Vespertine

Vespertine isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a full sensory production. Housed inside “The Waffle,” a striking mesh-clad building that looks like something from a science fiction film, this Culver City destination asks diners to commit to a four-hour journey of experimental cuisine, Icelandic ambient music, and theatrical service. Staff dressed in flowing robes guide you through a concrete garden, a kitchen tour, and finally to your transparent acrylic table. It’s the kind of place that demands your full attention and a willingness to surrender to the unconventional.

The 13-course tasting menu pushes boundaries with dishes featuring obscure ingredients and elaborate presentations—think food arriving on ice luges and miniature sarcophagi. While some courses hit their mark, like the hoja santa cigars filled with quail and a delightful bowl of spring flowers and peas swimming in almond cream, others venture into challenging territory that may not appeal to every palate. The kitchen clearly prioritizes creativity and narrative over traditional notions of deliciousness, which can feel like a gamble at this price point.

Where Vespertine truly shines is in its dessert finale. A downstairs tea ceremony delivers the evening’s most memorable bites: a genius “milk jam” topped with frozen birch sap, an unexpectedly satisfying lamb fat donut with scotch whipped cream, and a striking purple entremet that proves the kitchen can deliver both creativity and genuine pleasure. These final courses suggest a tantalizing vision of what the entire meal could be.

This experience is tailor-made for diners who prize theatrical fine dining and geek out over unconventional presentations. If you’re seeking an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime spectacle and have the budget to match, Vespertine delivers something truly singular. Just know that you’re paying for the journey as much as—or perhaps more than—the destination.