Los Angeles, CA.

Blue Velvet

Expert Reviews of Blue Velvet

Citysearch | Cutting-edge downtown spot dazzles with sophisticated modern cuisine and noir-ish, romantic city views.

Nestled inside The Flat, an edgy residential redesign of a Holiday Inn, diners perch on a hillside with a twinkling cityscape view. Two dining rooms and three lounges unfold like a dream into a series of cool,...
citysearch.com - expert review - 04/24/2007
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OpenTable

BlueVelvet offers modern American cuisine for lunch, dinner and late-night lounging. We feature multiple lounge and dining areas, a 17-foot sunken granite communal table and is marked by sleek contemporary...
opentable.com - expert review
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User Reviews of Blue Velvet

Yelp.com Review - by Rebecca S.

2 of 5 stars. Went with a large group for a birthday party reserved in the lounge. I am giving one star because they made the reservation and another because they did so with little notice. That's the best part…
yelp.com - user review - 05/30/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Alyssa P.

5 of 5 stars. I just joined Yelp so pardon me for the late review, but I had to give this place a shout out. So I had my birthday party at Blue Velvet Nov 2007 on a Saturday night. As someone who frequents the…
yelp.com - user review - 05/29/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by janet l.

1 of 5 stars. I'm rating this as a restaurant and I must say, even though we went in knowing the poor reviews on the food and small plates, we were still stunningly surprised when our food came out and of course…
yelp.com - user review - 05/25/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by kimble k.

2 of 5 stars. this place was funny from the start. this place is at the lobby of The Flats apartments. which my friend lived before blue velvet even existed. so the place looks really nice and cozy. okay, now the…
yelp.com - user review - 05/03/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Johnny C.

4 of 5 stars. Read Christine S. Review.. LOL
yelp.com - user review - 04/30/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Christine S.

3 of 5 stars. So normally I wouldn't invite my friends (or their dates) to meet up for drinks during a first date, but if you're going to Blue Velvet it may turn out to be a very good idea. Make sure to like the…
yelp.com - user review - 04/29/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Hannah G K.

3 of 5 stars. note: my 4th non-ktown establishment marathon review I've been here two times for drinks only. Reading other reviews, I am glad I didn't try their restaurant side.
yelp.com - user review - 04/15/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Paulette F.

3 of 5 stars. I've only been here for happy hours in the middle of the week. According to the bartendars, it's pretty packed on Fridays and Saturdays. But during the week it's completely dead. Which is cool if you…
yelp.com - user review - 04/09/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Mitch W.

3 of 5 stars. I haven't tried the food here. It looked good. I met friends for drinks here. They made them fairly strong and were reasonably priced compared to other LA/Hollywood establishments. Venue is nicely…
yelp.com - user review - 04/04/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Akiko T.

2 of 5 stars. Hmmm... cheers, I guess to any place who could reinvent themselves from a Holiday Inn in the dead center of the ghetto into a seemingly sleek, smart restaurant attached to a pseudo-luxury apartment…
yelp.com - user review - 03/30/2008
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Very tasty minus the entrees

It seems like it's a growing trend to find tasty appetizers and perfectly paired delicious wine, but sub standard entrees. This is the case with Blue Velvet. We did however, savor every bite of our delicious...
citysearch.com - user review - 03/25/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Shawn E.

4 of 5 stars. Someone else said, "This place is very "L.A." - if you like that scene, you'll love this place. If not, you'll hate it." And I have to disagree. Or I'm very "L.A." and secretly don't know it. Ew, I…
yelp.com - user review - 03/24/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by cj y.

2 of 5 stars. I didn't know this place was a restaurant. I thought it was a bar with food. For a bar, it looks really cool. It's an Asian fusion modern look with an outside patio/pool area. When we got there,…
yelp.com - user review - 03/10/2008
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Nice Atmoshpere

I'm a Grad Student living in the area and was invited here on a Saturday night for a friend's birthday get together. I loved the music - everything from Talib Kweli to David Guetta. It became very packed but...
citysearch.com - user review - 03/09/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by James H.

