Larkin's

The food at Larkin's isn't bad - but then again, there's nothing particularly special about it either. As for it being ""healthy"" southern food, my catfish was battered and fried just the way mom always did it (I grew up in the south). Our meals were tasty, but there was little on the menu I would call innovative.\r \r I found the little cards by each table rather alienating. They instruct the guest that substitutions will be considered by the kitchen only if they feel like it, and if the requests are ""reasonable,"" whatever that means. It tells guests to be ""respectful."" The card made me wonder what sort of customers Larkin's is expecting to show up, if they must be told to be reasonable and respectful. It put me in a bit of a resentful mood that soured what would have been a pleasant, if unremarkable and slightly overpriced, meal. more

I absolutely adore how they've fixed up this classic Craftsman house. I give it an A+ for ambience, which is the reason why my boyfriend and I entered this restaurant. As far as the food goes, it's good, but not great and greasy the way I expect great soul food to be. If you want a healthier soul food meal, such as collard greens that aren't cooked in pork fat, but flavored with bell peppers (rather tasty), then this place is for you. The wait staff were friendly. The ""commandments"" sheet placed on the table on how to behave in the restaurant, such as not asking for substitutes were a bit intimidating and unwelcoming... but it didn't ruin my experience. more

We showed up at a bit after 5 and found a sign on the door and people milling around. Larkins indicated that they were closed but would re-open at 5:30, At 5:40 they opened and a crowd entered. Because of the rush of patrons filling nearly all the tables at once, service was understandably slow. Finally a wait person came to the table and placed two Ball canning jars with water to dirnk. I suppose Larkins thinks thats cute. It isnt. \r \r We were presented with a small bowl of "" Texas Cavier "" black eyed peas and some pita to serve it on. The black eyed peas came directly out of a can, were not cooked and there was no mingling of flavors which can make this unusual item tastey. It definately wasn't \r \r The menu featured about 6 entrees including fried chicken, Jambalya, fried catfish. pork chop and other items. After a starter of a lettuce wedge with a very small amount of blue cheese ($7) we chose the fried fried chicken meal ($15) - a leg and thigh only, no white meat,- a glob of mashed potatoes and a bit of "" gravey "" The chicken was tough and disappointing. The mashed potatoes were cool ( to the taste ) and the gravey was just there. \r \r A side dish of red beans and rice was awful. The beans were not cooked, there was no bean ""gravey"" and the rice was dry. Having been born and raised in the south I know how wonderful a simple dish of red beans and rice can and should be. It wasn't\r \r If a restaurant is going to feature southern cooking or soul food as it suggests, it would be nice to at least reflect what is great about that kind of food. If the chef wants to take the cooking to higher levels, he should at least get the basics right first. Fresh well battered chicken, a variety of cuts, a generous hot portion of mashed potatoes and more than a teaspoon of gravey, and side dishes worthy of their heritage. \r \r Larkin's prices are high for this kind of food. Good quality would make it worth the money. It wasn't\r \r We won't be going back more

I've been to restaurants where the meal takes 3 hours but they usually serve 11 courses. At Larkin's expect to get served by a confused, inexperienced wait staff who seem new to the profession of serving people. Our waitress didn't bring our pre-dinner munchies until 30 minutes later, iced teas went unfilled despite being prominently placed at the end of the table and we had to wait 10 minutes to get a pen to sign our credit card receipt. I hope that's just an off day by the waitress (she did have succulent breasts to ogle and thereby offset these annoyances). The food is great, if just a bit overpriced. Fifteen dollars for 2 pieces of fried chicken and a dollop of mashed potatoes is a bit much, even if they were delicious. The chicken is extremely crispy on the outside yet moist on the inside. I've tried numerous ""southern-style"" places and they do the bird good here. more

Larkin's is officially open as of last week. My husband and I were lucky enough to beat the crowd and get a table for dinner on Friday night. The decor is cozy and eclectic. Tables are made from doors and covered in glass. Stained glass windows and fresh flowers on each table add color to the small space. The cozy dining room quickly filled up and several diners waited on the porch for their turn, or decided to come back another night. The menu has a southern/soul bent, but the food coming from the kitchen is a far cry from the heavy butter-laden and deep fried items we've come to associate with this regional cuisine. I started the evening with a spicy ginger beer with my glass of water, and my husband indulged in his favorite Mint Julep soda (the same that we buy at another local favorite - Galco's). The fried okra/heirloom tomato salad was a delightful mixture of sweet ripe tomatoes, crunchy bites of cornmeal battered okra, crisp fresh greens with a tangy balsamic vinegar salad dressing. My smothered pork chop was a perfectly-cooked, beautiful center cut chop. The ""smother"" gravy was a nice peppery creamy accent. The red beans & rice were spicy and well-seasoned. The beans weren't mushy (like you often find in southern food restaurants). My husband, although he enjoyed the fried chicken, his heart still belongs to Roscoe's. I think the highlight of the meal for both of us (because he was generous and gave me a taste) was my husband's serving of Three Cheese, Twice Baked Macaroni & Cheese. The mixture of cheeses created a creamy gooey mixture and the macaroni was perfectly cooked. Sometimes you get mac 'n cheese that's mushy because of overcooked pasta or the cheese sauce is gritty because of the flour they use or the sauce breaks and oil floats to the top. This Macaroni & Cheese was not any of those. It was near perfection. Finally, the banana pudding and red velvet shortbread short cake were wonderful to end the evening. Pros: wonderful food, friendly staff, wonderful food Cons: parking, parking parking more

Although Larkins is not open yet, I attended a ""tasting,"" which was essentially a four-course meal with unlimited beverage service (wine, sodas, etc.). The food was absolutely delicious! It started off with a black-eyed pea caviar (more like a salsa) with toasted pita chips. It was incredibly good. My husband and I then split the mac n cheese and the fried okra/heirloom tomato salad for our appetizer. For our entree we had the pork and the jambalaya. And for dessert, we had the chocolate ganache and a blackberry/blueberry cobbler. Quite possibly the best cobbler I've ever had. Come hungry because you will want to eat and savor every bite. My only criticism (and it is a superficial one) is that the presentation of the dishes could be a bit nicer, but then again, the ambience is very homey so maybe it was intended that way. The staff is so friendly and nice. You will feel at home in this place, and will definitely want to come back for more! Pros: Ambience, food, everything Cons: None that I can think of more

My name is Mr. Joshua and I represent Larkin's, a contemporary soul food joint. If you want the correct information for Larkin's visit the website larkinsjoint or contact us by phone at 323.254.0934. The citysearch information is incorrect. However we do have a ""juke joint"" vibe happening in our 1911 pre-craftsman house now a restaurant. Chef / Owner Larkin Mackey brings years of experience combining traditional soul food with the latin flavors of California. The informal setting recalls the height of the Harlem Renaissance and home cooking at Mama Them's house. The combination of excellent food, great surroundings, and beautiful art make Larkin's a Los Angeles landmark. Our philosophy is that it's essential to feed the mind,body, and soul. At Larkin's you can nourish all three. more