We enjoyed another wonderful meal at Abernathy's. I love this format of rotating chefs. Our most recent meal was a wonderfully fresh take on comfort food. Despite being short staffed the service was attentive, welcoming, and professional. Looking forward to our next visit.
SaraF
We had tickets for the opera at 7:30 so made a dinner reservation at Abernathy's. The hostess noted that I had asked for an indoor table and that was provided (most of their seating is outdoors). Our server said that because they were fully booked we needed to order our drinks and food together. No problem. She also asked if we were going to attend the 6:30 lecture or just the performance. Menu is quite limited. My partner had one of their specialty rum cocktails, it was delicious. I had white wine. I had the salmon and he had the short ribs, also good. (She told us the chef recommended having the salmon rare but I had it cooked through). For dessert I had their flourless chocolate cake. We actually finished in time to hear most of Maestro Conlan's talk. Not sure if I would eat there again because of the limited menu, but everything was tasty and the service was excellent.
myfreedom84
Perfect location for the Dorothy Chandler Opera visitors. It is just steps away from the opera house. The service in the restaurant was very good. The food was just slightly above average for my taste considering the limited menu. However, I still recommend this restaurant for the opera visitors.
DebraD
Abernethy's on The Music Center Plaza is the best place to eat before or after the opera or a show. And it's current iteration with Chef Cleveland at the helm provides a delicious sampling of eclectic soul food. Three of us dined together late Sunday afternoon after seeing a matinee performance of Funny Girl at the Ahmanson, and we shared a couple of appetizers and entrees. Everything was fresh and delicious with surprising tastes here and there to wake up our taste buds. Be sure to make a reservation ahead of time as it's a popular dining spot and one of the few in close proximity to the performing arts venues.
disappointed
Don't order the chicken. It was beautiful, but overcooked and under seasoned and WAY too expensive for what it was. Too, the rice served with it was undercooked (not al dente, but hard inside). My 17 year old son (nearly 6 feet tall and always hungry) ordered it and barely ate 1/3 of it, it was so dry and unpleasant. My mom and I tried it too ... and we all agreed. Southern food has flavor to spare - this had none. The salmon was wonderful, as were the crab cakes, the caesar salad, and the catfish nuggets. Oh and the flourless chocolate cake and the cocktails. But, the service was super slow and the server was inattentive. We finished our appetizers and still didn't have the cocktail and wine we ordered, which was super disappointing and made the experience much less lovely. Too, I asked for a new water glass because it looked unwashed, and he brought me another one that looked unwashed, and said "that's just how they look." But, my mom and son had perfectly clear, not gross looking glasses (and I ended up taking a nice, clear one off a table that was empty). For a restaurant with those prices to put unwashed looking water glasses on the table ... and refuse to bring a clean one ... I just didn't get it. Finally, I asked for more whipped cream (delish!) to go with the flourless chocolate cake (suuuuper rich) that my son and mom and I shared, and was told "right away!" Nice :) BUT, noone ever brought it. Again, disappointing to say the least. I still like Abernathy's best of the pre-theater options ... but this was a disappointing evening. And I am not happy about the money I spent on that chicken.
CaseyT
We had John Cleveland as the chef in residence and oh wow, the food was so good! Cornbread seems simple, but his is on a whole other level. Cocktails were also unique and on point!
Gkak
This was not our first Abernathy's dining experience before a performance at the Ahmanson theatre. We look forward to enjoying a pre show dinner in their out door area. We shared a Caesar salad with a hint of cumin and a crab and asparagus appetizer. Loved both of them. For our mains, we had their roasted salmon (really, really good) and the fisherman's stew. Loved our two desserts, apple cobbler and chocolate cake. Looking forward to returning and trying the pork chop. Hats off to Chef Cleaveland!
