Scratch Bar

This bar is NOT closed!!! Apparently they are having an issue with Unilocal.I was just there with my boyfriend last night (²⁄₄). Walked right in and Caillou the bartender could not have been nicer. The place was empty (probably due to it being reportedly closed). The wine was perfect and the atmosphere was great. Definitely a nice classy after work or date spot. I can’t wait to come back and try their flatbreads because they looked delicious.

The original Scratch Bar concept and chef is now located in Encino everyone — you must go try the affordable tasting menu! My favorite restaurant in LA right now.
Try Chef Phillip Lee Frankland’s amazing tasting menu as everything is made from scratch including their cheese —

I’ve been to scratch bar in the past… so I’ve had their full menu and I’ve had their 6 course/​10 course menu. I’m not sure what they are going through but the menu got really small. we went for their 6 course menu, and when I wanted to order additional things on their regular menu, there literally were the same things on the 6 course menu. disappointing…
Also I would’ve liked a bigger variety of course options… we received shrimp, scallops, chickpeas, fish and lamb… NO VEGETABLES? NO RED MEAT? I would’ve loved to order more but like I said. I’ve ordered their squid in a box, dirty rice, vegetable in a box… meat that is mouthwatering and takes the whole meal to cook but is totally worth the $$$$ to pay for!!! the only other entrée options were I believe chicken and duck. no red meat! for a high end restaurant you would think they’d have that option! nothing really additional except the items on the 6 course menu.
maybe it was the day I went. but I went on a Saturday thinking the menu would be better because it’s a weekend. but disappointing because it looks like it went Womp Womp Womp…
Parking is valet. you could find meter parking on the street. it’s on la cienega next to fogo de chao. so busy street. prepare for traffic and cars stopping and going due to all the restaurants on the same block.
Also they charged me 18% gratuity on me living social deal. REALLY? I’m not a bad tipper at all and I brought cash. I wondered why they asked for me credit card when I had a living social deal. it’s because they CHARGED ME TAX ON MY LIVING SOCIAL DEAL AND GRATUITY!!! who does that?
Sadly… with the multiple times I’ve been there and had loved their menu. I won’t be going back. they don’t even have enough things in their menu for a 10 course tasting like they used to. I don’t see how they will survive…

I went to this utilizing a living social deal that was basically buy one 6 course meal get one free. In my opinion a great deal to introduce the restaurant to me and my people.
The restaurant is easy to find right there in Beverly Hills by the stinking rose and other staples on The blvd. Parking is street parking at meters and $ 6.50 for valet in the lot next door.
The inside of the restaurant is quaint and inviting. There are probably 10 – 12 tables inside and a small outside patio with approximately 5 tables. The lighting is a dim brown hue and candlelight.
The service was excellent. I had a waiter named Henry and he wasn’t overbearing or obnoxious. He kept our glasses filled, explained all of our dishes in a descriptive nature, and even offered to accommodate our requests with things not on the menu. I was thoroughly impressed.
The food was above average but it wasn’t great. The 1^st dish was an avocado tomato shooter which was creative and delicious. The 2^nd dish was bread with olive oil and decadents.
It’s definitely worth a try and good value for the money.

I have visited Scratch Bar in the past with my BF and 2 friends and we all enjoyed the meal. The service, atmosphere and food were all amazing. We did a tasting menu and every dish came out in a timely manner, well presented and executed. My favorite dish here was a White Tuna with Sweetbreads and their homemade ice cream.
Unfortunately, our most recent visit during DineLA was a complete letdown. The service was lacking, the food was bland and unappetizing. I am sad to say that I probably won’t be back due to my latest dining experience.

