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Food & DrinkThings to Do

A Pitch-Perfect Dining Experience

by Sophia Islas | May 28, 2025

Manny Marroquin. Photo by Mike Pieters.

When Verse opened its doors in 2020, it instantly became a can’t-miss destination in Toluca Lake, climbing to the top of best-of L.A. lists and earning praise from critics for its harmonious blend of innovative cuisine and star-powered entertainment. On any given night, patrons from near and far make their way to the upscale supper club to sip craft cocktails and nosh on Hokkaido milk buns, Peruvian scallops and other Angeleno-inspired creations, all while taking in intimate performances from the likes of Terrace Martin, Stevie Wonder, Kamasi Washington and Robin Thicke. The experience is unlike any other — thanks to owner and Toluca Lake resident Manny Marroquin, a multi-Grammy-Award-winning sound mixer and engineer who designed the space’s buildout to deliver the best sound possible.

“Our technology is unlike anything that exists in the world,” the music industry veteran boasts. “Verse is a place where you don’t hear the people around you, or the conversations people next to you are having, and people can’t hear you either. We have 52 speakers, 19 microphones hanging; it’s really unique. I basically built a studio big enough to put a restaurant in it.”

Marroquin was inspired to create Verse as a way to offer a distinctive, high-quality live music experience in his own backyard, just steps away from his renowned Larrabee Studios. “Toluca Lake really embraces Verse because there’s a level of sophistication, yet there’s a homey, neighborhood feel,” he shares, adding that it made sense to build the restaurant adjacent to his studio. “With the culture of artists and creators around town, it’s literally next door to all the action.”

With his industry connections, Marroquin has brought a steady stream of top-tier talent to Verse — though no set schedules are posted in advance, adding to the venue’s intrigue. “The musicians we have, even on a normal Tuesday night, are world-class musicians,” he says. “The curation of artists is organic and not forced.”

A standout moment for Marroquin was Robin Thicke’s residency, which signified a turning point for Verse. “That’s when people really started to see the potential. I saw it beforehand, but seeing it happen right in front of you was really special,” he recalls. “Robin is such a great performer. It was one of his first performances as he was getting out of COVID. He wasn’t even sure he could pull it off. When he did, it was beautiful to see. That’s when we thought we really had something special here.”

Marroquin plans to build on Verse’s success with the launch of Acoustic Sunday Suppers this summer. “To me, Sunday is a very big thing; it’s family day,” he says. “Now we’re open seven days a week, which is what I’ve always wanted. We’re finally doing it three and a half years later.”

About Sophia Islas

Sophia Islas is the senior editor for Toluca Lake Magazine.

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