Carolyn C.
Yelp
This review is from a complimentary Yelp elite event, all my thoughts are my genuine thoughts.
Overall, super great ambiance, portions are smaller as a tapas kind of vibe, super great for a friends hang out/ happy hour. THIS IS GREAT FOR INSTAGRAM PICTURES!!!
Entrance:
Kassi is right off the Venice boardwalk inside Hotel Erwin. Super easy to find once you know where you're going -- just head to the front of the hotel and check in with the lady outside (tell her it's for Kassi). Then you take the elevator up to the 6th floor. If you're walking from the boardwalk (like I did), look up for the tan umbrellas on top of the building so you know you're in the right spot, then loop around to the front to enter.
Ambiance:
As soon as you step out of the elevator, you're hit with this gorgeous view of Venice Beach. Total photo-op spot. I checked in with the hostesses and only waited a couple minutes before getting seated. My table was off to the side and had an amazing view of the ocean, boardwalk, and the skatepark.
One tip I'm glad I read from another Yelper: WEAR SUNSCREEN. It's all outdoors and depending on the time of day, you're definitely in the sun. Perfect vibe but you'll fry without protection.
Dress code is pretty flexible, but dress up if you can. I saw everything from people in beach cover-ups and wet hair to girls in full-on dinner dresses with glam makeup. Overall, about 70% of people looked like they were dressed for Instagram -- at minimum, nice jeans and a cute top will fit in, but I really recommend a nice dress/outfit. This is where you & girlies would go for cute brunch pictures in nice outfits!!
Staff:
My waitress, Sofia, was the sweetest. Super kind and helpful with recommendations, especially for drinks and food. She checked in on us a few times but never rushed us, which I loved.
Drinks:
I ordered the Watermelon Cucumber Spritz ($11) and the Oracle of Delphi ($18). Drinks came out fast even though the bar area was packed (Sunday at 6 PM, totally full).
The cucumber spritz was light, refreshing, and perfect in the sun. The Oracle of Delphi was also really good -- Sofia sold me on it just by describing the ingredients.
Drinks are on the smaller side, but honestly, that's kind of the vibe when you're sipping cocktails by the boardwalk in Venice.
Food:
We went in on a bunch of dishes, the portions are a bit smaller since it's tapas style, but they were decently filling:
* S&P Calamari ($18) -- honestly the best deal on the menu because of the portion size. Super shareable.
* Hand-pulled bread ($5) -- kind of like naan but flatter. A little chewy/tough to tear apart, but still tasty, especially paired with...
* Whipped avocado ($10) -- SO GOOD. I'm usually not a saucy person, but my partner and I literally cleaned the bowl. Huge thanks to Sofia for recommending this! We even started dipping our fries and calamari in it after the bread was gone.
* French fries ($10) -- amazing when they first hit the table, crispy and hot. They do get cold/hard if you let them sit, so eat quick.
* Beef tenderloin skewer ($16) -- exceeded my expectations. Portion is smaller (4 pieces of beef), but wow, the marinade and sauce were on point. The beef itself was super tender, no knife struggle at all.
Overall:
I'd definitely come back to Kassi. The food and drinks were solid, but the real star here is the ambiance and that view over Venice Beach. Staff was kind, service was easygoing, and the whole experience felt like a little escape.
Pro tip: make a reservation, especially near sunset. Every table was booked. If you can't snag one, put yourself on the waitlist and hang at the bar until they can seat you.