Vibe vibe vibe! Drinks were delish with a uniquely employees only logo engraved large ice. We enjoyed a great selection of whisky cocktails and to top it all off, chicken noodle soup for last call! Great experience and establishment!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jonathan Renteria
Chill space and vibes. Great service at the bar too.
Service: 5
Danielle I.
Employees Only had been on our list for quite some time, so we were excited to snag a reservation and enjoy some sips and bites. The server was nice and the food was tasty. We especially enjoyed their mushroom pizza and house fries. When it comes to drinks, perhaps it was just that this place had been overhyped as some of LA's best cocktails, but I found them to be just okay. I tried the Midnight Breakfast and Eospresso and they were both ... fine. I wish there was something a little more memorable about them. The environment felt electric and trendy, but even right at open, grew loud with voices and pumped-in music. I think I'd recommend it to everyone to try once, but it wasn't the quiet, brilliant cocktail lounge I was hoping it might be.
Sasha Fedorova
The best and only place for delicious drinks and unique ambience. Their drink menu is out of this world. I come here often, so last time when I got bored with the menu, the bartender made his own creations by request based on my preference. Always a good crowd and a good conversation with the staff! 100% recommend it for a date night, casual night out with friends, really good food and the best drinks in this pet of town.Parking: 7-9 pm on weekdays and the weekends are the worst, but we always manage to find either a meter or street parking, anywhere from 1 to 10 minute walk. Always worth it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fries, Wagyu Burger
Jimmy K.
We tried this place recently and had a great meal. The seating area for dinner is small, but there is a bar area that a lot of people were at. The cocktail list is extensive with plenty of options to choose from. We tried the Amelia and the gin and tonic. Both were very good. For food, we tried the shrimp scampi, roasted duck breast and haricot verts. The shrimp scampi was the perfect size for someone with a smaller appetite and wasn't overwhelming like pasta dishes at other restaurants can be. The roasted duck breast was tender and had good flavor. The haricot verts were the perfect side to add with our meals. We would definitely come back!
Nigel Phipps
Stay late, and you get this amazing cup of soup.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jen N.
We went in early on a Saturday evening. There were still seats at the bar, so we grabbed those, as we were just in for a drink or 2. We were greeted warmly by a bartender who appeared to be in training. She gave us the happy hour and regular menus. We opted for the happy hour martini and beer and a shot. The shot is a house made shot that was actually pretty interesting. The drinks on the HH menu are definitely on the lighter side, but would be good before eating dinner. The HH food options looked pretty good, as did their regular cocktail menu. We were checked on regularly from the same bartender, and we did one more round - grabbing the house wine this time. The lead bartender did not seem friendly with others, so we were glad we had the other person. The ambiance is really nice, and I would love to come back and try some food and some of their cocktails.
A. B.
Great vibe, cool crowd. Everyone feels welcome. La at it's best. Nice food, libations. Intelligent patrons.
Nicole B
Vegetarian options: Not a lot of choices.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Alison Deng
Food and drinks are so good ! Good attention to detail on both. Music was a bit too loud , we had to yell across the table.
I dined in on Feb 13th, 2024 to celebrate a birthday. We made a reservation a week prior. We had to park at a public lot and took a stroll over for the reservation. Once we arrived, we were seated at a very nice low table with sofas. We were greeted by the busser asking us for still, sparkling, or tap. Off the bat, I was extremely impressed by the ambiance of the restaurant and honestly had high expectations for the service and food. However, the food and service fell extremely short. We ordered 5 food items and 2 cocktails. Cocktails: Hibiscus Rising: A bit more on the tart side. It was a bit too tart for my partner, and so we decided to flag down the manager to send back. When he came by, he talked to us very rudely and made it seem like it was an extremely big deal that we didn't like the cocktail. Amelia: Very fruity, not very spirit forward but it was enjoyable for the most part. Food: Fried Calamari: The calamari was actually really good! It was probably the only item that I enjoyed on the menu. It came with cocktail sauce and tartare sauce. It was nice and crispy and very enjoyable. Oysters on the Half Shell: We asked for the Mignonette on the side. I love oysters, but the oysters with the condiments provided was really nothing to write home about. I'll probably skip if I were to ever come back. Grilled Focaccia: The focaccia came out almost cold, and we had waited a good 20-25 minutes for it. Needless to say, really disappointing. It lacked a lot of flavor and the ricotta dip/spread tasted almost like paté. Apparently there was honey drizzled on the dip as well, which really didn't taste like it. Wagyu Zabuton Steak Frites: I think this particular item was really good. It came with a bordelaise which was poured at the table. It was salted just enough and was very tender and soft. I personally really liked the frites that it came with as well! Arrabbiata: This was the most disappointing item to say the least. We added the ricotta (+$5). The pasta took about almost 30 minutes to come out, which was less than al-dente. So we decided to send it back, and we ended up waiting to the point where we got full and just decided we didn't want it overall. At the end of the dinner, although we had sent back/canceled two items, they still kept it on the bill, even though we barely had any of the dishes. It honestly felt like they just didn't bother to take it off and wanted to keep it on hoping that we wouldn't take a look. The manager didn't seem very friendly and the server was just okay. I would like to come back, but maybe not as of now.
