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✔️Breakfast ✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out
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Ori Menashe’s Middle Eastern follow-up to his always-packed Bestia, with a similar downtown vibe serving small plates, meat and fish dishes, plus desserts.
Hours
| Friday | 5–11 PM |
| Saturday | 5–11 PM |
| Sunday | 5–11 PM |
| Monday | 5–11 PM |
| Tuesday | 5–11 PM |
| Wednesday | 5–11 PM |
| Thursday | 5–11 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 500 Mateo St #102, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Phone: (213) 232-4966
Website: https://baveldtla.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: baveldtla.comopentable.com
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Bavel DTLA | Bavel Restaurant Reservations
Bavel, in Downtown Los Angeles’ Arts District, is a Middle Eastern restaurant from Chefs Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis. Our menu. Our menu is meant to be a …
Bavel Restaurant – Los Angeles, CA | OpenTable
Bavel is energetic, stylish, and buzzy, an Arts District dining room with greenery, an open-fire kitchen, and lively music. Guests love the warm vibe and …
Bavel Restaurant (@baveldtla) · Los Angeles, CA – Instagram
67K followers · 496 posts · @ChefOri + Genevieve.
Reviews
Tamara Dull
Bavel came highly recommended by a friend, so six of us gathered for a Friday-night feast. The menu is built for sharing, which made it easy – and dangerous! – to sample a little of everything.
We ordered a wide spread of food (see photos): hummus mashaushe, grilled dates, butter lettuce salad, trout crudo, roasted sprouting cauliflower, oyster mushroom kebab, sweet potato flatbread, fried quail, wagyu beef cheek tagine, spiced pear cake, nougat ice cream bar, and chocolate lavender donuts. A couple bottles of red wine rounded things out.
The food across the board was excellent, but the standout – the dish I’ll remember for a long time – was the wagyu beef cheek tagine. It was impossibly tender, the kind of dish you don’t even chew; it just melts.
What also impressed me was the service. With so many shared plates constantly rotating in and out, table management really matters. The servers were on it – clearing empty dishes promptly, refreshing our small plates multiple times, and somehow keeping the table from ever feeling crowded. If you’ve ever been to a place where food keeps coming but nothing gets cleared, you’ll appreciate how well Bavel handles this.
The one downside: it’s loud. The vibe is great and energetic but hearing the conversation at our table was sometimes challenging—more like a busy bar than a sit-down dinner.
Will I be back? Absolutely. Just waiting for my next invitation.
… moreWe ordered a wide spread of food (see photos): hummus mashaushe, grilled dates, butter lettuce salad, trout crudo, roasted sprouting cauliflower, oyster mushroom kebab, sweet potato flatbread, fried quail, wagyu beef cheek tagine, spiced pear cake, nougat ice cream bar, and chocolate lavender donuts. A couple bottles of red wine rounded things out.
The food across the board was excellent, but the standout – the dish I’ll remember for a long time – was the wagyu beef cheek tagine. It was impossibly tender, the kind of dish you don’t even chew; it just melts.
What also impressed me was the service. With so many shared plates constantly rotating in and out, table management really matters. The servers were on it – clearing empty dishes promptly, refreshing our small plates multiple times, and somehow keeping the table from ever feeling crowded. If you’ve ever been to a place where food keeps coming but nothing gets cleared, you’ll appreciate how well Bavel handles this.
The one downside: it’s loud. The vibe is great and energetic but hearing the conversation at our table was sometimes challenging—more like a busy bar than a sit-down dinner.
Will I be back? Absolutely. Just waiting for my next invitation.
Carin Rudich
The scene is lively, especially on the inside in the beautifully designed restaurant.
We were a table of four and shared everything. Their specialty drinks were our favorite.
The staff seemed a little off but all and all a great night out.
Make reservations, specify inside or out.
… moreWe were a table of four and shared everything. Their specialty drinks were our favorite.
The staff seemed a little off but all and all a great night out.
Make reservations, specify inside or out.
William Mao
Bavel is one of my favorite restaurants in LA for upscale Middle Eastern food. Their sister spot, Bestia, is always busy, but I think Bavel is more unique. The menu is tapas-style, so everything is meant to be shared. I’ve been twice this year and both visits were great.
Some standout dishes were the hummus duck ’nduja with blistered pita, chicken liver paté, and the oyster mushroom kebab, which was so flavorful it didn’t even taste like mushrooms. The grilled prawns were loaded with flavor, the wagyu beef cheek tagine was tender and rich, and the lamb neck shawarma was perfect for making your own wraps.
The restaurant itself is beautiful with a warm, modern vibe, and the service is always on point. Street parking is free if you can find it, but valet is available if you’d rather not deal with it.
If you love Middle Eastern flavors or just want a memorable dining experience in LA, Bavel is definitely worth checking out.
