Employees Only

Wilfred Cho

Drinks are solid here. I came here a few times and there was always a solid crowd. Seats are not hard to find if you come late. It's a pretty pack around 11pm, but slows down a little after midnight. There is a DJ on Fridays and some room for people to dance.

Michael Lam

Very like a speakeasy and great vibe. Thumbs up for bartender Luiz.

Sasha Fedorova

The best and only place for delicious drinks and unique ambience. Their drink menu is out of this world. I come here often, so last time when I got bored with the menu, the bartender made his own creations by request based on my preference. Always a good crowd and a good conversation with the staff! 100% recommend it for a date night, casual night out with friends, really good food and the best drinks in this pet of town.

Justin G

À bit of a rough start, we arrived a few minutes later than our friend and they put the reservation on hold and asked her to wait for the whole group... I understand it is a policy, just don't like it. However our wIter was nice and gave us great recommendations. Our Cocktails were great, the food was a bit different than what you see elsewhere and the music dj was good. Some of the seating is a bit uncomfortable but I guess it's a bar first... Foo

Tamika Hunt

Vibe vibe vibe! Drinks were delish with a unique “Employees Only” logo engraved in the large ice. We enjoyed a great selection of whisky cocktails and to top it all off, chicken noodle soup for last call! Great experience and establishment!

Paprika Meow

Taste :4.3/5 Environment: 4.4/5 Service：4.4/5 The manager was very accommodative when we had to reschedule our reservation the following night. On first impression, the bar has a retro design ( like a call back to the 1920s ). The waiters at the dining section were dressed in black while the bartenders wore the signature white uniforms ( like a cross between a chef and bodyguard’s attire). Our culinary adventure started with 2 cocktails ( both were suggested by our waiter ). I had the mezcal based “Ready Fire Aim” and my partner had the rye forward “Golden Smoke”. Of note: these cocktails are very strong. Especially the GS. Cocktails: Golden Smoke: Should be more suited for men. This is a smoked cocktail ( the glass is filled and covered with scented smoke to enhance the aroma ). As a presentation, our waiter poured the cocktail mixture on an EO logo etched large clear ice cube. Ready Fire Aim: a mezcal based cocktail. The smokiness of the mezcal clearly stands out. You can also taste pineapple and honey in the background. The RFA is complimented with a few dashes of crushed pink peppercorns. Onto dinner: Appetiser: Japanese sweet potatoes. They were paired with a coconut paste. The coconut flavour played well with the crisp sweet potatoes. Main: Wood Fired chicken. Surprise of the night. The order consisted of ONLY TWO PIECES. It cost $36 and came around 25 minutes after the JSP. Yes it was tasty, the inner texture was soft and succulent and the skin had the consistency of pecking duck. But again, this meal is clearly lacking in quantity provided. After dinner cocktail: we moved to the bar area and finished with a Hibiscus Rising. It was similar to the RFA but had more of a floral taste. Final impressions. If you’re not a fan of straight hard liquor, you can request the server/bartender to use less of it in the cocktails, because the hard liquor can sometimes overpower the other ingredients. EO is a chill place if you’re on a bar crawl or want to experience unique cocktails with great service. EO has been listed as one of the World's 50 Best Bars and continues to garner accolades for its cocktails, food, and hospitality.

Freddie Collier

Came here for drinks with a friend while I was in town on vacation and had such a great time! I accidentally made our reservation for a different day but the woman at the door kindly sat us anyway at a nice table where we could watch the acoustic guitar performance that was happening! Even though there were other people there it felt very intimate! Service was great, food was killer, and the drinks were fantastic! Will definitely be back next time I'm in LA

It’s been a while since we had visited and they added a decent happy hour. The BBQ chicken was great and we love the ambiance. Place was very busy by 7pm on a Friday night. Service was prompt. If you’re a larger party you can sit in one of their super retro booths. No shorts/flipflops

An intimate romantic spot with excellent service and great food. We had a 6:30pm Saturday res and there were a good number of people at the bar the entire time we were eating. By 8pm most of the tables were filled up. Good energy. Everything we ate was delicious. Really liked the duck and I’m not a duck person. Flourless chocolate cake was amazing, it’s actually warm and more like a gooey brownie.

