Ammo

Terrific food and caring service. Fairly priced and noise level is actually OK. Even the soundtrack works. more

After the great review they got in the LA Times today, we did not expect to get seated at 7pm as a walk in.... more

After the great review they got in the LA Times today, we did not expect to get seated at 7pm as a walk in. Low and behold, we were promptly escort... more

- great drinks (loved my whiskey sour) - wonderful turkey meatloaf (not dense, generous slice) - plenty of street parking (valet available) - a little overpriced (ex: $24 Jidori chicken) - inattentive service (server never followed up with us, didn't ask if we wanted more drinks, didn't recommend any dishes nor advise not to get an entree when it came with a salad and diner ordered a salad to start) I would not go back. Pros: turkey meatloaf, veggie lasagna, great drinks Cons: inattentive service more

This is normally a lunchtime spot for me, but I came here for dinner the other night and was really impressed. I tried the pickle plate, which ended up being an incredible variety of unique pickled vegetables, from carrots to cauliflower! We also tried the crispy pork belly with beans, the risotto with peas and asparagus, and the salmon with beets and potatoes. All very simple but fantastic. The desserts are really good too. They've got some pretty interesting ice creams on their dessert menu. I tried a scoop of the watermelon and white chocolate sorbet. Sounds weird, but it's great! I guess I always assumed lunch and dinner here would be the same... but I didn't realize the dinner was so much better! I'll definitely be back. Pros: great menu, friendly service Cons: What are the drawbacks? more

I had lunch here yesterday and was bored to death by it. I had a ham & cheese panini with a salad that was overwhelmed by radicchio. The panini was cold and the cheese wasn't melted. It was edible, but I could have gotten the same thing anywhere for half the price. Pros: cloth napkins Cons: boring, uninspired cuisine more

This is my favorite restaurant in L.A. I eat here for the high quality of the food and the friendly, low-key atmostphere. The food is fresh, the flavors distinct, the dishes creative without being pretentious. I have loved almost every dish I've tried, from the unusual pickle plate (always a little different each time I've had it) to the refreshing salads and the delicious, tender, succulent pork and lamb main or pasta courses which are so flavorful and satisfying. I frequently order one of the fish entrees and have always been happy with them. I always order a terrific bottle of wine which the helpful manager selects from their great wine list. The waiters are always friendly, and once you've been there a few times, they greet you by name, which I really appreciate. Although I am from one of the 'burbs, I make a point of coming to Ammo at least once a month. The chef, Julia Wolfson, is so creative; I always look forward to her new dishes, which she adds fairly regularly to the menu, so each visit holds a little surprise for the repeat diner. Pros: Consistently exceptional food, friendly, low-key atmosphere more

Definitely gone downhill. I'd heard so, but just got to experience it first-hand. Food is now kind of average. My partner's fish was barely edible.\r \r Service has dipped below average: our waitress had a particularly sullen predisposition and either hid in the kitchen, or sat at the bar, leaving the busboy to respond to whatever requests we had during the course of the meal. Appeared only to open the bottles of wine.\r \r All in all, Ammo has become just an average eatery in LA, albeit somewhat overpriced. It was pretty empty, so I suppose, we were not the only ones who have noticed the downward slide. Pros: I still kind of like the ambience. Cons: But the food and particularly the service, spoil it. more

This is a great place for unpretentious but elegant food, fine wine and excellent friendly service. Everything from the amuse bouche to the deserts is creative, fresh and, best of all, delicious. Try the pickle plate, the pork belly, the ravioli, the latest salad! Benni will help you with just the right wine to enjoy and add to the zest of your menu selection. Chef Julia Wolfson has brought new life and a bright light touch to Ammo - mangia! more

Very nice what they've done with the space...elegant yet simple with lots of stylish wood and warmth and a cozy bar. Wish I could say the same for the rest of the restaurant. Everything else left us wanting more--more attention, more selection, more flavor! Limited wine by the glass selection (no merlot??), we were offered bread when we first sat down and that would pretty much be the last time we were treated to that extravagance. Add to that ,the water glass that never got refilled--I'm sorry, it might be a pet peeve of mine but it is as sure an indication of customer service as any when you have a water glass that stays bone dry for a good portion of your meal. And a waitress that never even bothered to check up on us. Simply put, no attention to detail. \r For starters, we ordered the grilled octopus and what arrived was an impressive collection of string beans covering burnt, chewy baby octopus. Let's just say everyone commented on how ""good"" the beans were. When the attention focuses on the garnish, you know you're in trouble. Their more casual selections are called ""middles"", of which a good amount were pizzas. We ordered two of these to try and both had me yearning for California Pizza Kitchen. The Prosciutto San Daniel pizza was basically just a mound of arugula spread over flat bread and topped with prosciutto, with nothing tying it all together. The baby artichoke pizza was definitely better but again lacking in taste. Could someone please give this chef some garlic or onions or cheese or even tomato sauce? I am not trying to be sarcastic here--they were no better, and maybe worse, than those flat breads you get at Quizno's. Thank God, we fared better with the entree. The duck breast was fine (though small) and set upon a tasty lentil mix.\r Overall, I think they are well meaning but there are just too many other restaurants in this price range that serve much tastier food, have better selections and have better service Pros: ambiance Cons: food for price, limited selection more

