Inn of the Seventh Ray — Restaurant in Calabasas

This should be a 5-star restaurant but the reality is it needs to clean up the little things to get there. I’ll start with the positives and then explain why I gave it 3 stars instead.

Inn of the Seventh Ray is nestled in the mountains overlooking Malibu and when you pull up, you can see instantly why it’s listed as one of LA’s most romantic restaurants. The calmness of it all, the lighting - it really is beautiful. There’s valet which I recommend (it’s only $9). When I made the reservation, I requested a gazebo because we were celebrating my wife’s birthday so I wanted it to be as special as possible. When we were seated, there was a vase of flowers on the table which was nice - and about the only thing special about the gazebo (more on that later).

Our server Sarah was wonderful - kind, funny and knowledgeable. We started with drinks (Pretty in Pink for her, Old Fashioned for me). For appetizers, we got the Arugula & Lady Apple Salad, the Crispy Shrimp Cakes, the Crispy Brussels Sprouts and bread. The salad was fine, a little too much vinegar, but the shrimp cakes and the Brussels sprouts were DELICIOUS. Would highly recommend. The bread was fresh out of the oven so it was perfectly warm and soft. The butter and the choice of sea salt or Himalayan salt was a nice touch.

For entrees, we got the rigatoni and the filet mignon. The pasta was really good but the filet mignon was the star of the show amongst the entrees. It came with a side salad (very garlicky) and whipped potatoes. The steak was so tender and juicy and cooked exactly how we wanted - I only wish it was a bigger piece given the price. For dessert, we got the coffee cake & butterscotch which I have to say may have been the best coffee cake I’ve ever had in my life. 11/10 - would highly recommend.

So why the 3 stars then? As I said, it’s the little things. First, the gazebo is $150 so you’d think it would be out of this world for much a romantic restaurant, but truthfully, the entire restaurant has romantic vibes so wherever you sit is really nice. Full disclosure though, I should’ve done more research on it. It’s absolutely not worth it.

Secondly, as the employees were bringing out our food, we moved some of the appetizers away to make room for the other items, and they took it upon themselves to grab a plate and smash it on top of the salad we had and take it away - the plate was still half full of salad and we were nowhere near done. My wife gave each other a quizzical look like… what just happened? But we let it go, figured maybe it was a new employee. No big deal and there was still plenty of food to get through.

Third, given that I spent so much on the gazebo and the food itself, you’d think the least they could do is something special for my wife’s birthday. They confirmed more than once we were celebrating a birthday but when I reminded them before dessert it’s my wife’s birthday, they said they’ll do something IF we order a dessert. So she got a candle and a little sign that said happy birthday. The fact it wasn’t even complimentary was crazy to me given that any time we’ve ever celebrated a birthday at any other restaurant, they’ve done something special.

Lastly, when we got up at the end of the night to leave, I looked at my wife’s chair and noticed there was as no cushion on her seat when I had been sitting on one the entire night. When we got seated, the chairs were tucked under the table so she never noticed she was supposed to have a cushion and since she sat before me, I didn’t notice she didn’t have one. She brought it up to management that given the cost of the gazebo, you’d at least think it would be fully prepared but the manager just apologized and said they must’ve forgotten to put one. To make amends, they offered a free scoop of ice cream to go which we declined (but I guess they at least finally offered a complimentary dessert).

So yeah, it should be 5-stars but those little things really bothered us. I would absolutely recommend coming here for the ambiance and the food but I hope they pay more...

Nestled in a magical forest-like setting, the Inn Of The Seventh Ray offers a dining experience that feels like stepping into a secret garden filled with enchantment. As the sun sets, the restaurant truly comes to life with dazzling lights that sparkle and a symphony of nature sounds, including the gentle babbling of a creek and the chorus of frogs and other creatures of the night.

Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by the hostess and promptly escorted to our seats. Having made reservations in advance to celebrate our anniversary, the restaurant held a special place in our hearts, as it was where I had proposed to my partner 18 years ago.

The true highlight of the evening, however, was our waiter Saul, who provided impeccable service and truly elevated our dining experience. His attentiveness and friendly demeanor set the stage for a memorable evening. I entrusted him to curate our meal, and he did not disappoint.

Our culinary journey began with the Crispy Shrimp Cakes with sauce Louie, piquillo peppers, parsley, and fennel, a delightful starter priced at $20.00. The flavors were expertly balanced, and the shrimp cakes were perfectly crispy on the outside while remaining tender on the inside.

