Yellow Vase — Restaurant in Redondo Beach

A Fresh Start at Yellow Vase in Riviera Village

We started our New Year’s Day with high hopes, heading to a casual fine dining spot right here in Riviera Village to kick off 2025. But things didn’t go as planned. Despite the place being completely empty, no one even acknowledged us. Frustrated and starving, I decided to look up other options while seated there, hoping for a better vibe. That’s when I saw Yellow Vase, just a few steps away from where we were sitting.

The moment we walked over, everything changed. The village itself is so quaint and charming, with boutique shops, cobblestone-like paths, and a peaceful, beach-town energy. Yellow Vase fit right in, with its bright yellow accents and cheerful decor inviting us in. It felt like the universe’s way of saying, “This is where you were meant to be.”

The staff greeted us warmly the second we walked in, a refreshing change from earlier. They were attentive without hovering, making us feel right at home. We settled into the cozy space, surrounded by soft music and the gentle buzz of happy conversations from other tables. It was exactly the vibe we had wanted to start our new year.

The food? Absolutely amazing. I had the BLT with a side of rosemary potatoes, which were perfectly crispy and seasoned just right. The bacon? Phenomenal—crispy, flavorful, and just indulgent enough to make the dish unforgettable. My wife ordered the avocado toast, but she made it her own by adding an egg and bacon, turning it into a sandwich. It came with a fresh side salad that balanced the richness perfectly. She loved every bite and couldn’t stop raving about how good it was.

And then there’s our son—always the toughest food critic in the family. He ate his entire meal, which is a rare victory in itself. Seeing him so happy and content made the experience even better.

That said, while Yellow Vase is incredibly charming, I couldn’t help but notice a few details as we sat and enjoyed our meal. The beauty of the space is slightly overshadowed by wear and tear—most noticeably, the rotten wood under the cabinets. It’s the kind of thing that catches your eye and sticks in your mind. A little maintenance would go a long way in keeping the focus on the charm of the space rather than the imperfections.

Even with that, Yellow Vase turned what could have been a disappointing morning into the perfect New Year’s Day. Nestled right in the heart of Riviera Village, it was the fresh start we didn’t know we needed. Great food, a warm atmosphere, and a cozy, cheerful vibe—it had everything we were hoping for.

Here’s to unexpected surprises and finding hidden gems when you least expect them. Thank you, Yellow Vase, for starting our 2025 on the perfect note. We’ll definitely be...

On 4/24/2022 my sister and I brought our dad for his birthday. I was very excited since the establishment came recommended by a coworker. Having been to both Urth Cafe and Met Her at a Bar I thought it was going to present the same vibes, and go down as another great spot for my dad and I to dine for Sunday breakfast. However, I was very disappointed. The setting is cute, and I did enjoy the decorations. I ordered the Belgian waffles with a side of chicken sausage and fruit. All good and my dad did enjoy his breakfast. That’s where the compliments end. The reason why this establishment is receiving one star from me is poor customer service and how they took advantage. This was my first visit, so I was unaware of their menu. My sister ordered the 2 by 2. On the menu it states it comes with French toast. Everyone knows French toast is most likely made with regular bread. However, my sister wanted Brioche bread, and asked for a substitution. The women at the register went to the back to inquire and then told us she couldn’t substitute. So, my sister decided to order a side of Brioche toast which I was charged $13 for 3 and her main order was $15. When our meal came to the table, her main meal did in fact come with Brioche toast. Their French toast and brooch toast were the same thing and no one told us that. When mentioned to the server, she just laughed it off. I did not go back to the woman at the register because I didn’t want to deal with conflict on my dad’s birthday. The person taking our order was already nonchalant, the orange juice cups were flimsy, my smoothie was bad after returning it because it wasn’t what I ordered, and in conclusion this will be the first and last visit. In a nutshell, if you’re going to order the 2 by 2 their French toast and brioche toast are the same thing. Highly...

I expected more from this place! The food all looked so good in photos, but I was very underwhelmed. Service was OK, nothing special. Best thing about this place is the gorgeous location/ambiance. I loved their little patio outside. I felt like I was sitting in a beautiful garden. Inside was ok, kind of dark. I much rather sit outside in general, but that's just me!

The food is the main reason for my decline in rating. Their deserts/coffees all look fine, but my Farmer's Wrap was lacking for sure....It was 80% lettuce inside! There just were not enough of the veggies. There was supposed to be potato, onions, asparagus and a sundried tomato aoili I think -- which was more of an OILY than an AOILI. There was only maybe 2 small pieces of asparagus in the whole thing. I felt like I was eating lettuce with oily bread. It was just an empty and sad wrap. On the side was more of the greens/arugala with a nice balsamic dressing. I saw some things that other people ordered, and this gentleman in the table next to me had a large salad that looked good. Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing IDK, but it seems like a cafe like this that looks so promising should have...