also get their vegan chocolate cake (life-changing) which comes with the vegan ice cream (or better yet get ice cream from both places for take out along with the cake since they are less than a mile from each other - that's what I did). Anyway, back to Culina - it is a classy place!
(5)Shirley F.
The new chef is trained by Wolfgang Puck, the food is spectacular, she Has moved far beyond her mentor....travel to Paris often, and this is the single restaurant that could do well in The City Of Light... Her take on lamb is something that would inspire celebration... All appetizers mouth watering, and use of artichokes is sensational, ( yes, am a serious foodie ). Don't miss this dining experience......
(5)Caroline C.
I have been dying to try this place for their Sunday brunch, but the cost has always deterred me. With the help of Travelzoo, I was able to try it for dinner. I've got to say that Culina is now my favorite Italian restaurant! I made a reservation on Opentable for Saturday night and got 1000 points for dining there! Finally got enough points to redeem for a $20 gift certificate! No one called to confirm the reservation, which kind of bothered me considering this is a classy restaurant, but I put that aside for a fabulous night. Checking in with the host was easy, and we got seated right away in the patio area. It was really cold despite there being heaters around us and tarp to close out the outside cool air. I informed the waitress that it was a bit chilly, and she got someone to move one of the heaters closer to me, which helped a lot. The decor inside and outside the restaurant was simply stunning. Wreaths filled with blue and silver ornaments surrounded the restaurant and the Four Seasons Hotel. There was also a very beautiful glass ornament decor on the ceiling of the main room. The outdoor area was filled with lemon and lime plants, as well as a small fountain of water with flames. It was uber romantic. With the Travelzoo voucher, we were able to get a 5 course tasting menu for 2 with two glasses of prosecco for $89. We had choices to choose from for 4/5 of the courses, and we opted to go with one of each for all of the courses and split. Our first courses were prosciutto and cheese with dried fruits, walnuts, and toast and a tricolore salad. We also got one herb bread each with a container of sesame seed bread sticks and thin, crispy bread. Our second courses were a wagyu meatball and grilled octopus. The third course was a plate per person of rigatoni with wild mushrooms. The fourth courses were sliced steak and Mediterranean sea bass. The last courses were rice pudding surrounded by berries and a coffee tiramisu. I enjoyed EVERY bite I had that night. It would be impossible for me to choose which dish I liked the most since this is probably one of the few times I liked everything I ate at a restaurant after trying so many different things. To top it off, service was excellent and deserving of the 18% gratuity that was required with the voucher. Parking came out to $8 after validation. Culina, you've got my heart. I will be back soon to try your brunch! P.S. Their ladies' restrooms have sinks in each stall!
(5)Dawn W.
Such an awesome restaurant! See my review: jetsetextra.com/destinat… Loved it.
(5)Alexandro Z.
Loved Culina and been there many times in last few years, but it did change. It's a very different place from that it was. Food become just plane tasteless so as service become mediocre. This restaurant doesn't deserve to be at Four Seasons any longer!!!
(1)Natalie D.
Weekend lunchtime: Had a Bloody Mary which was only average and certainly not worthy of $19. After switching to Mimosas I shared a Margarita pizza. Same thing. Ok but not great. I expected great at the Beverly HIlls Four Seasons! Sigh!
(2)Todd V.
Despite being located in stuffy Beverly Hills, I was pleasantly surprised with Culina's hospitality, quality, ambience, and authenticity of Italian food sent out by their kitchen. It was almost like eating some my mother's/grandmother's home cooked, amazing Italian cooking only it wasn't - it was better :-) And that's hard for me to admit having been raised on Brooklyn italian food. In addition to the authentic/delicious food, the venue and ambience were second to none and just breathtaking. From the draping chandeliers to the beautifully crafted tables to the perfect outdoor seating area with fire pits to keep me and my guests warm, Culina is in my opinion one of, if not the best restaurants and environments I've every visited on the West Coast and I will definitely return the next time I'm in Los Angeles. The staff at Culina was also so unexpectedly great, hospitable, and engaging; especially their manager, Joe (hopefully that's his name lol), and their fantastic event coordinator, Kim, who was just amazing from the beginning of our experience, helping make our special night and event at Culina exactly how we pictured it and truly special. Thanks for everything. Btw, Cuilna is a perfect place to take a date, hold an important business meeting or impress someone - I know it impressed my group ;-).
(5)Wayne H.
I've read a lot of the Yelp reviews and I want to point out a couple things that were different from our experience at Culina. Firstly, the service was exceptional--knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive, without being too overbearing. Secondly, with validation from the restaurant, valet parking was only $8 (I've seen lots of mentions of $20 valet parking). What we ate (see pics): - Kampachi (Hawaiian amberjack crudo) was excellent--very fresh and excellent flavor combination with accompaniments - Aragosta (spiny lobster crudo) - amazing! Thin slices of the tail meat were unbelievably fresh and sweet - Granchio (dungeness crab salad) - pretty good. I found the grapefruit overpowered the crab, but when eaten with just the endive and a bit of dressing, it was delicious - Polipo Harissa (grilled octopus) - good but not "wow!"--probably wouldn't order again - Coda di rospo (monkfish) - similar tomato base to the grilled octopus and was slightly overcooked but excellent flavors. Again, pretty good but not something I'd rush back there to order again - Gelato pie - WOW, this is one of the best desserts we've ever had! Light and refreshing, a perfect way to end the meal. I would return to Culina just to have this again. Overall, we were quite impressed with the food at Culina. As I mentioned already, the service was exceptional. We'll definitely be returning!
