Cavatina

One of my fav go-​to spots in LA for a Hollywood power lunch or dinner. Love this place, décor, ambiance, food. just everything. You can find yourself sitting by a famous screen writer, producer, musician, someone famous in this very cool and casual setting.

Cavatina, located in the beautiful boutique hotel Sunset Marquis, gave me a truly unforgettable experience that was unlike any dinner I’ve had. Upon entering the hotel, we walked through several sections of beautiful décor until we reached the garden in the back. The restaurant is located in the middle of the garden past the bridge, and has a gorgeous atmosphere that is perfect for a date or a girls night out.
Upon entering, we were greeted by warm heat lamps that surrounded the area, and since it was winter, Cavatina covered up their open air rafter ceilings so that we wouldn’t get too cold. The drinks here were delicious, and I would recommend starting out with a drink. Since we were here for a tasting, we got to try a wide variety of dishes ranging from seafood to steak, and everything we had was phenomenal.
Kusshi oyster with fennel and caviar: I love kusshi oysters, and this dish was no exception. The fennel and caviar added a nice touch of flavor to the freshness of the oyster, and it was the perfect amuse bouche.
Scallop crudo with nori oil, powdered sesame, radish, hijiki, and pickled apple: This was one of my favorite dishes; the scallop was super fresh and light and the texture of the powdered sesame, radish, and oil complemented the scallops well. The apples added a nice tang to the scallops, and the contrast in crunchiness and softness was great.
Albacore poke with dragonfruit jelly, black rice paper, Tobiko olive oil, and Serrano chili: Although I did not like the jelly texture with the poke, everything else was delicious. The black rice paper added a nice light crunch to the poke, and you can really taste the different flavors that was integrated into this dish.
Hamachi with peppers, onions, garlic pureed together, avocado mousse, masago, and Serrano chili vinegar: Another favorite of mine as the serrano chili added a nice kick to the fish along with the smooth, creamy avocado. The hamachi was cut to a precision, and I could not have enjoyed this dish any better.
Chorizo lobster and shrimp, crispy black rice, almonds, aioli, onions, asparagus: This dish was phenomenal in texture, and the combination of everything really enlightened my taste buds.
Kimchi risotto with crispy pork belly, quail egg, crispy shallots, green onions: I had so many favorite dishes! This one sealed the deal with me as I love how the chef was able to turn a simple risotto into a Korean inspired dish that tasted phenomenal. And of course. eggs are always a win.
Last but not least, the dry aged prime rib eye, chestnut purée, purple cauliflower, truffle beurre monte, veal jus: Another fantastic dish. The salt didn’t overpower the meatiness of the steak, and it also did not saturate the mouth with the heavy salt feeling one could get from a steak. Instead, this juicy and flavorful dry aged was lightly salted and tasted just right.
On to the dessert! Crème fraiche cheesecake with dulce de leche, espresso ice cream: This cheesecake was the perfect dessert as it was light and fluffy. I loved the pairing of the ice cream as well as the bits that added a nice crunch.
Hazelnut streusel, chocolate bits, berry ice cream: This chocolate streusel was very rich and decadent, and it offered a nice contrast to our cheesecake.
James Beard Award-​Winning Chef Michael Schlow brought a fresh and bold California cuisine that is unparalleled to other California cuisines in LA. Everything from the atmosphere, the service, presentation, and the food was impeccable, and I could not have had a better night.

For wonderful ambiance, gorgeous (covered) outdoor seating, and a nice peaceful vibe, Cavatina wins the highest marks. The Sunset Marquis is a glamorous yet still low-​key hotel in an area where a sunny weekend will usually attract some of the most obnoxious parties and party goers that LA has to offer. The restaurant is an extension of what the Sunset Marquis is going for, with just a few groups dining on a Saturday at lunch. You’re surrounded by lots of greenery and ponds, and it really feels like a precious urban oasis.
Now the food… oh, the food. Honestly, I never expect too much from a hotel restaurant. The menu options are always so basic and the prices are always sky high, I assume to cater to every kind of guest that is staying at their hotel. For example, a Cobb salad is $ 18, a cheeseburger is $ 18, and a tagliatelle with bolognese is $ 24. If this was a super gourmet place with insanely fresh and local ingredients and creative spins on these dishes, it might be worth the money but as it was this basic bitch was not impressed.
What I would love to do next time is meet friends here at a quiet time for just wine and a little snack and not expect to have a satisfying meal. The surroundings are so gorgeous and the service was great, so I can work around the less than stellar food situation.

