Cicada

My girlfriend and I heard about The Cicada Restaurant and drove into LA last Sunday night. To say the least we were amazed and surprised by the crowd, the food, the entertainment and the whole experience. I read some reviews on Cicada here on City Search looking for a place the offers dancing to vintage music which we really like and which is hard to find. Once we arrived we were treated very well by the hostess and were promptly seated at a table not far from the dance floor. A young female singer was on the stage alongw itha great band singing songs from the 40's and even the 30's so we danced after we placed our order. The waiter, very nice guy, kept an eye on us to make sure that our food came out once we came back to the table. We had three courses plus drinks and it cost us about 100 plus tip which you can't beat with no cover charge, live music with clearly talented people, and quality food served promptly. The food was tasty and we had a great time. Whether its a dta eor a group of friends lookingf or a place to hang out and dance, this is the a great find. We met several young couples like ourselevs and most of the crowd was our age group 25-35 and some were dressed in vintage clothes which added to the fun. We will be back. Not sure why people post inaccurate info about this place because we were there the same night some of these posters claim they were present and what they have written does not at all reflect the reality of the special place. We will be back! Pros: Food is great, service is great, entertainment is great! Cons: Theer are no negatives about this place. more

For me, the entertainment, food and service is always excellent. Plus the upstairs bar has one of the best bartenders in the city. I have been to the Cicada Club many times and each evening is a delight. I also enjoy the costumed doorman, elevator operator and coat check girl. I have yet to find any other evening like this in the entire city. Stop by the Cicada Club and see for yourself. On a curious note, it's very strange that the three less than favorable reviews posted before this one were all made on the same day by reviewers that had never posted any reviews here before. Could they have been written by the same person? Very odd. In any event, I'm looking forward to my next visit to the Cicada Club where I can once again travel back in time to the days of the glamorous nightclubs of Los Angeles. more

I went here with my girlfriend, the service was very slow, the food wasn't that great, not worth the money we spent, wish the music was better, agree with previous posters that they could probably hire someone professional to get better acts for the place, the place is owned by an eccentric old guy named Maxwell Damil who also acts as an MC. Would recommend Thursday nights at this restaurant, all my friends say that Max Vontaine is great. Pros: Max Vontaine Cons: slow service more

I disagree with what a previous reviewer said, I did not feel like I was in a movie, and I did not really feel like I was in a vintage night club, sadly, I felt like I was exactly where I was, in downtown LA in 2008. I took my best friend and her boyfriend here for dinner to celebrate her birthday. They both really love 1930's and 1940's music and fashion, but this is not really what we found. The scene is basically for two people: balding losers in the 50+ age group ( these guys must come out of the woodwork for this event) who wear vintage suits and fedoras, vintage hipsters in their 20's and 30's who go here as a kind of stopping point before going to a hipper place like the 7 grand and young nine teen year olds who dress up for this event like this is their second prom. The food at cicada is not great, not worth the price they charge. The food isn't that expensive I would give it three dollar signs instead of four. Thank God, we didn't have to pay a cover charge for the atmosphere. Pros: Beautiful building, fair prices. Cons: Not the ""crowd"" we were looking for, would like to have felt as if we were back in time in a vintage night club. more

I went to this restaurant not once, but twice and each time saw the same two female singers. Both times, I was bored out of my mind Any pretty girl in her 20's can carry a tune, but to be singing in a good quality restaurant one needs to have some talent and personality. These singers had no character, no life, no variety, and worse, they sing the same thing they did the week before as if they don't know anything else to sing, one of the girls could not even stay on pitch most of the time. I am a singer and my wife is as well, and these girls were not up to par with what one might expect to find in a elegant restaurant. I think the least Cicada can do is spending a couple of bucks and hire someone to come in a few hours a week and book some quality acts, maybe someone in touch with the swing/vintage community. The food at Cicada is okay, nothing I would write praises about, I think they could review their menu and make some changes. more