⁵⁄₅ all around. My husband and I love new experiences, and that is exactly what Scratch Bar provides — a culinary *experience.* If you’re looking for adventurous eating, a long luxurious meal, and a mixture of unique flavors, this place is for you!
We were beyond impressed by this place from the décor to the impeccable food design, flavor layering, and outstanding staff service.
Presentation:
We did the 9-​course pre-​fix with an added appetizer of the smoked goat cheese. The presentation is gorgeous and creative. The appetizer came out with a line of toasted baguette pieces and a glass container that had pickled red onion and olive tapenade on top with the goat cheese actually being smoked inside of the glass below. The waiter lifted the glass to put out the mini fire beneath it and reveal the cheese, freshly smoked. It was delicious.
Portions:
At first we weren’t sure if the 9-​course option would be enough but I will tell you we were filled to near-​discomfort by the end of our 3 hour meal. We HIGHLY recommend the pre-​fix chef’s choice because it was incredible. We are adventurous eaters at places like this where we are confident the food will be superb.
The first couple courses are a couple of bites in size but the following courses contain much larger portions. The wait staff will also share HOW each course was intended to be eaten so you can get the most out of the experience.
1^st course: Speared mussel shooter with sugar blistered red bell pepper ring and Serrano pepper suspended above chilled pineapple sake with avocado mousse at the bottom. One of our favorite courses.
Between course: Sourdough bread ball with baked butter inside and herb butter on the side. Perfectly baked with crunchy rind and soft inside.
2^nd course: Pork belly topped with a mushroom cap, floating in chamomile coconut foam with pistachio shavings.
3^rd course: Cauliflower four ways; multi-​color cauliflower with purée below, baked in the middle, flame roasted on the sides, topped with dehydrated cauliflower chips, pickled red onions, and pistachio shavings. Loved the creativity and seasoning of this dish.
4^th course: Seared sea bass with Moroccan spicy sauce, charred pistachio, chives, slivered onions and sesame seeds. The spice was fantastic and this our favorite fish course.
5^th course: Filet tartare with cucumber, chives, etc. Delicately done with strong flavors.
6^th course: Fish (forgot what kind) near-​raw atop «sweet breads» with grapefruit, torched Thai basil leaves, mini potato chips and a fine roasted grain (also forgot what kind). Not our favorite dish.
7^th course: Filet mignon slices with cauliflower purée, pickled red onions, and other toppings that left us believing we had met heaven on earth. The flavor of the meat was perfection and definitely our favorite course.
8^th course: From the bottom up — whipped vanilla cream with sugar cookie topped with peanut brittle, topped with a chuck of cayenne chocolate ganche, topped with whipped vanilla cream, and finally topped with chia seed soaked in olive oil. The spiciness of the chocolate hits a few seconds after you swallow and merges beautifully with the sweetness of the whole bite.
9^th course: Coconut pudding with brown sugar strudel, diced strawberries, and mint and basil pieces.
Flavor:
The flavor of the food was out of this world. The chef carefully selects the order in which guests experiences the various spices and flavor of each dish, many of which have multiple dimensions. Delicate sweetness moves into a slight spice in the back of the throat, which moves into a nutty finish. Again, the staff lets you know how each dish is intended to be eaten so you get the most out of the experience.
Dietary Accommodations:
One of our friends who was there with us is vegetarian and they accommodated without question. Nto only that, she had nearly the exact same looking and tasting food except without meat. They accommodate vegan diets and all sorts of allergies.
Tip:
They include tip (18%) on the total bill in order to enhance the experience for all. In our time last night, the staff was very friendly and helpful. They care about the food, the quality of your time there, and can answer any questions.
Bonus!:
We got a tour of the kitchen, which is where you can sit if you get the 14-​course+ option. It’s an intimate 4-​seated table where guests can watch the chef make each dish and be served up fresh. It’s not a «mood» seating sort of place in the brightly lit kitchen, but the opportunity to see how it’s all created sounds pretty fun.
Parking:
There is valet parking just north of the location. It’s easy to miss so look out for it.
We can’t wait to come back again and try the next chef’s choice menu! They also just started a happy hour with great prices.

My cousin and I brought a Groupon for about $ 99 that included a 9 course meal + $ 40 worth of drinks. It sounded like a good deal and it was definitely worth the dining experience. The service was good and the food was solid. It is tapas so its small and meant to be shared. I wasn’t completely full afterwards still… but thats because I’m a pig!!!
For sure the best dish was Fatty White Tuna paired with Sweetbreads that literally melted in my mouth. The Ice Cream was amazing as well as this colorful Veggie Dish. I also enjoyed their drinks! Good food and service overall.