A beautiful setting on the growns of the Sunset Marquis. You feel like you have left L.A. and are staying at Hotel Bel Air. Wonderful art from a gallery on the premises makes for an immersive experience. The food is the best part. The lamb balls were sensational and the chicken is THE BEST chicken I have ever eaten. Maitre’D Lance makes the evening so special. HIghly recommend it as a place to go for a special occassion.

This place is wonderful. Went here for my 2 year anniversary after comparing a few places online… And wow, it was even more beautiful than I thought it would be! The restaurant itself is surrounded by a hotel garden, but what’s really special is when you go explore the garden area. It’s huge and has a surprisingly private and relaxing atmosphere for somewhere in the middle of a city.
The food was good; I’m not an expert, but the albacore poke was amazing! I’d say the food is worth the price, but I generally value ambiance more, anyway.
What was really killer was the service. We went late on a Sunday night and there were only two other tables of people there. We practically had the staff all to ourselves — and shout out to Jayme for the great wine recommendations! Everyone there made us feel very welcome and relaxed. I guess they can afford to have such great service since they restaurant doesn’t need to keep itself afloat — it’s mainly there to ensure that hotel guests have an awesome time.
The hotel itself is a bit pricey for me — but we’ll definitely be back for spa day!

Might be one of my fave date spots in la, super cute and secluded. Valet is definitely on the more expensive side but food and drinks are top notch. The ambiance is great, and service is steady.

I’ve been to cavatina two times because I love garden type places with twinkle lights. It has a very zen and calming atmosphere while the restaurant faces a waterfall with a koi pond. The restaurant is outside in the middle of a hotel. It’s a very sundress type place as it’s not casual and not fancy either. It’s super romantic so I would definitely recommend it for dates. It’s not a long sit down dinner at all it’s actually quite fast. All the food comes out fairly quick and you feel like you were in and out. I would prefer for it to be longer just because it’s a little expensive once all the dishes add up. Portions are small so you’re kind of encouraged to order a lot. Things you must get on this menu. The crostini with homemade ricotta and truffle butter is absolutely amazing!!! Probably the highlight of the meal because I’ve never had them anywhere else and they’re super addictive. The Kusshi oysters with black pepper were also really good I recommend those too. Another must have is the lamb meatballs under «small plates». It’s heavenly. I always come back for those 3 dishes and recommend them it will definitely be the highlight of your meal.

Not only is Cavatina secluded and beautiful, but the food is excellent. Hidden away in the garden area of the Sunset Marquis hotel, the restaurant provides a romantic and elegant setting.
The dinner menu is a decent size, with lots of seafood and fresh vegetable dishes. Being vegetarian, its always nice when there’s more than one option to choose from. I opted for the Cauliflower Steak with Artichokes and Truffles, which was amazing.
I would love to go back to try more of the menu, and to experience the gorgeous atmosphere again!

Such amazing vide, outdoor seating, and the food is to die for! Farro! Pork belly! Peas! Sweet Corn! Brussels Sprouts –MY FAVORITE!!!

We stayed at the Sunset Marquis (which we also loved) and had room service, which is a selection of menu items from Cavatina, breakfast and dinner at Cavatina. The food was fantastic, the service very friendly and fast. We were travelling with our 2 year old and they were very kind and accommodating to him.
I loved my breakfast rice bowl, and the other food we ordered at breakfast looked fantastic, but I didn’t taste it.
For dinner we had Crunchy Eggplant (delicious, large serving), Scallop Crudo (amazing flavours and the scallop was so smooth and buttery), Lamb Meatballs with Tomato, Cumin and Pine Nuts (delicious, particularly the tomato sauce quite a large serving too), Cauliflower Steak with Artichokes and Truffles (OMG, this was soooo good, I want to eat it now), Potato Purée (so good that we had to order another bowl for our 2 year old as he ate the whole thing) and Spicy Charred Broccoli (broccoli has never tasted better!)
For desert we had the ice cream, heaps of yummy flavours to choose from and the warm cookies with milk which were delicious and very large!
Room service we had the Homemade Potato Chips, Crostini with Homemade Ricotta and Truffle Honey, Classic Steak Tartare, The Marquis Cheeseburger, a toasted cheese sandwich, french fries and a vegetarian linguini that they made off menu for my husband. They were very tasty, but probably not at their best as they were not particularly hot by the time they arrived at our room, which was a shame. The only item that didn’t measure up to all the other food we ate was the steak tartare — it had a nice flavour, but the steak was a but too sinewy for a tartare.
I really wanted to try the Lobster roll, but didn’t get a chance…
The garden setting surrounding the restaurant is very peaceful and lush. We ate outside so that we could enjoy it!