(4)Richard S.
was hoping for more.. Beautiful setting, but didnt come through on the food. Crudo didnt have much taste and the seafood as a main wasnt much better, Veggie wasnt tasty, desert was good. Service was usual Four Seasons. Price was high. Wouldnt run back.
(3)Mr. Voracity I.
Great interior and ambiance, but the food is not all that special. We tried three different dishesn (two pastas and the veal chops) and it all felt very middle of the road and unambitious. The ravioli with corn was the best thing we had. That said, the interior space is very well designed and it would be a great place to come for a drink and just hanging out. At least as of March 2010, it feels like a hip (or wanna-be-hip) Hollywood crowd, but not to the point of being unbearable.
(3)m m.
I will not come back unless I am looking for a quick meal. This could be just a total one person experience, however I see nobody mentioning anything about the service. I felt rushed from the get-go, for such a pricey meal one should be able to sit back and enjoy each dish. Our table was constantly interrupted by servers picking up plates (without us even finishing the food), pouring water when it didn't even get low and our bill was dropped on our table after a few minutes our desserts were served. My table spent most of the evening speaking to the staff saying please and thank you than having a nice long conversation over a nice meal. This place needs to have less people working in their, and have the ones that are working pay attention to customer. There too many great restaurant to repeat here...
(1)Alex J.
The "Italian" sushi, was impressive but truthfully, the Japanese are still one up on this game. It was an interesting journey into an Italian cuisine that I wasn't familiar with, which was a good thing. I had the rib eye. It was adequately seasoned and prepared well. I can't rave about the quality of the meat since I am very much now steak connoisseur. I'm actually a bit of a meat snob and having dined in many of LA's finer (and NYs) steakhouses, I can tell you that the rib eye here was just okay. The ambiance was spectacular, the service was tight and the sommelier and wait staff were highly attentive, professional and courteous. The check was expensive. Although if you've got the gots, you're not that interested in what it's going to take to get it. One thing that was easy enough and impressive was the ice cream in a cup that had a bouffant of cotton candy atop and they drizzled espresso on it, melting the candy down and converting the espresso into a very sexy ice cream treat. Yum. Do it again!
(3)Sandy S.
Food was flavorless, service was slow, place was empty.
(1)andrew l.
I purchased a Travelzoo voucher as many of the reviewers. We had an exceptional experience at Culina. We sat right in the middle of the main dining room in one of the large booths. Our server and wait staff were very friendly and attentive. The food was excellent and everything was very fresh. Our server went through some of her favorite items on the regular menu and we are excited to go back.
(5)Kat K.
Came here with the travel zoo deal, and we like the food, especially the fresh made pasta with meat sauce. We love it. Overall a great experience.
(4)Sandy L.
I joined yelp, specifically so that I could write this review. We went to Culina on a Travelzoo deal with a set 5 course meal with 2 glasses of champagne, grappa flights, and a complimentary bottle of gourmet olive oil for $89 ($225 stated value). We had the dinner that's been referenced already in other yelp reviews: crudo flight, salad, bobolotti verdi, halibut, profiteroles. The food was average. It wasn't bad, but nothing impressive. However, I think what ruined the dinner was the service. When we arrived it seemed that most of the tables that night were also on the same Travelzoo deal. We overheard some tables near us complaining that the olive oil which was supposed to be included in the deal was not being offered because the restaurant had run out. We nicely asked our server about the olive oil as it was part of the deal we purchased and because the olive oil with our bread was so delicious and the server just rudely said, "no we're out." Usually, at nice restaurants, the more polite thing would to be to say that they've run out, but let me see what I can do etc. Even if they come back and can't do anything at least they tried. The service went downhill from there, it was as though we'd offended our waiter by asking for something that was clearly spelled out as part of the deal we'd purchased. Before the halibut course, the server asked if we wanted wine and my husband asked which wine the server would suggest and was that part of the meal? I'd thought the meal included 2 glasses of wine, so I mentioned that I thought wine was included with dinner and the server abrupty said in a harsh tone "No it doesn't. Where does it say that. Show me where it says that" and he actually pulled out the Travelzoo voucher shoved it in our faces. As it turns out, looking at the fine print, I was mistaken - it was 2 glasses of champagne, not wine, so I was mistaken, but the manner in which he said it was not only rude but uncomfortable. My husband tried to smooth it over and asked if it would be possible to exchange the grappa flights for a glass of wine instead as we're not really hard liquor fans, and the server replied "No, you can't do that and left the table." The rest of the meal he'd bring us food but not say anything. We continued to say thank you as he brought us our halibut, and profiteroles, but the meal was not a pleasant one. I understand restaurants may not be able to substitute items on a set menu and I had mistaken wine for champagne (which I admitted was my mistake and apologized to the server), but I didn't think the tone was appropriate. Also, because they ran out of olive oil they gave us a card for free dessert on our next visit. Frankly, if we didn't have a good experience why would we come back to pay for another meal just to have free dessert? We seriously considered asking to speak with the manager, but we decided to let it go, maybe it was just us and the tables near us. However, while we were outside waiting for our car at valet there were two couples who were actually arguing with the manager of Culina about the service as well. It was causing quite a scene and 4 security guards came to stand by. It sounded like there were multiple instances of not so great or bad service that night. All in all the food was average at best. It was disappointing not to even get just what was included in the deal we purchased (i.e. the olive oil). Plus, the service was rude as well - and not just to us! I've stayed at the Four Seasons hotel and dined at its restaurants all around the world and this restaurant and our experience there did not hold up to the Four Seasons reputation. I will not be returning and would not recommend it to anyone.