Impeccable service! There was a little snafu with our dinner reservation, but the manager was very responsive and took action immediately to make sure the rest of our evening wasn’t spoiled. We got the 9-​course tasting menu, which I highly recommend. At first, the dishes came out small and quick so I didn’t think it would fill us up, but by the end, I was pretty stuffed.
The tasting menu was exactly as the website describes, «innovative culinary craftsmanship… serving only what is made in house from scratch». It was such a fun dining experience; I don’t think I have tried anything like the food at scratch. I’m allergic to nuts and they made accommodations accordingly so that I could enjoy the food the way Chef Phillip meant for everything to be.
All the dishes had some intricate ingredients so it was hard for me to remember exactly what was in each dish. Here were my highlights from the evening:
— cauliflower with cauliflower on cauliflower: puréed cauliflower underneath roasted colored ones, and pickled stems turned into chips!
— filet mignon tartare with kale chips and pickled shrimp shells (what!!!)
— smoked goat cheese (not part of tasting, the presentation is worth ordering)
— ice cream with HOMEMADE sprinkles (how do you make sprinkles??! Waffle cone so light and crispy)
The biggest downside is that there is no full liquor license so their cocktails were all made from sake and a little bit funky to me.

Although my friend and I came during DineLA week we decided not to order from the DineLA menu because we realized that the total price of ordering everything we actually wanted to try is only $ 10 more, so we might as well just order a la carte, so we did. Our server kindly explained to us that dishes here are small in portion and are meant to be shared – so expect to order about 3 – 4 dishes per person.
Fun fact: This place is called «Scratch Bar» because everything here is made from scratch!
1) G R E E N M U S S E L & S E A U R C H I N S A K E S H O O T E R
This was really interesting. At the bottom of the shot glass is some sort of wasabi-​like substance with the uni, the sake in the middle, and the mussel on a toothpick laid across the top of the shot glass. You’re supposed to drink the shot first and then immediately eat the mussel. I’ve never had a shooter before so this was an interesting experience – definitely a good one though, yum! I’m surprised they didn’t card because sake is technically alcohol and the liquor taste is definitely there…
2) R O A S T E D B O N E M A R R O W N’ S O U R D O U G H
From the picture it seems as though the bone marrow is served whole, but the outside part that looks like the bone is actually sourdough bread! The server explained that they intentionally baked the bread in this shape to resemble the bone-​y part so that we can just eat the whole thing at once, not having to scoop out the marrow and then put it on the bread etc etc. This dish is served with a generous amount of garlic cloves on top – however the flavor of the garlic isn’t overpowering at all.
3) F O I E G R A S S ’ M O R E S
This dish was by far the most interesting dish I’ve ever had because it’s so out of the ordinary. This is baked kind of like a small pizza – with a graham cracker crust, foie gras spread on top as the red sauce, and bits of mandarin orange and marshmallow on top. At first glance I thought this wouldn’t taste good, just because it’s so weird… foie gras with oranges… and marshmallow?! But after the first bite I changed my mind. All the flavors worked wonderfully with each other, I can’t even describe with words what it’s like, so definitely try this!!!
4) P O R K B E L L Y & R A W O Y S T E R S
This was one of my favorites for the night. The pork belly is at the bottom and the raw oyster on top, all covered in a foamy sauce. The pork belly was super fatty and flavorful, I loved this!
5) D R Y A G E D F I L E T M I G N O N T A R T A R E
This Tartare comes with a runny yolk at the top. However we realized our yolk was over cooked, so we told our server and they apologized and immediately cooked a new yolk for us. The tartare is served with 4 pieces of bread. This is definitely really good quality tartare.
6) D R Y A G E D F I L E T M I G N O N
This was definitely my favorite dish of the night. The filet mignon was cooked perfectly medium raw, the meat was tender, and the white sauce it comes with is also really delicious. Recommend!
7) V A N I L L A I C E C R E A M
In the end we were extremely satisfied but decided to end the night on a sweet note so we got the vanilla ice cream because we heard the sprinkles were also made from scratch. I thought there wasn’t anything special about the ice cream, next time I’d pass on this.
The service here was impeccable. Valet parking is available but is also very pricey – probably the better option though, since it’s almost impossible to find street parking on this street.

