Who says a birthday should be limited to just 1 day? We definitely don’t! To wrap up my landmark birthday, Kevin surprised me with a special date night at Somni restaurant. Chef José Andrés opened Somni in 2018, and we’ve been dying to try it out ever since. Somni, which means “dream” in Catalan, is one of the best Michelin-star restaurants in Los Angeles.
The chef’s table at Somni – where the staff are working it.
The Michelin Guide — considered THE foodie bible — returned to LA this past summer for the first time in nearly a decade. No restaurants in LA got 3 Michelin stars, the highest rating (whomp whomp). But the highly-coveted 2 Michelin star rating was awarded to Somni, as well as N/Naka and Vespertine. We’ve never been to N/Naka. But Kevin and I certainly made ourselves known at Vespertine last year where we spent 5 1/2 hours with its frock-wearing wait staff. Plus, there was that memorable moment when Kevin dropped the first dish, a ‘flower cookie,’ on the ground and still ate it anyway. Hey, 5 second rule applies … I’m sure it was still clean, right?
The look of guilt — Kevin enjoys the flower cookie from Vespertine even if it’s a little dirty from dropping it on the floor.
Whether it’s your birthday dinner (umm, a full month later) or a special celebration, Somni is a first-class experience with literally no detail left unnoticed. Check out our inside look at Somni below.
Is it Tough to Get a Reservation at Somni Restaurant?
In short, yes. There are only 10 seats total in the restaurant. While reservations are difficult, it isn’t completely impossible with some advanced planning. Like many of the “it” restaurants in LA, Somni uses the online reservation system called Tock. There are two seatings nightly (Tuesday – Saturday), one at 5:45 p.m. and another at 8:45 p.m.
Now no repeat performance Kevin. Don’t drop it!
Tickets are released at 10 AM PT on the first Monday of the month for the following month. But get ready to flex that credit card. Just like attending theater, a concert or sporting event, all sales are final. A reservation for 2 people including tax (without drinks) comes to nearly $700 total. But on the flip side, all reservations include valet (even though we walked there). Insider tip: if you aren’t sure whether or not you want the wine (or juice) pairing, you can decide when you get there. We ended up adding the “unique” wine pairing for an additional $175. For all you ballers out there, you can go with the Vintage pairing for an additional $500 per person. If you are passing on the alcohol, the juice pairing costs $75 a person.
The Arrival: What to Expect at Somni?
Lounge area where you can relax, enjoy the sparkling wine and snacks.
Like mentioned before, Somni includes valet with every meal. But Kevin and I were feeling athletically-inclined that night and walked to Somni, located inside the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills (aka West Hollywood adjacent). As soon as we arrived, staff members were waiting outside and greeted us by our first names. It was like meeting the Long Island Medium. But in reality, we probably stuck out since we were the only same-sex couple that night. But we definitely felt VIP.
We were led inside the restaurant and seated at a lounge. We highly recommend arriving about 20 minutes ahead of your reservation time. The reason? The dinner experience starts exactly on time. And ahead of your meal, you’ll get to sample some sparkling wine and 2 very cool amuse bouche. The first little appetizer looked more like a centerpiece for the table. It was a potted plant — but the server revealed the flower was edible.
An edible flower that tasted like a delicious strawberry fruit roll-up.
Then they brought out another fun appetizer item — a marcona almond shell with a liquid center.
Chowing down on the tasty appetizer.
Inside Somni, Best Michelin Star Restaurants in LA
Kevin follows a staff member into the main dining room.
We were ready for the next part of the experience, now that we had a few snacks and some heavy pours of sparkling wine. The wow factor is in full force upon walking into Somni.
The restaurant’s concept revolves around its snug 10-seat counter, set up to remove any barriers between guests and the chefs. They basically want to create an atmosphere where diners can converse with the chefs. Kevin and I were MORE than happy to oblige — chatting with each of the servers about every dish on that 20+ course menu. I guess it’s no shock that we closed the place down.
As we sat down, we were given the choice between sparkling or still water. I love when restaurants offer both — I’m a sparkling water fiend. Though, this also meant that I had to use the bathroom every 5 minutes! The water was poured into the stylish Match Stoneware — a local LA ceramics business. Match also provides custom stoneware to such buzzy LA restaurants as Vespertine, Destroyer and Nightshade.
The Meal: A Feast for the Senses
First course: frozen avocado with lemon puree and edible flowers.
We won’t take you through every course, especially since the menu rotates. Oh, and it’s 20+ courses. I’ll spare you the dissertation. Unlike some other fancy, high-concept restaurants we’ve dined at, the food at Somni is consistently good across the board. Before each course, a member of the kitchen staff announces the dish that’s placed like a well-choreographed ballet.
Kevin and I love interactive dining experiences — learning about the inspiration for each course and where the ingredients are sourced. What else do we enjoy even more? A food demo. Maybe it’s my love of Julia Child? Or that I’m a sucker for a Trader Joe’s demo station. But I was thoroughly engrossed when the chef brought out the dry-aged Turbo fish. I snapped over a dozen photos, capturing pretty much every angle.
Kevin tries to figure out what part of the fish we were eating. Clearly no question was overlooked.
Each dish is one-of-a-kind. Some of them even looked too cute to eat. This meal will pretty much fill up your Instagram feed.
Wrapping up the Birthday Meal
Somni is one of the best places in LA to celebrate a landmark birthday or special occasion. Plus, they roll out desserts like we celebrate birthdays — they just keep it coming. Dessert included a strawberry snack made from cult-favorite (and crazy expensive) Harry’s Berries, a zucchini cake and a wooden box filled with drawers of chocolate. We definitely ate our money’s worth. Though, I’m pretty sure that our walk home won’t burn off all those calories!
Looking for other ideas for special occasions? Be sure to check out all our recommendations here, including 5 secrets spots in LA you (probably) never knew existed (but should!).
Another incredible birthday complete — and celebrating a new decade of life.
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