(1)Lima B.
exquisite food with superb wait staff! the fig margarita was sweet & delicious but what i enjoyed even better was the il picante (jalapeño kiwi juice margarita)!!! it is out of this world. definitely going back for more. the small plate samplers are great as well as the crudo (raw fish) sampler. you can pick up to three and it's $22. also, the halibut entrée with fennel & english pea sauce was amazing. all the veggie sides are fab too. i had the rapini with garlic, fungi and spinach with pine nuts and all were perfect. the vanilla bean gelato with a shot of espresso and cotton candy for dessert was divine. ask for victor, he was the host with the most. the most insightful and polite waiter i have ever had. this restaurant is also beautifully decorated, i felt like a was on vacation somewhere in the maldives. the ambiance rocks!
(5)Jennifer L.
The Four Seasons has a winner here! Excellent service, knowledgeable staff, delicious food...quite possibly the most fun meal I've had here in Beverly Hills with beautiful people on a beautiful outdoor patio. Culina takes delicious Italian food one step further, adding creative touches to simple sounding dishes. The menu features Los Angeles' only Crudo bar with the finest selections of hand prepared raw seafood. A perfect example of the simplicity of the Crudo menu is the Hamachi (yellow-tail) with Star Anise Oil and Orange Sea Salt. Not to be missed are the Prosciutto Di Parma Pizza, Lasagna Della Nonna or Spaghetti Alla Chitarra. The dessert Affogato which rolls off your tongue and is fun to say and also fun to eat is a cotton candy, vanilla bean gelato, and espresso treat. Best of all, they have an amazing wine list to complement the meal. Culina definitely merits another visit - hopefully many more.
(5)Jason C.
The housemade ravioli at lunch will make your eyes roll up into your head with joy....they should put it on the dinner menu! Great patio! The homemade Limoncello (only if you're feelin' frisky...sweet!) Staff are very helpful and super friendly (refreshing). Very moderately priced...would have never known I was dining at the Four Seasons. Definitely will come back...great coffee too!
(5)Tom M.
Terrible, over priced and silly. The pizza was cold and came out on a stone that was two sizes two big, the rapini came out cold and flavorless the service was busy and oppressive. The decor is silly with a large bubble sculpture in the middle of the dining room that makes one think that the air bubbles represent the money flying away as this place sinks like a stone. Then there is the "live action" crudo bar, what a bunch of ridiculousness, a raw seafood bar is called are you ready? a sushi bar! who wants to wait for a few slices of tuna when you can just go to a sushi bar, I'm not sure they thought through this one. The waiters were nice but seemed nervous and gittery as about five managers seemed to be watching there everymove. Trendy, silly and done in about six months...next.
(1)Diane W.
Used to love this restaurant so uch when it was the traditional FS restaurant Gardens. We want to keep loving it so we have come a few times. The staff knows us by name from coming at least once a month for at least a decade...a happy habit. The new decor is beautiful. Service is still great. Food has gone skimpy, not on quality or ingredients but on portion size and I am a thin woman who generally is pretty careful about what she eats...it's just not enough, even for me. Busier and a little hipper but when I go to a restaurant at a fine hotel I want to feel spoiled and indulged. The butternut squash ravioli was so tasty. Four pieces. The chopped salad, also tasty, filled up a third of the bow. If you are going to give a tiny portion at least shrink the plate. There are so many other Italian places in the BH area it's a shame. Parking and service are great here. Just wish they gave you more to eat.
(4)Indy B.
I'm giving this restaurant 3 stars mostly because it looks good. And the service was quite good. But the food was incredibly ordinary. The wine list was very good. You can have a 12 oz carafe of anything on the wine list. I thought that was very cool. We started with zucchini blossoms stuffed with cheese. Pretty good. I ordered the special. Some sort of spanish mackerel cooked in parchment. The waiter talked about the strong tomato and olive flavors. Sounded great. It was served in the parchment, which was bulky and hard to get around on the plate. The fish was skin side up in the parchment - a thick, leathery, dark gray, uncooked skin, and when I turned it over, I was horrified to find that it was raw in the middle. I love sushi, and I like mackerel sushi, but that's not what I ordered. My host ordered halibut. It was dry, overcooked, although the crust was tasty and nicely crunchy. Another ordered the lamb on some sort of bed of beans. The beans were good. The lamb was ordinary and just plopped on the beans in a very visually flat way. Which would have been ok if the lamb had been first rate. One of us ordered an heirloom tomato salad - the mozzarella was wonderful, but the "heirloom" tomatoes were colorless and worse, tasteless. the martinis are terrific, the wine that I ordered was first rate, thankfully, since the martinis were $18 and $21 apiece. I would say that Culina really missed the mark. I wanted to like the place, since it's so pretty. The other thing I think they should notice more carefully is the temperature. We were all uncomfortably warm. We asked them to turn the air conditioning on twice, but it didn't seem to help much. Too many other restaurants to ever return to this one.
(3)Jenny L.
Culina has very good food with a great vibe. I ordered the Ostriche (oyster, Campari, shllot, white balsamic, and prosecco geletina) as an appetizer and it was amazing. Also, my boyfriend and I shared an order of meatball as an appetizer too and it's definitely a must have! Yummy veal chop as a main course and service was excellent! Price is very reasonable consider the food you're served with and the very romantic and comfortable environment you're in. I enjoyed it and will definitely want to go back again!
(5)Michelle C.