Dining at Scratch Bar was a deliciously awesome experience that was unlike anything else.
Came in with the Groupon deal offering the 9 course tasting menu for 2 people, with $ 40 to spend on booze. Every dish that came out tasted fresh and extremely tasty. You can see and taste the attention to detail in each dish through its unique flavors and textures. You can tell they used a variety of different culinary techniques in their dishes, which I appreciate.
The server came out with each dish one by one. Everything he brought out was a surprise and he explained each dish in detail before putting it down. I’m pretty sure he enjoyed seeing expressions and reactions after explaining the courses because my friend and I were in awe. Our jaws at each explanation and we were whispering to eachother, «Wowww… No way. Whattttt. «because EVERYTHING was extremely cool.
Started out with garlic and thyme popcorn which was BOMB. Then the courses came rolling out:
1) Green mussel and uni sake shooterr: interesting! weird at first, but tasty.
2) Pork belly and oyster: foam was slightly weird, but extremely tasty.
3) Roasted raw prawns: my favorite! sweet raw prawns was just slightly roasted topped with white and green onions and pistachios, delicious.
4) Charred cauliflower: self explanatory, sooo good.
5) Toro w/​sweetbreads: awesome flavor and textures, topped off with crispy fried garlic, this one stood out and was super tasty. Possibly my second favorite.
6) Prime rib w/​kale chips: prime rib didn’t really stand out but still really good.
7) Hanger steak: delicious and great flavor, another favorite.
8) Dark chocolate cayenne candy bar: delicious.
9) Homemade vanilla ice cream with sprinkles: thought it would come in a cone but ours didn’t, but still so delicious, the sprinkles were awesome.
The $ 40 for booze got us 2 drinks each and we got decently buzzed. I ordered the Raging Bitch IPA (pretty damn good) and my friend got the pilsner. We ordered an extra cocktail on the side (forgot the name but it was orange colored, tropical tasting with pineapple) and it was pretty delicious, but a little weak for my taste. If you intend on enjoying your meal buzzed, the cocktails might not do the trick.
Overall, loved the experience from the service, tastes, and visual presentation. A bit pricey for the amount of food you’re getting (everything was bite sized, if not a wee bit larger). I probably would not have gotten full if it weren’t for the two beers. If you see the deal on Groupon or LivingSocial, hop on it quick because it was extremely worth it.

Love my deals. Got a Living Social deal for 9 course chef’s choice plus 40 to spend on booze. GREAT deal. I think I paid like 90 or so. I wouldn’t have probably come here otherwise. This was one of my better coupon scores. SCORE!
Beer and wine only — BUT they make great drinky-​drinks from them. Very creative and delsih.
Servers– ALL were extremely knowledgable and personable. I cannot praise them enough.
Décor– Fabulous in every way. Small place– felt intimate and chic.
I won’t get into every dish and their ingredients. I’ll let that be a surprise. If you’re not open-​minded, picky, and have lots of «rules» then go somewhere else. This place may not be for you. And please don’t call yourself a foodie.
It’s encouraged to eat with your hands. And if you’ve read my «about me» then you know I have absolutely no problem with that. There were many items that can and should be eaten sans fork and knife.
All nine dishes were delightful surprises on a plate. Yes, they are small. They’re supposed to be. We still wound up pretty full at the end. We happened to be sitting next to the chef /​owner Phillip’s mom and family. The mom let me know that she did not feed Phillip sweets until he was 2 yrs old. The sprinkles on the ice cream are made for veggies that he froze and shattered. The mom was a pistol and very proud of her baby boy and should be. He’s 27 and pretty darn successful.
Toward the end we bumped into Philip. He’s a blue-​eyed cutie and he took us in the kitchen for a tour! It’s small and slippery back there but other than that, was much like walking into the elves’ work room at the north pole. Magic being made in there.
My only complaint was with the steak tartare. The shrimp shells were rendered edible but not all were. Another words, some were. spit-​out-​able. Loved the flavors but not well executed in the way they were going for.
Okay, one other not-​so-​great thing. You know that song from Sesame Street, «One of these things just doesn’t belong» ?? The large man wearing an untucked shirt and reading glasses stuck to his forehead — What’s his purpose again ?? Besides smelling up the entire establishment with his stinky-​ass cologne? He walked around aimlessly looking at nothing while getting in the servers way. He’d occasionally look at the computer and… do nothing but get in the servers way. I held my breath every time he was near. YOU WORK IN A RESTAURANT DON’T WEAR A SCENT!!! It’s bad enough when patrons do. Get a clue. And what does he do again?
This is a great dining experience. Great way to impress a date. Just make sure he or she is down for some out-​of-​the-​box thinking.
PS– Get the BRANZINO for me! It looked AMAZING– stuffed with … you’ll see. I’ll be getting that next time. Hopefully, out-​of-​place-​man wearing cologne won’t be there. And what does he do again?

