Tag Archives: French Restaurants Los Angeles

March 9, 2016 · 11:09 am

Small is the New Big

It’s a simple law of nature that small versions of everyday things are cute. Babies, puppies, Mini Coopers; all are friggin’ adorable. We should also add Petit Trois, a diminutive version of a French Bistro, to this list.

Petit Trois is the younger sister and strip mall nextdoor neighbor of Trois Mec. Both restaurants are tiny and are helmed by heavily tatted, reality tv-starring, bad-boy chef Ludo Lefebvre. But unlike Troi Mec, which serves creative and cutting-edge cuisine, the food at Petit Trois is more traditionally French, with offerings such as French Onion Soup, Confit-fried Chicken Leg with Brioche Butter and Frisée Salad, Croque Monsieur/Madame, and Escargots. All are excellent. The one non-traditional item on the menu is the “Big Mec,” an awesome gourmet cheeseburger with caramelized onions, garlic aioli and a red wine bordelaise sauce made with foie gras.

There are no tables at Petit Trois. All seating is either at a bar facing an open kitchen or at a counter facing the back wall. So it’s not the kind of place you want to go with a big group, but it’s perfect if you’re dining alone or with a single companion. I also recommended going at an off hour to avoid a wait; they don’t take reservations.

Petit Trois is located at 718 Highland Ave., Los Angeles (in Hollywood).

Baguette and Butter

Confit-fried Chicken Leg with Brioche Butter and Frisée Salad

“Big Mec” Double Cheeseburger

Frites

Napoleon with Tahitian Vanilla Cream

Chocolate Mousse

It’s in a tiny space.

Some of the most authentic and delicious French food in LA

2 Comments

Filed under Hollywood

Tagged as best restaurants hollywood, french restaurant hollywood, french restaurants in la, French Restaurants Los Angeles, ludo lefebvre, Ludo lefebvre new restaurant, Petit Mec, Petit Trois, Petit Trois Mec, Petit Trois Menu, Petite Trois

March 12, 2014 · 12:27 pm

Le Mediocre

There has been a lot of press lately about the 3% Obamacare surcharge added to all patrons’ checks at LA’s hot new French restaurant, Republique. The surcharge is intended to pay for health care insurance for restaurant employees, and for those diners who find the surcharge objectionable, the restaurant recommends deducting it from the gratuity. Whether this is a well meaning attempt to provide better benefits to restaurant employees, a slam on Obamacare, or a brilliant publicity stunt, personally, I don’t like it. What’s next? A surcharge for electricity or for paper towels in the bathroom? Republique should do what all other restaurants do; factor its total overhead into its food prices.

But the problem with Republique increasing food prices to pay for healthcare insurance is that the food there is overpriced to begin with. Sure, the place (it’s in the old Campanile space) is hip and fun and they offer a mezcal-based cocktail called “Speaking in Tongues.” But to me it’s all about the food, and the food at Republique, just like the Lakers this season, is sadly mediocre; merely good and unfortunately not great. Dining there recently left me thinking of that Peggy Lee song “Is That All There Is?” — the answer to which in this case is “yes and you get to pay an additional 3% for it.”

Republique is located at 624 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles (Mid-City).

Grass-Fed Beef Tartare with Tarragon Aioli, Pickled Red Onion and Potato Chips

“Eggs on Toast” with Santa Barbara Uni and Soft-scrambled Eggs

Tart a L’Alsacienne with
Stinging Nettles, Asparagus, Leeks and Drake Family Farms Goat Cheese

Hand-Cut Fettuccine with Maine Lobster Bolognese

Maine Bouchot Mussels with French Fries, White Wine and Garlic

Mediterranean Branzino with Thai Curry, Carrot Coconut and Peanuts

Banana Cream Pie with Hot Chocolate and Peanut Buttter

Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake with Milk Eau de Vie

In the old Campanile space on La Brea

13 Comments

Filed under Mid-City

Tagged as French Restaurants Los Angeles, république los angeles, république los angeles menu, république menu, république restaurant, république restaurant menu, république review, republic los angeles, republic los angeles menu, republic los angles, republic restaurant, republique

April 25, 2013 · 11:30 am

Three is a Magic Number

Brand-spanking new and already the hottest ticket in town, Trois Mec has arrived. Its name means “three guys” in French and it’s the collaboration of three of LA’s most beloved and talented chefs, Ludo Lefebvre of the Ludo Bites pop-ups and the tv show “The Taste,” and Jon Shook & Vinny Dotolo of Animal and Son of a Gun. These three amigos have fashioned a truly magical dining experience. The only problem is that it’s incredibly difficult to get in.