3 of 5 stars. I heard this place used to be a Holiday Inn and upon investigating the view from the pool patio I can definitely see the resemblance. But I digress... I loved the ambiance... well of what I could see.…
yelp.com - user review - 03/08/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Nita G.

3 of 5 stars. Why I love it: It had a nice view of downtown, nice fire pit and very nice staff. Cons: website is misleading (see note below). Small portions. It was pretty dead the night we were there (Tuesday) I…
yelp.com - user review - 02/29/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Mai L.

1 of 5 stars. If you want to eat crappy food in a nicely decorated restaurant definitely visit this place.
yelp.com - user review - 02/26/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by grace j.

3 of 5 stars. Food is okay but portions are small. Drinks are great though. Parking is bad - have to valet. Restaurant is very, very dark. Expensive food.
yelp.com - user review - 02/25/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Chris V.

3 of 5 stars. Restaurant looks great and wait-staff was nice. Food was average, overpriced, and portions were very small. Not much else to add to the many other reviews.
yelp.com - user review - 02/17/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by B H.

5 of 5 stars. This place is uber cool. The atmosphere is amazing; from the exterior you might not imagine the attention to detail brought to the design elements of the interior. Having visited on Valentine's, there…
yelp.com - user review - 02/15/2008
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Truly horrid

Worst dining experience ever. Recommended only for starry-eyed teenagers with no standards. (1) depsite reservation, waited more than 30 min before giving up and eating in bar. (2) once we gave up, still...
citysearch.com - user review - 02/11/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by belinda n.

5 of 5 stars. the head chef has his own herb garden up on the roof! i met his parents one evening while sippin on cosmos by the pool & they were gushing over their son w/such pride i almost cried feeling like ive…
yelp.com - user review - 02/04/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by esther s.

4 of 5 stars. I'd go back much more for the lounge than the dining. The location is somewhat dodgy, its in the part of downtown that the city is trying to revitalize. It's located in the hip apartment complex, The…
yelp.com - user review - 02/01/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Esther Y.

3 of 5 stars. The lounge area is super cool and the bartenders know what they are doing. The food however, was just ok... and definitely not worth the price. I had the hen, and my two friends each had a different…
yelp.com - user review - 01/24/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by stephen p.

3 of 5 stars. 3.5 stars. I like this place for it's low-key entrance way - easy to miss it - and for being relatively undiscovered aka not too busy. But that's a double-edged sword.
yelp.com - user review - 01/20/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by jennifer h.

3 of 5 stars. Not satisfied. I left feeling hungy. The seared scallops were acceptable although alittle salty. I ordered the sea bream lobster which was a little dry. My friend ordered the hen but it didnt look…
yelp.com - user review - 01/15/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Lina D.

4 of 5 stars. Blue Velvet has been around for over a year and half now. It's new enough to the LA culinary scene to draw visitors outside of LA but "happening" enough to entice locals to return. Blue velvet is…
yelp.com - user review - 01/14/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by mel c.

4 of 5 stars. ok, so i don't venture downtown very often. but this place might convince me to crawl out of my comfy westside environs and check out the world east of la cienega. first of all, location is almost…
yelp.com - user review - 01/12/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Betty B.

2 of 5 stars. I realize I'm a pretty tough critic. This is a very pretty place. The staff tries hard. I'm also not one to complain about food portions, but YES... if you like larger portions, prepare to SPEND!!…
yelp.com - user review - 12/24/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by k w.

3 of 5 stars. I have been here a few times now-never for dinner only drinks Sunken lounge table in the middle and lounge chairs all along the sides
yelp.com - user review - 12/21/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by john t.

4 of 5 stars. NOTE: i only went to the bar/lounge. didnt try the food Pros: Very hot place. The drinks are strong. The decor is modern and sexy. The people are okay too (when i went it was ok, but i hear its better…
yelp.com - user review - 12/20/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Food E.

