In late May, Vanderpump Rules stars Ariana Madix and Katie Maloney opened their long-awaited sandwich shop: Something About Her. The shop opened on May 19 on Robertson Blvd, West Hollywood, drawing hundreds of fans on its opening day.
Many fans waited over 3 hours, and because the shop wasn’t expecting a huge turnout, their system crashed down, which led to longer wait times. Sadly, some people left without a sandwich, but they didn’t leave empty-handed! Ariana and Katie took pictures and talked with everyone who stood in line that day.
Admittedly, I’ve never watched a Vanderpump Rules episode, but I liked the interior and the fact that the shop was inspired by early 2000s rom-coms. As someone who grew up watching this movie genre, that was the selling point for me. I also loved the name.
On an interview with US Weekly, Katie said: “I love rom-coms and Nancy Meyers, because they are just so fancy-free and whimsy. John[Hutman] designed the space, who is also Nancy Meyers’ production designer, [and he] really helped bring that vision to life.”
For those who don’t know, Nancy Meyers is the director behind many iconic rom-coms that you may be familiar with. A few of them are The Parent Trap (1998), Father of the Bride (1991), The Holiday (2006), What Women Want (2000). She’s the most influential woman director in the rom-com genre. Whenever I think of her movies, I think of cozy and comforting home interiors, especially the kitchens! If you google “Nancy Meyers Style”, you’ll come across hundreds of guides with tips on how to achieve the lived-in warmth of her movie houses.
Katie and Ariana did a great job capturing the essence of Nancy’s dreamy interiors into the shop!
Something About Her is a project that has been a few years in the making. In 2022, Katie and Ariana purchased the empty retail space. After long delays, many people doubted that they would ever open it. Ariana and Katie almost put a sandwich on the menu called Your Words, dedicated to those who thought they were not going to pull it off.
In March 2024, Katie and Ariana dropped the Something About Her merch, which included sweatshirts, T-shirts, and hats with the logo. It reportedly grossed over $200,000. The branded merch is also available at the shop.
The sandwich shop is conveniently located within a short walking distance from other Vanderpump restaurants like Sur, Tom Tom and the recently closed PUMP restaurant. In 2024, Lisa Vanderpump’s iconic restaurant PUMP, closed its doors after a decade of operation due to a rent increase.
When I googled Ariana and Katie, I found it fascinating to see the outpouring of support from their devoted fans. I came across many comments from people that didn’t live in LA, mentioning how badly they wanted to try the sandwiches. Someone said that if they lived in LA, they would frequent the shop all the time. From what I’ve gathered, Ariana and Kate are very likable and people root for them. The loyalty of Bravo fans runs deep!
Something About Her is open from Wednesdays to Sundays, 10 am to 4 pm. I went there on a Wednesday, one week after the opening date. I was off from work that morning, but many people skipped work to be there for the grand opening!
Waiting in line
I parked on Melrose Avenue and paid two hours at the parking meter. When I got there at 9:40, there was already a line. Thankfully, it didn’t wrap around the alley like the opening day. From the time I stood in line to when I finally reached the storefront, it took less than an hour. But by 10:30, the line was growing significantly! This is why, I highly encourage you to show up as early as you can. When I went back to my car after eating at the shop, I was surprised that the parking meter still had 30 minutes left!
When I went to the line, there was a middle-aged couple from Newport Beach in front of me. They told me that they had dropped someone off at LAX. Since they were already in LA, they decided to try the Something About Her and spend the rest of the day here. The woman loved West Hollywood and asked me for recommendations. She also said that I should do a Vanderpump restaurant tour.
There was a couple behind me who said hi to a friend they casually ran into. The girl in line eagerly said, “We love to support nice people!”
While we were patiently waiting for the shop to open, an elderly woman with a cane walked by the line. She looked at us in complete disbelief. Then, she turned to me and said, “You guys are standing in line for a sandwich? Just because they’re on TV? Pavilions is right down the street and they make really good sandwiches. You guys are here just because they’re on TV. That’s it.” She shook her head and resumed her leisurely walk. I thought it was funny, but people in line didn’t think that. “Well, is she on TV?” said the woman from Newport.
Something About Her is next door to a flower shop. The owner stepped out for a brief moment, asking people not to block the front entrance. She seemed frustrated by having to make this request for what seemed to be the 100th time.
Sandwiches & Menu
As I was nearing the door, the chirpy employees on the front door handed me the menu. The sandwiches range between $8 and $20, and they’re all named after iconic rom-com actresses. The menu also offers sweet treats, chips, and a wide array of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
In an article from The Cut, the author said that the bread they use is from Larder Baking Company, a wholesale bakery in West LA. The menu gives you a breakdown of each sandwich, but there is no further information on the brands they use for the condiments. California boasts some of the best produce in the country, and highlighting local farmers by featuring them on the menu would have been a good move.
I also think that hiring a good food photographer would do wonders for their business. As someone who has never watched the show, I thought these sandwiches looked like something you’d make in a hurry before you leave for work. They looked flimsy and didn’t pique my interest at all. The Meg reminded me of the wraps from Trader Joe’s. However, in person, the sandwiches were bigger, more substantial, and looked very appetizing.
Katie shared these pictures on her Instagram.
With this being said, I don’t think Ariana and Katie are looking to compete with other established gourmet sandwich shops in LA, nor are they interested in making their sandwiches stand out from the crowd. This is purely a passion project dedicated to their loyal fans, who are literally eating it up.
