Fundamental Reviews

This little restaurant has steadily improved, always a nice blend of farmer's market produce and seasonal dishes. The wine list is great, with nice gems that work well with the food. The staff is all very friendly, and attentive. The tasting menu for $38 is a killer deal, with choices of 3 selections, + desert. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking for a low-key dinner, and an excellent meal. There is plenty of street parking, but now they are offering valet parking as well. Best to make reservations, but walk-ins are always welcome.

We shared two of the most creative salads we've ever had: Beets with everything, and Treviso with Burrata, black lentils,hot red peppers and a dozen more ingredient. Then wifey had the salmon and I had the Moroccan Chicken. The chef has a spectacular hand with herbs and spices. Drinks are creative and delicious, including the house-made cream soda dessert. The wine list features small wineries at great prices for the quality. Service was great. The food is pricey for a hole-in-the-wall place, but the quality of ingredients is extraordinary. This place rules. Reserve on their website: eat@fundementyal-la.com

This was a really good experience. The food is seasonal, beautifully presented and cooked. The sommelier was particularly helpful with our choice of wines. There is an a la carte menu but we decided to each have the three 'tasting' dishes for $39. You choose one dish from each section of the menu so the first plate is a small helping, next plate slightly larger, and third plate slightly larger again. You can of course share each of your choices with your partner's or friends choice. It was a delightful way to savour different ingredients and tastes. They take reservations, are closed Sunday and Monday and it's well worth a visit.

This cool little spot had delicious smells and was full of people, we were fortunate that the family left and we took their table. this resto is not very big so anticipating the wener would take a while to get to Weiss saying that it was a long lineup of people we just waited. After about 15 minutes of nobody coming to our table we realized we had to pre-order our food, pay for it and then they would bring it to our table. (That part I didn’t like), there’s no real sign that indicates ‘that’s what needs to be done’ clearly it is a local place but it would’ve been nice that somebody would’ve informed us prior to. Nonetheless the food was delicious and reasonably priced. If you’re in W. Hollywood, it’s a great place. for a quick lunch.

Excellent! great Dine LA choice! GO! Balanced seasonings, delicious combination of fresh, clean ingredients. Shared the falafel wrap- perfectly prepared, the farro salad- loved and will try to recreate that wonderful mix of vegetables and lemon vin, a great avocado, sprout and cucumber sandwich on multi grain bread- which was delightfully grilled on the inside. The best part of the lunch was meeting and talking with Ruthie, the manager. she had the place running like a top, with every table filled, she was still calm and smiling; knowledgeable, eager and willing to talk about the wonderfully sourced wine list and Sunday wine tastings. Will be back!

A block before you hit the intersection of Westwood Blvd and Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, if you don't look closely, you might just miss "fundamental". This tiny restaurant is serving up HUGE flavors in a hip casual, friendly accommodating environment. During my first visit, I took advantage of the Dine LA tasting menu and it was excellent. The Short Ribs were mind blowing!!!! The team of servers are friendly and totally engaged. The food is superb and you can taste the passion in each and every bite. The wine list is outstanding and honestly, holds up well next to many fine dining establishment in LA. This is not a stuffy restaurant. As a matter of fact, its the furthest thing from it. The crowed is actually very balanced between young and "mature" and makes for great energy in this tiny powerhouse of a restaurant. Definitely check out fundamental. Nothing simple about this spot.

This place is pretty good. We ordered a whole bunch of little things included brussel sprouts, asparagus, some type of fish (asian flavored), duck liver jar, chicken torta and the white and purple cauliflower. I also ordered the lemonade which was REALLY sour. I had to water it down. Anyways, all in all the food was pretty good. But I wouldn't say it's the best I ever had. This place is really small and you have to share tables with strangers. If you don't like that, then you shouldn't come here.

The steak tartare was amazing, and the nectarine salad was surprisingly good. I ordered a chicken dish that was well worth the 30 minute wait (advised in advance). Amazing wine list. Next time will sit at the bar to eat so I can watch the food prep.

I thought the food here was quite tasty and not the usual mix. The prices are not cheap, though (especially for drinks), so bring your wallet.

We were a party of 10, ages ranging from 2 years old ( a well-behaved 2) to 62 and a mixture of meat lovers and vegetarians and we all loved the food and had a great time. There were interesting, healthy choices, creatively prepared. Our family member from Spain loved the churros. It is a small space that was full when we were there but it didn't feel cramped and it wasn't noisy. The staff was helpful, pleasant and attentive. The wine list is creative and has ample choices. Definitely check it out!

