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RVR Venice

3.9 (329 reviews)
Closed • 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Updated 2 months ago

RVR Venice Photos

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RVR VENICE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Hipster
Trendy
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - RVR Venice

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$12 LAMB SHOULDER SKEWER: perfectly cooked, slightly crispy on the outside, but tender and juicy on the inside.
Lisa T.

AMBIANCE (5/5): Such a cute vibe here! Very trendy and hip, just feels very welcoming. SERVICE (5/5): I sat at the bar so service was too notch. FOOD (5/5): I just happened to stumble here while shopping on Venice and I'm so glad I did! It's AMAZING! I wish I came with a group so I could order more dishes. $16 CHICKEN KARAGE: perfectly crispy chicken, with a chili honey sauce. $17 LETTUCES: so simple, yet so tasty. It's the perfect light salad to add to your meal. $12 LAMB SHOULDER SKEWER: perfectly cooked, slightly crispy on the outside, but tender and juicy on the inside. Served with pickled red onions to balance it out. $7 WAKOCHA ICED TEA: refreshing and delicious!

Menu
Vince L.

Came here for dinner one night. It's a trendy spot on Abbot Kinney. I gotta say it's a tad on the pricey side. Overall, the food was really good, except for one dish. The Bluefin Tuna Sashimi was way too salty. Not worth the $35 Other than that, everything was great and our server really knew the menu and gave us some great advice. Favorite dishes: Chicken Thigh Karaage Yellow Bean Tempura Roasted Sweet Potato

Kshama P.

9/4 - their host wasn't welcoming and not very pleasant to deal with. Even with a reservation an hour from closing of the brunch session and 1/2 the dining room open, we needed to be sat at the sun window bar. We esp dislikes this because when we drove over 2 hrs to get to venice from south OC. This literally ruined the otherwise unfaltering food experience. Those 2-4 seater tops were later offered by her to parties of 1 or even 2. This is one of our top places for food and beverages but such experiences really have the potential to deter.

Duck breast
Rose C.

Ambiance: dark and moody ambiance, there was a live DJ playing right next to us since we went on a Friday night Service: Ben was our server and attentive but honestly everyone was on top of their game, our table was clean and our food came steadily Food: best drink was the old fashioned, the cosmo had slightly a little too much tartness; we got scallops, duck breast, crispy pork tonkatsu, pork gyoza, Japanese eggplant, roasted sweet potato, duck meatball, wagyu beef skewer and the clam ramen. The clam ramen was salty and could have used some citris. The best dish was the duck breast and scallops. We got two desserts and both delicious.

Pork tonkotsu
Kimberly D.

Service was amazing, our server was very friendly, very attentive, gave us a nice little offering as we were celebrating a birthday. The highlight of our meal was the Wagyu skewer and the pork tonkotsu. In the future I would skip on the hand rolls as nothing stood out. The pork gyoza was so juicy and melt in your mouth. It was very loud and lively, we sat on the top deck. Drinks were delicious, the server was very helpful in finding something that aligned with what I was looking for.

Spinach
Jim R.

The establishment is in a covered patio and pretty noisy at brunch. We started off with the spinach which was great. The duck meat balls were okay, nothing unreal. I'd probably prefer regular meat. The Japanese sweet potatoes were excellent. .The wagyu sando blew my socks off, and I'm not a big meat eater. But I'd highly recommend. Lastly we had the vegetable ramen. The was really good The manager, whose name I forget but I remember it was derived from Sanskrit, was a delight. Waitress was nice. Services slow but maybe it's designed that way. Overall, great restaurant.

Angelica H.

Dined with them on Sunday night! It was really busy and alot of people attempting to walk in, but eventually got seated for our 7:15pm reso. Recommend their sweet potato and yellow bean tempura!! Ramen was on the lighter side, if that is your thing. Scallops were also a nice surprise. The server emphasized that they try to include local and seasonal vegetables to the dishes, so really appreciate that! Both cocktails and a few non alcoholic drinks!

Tuna sashimi
Heather L.

