Off Vine - We’re Talking Way, Way Off
Thursday, January 18, 2007 10:55Off Vine
6263 Leland Way
Hollywood, CA
During my previous experience at Off Vine, which transpired some months ago, I fell in love with the space. The restaurant is lovingly located in a gorgeous old craftsman house, immaculately restored and oozing with Hollywood charm and history. The food wasn’t much to look at or taste, and the service halted to a near stand-still, but I was willing to forgive and overlook, assuming it was a bad day. How could such a special space hold such mediocrity? No, I had to try try again.
One of my top girls joined me for a recent leisurely lunch. We wanted fab eats and a gorgeous backdrop by which to gossip and catch up on all manner of life-goings-on. Off Vine was simply It. Aside from the astoundingly perfect ambiance, however, this place is world of no. From service to food, I really can’t recall a more disappointing experience in recent memory. Our server even had a shadow - a waitress-in-training. Perhaps she was intentionally showing her What Not To Do - one can only hope. Our drinks and water were bone dry for most of the meal, things came at a colossally slow rate, and trying to get our check felt like we were asking for a winning lotto ticket.
And then there’s the issue of the food. Oy. Vey.
Let me explain.
Drinks:
Soda/water, but not much of it. Wine list isn’t interesting.
Entrees:
Mine
Duck Breast Salad with Spinach, Mushrooms, and a Wasabi Dressing
– I freaking love a good fowl, and mushies - what’s not to adore? This salad also came with pine nuts, and I’ll admit I thought the combination sounded strange, but strange enough to maybe work. Yes, well, I was dead wrong.
The spinach was nice, let’s start there. No e-coli, so that’s a victory.
The duck - overcooked, dark, dry, disgusting.
The dressing - SO full of wasabi, absolutely no other flavors could creep through. I like a spicy kick, but honestly, this was ridiculous.
The pine nuts - didn’t work at ALL.
The mushrooms - I’m not sure what they were marinated in, but all I could detect was salt, and a horrific consistency.
This salad SUCKED - shamefully so. It didn’t look appetizing, and the flavors smashed each other into an unsavory oblivion. Nothing matched, texture or taste. All. Wrong.
P’s (pictured above)
Chopped Chicken Salad
– Comparatively speaking, this was an absolute treasure, but still - ick. Some of the veggies were wilted and old, and one hunk of tomato still had the Del Monte sticker attached. Tacky!
Poor Off Vine either had one Off Day, or, as two times would tell me, this is simply not a high-quality eatery. Such a shame. I love that house.
Damage for 2 drinks and 2 salads - about $28, before tip.
RESTAURANT REPORT CARD - Off Vine, Visit 2
Ambiance - A
Service - D
Food (Taste) - D+
Food (Presentation) - C-
Wine/Drinks - C-
Value - C-
Vibe/Energy/Scene - B
Overall Experience - C-
Final word - I’ve learned my lesson. I’ll just enjoy the view.
By PoetKitty (see more of her posts). You can find more of PoetKitty's writing at her own website OMG Food!
Dude says:
January 18th, 2007 at 11:07 am
That’s weird. Not 5 minutes before this post went up, I was looking at their menu on Menupix.com!
cybele says:
January 18th, 2007 at 11:23 am
I went last night for a surprise b-day dinner. The service was good, very attentive and they even moved our large party when some of us were annoyed by a draft from the opening/closing front door. (I can’t really blame them on the cold snap.)
I had the blackened bass special and quite enjoyed it. The dessert souffles (yes I tried all three) were great. I don’t know if it’s my absolute favorite restaurant experience of all time, but it was enjoyable and tasty enough that I may return.
Kevin says:
January 18th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
That’s too bad because I’ve always enjoyed myself at Off Vine. The food is never “out of this world” but it’s never been bad. Service is usually very personable and attentive.
beopenguin says:
January 18th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
That might be the first horrible thing I’ve heard somebody say about Off Vine. I’ve never had a terrible meal and the service has always been stellar. While I agree that the food isn’t amazing, for the price I find it to be a good dinner choice compared to other places in the immediate movie going area.
MaxMillion says:
January 19th, 2007 at 8:56 am
You gotta give PK props for giving the place a second chance. But that duck salad looks and sounds as if it tasted vile!
With so many excellent eateries in LA to choose from, each with varying degrees of pricing, ambience and charm, I’d say with two strikes, “Yourrrrrrrrrrrrrrre OUT!”
The commenters above all seem to say “The food’s okay…”
Why DO you go back?
Kevin says:
January 19th, 2007 at 10:37 am
I said that the food was never “out of this world,” but I’ve never had anything there I didn’t enjoy. If you combine that with the unbeatable charm of the restaurant and the attentive service it adds up to a very pleasurable experience. Go for a Sunday brunch when the weather is pleasant. That’s why I hate hearing about this horrible experience. I’ll agree that the salad looks and sounds awful!
MaxMillion says:
January 19th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Thanks very much for your response, Kevin. It certainly is handy to know the best time to enjoy a particular venue.
beopenguin says:
January 20th, 2007 at 12:08 am
Well Maxmillion, I don’t think anybody is doubting that salad was disgusting. The photo turns my stomach just looking at it. I’ve quite a few dinners there with large groups and everybody has enjoyed their food. Just because the food is “okay” it doesn’t mean that I don’t like it or wouldn’t recco it to somebody else. Personally, I find their wine list better than the Arclight’s . I just think it’s one of the most charming places in Hollywood with excellent service. I say cheers to the poster for trying the place twice.
I normally mark a place off the list for such awful infractions. Here’s looking at you Bistro K!
John Trosko says:
January 22nd, 2007 at 4:22 pm
I have eaten at Off Vine no less than three times and I agree with your comments about the food. My out of town guests seem to always enjoy the place, and I always take them there to enjoy some SoCal outdoor dining.
Last time I went, I dined for Thanksgiving dinner and it was horrible. Soggy, slapped on a plate and it was like a buffet. The service wasn’t bad, wine fine– but I couldn’t get past the food. Nothing distinctive at all and I wouldn’t add this to my yearly Thanksgiving parties.
– John