2 of 5 stars. Food was good, but not worth the high price. Limited wine selection by glass, unless you want to spend $70 or more for a bottle. It's nice..better in the summer when you could use the outdoor lounge.…
yelp.com - user review - 12/07/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by doug m.

3 of 5 stars. ultra hip club/restaurant in one funky neighborhood. the quick lowdown.
yelp.com - user review - 12/06/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Julia K.

5 of 5 stars. loved every minute being in there...from the pool, to the food, to the amazing chocolate dessert combination, and the gorgeous servers... the atmosphere was very chill with a fire outside in the…
yelp.com - user review - 12/04/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Judy H.

4 of 5 stars. ok...if you're west of the 110, are you really "DTLA" or just "west-west adams" Blue Velvet is DTLA slick. Love: the sunken lounge table - japanese modern cool
yelp.com - user review - 12/03/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Logan The H.

3 of 5 stars. When my friends told me we were going to a gathering at Blue Velvet, I got excited that a naked Isabella Rossellini would sleepwalk toward us, muttering "Heeet me, heeeeet me!" Then I found out it…
yelp.com - user review - 12/02/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Christann R.

4 of 5 stars. This Restaurant is FABULOUS!!!!! From the moment I walked up to this chic spot, I was impressed.
yelp.com - user review - 12/02/2007
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Don't be afraid

I went here with some trepidation after reading the other reviews. I was taking a friend for her birthday before we went to the theatre, so the complaints of slow service had me worried. We got the tasting...
citysearch.com - user review - 12/01/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Kris S.

3 of 5 stars. We sat outside by the pool, and waited for a waiter to come. And we kept waiting. So we finally went inside and ordered our drinks and an order of crispy pork bites at the bar, then reclaimed our…
yelp.com - user review - 11/29/2007
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Great Bar / Lounge

Blue Velvet is rebellious by nature which is great. An apartment/hotel that houses a top/hip/chic lounge and bar set amidst a soon to be redeveloped north side of Downtown L.A. Having drinks here with the cool...
citysearch.com - user review - 11/23/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Slanderific O.

2 of 5 stars. Restaurants are about food -- right? I mean, ultimately you can go to a place for drinks...or ambiance or view...but when you go to a restaurant and drop a lot of cash, you expect the food to be on…
yelp.com - user review - 11/20/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Anita i.

4 of 5 stars. I had so much fun at blue velvet! go there with a good group of friends and sit by the poolside next to the fire. have a few drinks and enjoy the city lights. the people are nice, the ambiance is…
yelp.com - user review - 11/14/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by J P.

4 of 5 stars. Go for the ambience, not if you're hungry. The vibe is great - really pretty place for dinner. Terrific date spot. Food is good but portions are almost invisible. I enjoyed the nibbles of my…
yelp.com - user review - 11/11/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by vanessa a.

1 of 5 stars. umm no!!! my roomie invited me to her usc post exam party here it sounded great. it rained and the staff was totally unprepared for the rain and had people waiting in line on the side of the building…
yelp.com - user review - 10/19/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Andrew K.

4 of 5 stars. Very cool vibe at this Sex in the City-type spot - especially the pool. Modern, sleek, edgy. The place was sort of empty on Sunday. But, still cool. Divers scallops entree was really fresh and great.…
yelp.com - user review - 10/14/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by wansze k.

4 of 5 stars. Went here for drinks with some friends. Had the Spanish Flatbread and that was ok. Our bartender made our drinks pretty strong. They have a Berry Lemonada that is really good..nice and sweet. The…
yelp.com - user review - 10/12/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Kevin B.

5 of 5 stars. Went to this place for a friend's birthday. Hip atmosphere and delicous food. Great place to go on a special date if you want to eat great food in beautiful surroundings.
yelp.com - user review - 10/10/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by anonymous k.

3 of 5 stars. I paid over 75 bucks for a portion the size of a chicken nugget, no alcohol. Seriously... no joke. The amuse buche was tasty, consisted of a shrimp sashimi which was light and tasty, seriuosly a good…
yelp.com - user review - 10/09/2007
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Nice Chill Place

For a restaurant with bourgeoise prices, the food is actually gourmet; the service is friendly (from both female and male servers); and the place has a great relaxing vibe (or maybe that was one too many of...
citysearch.com - user review - 10/03/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Mel D.