Steve S.
O, HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN! After a long hiatus (and well deserved, in retrospect), I intended to meet a friend at Employees Only in West Hollywood. Last minute, my friend cancelled on me, but I still went, remembering what a nice time and meal I enjoyed a few years ago. However... I was extremely disappointed! The place looks the same, but EMPTY. And, worse, I was IGNORED at the bar. A lovely hostess cheerfully welcomed me, then... NOTHING! I sat the 30%-full bar for 15+ minutes LITERALLY IGNORED. With all of the GREAT alternatives in Hollywood, EO is OUT OF MY ROTATION (unfortunately). If this service is representative of the "new norma"l at Employees Only, then I'm afraid it won't be around for long anyhow.
Greg Paperin
The atmosphe is good, the interior stylish. But we came for the cocktails and they are really terrible. I watched the bar-people making them and I tasted them. Made from cheap ingredients and taste bad. Do not recommend. (Did not try the food.)
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
Yvette S.
A girlfriend of mine and I went out for a girls' night out. We walked down her street and decided to walk Santa Monica and explore some of the local bars, restaurants, and "sceneey" places. She raved about Employees Only- at first I thought I had been there before but I was very much mistaken- this place is a gem. 1. Cocktails- crafted 2. Bartenders- relatable (not doucheey) , super welcoming and inviting. Delicious drinks and fun uplifting energy 3. Dj- had all the hits and made it a place where everyone was smiling. (No RBFs found here) 4. I didn't eat but the food looked and smelled amazing 5. Very cool & chic speakeasy esque bar in the back- Chris was a sweetheart and allowed us to peak around even though they were shutting it down. I highly recommend for all occasions - girls night, guys night, or date night- you honestly can't go wrong.
Vibe vibe vibe! Drinks were delish with a uniquely employees only logo engraved large ice. We enjoyed a great selection of whisky cocktails and to top it all off, chicken noodle soup for last call! Great experience and establishment!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chill space and vibes. Great service at the bar too.
Service: 5
Employees Only had been on our list for quite some time, so we were excited to snag a reservation and enjoy some sips and bites. The server was nice and the food was tasty. We especially enjoyed their mushroom pizza and house fries. When it comes to drinks, perhaps it was just that this place had been overhyped as some of LA's best cocktails, but I found them to be just okay. I tried the Midnight Breakfast and Eospresso and they were both ... fine. I wish there was something a little more memorable about them. The environment felt electric and trendy, but even right at open, grew loud with voices and pumped-in music. I think I'd recommend it to everyone to try once, but it wasn't the quiet, brilliant cocktail lounge I was hoping it might be.
The best and only place for delicious drinks and unique ambience. Their drink menu is out of this world. I come here often, so last time when I got bored with the menu, the bartender made his own creations by request based on my preference. Always a good crowd and a good conversation with the staff! 100% recommend it for a date night, casual night out with friends, really good food and the best drinks in this pet of town.Parking: 7-9 pm on weekdays and the weekends are the worst, but we always manage to find either a meter or street parking, anywhere from 1 to 10 minute walk. Always worth it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fries, Wagyu Burger
We tried this place recently and had a great meal. The seating area for dinner is small, but there is a bar area that a lot of people were at. The cocktail list is extensive with plenty of options to choose from. We tried the Amelia and the gin and tonic. Both were very good. For food, we tried the shrimp scampi, roasted duck breast and haricot verts. The shrimp scampi was the perfect size for someone with a smaller appetite and wasn't overwhelming like pasta dishes at other restaurants can be. The roasted duck breast was tender and had good flavor. The haricot verts were the perfect side to add with our meals. We would definitely come back!
