Crossroads

Im a foodie and vegan, sometimes that is hard to mix. This restaurant hits it on the nail. An amazing dinning experience and amazing vegan food! Great bar area too.

One of the best meals I’ve ever had. And it’s all vegan here. And I’m not vegan. Crab cakes, tagine pizza, warm olives, and more. You wouldn’t know it was vegan just by glancing at the menu nor does it feel like a vegan restaurant.

I can’t wait to go back and experience more food! I went for my birthday dinner on a busy Saturday night and although it was packed… The service was awesome! Our server was very pleasant, fast, and she was always around when we needed to add orders. (I wish I could remember her name!)
Artichoke oysters: ⁵⁄₅ (don’t expect oysters)
The crab cakes: ⁵⁄₅
Beet salad: ⁵⁄₅
Winter pot pie: ³⁄₅
Pappardelle :5/​5
Tortellini: ³⁄₅ the dough is a bit hard and chewy. Flavor is good though
Special truffle fettuccine: OMG! ⁵⁄₅
White lasagna: ⁴⁄₅
Chocolate bread pudding: ⁵⁄₅ sooo good!
Everything is actually good but some dishes stand out more due to my own preferences.
Service ⁵⁄₅!
Our crab cakes did get served to the table next to us on accident but our server noticed it and apologized and brought new ones to our table. We didn’t really care when we got the crab cakes since we were having an awesome time and it’s tapas style. So it’s not like it really threw the meal off. We got those delicious cakes… That’s all that matters ;)
And I asked for soy milk with my tea and my tea was brought by a coworker with no spoon or condiments. Went the the restroom and when I returned everything was on the table. So yay!

My husband and I finally took a Sunday to make a reservation and go and check this place out, and was it ever worth it. My husband is newly vegan, and he was blown away by the authentic taste, and the realness of each dish.
My husband started with a cup of the mushroom farro soup to warm up from the miserable weather happening outside. The broth was so hearty, warm, and packed full of flavor. I’m not big on soup, but this definitely caught my attention, and it would be something I would order myself. I started with the kale ceasar. It was presented so beautifully, as a mountain of shredded kale, with the perfect amount of dressing, and right amount of crunch from the croutons.
Next came the meals. I had the Jann bagel, which I had been dreaming about for months. It was everything I dreamed of and then some. The likeness of the carrot «lox» was incredible. It was placed in between two giants smears of cream cheese, with onion and capers mixed in. Even the biggest lox lovers would have a hard time saying no to this dish. My husband had the «chicken» and waffles. The waffles were light and airy, with the right amount of crisp to their exterior. The «chicken» the breading was perfectly seasoned, and even came apart from the «meat» like a real chicken tender would. The inside was so similar to that of an actual chicken tender. We both cleaned our plates in a matter of minutes.
I would recommend this place to vegans and non-​vegans. It was an awesome dining experience. The atmosphere is cozy, the staff were all friendly, and the food was out of this world. We will definitely be back for more brunches, as well as dinner dates, to sample that menu.

My husband who is a meat-​lover took me here and halfway through the meal he looks at me and says «I’m confused, why is this food so good??»
This is vegan food done well. We loved our meal here and the whole experience was lovely. Valet parking is 7 dollars. The inside of the restaurant is very romantic and has a nice ambiance.
We started off with the Tagine pizza, which was savory and delicious. Had the perfect amount of wood burned taste mixed with the smoky and spicy flavor of the sauce. Yum! I definitely recommend that.
Then we had the crab cakes which are made from hearts of palm. I have never had real crab cakes before but this version was amazing. Tasted like a delicious hush puppy.
We finished off with the white lasagna which is made with almond ricotta. You couldn’t tell at all that the ricotta was not real cheese. The texture was spot on and so were the flavors.
Oh, our drinks! I had a «out of step» which is actually nonalcoholic but amazing. I could drink like 5 of those. They have a large selection of nonalcoholic cocktails that sounds delicious and intriguing. They are pricey – around 10 – 12 bucks each I believe.
Food isn’t cheap on it’s own and does add up as you keep ordering more of the small plates. It’s worth it though!
Service was great. Our waitress was patient and casual which we liked.
Definitely check this place out! Apparently they have brunch too.

