Best Contemporary American Restaurants in Glendale

I was seated promptly and greeted by my server right away. Coffee is delicious. Crab Benedict featured two nice-sized crab cakes atop really quality English muffins(made in-house?). Eggs poached perfectly medium, and Hollandaise is fresh with just the right amount of lemon. Tricolor potatoes very good. Fruit bowl contained a good variety of melons and berries, all perfectly fresh. My server was attentive without hovering. Very efficient!

EsterEv makes you feel like you are a celebrity being cooked for at a close friends home. The service is so friendly and familiar while still being extremely professional. This was my second time at EsterEv and it is such a hidden gem. The food is incredible and fresh and uniquely prepared and presented. I kept telling the server how I could never conceive of cooking like this at home which is of course part of the reason dining out at a place like this is a special treat. The sausage dish was transcendent. The bread and broth were like a warm hug on a cold night and the tiny tart at the end was the icing on top. We drove from Chicago and it was worth every minute and every penny. Highly recommend.

My wife and I are big fans of Birch, which is why we dined here on Valentine’s Day. We sat at the chef’s counter and really enjoyed the experience from beginning to end. It’s easy to see why Chef Knall is a 2025 James Beard nominee for best Chef Midwest. The GM at Birch is so personable and acknowledges us on every visit. It’s no wonder his staff is so helpful and courteous. Book your reservation with confidence.

Our waiter Nick was excellent, super attentive! The food and drinks were awesome. Will definitely be back!

Food was good to very good, except the three cheese truffle flatbread, which was very plain, missing any truffle flavor and seemed to be topped with the cheapest grated parm. Service was ok, could be better. I don't think a single finished plate was cleared until we left the table. Service was courteous, at least. Admittedly, I was annoyed that they claimed not to take reservations, even though I had a reservation on OpenTable. It just wasn't a good look for our birthday dinner, kind of embarrassing and awkward. We enjoyed the outdoor area; firepit, giant jenga, giant Connect 4, bag toss, comfy seating, live music. Overall, good.