I thought I’d fall in love with this place by its pictures on Unilocal.Must say I was a bit disappointed. It was ‘just okay.’
I had the 9 course meal, chef’s choice. Sounds like a lot but portions are small.
Interesting fact: Scratch Bar is called Scratch Bar because they make everything from scratch. Clever!
Our waiter was nice and chit chatted with us while we goofed around with him. The tables seated next to us would either find us annoying or extremely entertaining. But I’m leaning towards the latter.
Overall, the food didn’t leave a lasting impression on me. Presentation and ingredients were unique but taste wasn’t spectacular or out of this world. Can’t say I’d be dying to come back again but it was a nice spot to try.
Tip: Wash your hands! We were advised to eat with our hands to get the full experience.

Came here for a back of the house special with friends. the idea is the chef provides a 6 course meal with small to medium servings that allows you to taste different types of food the restaurant offers… sign me up! some of my highlights below.
Dry aged Hangar steak — cooked rare steak over a bed of mashed potato purée served with diced asparagus and cherry tomatoes. it was delicious but id rather do without the sweetness of the purée
Blackened cauliflower — first time ever having roasted cauliflower. turned me into a fan now. Perfectly cooked to still retain crunchiness
Bone marrow sourdough sandwich — when this first came out, i thought it was bone marrow but to my surprise the bread was molded to look like the outer bone… How clever! Dress it with some pickled onions and veggies and there you go. never had this before either
I thought the cocktails were great and the food was creative and inventive. Good service but very pricy

I came here with a livingsocial deal. it was 60 bucks for 2 people with the 6 item below and two glasses of wine. Honestly, I think it’s a really great deal. You’ll get to the point of semi full, but you can always order extra items off the menu. Keep in mind, this place is like chefs choice if you pick the 6, 9 or 12 items menu. The chef will just bring you whatever he wants to cook. You don’t know what is coming out. Reminds of a Japanese restaurant omakase.
uni shooters (refreshing and a great way to cleanse your tongue pallet)
pork belly with steam milk foam (soft pork belly and flavorful)
prawns (lightly seasoned with lemon to add a kick to it.)
Blackened Cauliflower (burnt vegetables? Lol it was still good though)
Hanger streak (small portions, but juicy steak)
Dark Chocolate & Cayenne Candy Bar (i didn’t know anything spicy could go with chocolate. This was a very unique and great way to end the meal)
This place does not have a full bar, just wine, some beer and soju/​sake.
They have cheap valet, unlike other places in restaurant row… I believe its under 6 bucks!
Another cool thing about this place is the bathroom… Its a chalkboard, and they leave chalk for you to write anything you want.