I'm going to disclaimer this and note that this may be a slightly biased review since I came here for a coworker's surprise birthday party and enjoyed my wine and tapas next to Daniel Radcliffe. As an enormous Harry Potter fan, I was a tad star struck. If only Daniel hadn't been intensely talking to an agent - I would've definitely asked him to cast a spell on me... HAHA. Ok, nerd moment over. Thank you for humoring me. Culina's attention to our private party of about 30 was phenomenal. We gathered in the outside patio for 3+ hours amid the soothing water fountain, plush couches, and candlelit lighting, and were treated like royalty. We had the choice of a red or white wine the moment we arrived (the Sauvignon Blanc they offered that night was stellar!) and our waiter Alex was a complete gentleman as he periodically brought out plates of delicious finger foods. I tried fried risotto balls, meatball sliders, margherita and salsiccia pizza slices, cucumber wrapped ahi tuna rolls, and amazing bruschetta that night. The vases of breadsticks adorning each table top presented a chic, and wonderfully nibbly, touch as well! However, the best part was the birthday girl's face as she walked onto the patio. Word around the office is that no one ever surprises her... It was simply wonderful and Culina contributed to a lovely evening amongst friends. If you're looking to host a private party (and keep in mind that this is in the Four Seasons so budget yourself accordingly), I definitely recommend!
(4)A. C.
This review is for Sunday Brunch on 12/16. This is my new favorite brunch restaurant besides The Hamptons (Four Seasons in Westlake Village). Decor - Grand, festive and elegant Food - Plenty of quality food, fresh, creative and tasty dishes. They have a breakfast station, Chinese station, 8 different kinds of sushi, Mexican station, Carving station (the prime rib is mouthwatering) There must be at least 10 different kinds of salad. Dessert station is a great hit, you need to bring another stomach for their desserts. Service - friendly and professional I would give Culina a 5 star if they don't set up the tables so close to each other. You know the tables are too close if you can hear your "neighbor" arguing over money matter. I also noticed other guests had a hard time getting in and out of their chairs due to limited spaces. Will be back for sure! $69 well worth spent!
(4)L N.
Dragged my friend here after seeing the new chef earn her position on Chef Wanted. Starters Nectarine, burrata, and prosciutto - yum! Kale salad - one of the best my friend has had 2nd course Spaghetti alla chitarra - perfect level of spicy Main New York steak - I don't care for the cut, but would definitely have it here White fish w/ clams in a broth - the fish was a bit chewy, but was very good Dessert Tiramisu - intended to only have a bite, but it was too good to stop Very nice ambience, attentive service, beautiful patio for dining.
(4)Bonnie G.
I haven't been this excited to write a review in a long time. A foodie friend and I headed up to the 90210 area on a Sunday night with minimal expectations, as a Travelzoo voucher was involved. Of all of the vouchers I've purchased in the last year, I can say that this was a true deal and a real 5 star dining experience! My friend and I ordered the same dishes: 1. starter: burrata cheese atop an heirloom tomato. Simple yet divine! 2. First: pasta. At first glance, I thought it was going to be unmemorable but was delighted at the spiciness and texture of the spaghetti! 3. second: branzino. The herbs were perfectly infused and the portion was generous 4. dessert: something "melone". It had a small scoop of honeydew ice cream surrounded by small pieces of watermelon. Off to the side was this doughy glob (for lack of a better word) of something that I simply cannot explain. Its consistency was probably most similar to that of oatmeal. The flavor, though, was not comparable to anything I've ever had before. Simply put, it was delicious! Everything at this place was fabulous, from the food to the ambiance of the place. Victor, our server, was delightful and even gave us some biscotti "para el desayuno". :) This place is a bit of a hike from home, but I'd go back in a heartbeat. 89.00 well spent (for two!) That included a free valet. I love it when I get my money's worth...and then some!
(5)Chris B.
Great food. Good staff. Very accommodating to the 2 toddlers we had with us. The gnocchi was spectacular. And the kale pizza was ridiculously good.
(4)Justin H.
I came hear for dinner and my group agreed the specials we ordered were the best dishes (flatbread with ricotta, spinach, and kale). The tuna crudo was fine as were the rest of the dishes we ordered. Presentation is elegant and the food is well made, but I didn't really find anything especially memorable. Service is very friendly, though our server was particularly talkative and I personally thought he was a bit too chatty. Dessert was the best part! (Panna cotta with salted caramel!) Tips - Don't do valet if you have legs and good shoes. There's plenty of parking on Burton Way. If they sit you in the patio area and it's cold, they have tons of space heaters on. It was really hot in there for me, but I think they can turn down the heat if you ask. I saw a decent number of guests with kids so it seems kid-friendly. Keep a look out for a Blackboard Eats discount. They participated in the past and once in a while a discount or free drink for Culina comes up on that website's coupon listing.
(3)Yuki N.
Real quick. Order sweet corn ravioli to share. It is an outstanding dish,so u must try. Out of all the entree, rib eye was the best dish!
(4)Stephanie S.
This place is excellent. My boss is a regular here, so we're a bit spoiled, but Culina does a good job in spoiling all of their guests. Not only is this a beautiful restaurant with beautiful service and food, but I almost always spot a celebrity here (John Mayer, Pitbull, Larry Flynt...). The moment you enter the restaurant, you are welcomed with extremely professional and friendly hosts that take care of you. Let your eyes wander as you walk to your seat. I usually sit outside in the back patio where they have comfy sofas to sit on and fresh floral arrangements (for lunch, but candles for dinner) as you delight yourself with food. They serve you the best focaccia bread and olive oil while you await your meal. I always get two pieces of their bread because I cannot help myself. The food is great, but the thing that you will die for is their decadent lasagna. I know it sounds simple and not very interesting, but I swear by it. You absolutely must do it! They usually serve it only for dinner, but try asking for it (call ahead of time) during lunch hour and they may do it for you. I can keep going on with their other dishes, but I think the lasagna is it's own star of the show. Love it, love it, love it!! **Please check out their bathrooms! It's a glorious place. Each stall is it's own mini room with a sink!