Stay late, and you get this amazing cup of soup.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We went in early on a Saturday evening. There were still seats at the bar, so we grabbed those, as we were just in for a drink or 2. We were greeted warmly by a bartender who appeared to be in training. She gave us the happy hour and regular menus. We opted for the happy hour martini and beer and a shot. The shot is a house made shot that was actually pretty interesting. The drinks on the HH menu are definitely on the lighter side, but would be good before eating dinner. The HH food options looked pretty good, as did their regular cocktail menu. We were checked on regularly from the same bartender, and we did one more round - grabbing the house wine this time. The lead bartender did not seem friendly with others, so we were glad we had the other person. The ambiance is really nice, and I would love to come back and try some food and some of their cocktails.
Great vibe, cool crowd. Everyone feels welcome. La at it's best. Nice food, libations. Intelligent patrons.
Vegetarian options: Not a lot of choices.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Food and drinks are so good ! Good attention to detail on both. Music was a bit too loud , we had to yell across the table.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
I dined in on Feb 13th, 2024 to celebrate a birthday. We made a reservation a week prior. We had to park at a public lot and took a stroll over for the reservation. Once we arrived, we were seated at a very nice low table with sofas. We were greeted by the busser asking us for still, sparkling, or tap. Off the bat, I was extremely impressed by the ambiance of the restaurant and honestly had high expectations for the service and food. However, the food and service fell extremely short. We ordered 5 food items and 2 cocktails. Cocktails: Hibiscus Rising: A bit more on the tart side. It was a bit too tart for my partner, and so we decided to flag down the manager to send back. When he came by, he talked to us very rudely and made it seem like it was an extremely big deal that we didn't like the cocktail. Amelia: Very fruity, not very spirit forward but it was enjoyable for the most part. Food: Fried Calamari: The calamari was actually really good! It was probably the only item that I enjoyed on the menu. It came with cocktail sauce and tartare sauce. It was nice and crispy and very enjoyable. Oysters on the Half Shell: We asked for the Mignonette on the side. I love oysters, but the oysters with the condiments provided was really nothing to write home about. I'll probably skip if I were to ever come back. Grilled Focaccia: The focaccia came out almost cold, and we had waited a good 20-25 minutes for it. Needless to say, really disappointing. It lacked a lot of flavor and the ricotta dip/spread tasted almost like paté. Apparently there was honey drizzled on the dip as well, which really didn't taste like it. Wagyu Zabuton Steak Frites: I think this particular item was really good. It came with a bordelaise which was poured at the table. It was salted just enough and was very tender and soft. I personally really liked the frites that it came with as well! Arrabbiata: This was the most disappointing item to say the least. We added the ricotta (+$5). The pasta took about almost 30 minutes to come out, which was less than al-dente. So we decided to send it back, and we ended up waiting to the point where we got full and just decided we didn't want it overall. At the end of the dinner, although we had sent back/canceled two items, they still kept it on the bill, even though we barely had any of the dishes. It honestly felt like they just didn't bother to take it off and wanted to keep it on hoping that we wouldn't take a look. The manager didn't seem very friendly and the server was just okay. I would like to come back, but maybe not as of now.
O, HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN! After a long hiatus (and well deserved, in retrospect), I intended to meet a friend at Employees Only in West Hollywood. Last minute, my friend cancelled on me, but I still went, remembering what a nice time and meal I enjoyed a few years ago. However... I was extremely disappointed! The place looks the same, but EMPTY. And, worse, I was IGNORED at the bar. A lovely hostess cheerfully welcomed me, then... NOTHING! I sat the 30%-full bar for 15+ minutes LITERALLY IGNORED. With all of the GREAT alternatives in Hollywood, EO is OUT OF MY ROTATION (unfortunately). If this service is representative of the "new norma"l at Employees Only, then I'm afraid it won't be around for long anyhow.
The atmosphe is good, the interior stylish. But we came for the cocktails and they are really terrible. I watched the bar-people making them and I tasted them. Made from cheap ingredients and taste bad. Do not recommend. (Did not try the food.)
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
A girlfriend of mine and I went out for a girls' night out. We walked down her street and decided to walk Santa Monica and explore some of the local bars, restaurants, and "sceneey" places. She raved about Employees Only- at first I thought I had been there before but I was very much mistaken- this place is a gem. 1. Cocktails- crafted 2. Bartenders- relatable (not doucheey) , super welcoming and inviting. Delicious drinks and fun uplifting energy 3. Dj- had all the hits and made it a place where everyone was smiling. (No RBFs found here) 4. I didn't eat but the food looked and smelled amazing 5. Very cool & chic speakeasy esque bar in the back- Chris was a sweetheart and allowed us to peak around even though they were shutting it down. I highly recommend for all occasions - girls night, guys night, or date night- you honestly can't go wrong.
Great Cocktails and Good
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5