A stylish Hollywood rooftop restaurant with genuinely appealing food and an exceptional lemon-tree setting, but inconsistent service, small portions, and premium pricing make reservations and extra time essential.
Lemon Grove delivers strong food quality anchored by signature dishes like lemon pasta and seafood, paired with a stunning rooftop setting featuring lemon trees and Hollywood views. Inconsistent execution on seafood and desserts, along with variable service attentiveness, prevents a higher grade despite the exceptional setting appeal that makes it a destination for brunch and special occasions.
Lemon Grove is a sixth-floor Hollywood rooftop restaurant where the setting does much of the welcoming: lemon trees, succulents, rooftop lights, lounge furniture, heaters, and views toward Capitol Records and the Hollywood Hills. Guests describe it as an urban escape—“a rooftop oasis in the middle of Hollywood”—with enough indoor, outdoor, and bar space to shift from relaxed brunch to lively evening drinks. The atmosphere is the clearest reason to visit, although music levels and service quality can vary noticeably. The food is contemporary California cooking with playful cross-cultural touches rather than straightforward comfort fare. Lemon Shiso Pasta, hummus with harissa, kimchi scramble, charred cabbage tikka masala, and salmon with coconut and Fresno chili make the menu genuinely creative; reviews particularly favor the lemon pasta, meatballs, seafood, vegetables, and chilaquiles. Execution is not flawless: older and recent reports mention salty or overcooked dishes, small portions, and isolated but serious food-handling concerns. Expect to pay for the view and setting, with a full meal commonly landing around $75-$95 per person before tax and tip. Families can make it work, especially for brunch or a pre-theater meal: the menu includes pancakes, French toast, chilaquiles, pasta, a burger, chicken, and breakfast potatoes, and one family specifically reported that a child enjoyed the rigatoni. Still, this is not primarily a family restaurant; the atmosphere is stylish and adult-leaning, the menu has adventurous flavors, and music may become loud. Picky eaters should have a plan before arriving.
Area vibe: Entertainment-focused, tourist-heavy corridor with theatres, nightlife and hotel density.
Safety: Busy and well-lit around major blocks but can feel transient; exercise normal urban caution at night.
What's nearby: Near Hollywood Boulevard attractions, Pantages Theatre, iconic signage, restaurants, and Hollywood/Highland Metro station.