AOC
Categories: French, Wine Bars, Tapas Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: Mid-City West8022 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048 (323) 653-6359
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
Sat 5:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
Sun 5:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street, Valet
- Attire: Dressy
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
- Best Nights: Fri, Sat, Thu
- Happy Hour: No
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking: No
179 Reviews for AOC
Came here with a few friends for some wine and tapas. Really nice decor, great service, and of course a great menu. We had a cheese plate that we let the server pick us out some cheeses, and a few other things, and of course some wine. Everything was delicious and the wine paired well with what we ordered. We weren't really here for a dinner so I didn't get to order as much stuff as I actually wanted to try so now I'll have to go back sometime to taste some more of the menu.
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Wanna know a way to lower your chances of divorce in America?
Come here once a month. Simple as that.
Have....A bottle of wine. A cheese plate. Some stuffed dates. Couple slices of meat. And a lovely conversation.
Bingo. Love again.
You can write that check formerly addressed to the asshole attorney over to the Food Slut. Thank you very much.
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I love to eat at Chef Suzanne Goin's restaurants; market-fresh, seasonal ingredients, lots of small plates and charcuterie! Sometimes I can just focus on the menu and forget that I'm on a tragically hip stretch of 3rd Street in LaLa land... until the-actor-from-that-series bellies up to the bar and orders a glass of wine and some prosciutto.
The decor is clean and minimalist. Soft lighting, and a single candle on each table. No crazy paintings or over-the-top fixtures... which I like, for a weekday dinner. You can sit at the charcuterie bar and order the full menu, plus the added benefit of watching your salumi or cheese selections being cut to order.
I prefer to sit in the mezzanine level, because it's more intimate and the sometimes boisterous energy from the bar doesn't travel all the way upstairs. There's also an outside "garden" area, off the mezzanine level that is lovely and more secluded as an option for a smallish group of 15 or on a particularly warm evening.
I consistently order the pork rillettes, which is every bit as decadent as it sounds, and an astoundingly generous portion, for only 9 bucks! Were I a more dainty eater, I could easily make that dish alone a lunch... spread onto bread and accompanied by cornichons. But I order it, demolish half of it, and then have the other half packed to go. Either that, or I eat the entire thing and make sure that I'm wearing something (a) black; (b) stretchy; (c) from my sister's maternity wardrobe.
Another standard on the menu is the eye-rollingly delicious roasted dates, stuffed with a mini-brick of Parmesan and wrapped in pancetta. They arrive, sizzling hot and extremely aromatic in a small dish. Be warned - you'll burn your fingers (and the roof of your mouth) if you proceed hastily - so just try not to drool and nonchalantly sample another dish or two, while the temperature drops below "molten". As silly as it may seem: it's safest to transfer one onto your plate, and cut it in half... so that you can better gauge the risk of second degree burns on the roof of your mouth.
It was so embarrassing to pop one of those babies into my mouth and then have to hold my napkin up in front of my mouth while I panted steam and tried not to shriek in pain. I mean... that's what happened to my friend. But she was really, REALLY hungry - don't judge her!
I suggest dining here early (unless you have a reservation) and bringing a few friends... you'll want to sample and share a lot of the seasonal dishes. Because, chances are, I have less shame than you do, and therefore am not the least bit embarrassed to order EVERYTHING that piques my interest, take a bite or two, and leave with a bag full of take away boxes full of charcuterie.
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Little Plates Big Flavor.
I've been to AOC many times since it opened a few years ago and it never dissapoints. The owner and head Chef, Suzanne Goin, is one of my favorites. Her first restaurant is the lovely, seasonal foodie's dream, Lucques (get a table by the fireplace), and more recently, Hungry Cat, up on Sunset. All of her places have FABULOUS food. She also has a really cool cookbook called SUNDAY SUPPERS AT LUCQUES.