Next, we savored the Beef Tartare served with truffle egg, green apple, soy, sesame, and brioche for $21.00. The dish was a harmonious blend of textures and flavors, showcasing the chef's skillful execution and attention to detail.

For the third course, we enjoyed the Yellowfin Tuna Crudo with white ponzu, herbs, cucumber, and olive, priced at $22.00. The freshness of the tuna shone through, complemented by the bright and zesty flavors of the accompanying ingredients.

Our fourth course was the Seared Diver Scallops with wild mushrooms, snap peas & tendrils, artichoke creme, and charred lemon, a luxurious dish priced at $48.00. The scallops were perfectly seared to a golden brown, and each bite was a symphony of flavors and textures.

For our fifth course, we indulged in the Oven Roasted Sea Bass with saffron fumet, sancerre-braised leeks, and fennel, priced at $44.00. The sea bass was cooked to perfection, with a delicate flakiness that paired beautifully with the aromatic saffron fumet and tender braised leeks.

Moving on to the sixth course, we delighted in the 8-Hour Braised Short Rib served with creamy rosemary polenta, duck bacon Brussels sprouts, and caramelized onion & fig jam, priced at $55.00. The short rib was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the accompanying sides added layers of richness and depth to the dish.

Our penultimate savory course was the 8oz Oven Roasted Filet Mignon accompanied by truffle whipped potatoes, watercress, salmoriglio, and vinegar-braised cipollini onion, priced at $64.00. The filet mignon was cooked to a perfect medium-rare, showcasing the quality of the meat, and the sides enhanced the dish with their complementary flavors.

To conclude our exquisite meal, we enjoyed the Banana Bread Pudding with caramel, candied banana, and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, priced at $14.00. The warm, comforting flavors of the banana bread pudding paired with the cool sweetness of the ice cream created a delightful end to our culinary journey.

In conclusion, our dining experience at the Inn Of The Seventh Ray was nothing short of exceptional. From the enchanting setting reminiscent of a hidden secret garden to the impeccable service and the masterfully crafted dishes, every aspect of our evening was a testament to the restaurant's dedication to providing a memorable dining experience.

I wholeheartedly recommend the Inn Of The Seventh Ray to anyone looking for a magical escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, where every bite is a journey of flavors and every moment is infused with a sense of wonder and delight. It is truly a gem waiting to be discovered, and a place where culinary...

Anyone who knows me from my old homeland knows how much I love the Alte Mühle Höreth in Kobern Gondorf (www.altemuehlehoereth.de - sadly in German only :-( but the pictures will tell the story.

This place is the American translation of that.

Do I want to take my new love here for a first date? YES! Do I want to get married here? Absolutely!

The atmosphere is 11 out of 10 - priceless. In terms of food, they aim to be more upscale - and they succeeded with 2 out of 4 dishes that my friends and I tried. Scallops and sea bass were great, sadly the risotto and cheese plate I had were just OK - the risotto tended to be on the downside.

It was heavy on the truffle oil, and throughout the drive home, my wife and I felt like it was coming back up, unfortunately (and I only had 3-4 spoonfuls). The mashed potatoes were very good, but for twenty bucks (including tax and tip), that's to be expected.

The restaurant itself is fantastic - and if the budget allows, it's suitable for meeting up with a group or even for business. It's just not as loud as typical LA restaurants.

BUT: we hadn't seen our friends in a while and had a few things to discuss. The service was very charming (and I want to make a point here that they were super-sweet!) - but also, sorry, a bit rude, as every few minutes they would interrupt us mid-conversation: without even waiting a millisecond, they would interject into the ongoing conversation.

I know from restaurants of this caliber that it's different: if the service staff wants something from me, they approach the table and let the current speaker finish their thought. We can clearly see there's someone who needs our attention. Once we've finished speaking, then they can ask, "Yes, please?" - and gladly.

I wouldn't emphasize it so much if it were the charming new waiter. It was 3-4-5 people we dealt with, and without exception, and by all of them surely fifteen times, if not twenty times, we were interrupted last night - even to bring us the dessert menu after the appetizer (and that before they brought the entrees).

We spent $500 for the four of us - and were rather restrained (no aperitifs, no bottle of wine, I had two appetizers and only one of us opted for the dessert - and found it the weakest dish of the night).

$500 - that's a lot of money for most people. I would wish for the restaurant, as well as the people who saved up for it, to have a perfect experience - and not three out of five stars, which unfortunately I must give because there is no bread, large bottles of water being sold out, constant interruptions, and sometimes suboptimal food simply weren't good enough for more. What a pity. I really wanted to love this place....