They changed management team and the menu immediately got worse, so did service. still the food is decent. Not suitable for business meetings or any group meetings where talking and hearing each other is important. Wine selection is good

Fundamental LA is a really good wine bar with great food and fantastic service. We showed up without reservations and they were able to seat the three of us after about 20 minutes. While we waited, my wife and I enjoyed a 3 wine flight that we choose from any of the wines on the by the glass list. We had a white, a rose (Onvi) and a red (cab franc). The Onvi rose from the Loire valley was the highlight, it was crisp with tropical and citrus flavors. We liked it so much we had a bottle with our entree's. Once seated, my wife and I started with the arugula salad, which was so good that my teenage daughter ate a good portion of it. For our entrees, we ordered a whole bronzino (sea bass) , while my daughter ordered the mushroom tagliatelle. Both dishes were fantastic. The bronzino was flash fried and served with a warm flat bread and pickled green beans. The bronzino was amazing, perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The tagliatelle was also fantastic, with a rich sauce and lots of mushrooms, including some king trumpets. For dessert, we shared the churros which are the best I've had and we had two interesting dessert wines. The vermouth was a good combination of sweetness and crispness, while the Castillo sherry was very complex and nicely dry. Throughout the whole dining experience, from when we entered to when we left, the service was exceptional. It is rare to have such an attentive and friendly experience in a restaurant. The combination of the service with the excellent food and wine, has made fundamental la one of my new favorite restaurants.

We had a voucher from gilt so decided to give the place a try. Decor was avgerage. It was really warm inside. The employees were fanning themselves. The play list was an odd mix from the 80's. The red wine was way too warm and came from yesterday. The food was way too salty. They should just put salt licks blocks on the table. The beet and burrata salad was the second best dish of the night and still pretty salty. It was downhill from there. The brisket should have been called corned beef and was on a bed of fries and cheese. Then the carrot risotto was salty. It was inedible. Churros to finish was the best dish of the night. Butterscotch sauce was salty. We had a 5course meal in an hour! Not going back. Servers were nice and asked a couple of times if she could bring something else for us. We declined figuring everything would be salty. Oh well!

Westwood Village offers few good dining options, so a little internet sleuthing turned up this fine establishment just a few blocks from my hotel. I loved it the minute I walked in: open kitchen, spare decor (the focus is the food), creative menu and wine list, and friendly and eager to please (and they succeed!) staff.

I took myself out to dinner here on my last night of a business trip and what a treat it was! I had the tasting menu, selecting the autumn salad, Mallorcan octopus and striped bass. I got the additional wine pairing as well. I sat at the bar and chatted with the cooks, which was great fun and an opportunity to see how carefully they prepared and presented pretty much every dish on the menu. All of my dishes were gorgeous and delicious. I particularly enjoyed that the salad was essentially built from the top down (pears, gorgonzola and dressing on the bottom, with a bouquet of lettuces on the top). It was super fresh and perfectly balanced. One of my few rules about fine dining ("always get the octopus") proved itself once again. This was essentially a warm salad as well, with the octopus, persimmon, fennel and a spicy chorizo. The octopus was very tender. Of my savory dishes, the striped bass was probably my favorite and that is in part due to its supporting cast of a smooth, smoky chickpea puree (not to be confused with a thicker, less labor intensive hummus) and a sort of pilaf of farro that was astoundingly flavorful and al dente. I finished the meal with the house made churros, which, well. If a dessert could create world peace, this is it. Not at all oily or greasy, perfectly crisp and spiced, fluffy inside. What could be better? Service was excellent and all of my courses were perfectly timed. The wine list here is brief but thoughtful and the pairings selected for my meal were ideal. All of the wines were European, with a decided focus toward France, which is my preference. I also ordered a glass of the featured Champagne by Benoit Lehaye and OMG was it delicious and properly served (ideal temp, in a balloon glass as opposed to a flute) to boot. Bravo! P.S. Do order the bread and butter. I would have been perfectly fine with a demi baguette and a nice artisanal, unflavored butter. But this was even better: thick sliced sourdough, toasted on the flat-top and served with housemade spiced apple butter. Don't eat all of it; take the other two slices home with the butter for breakfast the next day.

Caught up with an old friend here and enjoyed the cheese plate and tasting menu. Good ambiance without being pretentious.