Came in for Sunday brunch.
Meter parking is not free on Sundays. Brunch is served every day from 11 – 3, according to the sidewalk chalkboard sign. We didn’t have a reservation, but they were able to seat us right away.
The Crossroads Benedict really jumped out at us. I’m a huge fan of eggs benedict and I knew I had to see this vegan version. We also ordered the faux chicken and waffles.
When chicken and waffles came out, I was disappointed by the size. I thought I would be getting a whole waffle, but it was more like two pieces of chicken atop two quarters of a waffle. The hot sauce maple syrup was so good. Since I was splitting the dish with my sister, I poured the warm syrup over my chicken and waffle. I had to eat this first because the crust on the chicken was sogging up quickly. This was a good dish, but I’ve had similar versions at other restaurants and those came with an entire waffle.
The benedict was so good. The flavors and textures were complex. The smoky shiitake mushrooms were bacon-​y. The smooth «egg» chickpea panisse was really satisfying.

Interesting twist vegan option
I tried the lentil flatbread (it was ok) and artichoke oysters which I found kind of salty
Romantic and intimate at night
Overall, I don’t think I’ll be back

I’ve been meaning to try this place out after hearing great reviews from friends and coworkers. I booked an online reservation late in the afternoon the day of and while I would have liked to have grabbed a table a bit earlier it was definitely my fault for not reserving earlier. Still, I got a table reserved for 10pm on Saturday.
Only in the last few years have I really been seeking out vegan style restaurants and this one does not disappoint. I was promptly seated, our waitress was insanely friendly and attentive with some suggestions that were on point. Throughout the meal she was right at our side, we all traded a few jokes, and we never had to look around trying to find her.
The atmosphere was awesome. I’m sure it helped showing up later in the evening since the place wasn’t very full at that time. But I can’t see it being overly crowded since it doesn’t look like the layout is set up for anyone to feel uncomfortable. They played classic tunes but it wasn’t so overpowering that you couldn’t hear anyone and the entire staff seemed very pleasant.
The food? Yes, the food. It was so incredibly good. We had the ;
SPICY MEATBALL PIZZA — ARTICHOKE OYSTERS — «CRAB CAKES» –FETTUCCINE —
& SCALOPPINI PARMESEAN — Between two people it was a good amount and A+ taste all around on everything.
Can’t wait to bring my parents and sister out here to try it out. This just became of my my fave places in LA!

Tasteless food, so much attitude.
When we got our soups, we asked for bread and they said they didn’t have any, but for seconds we had a few sandwiched, go figure…
Not coming back.

This restaurant is life changing. The food is delectable! My favorites were the truffled potatoes, the spicy meatball pizza, kale salad and the fondue. The server was great and attentive, he explained everything in detail and answered all of our questions. Seriously incredible place! Tal Ronnen really has a gift.

I WOULD GIVE THIS PLACE ZERO STARS IF THAT WAS AN OPTION.
THIS PLACE IS ALLLLLL HYPE. They are overly priced & their food is mediocre. You’re better off going to a hole in the wall restaurant. I had the worst experience EVER at this «higher end» Mediterranean restaurant. I don’t normally go onto Unilocal to write reviews unless my experience was horrible, so I am taking the MY OWN TIME to write this review so that NO ONE ELSE will waste their time & money on this place. You would think that at a place you are paying a substantial amount of money they would conduct their services with proper etiquette, however they were very rude & unprofessional. Not to mention our waiter looked crusty & very scruffy looking. I do not enjoy my food being delivered by someone that looks like they have poor hygiene.
While I was there, I witnessed someone who I assumed to be the «manager» yell at a young man for complaining about not being seated at the time he had his reservation. He SNATCHED the menus out of his hand & told him to get out. I have never seen anyone so disrespected in my ENTIRE LIFE. I was embarrassed for this young man! I was completely turned off, my boyfriend and I almost choked on our food! I’ve worked in customer service for nearly 7 years & one thing I’ve learned, is the customer is ALWAYS right especially if you care about your business & if the customer has a valid point don’t yell at them & tell them to get out. Where they do that at? I went on a date to enjoy my time with my significant other, not to feel like I’m watching a video on world star hip hop!

You will get likes for your Instagram photos if you go to this place. Why? Because they got the presentation down pat. It’s too bad that they don’t got the taste down. Everything was bland or mediocre at best. There was no explosion of flavors in my mouth, no memorable sensations, no fighting-​for-​that-​last-​piece drama.