… moreSome standout dishes were the hummus duck ’nduja with blistered pita, chicken liver paté, and the oyster mushroom kebab, which was so flavorful it didn’t even taste like mushrooms. The grilled prawns were loaded with flavor, the wagyu beef cheek tagine was tender and rich, and the lamb neck shawarma was perfect for making your own wraps.
The restaurant itself is beautiful with a warm, modern vibe, and the service is always on point. Street parking is free if you can find it, but valet is available if you’d rather not deal with it.
If you love Middle Eastern flavors or just want a memorable dining experience in LA, Bavel is definitely worth checking out.
Diana Kim
HOLY SHIT – you need to eat here. Bavel is 10,000% worth the hype and I’m still thinking about this meal weeks later. Everything was heavenly, the service was next level, and they were incredibly accommodating with my food intolerances (which instantly earns major points).
We ordered the plate of veggies (obvious yes) and they gave us SO much, baba ghanoush (my friends could not stop talking about how good it was), and the oyster mushroom kebab – WOWWW. I genuinely don’t understand how they pulled off that level of flavor and texture. It was rich, smoky, perfectly cooked, and honestly one of the best mushroom dishes I’ve ever had. That doesn’t even compare to the Grilled Prawns which the harissa marinade was absolutely mind blowing!
And then… the slow-roasted lamb neck shawarma. Life-changing. Mandatory order. It literally falls apart, so juicy, so deeply flavorful – I’m not exaggerating when I say everyone needs to try this at least once in their life.
We shared a bottle of red wine (Fuentes del Silencio) that our server recommended, and that suggestion hit so hard. Perfect pairing, no notes.
From the food to the wine to the service to the atmosphere and aesthetic (which is absolutely stunning), this place delivers on every level. If you’re debating going, stop debating and book the reservation. Bavel absolutely lives up to the hype and then some!
… moreWe ordered the plate of veggies (obvious yes) and they gave us SO much, baba ghanoush (my friends could not stop talking about how good it was), and the oyster mushroom kebab – WOWWW. I genuinely don’t understand how they pulled off that level of flavor and texture. It was rich, smoky, perfectly cooked, and honestly one of the best mushroom dishes I’ve ever had. That doesn’t even compare to the Grilled Prawns which the harissa marinade was absolutely mind blowing!
And then… the slow-roasted lamb neck shawarma. Life-changing. Mandatory order. It literally falls apart, so juicy, so deeply flavorful – I’m not exaggerating when I say everyone needs to try this at least once in their life.
We shared a bottle of red wine (Fuentes del Silencio) that our server recommended, and that suggestion hit so hard. Perfect pairing, no notes.
From the food to the wine to the service to the atmosphere and aesthetic (which is absolutely stunning), this place delivers on every level. If you’re debating going, stop debating and book the reservation. Bavel absolutely lives up to the hype and then some!
Rick Smith
Had some amazing food here. First off, always do reservations. Second, if you show up early, ask and they might be able to seat you early 🙂 So we had some really good foods choices. The Duck hummus was really really good. Also there was a tuna dish, Yellowtail Crudo that might have been our groups favorite (unfortunately I didn’t get a pic of that or some other items). We had the Tomahawk Ribeye steak, all good, dates were also good. Omg, almost forgot. I lied..we had the Hawaij Cauliflower …dudes, that was awesome sauce!!! The food is great, service is great, all good stuff. The biggest complaint could be the area. We walked from Little Tokyo and it’s okay, but not great.
… moreAutumn Strife
This restaurant struck a great balance between polished and comfortable. The space was clean, well maintained, and designed in a way that immediately put me at ease. It felt welcoming without feeling stiff or overly formal.
The staff contributed a lot to that feeling. They were friendly, professional, and genuinely attentive, making sure everything went smoothly throughout the visit.
When you’re constantly traveling and streaming, those small details really stand out. This place made the experience feel easy and enjoyable from start to finish.
Follow me on Instagram @AutumnTheNomad
… moreThe staff contributed a lot to that feeling. They were friendly, professional, and genuinely attentive, making sure everything went smoothly throughout the visit.
When you’re constantly traveling and streaming, those small details really stand out. This place made the experience feel easy and enjoyable from start to finish.
Follow me on Instagram @AutumnTheNomad
Jordan Wood
Highly recommend! It’s been an LA hot spot for a long time for a reason. That being said, make sure to make a reservation in advance on OpenTable.
There were zero misses – highlights were the lamb (just fell apart and melts in your mouth), trout crudo, and the oyster mushroom kebab.
Ambiance is on point too with the greenery and overall buzz of the restaurant.
… moreThere were zero misses – highlights were the lamb (just fell apart and melts in your mouth), trout crudo, and the oyster mushroom kebab.
Ambiance is on point too with the greenery and overall buzz of the restaurant.