Okay, so now you know all about Suzanne Goin, but nothing about AOC. They have a truly phenom wine list and are totally nice if you know nothing about wine (me.) Its so funny that I truly do love a glass of wine, but I can hardly name a bottle that I love. They are always good about interpreting what kind I like and find something good for me to try. Most recently I had a Pinot Blanc which I really enjoyed and a Grenache Blanc, which wasn't to my personal taste, but which was good nonetheless. LIke I said, wines aren't my forte, but I'll tell you something I do know, a good cheese. They have a good selection of cow, goat, sheep and goat/cow (yum). Last night we had a triple cream that was too die for. They also serve a little bowl of bread with delicious black olives and spicy pepper tapenade.
The small dishes are lovely and nice to share, we had: a brioche with prosciutto and egg (little greasy but tasty), an arugula salad with almonds & apples (totally get it), and sweet potatoes with pancetta (I love sweet potatoes and if you do you will love this one.)
It's a little noisy, but in a friendly way and you can still easily converse, The decor is modern and simple. I don't find it particularly romantic, but it is impressive for a date.
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Very clean, simple, and modern decor and very intimate, with an astounding wines by the glass selection. I was more interested in the food offerings of the restaurant , however, and we got right into ordering as soon as our lovely server came by. She informed us that everything was tapas style,plates were small, and it was best to order about 3 dishes per person and share everything. We chose the breaded asparagus with lemon garlic aoili, the pancetta, frisee, gruyere, and toasted brioche, foie gras terrine with sour cherries, flank steak, sweetpea pancakes with dungeness crab, and the coconut rice with curry and peas...food came out at a leisurely pace, a bit slow for us, but a normal diner would appreciate the coursing, allowing time to savor each bite. Plates were promptly switched out, along with silverware, after each course, and liquids were promptly replenished accordingly. We were satiated after our last dish, but were not stuffed. We peered at the dessert menu, but they seemed to complicated for our tastes at the time, I glanced over at another table's desserts, and they looked beautiful...Next time...
Looooved It!
I came down to L.A. to take my BFF/adopted sister out for a birthday weekend. We had an absolute blast here at AOC.
We spent hours chatting and sharing wine and delicious small plates. The cheese selections here are superb, which was a huge plus because I love my cheese with my wine. And the extensive menu spanned the gamut of fresh ingredients...charcuterie made in-house, meat, and vegetables in many different preparations/sauces/unknown but exotic sounding accompaniments that made me realize how much more I had to learn about the culinary world.
The wine...AOC had an impressive list of wines by the glass. We had two reds and two whites...all were great and about $10 per glass. Everything was so good, that we were simply giddy trying the different flavors of food with the wines we ordered.
The crowd was definitely hip, sophisticated and mature. The sleek interior meandered up two floors with cozy tables upstairs. AOC is a great place for large and small parties. And the service was friendly and knowledgeable...we were fortunate to have Julie as our server (my friend says she's one of the best) who has impeccable taste.
AOC was a fabulous experience and I hope to hit this hot spot again some day soon.
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At first glance, AOC seemed to be a small, place...that was before our hostess guided us through the restaurant and up the stairs to our table, which was in the patio section. Atm and decor is tastefully done. Food was excellent. Between the two of us we ordered 5 dishes (tapas style btw)...but we were so stuffed the 5th dish, which was a yummy Rabbit Ragu, remained untouched minus a few fork jabbings here and there. The waitress recommended a white wine for us, and it was delish! I have to say that my experience was very yummy.
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An exquisite and memorable dining experience was had at AOC. I like a menu to have a mixture of foods I know and foods I have never tried. I like a restaurant to have a mixture of feelings throughout the dining room where you can feel the aura of the kitchen. AOC was the best tapas and wine bar I've dined at where tasting 5 plates was merely a preview of what this fine place had to offer. My date and I were seated on the second floor in a small secluded area away from the lively bar and bold-colored dining room. Though slightly away from the liveliness I didn't feel like it lessened the experience at all. Our server recommended a fine bottle of Bordeaux which complimented suitably with every dish ordered.
Before I go any further, the bacon-wrapped Parmesan-stuffed dates baked in the wood-burning oven goes beyond marvelous. I asked our server if I could order these in buckets, unfortunately they're not meant to be served in that manner. But this is a MUST as my mouth is salivating at the slight thought of these little guys melting in my mouth.
Just a few of the items savored:
Cheese plate - a combination of 3 cheeses (goat, cow, sheep) this was probably the most insipid plate for me, only when other dishes started to arrive.