13 dollars for a sandwich or salad + side order + cookie which a great deal. Fun place, excellent eclectic wine selection. This is a very good place, very modern. It turns into a fine dining restaurant at night.

I think I prefer lunchtime, but I have been at both settings.Always tasty, and reasonably well priced.

This little gem of a restaurant is tucked away just south of Westwood, off Wilshire Blvd, and Westwood. The food is absolutely amazing, and clean, and the restaurant is small but just cool and cozy! It has a fairly good wine list, and a very simple, but good menu with great farmer's market produce, and proteins. The young chef was trained at Melise, and is very inventive and creative with his pairings. Really great food at great prices! The staff is very friendly, and into their wine/food, so it makes it a very lovely place to hang out! You can walk-in and sit at their bar, or at one of their communal tables. Reservations (at the moment) are not an issue. Parking is a little tough, but there is street parking on Westwood, and some parking on the side streets. Would definitely recommend it sometime for a good and casual meal.

I heard about this place through BBE - BlackBoard Eats so I went for a 4 course tasting menu that came with a choice of a 3 wine pairing or a cheese plate for $45 which was a great value. The decor is minimalist, and the street it's on is not charming but when the food gets going, this is a great little place. The food is sophisticated and refined, portions are on the small side but with the tasting menu is plenty. Every dish was presented beautifully. Standouts were the octopus, duck, pork and panna cotta desert.The quality of the ingredients was outstanding. Service was a little off on timing, sweet but not super professional waitstaff. The creative aspects made it feel more like a restaurant you would find on Sawtelle than on Westwood Blvd. I would definitely return.

Power lunch ($13) is a great value, with sandwich side and cookie. Highly recommend the Chicken Torta and Quinoa Salad. Best vanilla cream soda I've had in a long time. Tempura Avacado sounds good but just doesn't work (too greasy). Great place for a tasty, casual lunch or take-out.

Selections with great flavor. Staff is prompt taking orders and delivering entrees. Attention to follow-up was lacking. No-one asked if we wanted additional items, beverages or dessert. I was surprised having to ask twice for more water and tea. Next time, I'll try the downtown Los Angeles location.

While staying at the W in West Beverly Hills for a business trip, a colleague suggested we try Fundamental. it was an easy walk to this small, lively restaurant on Westwood Boulevard. The menu was compact, but full of good options...always a good sign when it's hard to decide on what to have because everything sounds really good! Well, the food was not just "really good"...it was amazing. We shared appetizers: roasted beets, barbecued octopus, and venison carpaccio. Full-flavored bites that started off our dinner on the right note! For my entree, I chose the kurobuta pork belly, served with mole, smoked almonds, and blue cheese. The first bite was melt-in-your-mouth heavenly. I have never thought of pork as "delicate" - but this one was just that! My colleagues had the duck breast and the chamomille sweetbreads. Equally impressive. In fact, for the first few minutes, our conversation consisted of "Mmmm..." and "Oh wow!" and "Excellent!" Dessert was sweet - but not too sweet! We had churros and white pepper spongecake. The churros alone, dipped in the accompanying butterscotch sauce, would have been worth the trip! The vibe was very casual, with more a great neighborhood feeling. Service was friendly and efficient. Please don't miss Fundamental! I had hoped our schedule would allow for a second dinner there, but sadly we did not get to go back. Wish we had found it sooner, because I would have been happy to eat there every night of our stay!

Excellent dining experience this evening. Venison Carpaccio; Lambchetta; Scallops and Salmon. Tastefully delicious.

DineLa menu was featured at Fundamental and they were very well rounded, delicious and they did not 'chince' on the options or flavors. The place gets really loud after 7 but in general the staff were very attentive and I felt quite full after the menu. I think they did a great job ... I would go again.

My niece and I decided to try this place for dinner and I'm glad we did. This tiny but mighty restaurant is a rare experience. The somm was young but seemed very competent and at his recommendation we both enjoyed a sparkling rose that was truly amazing and the perfect appetizer to what would be a lovely meal. I had the roasted root vegetables and she selected the planked shrimp. Lovely presentation of genteel portions and every bite was perfect. We sat at the bar where we could actually watch our meals being prepared in the small, well-run kitchen behind the bar. Even though it was a tiny space, we were encouraged to stay and savor the meal and conversation...no rushing to turn the seats. The wait staff was discreet but attentive. Overall a lovely, relaxed experience.

