Black Market Liquor Bar Reviews

I figured we'd try out a french restaurant, and heard there is no better in the area. The Prix Fixe (fixed price) menu was great. We got to pick a complete meal. I thought the mashed potatoes were the best thing ever, then figured out that it was mashed cauliflower. Mmmm. I ordered, what else, frog's legs. And, you know what? They did taste just like chicken. Very nice spot for a date, very attentive staff, very knowledgeable sommelier, and if you stick with the prix fixe, you won't break the bank.

For a restaurant w/ Bar in it's name, one would expect top notch cocktails...they were quite the opposite. A C- grade would be generous. The food was slightly better than average, But having eaten at several celebrity chef restaurants, it left us disappointed

came here after hearing about it from friends. I tried the spinach baby octopus and it was great.. I also had the muscle and thought it was a little too sweet for me.. I love their beer selection and the ambiance.. it's a great spot .. definitely will be my go to place

We wanted a fun and trendy place to take family for a birthday celebration and Black Market fit the bill perfectly!!! We loved the vibe - although it may be a bit noisy for some, we found it to be comfortable and cozy. The service was amazing. The drinks were classic but with a new fresh spin and the food was tasty and plentiful. Especially loved the smoked trout and the deviled quail eggs. We love to share tasting plates and found that there was plenty on each plate to share fir the 4 of us. The menu has a great variety of food types for all appetites and preferences. Can't wait to go back next time we are in LA

I absolutely loved this place. It was beautifully decorated inside and the energy was great. I would warn you though that if you are going for a romantic evening this might not be the place. The noise level was pretty high. The food was great. We mostly did appetizers to try several items on the menu. We had the Shishito peppers, the Korean wings, the dill potato chips and the meatballs. All were amazing choices. This will definitely go down as one of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles. One tip - The place is not very big and they don't take reservations so try to get there early.

Tapas style food with tasty and well presented dishes served by friendly staff. The patio is nicely structured and equipped with radiant heater and optional, clear curtain for cold or rainy days. The service was somewhat slow for the traffic and dishes served but the overall experience was very nice

Just when I thought this place couldn't get any better... we were a party of three (my husband, my best friend and myself), hoping for a special evening for New Years. Right now, I cannot imagine that anyone else in LA going anywhere else could have had a better time than we did. The night started with cocktails and deviled quail eggs, and a plethora of Über-efficient, friendly, happy-to-be-there servers and bartenders. They were all in on the fun, dressed to the nines in flapper and zoot-suit splendour. It just got better. They offered the full, small-plates menu that we have grown to love, as well as fancy drink specials and little extra bites of amazing flavors. The band showed up at about 10 and turned the place into a jumpin', jivin' speakeasy, complete with washboard percussion and clarinet. They did a full set before turning the evening's entertainment over to the bumping DJ. Full bar and menu continued flowing throughout the festivities. Just before midnight, servers distributed champagne glasses and party favors with silly hats so everything was ready for the clock. All in all, it couldn't have been a more perfect New Years. The best part was the food, and the band. It took us back to days of prohibition and underground alcohol dens, but with the added bonus of high end, serious food.

The fried cauliflower was excellent, the Brussels sprouts are phenomenal, the meatballs are incredible, the hamachi tostada was just good. The tequila old fashion was excellent. And everything is even better when you're served by Ryan. So welcoming and hospitable. It's great to have a place in the Valley for fresh oysters! Thank you, Antonia Lofaso!

When we decided to meet friends in Studio City, and saw this highly recommended Antonia Lofaso restaurant, we couldn't resist trying it, and we were not disappointed. The food was delicious, and it doesn't hurt that you are eating it in a vintage brick building. The only criticism I have is that the staff didn't always tell us how many servings were in an order or if the order was appropriate for the number of people at the table. For instance, for the 4 of us, one dish (the lobster roll, I think) needed to be carefully cut into 4, with each of us getting a morsel, while the churros were enough to feed 8. Serving size aside, every dish we had was really good, and we tried like half the menu. Each dish was packed with flavor and executed perfectly. The Hamachi and Tagliatelle really stood out. I would consider this a must-visit restaurant if you're in the area.

Haven't been there in a while because everything I ate from appetizer to dinner was very salty and I like salt!

The Wine Bistro is one of the best if not the finest restaurants in Studio City. The decor is warm, friendly, and right out of one of those fine Hollywood restaurants of years ago. I take my wife there on her birthday, where we are seated in an intimate booth, away from the other patrons. We usually order from the specials, written on a blackboard. The fish and seafood entres are always tasty. Since it is not a large place, the service is always personable and very french friendly, with Peirre, or JB the owner. Nothing in Studio City is quite like the Wine Bistro.

We showed up mid week and the host quickly found us a table . We fortunately were sat in the back portion of the restaurant and not at the high top tables that center the establishment. Lake was our server and he offered some great suggestions. Great vibe , albeit a bit loud . smaller portions and prepared for sharing. A bit tricky to find as the building has an aged and worn "motorcycle ad with worn brick facade" it backs to the CBS Radford studio lot. Valets are great and if you decide after eating to grab a drink at the other 5-6 classy bars within walking distance (literally across the street) leave your car here and return later.

This place is So good! They graced us with great food, superb and friendly service and a casual, yet elegant, atmosphere !