Marinated beets, olives, fried chickpeas and feta - the colors on the dish was not only appealing, but was delicious.
Brioche with prosciutto, gruyre and egg - who would have thought a French breakfast would taste so divine at dinner?
Ricotta tart with citrus and meyer lemon sorbet - melt in your mouth sweetness
Chocolate and hazelnut dacquoise with gianduja mousse - fluffy and fragrant without being overly chocolatey
Well deserving of 4.5 fabulous stars. I'm optimistic that a second visit will add the 5th essential star.
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YES PLEASE! This was my early birthday dinner surprise- and I couldn't have been more pleased! Good service, nice decor, fantastic food, extensive wine list, and a really great night! We had 2 carafes of wine- both were delicious. The food was wonderful- we had some cheese, prosciutto, apple salad, arroz negro with squid (and squid ink) and saffron aioli, rabbit ragout (1st time eating rabbit), and chocolate hazlenut dessert. everything was perfect. The arroz negro was a little too rich in that portion, but that's not really a complaint! I would definitely go back- and would love some Rabbit Ragout for lunch today!
The atmosphere was pretty cool. Very modern without trying too hard. I mean, this is where everything happens, right?
The food was pretty good. I tried the chicken liver first, which was decent. I was kinda disappointed by the dish though. I was expecting something...more elegant tasting. I think it was the lack of acid in the dish. There just wasn't enough, so it made the dish taste rough. And big. Like I was eating a large bald bouncer by the name of Tiny.
We had a lot to eat that night. I mean seriously. With a party of 13, I think we almost ordered everything on the menu. The stand outs were definitely the beet salad, which was delicious. It was sweet and tangy and had the prefect amounts of acid and just perfect.
The rabbit ragout was pretty good too. Eating through the tears (I mean, I'm eating a fuzzy cute thing here) it kinda tasted like pork. It was a little over salted, but all in all a great savory taste.
But the BEST thing we had were the clams. Orgasmic. The white wine reduction was just to die for. I could bathe in that sauce forever. We ordered it FOUR times it was that good.
The wine selection was extensive (as it should be due to the wine and cheese status of the restuarant) and the waiter was cute, which clearly didn't hurt.
I think the best thing about the restaturant though, the 13 of us ate till we were stuffed, and yet we still managed to escape with only $50 per person including tax, tip, and a glass of wine. Not bad. I'd totally come back with friends again for a night on the town.
Hands down favorite restaurant in LA. My husband took me here on our first date and who wouldve known that we would end up coming her weekly and sometimes bi-weekly....... (ok and sometimes 3)
We know we have a problem when we try to seat with a different server since were so embarrased of how frequently we come. At first it was fun seeing the same faces and having them recognize you but after awhile the workers probably thought we were stalking them.
They change a couple dishes on their menu but not so much anymore. Theres a cheese bar and a seperate wine bar that you dont have to make reservations for so come early and you can pretty much grab a seat anyday of the week.
The service is always top notch and theyre so knowledgable about the wines and menu. I hate when I go a restaurant and everytime you ask them a question they say I dont know or hold on let me go ask someone. C'mon atleast B.S. a little. Chances are I wont remember your description by the time I eat the food.
Favs:
-bacon wrapped dates
-market fish (changes seasonally but they never fail with this dish)
-beet salad
-farro
all my other favs are gone since they were part of the changing menu
Portions are small which is great so you can taste a bunch of dishes each night.
The ambiance is nice and not pretentious at all.
Wow! Just reading everyone else's reviews makes me want to go back for more.
I had the pleasure of having a lovely dinner at AOC this past week. At the moment you walk in you feel the sophistication of the restaurant, the decor and the service was lovely. The presentation of the food was enjoyable from the aromas, the colors, and the flavors. I had four different tapas (prosciutto, wild mushrooms, gnocci with lobster, and arroz negro with squid) paired with a couple of red wines and for dessert chocolate-hazelnut dacquoise with gianduja mousse and salted caramel ice cream. Yum! The menu is well written, changes daily but keeping the staples, so you can't go wrong with your selections. I will have to go back for a meat and cheese tasting.
I believe you can tell an exceptional restaurant when you're left wanting to try more. Overall great experience! Loved it and I'm sure any new comer will to, just be ready to pay a pretty penny.
This is one of my FAVORITE restaurants in LA. The wine list is extensive and the food is excellent. The menu is small-plates so it's great for sharing! The chefs use seasonal ingredients so the menu changes from time to time but they always have the bacon-wrapped dates, which are a MUST TRY!! They are delicious.
The experience at A.O.C. proves that great wine, fantastic food, superb decor, and fine service all go hand-in-hand. Throw in the fact that A.O.C. is also a trendy place without an attitude, and you have the perfect restaurant. Of course, perfection comes at a price, but judging from the long wait to sit at the bar and the difficulty in securing a reservation; most people find it well worth it. The endless list of wines by the glass, carafe, and bottle are a huge draw, as are the delicious small plates. With everything from cheese and vegetables to meat and fish, they are the perfect size for sampling a few, but also hearty enough to fill you up. And don't leave without trying a fried tetilla-it'll be the best gourmet grilled cheese you ever had.
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Both times I've eaten here, the service has been excellent. The menu is full, full, full of whatever is in season and the dishes are perfect for sharing. I also love how Suzanne Goin manages to sneak fresh arugula, one of my favorites, into so many of the dishes.
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The AOC dining experience isn't quite like any other I've had. I am not in the habit of spending hundreds of dollars on dinners each weekend (and it's easy to do here, especially if the vino is flowing), but let's put it this way: if I could, I would, and I'd be spending a lot more time - and cashola - at AOC.
Fromagehound that I am, the cheese selections on AOC's menu regularly rock my world. Each time I have been here, there are things on it that I have never even heard of. And the flavor sensations never disappoint. It's spectacular, really, and paired with the wine list - I mean, they almost had to wheel me home once.
Of course, the beauty of a place like this is that you can sample a number of smaller dishes in lieu of one main course, which makes it a great place for communal meals with foodie friends or family. Simply stated, it's exquisite, but don't come expecting a dollar-days dining experience. The prices are pretty steep, but you get what you pay for: food fit for gods (SEE ALSO jane l.'s review below).
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I love tapas. I came here with a friend without a reservation and we were able to get seats at the bar immediately so that was nice. The bartender was very helpful with the wine selection. I can't remember exactly what wine I end up ordering, but the bartender recommended one that perfeclty fit the description I was looking for. The tapas here are really good too. I loved the gnocci with lobster, pancetta and truffle butter, also the lamb skewers and rabbit ragout were delightful. This was of course all quite pricey. Also, minus the cheese and charcuterie plates, these aren't really your traditional Spanish tapas dishes but I thought they were all tasty.
It's like movies during Oscar season. If you wait too long, the hype and build-up never matches up to the experience itself. My friends were talking up this place since last year, I had to try it.
I was pleasantly suprised to have gotten a table the day of the reservation without any problem. I have head that AOC does get quite busy. Although many have commented on the excellent service they received at the restaurant, I felt like our server was rushed and didn't really want to spend the time to guide us newcomers through the menu by making recommendations.
The food was pretty good, here's what we ordered:
Two italian cheeses one soft sheep and a semi hard cows milk - both delicious.
Roasted date, bacon and parmesan - highly recommended. The bacon and date complimented each other perfectly
Heirloom apples, manchego and almonds - great salad with nutty arugula
Foie gras terrine - delicious
Salted cod fritters - maybe I'm just not a fan of salted cod. The batter was light and crisp, though I felt the aoili and blood orange, tangerine segments did nothing for the dish.
Hazelnut chocolate dacquoise - disappointing. The ice cream was melted by the time it reached our table and made the dish a soupy mess to eat.
Overall, I was just expecting more from this place. However, I usually give a place two tries before I make a fair judgement. I'll have to go back with a beef, lamb and goat cheese eater and see if that will make a difference.