My cousins and I visited fundamental during a recent trip to LA. We shared the scallops, which were perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious - best I've ever had! We also shared a variety of desserts - olive oil cake, churros (incredible), and chocolate chip cookies (perfectly chewy). The staff was really wonderful - very helpful and attentive, and made excellent suggestions re: wine and food. Would definitely recommend!

Been there twice recently for early dinner. Both times I came in after work and the restaurant was basically empty with employees vastly outnumbering any customers. Despite being totally empty, the staff interrogated me about whether I had a reservation and finally told us that they might be able to accommodate us and find us a table if we would eat quickly. This happened on two occasions. We thought it was pretty funny since we were the only guests on one occasion. This sort of pretentiousness might be more appropriate once they are packed with a line out the door -- at present, it seems a bit premature. Food was average for Westwood -- nothing remarkable. Wine list has a lot of wines I've never seen before but pours are small. Since wines are lesser known, hard to tell how much markup there is. Ambiance is tiny space that is very warm in temp.

Had the most AMAZING chocolate chip cookies here. Like EVER. And you need to get that chicken torta. "Always pass on what you have learned." - Yoda

I am Vegan but not everyone is ... so it’s especially awesome when I can get great Vegan food in a non-vegan restaurant. I’ve eaten here several times and I’m always blown away with what the kitchen team prepares for me when I tell them I am vegan. It’s like they take it as a personal challenge and they always put do themselves! You guys are awesome! Server (Bobby) is also fantastic and always get outstanding customer service here. Definitely highly recommend fundamental LA!

This unassuming place is excellent. Our server Byron Cohen was wonderful. He took great care of our party of 8. We started with the cornbread. The honey butter is amazing. I had the Jidori Chicken Asado and ,y husband had the yellowtail. Both meals were very good. We ended with the churros and butterscotch. Yum.

Ok, I love a restaurant where the servers have opinions about the food! It is appreciated when they have actually tasted the dishes. (So she is hopefully recognized - Alyssa for great service and wonderful recommendations. I had the Jidori chicken (perfectly cooked-would love to learn how they do it. My husband LOVED the mussels, I was hesitant to order the chicory salad, but it was suggested by Alyssa...Great. Enjoyable atmosphere. I have had lunch here and had the chicken torta , really really tasty.

Modern setting,The menu is perfect. The plates delicious. Parking is not easy. Service is friendly and quick. Bathroom is OK. Pricing is a bit high for what you get - but it's not ridiculous. Wines could be better. Young hip crowd. Noisy surrounding - not a place to talk business. Good place to take out your wife or girlfriend.

This is a trendy restaurant in Westwood area, pretty crowded for lunch. The portions they serve are on the small side, they really should have fries or a side salad without charging. If you are ordering takeout, remember to check your order -- I was missing half a sandwich!

This restaurant is super cute with great ambience. The food was fresh and the portions were very good. We ordered several dishes which include the avocado toast, burrito and others. I would give the restaurant five stars but the parking is mediocre. Meter parking and the paid lots are pricey.

This small restaurant has a very small menu. The online menu is deceiving, becaue it has a number of items that are no longer on their menu. For example, they have venison on the online menu, but didn't have it the night we went. When I asked the waitress about it, she said the online menu was a few months old. Maybe they should update it?? The menu we were given was very hard to read and the lighting made it even worse. They have some unique items and we tried many of them. The dishes had some unusual tastes, but none of them were really that good, just unusual. They have limited selection of wine and beer. Overall, very disappointing.

Great experience! Was "wow'd" by the BBQ squid as well as the duck. Don't leave without trying the churros for dessert! Creat menu, great service, would definitely go back.

Millennial Food: Healthy comfort food with a handful of ingredients prepared in a healthy and interesting hole in the wall. Westwood area of LA, just south of UCLA. Bargain prices, considering how yummy the food was. They even had a Happy Hour on Saturday! The fried vegetable in the picture was a $5 HH special. Great Belgian style mussels, very fat mussels. The kale salad was good and the desert was heavenly.

The restaurant is hidden in plain sight. A narrow space next to Papa John's pizza is easy to overlook, but you really shouldn't. The menu is fairly limited, but the branzino was amazingly hot, moist, and crispy. How they do it, I have no idea! Crispy seared skin hides a succulent flesh on a bed of spicy, tasty sauce. We both ate the same, but could see that the pork chop nearby disappeared in a blink and the tuna tartare on the other side was also rapidly consumed. We've been here before and find the food well prepared, high quality, and reasonably priced. Try it for yourself!

