Water Grill — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Found myself in LA for work. Sunday happened to be my birthday and I decided if I have to spend it away from the wife and home, I deserve a nice dinner so I decided on Water Grill. BIG MISTAKE.

Sat at the bar and this woman asks me if I will be dining, to which I reply yes. She hands me a menu and then walks away. Ok.. usually when someone sits at a bar that means they want a drink. I wait for her to turn around again to order a beer which took longer than expected. This should have been my first warning.

After 20 minutes I can’t find that same woman anymore but there is a bartender working and running around the place. I finally get his attention.. looked like he wasn’t even aware I was sitting there… and ask to place an order. He asked if someone ran through the menu with me and I replied “no”. It’s been 20 minutes and someone is finally talking me through the menu and I’m starting to feel like an afterthought. Lady from earlier is no where to be found (trust me she’s going to make a return).

I ordered the oyster sampler and spiny lobster. Here’s the thing about samplers that I think Water Grill doesn’t understand… when you order a sampler it means you want to ‘sample’ a variety of items. In order sample appropriately you should be told what is what. Once the oyster sampler arrived the guy just puts it in front of me. No one explained which oyster was what. I had to confirm the order with the bartender by asking him “hey dude, so what am I eating?”

While I’m blindly going through the oysters I realized the people next to me are eating bread. Wait they have bread?! How come no one gave me any? So I asked the bartender about this and he asked if I want some bread. Yea dude.. I want food. That’s why I came here. Why do I have to ask you for this? Why can’t you offer first?

Food was fine. A little on the salty side. Especially the bread which is just weird. I had to ask to have my used and empty dishes removed which again.. it’s weird. The worst part of tonight tho was when I didn’t have any utensils for eating a second entree I ordered and I had the stare at the woman from earlier (she returned) that seated me for 20 minutes waiting for her to look my way to ask for a fork. The entire time she’s speaking with the people next to me about the hookah lounge she’s going to open and either has no peripheral vision or she straight ignored me. Finally got a fork from the bartender after she left.

This restaurant has the look, and the menus is nice. What you are missing is the service. All I really wanted was to have a nice dinner out to make the fact I’m away from home and my wife on my birthday a little easier. Thanks for making me feel extremely unwelcome. I also happened to be the only brown man there… not saying that’s the reason for the reception I received but I can’t fathom why else was I treated this way tonight.

Also lady with the hookah lounge.. you might want to work on your customer...

I made a reservation here for my ninth anniversary with my husband and he loved it but he's not the one writing this review, now is he? First, we both love seafood- he more than I, which is why I chose this place versus my first choice, French food.

I wasn't a fan of the decor. It felt like it was dusty and hadn't been fully cleaned in a while, like the smudgy glass and all. It felt like I was stuck in some outdated restaurant from the 80s, which I think is when they first opened, so that description is actually appropriate.

Ambience was okay. It was a pricier, more upscale place but it didn't feel snooty or unwelcoming. Our server was on top of it; he was quick, knowledgable and friendly. Everyone was really nice, so I feel bad about just leaving a three-star "A-OK" rating but I just was not about the food at all.

Our dinner: -Wild Alaskan Black Cod Kabayaki (Sablefish) with soba noodles, green onions, spiced fish broth -Wild Ross Sea Chilean Sea Bass with butternut squash purée, gnocchi, sage brown butter -Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Cake with celery root remoulade -Bread Pudding a la mode with sea salt caramel ice cream

Both fish dishes were cooked to perfection- the right amount of crisp and flakiness with such a fresh taste. However, the Wild Alaskan Black Cod Kabayaki was too salty for me and I hated the butternut squash purée on my Wild Ross Sea Chilean Sea Bass. I don't like butternut squash much in general but when it's paired right, it can be very delicious. I thought that the sea bass was just soaking in way too much of the purée and it just overwhelmed the dish. My husband loves butternut squash and even he thought it was heavy-handed on that sauce.

I don't know why I bothered with the Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Cake. I've never in my life had a decent crab cake yet I feel the need to order it every time I see it on a menu, with this ridiculous hope that someone will actually get it right and that it will be outstanding. This was not that time.

The Bread Pudding was complimentary for our anniversary, which was a sweet touch (no pun intended). It was the BEST bread pudding I've ever had but... I don't like bread pudding. It's very reminiscent of a White convalescent home, much like carrot cake and split pea soup. No, thank you.

Honestly, the best part of the dinner for me was the warm, chewy sour dough bread. It was absolutely delicious and I could just eat that all night.

If my husband were to write this review, he would undoubtedly give this place a solid four, if not five, stars. I wish I could...

hi guys

I am writing this review to share my recent dining experience at Water Grill during one of the most anticipated events of the year, the Super Bowl. As a manager who takes a special interest in the restaurant industry and has a fair share of traveling experience under my belt, I believe I have formed a comprehensive view of what makes a dining experience truly pleasurable.

Yesterday, my family and I decided to spend our Super Bowl Sunday at Water Grill, a decision made easy given its reputation as a splendid dining location. Upon our arrival, we were encapsulated by the fantastic atmosphere - a perfect mix of high-energy Super Bowl spirit and comfortable dining elegance - which helped set the expectations high for our evening. Furthermore, the friendliness of the staff, a trait often overlooked in most reviews, did not go unnoticed and definitely added to our initial impressions of the place.

Yet, while the atmosphere was lively and the staff cordial, we couldn't help but notice some room for improvement in the realm of service. As with any customer in any restaurant, prompt service is an element we always appreciate. However, on this particular occasion, we found that our food took a bit longer to arrive than what we're accustomed to. Despite the magic of the Super Bowl making every minute exciting, it was a slight dampener to an otherwise splendid evening.

In spite of the delayed service, there was definitely a silver lining that stood out and surely deserves a mention. For those who enjoy a classic margarita, Water Grill undoubtedly sets the bar high. It was, without a doubt, among the best margaritas we have ever savored. Thus, if your idea of a good time includes sipping on an exquisite margarita, Water Grill should surely find a spot on your 'must-visit' list.

All things considered, when it comes to recommending Water Grill for a visit, I am certainly in favor. The staff's friendliness, combined with an enjoyable atmosphere, and not to mention the stellar margaritas, far outweigh the slight hiccup we experienced with the service time.

Finally, my recent experience at Water Grill serves as a reminder that while perfection is a not-often-achieved feat in the restaurant industry; continuous improvement is what drives customer...