The modern and minimally designed restaurant is small and intimate. Â There are only four tables plus eight seats at the bar overlooking the open kitchen. Â It’s cloistered away in a Hollywood strip mall behind frosted glass and has no signage other than the illuminated yellow sign of the previous tenant, Rafaello’s Pizza. To dine at Trois Mec, you don’t need a reservation; you need to buy a ticket. These tickets, which are transferable and can even be resold on Craig’s List, go on sale once a week on the restaurant’s website and currently cost around $97 for the prix fixe menu including tax and tip but excluding beer and wine. With such limited seating, competition for the tickets is fierce and I pity the poor Hollywood assistant tasked with procuring them for a demanding boss.

The seasonal menu (which can be vegetarian upon request) consists of five official courses and several additional tastes. My recent dinner there started with a virgin apéritif of chilled Aged Oolong Tea with Lemon Shrub in a sugar-rimmed glass and ended with a White Chocolate and Caramel Tart with Habanero Salt. In between was a parade of gorgeous, inventive and delectable small plates of gastronomic glory. Many dishes, such as the Herb and Flower Tart with Watercress Vinaigrette (pictured above), were similar to the modern French fare of Ludo Bites, while others, like the Boneless Chicken Wings with Mustard and Sesame Seeds, more closely resembled the reconceived comfort food of Animal and Son of a Gun. My favorites were the super light cheesy potato dish of Potato Pulp, Brown Butter, Bonito, Onion Soubise and Salers Cheese and an insanely good Rib Cap with Shallot Broth, Black Walnut and Clover Spelt. I also loved the unique Buckwheat Popcorn with Rice Wine Vinegar. If they sold this at Trader Joe’s, I would eat a bag everyday.

Trois Mec is located at 716 N. Highland, Los Angeles (in Hollywood) and serves dinner Monday through Friday. Tickets can be obtained on their website.Â

Buckwheat Popcorn with Rice Wine Vinegar

English Peas with Miso Marinade and Cured Salmon Roe

Boneless Chicken Wings with Mustard and Sesame Seeds

Asparagus, Brioche, Egg Yolk, Yuzu, Green Alder

Carrot, BBQ, Orange, Yogurt, Avocado, Watercress

Potato Pulp, Brown Butter, Bonito, Onion Soubise, Salers

Rib Cap, Shallot Broth, Black Walnut and Clover Spelt

Rib Cap, Shallot Broth, Black Walnut, Clover Spelt

Strawberry, Almond Ice Cream, Rhubarb, Rose Ice, Olive Oil Cake

Chef Ludo Lefebvre

The restaurant only seats 26 people.

Don’t be misled by the exterior.

3 Comments

Filed under Hollywood

Tagged as best french restaurants la, Best French Restaurants Los Angeles, best restaurants hollywood, boneless chicken wings, buckwheat popcorn, flower tart, french restaurants in la, French Restaurants Los Angeles, John Shook, jon shook and vinny dotolo restaurant, ludo and animal guys restaurant, ludo lefeb, ludo lefebre, ludo lefebvre, Ludo lefebvre new restaurant, ludo lefebvre restaurant, ludo new restaurant, ludo trois mec, ludo's new restaurant, restaurant tickets, three guys restaurant, trois amec, trois mac, trois mec, trois mec hancock park, trois mec hollywood, trois mec hours, trois mec los angeles, trois mec menu, trois mec prices, trois mec restaurant, trois mec restaurant hollywood, trois mec restaurant los angeles, trois mec review, troismec, twa mec, twamec, vinnie dotolo, vinny dotolo and jon shook

October 26, 2012 · 12:20 pm

Haute Stuff

If you’ve read my Manifesto, you know I believe that Los AngelesÂ is the most exciting food city in the world right now. Â But with that said, there’s one thing that’s sorely lacking here. Â There is a surprising dearth of fine dining restaurants in this city; places that offer very high end cuisine, a tasting menu, a sommelier, impeccable service and an elegant and romantic atmosphere. One of the few such places that we do have is Melisse. Helmed by master chef Josiah Citrin, Melisse serves gorgeous plates of contemporary French cuisine and offers a world-class wine list. The food is refined and innovative, and the offerings change nightly.

Dinner at Melisse is not just a meal, it’s an experience, and one that typically lasts between 3 1/2 and 4 hours, especially if you get one of the lengthier tasting menus. One of Chef Citrin’s signature dishes is “Egg Caviar,” a cut eggshell with a layer of runny yolk at the bottom, a layer of lemon-chive creme fraiche in the middle and a pile of American Osetra caviar on top. When all mixed together, it is a spectacular taste sensation. Other dishes I love are the unusual Fennel Flan with Orange Gelee, Cashew Foam and Vanilla, the incredible Maine Lobster Bolognese with Fresh Capellini, Truffle Froth & Grated Black Truffle, and the perfectly cooked Filet of Beef and Braised Cheek with Potato Pave and Puree, Mustard Greens, Bearnaise and Red Wine Braising Jus. As you would expect, a meal at Melisse is not inexpensive. So for most of us, this is a special occasion restaurant; the perfect place to celebrate an important birthday, anniversary or job promotion, and live large for a few hours.

Melisse is located at 1104 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica.