Nook

Try the caesar salad...it's the best EVER! My boyfriend and I usually just get a bunch of appetizers and split them, so I'm not sure what the actual entres are like, but I'm sure they're tasty. This place gets packed between 8-9:30ish, so get here early or late if you don't want to wait. It's tucked in the back of a strip mall (in the ""nook"" of the strip mall!) so it's easy to miss...Such a great date place! It's home cooking like you haven't had before...Oh, try the savory bread pudding...YUM!!! more

The lentil soup and Ceasar salad is AWESOME! It comes with toasty little capers! My hubby loves the NOOK BURGER! it is very small inside so we order to go and get a discount. Eating in, as well as waiting for the food to go, is a pleasure, the staff is wonderful and very friendly. YUMMY!!!\r Pros: Small space, parking, service, great wines. Cons: Small space more

I love this place. I try something new everytime I go and have not been disappointed yet. I would recommend the bread pudding starter...the cheese and mushrooms melt in your mouth. If you order for ""take-out"" you get a discount. Either way you will be satisfied. Pros: hidden gem, delicious food Cons: call ahead more

Friends of mine had been raving about this place for a while, so I finally decided to check it out. I was amazed. First of all, it's hidden in the back corner of an nondescript strip mall. Second, it was PACKED on a Tuesday night! \r \r We thought we had a reservation, but due to a glitch in the transition of their phone service, it was apparently lost. Regardless, the host told us he would accomodate us somehow and even offered free desserts for the inconvenience. The service from that point forth was exceptional. Our waitress was charming, friendly and attentive without being overbearing, and the host appeared at least once to apologize again. \r \r The crabcake appetizer was amazing (if tiny), as were both the lentil soup and squash stew. The porkchop was a little bland and the salad had a bit too much dressing, but the desserts were marvelous. Also, their wines are delicious.\r \r Definitely a place to frequent, but ALWAYS make sure you have a reservation! Pros: Great service, good food Cons: A little loud, a LOT crowded, parking can be difficult in the tiny lot more

Seriously. I can't believe I'd forgotten to revie Nook until now. Must be because it's so amazing, I assume everyone knows. Tucked away in the Southernmost corner of a Westside stripmall, Nook's location doesn't seem to deter in-the-know neighborhoodies from coming. It's always packed. It's not that big, so I make reservations, but even where there's a wait (I've never waited more than 20 mins.) the staff will reccommend drinks while you wait. The waitstaff are knowledgable about the food, which I'll now RAVE about. First of all, the savory shitake gruyere bread pudding is the addictive equivalent of Pinkberry. Unbelievable. You MUST order it. All of the sides are good, with the mac and cheese super rich and comforting. The soups are always good. I've had the tilapia, chicken palliard, pork chop, and burger and they're all wonderful. The brown rice bowl with chicken is amazing, even though it sounds kind of drab. Everything here tastes like something you'd find in a restaurant that's twice the price. i LOVE Nook! Pros: Amazing food well priced. Never dissapoints! Cons: Closed on Sundays. more

The food is spectacular, particularly when you consider how cheap it is. This is one of the few restaurants in LA where the food is priced at (or maybe even lower than) its actual worth. I'm always surprised when I get the bill because I expect it to be much higher. The mac & cheese is to die for, as is the mushroom & gruyere bread pudding, but my absolute favorite dish is the chicken paillard. The chef has captured a perfect balance of flavors...and I am drooling just thinking of it. This is a great place to go with friends or if you're not in the mood to cook at home, you can get takeout and enjoy it at home! Pros: amazingly good food, very affordable prices Cons: not open on sundays more

Definitely ignore the negative reviews -- this place rocked! My friend and I went on Friday night, c. 9pm, off of the good reviews on this site, and we were NOT disappointed. Friendly staff and host, fantastic food, and don't be thrown by the option of the ""Communal Table"" in the center. That actually was one of the highlights, too, as we ended up chatting with our 'neighbors'. Excellent wine selection as well. The only negative may have just been a fluke: It was a little chillier up front than towards the back, even with the door closed. Otherwise, we had a GREAT experience. We will *definitely* be making this a regular spot, for ourselves and for any visiting friends & family. Pros: Excellent food, generous portions, great wines, nice decor, community feel. Cons: Parking may be bad before 8pm. Not really geared towards large groups. more

I have never written a review before but feel that I owe it to NOOK for my great experience last night. My husband and I had been there once before and couldn't wait to take our friends there. Brian, one of the owners, remembered us right away and instantly turned our whole party into regulars!!! The food is so well prepared... we ordered almost one of everything!!!! Pork belly, shiitake breadpudding, mussels, calamari (table favorite) caesar, soup, ribeye, ribs, tilapia, brownie, breadpuddin'!!!!!!!!! All was amazing!! Michael, our server, was funny, helpful and just made the experience more enjoyable. We can't wait to take more of our eastside friends to this nook on the west!!!!! \r Thank you NOOK!\r Pros: staff, food, wine more

I've been to this place many, many times and it never seems to disappoint. The atmosphere and service are always top notch. And the food....the food is absolutely amazing!! I've tried about 75% of the entrees and all have been perfect. My absolute favorite dishes are the pork chop (very moist and flavorful), the ribeye (awesome glaze), and the burger (comes on foccacia). The next dish I want to try, and have heard rave reviews about, is the Chicken Paillard. They also have a banana bread pudding dessert that you cannot leave without trying. I highly recommend this place!!!!! It's a TOTAL hidden gem and I'm so happy to have found it!!!! Pros: FOOD, Service, Atmosphere Cons: It's in a sketchy strip mall, but NOOK is unexpectedly cute and hip inside! more