Jake Muller
1 Star Disappointing Birthday Experience
I came to Bavel to celebrate my birthday expecting a special experience, especially given the reputation and high prices. Unfortunately, from the very beginning, the night went downhill.
As soon as we sat down and barely had time to look at the drink menu, our waiter immediately started rushing us to order. We asked politely for a few more minutes, multiple times, but he kept returning and pressuring us. It felt uncomfortable, stressful, and honestly annoying not the atmosphere you want when celebrating a birthday or paying for a premium dining experience.
When we asked for recommendations, instead of being helpful, he said: “Don’t ask what’s popular, don’t overthink it.” That’s not service that’s dismissive. For an upscale restaurant, you expect guidance, patience, and professionalism. This was the opposite.
Then came the bill.
There was a hidden 4% surcharge per person added for “employee benefits.” This was never clearly explained upfront. If a restaurant cannot afford to pay fair benefits to their staff, that responsibility should not be quietly passed onto customers. In many cases, these “service fees” do not even go fully to employees and often benefit ownership. Be transparent or include it in your pricing don’t hide it at the end of the meal.
Now the food:
The hummus was altered with eggplant in a way that completely overpowered the dish. Taking a classic Middle Eastern staple and changing it this way ruined the balance and authenticity.
The whole fish dish was just okay at best, but it had a noticeably strong fishy smell, which is never a good sign for freshness.
Dessert was the biggest disappointment: dates mixed with vinegar or something similarly acidic extremely overpowering, unbalanced, and unpleasant. Not what you want to end a birthday dinner with.
Also, let’s be honest about pricing: this place is not cheap. Expect to spend $300+ for two people easily, and at that price point, everything should be near perfect service, transparency, food quality, and experience.
Instead, we got rushed service, surprise fees, inconsistent food, and a disappointing dessert.
For a restaurant operating at this level and charging these prices, staff training and menu refinement are badly needed. High-end dining should feel welcoming and memorable, not stressful and frustrating.
I will not be returning, and I would not recommend this place for special occasions.
… moreI came to Bavel to celebrate my birthday expecting a special experience, especially given the reputation and high prices. Unfortunately, from the very beginning, the night went downhill.
As soon as we sat down and barely had time to look at the drink menu, our waiter immediately started rushing us to order. We asked politely for a few more minutes, multiple times, but he kept returning and pressuring us. It felt uncomfortable, stressful, and honestly annoying not the atmosphere you want when celebrating a birthday or paying for a premium dining experience.
When we asked for recommendations, instead of being helpful, he said: “Don’t ask what’s popular, don’t overthink it.” That’s not service that’s dismissive. For an upscale restaurant, you expect guidance, patience, and professionalism. This was the opposite.
Then came the bill.
There was a hidden 4% surcharge per person added for “employee benefits.” This was never clearly explained upfront. If a restaurant cannot afford to pay fair benefits to their staff, that responsibility should not be quietly passed onto customers. In many cases, these “service fees” do not even go fully to employees and often benefit ownership. Be transparent or include it in your pricing don’t hide it at the end of the meal.
Now the food:
The hummus was altered with eggplant in a way that completely overpowered the dish. Taking a classic Middle Eastern staple and changing it this way ruined the balance and authenticity.
The whole fish dish was just okay at best, but it had a noticeably strong fishy smell, which is never a good sign for freshness.
Dessert was the biggest disappointment: dates mixed with vinegar or something similarly acidic extremely overpowering, unbalanced, and unpleasant. Not what you want to end a birthday dinner with.
Also, let’s be honest about pricing: this place is not cheap. Expect to spend $300+ for two people easily, and at that price point, everything should be near perfect service, transparency, food quality, and experience.
Instead, we got rushed service, surprise fees, inconsistent food, and a disappointing dessert.
For a restaurant operating at this level and charging these prices, staff training and menu refinement are badly needed. High-end dining should feel welcoming and memorable, not stressful and frustrating.
I will not be returning, and I would not recommend this place for special occasions.
Claudia Z-S
Incredible place! We love all of the restaurants this group owns and they never disappoint.
Must orders are the prawns and salmon crudo with coconut broth. Maybe also the calamari 🙂
Service is so kind and attentive. The interior is gorgeous.
Amazing place!
… moreMust orders are the prawns and salmon crudo with coconut broth. Maybe also the calamari 🙂
Service is so kind and attentive. The interior is gorgeous.
Amazing place!
Tareq Barakzoy
This is an overhyped, Middle Eastern restaurant, but grossly overpriced with small portions. There’s a nearby parking however the area looks a little shady so I had to pay $20 for my truck to get valet parking. The restaurant was very loud and it was hard to hear a regular conversation.. The lamb chops were probably least seasoned and very expensive at $96 for one serving.
The best dish was the broccolini and it was really the sauce that made it.
… moreThe best dish was the broccolini and it was really the sauce that made it.