76468 Wed Dec 14 02:13:09 -0800 2005 9 2 Los Angeles Area 0 421504 Meeting some friends tomorrow night - need something Frenchy or tasty (Mistral is closed all week for private parties). How is Cafe Bisou or some other Hound favorite? Wed Dec 14 02:13:09 -0800 2005 0 Zoe 1 421516 You'll get mixed reviews on Bizou -- I personally love it, but you need to bear in mind that it's just a nice place to eat, it's not exciting or ultra-fancy. What about Ole Tapas or Max? Neither is Frenchy, but they're both very, very tasty. Wed Dec 14 11:24:28 -0800 2005 421504 0 Das Ubergeek 1 421518 I'd suggest the Boneyard Bistro. It is known for BBQ, but they also have wonderful food, Bistro style, on their eat in menu. Everything I have had there is wonderful and not too pricey. There have been reviews on Chowhound. On Ventura Blvd near Woodman. Wed Dec 14 11:38:35 -0800 2005 421504 0 jpb 1 421525 you have gotten two good suggestions in Max and Boneyard Bistro. Max is somewhat Asian and Indian influenced California cuisine, yet delicious with all kinds of varieties of items to mix and match for a very enjoyable evening, including some good wines. (maxrestaurant dot com to check the menu) Boneyard, while sounding like a ribs joint, is as much a bistro as it is an upscale ribs place with salmon, cajun stew, and I hear venison now, among its non-ribs items. The former two are favorites for me. Ribs are smoked in hickory, with a dry rub, and the sauces are served on the side. Also good wine list that recently got an upgrade with some very good French wines being added to the list. On the other hand, Bizou is Bizou, no more, no less. Sort of like yesterday's news! Wed Dec 14 12:05:38 -0800 2005 421504 0 carter 1 421536 Cafe Bisou can get so crowded. I think it's decent, but I recently went to Le Petit Jacques, just a few(ish) blocks east of there on Ventura and it was just great: food, prices, atmosphere were all perfect. Check out the menu and see what you think. Link: http://lepetitjacques.com/ Wed Dec 14 12:55:58 -0800 2005 421504 0 floorpie742 1 421542 For casual, comfortable French-style bistro, I like Le Petit Restaurant on Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks (I think it used to be called Petit Bistro and may still be a Valley branch of the Westside restaurant). The food is solid, tasty, very reasonably priced French fare (the mussels are great). And if you are on a budget, it's definitely more affordable than some of the others recommended here--i.e. Max, Boneyard Bistro. Full bar, acceptable but not extensive wine list with some decent choices (but can bring own for I think a $10 corkage, if I remember correctly). The restaurant is warm and appealing, not a high-end expensive special occasion place, but a charming neighbhorhood restaurant which works well for small group dinners. Wed Dec 14 13:25:07 -0800 2005 421504 0 valleyite 2 421552 Ate at Le Petit Restaurant last week, and quite similar to its former incarnation, Le Petit Bistro-not related, yet the menu prices are not all that unlike Max or Boneyard, in that entrees start around $15 and reach probably $24 or so, while at Max they start at around $18 and most are no higher than $24, except maybe a filet-type dish which you would expect to be up there. Had the mussels in fact, but they are those real tiny ones which get tiring to eat after a while. Thank heaven they have an appetizer portion as well. Good broth, either way. As to their wine list, it sucks. You drink martinis or similar. Boneyard entrees start at $15 for ribs including 2 sides, and tend toward the lower $20s for most of the balance of the items, save a huge lamb chops special which was $30, and worth every dollar, btw. And a very good wine list that is improving by the week. Wed Dec 14 14:35:39 -0800 2005 421542 0 carter 1 421572 Boneyard Bistro has really gotten great reviews on here, so i'd definately check it out. It's on my short list for sure. People also seem to really like the bistro fare, so it has more to offer than barbecue if you aren't feeling like soul food. I agree about bizou seeming tired... I'm also regrettably responsible for one night of Mistral's closing this week. So i'm sorry for your inconvenience (but not THAT sorry)! Wed Dec 14 16:31:35 -0800 2005 421504 0 e revisited 1 421578 Max or Boneyard Bistro. I would personally stay away from Ole. Wed Dec 14 17:09:01 -0800 2005 421504 0 Pete_City 2 421595 We are set to go to Boneyard Bistro and will report back. Thanks for all the recs. Wed Dec 14 18:41:16 -0800 2005 421578 0 Zoe