CLIFFS
Service was very, very slow and some of the food was luke warm instead of hot. We have eaten there several times in the past without complaint. The waitress advised when we sat down that if we were going to the theatre we should put our full order in so that timing would not be a problem, we did as suggested, but still order took over a half hour to arrive. We made the theatre timely, but dinner was rushed. Not as comfortable as it should have been as as it had been in the past. The performance was at 6:30pm, we were seated a few minutes before 5:00pm and were rushed to leave at 6:20pm.
Tangocherie
I visited Abernathey's with my son a week prior before a concert at Disney Hall, and the food was SO good (crab cakes, corn bread, deviled eggs), that when I planned to return alone for another concert a week later, I made a reservation for me alone. When I showed up yesterday a little early, they wanted to put me at a table just inside the tent opening in the freezing wind and rain. I'm elderly, no way would I sit there, but the hostess was adamant that despite my reservation of a week ago, "that's all they had." I refused and was quite upset and about to leave, but the manager asked me if I'd mind sitting at the bar. Perfectly acceptable but I felt like both me and my reservation were second class citizens. I was reminded how in France, a woman alone in a fancy restaurant is treated like a queen! Not so in L.A. I guess.
Ojos
It was raining outside but we were quite cozy on the patio. The outdoor heaters may have been a bit too warm. Our charming server turned down the heat for us. We had the most delicious dinner. The roasted salmon was divine. The jerk catfish nuggets, the asparagus, and crab, the amazing fisherman's stew, even the cornbread was excellent.
Abernethy's had a good menu selection and the service was excellent. We ordered crab cakes, fishermen's stew, and dirty rice and shared them family style. The flourless chocolate cake was delicious. A great pre-concert brunch spot!
Angelica
Would have liked if description of menu items would state which ones are spicy. The chicken was dry, and too spicy for me. I chose the chicken as it sounded simpler without being spicy. Chicken Caesar was tasty, but way too big for one person as a starter..
SeattleSojourner1228
Chef Cleveland's entrees of mixed cuisines with California local ingredients were delicious. The crab and asparagus salad was perfect and the pan baked cornbread was a great complement.
Jim Newman
Everything
Cheri Ediger
Loved our first visit to Abernethy’s. The food was excellent and the service was outstanding. Convenient for Music Center events.
We enjoyed another wonderful meal at Abernathy's. I love this format of rotating chefs. Our most recent meal was a wonderfully fresh take on comfort food. Despite being short staffed the service was attentive, welcoming, and professional. Looking forward to our next visit.
We had tickets for the opera at 7:30 so made a dinner reservation at Abernathy's. The hostess noted that I had asked for an indoor table and that was provided (most of their seating is outdoors). Our server said that because they were fully booked we needed to order our drinks and food together. No problem. She also asked if we were going to attend the 6:30 lecture or just the performance. Menu is quite limited. My partner had one of their specialty rum cocktails, it was delicious. I had white wine. I had the salmon and he had the short ribs, also good. (She told us the chef recommended having the salmon rare but I had it cooked through). For dessert I had their flourless chocolate cake. We actually finished in time to hear most of Maestro Conlan's talk. Not sure if I would eat there again because of the limited menu, but everything was tasty and the service was excellent.
Perfect location for the Dorothy Chandler Opera visitors. It is just steps away from the opera house. The service in the restaurant was very good. The food was just slightly above average for my taste considering the limited menu. However, I still recommend this restaurant for the opera visitors.
Abernethy's on The Music Center Plaza is the best place to eat before or after the opera or a show. And it's current iteration with Chef Cleveland at the helm provides a delicious sampling of eclectic soul food. Three of us dined together late Sunday afternoon after seeing a matinee performance of Funny Girl at the Ahmanson, and we shared a couple of appetizers and entrees. Everything was fresh and delicious with surprising tastes here and there to wake up our taste buds. Be sure to make a reservation ahead of time as it's a popular dining spot and one of the few in close proximity to the performing arts venues.