I had a late night dinner here a couple of years ago, and it was a very satisfying experience. The upstairs dining area is warm, cozy, and the noises from the bar downstairs are muffled (it sort of has the ambiance of a womb). The tapas are relatively inexpensive (depending on how much you order). Memorable dishes that stick out are duck confit with pomegranate salsa, which was delicious, and some nice soft sheep cheeses. I would definitely recommend for a first date!
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Was a little worried this place wouldn't live up to the hype but it did not disappoint at any measure. Came here in a group of 5 and ordered 11 plates, 2 cheeses, 2 bottles of wine and dessert and it came out to only $70 a head. Maybe somebody messed up the math, but I know I spent about the same at Cobras and Matadors and A.O.C. is much better. Not stuffy at all and servers know their stuff. The Pierre Robert triple cream cheese set it off right. The brioche with prosciutto, gruyre and egg was devoured in seconds. Don't sleep on the rice with squid ink. The gnocci with lobster, pancetta and truffle butter had some of the smallest gnocci I've ever seen, but I can't front, it didn't matter. Bacon wrapped dates are OK. I mean, they're good but not the best thing this place has to offer. Lamb skewers, skirt steak and the ricotta tart were all good, but not as impressive as the market fish (bass last night). We secured a reservation 1 day in advance with no problems and left pretty hyped on our experience. If you come here with two people you might not be as happy as I was. 4.5 stars.
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I'm not sure how much more I can add to all the raves about AOC. This is a phenomenal restaurant! In fact, I'd say it's my favorite place to dine in Los Angeles at the moment. For me it's a bit of a special occasion restaurant due to the price tag, but that just gives me time to really look forward to a trip there.
The food is absolutely exceptional at AOC, the wine list inspired and I've never experienced anything but friendly and efficient service. I do love the upstairs patio- it's perfect for a romantic evening. But I also like the coziness of the main floor dining room. Some food items I particularly recommend:
* Cheese (they had an English cheddar once that was especially wonderful, not sure if it's always on the menu)
* Prosciutto di Parma
* Apple salad with manchego and almonds
* Lamb skewers with sunchokes and nicoise olives
* Brioche with prosciutto, gruyere and egg (to die for-- amazingly delicious-- my favorite of their menu items)
I've only tried one of their desserts (the chocolate and hazelnut dacquoise) and wasn't as inspired by this as I was by the other courses.
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I really thought AOC was a great place to chill. I enjoyed two bottles of wine while having some steak.
We also had the five cheese, along with mushrooms, lamb, lobster and squid.
While I was there they also had great music playing. Bring your wallet and make sure you have something in it.
Enjoy!
After receiving a generous gift certificate to AOC from his boss, my husband treated me to dinner here tonight. As I walked in I immediately liked the atmosphere: dark woods, very clean & simple, nicely lit. We were seated upstairs in the small loft area, which I would imagine is very claustrophobic when at capacity. Good thing we went on a Sunday night, so we had some elbow room.
It was to be a night of some firsts; my first time trying rabbit (not bad!), the first time my husband devoured more of the dessert than I (that pig!), and the first time a WAITRESS TOLD ME TO STOP ORDERING. This last one really caught me off guard. Really lady? What do you care if I gorge myself and drop another $30 at this establishment? BUT in the end she was sooo totally right. She understood the menu FAR far better than I did, and was warning us against ordering too many rich dishes so that we'd avoid being uncomfortable. My stomach was appreciative come dessert time.
Here's what we tried:
1. Three cheese plate with haystack snowdrop cheese of goat's milk, ossau-iraty basque of sheep's milk, and crosier blue cheese, all adorned with walnuts and dates.
2. Heirloom apple salad with manchego and almonds.
3. Grilled trout with (amazing!) sweet & sour squash and cornbread.
4. Rabbit ragot with dijon, chestnuts and tarragon.
5. Brioche with prosciutto, gruyre and egg.
6. Grilled lamb skewers with sunchokes and nioise olives.
7. Chocolate and hazelnut dacquoise with gianduja mousse
and salted caramel ice cream.
Everything was fun to try. The apple salad was a beautifully light and sweet treat to start off the meal. The cheeses offered a nice variety. Of the main tapas we ordered I highly recommend the trout, which is mouthwateringly fabulous paired with the squash. I enjoyed trying the rabbit, accompanied with a great tarragon sauce. The brioche, apparently a yelp favorite, was unbelievably rich and tasty, but may be too heavy for some, as it was almost too heavy for me. The dacquoise WAS SO SO GOOD! I was nearly too full to enjoy it, of course, so I'm glad my husband liked it so much.
