We Tried It: Issa Rae’s Sexy New South L.A. Supper Club Somerville, Just In Time for Galentine’s Day

Any fan of HBO’s Insecure knows that star Issa Rae’s L.A. is a prime place to be.

It’s miles from Hollywood and the typical L.A. iconography that comes to mind, but as beautifully portrayed on the hit show, South Los Angeles is its own vibrant, diverse and thriving community full of history and great haunts. Call it art imitating life imitating art, but Issa Rae just added to the area’s offerings with Somerville, a sleek and sultry vintage supper club-style restaurant and cocktail bar located in Historic View Park-Windsor Hills, where she grew up.

“Always wanted a neighborhood lounge to complement the special community that is View Park-Windsor Hills,” Rae wrote when she and her partners at GVO Hospitality celebrated the opening in November, an event that seemed to double as an Insecure cast reunion. She added of Somerville, “An ode to the classic, artistic past of Black South Central L.A.? And sure, the ambience will be fantastic, but the food and cocktails will keep you coming back.”

Big claims from a major tastemaker, so of course I had to check it out for myself. Well, for myself and a handful of my girlfriends/sorority sisters, equally eager to get together ahead of Galentine’s Day and see what South L.A.’s starry new restaurant had to offer. No easy feat getting a reservation, but with persistence I was able to work it out for our group of seven.

Upon arriving for the reservation, we were escorted through the door or what honestly felt like a time portal. In an instant we were off of the busy Slauson Street and inside a warmly lit Jazz era speakeasy outfitted with wooden arches, plush velvet seating and a stage with a three-piece band filling the room with smooth R&B.

As we sat down at a table in the center of the room, my friend leaned over to say she was thoroughly impressed. We all concurred, intoxicated by the vibe long before our drinks and appetizers arrived. Once they did, things only got better.

Firstly, I opted for the non-alcoholic Lady of the Night gin-style cocktail which was adult and delightful even sans the liquor. Others in the group raved about the Forget Me Not, a smoky mezcal option, also part of the cocktail program led by Steen Bojsen-Møller.

As for the food, Somerville boasts a “progressive American dining experience” curated by Chef Geter Atienza. Appetizer standouts for us were the warm and flaky Parker House Rolls followed by the savory Fried Chicken and Caviar Sliders. We inhaled all of them and were close to ordering more before our waitress advised us of all the must-try entrees to come.

We ordered the lot of them and as we waited for the main course to arrive we were pleased to spot friendly or familiar faces throughout the room. The venue’s small and tucked away tables made for easy mobility to get up, grab a drink at the long bar, greet a friend, or even do a little two-step if the music moved you. The biggest thing I noticed looking around: Nearly no one was on their phone. This made me all the more embarrassed to snap pictures of the gorgeous food as it came out.

Between what we all ordered, we’ve agreed that the Mary’s Organic Roasted Chicken, the Butternut Squash Risotto and the Collard Green Lasagna were the biggest stars of the night. The chicken was perfectly marinated and juicy, the risotto perfectly creamy and the lasagna, just perfect. I had the latter and my only complaint was that it wasn’t any bigger.

When it came to the desserts we weren’t as impressed taste-wise, though the Sorrel and Pear Granita was beautifully plated and some in my group called it a good palate cleanser. We had a birthday girl among us as well and our waitress deftly worked around her allergy restrictions, providing a candle-lit Leche Flan as we all serenaded her.

It’s a cliche phrase in this digital age, but 10 out of 10, highly recommend. Between the gorgeous decor, sexy vibes and delicious offerings coming from the bar and kitchen, Somerville lives up to the hype and then some. With Valentine’s Day here, I can see it making for an awesome date night, but as for me and my girls we will definitely be back.