If you want a Hollywood experience that is more about being seen than the food, go to crossroads. There are much better vegetarian and vegan options without the glamour and glits.
I went strictly to try vegan chicken and waffles, they were out. I ordered the bagel sandwich, all gone. I expected a lot more from this establishment.
The pancakes were good.

My wife has been vegan for years. We both love higher end dining experiences and seek them out when traveling. When the idea of a two week California trip was brought up coming to Crossroads was a no brainer. Our expectations were high and we were not disappointed in the least. I’ve read the other reviews and I’ll say I believe we paid a fair price and received fantastic well portioned food. This is a tapas style restaurant. You order multiple plates. We had the following:
The cheese plate — the chef owns Kite Hill, obvious choice
Leek terrine — our least favorite but still great
Artichoke oysters — incredible bite. Taste and texture was so on point
Sautéed lollipop kale — we enjoyed this along side the oven roasted truffle potatoes and they complimented each other perfectly
Oven roasted truffle potatoes — see above.
Tortelloni– the almond cheese filling and the spinach cream together was untouchable.
Scaloppini Parmesean — delicious in its own right but great when paired with the tortellini.
The service here was great we were seated promptly and our waiter (Bradley?) was attentive and engaging without being pretentious or overwhelming. The time in between courses did seem very very long however. I’d guess it might have had something to do with the A listers that were dining that evening. I get it.
Like I said we eat at high end vegan restaurants all over the US. Crossroads is easily in my personal top 5.

Came here yesterday during lunch time and ordered to go. I got an order of the chicken and waffles as well as the meatball sub sandwich. The total was about 28 bucks including tax .
The chicken and waffles dish is good. Is it better than roscoes chicken and waffles? no. Is it very close? Yes !!! The chicken here is actually better than roscoes. I know the chef is partnered with the gardein people and uses their products I think exclusively for the imitation protein portions in a lot of his dishes. So basically The chicken you get is an amped up version of two of the frozen tenders that you can in a gardein bag that you can get at your local whole foods .
The seasoning is out of this world. Very similar to the fried chicken of the now defunct ludo truck. But better imho .
I think the chef also brines the tenders before coating them and frying them as… that is the only way I could think he could get that much flavor into two vegan chicken tenders .
The waffle was good. The waffle is very similar to roscoes. It’s just that the vegan butter is nowhere near as good. So the waffle the butter and the maple hot sauce all together fall short of the roscoes version .
The maple hot sauce by the way although interesting … I’m not sure if it really works. It’s good … I think if you’re into that kind of flavor profile. I personally don’t like spicy and sweet together. I think The dish would be better with just maple syrup .
As for the meatball sub. It’s good. It’s small but the perfect size. The meatballs again are a better version of a gardein product that you can buy at your local store. The marinara sauce was okay .the star really was the ricotta !!! Seriously. The cheese alone is making me want to come back and try some of the other dishes which feature it as well as other similar vegan cheeses (I.e the spicy sausage pizza ‚) .
I think the sub was a good deal as it was about 11 dollars but the chicken and waffles dish left me a little bitter at 14 dollars not including tax. 4 star experience.

I enjoyed my first Crossroads experience so much that I decided to come back and bring more friends to share the experience. I had made a reservation for a party of 6, which turned into a party of 7. Unfortunately, this was a rainy night, which made LA traffic a mess. We called ahead to let the restaurant know we were running late, however only 2 of our party arrived on schedule. The hostess seemed upset that we were not ready to be seated, and explained to us that our group had better arrive soon, or we wouldn’t be seated, because they needed that table for another reservation in 90 minutes. Once the rest of our group arrived, the hostess said that we were way past our reservation, and we’d lost our table. At that point, dinner time on a Saturday night in LA, we scrambled to find a place that could accommodate our party.
We ordered some drinks at the bar as we tried to figure out how we were going to salvage our evening. I have to give credit to the bartender, Allen, who is absolutely amazing. Not only is he completely charming, but he really made us feel so welcome (at a point where we felt like we were being kicked out to the street), and the service he provides is 5-​star all the way.
Just as we were getting ready to leave, the hostess came over to tell us that a reservation had just cancelled, and that she could squeeze us into a booth.
I took this opportunity to try a few dishes that I didn’t try on my first visit. The Spicy Meatball Pizza is incredible, and pairs perfectly with a glass of their Malbec. The Butternut Squash Flatbread is also amazing. But the star of the evening was the Lasagna. The sauce is so delicious, and the plant-​based-​cheese is so darn good, you’d never know that they use no dairy products.
The Balsamic Mushrooms are bursting with flavor, and the Brussel Sprouts were much better this time.
Overall, this turned out to be a very enjoyable evening, even though we almost didn’t get to enjoy it here. Thanks again to the hostess for making it happen!