5 stars for taste and experience, but minus one star for slightly off service.
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The bacon wrapped dates looks like big rat turds but taste like God's teardrops. The salads are light and tasty. Excellent wine list. Ambiance is not stuffy but feels like its still a special occasion.
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I was treated to a wonderful evening at AOC, I was kind of scared of the look of the place from the first floor, but thankfully we had a table upstairs in the patio upstairs that seemed more relaxed and friendly. There were only 2 of us, but my friend can put food away, so I think all in all we ordered 8-10 plates, including the cheese platter, sliced meats and salad. The food was pretty salty, come to think of it, but you kind of get past that with a bottle of good wine and good conversation.
I would love to go back to AOC in the future.
My hubby had made reservations for their Valentine's night, but I had to work, so we rescheduled for Saturday after a matinee of Wicked. We had a lovely time at AOC- I am not a wine connoisseur, but hubby is trying to learn more about wine. We tried 5 different types btw the 3 of us. The cheese and charcuterie were lovely- we really liked the bacon wrapped dates (like other review- look awful, taste FAB!) We tried 3 dishes each- my favorites were the "special" gnocchi with veal sauce, Maine lobster, English peas and pancetta- the leek tart, and the rabbit (in a wonderful sauce that reminded me of Bearnaise+grain mustard (YUMMY!)
Before the skirt steak came, we were full! But it was quite good (a little stringy, but Roquefort was great), and we shared the hazelnut chocolate cake thing- to die for (especially if you like nutella!)
We went for early dinner 5:30- but it was packed when we left. Waitress was very helpful. Hubby paid bill, but I'm guessing it was huge! Anyways, we loved it!
One of my favorite restaurants in LA. The savory brioche "french toast"
with prosciutto, gruyre and egg is always good and the proscuitto wrapped figs are so tasty you won't remember how many you ordered. The wine list is one of the best in the LA, let alone the very reasonable prices. We luckily had a chance to try a 375ml of Kosta Browne which is one of the most elegant Pinots I've had outside of Burgundy.... A friend of mine calls this his "First date place". Give it a try!!!
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This was an interesting experience to say the least.
I had dinner with an Ex I hadn't seen in 5+ years and hadn't really spoken to except for saying "leave me alone" in almost as many years too.
My General Manager at the time insisted I come to AOC before leaving So-cal, so I kinda piggy backed it on meeting up with my ex. Probably a bad choice since he's a loser and I had to pay (read: this will hurt your debit card).
Whatever, I wanted to enjoy myself so I got the sparkling sample (pic) which was very enjoyable, and all together I think we got about 5 plates.
This isn't a tapas restaurant by claim, but most of their plates are small plates which make it perfect for sharing and trying multiple things.
We got the:
goat cheese, dried figs and saba
speck with apples and arugula
prosciutto di parma
brioche with prosciutto, gruyre and egg
grilled skirt steak with roquefort butter
I tell you what, if it wasn't for the weird circumstantial dinner this might get like 10 stars (also our server was WEIRD!) the food was seriously some of the best food I have EVER tasted. You MUST get the goat cheese and the brioche plates if you go MUST, I mean pretty much I was MHHH-ing and omg-ing at every plate, but the skirt steak, I'm not really interested in meat that much.
Their dessert menu didn't look for appetizing but we got the chocolate and hazelnut dacquoise with gianduja mousse
and salted caramel ice cream and it was very mouth-watering.
I would have definitely come back here again (with better company--and maybe someone who would pay :p ) had I stayed in the OC.
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I have to admit, my expectations weren't fully met at A.O.C. but looking back I don't think it was possible anyway. The bacon wrapped dates, however, did live up to the hype and I didn't even know I liked dates. The seasonal pumpkin dessert was also very memorable. Good food, good wine, and good ambiance - I will definitely be back!
What a way to start a relationship by taking her to A.O.C. Literally its been all down hill since, because the experience at A.O.C. was near perfect.
