I was very skeptical going in based on the reviews but i wanted to keep an open mind. I wanted to like it not only because it was not cheap but also for the sake of LA’s fine dining scene.
First the positives. Chef Kahn was genuinely humble and sincere when he greeted us before dinner.
The architecture and presentation were otherworldly, it really did feel like you were dining on the Starship Enterprise, which is kinda cool if you’re into that kind of thing.
Toto toilets
Now the not so good.
When I read there would be a soundtrack I wasn’t anticipating one track that consisted of three droning notes being played in an endless loop for the duration of the 4+ hour meal.
The acrylic tables were arranged with the four-tops in the middle surrounded by the crescent shaped two-top booths facing inward. I imagine the people sitting in the middle feeling like the floating ghost head in the haunted mansion ride when all the doom buggies are circling around it.
Even the table edges were too sharp making it very uncomfortable to rest your forearm on the table while eating.
photo from http://ericowenmoss.com
Service was solemn and somber, with the servers looking like androgynous characters straight out of the matrix.
And most importantly, the food tasted terrible and was mainly dominated by bitter, tart, raw vegetal, and medicinal flavors. There wasn’t one dish out of the 20 courses that I would ever order or eat again. There was also a surprising lack of fat and protein which combined with the soundtrack left me feeling empty physically, emotionally, and financially by the end of the meal.
Some of the more notable dishes of the night:
A twig of samphire succulent, sticking out of a black brick. huh? Is this the centerpiece? am i supposed to eat this or take it home and plant it? I reluctantly ate it and it tasted like i was eating fibrous astroturf. Since photos are not allowed here is my courtroom sketch of the dish:
Next there was some sort of onion and black currant cookie that tasted like a less flavorful, drier GNC protein bar.
photo from eater.com
The hirame dish had a weird spongy texture and made a disconcerting squishy noise when trying to cut into it.
photo from eater.com
The endive dish was the worst tasting thing i’ve ever put into my mouth. It was so bitter and medicinal tasting it was inedible. I wish I could have captured the reactions from the other tables after eating this, it was quite entertaining.
photo from eater.com
Many dishes used some kind of dehydrated food formed into sharp plastic shapes for visual effect. It had no discernible taste and seemed to only serve the purpose of poking the inside of your mouth, melting and then getting stuck in your teeth.
photo from eater.com
photo from eater.com
The main protein of the meal was turkey and unfortunately it was dry and the skin was soggy.
Combining the soundtrack, service, and food just made for a depressing dining experience. If you’re looking for food that “is from a time that is yet to be, and a place that does not exist”, friendly professional service, and taste to match, you don’t need to board a spaceship, just get on a plane, fly to Chicago and dine at Alinea.
P.S. I can confirm the building does not have its own gravity. the endive that i spat out did indeed accelerate back into the bowl at 9.8 m/s²
Vespertine
3599 Hayden Ave
Culver City, CA 90232
(323) 320-4023
And turkey being the main protein? 