Overall: It’s expensive, but it’s absolutely worth it. The food is creative and delicious, the service is impeccable, and the restaurant is cozy.
Don’t ask me to pick a favorite. I can’t name one, but I highly recommend the first three dishes.
Food: 4.5
We ordered the Dine LA menu but added on three more things.
Green Mussel and Sea Urchin Sake Shooter: Balanced on top of a shot glass filled with pineapple sake and a uni and avocado purée is a skewered raw mussel. Eat the mussel, drink the shot, and then scoop the creamy smooth bottom layer out with the skewer. The intended progression of flavors is wonderful, and it’s amazing how well all these things go together.
Pork Belly and Raw Oyster: Again, two flavors that don’t seem to harmonize at all; I was apprehensive because oysters generally have a very strong ocean flavor, which would fight with the pork belly’s earthiness. However, it’s actually a delicious one bite take on surf and turf. The pork belly is tender, flavorful, and fatty, and the oyster complements it perfectly with its own richness and smooth texture.
Roasted yet Raw Prawns: The name says it all. The prawns are cooked the only way I like shellfish of any kind… that is not cooked at all. They’re sweet and they almost melt in your mouth. The pickled onion complements their freshness with a slight acidity while the fish sauce adds to their salty umami-​ness. The roasted pistachios and Moroccan spices add a smokiness and warmth to the dish that makes it almost feel like it’s actually been roasted on a fire.
Roasted Bone Marrow ‘n’ Sourdough: The bone marrow is stuffed inside sourdough bread, which has been toasted perfectly and made into the shape of a hollow bone. It’s topped with mushrooms that add to the earthiness one images bone marrow to have and with pickled onions that add needed acidity to the dish.
Blackened Cauliflower: If you want to convince someone to become a vegetarian, this is the dish to give them during the pitch. An eclectic assortment of roasted cauliflowers sit atop a smooth and slightly sweet cauliflower purée. It’s dressed once again in pickled onions and roasted nuts with a few dehydrated cauliflowers for crunchy texture.
Hanger Steak isn’t as interesting as their one bites, but it’s perfectly cooked and tender despite being a secondary cut. The potato purée was so good we were licking the last of it off the plate.
Whole Roasted Branzino: This was a disappointing dish after so many strong dishes. It lacked the same creativity and undeniable knowledge in the balance of flavors that the other dishes had. The ratatouille reminded me of something served at my school’s dining hall (don’t get me wrong, UCLA has great dining halls but I’m not paying $ 40+ for that). For me, the biggest problem was the fish itself. It was overcooked despite the fact that the skin wasn’t crisp, and it should have been deboned.
Vanilla Ice Cream: The soft serve is house made and topped with organic sprinkles made of a variety of veggies and a waffle cone, both also house made. The ice cream was good, but there wasn’t much that was noteworthy. In the end, it was just ice cream with yummy sprinkles (that you’ll prefer over normal ones despite their veggie origins) and a delicious waffle cone.
Foie Gras S’mores: I was apprehensive of foie gras slathered on top of a waffle graham bottom and topped with toasted marshmallows and tangerines, but it proved to be delicious and a great combination of flavors. The foie gras added to the toasty warmth of the waffle graham cracker and toasted marshmallows, making it feel exactly like a fireside treat, while the tangerines complemented with its own citrusy sweetness.
Dark Chocolate and Cayenne Candy Bar: The small size may seem disappointing at first, but you realize that it’s the perfect portion once you’ve eaten the rich little piece of candy. There’s just the right amount of cayenne; it serves to enhance the dark chocolate rather than overpower it.
Service: 5
The waiters are awesome. Whenever they bring a dish out, they explain to you exactly what is in it, how it’s made, and how to eat it. Don’t be afraid to talk to them. They’re super friendly… one even sat down in the empty seat at our table to talk to us about the prawns!
Side note: Food does come out a little slowly, especially for a long meal of mostly bite sized portions, so be prepared for a long dinner.
Ambiance: 5
I love this restaurant. It’s kind of perfect for anything. It’s a good place to bring a date, to go on a food adventure, or to start out the night with friends. In a fashion, it’s homey with its dark wood floors and cozy size. It’s dimly lit to set the mood, but the large storefront windows let in lots of moonlight and street lights, so it’s more than possible to see what you’re eating. The bathroom is awesome… don’t forget to leave a messag

We did the nine course special (only available during DineLA. There’s the typical $ 50 6 course promotion and this hidden one that they’ll tell you about in person) at Scratch Bar and needless to say, I was impressed.
We started with the roasted oysters, which I was a big fan of. Great texture, the subtly of the lime juice and my personal love for oysters made it one of my more beloved dishes here.
Next was the escolar with a coconut purée. Was not my favorite dish, kind of on the small side and a bit of a tease. But in general, escolar is not a very exciting fish. Still tasty though.
Next was the green mussel and sea urchin sake shooter which I definitely recommend. Not only is it fun to eat, with the shooting and scooping. The pineapple surprisingly complemented the urchin and mussel very well! Even if you typically don’t like sake, you’ll enjoy this shooter.
The roasted yet raw prawns were good, had a crunchiness about them that I enjoyed.
Next was the blackened cauliflower. I was impressed that everything was cauliflower, however, I noticed the lack of creativity in the dishes. Very similar seasonings in all of them. I understand that is what creates the uniformity but it might have been unnecessary for some of the dishes. Hence Scratch Bar getting knocked down from five to four stars.
Love the smoking goat’s milk cheese. Not only was the presentation of it coming out in the smoker delightful but the goat cheese was so smooth and rich. Never have I had such good goat cheese before.
For the main course we had dry aged filet mignon. Perfect texture, the asparagus, cherry tomatoes and potato purée were on point. They also brought this weird box that was filled with asparagus and cherry tomatoes with a Japanese eggplant purée. Absolutely loved both the purees. In general, Scratch Bar’s best work is with their purees. Each one is as innovative as the next.
For dessert, we had two courses: the dark chocolate and cayenne bar and the vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles. LOVED the chocolate bar. The spicy cayenne perfectly enhances the raspberry and chocolate flavors in the bar. Definitely recommend. Only downfall is that it’s so small and makes you wish you had more.
The vanilla ice cream was vanilla ice cream. I understand it’s homemade, but it wasn’t anything special. The sprinkles are made out of vegetables like carrots and beets, which gave it an interesting twist to your normal dessert. And added to much crunchiness for my liking.
Would recommend Scratch Bar to anyone who likes an unusual touch on their favorite seafood and meat dishes. Not worth ordering off the a la carte menu, you definitely have to do one of the tasting menus. Keep in mind, it’ll hit you wallet hard but it’s the only way to enjoy Scratch Bar’s menu. The service is great, the entire staff works as a team and you will always have someone coming around to help you out. They’re also all very knowledgeable about the menu, which I very much appreciated.

