Gjelina

Had one of the best dining experiences. I came solo and both the host and my waiter David were amazing. I had the steak tartar which was absolutely delicious and I recommend. I also had the pappardelle with the brisket ragu and finished off with the insanely delicious date cake. For drinks I had the Shepard's cocktail it was so lovely, if you're dirty vodka martini drinker you'd enjoy. I will literally make sure to come back just for the date cake. This whole experience and atmosphere is definitely a great vibe for a solo dinner, date or just to try. Highly recommend!

Gjelina delivers a beautifully executed Cali-Mediterranean experience with a farm-to-table feel. The space is elegant and buzzing, and the service is genuinely warm, with host Julie Rose standing out in particular. The menu is thoughtfully balanced, with raw bar selections, charcuterie, vibrant salads, grilled vegetables, mains, and pizzas. Highlights for me were the roasted carrots with labneh, the spinach-delicata salad, and the burrata pomodoro pizza. Everything arrived fresh and impressively fast. Prices lean high, but the overall experience more than justifies it. Gjelina is a reliable pick whether you’re planning a cozy date night or a lively group dinner.

As much as I’d like to gatekeep Gjelina, I think it deserves the rave review and recognition. The food was delicious and elevated. The proportions were just right as well. We ordered the olives and puttanesca beans (highly recommend) for apps. The brown butter squash pasta… I dream about it. The pizza was classic and had a light, thin crispy crust. The chocolate tart was well-balanced, lightly salted, rich, the ricotta whipped cream rounded it out nicely. It’s a bit expensive (150+tip for two, including 2 drinks), but it’s satisfying. The interior is loft chic. Importantly, the staff was super attentive and friendly.

Beautiful space and a delicious meal. The space itself is a lot bigger than I had imagined; there’s a second floor and a small event space as well. The heirloom tomato was delicious; highly recommend while it’s still in season. I was a little underwhelmed with the two vegetable dishes in comparison to the spaghetti and confit duck leg. The fig panna cotta was silky and not overly sweet. Servers were nice as well, definitely recommend.

The food was good, some dishes much more flavorful than others (mushroom toast was excellent, cauliflower dish was a miss). However, I wouldn’t go back due to the fact that the place is ridiculously loud. Like obnoxiously loud. Especially on the second floor. Not sure how the restaurant could fix this besides patrolling the place and asking these loud-mouths to have mercy on other patrons, to remind them of a person’s fundamental right to hear their own thoughts. Or maybe placing etiquette cards on the menu in the shape of a sock.