This place didn't disappoint! Although it was a little dark to read the menu (make sure you have a flashlight app) it was everything we had in mind for our birthday celebration. The cocktails were deliciously crafted and the draft beer selection was awesome. We had 8 small plates for 4 people. Could have done with probably 6. The brussels, carnitas, gnudi, and shrimp toast were our top choices. The bao bread they use to serve the carnitas was so tasty we asked where we could get it. We also has the fried cauliflower, mussels, and steak tartar. The mussels were a little on the sweet side, and the steak tartar was delish but very rich, fried cauliflower was fried cauliflower. Free birthday dessert was a nice surprise. If you are looking for a place to have a cozy conversation this isn't your place. I'd go back in a heart beat! BTW, our waiter, Miller, awesome! 8 dishes, 3 cocktails, 1 glass of wine and 2 beers = $200 not including tip. Not bad for a great night out

Visiting from Brooklyn, I met a friend who works in the area. As a vegetarian, I was delighted with the good range of options for me, as well as my meat and fish eating pal. The house made dill potato chips are popular, the burrata was excellent, as was the kale salad. Wines were somewhat ho-hum in options - nothing particularly unique or interesting ,but solids bottles in the expected areas (Sauvignon Blancs, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, et al).

We waited five months to make this reservation and it was so worth the wait. The servers were outstanding and Thomas (our waiter) was just amazing. He took excellent care of us and made several excellent recommendations. The food was amazing, especially the bolognaise. Every part of this meal from the drinks, to appetizers, main course, and dessert was just fabulous. I would highly recommend this restaurant. You won’t be disappointed.

Finally a mixology joint in the valley with truly amazing cocktails. The small plates are yummy and the scene is pretty hip.

They serve tapas style offerings a great place to share a meal with friends. I recommend sitting outside on the covered patio as it is much quieter than inside the restaurant

This is our favorite french restaurant in the valley. Their pork is the most tender we have ever eaten and the sauces are divine. They even have "Recession Pre Fixe Menus" which is genius and good for our expensive taste. Very friendly service. Kind of old school feel, but the food is the star here.

Ok, my friend JB Owns this place... the food and atmosphere is great. I actually like it for real ...

But quite a big price. I'd rather go across the street for bigger portions for the money. Service was great though. Our waiter was attentive and gave good suggestions. It gets really noisy in there. The food was very good and I was impressed at the cocktail my cousin had.

I've heard about Black market for a long time and never went there till last month that I visited 3 times!!!! The food and the drinks are incredible! You MUST try the Oysters, BBQ shortrib, trout toast, Ricotta gnudi and the Cauliflower incredible!!!!!!!

A signless establishment found on Ventura Blvd. in neighboring Studio City. Black Market is the brain child of Top Chef contestant Antonia Lofaso; The drinks are as expertly crafted and unique as the small plated 5 star cuisine. It's dark interior has been describe as 'Modern Industrial' and feels like a Cathedral dedicated to the Craft Cocktail. The wife had the Ricotta Gnudi expertly browned in butter with a hint of pistachio while I indulged in the chicken wings... What? Chicken wings sound like a poor choice for a unique experience? Not when they are done Korean Style and served on a bed of Cucumber Kimchi. The food was delightful and the drinks were stellar. I recommend their "Fade to Black", a Boozy yet Refined cocktail prepared with 103 proof Bourbon. Or try the "Red Hot and Bothered" Prepared with house infused Jalapeno Vodka balanced with Strawberry and Blood Orange with a Ginger Beer Float.

Almost like a Speakeasy if you don't pay attn to the address you might miss it. The menu is varied and the dishes are unusual, experiential and we enjoyed all the things we ordered. Great atmosphere and service was excellent. A must try are the short rib sliders.

great food, great atmosphere, nice wine selection. small but not claustrophobic. nice date or small group place.

We went to Black Market to kill time before our dinner reservation down the street and wished we would've cancelled. There's been a proliferation of craft/bespoke/whatever you want to call it cocktail places popping up all over Los Angeles in the last few years, throwing around the term "mixologist" an ad touting their house cocktail menu, but for the most part, once you get past the handful of drinks on the bar menu (which are usually just variations on classic recipes) the bartenders don't have the skills to make something with your favorite booze that you couldn't replicate at home. Or worse, don't have don't even have a unique, or particularly hard to find, or bottle that's a little too expensive to have at home. So needless to say, I was a little bit skeptical about this place, but it didn't take long to be very pleasantly surprised. We grabbed seats at the bar and found the bar staff to be very friendly and attentive. He house cocktail menu was very interesting and my wife ordered a drink with a couple of liqueurs we weren't familiar with. The bartender explained them in great detail making sure it was something she thought she'd like. There was no condescension and he didn't try to hurry her along. I was happy to see a shelf of amari and asked him to make me something bitter. He asked if I cared if he just made something up, which was exactly what I wanted to hear. Both of our drinks were delicious. They not only tasted great but were also something that we couldn't find anywhere else (at least in the Valley, anyway...). The drinks aren't cheap, but they're worth taking your time over and aren't really that much than a slightly above average Manhattan or Negroni from most of the other places along Ventura Blvd. We didn't have any food, but will definitely be back as soon as we're able.

My visit was in Dec 2012. The sign on the restaurant is not obvious when you're driving on Ventura so its easy to miss. Parking is metered or they have a small lot that's the first drive way after Carpenter Ave if you're heading West, otherwise park in the next drive way next to LaLa's Argentine Grill (when I visited it was about $3). We had a business meeting so I didn't have to personally fork over $ and it was $$$$$ for 15 of us. I didn't know what type of cuisine to expect however after tasting some of the dishes I say the chef likes to incorporate Asian cuisine and it works! We had a variety of items off the menu and some dishes were outstanding while other dishes fall in the category of "I wouldn't pay that much". We ordered: Lemon pepper shrimp – large tiger shrimp, maybe it was just our order but it had too much pepper & not enough lemon flavor (it may have tasted better w/white pepper) Fried cauliflower – surprisingly good. Batter was similar to tempura texture Short rib slider – big hit, thick patty on a toasted bun Spicy Korean wings – has good Asian spices topped w/ kimchi cucumbers dill chips - skip unless your vegetarian Artisan cheese platter – skip unless your vegetarian Chicken bao - sadly I didn't get a chance to taste Oysters - came w/a cute little hot sauce bottle, 1 cocktail sauce and the other dip I couldn't make out Fluffer nutter - good while its hot, this will sure probably send you into borderline diabetic candidate.