I hadn't been to Ammo in years although I only live a few blocks away, due to the fact that last time I was there it was not so great. I read a review in the Times a few weeks ago praising it so I thought why not give it another try? I""M SO GLAD I DID!!! I went last Saturday night and I loved everything about it. The ambience was great, the service was attentive, the food was to die for and the wine list was interesting. Our waiter was not only very knowledgable about the menu but made great suggestions as well. I love to try different wines from all over the world so I thought I would try a white they had on the list from Slovenia. The sommelier came over to tell us a little bit about the wine and he also was so knowledgable and friendly. The pasta was heavenly, the Sea Trout was sublime and the ice cream sandwiches for desert were decadent!!! Definitely will make it a neighborhood fav!!!! Pros: Great everything from the food to the wine to the music!! more

I've been going to Ammo for years and had become a fanatic about their turkey meatloaf. It's yummy comfort food at its best! However on my most recent visit to Ammo, I was informed by our waitress that they were no longer serving the meatloaf at dinner! I didn't know what to order! After taking a look at the menu though, I realized that there were a ton of delicious sounding options. \r \r So I ventured out of my comfort zone and ordered the heirloom tomato salad and the braised pork shoulder. The tomatoes were delicious and perfectly in-season. I'd heard that Ammo is know for their seasonal and local ingredients, and this was proof of that. The server told us that the tomatoes are grown just down the street in Ammo's garden! The burrata cheese served with the tomatoes was out of this world delicious. The braised pork was so tender that it practically melted in my mouth!\r \r My date had ordered the baby lettuces salad that had an amazingly light yogurt and tahini dressing. She followed that up with the tasmanian sea trout...the previous reviewer is right....it's money! \r \r The wine list is quite large, with a lot of wines that I was not familiar with. So we asked the waitress for a recommendation...we explained that we'd probably only get a glass each so she brought out a half bottle of chablis which was delicious. \r \r After such an amazing meal, we couldn't leave without dessert even though we had a show to get to. So we ordered the bittersweet chocolate torte. It was dark and rich with the perfect balance of salty and sweet. \r \r All in all, our experience was very good. The staff was all very friendly and unpretentious...I must have asked a million questions about the food and wine and she answered them all patiently. The music is great too....the playlists are all put together by the manager, a friendly Austrian guy, who excitedly told us all about one of the songs we asked about.\r \r I can't wait to go back to try the hanger steak:) Pros: service, food, music, vibe more

great food, excellent service, fantastic wine, cozy setting.\r we'll be going back really soon!!\r \r Try the sea trout, tis money!\r Pros: the fish, they're all great. more

Went to Ammo after reading the review in the LA times a few weeks ago. We had high expectations and the restaurant definitely delivered! we started out with cocktails that were delicious. the cantaloupe martini with basil and pepper is to die for! the restaurant was busy and the sound track was great, music not too loud either (which is rare). the feeling in the room was high energy and fun, people obviously having a good time and enjoying themselves. we ordered 3 courses, appetizers to start then we shared an AMAZING lobster risotto special then entrees for everyone. the staters were great, light and full of flavor. We loved that the chef actually knows how to season food with just the right amount of salt. good size potion too... not too big so you can eat a starter and an entree (even share a middle course) and not leave feeling too full, just happily satisfied. the middle course of the special risotto was great, not too heavy and full of lobster flavor, also had zuchini and heirloom tomatoes, as well as plenty of chunks of lobster. For entrees we had the halibut, duck and tasmanian sea trout. Everything was absolutely delicious. loved the sauce on the halibut and my friend loved her sea trout with pea shoots and bacon. the duck too was nicely cooked and the bulgher with peaches and kumquats had just the right amount of zing to it. we shared a peach tart for desert and it too was wonderful. we left feeling great and pleasently full. the place is not cheap, but definitely worth the money for such good food and such a nice time. I cant wait to go back again! Pros: food, ambience, cocktails more

