Somerville - View Park-Windsor Hills, California

Danielle L.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Somerville to celebrate one of my closest friend's 50th birthday, and it was an amazing experience from start to finish. The atmosphere is simply stunning—an elegant blend of 1940s jazz club charm with a modern touch. It felt as though I was transported back to Central Avenue in the 1940s.

Somerville is a warm, nostalgic space, with live music setting the perfect vibe. The live band elevated the experience even more. The service was top-notch, with the staff being attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. Since we were a party of 10, we worked with Olga, who was great—accommodating and willing to go the extra mile. My dad was in the hospital, and she understood that, despite everything going on, I still wanted to do something special for my friend turning 50.

Additionally, the house manager, Erik, was attentive and went above and beyond to ensure the night went off without a hitch. Every dish we tried was a masterpiece, but the standouts for us were the Fried Chicken and Caviar Sliders, the Collard Green Lasagna, the Curry Striped Sea Bass, and the Brussels sprouts, which offered a unique twist on classic comfort food.

I highly recommend Somerville! The overall energy of the place makes it an ideal spot for a night out or a special occasion. I can’t wait to return with my mom and try more of their amazing dishes!

Dana

I like Issa so I’m not gonna go too hard it’s great to have nice restaurants in our neighborhood; however the menu needs work, very limited, no vegan options. It’s about 9 menu options total, food was luke warm at best when served. We were a group of 6 we ordered everything on menu to try; the best thing for me was the dinner rolls( they were bomb) but reading these reviews people say good things about food, however I work for an airline & travel for living so my favorite past time is food & even tho the experience was ok, there is nothing I would go back for or rave about other than the atmosphere. It was a 1 & done for me. Even if someone says they are going there unless it’s just to have a drink at bar (which there was a line for that) I probably will not go again.
And it was my birthday & they made a big deal about asking if you were celebrating anything when booking reservations & they did nothing, the server didn’t even acknowledge or ask who was celebrating the birthday. As well as I had a tiny cake that they wanted to charge $70 to plate for my group & the cake it’s self wasn’t even that much so we passed; I was disappointed in that

Azaria

Exceptional Dining Experience at Somerville

I had an incredible dining experience at Somerville, where everything from the ambiance to the food and service exceeded expectations. The warm, intimate atmosphere with dim lighting and cozy seating set the perfect mood for an enjoyable evening.

Overall, Somerville delivered a top-notch dining experience with a well-curated menu and impeccable execution. Highly recommend for a special night out or a memorable meal!

Jeanelle Z. J.

I'm so thrilled they opened a classy upscale restaurant for us by us. Issa Rae has done it again. The atmosphere inside is absolutely beautiful. It was nice to be in there the first week of opening and still smell the newly finished construction. The music was perfect. The food was tasty. We really enjoyed the flavor the chicken, the brussel sprouts and the bread. But we also ordered the salmon the lamb, the risotto and the lobster Mac n cheese along with the regular Mac and cheese and most of the food was finished off our plates so it was enjoyed. The drinks I do believe need some excitement. Garnish. Something cute. I suggest when you make your reservation you ask to face the music because it feels like most seats have their back to the music, including the bar, which is a beautiful area as well to sit and drink though it gets extremely packed. We will definitely be going back to support this new beautiful place!! The only reason I gave service a 4 was because it was very slow and I think they were still working out the quirks.

Jonterri G.

Had a before Valentine’s Day dinner here with friends. The moment we walked in we felt transported to another time. Had a Harlem Renaissance vibe with a jazz trio playing live. Everything we ate was delicious! Drinks were great. Pricey but worth it. Service was outstanding. Can’t wait to go back!

Sonia R.

Somerville was incredible! We were lucky to snag a reservation within their first month of opening. They offer valet ($15), though street parking seems pretty accessible. They have two lines at the front door— one for walk-ins and one for reservations.

The inside is beautiful, pictures don’t do it justice! One thing to note: we noticed it’s not very accommodating to groups larger than 6 — we saw a group of 7 in a booth and they looked pretty squished. If you’re there for a date night or a smaller group, then seating shouldn’t be a problem.

The food was phenomenal. All dishes were great, but I highly recommend the Manjari Torte dessert! It is hands-down one of the best desserts I’ve ever had!!

We can’t wait for reservations to open up again so that we can go back. Somerville is one of a kind and such a great addition to the neighborhood.

Divine K.

The high star ratings were accurate. From the moment I arrived at Somerville, I felt a warm welcome. The ambiance was fantastic – the color scheme, dim lighting, and smooth music created a truly inviting atmosphere. This place has a great vibe.

I must give a special shout-out to Oscar, the bartender/host. He was incredibly professional, provided helpful information about local attractions in Los Angeles, and blended some really good drinks. Thank you, Oscar!

The lamb dish was incredibly delicious. 😋 If you haven't experienced Somerville yet, I highly recommend adding it to your list.

Damon K.

Sophie’s Choice: Style or Substance? Something old or something new?

When designing a destination for the quintessential, picture perfect evening, what’s to offer a discerning LA market that may sooner value something fresh and buzzy over soul and classic substance?

Championed by local hero and Black-millennial tastemaker, Issa Rae, Somerville achieves an intergenerational fusion of something familiar and historic with an adventurous, innovative twist.

Somerville brings customers a reimagined parlay into Black culture and American-soul gastronomy that beckons back to a different time—something your grandma made, yet nothing you’ve seen before.

Nothing achieves this more than their must try Collard Green Lasagna—it captures the vegetarian-friendly, fine dining sensibility of your contemporary Angeleno foodie, while presenting the sumptuous flavor and comfort of a homemade meal made down South.

The “Black Bourgeoise” charm of their Fried Chicken & Caviar Sliders are echoed thru stylistic design subtleties throughout. You feel like you’re in an exclusive, new age jazz joint: Musical greats charmingly revered in table side, wall-mounted photography on-look in-house live performances; you feel grounded in our American history, as your senses resound with and taste the potential of our collective future.

The cocktail offerings wink to what the culture wants with Beyonce’s SirDavis Rye’s “Golden Age” and “Heyday’s” Hennesy, but I challenge we may be getting what we want, but not what we need.

The kinks are still being worked out operationally. The level of service and coordination to usher you thru a smooth hospitality experience leaves some to be desired.

The Mac & Cheese, Duck Confit, and lack of diverse options on the dessert menu leaves even more to be desired… but this future Slauson staple holds much promise.

Book with notice, as this new hot spot is buzzing as many locals are seeking out a piece of history in the making.