We loved Black Market. It was full of locals and regulars, great vibe and delicious food. Everything is served tapas style. My standout favorite was the mussels. The brussel sprouts were also delicious.

So let's start with the service. The waiter we got was downright amazing. He was hella good at what he does and he handled the whole situation without a hitch. As for the food , we ordered 4 dishes and 4 drinks. The drinks were no better and no worse than anywhere else. The food though, well, I just was not impressed. The meatballs were way to salty. The chef agreed and took it off the bill after he tasted them. We got complimentary chips and aoli dip which were just ok. The one ravioli we got was mediocre. The oxtail with pasta was whatever. The chicken wings were cooked very well but the taste did nothing for me. The all famous desert deep fried fluffer nutter belongs on a carnival menu. It was way to sweet and borderline awful. I really wanted to like this place, but I really didn't. I honestly think it's worth a try. But I think the only people that would be impressed are people with underdeveloped palettes. So if u go, don't order what I did. Then maybe u'll have a better chance at enjoying ur 100 dollar dinner on Ventura blvd!

Staff was fun with great recommendations. Great place to share small plates. Food had texture and unique flavors. Highly repeatable. Desserts is the one area of opportunity in my opinion.

Excellent waiter, cool ambiance and every small plate we tried was delish! Especially the wings. Nice selection of multiple sharable appetizer style mini meals. Very neat concept.

We came for dinner and felt like we were at a business lunch spot. I think we had our check in 45 minutes. Its small plates that are brought out over time but its FAST! I guess I would advise only ordering plates one or two at a time. It wasnt packed so not sure why the rush to turn the table. However, the food was very tasty and waitstaff friendly. They do have valet parking.

I have to say I have mixed feelings about BLACK MARKET LIQOR BAR. My department has held three get-togethers there in the past year, We have always met in the "secret" room beyond the kitchen. There is no handle on the door so you need to know where to "push" the paneling to enter the room. The setting feels like a crypt with no windows. The bench seating was seriously uncomfortable after a while. I arrived just after everyone had ordered food and drinks. I wanted to order one item. The server said food had been ordered and the chief likes to prepare the food in the order it was received. My choice would come last. Most of the items were $6 to $16 and portions are generally very small. The ricotta gnudi is delicious but is 4 small pieces. The cavetelli pasta dish was also amazingly small. The meatball dish is just 3 o4 normal sized meatballs. We were a group of 8 so imagine people were getting nibbles of everything. My biggest surprise was that none of the food came with serving utensils. This was communal eating to the max as people pulled portions and sauces with their used forks. I didn't have the heart to do that so I used a spare fork and knife from the unused setting next to me. As luck would have it the server came in and immediately took the setting away from me. I knew to bring my own artificial sweetener for my iced tea since last time they didn't have any. This time they did. The packets were in a hard to open box where the sugar cubes were tightly packed. You have to dig the sugar cubes out with your fingers. This mode of eating might work for a couple on a date or even close friends but I didn't like being that intimate with coworkers. The forks for eating were also the serving utensils. But here is where my review shifts. Despite the small portions, the food was PHENOMENALLY delicious. I have to say that the items I tasted were superb. I am still dreaming of their fried cauliflower. Delicious! Just be prepared to order several of a dish you like to get a modest portion. Here is where the meal will start to get pricey. I think this is the modern, hipster way of dining. I think I would enjoy the BLACK MARKET LIQUOR BAR with a close friend or two but not in a crowd of coworkers or people I do not know well. The delicious food made up for my disappointment in the setting and communal eating. It's definitely a younger crowd and probably not for people who want a more traditional setting. Definitely worth a try for the great food. Service was good and pleasant. I just had to get used this way of eating.

I was quite impressed with the food at Black Market Liquor Bar (BMLB). A friend had mentioned this place and then my wife had this place bookmarked on Yelp as one of the places she wanted to try. So for a date night we ventured to BMLB and checked out what the good reviews were about. Note: there is no sign really indicating the restaurant other than the valet stand that said BMLB. It was a bit odd but then when we entered, it all made sense. The decor was impressive with the dark mood setting and the curved brick roof which made you think that you entered (wait for it...) a Black Market. We did not have a reservation but were seated quickly when we got there at 7pm. We were seated toward the back and close to the kitchen. Note: if you are not a fan of heat, you may want to sit toward the front of the restaurant as the heat from the kitchen and lack of moving air made it a bit uncomfortable. To our surprise, we saw a former Top Chef contestant and executive chef Antonia Lofasa expediting the food. I knew we were going to get good food seeing how she competed in the reality show. Our server was excellent and helpful with ordering the food. We ended up ordering the Chicken Bao, Short Rib slider, the corn dish, the mussels, the Korean kimchi wings, and the vanilla bean and Bourbon ice cream for dessert. No complaints about the food at all as for the taste but the portions are somewhat small. And the service is hands down excellent. I wish I could remember their names but our server and a gentleman who may have been the manager were very attentive and friendly. They and the other staff really made the difference for our experience. Even the chef noticed that we were waiting long for our mussels to come out and had sent over a dish of the deviled quail eggs (delicious) to compensate for the wait. Again, impressive. It is rare to go to a restaurant for the first time and walk away with a very positive experience.