Its been almost a year since we went but it still lingers little memories of the excess food that we ordered, and the sadness in my eyes when i couldn't fit in the sweet potatoes with bacon, romesco and spinach in my overstuffed stomach.
I will definitely be back when i stumble upon a hundred dollar bill somewhere in my couch cushion.
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After coming here twice, I can see why this was voted by Zagat as the second most popular restaurant in LA. Definitely one of my key favorites since I started living here.
The food here is tapas style, which is small plates to share. Everything I've tried at this restaurant was very well executed. Loved it. The wine list is very extensive. I'd comment further, but again, I'm no wine expert (yet).
More than anything else, the ambience is what really makes this place. Perfect lighting. Though AOC is booked full consistently, it still manages to be warm and intimate despite being packed and social every night.
Service is great. The servers are very attentive and they've had a sommelier on floor give us suggestions on wine both times I've gone.
Great food, great wine, warm ambience, attentive service. What more could you ask for from a wine bar?
I don't think it's too much to ask to have A.O.C. cover their seats in plastic. Really guys, not all of us Yelpers have an unlimited regulation of sexual release. The food is just a little too good. And while my words seem crass (because they are,) you know I'm right.
From one of their small plates (the perfect size,) at the same time as your date, and as you take that first bite look across the table into the pair of eyes opposite you. They feature a mirror image of a mixture of guilt and sexual awareness. You both silently query the depths of your conscience: "is this wrong?" And your psyche answers "it must be." As you're wondering if your moral compass needs tuning the waiter returns. You find yourself ordering a small course.
Viva big things on small plates.
_C$
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I went to A.O.C. last night for a late dinner. It was still packed when we arrived past 9p so I knew it couldn't be bad.
They seated us upstairs which is very private. If you're with a group, I suggest requesting the main room which is more lively or the outside patio. My friend is a big cheese and meat eater so we ordered:
-Castilla Leon goat cheese
-North Hollander gouda
-lamb skewers
-roasted chicken with apples
-grilled skirt steak with gorgonzola
-sweet potatoes with slab bacon
-balsamic brussel sprouts
The flavor of everything was great though the lamb was a bit chewy. For wine pairings, I had the Nebbiolo and my friend had Bordeaux. I know wine snobs will say a red pairs perfectly with all the meat we were eating, but the Bordeaux was so much better. I tried stealing his wine all through dinner.
The space is beautiful and even though our server was a little kooky and forceful with her suggestions, service was still good.
They offer valet but I found free street parking right behind the valet stand. Beware of the entrance to the restaurant --- I was running late to meet my friend so I hustled to what I thought was the front door, even though it looked like a wall. I must have looked confused or very helpless because the valet guys just laughed at me and told me to pull the 'wall.' Ta-da, open sesame. I'm an idiot.
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When food tastes this good and when I'm in a group that I'm not very close with, I have to conceal the outpour of emotion that would otherwise ensue.
Since I was in such a group, this dinner was serious work: the volume, of my, "WOW"'s and had to be muted to polite "Wow, this one is great," and the lustiness of my "Ughh god"'s had to be supressed to an infrequent "Uh, my, goodness, this is delicious."
Our waiter was unbearably awful, however. It takes quite a lot to warm my temper, but this prick had me at a nice low broil. We were very clearly not sommeliers or gourmands and despite my attempts to make that abundantly clear in requesting his suggestion for a spread of cheese and about a $100 bottle of red to accompany, he just kept listing cheeses and describing them, not pairing them. I was damn near close to tearing out a patch of his pointy handlebar mustache when I finally gave up and just randomly picked some cheeses that sounded good.
The ambiance is spectacular, romance was in the air, with nearly the entire restaurant comprised of nuzzling couples. I highly recommend the upstairs enclosed balcony.
Since this wasn't on our dime, we went to town. But here was our menu in order of my favorite, best to worst...
- brioche with prosciutto, gruyre and a fried egg
(this was ridiculous. anything with a fried egg on top would make me happy, though.)
