Tuning Fork: Studio City's Neighborhood Music Gastropub

Tuning Fork is a farm-to-table gastropub at 12051 Ventura Place in Studio City that puts live music on its small stage nearly every night of the week, with no cover charge. It sits just off Ventura Boulevard, a short drive from Laurel Canyon, and draws a mix of Valley locals, working musicians and people who simply want a good burger with a band in the room.

The pitch is simple: a comfortable, unhurried neighborhood spot where the music is close enough to feel and the kitchen takes the food as seriously as the bookings.

A neighborhood room built around live music

Owner and founder Joseph Kuras opened Tuning Fork in 2013. He has said the area's film history and its closeness to Laurel Canyon, home of a famous 1960s and '70s songwriter scene, are what he values most about doing business in Studio City.

Kuras is blunt about why the venue books music every night: "Without live music there is no life." That conviction shows in the calendar, which leans on local players, returning house favorites and community nights rather than touring headliners.

Music seven nights a week

The calendar runs from jazz-tinged happy hours to blues, country and singer-songwriter sets, most starting around 8 pm. The listing below reflects Tuning Fork's posted schedule for the week of October 6, 2026; acts rotate, so check the events page before you go.

The Thursday happy-hour slot for local high school jazz students is a nice touch, giving young players a real audience. Holiday dates are on the books too: a costume-friendly Halloween on October 31, plus Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.

Food and drink

The kitchen is run by Chef Jay, whose name is on half the menu, and it leans on locally sourced ingredients. Burgers are the centerpiece, and every one can be built on Angus beef, a turkey patty or a vegan lentil patty, on brioche, multigrain, gluten-free bread or a lettuce wrap.

Highlights from the current menu:

• Burgers ($22.50–$32.50): the Truffle Mushroom with goat cheese, the fiery Light My Fire with ghost pepper jam, and the loaded All Or Nothing.
• Mains ($24.50–$39): Chef Jay's Jerk Chicken, the dish the owner names as a top seller, plus ale-battered fish and chips and herb-marinated salmon.
• Plant-based: The Shaggy Lentil, a lentil-quinoa patty on flatbread, and several vegan salads.
• Bar snacks ($6–$18): catfish tacos, wings in three sauces, truffle fries and flatbreads.
• Dessert: key lime pie and a Guinness brownie.

Chef Jay's hot sauce is sold by the bottle. A full drink menu, craft beer included, rounds things out, and the kitchen also handles online orders and takeout.

Private parties and catering

Tuning Fork books private parties, from birthdays to holiday gatherings, and offers catering packages for off-site events such as corporate functions and weddings. Requests go through the private parties and catering pages on its website.

Plan your visit

Schedules change week to week, so check the events page or Instagram before heading out.