3 of 5 stars. Rosie C.'s Birthday Outing - Part 1 Kind of easy to miss when driving down Garland. The only tell tale sign, a valet dude standing next to a sign. We quickly bypassed the dining room of the…
yelp.com - user review - 10/02/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by eugenia c.

4 of 5 stars. -nice bonzai forest in the unisex bathroom -supposedly very yummy hangar steaks
yelp.com - user review - 09/25/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by FoodSlut ..

4 of 5 stars. What a shi shi place stuck in the heart of the ghetto. When my gps told me I had arrived, I had to do a double take...am I dining with a crackwhore tonight? But trust the little white valet…
yelp.com - user review - 09/21/2007
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Incredible

One of my fave spots in LA. Highly recommend this place if you have the chance! Their cuisine is phenominal and the atmosphere is very chic and warm.
citysearch.com - user review - 09/17/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Christie X.

4 of 5 stars. Thanks for dinner, Tony T. I'm no longer a foie-gras/sweet bread virgin anymore. I tried both on Friday night, as part of the nine course tasting menu. When Tony T. asked me if I was "hungry,…
yelp.com - user review - 09/17/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Christine L.

5 of 5 stars. I think decor this place i vote 10!! Very modern and you have to check out their coed bathroom. It's pretty New York. Remember that episode on Sex & The City when Samantha was in the coed bathroom?…
yelp.com - user review - 09/16/2007
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no surprise

according to all the other reviews, everyone's main problem is their service. for me, it was the service as well. I remember ordering an appetizer and after waiting nearly 25 minutes, they came to me and said...
citysearch.com - user review - 09/11/2007
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order in...

real simple 1, the wait to order was 20 minutes.... drinks, food, ect!! 2, the waiter was so stupid, he forgot out appitizer order... 3, the waiter forgot to tell us what was not available on the menu......
citysearch.com - user review - 09/06/2007
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Won't be going again for the service

Went one thursday loved the place cool, pool area nice food OK and I mean only OK. Was really disappointed with Service we had a girl serve who never once came back and ask us if we would like another...
citysearch.com - user review - 09/06/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Andy D.

5 of 5 stars. This place is straight up amazing, straight up amazing. If you complain about the prices... then you should obviously not be eating here, it's a "fine dining place" - it's not cheap. Even if the…
yelp.com - user review - 09/06/2007
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meh....

I would disregard the review about portions. The portions are fairly typical for haute cuisine, in other words you should order a starter. The space is incredibly well designed. I think the chef is simply...
citysearch.com - user review - 08/31/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Joel Y.

4 of 5 stars. The bathroom is just stellar. Its a nicely put together room where men and women can chat before taking a dump or throwing up or pissing. It's genius. I really liked the modern/chic look of the entire…
yelp.com - user review - 08/26/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Luis S.

4 of 5 stars. drinks are good - excellent 3 beers on tap - not a big selection is down side, and they're a bit expensive. food is good too, again a little expensive. hot staff and cool atmosphere.
yelp.com - user review - 08/26/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Joe B.

3 of 5 stars. It's hip and trendy.. The atmosphere is really nice.. We enjoyed the area...
yelp.com - user review - 08/25/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by ileen c.

4 of 5 stars. atmosphere is great. the unisex bathrooms are great. clean and interesting.
yelp.com - user review - 08/19/2007
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Fun place if you are downtown

The food is actually quite good but the ambiance of the place is a little off. The whole "green attitude" is great but you don't really get that feeling when you are there. I would say it's better a lunch...
citysearch.com - user review - 08/15/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Doris C.

4 of 5 stars. This place is great for drinks, but not to eat. My friends and i threw a going away/birthday party last saturday. We decided to have dinner beforehand and then party through out the night. All i have…
yelp.com - user review - 08/15/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by C L.

