Gjelina

  4.2 – 1,809 reviews   • American restaurant

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Imaginative globally influenced American kitchen with a stylish, casual interior & takeout.

✔️Breakfast ✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out Gjelina 90291

Hours

Saturday9 AM–10:30 PM
Sunday9 AM–10:30 PM
Monday9 AM–10:30 PM
Tuesday9 AM–10:30 PM
Wednesday9 AM–10:30 PM
Thursday9 AM–10:30 PM
Friday9 AM–10:30 PM

Address and Contact Information

Address: 1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

Phone: (310) 450-1429

Website: http://www.gjelina.com/

Menu Photos

Order and Reservations

Reservations: opentable.com

gjelina.com

Photo Gallery

Related Web Results

Hours & Location | Gjelina in Venice, CA

Visit Gjelina in Venice, CA at 1429 Abbot Kinney. Open daily from 9am-10:30pm.

Gjelina | American Restaurant in CA, LV and NY

Gjelina Group offers purpose-driven hospitality in Venice, CA. From Gjelina and Gjusta Bakery to the Gjelina Foundation, we focus on produce-forward food …

Gjelina (@gjelinarestaurant) · Venice, CA – Instagram

71K followers · 1.1K+ posts · LA 9a-10:30p LA Take Away 7a-9p NY M-Thurs 11a-10p; Fri 11am-11pm; Sat 9a-11p; Sun 9a-10p LV Sun-Thu 11a-10p; Fri-Sat 11a-11p.

Reviews

Mayank Dayal
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I recently visited Gjelina on Abbot Kinney Blvd and it’s clear why it’s been a Venice institution since 2008. The restaurant combines a lively California vibe with thoughtful, produce-forward cuisine that showcases locally sourced seasonal ingredients — a hallmark of its menu philosophy. 

The atmosphere is buzzy and energetic, with a picture-perfect interior of brick floors and greenery that feels casual yet special — ideal for both brunch and dinner.  While it can be busy (reservations are a good idea), once seated the experience becomes relaxed. Outdoor seating is charming if you prefer an al fresco feel. 

We tried several dishes and genuinely enjoyed them. The Tai snapper crudo was exceptionally fresh with bright flavors, and the charcuterie board made a great starter.  The wood-fired pizzas and vegetable plates are also standouts — the kind of food that tastes elevated without feeling overly fussy.  Portions lean toward small-share style, so plan to order a few plates to explore the menu. 

Service can vary depending on crowd level, but overall staff are knowledgeable about the menu and willing to make recommendations.  Prices are on the higher side, which is typical for the area and quality, and some people find portions modest for the price, but we felt the quality of ingredients and preparation justified it. 

In short, Gjelina is a must-visit spot in Venice for anyone who appreciates creative California cuisine with a communal sharing style — just go with an appetite and an eagerness to try a few different dishes!
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Stacy Holden
We visited this restaurant because it was one of the Chase Sapphire perks. It was well worth the drive from North of LA. We had a lovely waitress named Alley who recommended several of the menu items we ordered, like the Gruyere, Caramelized Onion & Fromage Blanc pizza and the Grilled Kabocha Squash with Mint Pistou, pomegranate and red walnuts. Oh my gosh, those were so good. My husband’s favorite was the broccolini with plenty of confit garlic and a slight chili taste. And I’d say the Japanese sweet potato and Brussel sprouts were totally unique and great tasting too. The restaurant was crowded for a Saturday brunch, so make a reservation (we still waited a bit). We sat upstairs which was quiet and would have been perfect on a typical LA warm day, but the inside was bustling, so take your pick. The price is a bit high, but we were full on the vegies and pizza, and Alley was so great, checking on us and making sure the food came out timely and we were enjoying everything. A lovely experience.
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euigoo kim
We visited Gjelina to celebrate my second daughter’s birthday. Reservations are a must here—the place was packed with people waiting at the entrance. Due to heavy traffic, we arrived a bit late and ended up waiting an additional 30–40 minutes.

Initially, we were seated on the rooftop, but the direct sunlight made it a bit uncomfortable. Thankfully, the staff was very accommodating and moved us to a better table as soon as the neighboring guests finished their meal.