we had read a nice review by irene virbila in the times 2 weeks ago so we went with great expectations with dear friends who really enjoy the food scene\r It was a horrible experience ( except for the general manager who is a very nice man)\r Food: bland , in general under or overcooked , pseudo french bistro organic fare . Let me explain\r apetizers: not cheap at $ 15-17, haricots verts undercooked barely blanched , almost no seasoning and the calamari that came with it chewy\r tuna tartare tiny portion with some avocado on top ( the whole lacked some sauce or seasoning that would enhance it\r main courses $27-29: halibut overcooked ( tough)\r Duck sitting on what was supposed to be bulgur with peaches and kumkats actually overcooked so the duck was sitting on a sweet malmalade with a texture of oatmeal \r We did not order desert because of came next ( behavior of the server)\r Service: actually the server was quite nasty with us ( young short haired brunette)\r When we sat, she brought tap water not fresh no ice and we never got a refill\r She mentioned the specials from behind the little wall that separates the table from the passage to the kitchen , we never saw her again and she never inquired about our food until the end of the meal\r The clou of the evening: we wanted to split the bill with our friends and there was a little error on the split \r So when we nicely asked her to correct , she began her attitude and when we told her that we have been enduring this behavior from the beginning she lashed at us and left. Thats where the manager came graciously and tried to fix things but we had had enough and got out of the restaurant on the doubble\r I think that the food critics working for the LA times get recognized and are served a different meal than the common mortal. we have learned our lesson maybe the hard way . Pros: general manager Cons: food , service more

My friend and I tried this restaurant on a Friday night, we had high hopes, as it looked adorable from the outside. I ordered a pomogranite martini..pretty good, my friends pear martini was awful. We started with the tuna tartar it was just ok, kind of tasteless, and the crab appetizer, again just ok. I ordered the lasagna, it was AWFUL. My friend and I ended up leaving and scrambling to get another reservation somewhere else. We will not be back. Im not the only one who feels like this Im sure, as the restaurant was pretty empty.Oh and the bill for appetizers and drinks..$80.00 more

Ammo has a great look, understated, elegant and simple. I was also very impressed with the flat bread that came to the table. From there it went downhill. The server was short with us and was not seen after the food was served. The lasagna entree for $18 was appetizer portion and the only flavor came from the fact it was burnt. I won't go back. more

BOUGHT TWO 70 DOLLAR BOTTLES OOF WINE. ONE OF WHICH WAS A CELLARS 2004 WHICH WAS DENOTED ON THE WINE LIST AS A 2002 VINTAGE. tHEY SOLD US THE WRONG BOTTLE OF WINE ( A 2004 FOR THE PRICE OF THE 2002). SERVICE WAS TERRIBLE. BARTENDER WAS THE RUDEST EVER! VERY UNKIND AND THE OWNER WHO WAS SITTING AT THE BAR NEXT TO US WAS LOUD RUDE AND COLD HEARTED. DO NOT EAT HERE EVER EVEN IF IT IS FOR FREE!!!! Pros: nothing!!!! Cons: everything!!!!! THE FOOD AND THE EMPLOYEES more

I went to Ammo with a girlfriend of mine yeasterday, and I have to say that it was rather diappointing for the hefty price tag. I ordered the wild bass braised in the wood oven with baby artichokes, teardrop tomatoes, cannellini beans, preserved lemon, Castelveltrano olives, white wine and fresh herbs. It sounds really good, doesn't it? But the taste didn't match up to the glitzy list of ingredients. The dish came in a small black skillet, with the bass sitting in a kind of stew of ingredients that just didn't seem to stand out or even compliment each other in any way. The hot skillet only served to overcook the fish about 7 minutes into the meal. The dish was bland and uninteresting, but still cost me $28 plus tax and tip. With drinks and dessert, the bill came out to be $70.\r \r I have to say though, they have the most amazing olive oil I ever tasted. It almost tastes infused with fruit. The maitre d' was kind enough to provide the name and contact info of the olive oil vendor, but other than that one act of kindness, we were stuck with a surly waitress the whole night who couldn't even remember to tell us about the specials that night. \r \r For the price, I would recommend a different restaurant, because this one is definitely not worth it. Pros: lively bistro atmosphere Cons: bland food, bad service, hefty price tag more

Took my date here for dinner and was disappointed by the food. Used to be better but not sure the current chef quite knows appeals to my palate. Another experience for brunch wasn't much better as the food was bland and prices were too high. I like the cozyness of the place, so I'll probably try it again sometime, but for the short term, it's a pass. more