«Cavatina» is a term used in music, literally meaning an «unembellished melody, beautiful in its simplicity.» I’d have to concur that this spot is romantic, magical, and a hidden gem that I was never introduced to until yesterday.
The Sunset Marquis hotel attracts all types of talent, so don’t be surprised if you see a rock star while dining here. I dined here for lunch and noticed a Disney star eating in front of me.
We started off with the Ahi Tuna appetizer, which was so delicate and precious with its thinly sliced tuna on top of cucumber with avocado purée and a small tower of fine rice. I highly recommend the Sunset Cobb salad, its a delectable combination of lettuce, avocado, cheese, and chicken.
I also tried the Mediterranean Sea Bass, which came with root vegetables that weren’t tasty, but the perfect piece of fish made up for it! The seared tuna salad came with an amazing fennel vinaigrette, with the perfect amount of piquillo peppers, potato, olives, capers, haricots verts, and red onion.
Everything about this restaurant is perfection. Now I understand why it attracts ambitious, hot, and artistic types like moths to a flame!

P. S. If you walk in too fast, you’ll miss the Morisson Gallery to the right, chock full of amazing vintage portraits and images of Stevie Nicks, The Doors, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, etc.

When I say 3 star, I mean it is just OK, not bad. The staff is always friendly. The ambiance is really nice for Los Angeles (lovely outdoor venue for Los Angeles). The issue is the food. It is never terrible, it is just OK, and kind of forgettable. If the food was better I would come here more often, but the last few visits have proved a little disappointing given there are so many options in LA at this price point.

Cavatina is located inside the Sunset Marquis Hotel. You valet ($ 10 on the day that I came), walk through the lobby, past a pool and some cool guitar statues, over a little bridge and there it is.
There’s both outdoor and indoor seating available. It was a nice day, so I chose to sit outside. As the sun started to set, it got a little chilly and they turned the heat lamps on for me.
My reservation was for 5 p.m. but dinner wasn’t being served until 5:30. But by the time I looked over the menu and ordered my drink, it was close enough to 5:30 and the chef didn’t mind firing up a little early. I thought that was nice.
My server was friendly and very familiar with the menu items.
DRINKS: I ordered the Southside Royale. It was STRONG! Very good, though.
FOOD: Ahi Tuna for my starter. Avocado, red jalapeño, Meyer lemon and crispy rice atop of fresh Ahi Tuna. Very good! Small portion, I will say.
Mediterranean Sea Bass with Olive Oil, Sea Salt and lemon for my main dish. Excellent! Perfectly cooked and the fish was a good size.
My server informed me that they offer Sunday Brunch and host live music events during the summer. It is a bit pricey here but it provides a nice atmosphere and good food.
I will definitely be back!

Are you guys serious when you write reviews saying that the food here is «amazing» «outstanding» or whatever… What the hell is wrong with cooks/​chef in that place??? I mean come ooooooonnn Chef Schlow!!! it’s your name on that Menu, how can you allow such little care and no finesse in your kitchen…
Plus, I called twice to confirm that I would like to get a cake/​pastry/​… With a candle at the end as it was a birthday lunch … NOOOOTHIIIING ever came…
Anyway, still a great private place to hangout but ONLY for drinks!!!

Cavatina, within the Sunset Marquis Hotel is an oasis in the heart of West Hollywood, near the Sunset Strip. Surrounded by trees and water features, the restaurant is a quiet and comfortable retreat… and the people watching is fabulous! It features my three favorite attributes in a restaurant: excellent service, mouth-​watering, succulent food and a most fantastic environment!
Apparently, the insider tip is to get the burger. We all tried it and were not disappointed. It is on my list as one of the best burgers I’ve eaten. The cheese platter is also a thing of beauty — hearty and delicious, it is NOT one of those platters where you get a slice or two of cheese for $ 25.
My friends and I decided to go here the other night for dinner because we wanted to be able to have a conversation and visit without straining to hear each other or get hurried out after our meal. Indeed, we were able to take our time and have a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Be sure to visit Tony in Bar 1200 on your way out to hear some fun stories about the history of the property.