(5)Greg B.
Salmon was great at lunch but it's super fun to be here just before the Golden Globes when Hollywood is rolling in
(4)Joe K.
Great food, amazing ambience and wonderful service. The wine selection is very thorough and of great quality. Lamb was excellent. Crudo apps great as well. The classic movies projected on to a waterfall was very interesting.
(5)Alan K.
Bought a deal TravelZoo, 89 dollars for a 5 course meal for 2 people. It was excellent. They treated us like a full paying customer. Only complaint was the wait was 20 minutes with a reservation. But the food choices was very good. I would definintely go back again.
(5)Stacey R.
Lamb chops! Lamb chops! Lamb chops! Service was good, ambiance was good...a great date spot! Can't wait to try their Sunday Brunch!!!
(3)Jean L.
You would think that the point of Travelzoo/Groupon is to entice people to try things they normally wouldn't, and to intrigue them enough to return. But alas, it seems that this experience was anything but. Came here for the prix fixe four course dinner. We started off with a glass of prosecco, and honestly it was one of the worst things I've ever tasted. It lacked robustness, a flavor of any kind, and was just bleh. I felt as though I was being served tonic water. From this initial experience, we decided not to buy any bottles of anything (originally we had planned on getting bottle of wine). Appetizer- A raw green heirloom tomato with extremely salty cheese on top. Tasted exactly how it looked. 2nd course- Squid ink pasta. This was the dish I looked forward to the most, and was sorely disappointed. The pasta was dry, and did not have much flavor either. It looked like pennoni, which was weird, because I was expecting it to be served with something more noodley-like, for the sauce. But OH yeah, there was no sauce. It was dry. Sad pandaface. Main- Seared Ahi Tuna with rapini. I don't know why they served such a bitter vegetable with something not-as-pungent; as a result, it ruined the flavor of the tuna itself. I couldn't even pick out that the breadcrumbs were anchovy. Dessert- The Elderflower Panna Cotta was probably the best thing on the menu. Strawberry sorbet was a nice reprieve after a grueling palate torture, but the tapioca pearls did nothing for me, even texturally. I probably wouldn't order this on its own, though. Tried the other dishes on the prix fixe. I have nothing to say, really. It's such a shame that a great ambiance is ruined by the food- after all, it's the food that keeps people coming back, not because there are hand towels in the bathroom and definitely not because olives are present in nearly every dish. I also noticed that some of the items on the prix fixe were not on their regular menu. Are we guinea pigs? Culina is the reason why I don't like to dine in hotels- all fluff n' stuff, no substance.
(1)S. T. V.
5 of us came here with a BBE deal and we were all impressed by the decor and the service. Our waiter was a polite Asian man with glasses... forgot to get his name. He was awesome eventhough he knew we were one of those BBE discount users. We had 2 appetizers to share... both excellent. I loved the tempura fried squash blossom with some kind of yummy sauce (can't remember the exact names and too lazy to look it up!). We also had an appetizer with homegrown tomatoes and cheese... that tasted really fresh. The portions are small, so each of us only had a few bites of each dish, but that was enough to get us started. I also enjoyed the bread basket they put in the middle. I had the rigatoni and I'm still thinking about the excellent consistency of the pasta. I believe they make almost all their pasta in-house. SO GOOD. The rest of my party had the special pork dish and they devoured it. The steak was also really good according to my friend. Food was so good we had to get dessert! It's a beautiful place with good food and great service. Valet was only $8 if you get it validated, but you can find parking on the street around the hotel.
(4)Fia R.
Alright! For Post V-Day dinner my date & I went to this new WeHo/BH restaurant, blatantly located on 1st floor of 4 Seasons Hotel. (Yes, I was here instead of the YEE ^_^..) Let me first describe the stuff I loved. Dude, service was just incredibly impeccable. Our waiter was so knowledgeable w/ every single, A-quality food & drink presented, & the rest of the staff was downright attentive w/o being too distracting. That alone deserved 5 stars, along w/ the modernistic atmosphere that enhanced a non-coincidentally thematic, olive green color; the eclectic sorts of delicious olives; easy peezy valet parking; & the freebies--thanks to Travelzoo--such as the Focaccia, soothing champagne, the potent @ss Grappa Flight (3 mini glasses filled w/ shot's worth of Chamomile, Chardonnay & Merlot), & the 2 teeny bottles of high-quality olive oil. Now on w/ the food, & I will say this candidly: I'm NOT impressed w/ Italian cuisine easily--don't matter if it's authentic, modern, or Japanese-fusion. That's why I rarely go to these places by my own choice & why this is my 1st Yelping on Italian food. So with that said, from the Travelzoo offer, these were the 5 Pre-Fixe Courses ($250 if in original price O_O)... Crudo Flight: ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… , yelp.com/user_local_phot… , yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) Yup, they're raw Japanese-esque appetizers (crudo means "raw" in Italian, btw). For the salmon it was extremely more orange-y than salmony, but the hamachi tasted quite brilliantly from this subtly zesty star anise, & the ahi tasted pretty archetypal, just more lemony. Actually I like the 3rd one the best, while my date AND the waiter & busboy raved the hamachi. Mandarino: ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) Yummy salad--well my date thought it's alright =P. Without the pomegranate & tangerine the veggies would've been way too peppery. All the ingredients listed in my pic added a terrific contrast to this very filling salad -.- Tagliatelle: ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) That's the moderately portioned Italian dish, & it's unsurprisingly the least exciting. Don't get me wrong, it's modestly good, but even w/ al dente noodles & freshly grated parmigiano reggiano, I've had Ragu-branded pasta & those from the frozen food aisle that taste the same as this =/. Cirenga: ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) By itself, if my mom can cook this bass so deliciously, then I cannot warrant Culina's version over 3 stars. However, the decadently purplish Roasted Blueberry Glassato w/ the fish widened my pupils, along w/ the tasty, wilted kale to balance the filet's light texture. More blueberry, please :D. Trio of Profiteroles: ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) Why does dessert have to be the BEST of the 5 courses...The gelatos were airy yet creamy, the chocolate sauce was sooooooo divine, & I enjoyed the freshly made pastry puffs, which I'm not generally a fan of this! My favorite of the 3 flavors was rich Espresso =). Whew. Nevertheless, we left overstuffed. I'm grateful for my date to take me out on a rare fine-dining experience & for the service. In terms of food, though, I may be just satisfied over wowed, but if you are a die-hard fan of Italian food, then by all means, go to Culina!
