66062 Tue Jan 25 04:12:59 -0800 2005 12 2 Los Angeles Area 0 356681 This is for a special occasion dinner and I have been to neither restaurant. I'm a little concerned about the poor reviews that La Cachette has received on Chowhound in the past. Any opinions? Tue Jan 25 04:12:59 -0800 2005 0 Michelle 1 356699 Sona, period! Tue Jan 25 11:29:55 -0800 2005 356681 0 rmc 1 356705 I had one of the most memorable meals in my life at Sona. -J Tue Jan 25 12:03:15 -0800 2005 356681 0 Hammy 1 356728 I just couldn't bring myself to go back to Sona after the awful meal I had a few weeks ago. Bad service, way-out-there bad food. Beyond avant garde to the point of just bad tasting. La Cachette, on the other hand, is a very solid, dependable restaurant ideal for a special occasion such as this. Service was down a bit last time I was there for lunch, but I've never had a bad meal there. Tue Jan 25 14:02:18 -0800 2005 356681 0 jcwla 1 356759 I have not been to La Cachette but SONA IS THE PLACE IN LA . . . you take risks there, it is not a "safe" choice" . . . it's made for people who dine out frequently, when braised veel cheeks start to become part of the routine. Where sashimi can be so so without the right sauce, then you go to Sona. Service I had last May was impeccable, David Meyers came to my table . . just don't go on a weekend or Holiday - that's suicide for any popular place. Tue Jan 25 15:56:06 -0800 2005 356681 0 blackbookali 1 356825 I've been to both and gotta say, Sona has LaCachette BEAT. Sona is superior in every way - and there's always 10 things on the menu I've never seen or heard in my life. Count on Sona for a unique, delicious and generally close to perfect experience. Enjoy! Tue Jan 25 20:57:31 -0800 2005 356681 0 criticalmass 1 356826 Sona if you prefer bizarre and pretentious nondelicious combinations. La Cachette if you prefer a delicious meal by a classically trained French chef. Tue Jan 25 21:00:30 -0800 2005 356681 0 Margaret Gray 2 356869 If cachette can conseal the taste of asparagus in asparagus soup, then he is a master chef?!!! Could not believe it occurred, and have yet to return. And everything else that followed was also close to tasteless. Tue Jan 25 23:29:52 -0800 2005 356826 0 rmc 3 356871 Have never endured a tasteless meal at La Cachette, however among other dishes, found Sona's bizarre red snapper with spaetzle and oxtail appallingly bad and excruciatingly precious. Tue Jan 25 23:48:28 -0800 2005 356869 0 Margaret Gray 1 357016 I know this is not what you asked but, if you truly want a memorable special meal, just go to Spago. Sona is absolutely not a sure thing as you can see. La Cachette is a very good but not great restaurant. Spago is a sure thing and is great. Wed Jan 26 22:31:15 -0800 2005 356681 0 Just Larry 2 357045 Correctomundo Thu Jan 27 02:10:38 -0800 2005 357016 0 russkar 1 357220 You could either drive your dependable Toyota to La Cachette and have a nice safe meal or maybe rent a Aston Martin for a night at Sona for something different and exciting. It depends on what kind of person you are. A safe bet or an unforgettable experience. I wonder if "way-out there" equals "bad". Thu Jan 27 22:33:45 -0800 2005 356681 0 gimme_thirds 2 357243 Sona isn't "way-out"? It's confused food with a dwindling following. Never again, three wasted dinners! JFM of La Cachette is a Master in the Kitchen, put L'orangerie on the map. Off to FL in Yountville next month for the real thing. Fri Jan 28 01:41:06 -0800 2005 357220 0 russkar