Great selection of good drinks! They have really good food here too. Came here on a Fri night a little before 9PM and it was pretty crowded. We had to stand at the bar for a bit before we could actually find a seat that opened up. Every single food item was absolutely delicious and did not disappoint at all! I would def come back here again. All of the tables fit a part of small groups. Mostly for 2 people. So I do not recommend coming here in a large group. There really isn't a sign outside so I had a bit of trouble trying to locate the place. I figured it out based on my GPS. Parking is a bit hard to find on the street if it's a Fri or Sat night but they do have valet.

We were taken here by our nephew for an early dinner before our red eye flight back to NYC. Very quiet at 5:30 on a Sunday, but the food and the cocktails were amazing. The spicy Korean chicken wings were so good we ordered a second round. The Hamachi with avocado was fresh and delicious as were the Heirloom tomatoes. The Bao and the short ribs were good as well but didn't stand up to the wings. I would definitely go back.

This is the dream restaurant my husband ( a very passionate chef) was hunting for throughout out travels across California. So when we found it we ended up going twice! The small plate menu is filled with new modern stylish food, but it no way over complicate or gimmicky. Fresh tasting and creative dishes, with a great variety from Hamachi Tuna to Soft shell crab Po Boy. The only problem we had was choosing which dishes to try, hence why we had to go back for a second time. We love sharing foods but it would also work great if you just ordered separately as well. Our favourites had to be the Lobster roll and the Hamachi and Tempura Brocolli. The whole place has such a vibrant feel to it, whilst also being intimate and relaxing. We had a high table on our first visit and sat at the bar on the second. We really enjoyed the bar as we got to admire the skills of the cocktail masters behind the bar. We are massive craft beer fans but we had to treat ourselves to a couple of cocktails on each occasion. They complimented the food so well. Craft beer selection definitely won't disappoint either. So glad we found this gem to top off our honeymoon.

Black Market is a nice place to grab a drink. It has a classy feel, drinks are a little on the pricey side, but it's par for the area. I've gone back a few times. It's pretty crowded on weekends. They have indoor and outdoor seating.

This is - happily - a neighborhood restaurant for us, and we go often - especially as a treat for friends and family. We love it. Chef Antonia is almost always there, and has been known to bus tables along with her other duties. The drinks are strange and seductive, and the food (all small plates) is terrific. Try one of everything. Share. If you don't like noise, be sure to go early. It gets VERY noisy after about 8PM. We try to get out of there before 7:30, but then again, we aren't young and dating...

Great drinks and tapas style food. You can order a couple different and try everything! My favorites were the burrata, hamachi, and fennel salad dish! So good! Love the atmosphere - has a romantic feel and also very modern with an old school twist. Great bar with a wide variety of drinks and alcohol to choose from. The service and staff are super friendly, and just leaves you feeling good! Park with the valet, because it is really hard to find parking.

Black Market Liquor Bar is top-notch. The service was impeccable. Servers were all on point and so friendly and cheerful. The food and drinks were over-the-top great! We will return often!!

From the door to the bar to our table and through our meal everything was great. The mussels were to die for (as long as you could take them with you!) The crafted cocktails were just right. I cannot think of enough good words to say but if you are anywhere near them, go!

I really love this place. They value their food and cocktail menu equally and both change often so you're always in for a new experience. My wife and I went last night for the 3rd or 4th time and we were very happy as always. When my wife wanted a slight modification on a drink, our server asked her a few questions and then suggested a different drink that she wound up LOVING. I had a delicious penicillin (one of my favorite drinks), and all of the food was delicious. The shrimp toast was probably our favorite. I have to say the service staff is incredibly friendly and helpful here, which is why we will definitely make this one of our go to spots now that we've moved to the neighborhood.

The decor is unique. The dining room has a brick barrel ceiling. Lots of wood, include the hard benches that are a lot of the seating. It is very dark in the restaurant. If they introduced some fabric or soft finishes it may help soften the noise level.

This place is popular so make reservations. But you have to call between 5 and 6 for same day reservations. They won't answer the phone after 6 because they're too busy and can't multitask, they say so themselves on their outgoing message. Even between 5 and 6 they won't always pick up. Keep trying. Took me about 10 calls to finally get through. You can also leave your info through their website and you'll get an email saying they will call back but they never have the couple times I've done it. Weeknights is probably the best time to go without a reservation. The bar itself is pretty neat. There is an arching ceiling made of bricks that is just really cool. You feel like you're inside a barrel, but not in a claustrophobic kind of way. They also have an outside patio if you prefer but it's on Ventura Blvd. so it can be pretty busy with car and pedestrian traffic. Inside is better if you ask me but also very noisy. So you'll have to talk loud for your dinner guest(s) to hear you. The food itself is pretty good. They serve it family style so everyone can share. They put a twist in everything so if you look at the menu and you don't know what it is just ask. For example their Mac and cheese sounds anything but by just reading the menu. I suggest the heirloom tomato salad, short rib slider, and Korean style chicken wings. Order a bunch of things so you can try stuff. And the food comes out throughout the night not all at once. As far as drinks go this place is golden. Their bar looks like an alcoholic's dream. Pick your poison. They probably have it. I wouldn't recommend this place for a romantic date but it's great for hanging with friends or happy hour with co workers. Enjoy.