TL;DR: 5 out of 5. A little on the pricey side, but it is Beverly Hills. Get the 11 Course Tasting Menu ($ 95) or 14 Course Chef’s Counter ($ 111). The latter requires reservations.
Location: This is one of the many eateries located on Beverly Hill’s restaurant row on La Cienega Blvd. Street parking or valet as usual. It is kind of difficult to find street parking on the weekend especially Saturday. However, if you go on Sunday, it is a LOT easier.
Ambiance: you walk in and it is super hipster. You can sit at a table or at the bar. I enjoy the bar area since the bartenders are hilarious and very friendly. The noise level is lively, but not overly loud. This is definitely a good place to hang out and just have a good time. I think if you sit at the table, it may be more intimate and more suitable for a date. They also serve wine by the bottle (also sake and cocktails). I love how the interior is very minimalistic.
Price: $ 40 per person. However, the 11 course tasting menu is $ 95 and 14 course chef’s counter is $ 111. It is definitely worth the price though. You can check out the menu for a la carte choices.
What to get, or not:
Although not all the dishes in the tasting menu are epic, or even worth the price. But the experience, which is how each dish follows one another and compliments the dish before and after, makes it perfect. While some dishes are worth ordering solo (which I noted before), I still recommend the tasting menu because it gives you palate a taste explosion. I guarantee it.
Caramel Popcorn: while this dish usually is not sold separately (outside of the tasting menu), it has a light sweet taste to it and really gets to ready for the dishes to come.
Green Mussel and Sea Urchin Sake Shooter ($ 5): This was very fresh. First you put the mussel/​urchin meat on toothpick into your month. Then you drink the shot while you are chewing on the meat. The shot is made of sweet lime juice. This is definitely a taste explosion. I would definitely get it on its own, especially when it is only $ 5 a piece. The taste combination was bitter, sweet, salty, and intense (with the piece of red onion on the uni/​mussel. The taste was very fresh.
Pork Belly with Steamed Milk: This dish is not sold on its own. The portions were tiny in my opinion. However you do not want too much pork belly because it can definitely ruin your appetite. So the portion was actually not bad since pork belly is basically a thick piece of bacon. The steamed milk made the bacon taste a lot less greasy for some reason. Pork belly is definitely not an inexpensive meat, and you can definitely taste the quality here.
Smoking Goat’s Milk Cheese ($ 18): WOW. What is this? I sincerely love this dish. I definitely recommend getting it on its own. So you have the goat cheese and you spread it on your perfectly toasted bread. The goat cheese came out hot and you can see the smoke coming out of it. This made it easier to spread the cheese onto the bread. The cheese was not stinky at all, like a few goat cheese I have tasted before. The next think is to put on the topping, which are on top and underneath the the glass container. Again, taste explosion. The taste was a blend of sweet, sour, salty, and crispiness. It is just amazing how they can make such a simple dish taste so amazing. I am very impressed!
Blackened Cauliflower ($ 12): I seriously hate vegetables. So when this dish came out, I was kind of upset. But I am glad they proved me wrong. I definitely would get this dish SOLO, since it was that good. And this is coming from someone that does not enjoy vegetables at all. The cauliflower is perfectly blackened to give it a smoked flavor. It is mixed with a sweet radish, and one of the best vegetarian dish I have ever tried.
Roasted Mary’s Duck Breast ($ 29): This is the tasting menu portion. The full version is definitely a heftier portion. The place gets its poultry from Mary’s, which if you are not familiar is free range and organic. They have turkey, duck, goose, and chicken. I love this brand, and I am very fond of restaurants that use this brand since it is very tasty. I have always liked chicken over duck since duck can be a little too fatty for me. However, the duck here did not have much fat and the skin was crispy. The vegetables really complimented the meat and was refreshing and sweet.
Dark Chocolate & Cayenne Candy Bar ($ 9): this was dessert. I am normally not a fan of cayenne, but that is ok. You can see from the picture that the cayenne is barely mixed in with the dark chocolate. So if you like a less intense taste, you can opt for that. If you want more, just mix it in with that red sauce! The cayenne really intensified the flavor of the dark chocolate. Also, the presentation was perfectly executed.