Such a great vibe! Steak frites with the mole bordelaise might possibly be one my favorite versions in the city. My date had the fish and she loved it as well. Cocktails were fantastic and the service was friendly.

Shane James

Such a great vibe! Steak frites with the mole bordelaise might possibly be one my favorite versions in the city. My date had the fish and she loved it as well. Cocktails were fantastic and the service was friendly.

Graham Lee

An intimate romantic spot with excellent service and great food. We had a 6:30pm Saturday res and there were a good number of people at the bar the entire time we were eating. By 8pm most of the tables were filled up. Good energy. Everything we ate was delicious. Really liked the duck and I’m not a duck person. Flourless chocolate cake was amazing, it’s actually warm and more like a gooey brownie.

Alexander Haley

It’s been a while since we had visited and they added a decent happy hour. The BBQ chicken was great and we love the ambiance. Place was very busy by 7pm on a Friday night. Service was prompt. If you’re a larger party you can sit in one of their super retro booths. No shorts/flipflops

Jose Bengochea

Everything about this place is fantastic. Pro tip: go near closing. You’ll get to hear End of the Road and be given free chicken soup. In any event, finding anywhere in La that closes after 11pm is like finding water in an oasis so major points for this spot’s hours. Beyond that, the vibes are great, even complete with a live DJ at times. Seasonal drinks are always a hit too. One of the easiest 5 star reviews I’ve ever handed out; and that is saying something because, if you know me, you know 95% of locations I visit get one star. Love the drinks, location, everything. Thank you EO for saving LA at night. 100/5

Went to a girls night on a Friday and the food and drinks do not disappoint! They have an amazing selection of cocktails, apps, main dishes. A lot of veggi friendly ones too! The food come out fast and like I said was super filling! Parking is a bit tricky in this area I would say Uber or give yourself time to park and walk to the Restaurant. Staff were super attentive and always ready to take away finished plates, refill water, etc. I do agree with other peoples comments that it felt that some waiters wanted to rush the order. Not terrible maybe it was the first day for them but it was a bit comedic how they would constantly check in. I made a reservation so I don't know what the wait is like if you're walking up, but it felt for a Friday night they could possibly accommodate. The only thing that I found frustrating and this is because I'm older is that the music was a bit too loud. I don't love yelling at people when I'm trying to talk. That's just a me thing though. Loved the place, will be back most likely!

We booked out the back room bar for a private event and it was a lovely evening. The room had a door so we were free to mix & mingle and be loud without disturbing other patrons. We only had a small offering of snacks but they were tasty. The real hit of the evening were the custom cocktails that were named for our event, they were funny, inspired and delicious. My only complaint is the room is a bit dark and there is an elevated platform on one side of the room that people kept tripping on, I tripped on it twice and I was sober. I would like to return and sample more of their food & cocktails.

We came to this restaurant for dinner. The place itself is pleasant, with dim lighting—perfect for a romantic evening. However, the low light makes it a bit hard to clearly see the food, which can be inconvenient for dining, though it’s fine for enjoying drinks. I ordered the fried calamari, but they were overly greasy, and I couldn’t finish them. We also tried the focaccia with cheese, which was decent as a starter. The highlight, however, was the drinks. My friend had a passion fruit martini, which was absolutely delicious, and I opted for a non-alcoholic berry cocktail, which was simply outstanding.

I go to the NY bar all the time. It's one of my favorite bars in the world and for sure I'm going to compare the two. It's very chill here, it has a different bar in the back and a stage area. The interior is very ... Los Angeles. You get the impression that perhaps this place used to be a dinner. The drinks are just as good and they have their own unique drinks and cocktails here. Definitely try the Magic School Bus if it's still on the menu. A must go for anyone who frequents the NY Bar.

Lindsey Williamson Christy

We booked out the back room bar for a private event and it was a lovely evening. The room had a door so we were free to mix & mingle and be loud without disturbing other patrons. We only had a small offering of snacks but they were tasty. The real hit of the evening were the custom cocktails that were named for our event, they were funny, inspired and delicious. My only complaint is the room is a bit dark and there is an elevated platform on one side of the room that people kept tripping on, I tripped on it twice and I was sober. I would like to return and sample more of their food & cocktails.