I wanted to like this place having read the reviews. However, the food was smothered in seasoning and overwhelmed our palates. It was if the chef wanted to prove that seasoning could mask whatever meat or pasta was being served. Even the mussels could not compete with the seasoning. The atmosphere was nice, and the wine list superb. Maybe I should try lunch there as the dinner was disappointing.

Came for dinner with a regular and sat at the bar and watched the chef and his team cook. Food was wonderful, chef was engaging, staff was friendly and attentive. This is a small place so reservations recommended. Casual atmosphere. I can understand why one could become a regular.

Clearly a lot of thought goes into the limited menu, but when I have to go through the menu 3 times before settling for something I might like, it means I'm not going back. Good service and some good wines but again here the selection is limited so tough to find what you might like.

I've been to Fundamental twice now, and both times ordered the tasting menu. It's fantastic, but it's a lot of food when two people both order that way, so arrive hungry. If there's more than two of you and you want the tasting menu, order 3 for 4 people, otherwise you'll have leftovers. Sadly, I can't think of any one thing that is must-try, it was all good.

Simple foods with great flavor. Well curated list of beer & wine. The general space is sparsely decorated and a bit noisy. Food is ordered by YOU at the counter and then comes pretty quick. Lunch for two with 2 drinks, $50

I found this restaurant by chance online as we are staying in a hotel nearby. I had no idea what it would be like and not many expectations. fortunately for us it was FANTASTIC!!!! we are both veggie-pescatarian and the fish was delicious. The aubergine in sesame seed crust was divine. the chocolate deserts were heavenly. We were so surprised to have such wonderful food! it was about $120 for 2 including tip for 3 courses. We will be back!! We didn't try the wine so we can't comment on that.

Excellent food! The cheeseburger is the best in LA, and I don't eat burgers! Justin, the sommelier, is knowledgeable and engaging! Interesting selection of wines and fresh desserts. Now our go-to place for dinner! They have a wonderful happy hour too!

Don't eat GMO. This resturant uses only GMO. This is a very cheap restaurant with no food quality. Go and try your self. The food is too much bread and all GMO

Been going to this place for lunch for some time and they also cater some events at UCLA - so I was familiar w/their lunch and some of their snacks, but last Thursday we dinned there for the first time - and it was GREAT!! The food is prepared w/care and it showed it. The staff was friendly, attentive, but not overbearing - and the price is right. I will return w/pleasure and bring friends.

Fundamental is a lively small restaurant on Westwood Boulevard about a block south of Wilshire. The seating is either at high stools at the bar, at a large communal table with long benches, or 2 smaller communal tables in the back, also with benches. The decor is clean white walls and cool, dim light bulbs. And it is very noisy (although some would say energetic.) There is a nice wine list but only a few wines are offered by the glass. The food offerings are small plates -- each in the range of $10 -- and they recommend sharing everything. The menu is divided into 2 categories: plant and animal. And all the food is fresh and delicious. Tonight the 2 of us had carrot risotto, charred asparagus, toasted cauliflower, and cod with daikon radish. Everything was fresh and delicious. On the down side, service was a bit slow, the restaurant was loud, the benches were not comfortable but otherwise it was a delicious meal and enjoyable evening.

Easy to miss location on Westwood sandwiched between a Papa John's and another forgettable space (I can't remember it now). We took advantage of their happy hour specials which run daily from 5:30 to 7 p.m. We were pleasantly surprised that the specials are good on Fridays too. I really recommend the Bouef Burger, the chicken torta, and the churros off the happy hour menu. The space is dark and somewhat small so our party of six shared a table with another couple. Our waitress messed up one of our small plate orders and gave us attitude when we pointed it out. Without the attitude, this spot would have been ideal.

The chicken sandwich is killer, all the breads are fresh and good. Some solid chefs stand behind this upscale lunch place

I find myself on the westside of LA frequently, usually after my VA appointments, and I'm always hungry. I am looking for a lunch place where I can get a good sandwich but not too much, don't want to overdo it. Fundamental really fills the bill. With 6 sandwiches, 3 salads and assorted sides, the changing menu is interesting and every thing on it is good. More to the point, they make everything themselves including the sauces and spreads. On one occasion there was Pimento cheese(do you know it?). Also, the "ne plus ultra", all the breads are matched to the sandwiches and are house made or well sourced. So, if you find yourself on the West side of town and want a tasty lunch, pull up a stool and watch Woogene and his young, serious staff put together a meal that can't be beat. Dinner is now being served. Lunch is $15 and well worth it.