Reviews (100)
I really want to like this restaurant. I am a huge fan of a small focused menu consisting of seasonal small plates, and this restaurant stood out for me in view of the rave reviews. Don’t get me wrong, some of the popular items are good. Chicken liver pate was very flavorful, the bone burger was very satisfying and unique, and the sticky date pudding was airy and absolutely delish. But some of the items were a miss - the bone marrow was well roasted but the onions on top were too sweet. The rabbit papperdelle was a little bland - tasted like if I made the dish at home for the first time - lacks umami, and a little juvenile. Service was prompt but a little standoffish.
Great lil’ hipster restaurant. Honest take: they could simplify the ingredients count in some dishes. The bone marrow dish had too much going on. No need for balsamic glaze, especially co side ring the dish was served with a chimichirri. Bone marrow is decadent by itself. You could not taste the marrow because it was overwhelmed by everything else. The bone burger is A+. It’s brilliantly served with rye bread and cooked to perfection. On the menu, everything sounds amazing however you expect the dish to be very rich, however it was very balanced and perfectly executed. Carrot dish was fantastic- lots of wonderful spices. Great wine selection too. Overall, a great dining experience, super friendly staff.
food was so, so good. really cool and interesting flavors! i was especially enamored with the carpaccio and the yams with zatar. and the staff was so accommodating of my food intolerances, which made me feel very cared for. i can’t wait to return with more friends one day!
Food is delicious and creative. Portion size is too small, a normal eater will need to order at least 3 items. Tack on an extra 18% + tax + tip and you are looking at a 40% to 50% upcharge to the total bill. Dislike leaving a restaurant hungry.
Probably my favourite dining experience in LA, along with Angelini Osteria. The dishes are unique and prepared exceptionally well. You know that any place that uses Aesop hand wash in the bathroom is going to be good immediately… ha. Do not miss the chicken liver on toast. Sounds simple but my lord was it incredible. The only thing I didn’t like as much was the crab dish, but everything else was great. I need to come back to LA just so I can eat here again tbh.
Service and cozy atmosphere was great. Staff was quick and courteous. Food was great, but I personally thought some of the dishes were too acidic or too salty - but some of these dishes were new to me as well. Portion size per plate is small and the food is tapas style. We were recommended about 3-4 plates per person for sharing. Expect to spend around $100-160 per person for dinner here.
Before foodie was a term you used to go to restaurants because chefs loved serving people food. Animal is that blast from the past. When I walk in I feel at home. I know the animals have been cared for and honored in their sacrifice. There’s something sacred about being able to eat someone else’s love.
Excellent service, Vanessa was fantastic. Avi collaborations is absolutely amazing. Highly recommended and will definitely come back again.
It is hard to leave a 2 star review because I will say some of our dishes were very delicious! But… some were so not delicious, the duck (our most expensive dish) tasted like salty mush. We told our waiter and he told us that’s how it was supposed to be. Th waiter was not good, he forgot many items and was very pompous. They also added on a 18% fee for service charge, that is too much! I will not be returning! It is also hard to park and very loud inside.
Love this place when I get in town. Small plates were perfect for the three of us. Foie gras was amazing and of course the bone burger is always a must order
Everything takes at least 20 minutes to come yet you are being served bird portion dishes. The restaurant is located in a very poor, dirty, and unsafe neighborhood. There is no dedicated parking for the restaurant. The interior of the restaurant looks like a cheap Starbucks. Crispy pig ears were gross and tasted like a rotten animal. Some of the dishes - burgers & sandwiches; were really tasty but are they worth all the things you have to endure to “enjoy” it? - NOPE!
Went early Friday. Service was really good. The server was knowledgeable about the food and drinks, helped guide us to what we would enjoy the most. Great experience
• A note on grades, a rate outwards from three stars. * We had dinner for three late on a Sunday in October, 2022. Service was great at accommodating one of our party's gluten allergy, composing a shared offer, and recommending pairings. Although we were among the last to leave, we never felt rushed. The food was good; worth a visit.
Amazing food! Excellent flavor combinations. We had multiple dishes that part of the experience is mixing everything on the plate together to get all the flavors together. That was fun. Great service. Semi-casual ambiance. Highly recommend!
The food here is beyond amazing, one of the best if not the best meal I have ever had (the pig ears changed my life). Same for the service…the exact right balance of attentive but not hovering, and they brought free wine and a free dessert for my friend’s birthday. HOWEVER. I have to take 2 stars off because the bill sprung a 20% “service charge” that was explicitly not a gratuity on us without warning. With how much we had spent and how deserving the server was of a real tip, that turned the night into an expensive one indeed. Just be transparent with your pricing, don’t ambush your diners. We will very sadly not be back until and unless they get rid of this BS fee.
It was honestly just ok. The service was good and the food came out at a reasonable time but the salt was a hit or miss. Some dishes too salty and some not enough. Chicken pate needed more salt. The chicken wings were good but very small and too salty. The burger was like a patty melt. It was not worth it. Save the calories and dollars. The toastada was TOO limey and needed more salt. The lime overpowered the delicate hamachi. The ricotta gnudi was my fav. Overall would not return.
We went to Animal for my son’s birthday. The service was bad, the portions were small, a few of the dishes were over cooked or just not good and the sound level was really loud. I didn’t like that they put an 18 percent extra Charge(not a gratuity) for a livable wage for their employees and then still expect you to tip. The waiter was snobby and not friendly at all. The photos that are posted on Google are misleading because the plates that the food i is served on are really small so you can’t tell how small the portions are. We won’t be back.
14 years and a pandemic later, this iconic restaurant is still serving flavorful dishes, such as the chicken liver toast (now spread-it-yourself), the tomato-tonnato, the 3S anchovies (Salty & So Satisfying), the fried sweetbreads, and the light and instagrammable strawberry tres leches. Small but relevant selection of wines and sake, along with some interesting cocktails. Setting is elegantly simple. Super friendly staff. Well, an institution which deserves to remain one.
The chicken liver toast is worth the hype. The brioche toast is 10/10. Will only eat pate on brioche toast now. Also had the crispy pig ear, bone marrow chimichurri, grilled shrimp, and bone burger. Flavors were excellent (loved the bone marrow) - burger and shrimp were good but nothing notable. Overall the food is excellent (great flavors and unique styles). The atmosphere is not my favorite (feels like a lunchtime sandwich shop) and very loud.
The food was just ok, too greasy for my taste (crab, sweetbreads, even toast with liver), lots of oil. The biggest concern for me it’s how loud it was, no design solution to absorb the noise or to balance acoustics which results in canteen effect. So loud that it is not enjoyable after half an hour. And 18% service charge which is not gratitude is a little too much considering the pricing and sizes of dishes. (+tip+tax is 150% of the price advertised)