4 of 5 stars. Great place for drinks by the pool, and unlike other downtown rooftop bars, you won't run the risk of running into speedo clad men... I really liked the modern styling here. The dining room…
yelp.com - user review - 08/11/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Victor K.

3 of 5 stars. This hyper chic restaurant was transformed from a Holiday Inn. It is surrounded with glass panels separating the pool from the dining room and the outdoor lounge. Straw curtains, straw table mats,…
yelp.com - user review - 08/05/2007
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Don't go here if you are hungry!!

This was really bad!!! I am actually not a food critic, but do have an idea of what is good and what is not good. I found the food at Blue Velvet to be tastey for the one bite I had. The portion that was given...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/31/2007
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won't go back there again.

This is the first time a restaurant is so underwhelming that prompted me to write a review of them....Portions were way too small for the price. Seems like the restaurant was an after-thought after they put...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/30/2007
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Beautiful restaurant delicious food.

A very romantic restaurant. We dined on Valentines Day. (My review is way overdo) Our server was a gorgeous girl, the entire staff is attractive, a great additive for our meal. My boyfriend and I had the salad...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/21/2007
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a joke

Blue velvet's food is a disaster ! a joke ! terrible , not tasty at all , way over priced , I am sorry ,go try another restaurant ! the quail was bed , the steak was terrible , even the tuna tartar that they...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/19/2007
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A truely unique experience!

My friend and I had a fabulous time here! I believe it's just as important for patrons to 'bring something' to the establishment as it is for management to provide. It's the customers who create the ambience,...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/08/2007
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Excellent restaurant ... lives up to the great reviews!

I decided to make reservations to go to Blue Velvet with a group of close friends based on the positive reviews I'd read by Jonathan Gold and the Los Angeles Times. We had a fantastic experience. The setting...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/07/2007
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Prejudiced useless management, with over priced food, and underage drinking

The food is extremely overpriced and subpar. Not to mention the snobby manager Robert. They have hired the wrong type of people to manage a nicely designed place. The food arrives in portions fit for an elf...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/01/2007
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Creative menu.stylish ambiance.killer wine list. attentive service. perfect for big groups.

I had the frightening task of picking out a birthday dining experience for my boyfriend. I say frightening because all his friends are rabid foodies--trained chefs,sommeliers,insane food geeks. They've been...
citysearch.com - user review - 06/29/2007
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astoundingly worst service ever.

Blue Velvet has a unique interior decor-- modern, chic, upscale. It also has a swimming pool-- if it really matters that you have a swimming pool at a restaurant. Aside from that-- really--this place is...
citysearch.com - user review - 06/26/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Caroline C.

3 of 5 stars. Nothing on the cocktail list was really appealing except the Fuji-Ricky, which sounded delightful and sweet but not syrupy. And by golly it was. I found this cocktail very light and tasty with a soft…
yelp.com - user review - 06/26/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by elizabeth c.

3 of 5 stars. My friend Brick just turned 30, but he's still sexy! Its a fact he needs everyone to know. So to celebrate the sexiness that is my friend Brick, we went to Blue Velvet.
yelp.com - user review - 06/26/2007
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Inconsistant food, horrid seating.

Having heard great things from LA Weekly's Jonathan Gold about this place, I came with high expectations. Upon arrival I thought the decor was sleek and modern but comfortable. I informed the hostess that 2 of...
citysearch.com - user review - 06/24/2007
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Great Decor, Awful Food

I was really excited to try Blue Velvet after the write up in West June 17th. It was my friend's birthday Saturday night and wanted to take him to a special place. The decor and layout of Blue Velvet is...
citysearch.com - user review - 06/24/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by anton r.

4 of 5 stars. So our waiter was maybe high or, at the very least, just a little odd. When my friend asked for a reccomendation between the steak and the lamb he told her to "go with the steak", blinked twice and…
yelp.com - user review - 06/18/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Alex B.

2 of 5 stars. Great Space - Lovely Staff - Nice Martini - So So Food. We a