I loooooove this place. This bar is located in Studio City; and this bar has made me love this area of Los Angeles. The layout and look of this bar is unique with an air of authenticity. The true stars of this place are the bar staff; they are obviously connoisseurs at making cocktails, plus they are very friendly and professional. All the cocktails (by the way, we ordered 6 cocktails), and I mean ALL the cocktails were great. The female bar staff actually made my wife a unique cocktail that was not on the menu based on her taste preferences. The food menu is more like an alternative tapas menu; the food was therefore served in smaller portions, which is perfect when you're having cocktails. We had the meatballs/garlic bread dish, this dish made me like garlic bread which I normally don't like. Another amazing dish we had was the trout toast, loved it! Dessert was also amazing; you need to try the Date cake with housemade salted whip cream. I definitely will be back

This place gets really crowded. I have only been before for drinks at the bar and wasn't that impressed. I now feel different after dining there. The food and service was so great!!! Super impressed with our wonderful service given how loud the place gets.... Really loud.!

There's no sign on the awning of the Black Market Liquor Bar, which adds a sense of "you have to be in the know" about the place. It reminds me of one of those deep underground speakeasys from back during prohibition days. The ceiling is a curved cocoon of brick that makes it feel like we're all in an abandoned subway station in old New York and we all know something really cool that other people don't. We decided on BMLB after a particularly nasty day at work. We arrived at about 6:15pm, which is a good time to get there as there is still street parking available within a block or so. They open at 5, so we weren't the only patrons, but it wasn't crowded yet so we were seated immediately. Our server, Natasha, was terrific. My first question was what kind of vodkas did they serve, and she gave me a run down of the very impressive list without even a moment's hesitation. Once we decided on drinks -- which wasn't easy, the wine list has a lot of unique offerings and so it was like being in a grown-up candy store -- we were delighted to find the menu consists of "small plate" selections rather than large heavy meals. This gave us the opportunity to sample many bites and flavors without getting overstuffed or going over budget.  The menu changes regularly, so we found things that aren't on the online "sample" menu. Again, decisions were difficult because of the wide variety of tastes. We decided on a small sampling of fresh-shucked oysters, dill potato chips, deviled quail eggs with ahi tuna, the young kale salad, peel & eat lemon pepper shrimps, the Kurobuta pork cheek, and the steamed mussels. It sounds like a huge amount of food, but each portion was just enough for two people to fall in love with the flavor and wish for one more bite when it was gone. The oysters were a good choice to start -- we had two each and they were clean and cold with a nice lettuce finish. Chef Antonia's take on mignonette was a lovely blend of vinegars which added a sprightly bite without covering up the oysters taste. The dill chips were everything one loves about home made potato chips -- hot from the fryer without being greasy, the smooth dill added a nice contrast to the sharpness of the malt vinegar aioli, and we were tempted to lick the plate. Allow me for a moment to wax poetic about the quail eggs. Six tiny tastes of perfect flavor, the whites were firm but not rubbery, the yokes were creamy and light with a hint of ahi tuna bits that strangely did not overwhelm but instead elevated the dish to a new level of umami. I would have eaten an entire portion of these by myself. The young kale salad with shallots, smoked fiore sardo, bottarga and crushed egg was a riot of fresh tastes and smells. The kale was very firm and the usual bitterness associated with the greens when raw was absent. The cheese added a rich, caramel smokiness that balanced the sweet shallots and salty brine of the bottarga, and brought out the gentle, creamy flavor of the eggs. Again, we were sorry when it was gone. Natasha was very good at timing the delivery of each new plate so there was never a break in the action, but we weren't overloaded with multiple plates either. She was attentive without being cloying, and even as the restaurant became more and more crowded, we never got the impression that we were taking too long or needed to hurry our meal. The only hiccup in the evening was the steamed mussel dish. The broth itself was heavenly-- white wine, butter, shallots and ground pepper with a fragrant whisper of star anise was good enough to have alone in a bowl with crusty bread to soak up every delicious drop. The mussels themselves, however, we're slightly undercooked; some did not open, and others weren't cooked enough to release easily from the shell. We mentioned this to Natasha, and despite the fact that we ate every bit of the broth and all of the opened mussels, she  removed them from the bill. She didn't have to, we didn't ask her to, but the fact that she did that was testament to the BMLB's high standards of culinary quality. We look forward to our next visit and whatever Chef Antonia can cook up!

What a great bar and a great place for a bite and a drink of whatever libation curls your toes. Friends will love to join you here or you might make some new ones. Lots of drink and food choices at this tapas restaurant. Plenty of good food to experiment with. The service is also very good. Valet parking out front. A valet driver may be needed to leave for home.

The food is amazing. Really yummy. And so much to choose from . We had the chips, the short rib, shrimp and brussel sprouts. We would have stayed longer, but it was Saturday night and at around 7pm, the lights go down and the music way up. It is a bar, after all, but not really conducive to conversation. And make sure you have the address, there is no sign!

This restaurant can be hard to find as the sign board is misleading and hard to read. Just go with the address and look for the patio seating on two sides, right next to Firestone. As others have noted, the noise level inside is intense, but you can sit outside. The bartenders are the best, I came in for take out dessert, they were delighted to take my order for peach cobbler. I was invited to sit at the bar to wait. Twice I was offered a drink of water or soda while I waited. When I accepted, it was brought in an attractive glass with cocktail straw and slice of lemon. People at the bar were friendly and promised I would love the peach cobbler. Note menu changes, so if there is a favorite, it might not be there. FYI, they do not answer their phone after six --they cite noise level and focus on customers at the restaurant. So we just stopped by and asked the hostess about the availability of our desired dish.

