by Nathaniel M. on Crown jewel of the LA Lounge Scene. I have visited the Edison 4 or so times and every time I walk down the unassuming alleyway entrance that conjures images of speakeasies,past the wrought iron patio and descend those winding stairs I get that same excitement and sense of wonder. Security is friendly and if you dress to their 1900-1920's theme they acknowledge it with a compliment,I wear a 3 or 4 piece every time and they never fail with the pleasantry. I've read some reviews slamming the dress code and peoples idiocy never fails to amaze me,if you haven't noticed the Edison has a theme and is promoting an image so when you come in your Timbalands and Ed Hardy uniform don't be surprised when they put the breaks on you. Someone mentioned their boyfriend couldn't get in with his $200"fancy sneakers," are you kidding?Saying "fancy sneakers" is an oxymoron, it's like saying " Elegant fanny pack." Save the sneakers for basketball. It isn't about the price of your clothes,it's about the style which is what The Edison is all about,enough digression. The staircase winds round a massive chandelier with vintage incandescent bulbs, which is something that makes The Edison so amazing,attention to detail and adherence to theme. Almost everything down to the light bulbs are designed to the time period,it's like walking onto a movie set. Small generators from the original building are on display next to luxuious vintage couches and high backed seats with dim shaded lights. Entertaining silent films from the turn of the century are splashed on the wall,as well as a cool cartoon short done in the Wayang (Indonesian shadow puppets) style animation. (The Mysterious Geographical Explorations of Jasper Morello) Bartenders are polite and knowledgeable, start a tab and the good ones address you by name. Our server was absolutely amazing & genuinely friendly,no contrived customer service. Drinks are expensive but made with fresh ingredients and delicious! I recommend The Eastsider or the The Edison or the Absinthe 75' which will floor you,heavy handed pours. The food was also expensive but made to order and decadent,Mac and Cheese! Fresh doughnuts in chocolate mousse? Or some awesome fries and sliders. Music varies from night to night,I've heard house,70's,old jazz, and while there isn't a dance floor that doesn't seem to stop some people. Every hour or so an extremely talented and... aesthetically pleasing...performer hops onto the bar and does a burlesque routine to trip hop,lucky us. They often have some Vaudeville style performers which further add to the ambiance. A girl dressed up like a green faerie pushes round a cart selling Absinthe in little glass vials and globes that are corked,the look like Zelda health potions! These are either mixed with pineapple or pomegranate, she also serves it as the French do, with water dripped over a sugar cube to form the louche, anyway you take it,delicious. So if you're looking for a place with atmosphere,class,great service,great victuals & drink then dress up hit the Edison. If you're looking for a straight up club this won't suit you as it is a lounge,but if you're looking to meet up with friends or impress a date you'd be hard pressed to do better.
by Alishia Goldfuss on This letter I sent the management on the morning after my first trip to XIV pretty much says it all: Dear Sir or Madam, Last night a friend and I had the opportunity to dine and imbibe at your new restaurant in Los Angeles: XIV. I must first complement you on an amazing dining experience- the decor, service, atmosphere, and quality of food were all impeccable. However, I must mention the highly deceptive menu pricing you all have come up with; we were told that each portion was two to three bites, priced at eight dollars each. When we ordered, we were informed that everything we ordered would be made for both of us. With drinks and tip, we were expecting the bill to be around $150, as we each ordered 4 plates and had 3 drinks total. However, when the bill showed up at quite a bit over $200 *before* the tip, we were abhorred. We were charged $8 for a half bottle of Fiji we never requested (nor were we informed we'd be charged for), and the bill was impossible to decipher- how eight three-bite portions at $8 a piece (or was it $16 each plate because there were two of us?? - I'm so confused) plus a couple glasses of wine and a martini turned into a $250 night is beyond me. Rest assured that until you can get your pricing system worked out and clearly displayed/explained on the menu we won't be returning. Thanks for a great but overpriced meal. Sincerely, Adam Fischer Hollywood, CA
by Greg V. on I've never seen anything like this place. I love trying to explain it to friends. "You basically walk into a toolshed, then down into a cave, then you end up in this crazy/strange not-quite-dance-club." I mainly love this place because of the amazing people-watching capabilities. Every week there's a completely different variety of people there. It's a blast. How often outside of high school dances do you get to witness dance-offs!? It's hilarious! I hate the typical "club" scene because it's usually full of skeezy people, yet this place absolutely provides an awesome time every time I go. I whole heartedly recommend it to anyone who's thinking about it, and I try to take any out of town visitors so they can experience this one of a kind place.