What a gorgeous boutique hotel in West Hollywood! It is hidden in the residential area.
Love all the decoration… all about HOLLYWOOD! Lots of famous artists pictures in the hotel.
Love Cavatina restaurant, beautiful patio seating area, Lots of flowers and plants in front of the restaurant. Very relaxing enjoying the meal.
There is a small bar with TV at the entrance of the restaurant. Huge patio area & also indoor seating area.
The Service: FANTASTIC! Very professional and attentive~ Always pay attention to all the tables. Great customer service.
The Food:
Crostini with Homemade Ricotta — OMG! They put the truffle honey on the crostini and top with lots of ricotta cheese~ The crostini is crunchy outside & soft in the middle. The sweetness of the honey mixed with savory taste of the ricotta cheese. TWO THUMBS UIP!
Short Rib-​Stuffed Peppadew Peppers — What a surprise when I bit into the deep fried peppers. The short rib stuffing inside the peppers… super flavorful!
Jar of House-​Pickled Vegetables with Salami & Hot Mustard — What a beautiful presentation. Perfect dish to go with cocktail.
Braised Pork Belly — A little bit fattening, lots of fat but delicious. Wish there is more than one piece. $ 15!
Farro and Organic Mutsu Apple Salad — Marcona almonds and pickled red onion. Very healthy dish and filling too. Big portion compared to other small plate dishes.
Lamb Meatballs — Tomato, cumin, pine nuts, ricotta salata. The best lamb meatballs I have ever tasted. Good portion for small plate. Very flavorful and lots of ingredient inside the meatballs. Will definitely order again.
The Parking: Valet parking only. The street parking needs residential parking permit.

This is actually a really lovely, discrete and delightful place to have a business meeting. I went for a lunch meeting and the sunny pollside area along with the koi ponds snaking around the property give you a sunny and relaxing feel.
I imagine for dinner, the pool scene and the cool lighting are probably more funky and trendy than relaxing. Either way, a hidden gem with enough scenery (of many different kinds) to keep anyone interested.
We were seated promptly next to a flowing pond. The water feature was really nice.
I ordered the Sunset Cobb salad ($ 18). It was a large bowl brimming with avocado, big slices of eggs, bacon and blue cheese. It was pretty good (I’m not really a salad gal, but this one rang my bell). The salad was huge. I don’t see how anyone could finish it in one sitting.
My friend had the lobster roll ($ 24). When it came, he was a little unsure how to pick it up and eat it… the sandwich is large and packed! But he managed to make it work. And pronounced the sandwich to be «delicious». It certainly looked really good.
Our iced teas were refilled without having to ask. Service was attentive and friendly. The atmosphere of this place is just so serene and relaxing (yes, I’ve said that before). It’s a really good place to take someone for a business lunch — especially if the person is from out of town — because the artwork throughout the hotel is amazing.
This is likely to become my new «go to» for client lunch meetings. Good food. Good service and a great and very lovely atmosphere.