So disappointing… small unattractive portions- scallops had a strong smell- tiny pieces of hamachi bland wierd tasting … just couldn’t believe this place gets decent reviews… service was good … really regrettable meal…

Our business group had no clue what to expect but a local brought us here. What a true LA experience for an out of towner. I am not a drinker, but the food was nice. A large variety of small plates, that all we're nice on my pallette. We tried everything, all dishes were awesome. While the food was pricy for the portion sizes, we had a great experience. Plus we got to see some local celebs, which made it that much more LA!

Tomato soup, Black Truffle Ravioli in Garlic Rosemary & Olive oil. Soup was incredible but ravioli was nothing special. Good quality food and atmosphere is alright but not extraordinary.

Everything we tried was really wonderful but the Sweet Corn Ravioli was just incredible! Love the small dishes to allow you to get a little taste of everything.

From a delicious cauliflower to quail eggs, this ain't your normal taste for tapas. The friendly staff is great for recommendations, the decor perfect for a date, or the booths to share with friends. Although a bit on the pricey side, it hasn't kept me from coming back multiple times. All of that before mentioning their large selection of unique cocktails. Personally, I enjoy their white russians, probably the best I've ever had.

We stopped by here after dinner. The bar is expansive but the warm wood colors and ceiling make it feel more intimate. A nice place to come out of the cold on a cool Southern California night.

We ordered the set menu for food as we had a big party. The service and people are good. Food was good , presentation was good. Although it’s a bit noisy place. Valet parking is available Recommend for fun not for business dinners

All the weekly special drinks that I've sampled have been absolutely terrific! 90% of the food offerings are also great. Didn't care for the duck tagliateli but otherwise I don't think I've had anything bad here. The vegetarian offerings are especially good (coming from a carnivore!). My only complaint is I think it's a bit loud. I don't like having to yell across an intimate two-top table...

The absolutely amazing menu.....the staff are the key to the success of this establishment. Unbelievably pleasant, and cheerful.....these folks will keep you coming back. Now back to the food......A plus.

The food here is excellent, I thoroughly enjoyed everything I tried. The plates are small, great for sharing and ordering more items, so you are physically able to try more. If you have room at the end, I highly recommend trying the deep fried Fluffer-nutter for dessert. FYI, this establishment does not accept discover. Hope this helps! Best- Riley

The food was very heavy. All the dishes tasted like they used old grease and over cooked things to the point they tasted more charred than nicely browned. Most were also over dressed and yet still flavorless. The fennel salad was good, and the citrus dressing was refreshing. Maybe the head chef was off that night. The room feels like an old cavernous warehouse, but the windows lent an English Tudor feel, so it felt disjointed and very dark. Average to poor.

My wife and I were looking for something different than our usual spots. After googling best bars on Ventura Blvd., we came across the Black Market Liquor Bar. It sounded interesting so we decided to take a chance. We enjoyed it a lot. It is a bit on the expensive side, but normal for that part of the valley. I had a Cameron's Kick, which is Scotch whisky, irish whisky, lemon, orgeat. No let me change that, I had two of those (good thing my wife drove). Very good drink. My wife had a lemon drop martini. The serving sizes are small so the waiter said that they recommend two plates per person. So it's very easy to run up your tab. I highly recommend the peel and eat lemon pepper shrimp. However, I do wish that they included something like an oyster fork to make it easier to peel. But they were good enough that we ordered a second helping. It's very easy to spend over $100 for two people, but for an occasion it was worth it. ​

my mom says it is really good but i dont drink wine

Had high expectations since I'm such a fan of Black Market. I don't want to say I was disappointed but I didn't leave ecstatic as I do every time I leave BMLB. The small plates were good. Don't get me wrong. The drink menu of course is good too. I need to go again. You should too.

I have been a fan of BMLB as long as they’ve been open. This evening started with a blast fro the past (who offers a Harvey Wallbanger on the drink menu any more?!?) and ended up with a date cake with clotted cream. The in inventive and unique menu offerings are eclipsed only by the speakeasy atmosphere and excellent t service. A neighborhood gem, go for happy hour, stay for the deviled quail eggs.

Delicious Food. Our party thoroughly enjoyed the delectable dishes. However, good service does not equate to being asked if we need more drinks every 10 minutes over the course of 2 hours. And I mean EVERY 10 minutes. In addition, the server was sarcastic and felt the need to have the last word on every interaction with us. I still highly recommend this restaurant. Definitely worth it for the food.

Great atmosphere, pretty good food.

... literally! Wow, we must have driven by this place at least three times, until we parked our car and went on foot. I was determined to find it! I had my iphone navigator on to guide us, so we knew we were close. Even though its on the boulevard, it is nestled between two other businesses, with no significant sign or marquee of the restaurant name. It was well worth it however. The place is very hip! Reminded me of the many cool bars I visited in Manhattan, on my New York trip. The food and wine selection were excellent! I will definitely be returning, now that I know where to go...lol

The atmosphere was very much like a bar with some mid 20s drinking too much. Normally, I wouldn't mind this so much if the food was priced accordingly. I wouldn't recommend for a family that want to sit back and relax while having a conversation and enjoying good food. Too loud and some obnoxious patrons.

My friend and I have tried multiple Top Chef restaurants in the DFW area - some we've enjoyed, and others have disappointed - this restaurant by a former Top Chef contestant was our favorite yet. We loved, loved, loved the chicken wings, and I normally avoid wings entirely since they're always kind of blah. These were spicy and sweet with a unique Korean flavor. The gnudi was a decadent pasta, and our server brought us bread to mop up every last drop of the brown butter. The mixed drinks were also delicious. We enjoyed the Son of a Bee Sting and the cucumber/tequila cocktail - both were flavorful without being too sweet. The place was bustling even on a Monday night, but service was excellent, and we could enjoy conversation comfortably despite the full house.

