62215 Fri Aug 13 16:07:36 -0700 2004 4 2 Los Angeles Area 0 331669 Went to Brassserie Figaro on Vermont Wednesday evening and had the worst meal I've had yet in Los Angeles. Got there about 8:30p and the outside tables were all full but only about 3 tables inside - should have been a tipoff. I was a little shocked by the prices - considering they were even higher than Stella's which is much better (even though I'm not a huge fan of Stella's food - at least its fresh!) The bread basket was the best thing. It went downhill from there. I had the lentil salad to start with, a mushy mess that was overly tart (tartness seemed almost to have come from fermentation rather than from the undistinguishable vinaigrette) and then the oxtail. That was the crowning achievement of bad food - the oxtail was buried under mashed potatoes that tasted as if they came out of a box, and the meat was tough, tasteless and stringy. It tasted exactly as if they had cooked this and frozen it, with the meat getting a touch of freezer burn, then reheated it in the microwave. I could only bear about two bites. BTW, this was the dish that the waiter said was the best dish in the house! My friend started out with the tuna tartare that was a bit off tasting, and toast points that were soggy. The fish was a little fishy - not fresh, but soaked in lemon juice seemingly as a cover up. His main course -a lentil stew served in a squash, was unmemorable, the lentils were once again mushy and the squash was so ripe it was about to rot. With two glasses of Cote de Ventoux that had oxidized, I figured, after being set back close to $100, that we were the biggest suckers of the evening. Service was quick and clipped, not bad, but nothing to write home about. As we were leaving we heard another couple complaining about cold and dry roast chicken! Being from the hood, I was hoping for a lot more. Maybe it was just an off night, but with the quadruple whammy and the bad wine, I'm inclined to think otherwise. Fri Aug 13 16:07:36 -0700 2004 0 annie 1 331700 Although I've only been for breakfast or mid-day dessert, I've always had wonderful experiences. Sounds like outside of those two eating times, they fail. Sad to hear. Fri Aug 13 18:39:41 -0700 2004 331669 0 Cat'sChow 2 331908 Did you communicate with your waiter that you were dissatisfied with your courses or your wine? People need to speak up!!! Let the owner or manager know about your horrible experience there. Absolutely unacceptable to have tainted food and wine. Sun Aug 15 11:11:56 -0700 2004 331700 0 WOR 1 331906 Figaro is owned by the same people that bring you Champagne Bakery, the chain out of the San Marcos/San Diego area. They know breakfast and dessert items fairly well and this is their one full service restaurant. Caveat emptor! Sun Aug 15 10:44:49 -0700 2004 331669 0 carter 1 331954 Last time I dined there, maybe 2 years ago, we were on our way out when my companion asked a man who had been at the bar chatting with the host whether he might spare a cigarette. He spat out 'get out of my face, bitch' (sic) and resumed his conversation with our waiter, the bartender and the host, who witnessed the scene without comment. We were both too stunned and confused (did this actually happen?) to raise the stakes at this point (to my infinite regret, but doubtless in our ultimate best interest). I am often disappointed at service in LA but have seldom found it to reach actionable levels. To this day I am confounded by this incident, and the survival of a restaurant where such a thing could occur and be sanctioned even once. Sun Aug 15 20:09:58 -0700 2004 331669 0 Dbird