It was my first time on Fri, 7/21, 7:30pm for a party of 6. Decor is chic and starkly different (in a good way) from the cheesy strip mall you'll find it in. \r \r Short Ribs and Skirt Steak were satisfactory, but I wouldn't go back to quench a beef craving. Chicken Paillard was my favorite - pounded thin, slightly crispy and extremely flavorful. Sauteed Brown Rice Bowl which I had w/tofu was also very good - surprisingly flavorful and I will definitely order this again even though I rarely order dishes that don't contain meat (although mine could have used less soy sauce). Gazpacho soup was very good. Calamari was nothing innovative, but the accompanying wasabi aioli is definitely worth trying. Our tab, including added gratuity, was about $250 for 5 entrees, 2 soups (cup size), 2 appetizers and about 8 beer/wines. \r \r I would definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a dinner party place West of Sepulveda & East of Bundy. If you choose wisely, the food is very good, and combined with the locale and decor, the venue is a convenient way to mix things up dining on the westside. \r \r Pros: Parking, Location, Wasabi Aioli Cons: Small venue more

Don't be fooled by the fact that Nook is in a cheesy looking strip mall! The food there is to die for! The crabcakes have have the perfect amount of seasoning and crispiness. The chilled mint and pea soup with creme fraiche was light, refreshing and unlike anything I'd ever had before. The pork chops there are by far the BEST I've ever had; they were flavorful and juicy! Also, it's served with a huge arugula salad garnished with Asian pear and pinenuts and fingerling potatoes. I can't wait to go back and try something new! more

My GF and I went there for the first time last Thursday and both loved it. We arrived around 8:30 and waited about 20 minutes for a table to open up and were perfectly content to do so accompanied by a lovely bottle of Handley pinot. The service, starting with the gracious gentleman running the front of the room and ending with our perfect, amiable waitress, was wonderful. The caesar salad and mussels appetizer were brilliant. I wanted to lap up the broth from the mussels but I've only been dating this girl for a short time so I didn't. The flavourful skirt steak and sauteed spinach were excellent. The burger was very good, though I thought a simple change from the ciabatta to a brioche type bun would serve it well. We will definitely return. more

I ate dinner at the Nook BIstro last night with a date and we both hated our food. She had roast chicken with a strange taste and I had the worst shortribs I've ever had with a very offputting tasting sauce and a small-sized portion. The decor is grungy industrial and cold but the service was just fine. My date's salad was okay but the choice of side vegetables was pitiful. We couldn't figure out what others see in this place and we definitely won't be returning. Pros: Service Cons: Food, Atmosphere, Menu Choices more

It's true that you may have to wait for a table if you arrive after 7:30, but it will be well worth it. My husband and I have eaten here several times and have yet to be disappointed. Last time we decided to try one of the salads recommended by our server and we didn't love it- so he took it off our bill! How often does that happen in LA. The burger is amazing- so are the chops. Mac n' cheese it great, too. Definitely recommended. Pros: yummy food, great service, great ambience Cons: waiting for a table more

Rude Maitred'/Owner ??? Are you kidding? Obviously the same person wrote three bad reviews. Nook is an outstanding restaurant with an eager to please staff serving inventive, delicious, affordable food in a town with A LOT of overpriced, mediocre dining. Hat's off to nook. Try ANYTHING on the menu you won't be disappointed. I've dragged a good number of foodie friends there and they have all loved it. Pros: Chickpea stew, Any Fish dish, Service more

Food-superb! Service - excellent. Great value for the quality. I even confronted the owner about the negative reviews and he was VERY professional - didn't miss a beat. I don't know where the negative reviews came from, but I think this place is fantastic. I honestly think that people would not recommend just to keep the crowds away. It IS small, but if you don't mind sitting close to other diners, you don't have to wait long.......and you shouldn't. more

Searching for the restaurant amongst Western Dental and a curtain shop gave me pause, but once I'd eaten I'd felt like I was in on a secret! And, the no valet, free parking was a bonus. I ate at Nook 3 times in one week, and I'd be happy to go back again soon. The atmosphere is charming, the food is good and reasonably priced, and the service is friendly and attentive. Like others I loved the burger, pork chop on the yummy salad & chocolate banana bread pudding. The braised short ribs were promising but I got a really gristle-y piece. But overall, good stuff! Pros: atmosphere, food, free parking more

Just went to Nook and had a great time. First of all, the food was delicious (my boyfriend had the burger and I had the tilapia). We were impressed with the beer and wine list - some unique and delicious options. We finished up by sharing a great desert. There was a great vibe in the restaurant - everyone was friendly and helpful. I look forward to going back soon. Pros: Friendly Atmosphere, Generous portions, Great Food Cons: Busy more

Great food, friendly staff, lively and sleek atmosphere... The mussels and the half chicken both made me weep with joy. Will definitely be back. Pros: Great food, Friendly staff Cons: Popular, Make a reservation more

We had high expectations based on the reviews by others. Unfortunately the owner is extremely stingy - they actually measure the wine to get 5 glasses per bottle. The portions on the fish are very small and not desirable. My husband was served a fishy tail piece and asked the waitress for another piece of fish. He was told the manager and chef thought his piece was ""adedquate"". This place thinks it is Spago and it deserves its location in a hidden corner of a low end stip center. It is low end on service and food quality. Pros: nice plates Cons: service, attitude, communal table more