(3)Annie G.
Love it. Beautiful, food always good and wait staff, reception always pleasant and helpful. Perfect for a business breakfast or lunch, but I also like to come here with friends. (And Sunday brunch is to die for. That would be worth five stars if it were on its own, but I save my five stars for my absolute favs. -- their Sunday brunch is one of them.)
(4)Sasha N.
I bought the Travelzoo deal a really long time ago and then realized it expires this month! We had an early reservation on a Tuesday night so the place was not very full while we were there but business started to pick up as we were leaving around 815. The restaurant is beautiful. Very sleek and trendy. I didn't feel like we were in a restaurant hotel at all. We dined inside but when I go back, I'll be sure to request the patio - it just looked so inviting and peaceful out there. As soon as we were seated, out waiter (I cannot remember his name), brought us out our respective glasses of prosecco. Yum! And Alan, our very personable busser, brought out olives and delicious focaccia bread with olive oil. Course #1: Crudo Flight - very nice light way to start off the meal. I loved the hamachi while the boy preferred the salmon. I'm not sure I would order it again but it was nice to try Course #2 Salad with watercress, asparagus mushrooms and artichokes in a lemon dressing. - I really enjoyed this. Yes, it's just a salad but everything blended together in a delicious way. Course #3: Bobolotti Verdi - (aka green past with a ragu bologenese) SOOO Good. I mean, I love pasta and this was perfect to me. The generous portion of Parmesan cheese that they grated for me didn't hurt either ;) Course #4: Halibut with English peas and an Onion Fonduta. I was stuffed after the pasta but I forged ahead (for the sake of the review of course) and ate the 4th course. The peas were delicious. The onion fonduta meshed really well with the halibut. I wish there had been more of it. The halibut was good - nothing amazing. Course #5: Mini pastries with three different flavors of gelato -espresso (my fave) vanilla and pistachio with chocolate sauce. I was stuffed and barely ate this but it was pretty good. Desert also came with the grappa flight. Oh man - grappa is not for me! I almost fell over just from the powerful smell. I took one sip and that was it for me! During our meal, the GM, Sandro, came over and introduced himself and chatted with us for a few minutes. I really appreciated that. He was super nice and very enthusiastic about his restaurant. Customer service was on point at Culina! I'll definitely be back to this place. They serve lunch and they offer free valet for anyone dining at that time.
(4)Y. C.
I am so in love with this place! Well, who wouldn't? It's Four Seasons after all. I brought couple of my girlfriends here for their joint-birthday celebration, and I couldn't have thought of a better place. The service was impeccable, the ambience was beautiful, and the foot was amazing. Probably one of the best Italian restaurants in town. Culina's sweet corn ravioli is a must. It literally melted in my mouth. Lasagna and rigatoni were superb as well. I am definitely going back to this place over and over again...!
(5)Mama K.
What a fabulous experience. We were drawn into Culina from BBE. We sat at the crudo bar because it was early and the restaurant hadn't filled up yet. It was bustling by the time we left at 8:30pm. Clientele is a mix but mostly made up of the over 50 crowd. Anna at the crudo bar MADE our night, literally and figuratively. Such a sweet, talented, (young), chef. Like the foodies we are, we talked her ear off about local eateries and her menu ingredients. Almost like a mini cooking lesson. ;) Micheal, the bartender, was knowledgeable and generous. Lastly, our waiter, gasp, I can't remember his name, cute Asian guy with glasses...I knew if before my third drink, was attentive and friendly. Eats: Mackerel Crudo Summer Salad with Prosciutto and Burrata (my favorite dish) Lamb Pizza (ask for some chili oil if you like spicy like me) Octopus (I didn't like the mushy mini potatoes but the Octopus was perfect) 3 cocktails and 2 glasses of wine. = $128 (less bbe %) Everything was served beautifully and tasted super fresh.
(5)Jen D.
Located in the four seasons hotel, this restaurant can definitely stand its own. The decor was decadent and beautiful and the food was equally delicious. It is pricey and reserved for those special occasions in one's life.
(5)Heather R.