The food was absolutely exquisite. While most diners order individual plates, we followed our cultural tradition of sharing dishes. It felt like a curated course meal; as soon as the four of us finished one dish, the next arrived perfectly timed. Though the portions didn’t look huge at first, the depth of flavor and the wonderful ambiance made for a satisfying and top-tier dining experience. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a truly special meal!
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Alexis C
gjelina delivers on food quality and overall experience, but i’m docking it one star for a very specific reason: you absolutely cannot modify anything on the menu. not even a simple request like adding a side of basil to a pasta. for a restaurant of this caliber, that level of rigidity was surprising and a bit disappointing. just know going in that the menu is strictly “as is,” and manage expectations accordingly.

that said, the food itself was good, flavorful, and clearly made with quality ingredients. the service was friendly and attentive overall, though they did forget to bring our drink order, which took away slightly from the experience.
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CB Architect-Builder
The exterior and interior design is pretty cool as a combo of modern and eclectic with warm, tactile and cozy finishes and furniture. The food is outstanding. My son and I started by sharing the steak tartare on sour
Dough. Superb! My son had the hangar steak banh mi sandwich and I had the baked Moroccan eggs dish and washed it down with a couple refreshing iPA’s from Long Beach Brewing. Our waitress and her team were great too! As a bonus I got to sit adjacent to famous architect Thom Mayne. I think this place should pursue and be considered for a
Michelin Star! Going to hit their NY outfit when we get back east! It was that good!
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Kuo L
3.8/5 ⭐
Came here for dinner and waited about an hour, which raised expectations. The food was good and well prepared, but nothing particularly memorable. We had the pizza — the chorizo pizza was a bit too salty for our taste.
The atmosphere was nice overall, but parking is tricky and we had to rely on street parking. Solid spot, just be prepared for the wait and logistical hassle.
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Stefano DellaVigna
Yes. It is a classic. Is it still worth it? ABSOLUTELY! The food here is excellent at all levels, including a good choice of wine by the glass. The pizzas are excellent, eg the one with anchovies, but even more the grilled vegetables such as the grilled cabbage and grilled carrots. The smokiness abd acidity elevates the dishes. Way to go.
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John White
The hard part of coming here is deciding what to have. Having been in many restaurants with concentrated choices this is a good problem to have! We settled on Prosciutto and fuyu persimmon burrata with lemon preserves, pan seared glazed turnips, and a fennel salami pizza. The burrata was the star of our show. I’m not usually a fan of burrata but this was a stand out presentation. The turnips balanced it with a savory earthiness. With the fennel salami pizza for a lingering spicy finish. We had a spectacular meal. There was so much we overlooked, they had a couple of egg and vegetables presentations that I’m a big fan of. We’ll save that idea for the next time.
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Jesse
Food was decent, especially the pizza, but the experience didn’t justify the price.

A mandatory 22% gratuity was added with no choice or clear explanation, and it didn’t seem consistent across tables. Service was minimal: food dropped off, a brief check-in, that’s it.

Two people, one cheap glass of wine, and the bill was over $160 with tip. Parking was also difficult.

I’m happy to tip for good service, but forced 22% gratuity without matching service or transparency is a deal breaker.
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Shaun Young
I hadn’t been to Gjelina in years and was very excited to return and experience it again. Unfortunately it was an underwhelming experience, with average food and rude service.

We had a reservation and were seated outside on the second level. We were put a table that was mainly in the sun and asked the hostess if we could be seated at a shaded table. There were plenty of open tables. It was as if we had made an immense request. She was put-out and rude. Our server started equally as rude. The shaded table was uneven and kept rocking back and forth. We didn’t say anything, but the sever noticed and said “Well no one was supposed to be seated at that table. There’s an upcoming reservation.” So… you’d have to get a wedge for that reservation too.

When I asked her what dishes she recommended as I hadn’t been there in years, she said “There’s too much to list.” When asked for a wine recommendation and said we usually drink Pinot Grigio, she replied “What kind of Pinot Grigio? There are so many varieties.” That was when I was over the service. There were only a handful of whites on the menu. It’s not an extensive wine list. Pinot Grigio gives you an idea of what we like. It’s not a Chardonnay or a Sauvignon Blanc.

When the food arrived, it was fine. It wasn’t worthy of the price or attitude we received. The produce was fresh, but the food temperature was tepid. The pancakes were dense and mediocre. Not even the amount of blueberry compote or cream could save it.

Ultimately the bill did not justify the food or service. Maybe it was an off day, but not a gamble I’m willing to take again. There are restaurants with far better service and food, especially for the price point.
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