Just because they have a word «Bar» in their name, you can’t assume that this is just another bar in Beverly Hills. Woooo, so wrong. This is actually a fine restaurant. A small and casual place but what they serve is fine quality well crafted food. Servers were also trained and even knew what a «pescetarian» was. It’s nice that your server is familiar with your diet and I don’t have to deal with the usual «huh?» when it’s explained.
We started off with a bottle of Pinot, and ordered the 9 course. The starter was oyster. Very good. After the starter, prawn, cauliflower, cheese… the chef’s creations kept coming to our table. The best and the most creative meal in the course was mussel and sake shooter. This was very tiny but had lots of flavor. Mussel was on a shot glass filled with citrus sake, and uni was hiding in the bottom of the glass in avocado paste. The chef was very creative and successfully kept all the flavors and taste of each ingredient in this tiny shot glass. Very well done.
The service was great as well. Every item brought to the table was explained. I totally enjoyed the meal at Scratch Bar. The place was very crowded and very noisy. Reservations are strongly recommended.
4 Stars.

My husband and I came here for dinner on a Saturday night w/​reservations. We used a LivingSocial deal which included a 6-​course tasting menu plus a cocktail for each for us.
For the cocktail, we both got the Bangkok Dangerous. It was fruity, sweet and spicy but overall pretty well balanced. There’s cayenne in it so there’s definitely a kick.
Green Mussel & Sea Urchin Sake Shooter: yummy and unique. You first chew the mussel on a stick, then drink the sake infused with pineapple, and then eat the uni & avocado on the bottom. Many elements but they all work together – A tasty and refreshing starter!
Pork Belly & Raw Oyster: this was an interesting combo. It was good but not that exciting or memorable.
Roasted yet Raw Prawns: our favorite dish! I really enjoyed the acidic and smoky flavors in this dish, and the prawns were so delicious, soft and slimy! I loved it! If you don’t like raw and slimy textures though, this one may not be for you…
Blackened Cauliflower: This dish is made up of cauliflower four ways, and it was delicious! Another one of my faves of the night. Get this!
Whole Roasted Branzino stuffed with ratatouille: very impressive and smelled fantastic. The branzino was cooked to perfection and was so moist and delicious. I could have done without the ratatouille though (just my personal preference). It was a little too sour for me and I didn’t really enjoy eating it with the fish.
Dark Chocolate & Cayenne Candy Bar: this was pretty good. I was glad it was only two bites because it was very rich.
The whole meal was at a very leisurely pace. It lasted 2 hours which was a little surprising. I think it’s because our entrée took a long time to make. Overall service was great though. Our server was very friendly and good at explaining each dish in detail.
The one thing I didn’t like about the place was that the tables were SUPER close together, to the point where we as well as the other couples next to us had to move our tables to walk in and out.
Parking: valet or street. We got lucky with free 2-​hour parking on a nearby street behind the SLS hotel.

Scratch Bar is pretty damn impressive.
I stopped in during a pretty crazy drinking session in BH and I have to admit I loved everything about Scratch Bar. It was clear from the get go that this is the premier Gastro on Restaurant Row. The Bartenders swagger, the Chef’s precision, the ideas and abilities that go into each plate… It was all the absolute realness.
What to order? Beef Tartare, Puffed Smelt with Bone Marrow Mustard and Squid in a Box are all well done. The presentation is nothing less than top notch. You pay to play, but it is Beverly Hills so what would be expected?
No IPA’s being available threw me for a loop only because this is a Gastropub after all. That is like having Ham but no Burger. That is really my only criticism. Outside of the lack of IPA, Scratch Bar is a marvelous choice when in the are a and I cannot wait for a return visit.