Don't order the chicken. It was beautiful, but overcooked and under seasoned and WAY too expensive for what it was. Too, the rice served with it was undercooked (not al dente, but hard inside). My 17 year old son (nearly 6 feet tall and always hungry) ordered it and barely ate 1/3 of it, it was so dry and unpleasant. My mom and I tried it too ... and we all agreed. Southern food has flavor to spare - this had none. The salmon was wonderful, as were the crab cakes, the caesar salad, and the catfish nuggets. Oh and the flourless chocolate cake and the cocktails. But, the service was super slow and the server was inattentive. We finished our appetizers and still didn't have the cocktail and wine we ordered, which was super disappointing and made the experience much less lovely. Too, I asked for a new water glass because it looked unwashed, and he brought me another one that looked unwashed, and said "that's just how they look." But, my mom and son had perfectly clear, not gross looking glasses (and I ended up taking a nice, clear one off a table that was empty). For a restaurant with those prices to put unwashed looking water glasses on the table ... and refuse to bring a clean one ... I just didn't get it. Finally, I asked for more whipped cream (delish!) to go with the flourless chocolate cake (suuuuper rich) that my son and mom and I shared, and was told "right away!" Nice :) BUT, noone ever brought it. Again, disappointing to say the least. I still like Abernathy's best of the pre-theater options ... but this was a disappointing evening. And I am not happy about the money I spent on that chicken.
We had John Cleveland as the chef in residence and oh wow, the food was so good! Cornbread seems simple, but his is on a whole other level. Cocktails were also unique and on point!
This was not our first Abernathy's dining experience before a performance at the Ahmanson theatre. We look forward to enjoying a pre show dinner in their out door area. We shared a Caesar salad with a hint of cumin and a crab and asparagus appetizer. Loved both of them. For our mains, we had their roasted salmon (really, really good) and the fisherman's stew. Loved our two desserts, apple cobbler and chocolate cake. Looking forward to returning and trying the pork chop. Hats off to Chef Cleaveland!
Service was very, very slow and some of the food was luke warm instead of hot. We have eaten there several times in the past without complaint. The waitress advised when we sat down that if we were going to the theatre we should put our full order in so that timing would not be a problem, we did as suggested, but still order took over a half hour to arrive. We made the theatre timely, but dinner was rushed. Not as comfortable as it should have been as as it had been in the past. The performance was at 6:30pm, we were seated a few minutes before 5:00pm and were rushed to leave at 6:20pm.
I visited Abernathey's with my son a week prior before a concert at Disney Hall, and the food was SO good (crab cakes, corn bread, deviled eggs), that when I planned to return alone for another concert a week later, I made a reservation for me alone. When I showed up yesterday a little early, they wanted to put me at a table just inside the tent opening in the freezing wind and rain. I'm elderly, no way would I sit there, but the hostess was adamant that despite my reservation of a week ago, "that's all they had." I refused and was quite upset and about to leave, but the manager asked me if I'd mind sitting at the bar. Perfectly acceptable but I felt like both me and my reservation were second class citizens. I was reminded how in France, a woman alone in a fancy restaurant is treated like a queen! Not so in L.A. I guess.
It was raining outside but we were quite cozy on the patio. The outdoor heaters may have been a bit too warm. Our charming server turned down the heat for us. We had the most delicious dinner. The roasted salmon was divine. The jerk catfish nuggets, the asparagus, and crab, the amazing fisherman's stew, even the cornbread was excellent.
Restaurantji Recommends
Abernethy's had a good menu selection and the service was excellent. We ordered crab cakes, fishermen's stew, and dirty rice and shared them family style. The flourless chocolate cake was delicious. A great pre-concert brunch spot!
Would have liked if description of menu items would state which ones are spicy. The chicken was dry, and too spicy for me. I chose the chicken as it sounded simpler without being spicy. Chicken Caesar was tasty, but way too big for one person as a starter..
Chef Cleveland's entrees of mixed cuisines with California local ingredients were delicious. The crab and asparagus salad was perfect and the pan baked cornbread was a great complement.
Everything
Loved our first visit to Abernethy’s. The food was excellent and the service was outstanding. Convenient for Music Center events.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5