I had the pleasure to attend the Cicada Club when the Satin Dollz were performing, along with Dean Mora and his Orchestra, a big band that plays such favorites as ""Laura"" and ""Put the Blame on Mame"". Seeing these songs from the movies performed live was a rare treat. Between sets, the Satin Dollz danced three routines including a ""tap acapella"" that had the audience on their feet for more -- a very talented group. I have not found any other spot in Los Angeles that presents this much excellent entertainment. As for the food and service, I was surprised at how good it was considering there were at least 200 people having dinner. I would have gone just for the show, and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and service. Pros: Only restaurant in town with big bands and floor shows Cons: Can get too crowded. Some tables have a poor view of the show more

Last Sunday the Cicada Club had the first ever appearance of Eddie Wakes and his Uptown Big Band, a top notch 18-piece dance orchestra. I don't know how they can provide such a great evening with no cover charge, but as long as they do, I'm going to be enjoying more Sundays at Cicada. The house was packed full of dancers dressed to the nines. The food and service was very good - try the tiger shrimp appetizer and swordfish, perfect for warm summer nights. I guess this was what the old classic nightclubs must have been like! Pros: Amazing entertainment with no cover charge Cons: Dance floor can get too crowded more

Cicada is housed in such a beautiful building, and their whole idea of a vintage night club is a really good idea, I just think the few times I have gone though, it was really disappointing. I kept going, hoping it might get better, but the truth was, it didn't. First off, I am just not impressed by the food its only OK. The service staff could be better trained, sometimes you get a good server, sometimes they are very unprofessional. The entertainment is so-so, nothing I would drag myslef all the way downtown for. There were a few good acts here and there, but again nothing speciel. If looking for a good vintage night club, I would recommend Bordello or the Edison. more

I get it, this place is trying to be classy, and it is very classy with its art deco decor and old time vintage music and everyone in suits and tuxedos, I just really did not like how we were treated by the waitstaff or singers. I had a waiter roll his eyes at me, and I two of the girls that were preforming that night, I told them very nicely how my girlfriend and I enjoyed their songs, and they couldn't be bothered to speak to me or even thank me. We sat near some guy who kept bragging about how much money he was spending to all the women at his table, it actually made us laugh how ridiculous the guy sounded. more

This past sunday I hosted a larghe group for dinner at The Cicada Restaurant where we have been many times. I question the integrity of some of these negative notices which are clearly posted to steer people to another venue since they do not at all reflect the exceptional service, the quality and variety on the menu or the value of the live entertainment. While I do not know Mr. DeMille personally, as someone who has worked in television and film, he is a well spoken Master of Ceremonies and in the 5 visits we have made to The Cicada Restaurant we have never had an issue with food, service, or quality. I highly recommend that future posters be required to provide proof that they attended because it is unfair to mischaracterize this fine establishment in terms other than exceptional! I am more than happy to scan and send my bill. Sunday they had a 20 piece orchestra, several talented vocalists, a dance team and floor show and the pre-dinner cocktails upstairs were excellent and fun. They must have had 300 people present, so I suspect that the place is far more popular than competitors would liek top admit. Go on a Sunday and see for yourself. Its a great time! Consumers who post negative feedback usually are touts for other venues that are not as popular but would lobve the business. 300 customers on one Sunday cannot be wrong! Pros: excellent service, quality food, great entertainment Cons: It closes around midnight....wish it stayed open longer more

Sunday nights at the Cicada Club you will think you are in a movie from the 1940s. The restaurant is located at 6th and Olive in the historic Art Deco Oviatt Building, which by itself is reason to go... 80 years old and going strong. The incredible Deco styling, the attention to detail from the woodwork to the handrails going more

A group of four friends went to the Cicada Club last Sunday for dinner. We were surprised to be greeted by a doorman, who welcomed us to this amazing place. Once inside we were treated to first class food and service. I enjoyed the tiger shrimp appetizer and lamb chops for the entree. Both were deliciously prepared and well worth the price, considering that you get live music with no cover charge. Where else in LA? The icing on the cake was the chance to meet a very special guest in the restaurant -- Norma Miller who was featured in the movie ""Hellzapoppin"" in one of the most famous Lindy Hop dance numbers ever put on film. We will be back for the big band night and a chance to visit the Oviatt penthouse. more