Overpriced with shockingly small portions. The food was average at best, and you can find similar dishes elsewhere for much less. The drink menu was solid, but spending $180 for two people and still leaving hungry is wild. The ambiance was great and definitely date-night worthy, but I just couldn't justify the prices for the portion sizes. Crazy expensive for what you get. Also, serving food on a heavily chipped plate was both unprofessional and unsafe. The pacing of the meal was also frustrating. Dishes came out with no real order or consistency--at first, each plate arrived about 10 minutes apart, which felt painfully slow given how tiny the portions were and how quickly we finished them. By the end, two dishes came out at once. The timing was all over the place, which made it difficult to pace our drinks and enjoy the meal in any cohesive way.

tempura wax beans- almost taste better than fries
Qian H.

Michelin caliber dishes without the rigid environment live DJ music selection made the vibes immaculate a must try for anyone that loves vegetables or even more so, if you dislike vegetables dishes are small, but thoughtfully coursed out. Go ahead and over order, and definitely save a little room for dessert Our server, the Japanese man spoke with such passion and knowledge Definitely my new favorite spot in Venice This place lives up to the hype will be back again 11/10

Christina N.

Got a reservation here for brunch and got here at about 11:30. The restaurant was hardly busy. Our server was really nice and attentive and patient in explaining the menu to us since it was our first time visiting the restaurant. We started off with the hand rolls - uni, tuna, and pork. They were just okay. I had high hopes for the uni. However I was a little disappointed because they rolled it with shiso leaf and it overpowered the sweetness of the uni. We got the tuna sashimi plate and the pork gyoza, both were okay. I like the citrus sauce that came on the side and it went really well with the gyoza. The server highly recommended us getting some vegetables and I'm so glad we took his advice. We got the roasted broccolini and sweet potatoes. The broccolini was surprisingly good and had a nice char to it. It went well with the sauce and was a very tasty dish. The sweet potato dish was a standout, very balanced, not too sweet. Overall the two vegetable dishes were surprising standouts. We also got to try an off-menu item: the Japanese curry with beef topped with an egg. It was hearty and we were pretty full by the end. Even though the server recommended us getting 6-9 dishes in total, excluding the hand roll, we felt like we ordered the right amount of food. They course out your meal for you so you definitely get full by the end. We spent about an hour and a half there in total and had a great time. We also enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant with music from their vinyl record player. Great vibes.

Kanpachi hand roll
Shanee U.

Delicious food especially, if your a foodie that loves to try new foods. Tapas style, great ambience, amazing service! Our waiter checked in on us as it was my husband's birthday multiple times to give us wine and sake recs, and food recs. Food: Peach salad with mint was delicious! wild kapanchi with mint hand roll were 10/10 Mixed rice with duck confit: 10/10 Roasted Sweet potato, great flavor and melts in your mouth 10/10 Wagyu skewer- light and juicy Would definitely come again!

Clam Ramen
Edward S.

RVR is a modern Japanese izakaya with California style. RVR is having a moment on Abbot-Kinney, where the vibe never ends. At an izakaya, you expect small dishes so you can linger while you enjoy your drinks. Here, these include charcoal-grilled meat skewers, dumplings, ramen, and sandos. I visited during brunch and had a large bowl of ramen with a Banner Dark cold brew. I was seated at the bar where the stools have low backs, so you get a little core workout. Before the meal, they bring a warm towel. Manila Clam Ramen: The broth is subtly briny and sweet from the clams and dashi, so don't expect a typical rich pork soup. The Manila clams are sweet and tasty. While I'm not normally a high fan of the texture of clams, these are plump, springy, and juicy. In fact, with their huge size and orange color, they resemble mussels in flavor and shape. Slivers of the preserved lemon give a zesty, aromatic, and fermented flavor. This complements the scallions and sweet citrus zing of the red Fresno chilies. The mitsuba leaves are like a mild parsley. Today I had some interesting interactions with water. In the morning, while I was surfing, I was spitting out the aggressively salty water. My first sip of RVR's tap was noticeably sweet, cold, clean, and refreshing. When the clam broth arrived, the level of savoriness was just right! Parking: You can usually find street parking a few blocks away.

Pork gyoza.  The spicy citrus dip is the
Gen C.

