Providence is LA’s best fine dining experience and arguably (revered by many critics) the best in the country. Providence has been on Gold’s Top 100 Restaurants as #1, Eater LA has named it the best rare find in LA for fine dining and surviving the years, CNN for the best seafood in Los Angeles…the positive PR for Providence list goes on and on.
Providence is on a charming part of Melrose that seems very unassuming, and it’s amazing to know that Providence has survived over a decade in such a finicky market. Chef Michael Cimarusti delivers innovation in a tranquil, intimate setting. The service and food will make you feel you are at the top of luxury, yet the space keeps it humble and soft. They grow almost everything on their second floor (garden) and only bring in the best possible seafood.
Reservations are pretty much required (it is relatively hard to get in at a decent time) and you want to leave plenty of time for the length of the meal (two hours at least). Valet parking makes the entire experience that much easier, and you are greeted at the door with a coat checker and hostess. While the price is very high, it is worth that one special occasion. Sit back, relax and get ready for one of the best meals of your life.
Providence is a prix-fixe restaurant – you want to order one of their 3 prix fixe menus in which your entire meal is planned out for you by the chef and meant to be a perfect representation of Providence. The signature & seasonal menu comes in two lengths: 4 or 8 courses. The four is a simple flight of seafood, red meat, and dessert. The eight is a little more extended of that, with a couple more seafood favorites and one more dessert.
Finally, the Chef’s Menu is the longest and best representation of Providence: 22 beautiful, thoughtful courses that take about 3.5 hours to complete. You will get to taste everything and every course is so well thought out (multiple tastes and textures that make you feel a certain intended way each time).
Providence is seafood-heavy, so most of these will be some sort of seafood such as wild Japanese snapper, sea urchin, Australian crab, Santa Barbara prawns, oysters, and more.
Also, every menu comes with a wine pairing option which I highly recommend since their wine selection is exquisite and vast, however every time I go I just get a bottle of Pinot Noir from my favorite vineyard: Hirsch Vineyards (they have some of the rarest bottles here). I have to mention that you will be full, do not worry. Even if you do the 4-course, you will be full because they usually offer several rounds of artisanal bread and butter as well as several take-home desserts (whatever the chef is feeling that day) to send you on your way. Your experience here is one-of-a-kind from a one-of-a-kind chef.
It was my birthday when I went so I got a special dessert with a candle.
Providence (5955 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038) 323-460-4170