This is a favourite eatery with our (local) family, and we dropped in for an early Saturday lunch. There was only a handful of other diners, but the interesting decor does have plenty of hard timber surfaces, and it's easy to imagine high noise levels, at busy times. The dishes are designed to be shared, and each of our choices were delicious and imaginative. The cocktails likewise, were very acceptable. The service was very friendly and reasonably efficient.

When it opened more than 30 years ago, they were among the first to have different wines by the glass. They do not rest on their laurels. The food is consistently good. Good daily specials. Fish and vegetables never overcooked. Charming decor and a great host - J.B.

Unique. That’s the best description. Drinks from the bar are very good and have creative names. Food is very tasty and different. Food served Family Style for sharing. One big drawback is the plates they give you to share the food from are tiny. We had to ask the server to bring new plates after the 4th dish. Tip: Ask server to bring a few plates so you can swap as your plate gets messy. Also, no serving spoons given with each food item ordered...so each person has to use their own fork to “pull” food from the “sharing” plates. Overall, good experience, good food.

A little hard to find since the name was not on the restaurant, but once you do, it's awesome. Many of the dishes are the "small plate" type, so be sure to bring your friends and share. We had the charred Brussels sprouts (2 of 'em), fried cauliflower, and sauteed shishito peppers to start. Great veggies to start the night. Then we shared the smoked trout (like an open face tuna sandwich, but with trout) and the meatballs. Both yummy. But the star of the show for me was the dessert - a deep fried fluffer nutter sandwich. Yup, that's right. Bread smeared with peanut butter and marshmallow fluff and topped with sliced banana. Then the whole thing is deep fried and served with a scoop of nutella ice cream (that cost extra). No way can one person eat this. Way too rich. But share it and you're golden!

this used to be my go-to place.. and even though i dont come that often because its always packed, when i do, i remember why i love it so much. the drinks are awesome and the food is so so soooo good! my favorite is the trout toast.. i think its called something else, but it is smoked trout on bread and it is amazing. the red hot and bothered is my favorite cocktail.. think spicy with strawberry and basil.. so good

Great little bar, very dark, but very welcoming. A great place to meet friends and try a new cocktail concoction!

Upon walking in you feel like you're being transported to an old world wine or cheese cellar full of wood and brick. Our servicer, Lake, was close to perfection. He was very personable and knowledgable about the menu. Between the four of us we ordered thirteen items including dessert and shared all of them. There was not one bad dish among the bunch.

six of us sat around the table enjoying many small and medium plates. Terrific smoked trout on a lengthwise cut of baguette. Delicious short rib sliders, tasty ravioli, meatballs ( too salty and my least fave) and for starters delicious potato chips w a malt vinegar aoli, and a bowl of brussels sprouts. Dessert was also terrific. The place has an energetic ( read noisey) ambiance but darkish and cozy. It's a bit pricey depending on what and how much you order. Nice selection of spirits as well .Service was good too.

This place has a very cool vibe but is hard to find if you don't have GPS guidance or know where you're going. Thank god I saw the valet sign on the sidewalk. The valet was $4 which, to me, was typical for the area. I got there around 630p and the place was dead, but when we left around 830p it was packed! The service wasn't great. I got there about 30 minutes earlier than my friend. Since it was dead, the hostess said it was okay for me to go ahead and sit at a table to wait. The server didn't seem to like this and only came once to get my drink order until my friend came. It would have been nice to been asked how I was doing or if I wanted a refill. As for drinks I got the Basil Ray. Mmm Mmm. I have a current obsession with any drink that has basil, so I was already a sucker. I do recommend it. The food was good, although we got some vegetarian options that I don't think were the best that we could have gotten there (my friend is a vegetarian). I would name what we got and describe in detail, but the website has...nothing (so hipster) so I can't really do that. The best thing I remember was the short rib slider. It was messy, melt in your mouth goodness. All in all, with all the options in the LA area, I would rather try some other things nearby. But this is definitely a cool place that I could come back to...just maybe with a carnivore :)

Went with another couple on a Thursday night and they were PACKED! The cocktail menu was innovative without being contrived and the craft beer selection was good without being overwhelming. Our server, Natasha, was excellent. We had a half dozen or so plates to share, plus some oysters. The food was fresh, tasty and well prepared. Definitely need to try the house potato chips, they were the stand-out.

One of my top places to eat in the country. And sadly everybody I know who lives in Studio City or Burbank doesn't know this place. For starters they have an amazing cocktail menu if that's your thing. Very good wine selection and just a ton of different small plates to pick on. The smoked trout on toast appetizer may change your life. Besides that everything else is great. Haven't had a single bad thing here in the many times I have driven across the city to eat here. So worth the trip. If you live on the area and haven't been here shame on you!

