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Providence was very good, but Melisse was better. For our anniversary, we could have gone a 2nd time to either and despite originally getting engaged at Providence, we choose to return to Melisse because the food was simply better. In particular, Melisse did something very difficult to achieve. They made us like a dish made with an ingredient (uni) that we usually don't care for. I think it is a mark of great skill to basically make me like something i ordinarily wouldn't order on my own.
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Delucacheesemonger
Feb 3, 2011 08:17 AM
Neighborhood made parking at Providence a slamdunk, did not do Melisse yet and ordered a la carte, but was one of my top US meals, service was French Laundry level. Was there a few days ago.
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burumun
Nov 29, 2010 10:22 PM
Tough choice and it'll be great either way. Melisse may be more "traditional".
Although as most said, Providence is the place for seafood, their full tasting certainly offers a whole lot more than seafood (foie gras, veal, squab are usually in the books) in case that was going to be a deterrent
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maxzook
Nov 29, 2010 03:32 PM
Providence is a block and a half from the Wilshire Country Club, and Melrose is the northern border of Hancock Park, which has been a hub of upper-class Los Angeles real estate since the 1920s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hancock_...
Frankly, you could just as easily say that UCLA is in a bad location because it's on the wrong side of Sunset from Bel-Air.
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Peripatetic
Nov 28, 2010 01:11 AM
"Providence seems to be in a pretty bad location/neighborhood"
It's in an anonymous, slightly desolate neighborhood that's wedged between better-known areas (Hollywood, Larchmont, Fairfax), but it's not a bad neighborhood.
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re: Peripatetic
uhockey
Nov 28, 2010 07:36 AM
I parked ~1/3 mile from Providence and wallked - nothing shady at all.
I'll be going to Meilsse for Carte Blanche in 3 weeks, but Providence ranks in my top 10 meals ever and the full tasting is a relative bargain compared to my other top 10 contenders.
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re: ipsedixit
uhockey
Nov 29, 2010 11:43 AM
Then I shall be even more excited - though I'm not sure what the cost is. Regardless, it is being fit into a jammed packed week of food, family, and fun between LA and LV.
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re: ipsedixit
uhockey
Feb 3, 2011 03:42 AM
As you'll see in my review here on the board it was indeed a memorable experience - the truffled melting egg is the best thing I have ever eaten.
It is hard for me to compare Melisse to Providence as they are nearly polar opposites aside from being "fine dining" and "Michelin 2 starred" but I think they are neck-and-neck for best experiences of that sort in Los Angeles.
That said, I spent ~$120 less at Providence, so it is clearly the better bargain IMO....but then again, I had two dishes absolutely LOADED with white truffles at Melisse, so it is tough to say it was overpriced.
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re: uhockey
what really impressed us at melisse was that everyone including busboy knew every ingredient of each dish....i was talking to my wife asking what it was on one of the dish and busboy who was clearing table next to us informed us what was in the dish!
also since we did carte blanche, we were there for almost 5 hours....saw party come and go....they bring out cordless iron and iron the table cloth so that there are no fold crease! never seen that before, not even at french laundry.-
re: rickym13
uhockey
Feb 3, 2011 02:40 PM
I saw that when I was there as well - only seen it once before, at Daniel.
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J.L.
Nov 27, 2010 10:33 PM
Providence eeks out over Melisse for the win, in my book.
Never, ever have I encountered anything even remotely akin to criminal activity or anything I would consider suspicious in my 10+ trips to Providnce and Patina (which was housed there before Providence) over the years.
Just because the surrounding area doesn't look like Irvine, doesn't mean you can't have a Michelin-starred eatery there.
Since you're from NY, flzhang, I'm sure you have more than enough streets smarts & chutzpah to deal with this area of L.A. as well.
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perk
Nov 27, 2010 09:39 PM
They're both lovely....so you're going to have a terrific meal either way. Have you checked out some sample menus online? You are certainly more likely to have more seafood at Providence, if that's a deciding factor.
I've never though of Providence's location as problematic. You pull up to the valet and go inside...and then reverse the process.
Both restaurants have a lovely decor...though I might give Providence a slight edge.›1 Reply-
re: perk
Actually the ultimate battle would be Providence full tasting menu vs Melisse "Carte Blanche" menu. I'd lean towards Melisse if only for the variety of different food, but if I was in the mood for seafood - and I'm always in the mood for seafood when it's Providence. Both are terrific. Personally I'll have to try them many more time before I give an opinion. And I plan on doing just that.
Neighborhood for Providence isn't exactly bad. Right across the street is a gated community. Behind it isn't exactly luxurious, but I wouldn't call it bad.
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