Home » Culinary Connection
Culinary Connection
Monte Carlo Chic Meets Old Hollywood Elegance
By Lark Aldrin-Clement
Classy but unpretentious, Ramsey's at the Club is a hidden gem tucked away in the grounds of the Toluca Lake Tennis Club. This beautiful, classic restaurant and event venue provides the perfect combination of Monte Carlo chic with old Hollywood elegance. It is the ideal place to relax after work with a martini, enjoy lunch with friends, hold a conference or screening, or host your wedding.
Owner Jay Sadofsky says "I wanted to recreate some of the Old Hollywood elegance and exclusiveness that you may have found in a Gentleman's club back in 1920-1940." And he has done just that.
The venue is unique in its location. Set in a tennis club, the space is broken up into different areas, all with a different feel. The atmospheric bar is characterized by its dark wood paneling and rich leather furniture. Next door, the dining room has a far brighter, but no less inviting, ambiance with glass doors onto the patio. At one end of the dining room is a fireplace surrounded by large leather armchairs and a beautiful grand piano, perfect for lounging. At the other end is a backroom with pocket doors that can be closed for a more private business or personal affair, or opened into the dining room for a larger event. Bands can set up in the private room and face the audience in the main dining room, giving the feeling that they are on stage. There is also a drop down projection screen so that the dining room can be used as a screening room.
Outside on the patio you can recline on comfortable sofas and sip on a cocktail or have a bite to eat. If you want a more exclusive get-together you can pull across the curtains to create your own private cabaña.
Ramsey's could easily sail through on its effortlessly chic ambience and stylishly classic décor, but I was pleased to discover that the food was equally impressive. Chef Jesse Genovese draws on his Hawaiian roots, French training and love of Mediterranean food to create modern American Mediterranean cuisine. He succeeds in creating clean, delicious food with quiet assurance. The Angus beef mini burgers with caramelized onions, cheddar, and lemon aioli on a brioche bun are as juicy as they are delicious. The ahi tuna tartare with mango and cucumber, crispy wonton and chili aioli is fresh, delicate and leaves you craving more. The food is creative, yet satisfying. I hesitate to call it high end bar food because that doesn't do justice to the quality of the cuisine, but the style of menu lends itself to sharing with friends tapas style over drinks.
And talking about drinks, if cocktails are your thing, this is the place for you. If you're feeling adventurous, ask Kendra to make one of her special vanilla vodka, Malibu rum, pineapple and lime concoctions. But be warned, it goes down a little too easily.
While Ramsey's certainly provides the perfect place for lunch, dinner or drinks, as an events venue it really excels. While the décor has a definite style of its own, it is also incredibly versatile, and provides the perfect canvas for any number of events. From plated sit-down events for 150 to cocktail parties for 300, Ramsey's offers the ideal location for any event. Chef Jesse Genovese will work with you to create the perfect menu for your party, whether it is a wedding, birthday party, Bar or Bat Mitzvah, Christmas party or corporate event. The space can be used in any number of ways. You can even opt to have a tent put up on one of the tennis courts for events with up to 400 guests.
So whether you are looking for a chic yet relaxed place to have cocktails or the perfect venue for your next event, Ramsey's really does offer the ideal solution. For more information and to find out when the next live music event will be, visit www.ramseysattheclub.com or call (323) 512-4170.