Where do I start? This place ruined my birthday. Total waste of money. I was going here on Sunday to celebrate my birthday last week, and I could not have been more disappointed. The food was, at best, bland, the atmosphere was dismal. My wife asked them to bring out a cake or something with a candle, and they totally forgot. The band was uninteresting and lifeless. The restaurant seemed pretty full, but the people at the table around us said they were disappointed as well. The waitstaff was pretty attentive, but it didn't matter, everything else was lousy. Pros: Good waiters Cons: Bland food, uninteresting atmosphere, uninteresting band more

Cicada has pretty good food, and a really nice atmosphere. I would throughly recommend the lobster pasta, and the Ahi tuna tartar and shrimp appitizers. If you more then one person, I would recommend ordering two or three appitizers because they are generally bite size. They also have a selection of deserts and I like that they have a healthy martini glass filled with ripe berries because I don't like to eat rich, sugary deserts after a large meal. more

Since L'Orangerie closed, my wife and I have been searching for a special occasion restaurant with refined decor and excellent, interesting cuisine. In early November after a lot of web surfing made us feel that we were unlikely to find a place that suited us, we finally settled on settled Cicada to celebrate a couple of professional milestones. Our Saturday evening restored our faith that special places can still be found. The service was attentive, but not rushed, the food was beautifully presented and excellent, and the chef's table visit was an added treat. more

Our son just had his wedding here and the venue was over the top. It should give any 5 star hotel a big run for their money. The Art Deco Ambience combined with the Fantastic Food and Service makes this place Pros: See my review more

My sister fell in love with this restaurant at first sight and decided to have her wedding here. I had dinner several times at Cicada before her wedding and, each time, enjoyed myself immensely -- thought the staff was great and the food superb. All this, however, was nothing compared to my sister's wedding. The food was (IS) top notch, every staffmember was professional and courteous and attentive (they were attentive every time I've ever eaten there during the week). So aside from the fact that the restaurant is a great place to take a date, celebrate an anniversary or to have dinner just because -- it's an even better place to host events. The venue is elegant, charming, very Hollywood glamour -- and did I mention how great the food is? Pros: Everything Cons: Nothing more

I cannot think of anything negative to say about Cicada. This restaurant is the best restaurant I've ever been to. The Art Deco is so beautiful you just have to see it for yourself. My daughter was recently married in this beautiful restaurant and it was a very enjoyable experience. The service was just excellent and the food was so good too. I have to say thank you to Jen, and Ray, and the whole staff at Cicada, you all are truly a valuable asset to the restaurant. Thank you again for your loving compassion and wonderful service. Pros: Staff, Food, Service, Parking. Cons: Can never spend enough time in this restaurant, feels like home. more

me and my girlfriend were expecting a good overall experience and we were definitely satisfied. we were greeted sincerely and were seated even before our actual reservation time. there were several people already sitting and chatting. our waiter (aaron) was extremely helpful and polite. no too overly amiable however. the food was delicious and we were constantly refilled with iced tea. the place is extremely romantic and the valet was quick and easy. most definitely will visit again. Pros: romantic, valet, cozy Cons: music was non existant more

Cicada is a hidden gem in the middle of Downtown Los Angeles. Upon entry of the restaurant, you are instantly taken back to the 30's and 40's with its Art Deco design. I recently attended a wedding there and enjoyed the experience very much. The service was first class as was the food. Their steak was tender and their drinks flow in their classy second floor lounge/bar. What stood out to me, though, were the hors d'oeuvres. Their chef must be quite creative in creating such hors d'oeuvres such as endives with sun-ripened cherries. Cheers to Cicada and its hors d'oeuvres chef! Pros: Art Deco Restaurant Design and hors d'oeuvres. Cons: One restroom on the second floor. more