Hype or not? Not! This place has everything to offer. Great ambiance, Wonderful staff and excellent food. We ordered the pork gyoza and the spicy citrusy dip that came with it was the start of the show. We also used it as dip for the chicken karaage. The Duck meatballs were delicious as well. The three handrolls were excellent! We will definitely be back for more! We will try more of their veggies!

Sweet Potatoes

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2 months ago

Eh, service is slow as shit and food is overpriced. It is really good though. I wouldn't come back.

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8 months ago

Loved every dish at RVR Venice. Perfect ambience. Ideal service. Suggest the oysters, sushi, mushrooms. You can't go wrong at RVR.

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Page 3 of 9

Ask the Community - RVR Venice

Do they have parking or valet?

No valet right in front of the restaurant. However there is a small public paid lot behind the restaurant.

Do they allow walk ins?

They do --but you might not get in. Go early!

Do they have outdoor seating?

Yes, on the roof.

View All 6 Questions

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Hakata Izakaya HERO: Worth the drive…read more If you want a proper Japanese pub experience, this is it. The room is cozy without being sleepy, which is exactly what you want at the end of a long night. The food was excellent, and the portions were generous enough to make the prices feel almost unreasonable. * Large Sashimi with Uni (for two): Every piece of fish was fresh. The uni was sweet and creamy, and it did not last long. * House-Cured Grilled Mackerel: The cure gives it real depth. Crisp skin, rich and juicy inside. Done right. * Assorted Tempura: Hot, crisp, and airy, with enough batter to matter but not so much that it weighs you down. * Dry Sake: Clean and crisp. It cut through the seafood and the fried dishes nicely. Service was attentive and warm all night. Food, portions, hospitality: all handled. My only complaint is the distance. If it were closer, I'd be there every week, and that would be a problem

I just visited the Getty's museum and took a bit too long so I figured to take my daughter to a…read morelocal place to eat and wait out the crazy traffic. I am glad I did, this place is great. I didn't have a reservation and the hostess squeezed me in on what seems to be a busy Thursday night. The staffs are very nice and the food comes out quick. I got the steak and it was very tasty. My daughter must be hungry so she ate most of the food so I order a ramen to get full. The ramen is surprisingly good for a izakaya place. If you like Izakaya, try this place. The place is pretty small so it'll feel very cozy and you can definitely hear the couple next to you having a fight. There is parking lot right next door but the attendant may not be there so you don't have to pay if he is not around. I sure didn't.

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4.0(494 reviews)
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This restaurant is seriously slept on. There should be a line out the door (not that I wanna wait…read moreto eat all the delicious food). We've been here a gazillion times and we'll be back a gazillion times more. We love both the sushi and izakaya items. The nigiri, rolls and carpaccios are (literally) chef's kiss! And their fried, steamed, sauteed items are exceptional. I don't know what magical incantations and techniques are used on the miso eggplant, but people who actively don't like eggplant love this dish. It's caramelized deliciousness. Straight-up witchcraft I tell you.  I know I waxed on and on about the bacon mochi in my previous review, but I need to you hear me when I extol its virtues from the highest mountain. Plus, this time, I have video of the epic pull! The fish tacos are superb. There a light, crispy batter on the flaky fish with fresh veggies on top. I daresay I felt healthy eating these tacos. The sauteed scallops with ponzu is an absolute must-order. The scallops are cooked (not overcooked, not undercooked) to a perfect texture that retains the natural sweetness of scallops, which contrasts beautifully with the savory-tangy-umami elixir created by ponzu and butter. The sauce is so delicious that we always order a side of rice to get every last drop.

A great hidden gem! We love having omakase here! We've only ordered sashimi and sushi and have not…read moreordered any of the warm cooked dishes. Their fish is solid! This place is MUCH better than some of the other local sushi spots. My favorites here are: Red snapper Salmon Halibut (tiny citrus topping) Amberjack (with truffle oil) Big eye tuna Golden eye Black snapper If you're looking for more of a bar/ social vibe, go to Hama sushi. If you're looking for low key spot with high quality sashimi, come here!

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RVR Venice - izakaya - Updated October 2026

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