Bacari Sherman Oaks — Restaurant in Los Angeles

While our experience at the restaurant was generally positive, there were notable instances that detracted from our overall enjoyment. We made a reservation for Friday evening at 8:45 specifically to coincide with the live entertainment advertised. However, upon arrival, we were informed that the entertainment had been canceled due to a private event booking in the front room. Consequently, we were asked to wait for 15 to 30 minutes before being seated, but our actual wait time extended to 40 minutes.

As someone familiar with the hospitality industry, I expect a level of communication that respects the customer's time and preferences. Ideally, advance notice of the entertainment cancellation would have allowed us to reconsider our reservation or make alternative plans. Moreover, given the extended wait period, a gesture such as offering complimentary drinks would have been appropriate to mitigate any inconvenience experienced by waiting guests.

Upon finally being seated, our party of seven was served only two tapas-style burrata salads, which, while possibly intended as a gesture of goodwill, was inadequate for a group of our size. While we appreciate such gestures, it's essential for them to be proportionate to the party's size to avoid unintentional disappointment.

Despite these initial setbacks, the culinary offerings at the restaurant were commendable. Highlights included the delectable Mussels and the Asian Pear Brie Pizza, both of which received high praise from our group. The cocktails were also a standout feature, although there was a lapse in communication regarding the last call, resulting in an unexpected end to our evening's libations.

As our meal concluded, we were informed that complimentary desserts would be provided. Regrettably, the gesture fell short as only two servings of bread pudding were offered for a group of seven, and further dessert orders were declined due to the kitchen's closure. While the service staff remained warm and friendly throughout, there was a missed opportunity to inquire about additional orders before the kitchen and bar were closed for the evening.

Unfortunately, the absence of managerial presence throughout our dining experience was notable. A simple acknowledgment or apology for the inconveniences encountered at the outset of our evening would have demonstrated a commitment to customer satisfaction.

In summary, while the restaurant boasts excellent cuisine and ambiance, there is a clear need for improved training and communication within the management team to ensure a consistently exceptional dining experience for...

Date night at Bacari – Our first time there. The atmosphere was fantastic with a great outdoor seating area protected from the elements of Ventura Blvd...and the inside seating areas were intimate and comfortable. It was crowded when we were there on a Thursday night with people waiting for seats and we were lucky enough to have a reservation so we didn't have to wait.

Overall the service was super friendly and we loved the atmosphere. But the food and drinks we got weren't bad but didn't quite live up to the ambiance and crowd.

My wife started with a Cabernet and they were nice enough to bring her a sampling of three wines so she could pick the one she wanted.

I had the "Overpaid & Underworked" cocktail...this was really beautiful with an eggwhite foam on top, topped with dried blueberries. It was mixed well as by the end of it I was really feeling it, but with bourbon listed as the first ingredient, it didn't taste like a bourbon drink. I don't mind a sweet drink, but if bourbon is up first in the list...make sure I know it's there when I'm drinking it.

There was LOTS to choose from for vegetarians. We weren't blown away by any of the three choices we made, but we'd try it again and get completely different things.

Our server was nice enough, upon discovering we were vegetarian, to tell us they could do their shawarma tacos with mushrooms instead of shawarma. So we got that. It was okay. The prominent flavor was the cabbage and beet slaw without the mushrooms or tahini being much of a presence. (It comes with 3 but they have "4" as an option in case there are an even number of you dining and you like things to be fair.)

We also had the grilled asparagus...this dish kind of looked like a mess...the asparagus felt overcooked, but tasted okay with the romesco sauce and parmesan.

Our third dish was the rainbow beets. This looked lovely but the beets didn't have that much flavor and the whipped chevre it sat on (and overall flavor) was definitely overpowered by the grey salt...for the most part in this dish we just tasted the salt.

So foodwise it was serviceable...we weren't hungry when we left, but we were left wanting more in terms of taste and presentation. As I mentioned there is a lot to choose from on the menu for vegetarians and we'd happily come back to experience the atmosphere and maybe try other dishes including some of...

Edited to add: my date actually did email you guys in response to a "hope you had a lovely evening" email the night of our dinner. Never heard back.

We’ve been to Bacari many times—mostly at the West 3rd location, and occasionally in Silverlake—and it’s always been a pleasure. Unfortunately, this was our first time at this location, and it was very disappointing.

As always, the space itself is beautiful—but not at our table. We were seated in a cramped spot between the bar and the kitchen, between two overflowing trash cans. The ambiance was ruined by harsh fluorescent light pouring out of the kitchen’s swinging door. Honestly, this table should not even exist—it’s in a high-traffic area and clearly an attempt to squeeze in two more diners. Even one of the people who brought food to our table commented on how tight the table was, and how hard it was to fit more than one dish at a time.

Still, we tried to make the best of it and asked the hostess if we could move when a nearby table opened up. She explained why that specific table wasn't an option, which was fair, but she also said, “We won’t forget about you,” and promised to follow up. We never saw her again—until we flagged her down at the end of the meal, when she awkwardly mentioned that a table had just opened up (clearly too late to matter). If she had simply come back earlier—even just to say a move wasn’t possible—we would have appreciated the honesty. Instead, the lack of follow-through felt dismissive and unprofessional.

We mentioned the overflowing trash cans both times we spoke with her, and no one made any attempt to address them, whether we moved tables or not.

Separately, our server was kind and the food was good. But there were issues with the drinks—multiple ingredients were unavailable, and in one case, the bartender asked if we were okay with a substitution. In another, they just made the change without checking. One of our dishes never arrived at all.

We still tipped well, because our server did the best he could. But between the uncomfortable table, the unclean environment, and the lack of accountability from the host, we left feeling disrespected and disappointed—especially after spending over $150...