I've now been here twice - once for snacks and drinks at the bar after work, and once for dinner. Both were good experiences. We got there right around 5-ish for drinks one night, and the place was pretty empty, but had filled up by the time we left. We went for dinner around 8 pm on a Friday and the place was packed and stayed packed the entire time. There are not a ton of tables for dining, so definitely make a reservation. There's valet out front, otherwise, you're stuck with meters along Ventura, which, not surprisingly, fill up with everyone coming to eat at all these restaurants! SEATING - the restaurant has a fairly decent sized bar with barstools, and several high-top tables with four cushioned stools which sit between the bar and the booths. The restaurant has u-shaped cushioned booths against the wall. Four of us sat in a booth. It was a little snug, as we had two guys (and not manorexic men...like normal sized men), one pregnant skinny gal, and me (and I'm definitely not skinny). That was probably the thing I liked least, is that the table itself is small, and the booth is ok, but four grown up people around a little table with shared plates can be tricky, especially with your own plates, silverware, water glasses and cocktails. Where's the room for the actual food? FOOD - Speaking of food, this is a shared plates-type place. There is something for everyone on the menu. I am super picky and I was able to eat everything we ordered. They bring one dish out at a time (presumably because there simply is no space on the table for more than one plate), so the food is spaced and timed well. Both times we've been I've had the gnudi. It is AMAZING. Seriously. I could eat the dish all by myself (note to self- next time, order two of them so I can have one for myself). It is by far the best thing I've had on the menu. The fried cauliflower was a new thing for me, but I liked it, and liked the lemon aioli served with it even better. The table enjoyed the wings (I'm not a meat-on-bone person, so.....) and we also thought the carnitas bao and the short rib sliders were amazing. That might be my other beef with the place, however. If it's sharable plates, and the menu item has ONE bao or ONE slider on it, you inevitably are forced to buy more than one in order for it to truly be a shared plate. So we did. And they were both fantastic and I'd order them both again in a heart beat. Finally, we had the corn on the cob. It's awesome. It comes out in five pieces (see? sharable!) and then on the board, they give you a chipotle mayo, a cilantro lime butter, salt, pepper, and other stuff that you can put on the corn. I loved it! It was a make your own corn on the cob! Great idea! So yeah, food was delicious. Would have loved to try more but we were stuffed (party of four - we got corn, 2 bao, 2 sliders, wings, cauliflower, gnudi - which was plenty for us) DRINKS - they do not have things like basic cheap liquor here. Everything is fancy. The alcohol is definitely premium and unique. I've had the Red Hot and Bothered both times I came here. It's great, but I ended up wussing out and having them use regular vodka instead of the jalapeno vodka. Don't get me wrong, the way it's concocted is good, but I'm not a huge fan of jalapenos so for my second one, I went with the regular. Still, damn tasty. Others had beer and the specialty soda (cucumber) and everyone was happy. ATMOSPHERE: this is the place to be. Totally happenin' joint. There were people in suits, people in their club gear, and people dressed down in flannels, tanks, and short shorts (yeah, I wasn't sure about that, but there she was....) We also had a celeb sighting there, which isn't a surprise in LA, but yeah. There were 21 year olds and 70 year olds. It was loud as the crowd grew, which was fine. The place is small and at night, dark, illuminated largely by the votives on each table. SERVICE - We had no issues with service. In fact, we thought we were attended to better than normal. Our own server stopped by periodically, but each time someone passed our table or dropped off food or picked up an empty glass or plate, we were asked whether we wanted more food or drinks or if they could get us anything else. Toward the end, we felt it was probably time to go if we weren't going to order more since they were so busy and inevitably had reservations waiting to be sat, but they really didn't pressure us to leave or anything. Will definitely return. Good stuff.

This is our second visit to Black Market Liquor Bar and this visit was just as wonderful as our first! The service is over-the-top! One of our family is vegetarian and they found plenty of choices. The drinks are inventive and memorable, as is the food! We will return every time we visit LA!

Went with a group of 4 people. Food was excellent, although some outweigh the others. Comes in tapas and great for sharing. Okay selection on the food and also quite a good selection on the drinks they serve. Service was good, the ambiance was lovely. Nice table setup and decorations. Would definitely recommend this place !

Lovely flavors that are an indulgence -- as are the prices. It's not excessive, but certainly more than I usually spend for a solid meal. Intimate atmosphere and an older clientele, but I felt at home, even when one elderly man became very loud and raucous. It just felt like a simple, elegant but natural environement. Foodwise, I didn't have one critique. Usually we share among us, but I was so much into my seafood linguine, I scarfed down the whole thing myself. This was part of the "tax free" $30 prix fixe meal since we went on April 15! I also had a delicate carrot soup and flourless chocolate cake, the former which was heavenly with just a bit of green onion for bite. Other decent tastes: panko-crusted chicken breast, shrimp and crab fritters (only 2!), very doable beet salad, sole with brocollini and forbidden rice. Yum! Previously, I had had the salmon and profiteroles for dessert. Would love to go back whenever I have money to burn because I definitely like starters and wine with my meal ... and it all adds up to a moderately hefty bill. Decent wines by the glass along with appropriate French imports.

This trendy hot spot serves unique food and amazing cocktails. Also ideal for Hollywood people watching.

One of the finest French restaurants in LA

I celebrated my boyfriend's birthday here with family. The service, food, and specialty drinks were amazing. I have worked in the hospitality industry for ten years and I had one of the best servers yet. (Ask for Lake to take care of you). Also, order the trout toast - such a unique blend of flavors. I can't wait to visit this summer when my family is in town.

I used to come to this restaurant when it was the Wine Bistro and I loved it. Cozy booths, French food, awesome service. They have completely overhauled it, love the brick ceiling and sparseness inside. We got there around 630p and it was slow, but by the time we left at 8p it was packed, even on a Monday night. I don't drink but the selection according to my friends who do imbibe was quite nice. We ordered to share: The Poussin - excellent! Fried chicken whole with shoestring fries. The fries were a bit salty but the aoili was a nice compliment. The Pork Cheek - terrific flavor The Burrata Bruschetta - my favorite! The ricotta gnudi - nice but very small portion I also ordered the Root Beer in a bottle which was tasty and my friend had the Original Sin Cider. The gist: Service: friendly, fast Price: not cheap but not outrageous Bathrooms: didn't go in Parking: street or $4 valet Coke Factor: not having it I will go back!!!