Waitstaff friendly, informed and punctual. Sommelier is very Italian, very knowledgeable, and approachable / easy to talk to. Service is swift and attentive Il crudo ahi tartare (4 pieces) was OK, a lot of tuna - not a lot of flavor. I love sashimi - so I was still thrilled. Lamb chops were perfect. You get 4 small chops, at chop 1 I was convinced this wouldn't be enough, by chop 4 I was full and satisfied. Super delicious!
(4)Susanne W.
What a joke my purchase on travelzoo turned out to be. I wanted to have a special evening and after viewing the images and information offered on travelzoo about an offer for $89 for 2, with Prosecco, I purchased it. We went to the restaurant last night. Absolutely beautiful restaurant, impeccable service, no complaints there. However, the photographs and portion size pictured in the advertisement do NOT accurately reflect what you receive at the table. Cut in HALF, for sure. How this dinner would have cost $220 as stated if it was not offered through travelzoo, I don't know. Definitely false advertising. I wish I had taken photos of our plates, because the only proof I have is in my memory. What a disappointment. The biggest joke was the Tiramisu. If you blink you miss it. This has taught me a lesson. Do I need to print out what is in the advertisement now every time?
(2)Patrick B.
Wow! First, the restaurant and bar area looks fantastic! So beautifully done.... the crowd is good looking and the drinks are solid. The service just can't be beat. Truly attentive and friendly... really knowledgeable. The food was also amazing. The squash appetizers were to die for! I could have made a meal just from that! The choices were varied and all looked tasty. It is pricey...but certainly worth it!
(5)Ruben Q.
My wife and I recently celebrated our anniversary at Culina. We were pleasantly surprised by our experience. It started with a very warm reception. The outdoor dining area was not yet crowded and although it was a bit chilly, the staff quickly made us warm with the heaters. The waiter was friendly but not pushy. He helped us pick a great wine to celebrate our occasion. The meal was creative. The salad, the appetizer, especially the pork belly was fantastic. The portions were all adequate size. The ambiance was classy yet relaxed and private without being stuffy or noisy. We have eaten in many great restaurants from Europe, Far East and the United States. Culina food was right in par with our finest eating experience. We enjoyed the meal and the service very much and look forward to coming back. Seem like a well kept LA Secret....
(5)D.J. D.
I don't understand how this place could get a bad review. This is the second time my husband and I visited with a Travelzoo voucher and each time has been exceptional. Outstanding customer service, delicious food, great ambiance. Its the Four Seasons. I wouldn't expect anything less.
(5)Jennifer L.
Classy clientele? Check. Sexy ambience? Check check! What more can you expect from Four Seasons? The girls and I chose Culina for the 1st round of dineLA. First of all, I must commend them for the all-around excellent service we experienced throughout the night. From when our valet guy opened the door to when the doormen said goodbye as we left. The manager even took the time to greet each table. The service seemed very sincere. Stay classy Culina! Culina is your traditional Italian cuisine with a fresh contemporary twist. The Caprese was as fresh as can be. A handful of heirloom tomatoes sprinkled with extra virgin olive oil topped with burrata. I don't take a liking to cheese but the burrata had more of a creamy buttery taste. It was a nice balance between the tomatoes and cheese. The Alaskan Black Cod was cooked so soft it was like butter melting in your mouth. It was like it was still cooking as I was eating it because it was pretty much mush when i was almost done. The skin was cooked to a perfectly crispy texture. Dip that in the sweet onion fonduta, pair it with the bits of pancetta and it will be an experience you will never forget. I didn't think I'd like it but the caramelized brussel sprouts were insane. I couldn't stop eating them! They were very sweet and juicy. The night ended with rice pudding surrounded by a medley of fresh berries. It was ordered because Grant, our waiter, suggested it. I didn't have high expectations but this did not disappoint. The rice pudding was the right amount of sweet. The fresh berries gave it that sour tang. Definitely a winner! I have every intention of coming back and ordering off of the regular menu. Good times!
(4)Ed K.
Had the good fortune to start off DineLA fall 2010 with this hidden gem of an Italian restaurant tucked away in the Four Seasons Beverly Hills hotel. Never having heard of it before but following the lead of fellow yelper Jean L, I made my way to the hotel entrance where valet parking is $6 with validation. It was a rainy day and while you can enter Culina directly from its outside entrance, I made a quick beeline for the hotel lobby entrance as not to ruin my nice shoes and found you can easily enter the restaurant by cutting through the hotel's lounge and bars. I arrived a little early so I decided to take a seat in the restaurants own cocktail lounge which was like a plush living room, complete with plasma tv showing the game for the night. The hostess was very friendly and let me hang out with a cocktail and free snacks until the rest of my group arrived. Being part of a big group, we got to try most every option on their 3 course menu, some of the highlight's included: Caprese a modo mio - a BIG yellow heirloom tomato topped in soft creamy burrata cheese, seasoned with basil and extra virgin olive oil. While at first it looks simplistic and almost lazy cooking, it was actually quite good as an opening appetizer once you took the time to cut it with a fork & knife Merluzzo Nero - Alaskan black cod with caramelized brussel sprouts, pancetta, sweet onion fonduta and red wine glassato. Buttery and soft almost like a sea bass but with stronger flavours, the brussell sprouts actually offered a nice crispy counterpoint to the flaky meat of the fish. Manzo - Niman ranch flat iron steak. I was expecting a rather thin and dainty slice of prime beef and instead what was served was a very healthy sized cut of cow, accented with various herbs, heirloom tomatoes and shaved parmigiano reggiano. Not expected from an Italian place, this had me wishing that I ordered the steak instead of the cod, and the slices I tried were fantastic Cannoli - crispy round cigars of desserty goodness bursting with gelato, topped with caramelized pistachios. I never thought an olive oil flavoured gelato would appeal to my taste buds but the whole combination worked wonderfully with the light pastry shell Affogato - vanilla bean gelato served in a glass with expresso poured in right at the table, melting the cotton candy topping in a display that made you feel like you weren't simply eating food, but enjoying a living, breathing work of art. Again, a winner of a dessert Service was attentive and quick, and the atmosphere of the dining room was fun, energetic but never felt crowded, noisy or obnoxious. Complements to whoever was in charge of the acoustics as we were able to speak with our inside voices and still enjoy dinner conversation along with our food. Because of the service and ambiance alone I'll definitely have to make a return visit in the near future.