Axenia Haritonova

We came to this restaurant for dinner. The place itself is pleasant, with dim lighting—perfect for a romantic evening. However, the low light makes it a bit hard to clearly see the food, which can be inconvenient for dining, though it’s fine for enjoying drinks. I ordered the fried calamari, but they were overly greasy, and I couldn’t finish them. We also tried the focaccia with cheese, which was decent as a starter. The highlight, however, was the drinks. My friend had a passion fruit martini, which was absolutely delicious, and I opted for a non-alcoholic berry cocktail, which was simply outstanding.

Mad Professional

I go to the NY bar all the time. It's one of my favorite bars in the world and for sure I'm going to compare the two. It's very chill here, it has a different bar in the back and a stage area. The interior is very ... Los Angeles. You get the impression that perhaps this place used to be a dinner. The drinks are just as good and they have their own unique drinks and cocktails here. Definitely try the Magic School Bus if it's still on the menu. A must go for anyone who frequents the NY Bar.

Came to employees only for their summer social club brunch pop up and it was pretty darn good. They have a lovely spacious patio area set up with plenty of fake grass and picnic style tables. We were seated at a small table for two which was a bit wobbly and soon after didn’t have enough room for the food/drinks we ordered but we made it work! My friend ordered the Balinese jungle for a drink and said it was lovely though the coconut cream gives a sort of curdled look. They were having some issues with their ordering system since you do all your ordering through your phone and after asking a few people I found out they DO in fact serve coffee (I figured since it wasn’t offered on the menu for brunch something must be wrong!) but only cold brew that seems to come pre sweetened. We ordered the churro waffle which did indeed taste like a fluffy on the inside crunchy on the outside churro. Unfortunately I had no idea the cream was supposed to be banana flavored because it just tasted like a normal whipped cream as well as the syrup tasting like any other syrup and lacking the caramel flavors usually led by piloncillo. We also ordered the furikake chilaquiles to share and added both the pork and beef to the dish. The egg was cooked well and the radishes added a fresh crunch but unfortunately everything sort of got lost underneath a slathering of sauce- we really couldn’t tell any differences in meat, Yuzu crema, or hibiscus onions. It all just tasted like the sauce on top which was good but sort of disappointing to lack the combination of flavors. They seem to be sort of coming up with their menu and working through the kinks so I can’t fault them entirely- if anything it seems to be a nice patio to have a few drinks. Hopefully it will only get better from here.

Sydney Gonzalez

Came to employees only for their summer social club brunch pop up and it was pretty darn good. They have a lovely spacious patio area set up with plenty of fake grass and picnic style tables. We were seated at a small table for two which was a bit wobbly and soon after didn’t have enough room for the food/drinks we ordered but we made it work! My friend ordered the Balinese jungle for a drink and said it was lovely though the coconut cream gives a sort of curdled look. They were having some issues with their ordering system since you do all your ordering through your phone and after asking a few people I found out they DO in fact serve coffee (I figured since it wasn’t offered on the menu for brunch something must be wrong!) but only cold brew that seems to come pre sweetened. We ordered the churro waffle which did indeed taste like a fluffy on the inside crunchy on the outside churro. Unfortunately I had no idea the cream was supposed to be banana flavored because it just tasted like a normal whipped cream as well as the syrup tasting like any other syrup and lacking the caramel flavors usually led by piloncillo. We also ordered the furikake chilaquiles to share and added both the pork and beef to the dish. The egg was cooked well and the radishes added a fresh crunch but unfortunately everything sort of got lost underneath a slathering of sauce- we really couldn’t tell any differences in meat, Yuzu crema, or hibiscus onions. It all just tasted like the sauce on top which was good but sort of disappointing to lack the combination of flavors. They seem to be sort of coming up with their menu and working through the kinks so I can’t fault them entirely- if anything it seems to be a nice patio to have a few drinks. Hopefully it will only get better from here.

This isn't a place that should be classified as a restaurant & bar, they should honestly consider removing their booths and tables and turning into a full on bar. The menu can't decide what region it's from, the pasta sauces definitely come from a bag, the "schnitzel" was just fried chicken on mediocre ranch sauce. Very disappointed by the pricing of the food versus what came out taste wise. Portions are medium to large. Do not bring someone here unless it's to drink--the cocktails are great, but it's very clear that the bartenders and kitchen staff don't interact at all. Food took around 35-40 minutes to get to the table.

