Apr 16

Apr 16 Videre Restaurant Review - Creative Sips Tap Into Nostalgia at this New Rooftop in LA

Culinary, Food, Local Eats, Restaurant Reviews

If there’s one thing that LA is good at - it’s a rooftop! Taking place atop the chic Kimpton Hotel, Videre is serving poolside sips and bites with a side of that iconic LA skyline.

Owner of Employees Only in WeHo, Tom Sopit, recently opened Videre Rooftop Bar & Restaurant Los Angeles. The new venture is a modern rooftop oasis lined with lush greenery atop the Kimpton Hotel on Wilshire. The restaurateur is well-known for his ability to create one-of-a-kind concepts that merge sophistication, entertainment, and excellence, and Videre certainly follows suit with a culinary journey with a pop-cultural cocktail menu to match.

Fresh, seasonal components star in dishes on the menu. Ideally the culinary journey begins with shareable plates to tantalize your palate. The start opt for the seared prawns which are paired with almond hummus and mint pesto. The roasted yellow tomato and saffron pasta is cooked to perfection with saffron, roasted garlic and white wine sauce. The fresh (almost lemon-flavor) was a nice surprise. Opt to add grilled chicken if adding protein is your choice.

There are a lot of options on the menu, however, the real star of the show at Videre are the cocktails. Inspired by 90s pop-culture, guests can expect to find a play on words that associate with the meaning behind the brand. Bar Manager Romin Rajan curated a thematic cocktail experience titled “Quest,” which is intimately tied to the name of the restaurant, Videre (meaning onwards and upwards in Latin.

Expect to see cocktails such as “A Cocktail Called Quest,” which is made with hibiscus infused pineapple juice, lime, orange, all spice, coconut milk, mint leaf, and black pepper. The “Super Espresso Martini Bros,” is completed tableside. Complete with rye, coffee liqueur, cynar, pinot noir, mushroom coffee, peach bitters, with freshly shaved (tableside) parmesan cheese. There are a few pages of impressive cocktails, however, the star of the show is the “Moksha”. Coco-ghee fatwash bourbon, fernet branca, jaggery, garam masala, and cardamom mix together to create a well-balanced strong-arm drink that will be the talk of the table.

Beyond innovative sips, the brand aims to have nightly entertainment such as live trivia as well as watching your favorite reality show - Videre does it all. Whether guests desire a relaxing afternoon in the sun for lunch, brunch, or a fun evening under the starry sky for happy hour (complete with a fun work lingo-inspired menu), Videre is the choice for an unforgettable outing.

*Photo Credit: Roberto Amado-Cattaneo