- pumpkin mousse tart with spiced pepitas and crme anglaise
(this had fresh pumpkin and was brilliantly spiced, beyond the rote nutmeg/cinnamon/allspice)
- rabbit ragot with dijon, chestnuts and tarragon
(nothing beats gourmet bunnies)
- petrale sole, split peas, ham hock and truffle butter
(this was ridiculously good. i'm sure my love handles cringed)
- leek and cantal tart with thyme and pancetta
- chanterelles, ricotta gnocchi and sherry cream
- speck with apples and arugula
(there was only a speck of speck, but it was a fantastic first taste of speck)
- lomo and two chorizo
(i don't think i'm sophisticated enough to appreciate this in such small quantity; i'd need the whole wedge).
- foie gras terrine with quince jam
(this was not great foie gras)
-creme frache panna cotta with spiced persimmon compote and maple pecans chocolate tres leches cake with salted cashew carmel and coconut sherbet
cheeses:
montcabrer catalunya spain (goat)
ombra catalunya spain (sheep)
morbier jean d'alos franche comte france (cow)
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This is seriously one of my favorite restaurants in LA.
Atmosphere - A- Upstairs is romantic, downstairs is sceney, the bar, warm and inviting.
Wine selection- A- The sommelier isn't a snob. She puts wines in all price ranges that are spectacular.
Menu -Small Plates of perfection. Their cheese selection is to die for- Olives, almonds, cheese, You can't do much better.
My favorite is the curried cauliflower. Their starter tapinade is an african inspired spread with chiles... I mean come on people- It's perfection.
It's worth a splurge. I take everyone who visits town to AOC for a wonderful dining experience.
The food here is solid. We tried the sea bass, braised chicken, oxtail pie, and the legendary bacon-wrapped-dates. Each of the dishes had depth of flavor, some with nice subtlety. I generally love bacon-wrapped dates and have had them at several tapas places and concur that those at A.O.C. were some of the best I'd had. The oxtail pie had some homely (in a good way) warmth to its flavor. The other two dishes didn't blow my mind, but I had nothing to complain about (which, by the way, is pretty rare for a picky eater).
I am no wine connoisseur , so I am not going to pass judgement on the wine list but I liked what we had and found the price to be pretty reasonable.
The decor is sort of minimalist...it can be seen as being on the boring side but it is clean and stylish. We sat upstairs ,which some Yelpers had stated to be more intimate, but I would have liked the downstairs better. The upstairs patio was a little too minimalist for my taste and a bit too cold visually. I'd recommend to check both spaces out before deciding where you sit if you have never been here. Oh, the crowd is a bit Hollywoody, as in, "I work in 'the industry' and am having a meeting with so and so" type...I guess it is kinda expected given its location.
I'll definitely go back. Next time, I'd like to sit at the bar and enjoy my wine with a couple of cured meat dish/cheese plate and whisper something romantic into my companion's ear.
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Great place for wine and little plates to share! There are over 50 wines on tap at the bar! Food is great and would recommend the Dates wrap in bacon and the fried tetilla cheese. Great cheese and sliced meat plates also.
AOC is very pricey, but at least you feel like you are getting some quality food and wine for your money. We were seated at a large table upstairs, which I would recommend requesting if you have a large group. It was secluded from the main (noisy) dining room, allowing us to have a good conversation.
The wine list, as you'd expect, was great - although the sommelier could've done a better job responding to what we were looking for. The wine service was good and attentive, regularly topping up our glasses.
However, the food was the highlight. Amazing cheeses, served with a bread that didn't detract from any of the flavors. We tried plenty of sharing dishes, and my favorites were:
- egg and prosciutto brioche
- fingerling potatoes
- apple and manchego salad
- prosciutto wrapped figs
The chanterelle mushrooms with gnocchi was good on the first taste, but after that it seemed too salty and heavy.
Overall a great option for a special night out.
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Wow such high reviews here...maybe on my night, our waiter didn't make the best suggestion on the dishes or the wine, so I thought the food was just average, the space felt cramped, and the service was slow. I'd only go here with out of towners for some reason...maybe cuz it's shi-shi and the crowd is very LA. Food is probably a bit above average, so a 3.5 for my overall experience cuz it's still a fun place that I would revisit since so close by.