(5)Jay K.
I'm a huge fan of anything 4-seasons but this dining experience was probably one of the worst I've had in a long time. The server checked in with us - not once. My mother-in-law was pouring the wine (in front of the waiter and he didn't apologize or take over). There was no one who came after serving us so I could get pepper with my lamb chops. Food was mediocre at best. I wouldn't come back here.
(1)Ray K.
Amazingly food. Superb service!! Ambiance to die for (outside) The cod is to die for. Tuna appetizer is a must have!!!!
(5)Hovik N.
Meet up here with a few foodies for DineLA. This place was picked by Jean L. who I have infinite respect for when it comes places too eat. The ambiance is very pleasing and the set up inside the hotel is very well done. We did have to wait longer then expected to be seated even tho the place was not crowded. But if you know me at all you know I'm all about the food! Appetizer: Fichi: Figs in sheep's milk ricotta. Amazing! wow what flavors and the ricotta slight sweetness complimented the figs perfectly. Main Black Cod: I don't know what was surrounding the fish but it was cooked perfectly and was soft and flaky. Very very good! As far as fish goes this is about as much you can ask from a chef. Steak: WOW. I should have gotten the steak! I tryed a piece of my friends and was overtaken by the wounderful flavours of a good piece of meat! I'm a red meat kinda guy so I was in love. Dessert Cannoli: Just amazing! gelato and caramelized pistachios?!?! I could have ate 10 of them. I loved that it was only slightly sweet. It was just perfect. Total with the DineLA menu came out to be $44 WITH tax and tip! A steal, it was so good that I am going back again Sunday! But this time I'm getting the steak. Service is little lack luster for this type of restaurant but the food is just amazing.
(5)German A.
Food was amazing. Really enjoyed all five courses with perfect wine pairings. Service was excellent and experience was incredible. Celebrated wedding anniversary here and chef came out during our meal and introduced herself. Antipasti had a great mix of salami, cheese, olives, nuts and marmalade. Pasta was delicious and fresh. Steak was amazing, perfectly cooked and seared on the exterior. Dessert was very good! Ambiance was great and interior design was nice.
(5)Giang L.
We had the travelzoo dinner. I noticed that they placed all of us travelzoo diners out in the patio! the travelzoo menu said we'd have halibut. Unfortunately, the waiter informed us they were out of halibut and were going to serve salmon instead. However, we overhead another waiter tell non-travelzoo diners that they have an excellent halibut. I guess they ran out of travelzoo halibut...? The patio area is nice. We sat against the wall and like another reviewer mentioned, I didn't like how close I was to the next table over (it's too close when I can smell their perfume!). They really promoted their wine list. 95% of the wines listed can be ordered as a half bottle. They have a system that lets them store bottles for up to three weeks. So that's kind of neat. It's too bad they didn't even let us have a glimpse of the regular menu...but I know for sure it has halibut.
(3)Michael V.
Normally I don't write a review until I've dined at a place 3 or more times, but here it is after only 2. This is a 4.5 review. My first visit was 5 star. The place was beautiful - especially the patio. The service was outstanding by Michael. This is the kind of excellent service I try to never expect because I'd be frequently disappointed. Michael was very attentive and able to educate on all facets of the menu. The food was magnificent. Yellowtail crudo was great, though easily the least of the dinner. The risotto balls were decadent and probably the best of all. The simple san marzano tomato spaghetti with added polpette was fantastic and the short rib entree was out of this world. The second visit was nearly as good as the first. The food was every bit as good, but the service dropped just a bit. We were served by Dale instead of Michael and he was good, but the place was busier the second time around and there four of us instead of two, so I won't dump on Dale for the slightly slower process and some martinis coming to the table warm and in need of re-shaking. The food this time was tonno crudo, all the salads, minestrone soup (just okay, but that's because minestroni is bland ass soup anyway), pizza salsiccia, branzino, rigatoni salsiccia, monkfish and veal. Amazing. The significant reason for dropping Dale's service is that he charged me for a bottle of wine we didn't order (or receive). I didn't notice this until the next day because I had to track Dale down and give him my credit card before my friend tried to grab the check - you know, that whole thing. So I didn't realize as I paid that there was an error. When I discovered it and notified Culina, they refunded the errant charge, which was $155.00, so all was good in the end. However, had I not taken a good look at the receipt, I would have been out all that $$. Official verdict: Excellent food and service. Well worth the trip and money. Just make sure to look over the bill before you pay!
(4)Lisa S.
Everything here is top notch. The service is excellent!
(5)Max N.
Impeccable service but the kitchen needs work still, the lamb cosciotto was almost burnt and most dishes were salty and left a salty aftertaste. The garlic sauce on the arancini was too strong and the arancini lacked originality. The ahi tuna was too thick and chewy.
(2)