You just might have heard of Vespertine, from online media and friends who loved it or hated it. It’s “a gastronomical experiment seeking to disrupt the course of the modern restaurant”, according to its website. It’s also the polarizing sister establishment to the extremely photogenic Destroyer. It’s the restaurant housed in a building that was once meant for supercars. It’s supposed to have its own gravity and the soundtrack consists of only four notes. Sounds absurd, doesn’t it? Well, we thought so too until we visited Jordan Kahn’s spaceship in Culver City. When you enter the restaurant, you are greeted by a staff member who is dressed like an extra from Star Wars. You are then guided to an elevator which drops you off in the middle of the kitchen, just in time for Captain Kahn to warmly greet you and explain what is to come. After the chat with Kahn, guests are taken to the roof where they can sit and watch the sun set over LA while nibbling on a series of introductory snacks such as cured mango marinated with sunflower petals and toasted kelp chips with yuzu cream. Once finished, guests are taken to the dining room and the real meal begins. So many dishes hit the table that you’ll most likely lose track, but it’s safe to say that each will be as thought provoking as delicious. The meal ends in the courtyard with digestifs, teas and mignardises, which feels like softly landing back on Planet Earth. Whether you loved it or hated it, you’ll most likely be remembering Vespertine for the days (and perhaps years) to come.
Style: Fine dining
Address: 3599 Hayden Ave, Culver City, CA 90232 (Culver City)
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 5:30-9:30PM
Menu: vespertine.la
Price: Tasting menu $250
Reservation: (323) 320-4023 or Tock
This review was written by In The Loup contributor Ash Narayan