454266 Thu Oct 25 22:26:46 -0700 2007 2 2 Los Angeles Area 0 3068620 Well, let's at least get the name of the restaurant on the title line of posts relating to it, not these allusions of several posters. The restaurant is very very nicely done inside, in largely a black and white decor, with front, middle and back sections. Friend and I ate tonight in the back section, which like all the others is quite noisy, yet does not have the heavy walking traffic as the front ones do. That said, it is very typical of bistros/brasseries in Paris - noisy, comfort food prepared quite well, and a decent wine list, with cocktails of all kinds available, even though I did not care to look over the list as wine is always the beverage of choice. Got a bottle of Les Pallieres Gigondas, 2004, for $58, which satisfies most tastes on this menu, and which I overheard might have been the last one in the building. Fortunately, it is a Kermit Lynch selection, and thus replenishing the supply is not a major effort, even though not necessarily on the same night. Perfectly matched our food, and would go with 2/3 of the items on the menu. Great all-around selection and one we really enjoyed with our duck confit, house special leg of lamb and charcuterie plate. The duck was superbly moist while the leg of lamb served medium rare was equally so. Two highly recommended entrees, and we both agreed that we might return just to have those items again. However, the spaetzle accompaniment to the duck lacked flavor, texture, and to me would ideally be replaced by almost anything else!!!! The charcuterie plate was fine enough, yet only one item, plus the requisite whole grain moutarde, cornichons, onions, etc. For $12, definitely spittable for 2 - just a taste if you will. For dessert, profiteroles were advertised as sans chocolate, yet there the sauce was - good as ever, so I hear, yet I do not eat that stuff, and so I got a substitute version filled with passion fruit sorbet and no sauce. Having the option of either a chocolate or caramel sauce atop the profiterole (two to a serving and thus one of each could be doable) would be ideal. Love the look of the place, and the staff is overly nice, nearly to a fault. Attitude belongs in other restaurants and is not at home on the staff here. And as to the white plastic chairs, I actually liked them, yet might not for 3 or more hours, but would never expect to spend that amount of time here on any night. They are much better than those you find for $9.95 all over town as your basic cheap patio/swimming pool chair- they are much, much better so get your minds away from that concept. Over all, cannot wait to return, even though there are many entree items that I truly feel I will never try - as in, sole meuniere - don't know why but the allure is zero, as it will probably be for many of the seafood items - the allure here to me seems to be in the non-seafood entrees plus the appetizers. Not a handout, as in $140 plus tax & tip for 2, yet defintely where LA pricepoints are these days for quality dining in quality neighborhoods and environments. $8 for valet parking in the lot at the corner of La Cienega & Melrose, so prepare accordingly and enter on the Melrose side.. Thu Oct 25 22:26:46 -0700 2007 10359 carter 1 3068644 I didn't see the valet stand for the life of me Tuesday night. But I found free parking over near Orlando, anyway. (More money for wine!) I'm disappointed to learn there is only one type of charcuterie on the charcuterie plate. Even Angelique Café has three types of charcuterie on their offering. As for the chairs, they are definitely better than the Rite Aid $9.95 swimming pool chair and not uncomfortable, but they're still a swimming pool chair. My friend and I spent the evening wobbling back and forth on the flimsy injected plastic legs, something one can't do on a real wooden or metal chair. A Design Within Reach version of a swimming pool chair is a swimming pool chair all the same. Thu Oct 25 22:47:22 -0700 2007 3068620 100515 Woolsey 2 3070406 Unforntunatly what i feel all of you who commented on the chairs here are missing is that this is not a fine dining restaurant in that they want us diners to stay there for more than 1.5-2 hours. while yes, the food and service is exceptional, it more of a place where you go in, you sit, you eat, you drink, you leave. as anyone who has dined at balthazar or pastis (NYC) you would know this. and thank you carter for pointing out that the volume and intensity is a byproduct of a typical brasserie as comme ca is. it is a high volume, energy filled restaurant, again like balthazar and pastis. this is the first of its kind in LA and i feel that is why most diners are not grasping the idea...yet. you will. it is great. for those of us who enjoy a quick QUALITY meal that does not lack service, this is the place! everyone is recommended to try this place. you will not be disappointed if you go into it with the right mindset that is it is going to be loud and fun with a great NYC vibe (the city that never sleeps, remember?) and a very attentive staff all around and well the food will speak for itself. my recommendations: start with a nice cocktail at the bar, continue to your table for a glass of champagne and selection of oysters, next, order a few apps. to share, frisee lardon, beet salad, beef marrow etc. order a nice red (or white) before entrees arrive, id say make sure one of your guests tries the daily specials (and everyone make sure you get a taste) steak frites are traditional but superbly done, salmon is nicely seasoned and accompnaied by gnocci, yummm. others items will be tried on future visits. order a glass of a nice port, or... ask for the frommagier aka the cheese guy and he will create a greak cheese plate with a nice port wine pairing, we were lucky enough to be there for a special flight of 3 roqueforts. if it's not too busy id say head the the lounge for your cheese plate and watch them prepare because they will give you samples ;) hope this helps. Fri Oct 26 13:02:39 -0700 2007 3068644 137767 NYCdinerinLA