A++++++++++++++++++++++++!!!
The food at Crossroads blows my mind, making it my favorite restaurant by far. I came here for a date and everything was perfect from start to finish. The dim lighting creating the perfect ambiance, great customer service, and most importantly — food that exudes the most delightful taste! I also felt the prices were very reasonable considering the quality, and sharing is encouraged. Here’s what we ordered:
S C A L O P P I N I («C H I C K E N») P A R M E S A N:
Best dish on the menu! Not ordering it would be a big mistake. To my surprise, the portion was much bigger than I expected after seeing previous Unilocal pictures. The «chicken» was thin, crispy, full of flavor, had a thin layer of fresh marinara sauce, and was topped with subtle cheese. If you’re a foodie like myself, you may just have dreams about how amazing it was…
W O O D — F I R E D «B O L O G N E S E» L A S A G N A:
The lasagna was sensational, making it no surprise that this is another popular item at Crossroads. The dish is presented in a hot pan and truly tastes like the real deal… except the better version. Rich flavor fulfills all the senses as it melts in your mouth.
K A L E C A E S A R:
Nothing to rave about but still incredibly delicious! The kale had a slight crunch to it and the best garlic aftertaste. Simple, yet tasty.
S P I C Y «M E A T B A L L» P I Z Z A:
Yum. First off, I’m someone who isn’t a fan of spice but this wasn’t that spicy! The only spice would be the red pepper flakes scattered on the top. If you’re a big fan of diablo hot firey flavors, ask for a side of hot sauce. The size was great for two people, and the flavor was mouthwatering. I’ve never tasted such amazing homemade «meatballs», on top of delicious almond ricotta cheese and a soft crust creating the perfect texture.
H O T F U D G E S U N D A E:
Stop asking why, and start asking… why not?! The vegan hot fudge sundae was delicious. I’ll be honest; I felt a little cheated with the small amount of hot fudge but hey, who can complain when they’re eating a sundae? It tasted exactly how it sounds… sweet and marvelous.
Crossroads is a fantastic choice for both vegans and meat lovers!

Lovely vegan restaurant near La Brea. Very similar to Philadelphia’s VEG restaurant in that the vegan cuisine is innovative and artfully prepared.
Dining, again, similar to VEG in that there are multiple small plates. Waitstaff constantly changing out and replacing dishes. Fun in that there is something new being brought out each time. Each entrée is the superb result of chef’s vegan creativity.
Waitstaff superb. Personable and a great help in describing how each dish is prepared.
Highly recommended. Parking usually available on the street, but they have valet if needed.
Moderately expensive.

Crossroads has been on the top of my Los Angeles food list for a long time. I had already experienced many of Tal Ronnen’s vegan menus in Vegas (and thoroughly enjoyed most of them), but Crossroads was truly mind blowing.
Now let’s get into some details…
I originally made reservation for 7pm on Friday night. They called to confirm and I asked if I could bump it up earlier to 5:30. The girl on the phone was very friendly and said that would be just fine. We arrived right at 5:30 and lucked out with a metered parking spot right by the restaurant. Valet is also available.
My husband is in a punk rock band and has lots of tattoos. He was nervous that the restaurant wouldn’t be okay with his look (or baseball hat), so he wore long sleeves and long pants. I was nervous that the staff might be totally pretentious. Guess what, we were both totally wrong! We were greeted with a smile and taken to our table right away.
The restaurant vibe is really cool. You can dress up or down and fit in comfortably. The bar looked really cool and the rock music was great. We live in Gainesville, FL, Tom Petty’s home town, and we heard like 4 of his songs-​loved that!
I already had an idea of what we were going to order, so when the server came over I made the process pretty quick. Now, onto the food and drinks…
–Housemade Ginger Beer: My husband had two and really enjoyed them.
–Spicy Meatball Pizza: So good! They really know how to make a great meatball!
–Brussels Sprouts: Sweet, savory, delicious.
–Truffled Potatoes: Nice presentation and great flavor.
–Lasagna: Served in cast iron and tastes like an Italian grandmother made it. Oh yeah!
–Pumpkin Mousse: Fluffy, spiced bites of Heaven.
–Cheesecake: Amazing! I can’t believe how much it tasted like the real thing.
The timing of our dishes coming out was on point. The staff definitely has it together. The executive chef stopped by our table to ask how everything was tasting. He seemed really nice and I think it’s awesome he takes the time to do that.
Our server was great. She kept our drink glasses full, was there when we needed her and helped me decide on two awesome desserts!
Great food, great service and good vibes. We already made another reservation for Sunday brunch and can’t wait!

Crossroads is by far one of my favorite restaurants in LA, vegan or not. It’s exceptional. There are two things that make this restaurant a hit:
1) They do an extraordinary job of mainstreaming vegan cuisine. I’ve taken my carnivore friends here numerous times and not once have they complained about having to eat cardboard and lettuce. There are many dishes on the menu that I have seen fool non-​vegan friends and family with my own eyes. My step mom said that calamari was the best calamari she had ever had. Any restaurant that goes to such lengths to be accessible to everybody deserves 5 stars.
2) The service is very good to excellent depending on who you get. On a bad night the service is still very good and chef Tal Ronen will often make his way around the restaurant to say hello to guests he knows. (Often celebrities and high rollers – he catered Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi’s wedding.)
It’s dark and noisy but that’s part of the ambiance. The music is always good and they have cool photos on the wall but this is a place best for friends and less great for an important intimate dinner. It’s still really nice for that intimate dinner but it’s New York loud in that you’ll be trying to talk above everyone else and the music.
People have complained about pricing and portion size. The key to crossroads is you have to go with at least 3 people and order family style. It’s a better share plate restaurant. Also make sure the group isn’t all girls because you won’t order enough, nobody will admit they want to eat and you will go home starving.
Here’s my cheat sheet:
The Artichoke Oysters are always a crowd-​pleaser: artichoke leaves topped with artichoke purée, crispy oyster mushroom, yellow tomato bearnaise, and kelp caviar. Yum.
The Crab Cakes were one of the first things that made me fall in love with this place: hearts of palm, granny smith apples and heirloom beets and a tiny dollop of horseradish aioli.
The Spiced Chickpeas are semi-​al-​dente chickpeas with oven-​dried tomatoes and parsley. They’re not my favorite and that may be because of the consistency. You might love them.
NEW on the menu (menu changes with the seasons) are the Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts and they are heaven. Made with pine nuts, currants, and lightly tossed in a maple whole grain mustard vinaigrette. Order two of them.
The Hearts of Palm Calamari is also back on the menu after a rude hiatus. (Please don’t take them off again, I don’t care that they are on your seafood tower.) They’re served with cocktail sauce and and tartar sauce.
Salads, go for the top three on the menu:
Baby Beet Salad (candied walnuts /​kite hill almond cheese /​granny smith apples /​balsamic vinagrette) This is less salad-​y and more gourmet. All delish.
Kale Caesar – (garlic focaccia croutons /​house Caesar dressing) (Yum)
Bloomsdale Spinach Salad (smoked crispy mushrooms /​crumbled almond ricotta /​crispy shallots /​warm black garlic vinaigrette) This one is better than it should be. Savory and delicious and we always order at least two for the table.)
This past Weds we tried the FETTUCCINE (smoked carrot /​capers /​kelp caviar /​prosecco cream) and it was OUTRAGEOUS!!! It tasted like fettuccine with smoked salmon in cream sauce. To. Die. For. Remember they rotate the menu and this one is not to be missed.
The scaloppini marsala is also great and can be done parmesan or milanese style as well.
As for dessert you can never go wrong with the cheesecake. MY favorite is the Grasshopper Pie which is NOT ON THE MENU CURRENTLY AND THIS UPSETS ME. (It’s like a mint chocolate chip pie and it is heavenly) But all the desserts are done well and they always have a couple sorbets too.
Also, they have a full bar where you can also chill while you wait for your table or order your food to eat right there.
Remember: Order family style and you won’t be disappointed.
And know this going in: valet parking is $ 7 not including a tip. But if you give yourself an extra few minutes there is a good chance of finding a meter reasonably close. And let’s be honest, the valets are taking your cars to that same meter. There is no magical lot they are taking your car to. This past Wednesday I paid the guy $ 8 (including tip) to move my car to a meter 20 feet away.