A K

This isn't a place that should be classified as a restaurant & bar, they should honestly consider removing their booths and tables and turning into a full on bar. The menu can't decide what region it's from, the pasta sauces definitely come from a bag, the "schnitzel" was just fried chicken on mediocre ranch sauce. Very disappointed by the pricing of the food versus what came out taste wise. Portions are medium to large. Do not bring someone here unless it's to drink--the cocktails are great, but it's very clear that the bartenders and kitchen staff don't interact at all. Food took around 35-40 minutes to get to the table.

Scammed: Food is mediocre. Service was terrible, rushing you to leave, bring all order at once although we asked not to. They didnt even reheat it when brought back remaining. (And bathroom isn't clean) anyways, when paying, they rush you to check the all orders and pay. I noticed later that they charged service fee 5% on top of everything, so careful when you tip..... (scammed)

Really disappointing experience today. I’ve been to Employees Only several times for drinks, but this was my first time coming for dinner to celebrate a friend’s birthday. The main issue was the bill. I paid without carefully reviewing the receipt, which I take responsibility for, but afterward noticed a 5% surcharge added with no explanation or disclosure. That lack of transparency is unacceptable. Another issue was related to the birthday celebration. When I made the reservation, I noted that we were celebrating a birthday and kindly requested seating in a nice area if possible. Toward the end of the meal, the server brought out a crème brûlée with a candle. I assumed it was a complimentary birthday gesture, as is common when a birthday is noted on a reservation. Instead, we were charged $14 for it without being asked or informed ahead of time. Between the unexplained surcharge and being charged for a dessert that appeared to be a birthday courtesy, the experience felt misleading. Unfortunately, because of the lack of transparency, I won’t be returning.

Unfortunately, we were disappointed with the service and the way time was managed between guests. We had a reservation for three people at 6:00 PM. After only one hour, a second server started coming to our table frequently, repeatedly asking if everything was okay and whether we wanted our food packed to go. This felt inappropriate, as only an hour had passed, and we were still actively ordering cocktails and enjoying our time — we were not just sitting at an empty table. This visit was especially disappointing because we were celebrating our friend’s birthday and had hoped to enjoy a relaxed and pleasant evening. When the frequent check-ins became uncomfortable, we asked the hostess if there was a time limit for the table, since no one had informed us of this in advance. She simply shrugged and mentioned that there was another reservation at 8:00 PM. This raises a reasonable question: why wasn’t this communicated to us beforehand? Had we known, we would have planned our time accordingly and avoided the unpleasant feeling that we were being rushed out. Unfortunately, after this experience, we do not plan to return

Бондаренко Валерія

Unfortunately, we were disappointed with the service and the way time was managed between guests. We had a reservation for three people at 6:00 PM. After only one hour, a second server started coming to our table frequently, repeatedly asking if everything was okay and whether we wanted our food packed to go. This felt inappropriate, as only an hour had passed, and we were still actively ordering cocktails and enjoying our time — we were not just sitting at an empty table. This visit was especially disappointing because we were celebrating our friend’s birthday and had hoped to enjoy a relaxed and pleasant evening. When the frequent check-ins became uncomfortable, we asked the hostess if there was a time limit for the table, since no one had informed us of this in advance. She simply shrugged and mentioned that there was another reservation at 8:00 PM. This raises a reasonable question: why wasn’t this communicated to us beforehand? Had we known, we would have planned our time accordingly and avoided the unpleasant feeling that we were being rushed out. Unfortunately, after this experience, we do not plan to return

Liz

Really disappointing experience today. I’ve been to Employees Only several times for drinks, but this was my first time coming for dinner to celebrate a friend’s birthday. The main issue was the bill. I paid without carefully reviewing the receipt, which I take responsibility for, but afterward noticed a 5% surcharge added with no explanation or disclosure. That lack of transparency is unacceptable. Another issue was related to the birthday celebration. When I made the reservation, I noted that we were celebrating a birthday and kindly requested seating in a nice area if possible. Toward the end of the meal, the server brought out a crème brûlée with a candle. I assumed it was a complimentary birthday gesture, as is common when a birthday is noted on a reservation. Instead, we were charged $14 for it without being asked or informed ahead of time. Between the unexplained surcharge and being charged for a dessert that appeared to be a birthday courtesy, the experience felt misleading. Unfortunately, because of the lack of transparency, I won’t be returning.