On the menu, there’s a warm welcome message from Katie and Ariana, thanking the fans for their love and support. They refer to Something About Her as a “cherished sanctuary”. Here’s an excerpt:
“As two passionate women seeking empowerment and connection, we envisioned a haven where design and taste intertwine to celebrate femininity and creativity. We wanted this space to be more than a sandwich shop. We wanted it to be a sanctuary – a place where every corner exuded inspiration and every bite spoke of possibility”.
When I was about to walk in, the employee at the door said that her favorite was The Meg, but she recommended The Cameron. She said, “The Cameron sells out all the time. That’s by far our most popular one”. She also said that the limit for each order was three sandwiches.
I was initially going to order one sandwich, but I ended up ordering two: The Viola and The Cameron. I ate half of each and took the leftovers home.
Once I walked in, Ariana Madix in the flesh was cleaning tables and arranging pillows to ensure guests had the best experience! My total for the two sandwiches was $40 (Ouch!).
After I paid, I sat down and did one of the things I love the most: people-watching. Ariana was bustling around the shop, cleaning tables, greeting guests, and taking selfies. The woman from Newport Beach asked her if she had watched the reunion the night before. Ariana said she hadn’t watched it and mentioned something about an upcoming taping. Then, they took a picture.
Here is my review of the sandwiches!
The Viola
Grilled golden sourdough, smoked turkey, chipotle mayo, roasted red pepper, homemade balsamic onion marmalade, smoked gouda, shaved cucumber, red onion.
The first thing that stood out was the sweet balsamic onion marmalade. To say that it was delicious is a big understatement. The flavors and the textures were very prominent in this sandwich: sweet, savory, and crunchy.
The rich sweetness from the onion marmalade complemented the sweet Gouda cheese. This cheese has a creamy texture and a sweeter, nuttier taste than other cheeses. The thinly sliced smoked turkey and the crunchy grilled sourdough tied everything together and made every bite so satisfying! Another highlight of this sandwich was the crispy and toasty bread crust.
If you’re not sure what to order, I’d highly recommend ordering The Viola. If I was in the area and there wasn’t a line, I’d order it again. Buzzfeed rated this sandwich a 9/10. The author said that this was by far her favorite out of the three she ordered!
After I ate the first half of The Viola, I was almost full! But I still had some room left for Something About Her’s most popular sandwich: The Cameron.
The Cameron
Rustic Ciabatta, Pesto garlic aioli, genoa salami, sopressata, mortadella, roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, pepperoncinis, red onion, smoked provolone, homemade balsamic onion marmalade, fresh basil, zesty lemon dressed arugula.
The Cameron is Katie and Ariana’s take on the classic deli sandwich. The show-stopper of this sandwich, was yet again, the heavenly balsamic onion marmalade. My hat goes off to the chef! The cold cuts were perfectly layered and the greens were fresh, but the combination of the lemon arugula and the sweetness of the marmalade took this sandwich to the next level. I think they should sell the homemade balsamic onion marmalade in small jars!
Unfortunately, there was one major drawback with The Cameron: the chewy bread. As you can see in the picture, it looks amazing and soft, but once I bit into the bread, it was a struggle to pull it away with my teeth.
When EaterLA described The Cameron, they said: “Taking a bite requires almost unhinging one’s jaw”. 🙁 On a Tik Tok video, someone ordered The Meg and they also complained about this issue. If I were Katie and Ariana, I would look into this right away.
What if they used Bub’s and Grandma’s Bread? If you’re not familiar with them, their bread is life-changing. Yes, it’s that good. They’re also a supplier to other bakeries and restaurants in the LA area!
With the chewy bread aside, I really liked The Cameron. It is a well-rounded sandwich and it’s the sandwich with the most ingredients on the menu. But if I had to pick one, The Viola is the winner on my list.
Experience
On the opening day, the shop was packed with people standing in line. When I went there on the second week, no more than three people were ordering inside. This allowed me to have an unobstructed view of the whole place. If people wanted to take their orders to go, they had to wait outside.
I was not a big fan of the pillows, but they offered nice back support! After people are done eating, Ariana and the employee immediately clean your table and make sure the pillows are perfectly placed.
The striped awning and the cozy atmosphere reminded me of a cafe in London or The Hamptons. For a split second, while I was eating my sandwich and the soothing music was playing in the background, I genuinely felt like I was in an early 2000s rom-com. Eating a sandwich has never felt more glamorous.
It felt like at any given moment, a bundled up Jude Law could have walked in to order a latte. As he’s about to leave, he notices a familiar face sitting in the banquette. She’s eating her sandwich in a poised manner. He walks up to her with his latte in his hand and strikes up a conversation. They reminisce about old times and exchange phone numbers on a napkin. I’ll leave up the rest to your imagination.😆😆
If Something About Her offered coffees, it would be the cherry on top!
While I don’t see myself going there every time I crave a sandwich, I loved eating inside the shop. Many people took their sandwich to go, but if you have the chance, dining in is the best way to get the full Nancy Meyers experience Ariana and Katie wanted to bring.
Overall, I really enjoyed eating my sandwiches at Something About Her. Yes, it was pricey, but it was all about the experience! Ariana was included in Variety’s “40 Most Powerful Women on Reality TV” list last year. She’s also on a Broadway show, author of a NY Times best seller book, and she was a featured guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Where else are you going to see a millionaire reality TV star cleaning your table at a restaurant?
I drive by the now-closed PUMP restaurant every day. When it was open, I didn’t give it much thought. I easily forgot that this restaurant was aired on national TV, and watched by millions of people.
Something About Her has only been open for less than a month, but there’s no doubt that it will become a pilgrimage destination for out-of-town Bravo fans in the years to come.
Something About Her: Wednesday – Sunday 10:00 AM to 4PM
Address: 640 N Robertson Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046