********************* 1217 **********************
Cavatina is located inside the Sunset Marquis Hotel in West Hollywood. No one would know about it unless you are the local or stay here at the hotel.
Cavatina is a beautiful place overlooking the serene villa gardens, with James Beard award winning chef Michael Schlow has been a long time fan and guest of Sunset Marquis and cavatina marks his first LA Restaurant.
Chef Schlow has teamed up with Executive Chef Roger Eggleston to present dishes at cavatina that showcase the fresh and amazing local California product with a modern twist.
Cavatina opens all week and their Sunday Brunch is quite popular here, $ 58.00 per person, and it was a FEAST.
APPERTIZER:
— Homemade Free Range Chicken Sausage
— Display of Sliced Cold Cutswith prosciutto, mortadella, cotto salami, paté crudités, roasted garlic, peppers, grilled eggplant, chicken breakfast sausage, Breakfast Sausage, Smoked Maple Bacon, Organic Eggs.
SALAD STATION:
— Marinated Smoked Seafood Salad
— Fresh Burratta Salad with Vine-​ripened Tomatoes
— Baby Green and Endive Salad with Herb Goat Cheese Vinaigrette Guacamole, Salsa and Mesclun Salad
— Grilled Rainbow Vegetables
CARVING STATION:
— Sautéed Garlic and Rosemary Red PotatoesVegetable Medley
— Black Angus Prime Ribwith Mediterranean Rub
— Creamy Au Gratin Yellow Fingerling Potatoes
— Sautéed French Green Beans
— Alaskan Salmon Wellingtonin a Pastry Crust with a Tarragon Sauce
CHEESE AND DESSERT STATION:
— International Cheese Display with Toasted Bread and Crackers Seasonal Exotic — Fruits and Nuts
— Petit Fours and Macaroon
— Chocolate Fountain and Fresh Fruits
OMELET STATION
Order your very own with our fresh ingredients: Bell Peppers, Onions, Tomatoes, Wild Mushrooms, Spinach and Cheese
LUNCH:
— Charred Octopus, black chickpea purée, fresno chiles, olives, parsley
— Ahi Tuna, avocado, red jalapeño, meyer lemon, crispy rice — was quite nice and refreshing.
— Mr. G’s Overstuffed Lobster Roll, homemade potato chips and pickles. This was so delicious and fresh, a MUST ORDER when you come here.
— Homemade Tomato Pasta, local Soutern California shrimp, zucchini and lemon — it was light and simply good.
Service was attentive and on point. On a nice day, you can spot some celebrities here. It’s a hip place with beautiful people. We will definitely come back.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in WeHo! The patio dining area is magically beautiful, surrounded by trees, vines and flowers, a koi pond along the way to the restaurant, a tiny bar in the front, it’s usually occupied by hotel guests, indoor dining area is modern and sleek, but I like the patio much better, it’s just more of my style!
We chose to sit in the back corner, with the views of the entire patio, it doesn’t get more romantic than that, the seating was very comfy and intimate. The host girl turned on the heater for me just in case, it was so cozy with a heater on, perfect for a late afternoon!
The restaurant name and menu have been changed since our last visit, but all for the best! They were serving mid day menu when we went in, we couldn’t wait for dinner cause we were starving from the walking and shopping on Sunset strip. I was relieved to see the extensive small plates menu, all the items looked so appetizing, ordered a few plates to try and share, as well as some cocktails.
Drinks: we did 4 specialty cocktails, two whiskey ones and two vodka ones. The Berry Bush is the most popular one, it’s a very pretty drink, but the whiskey was too strong for me, I liked the vodka drink much better, it was refreshing and tasty. All the drinks were so strong!
Food:
Kumamoto oysters on half shell, Ahi tuna, Deviled eggs, Short-​rib stuffed peppers, Classic steak tartare, Pickled veggies with salami, Mr. G’s overstuffed lobster roll.
Each dish was an art, the presentations were so beautiful and creative! The flavors? OhMy! Everything was so flavorful with some spicy kick, very unique and delicious! I particularly loved the deviled eggs, although there was some bacon bits on top that I had to pick them out, but the eggs were amazingly flavorful, so yummy! The lobster roll was definitely a hit! Generously stuffed lobster pieces in a perfectly textured bun, it was bomb! And the housemade chips were so good, crispy, spicy and salty, both hubby and I loved the chips so much! Hubby loved the salami with housemade mustard. The steak tartare was definitely his favorite among all the plates we tried, the strong flavor and tender texture were perfect for him!
Dessert:
Mango sorbet with seasonal fruits, it was refreshing with enough sweetness, we loved it.
Although we didn’t get to do dinner this time, but the mid day menu still worked for us, we were so satisfied with the food and service! Our server was extremely friendly and attentive, very knowledgeable too.
The portions were on the smaller side, the prices were on the higher side, but it was all worth it! We enjoyed our late afternoon tapa meal so much, we took it slow to work on each dish, sip on cocktails, Absolutely one of the most romantic meals we have ever had, it was so lovely!
Ps. This on site restaurant at Sunset Marquis opens from 7 in the morning to late night, serves food all day, very convenient for hotel guests!

OMG… there is no question that this is one of the finest restaurants in WeHo. Very elegant ambience and beautiful décor… It was definitely the right place to have the last meal of the year of 2013.
They had the course menu for New Year’s Eve. Started off with Salad and Vegetarian Pâté, everything was so delicate. Mushroom soup was delicious. There were tiny pieces of roasted apples on the plate and the waiter poured the soup onto them at the table. I enjoyed the taste of the herb from the apples mixed with the mushroom flavor from the soup. One of the mains, the lobster was very plump and fresh. Avocado paste was right next to the lobster which was a very interesting combination, but it was absolutely delicious.
Another main was beef and I don’t eat meat. So they served Cauliflower steak for me instead. This was not just sliced cooked cauliflower. I couldn’t even tell what the chef did to the vegetable, but it was very flavorful. It definitely looked like cauliflower but didn’t taste like just cauliflower. It was very fresh and not overly cooked and left the texture of it. It was very creative and enjoyable.
The dessert had a cute presentation. There was White chocolate mousse on a thin Pistachio cake. The mousse had a strong white chocolate flavor but didn’t kill the flavor of the pistachio cake lying underneath of it. It was delicious and visually pretty as well.
The service was excellent. the waiter was very pleasant. I truly enjoyed my new year’s eve dinner here. It was a very impressive, romantic, and memorable evening.