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Categories: French, American (New), Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
3219 Glendale BlvdTue-Wed. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Thu-Fri. 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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Sunday brunch with hubby. DELISH! I had their eggs-in-a-hole. So simple. Butter soaked toast with an egg embedded in it. Not too greasy but just enough butter that the entire bite melts in your mouth and encourages you to take one more bite.
Hubby had their quiche lorraine. Also very tasty.
I also enjoyed the ambience of the place that perfectly matched the spirit of the cooking. Straightforward culinary confidence and minimalism.
Will come back to try more items!
If I could give this place no stars I would.
Everything was poor. The service was snooty, scattered, and haphazard. We were sat at the counter (not bummed about this, due to a packed house), which allowed me to view the kitchen staff at work.
First off, our waiter clearly did not give a crap, nor had he memorized the specials. When he was trying to rattle off the menu, he was glancing at the chalkboard listing -- hello! We can read! So redundant!
We ordered a tomato salad to begin with, pommes anna, and I requested the evening special of Fish Soup. My boyfriend ordered the steak with pommes anna.
The appetizers were so-so, and the pommes anna took forever to arrive. Nothing felt in sync or coordinated between the kitchen crew, and my boyfriend and I watched in dismay as the head chef gave a talking down to the guy making salad.
We were left without bread, utensils, or water for ages, until finally we flagged another waitress down. Our waiter paid very little attention.
THE WORSE THING that makes this place unredeemable: I watched my Fish Soup SIT BEHIND THE COUNTER for AT LEAST 20 MINUTES before it was finished off and served to me. I almost didn't want to eat it but was too hungry not to. The soup was LUKEWARM at best, and flavorless. God was I mad!
OVER PRICED, UP ITS OWN A*S. We were given a canale on our way out, and it was chewy, burnt, and old. A disgusting finish to a completely disappointing, lackluster, wallet-burner of a meal.
Do not try this restaurant, and save yourself the time of flushing at least $90.00 down the toilet.
Did you know that Canelé is French for "Lame?"
Some major, major disappointments with this restaurant.
Went there around 7pm on a Friday night. At least there wasn't a wait.
Had a snooty waitress. My wife and I didn't order alcohol so we were justly treated like baby killers.
Apps were okay. Ordered the Steak Tartar and it was a little bland. Had some nice flavor when you mixed the accoutrements, but overall it was flat.
We ordered the leg of lamb. It was served rare. Not like cooked rare, or seared rare, like it was still moving rare. Some parts were okay, but I should have sent it back. I didn't even want to deal with the waitress at that point and we all know that chefs never make mistakes.
The sad thing was that my friend ordered the same dish and it was cooked poorly as well.
My wife ordered her steak medium rare and it was cooked medium rare... in certain parts. Some parts were rare, some parts almost medium well. This is a steak for 'F's" steak. Not hard.
The side vegetables were probably the best tasting thing on the menu, which is never a good thing.
I will never return to this place. I am not a chef, but I can cook a lot better than these tools and it really is a joke that they are still in business. I guess the only thing they have going for them is that they are the only restaurant around that isn't a complete hole in the wall.
FYI. Just because you're friend hired you to be a chef, doesn't mean you know how to cook.
People thought this was:
I went here for Sunday brunch today with my sister and friend. Overall, all of us left stuffed and happy. I got their french toast, which was ridiculously light, fluffy, and custardy. I also got a mimosa, which was delicious, but a little ridiculous at $10. They don't put prices for the drinks on the menu... wonder why. But all of us enjoyed our meals, the coffee was excellent with well timed refills and our waitress was polite and the perfect amount of attentiveness. I'd definitely come back, but I don't do brunch often in LA. Oh, and on Sunday, the Atwater Village Farmer's Market is just across the street- super convenient!
Food is fantastic, great neighborhood place. Plus, Bubbles' wife owns it and he comes here as often as she will let him! Waitstaff is really friendly. The one blonde waitress looks like a Swedish film star. You can watch the chefs cook, and brunch is out of this world. I have never longed for quiche like i do for the lorraine at Canele. They even cure their own bacon!
One small thing - Some of their salads are weirdly bitter. Dandelion greens? Butter lettuce? Maybe these things need to be cooked.
I'd rate 80%
Came back, tried more dishes, and I would have to say my opinion of Canele has improved slightly.
Last time I came here, I rated 3 stars / 63%.
I liked 1 dish (duck confit), and felt lukewarm towards 3 other dishes (calamari salad appetizer, Beef Bourguignon, & bistro steak).
Portions were smaller than I had liked.
Quality was a bit inconsistent.
Service was average.
Anyhow, this time around things improved.
We ordered 4 appetizers, 3 entrees, & 1 dessert
All 8 dishes were hits.
Taking into account our prior visit,
It would make our overall experience (from 2 dinners) 9 hits out of 12.
I'd like to note that the flavors here are relatively subtle.
The cooking here simply won't appease everyone.
I still maintain it's a bit 'hit & miss', albeit there are a lot more hits now than our prior meal.
The fact that I felt some of the dishes were 'bland', could reflect my inability to appreciate the subtleties of their cooking.
I get the impression the cooking here will gradually grow on me.
Back to the food!
Appetizers we had were:
Serrano ham w/ garroxta cheese, almonds, figs, & toast ($14).
Tart of caramelized onions & anchovies (Pissaladiere?) ($8-$10)
Heirloom tomatoes w/ cubcumber, feta cheesa, & olives. ($8-$10)
Haricot Vert in a lemony light cream sauce w/ hazelnuts (special). ($8-$10)
Main courses we had were:
Pork Tenderloin , corn, tomato, & black bean salad ($23).
Leg of Lamb w/ w/ pesto-like sauce, roasted peppers & tomato ($22).
whole Branzino fish roasted in salt ($22) .
Dessert we had was:
Megan cake w/ blue-berries, straw-berries, & creme fraiche ($7-9).
About the appetizers:
Portions were generous & the flavors were stronger than the calamari salad we had prior.
My favorite was between the Serrano ham & the Haricot Vert.
Serrano was hearty, flavorful yet still somewhat light.
Haricot Vert were very refreshing, and went extremely well with the hazelnut
I was particularly impressed with the lack of salt in the ham.
The Heirloom tomatoes & pissadiere were good, but not exceptional.
We also felt the portions were reasonable.
In some ways, the appetizers are a better deal than the entrees.
For entrees:
I loved the Branzino, and it was my favorite dish of the evening.
The fish was very fresh & cooked perfectly moist.
Flavors are very subtle, not salty as you might presume.
You get a smaller whole fish, so the portions are reasonable
However, the fish is NOT de-boned, should this an issue (it was not for me).
The lamb worked well with the pesto-like sauce and the wonderful roasted peppers.
Portions were a little smaller, but the meat is also a bit rich.
It's solid dish.
The pork tenderloin was similar.
It was probably the weakest dish (or my least favorite).
Still very good, but the portions were also a bit small.
Satisfying, but not exceptional.
For dessert,
We had the Megan cake w/ fruits.
Once again, flavors are very subtle.
It's not too sweet or rich honey cake and compliments the blueberries & strawberries well.
I enjoyed it with a coffee.
Persistent cons:
Service was likewise average.
Our waitress offered reasonable service, but still wasn't quite as attentive as we would have preferred.
I was slightly disappointed that our coffees were never refilled.
Entrees still took some time to arrive (approx 30 mins).
Interestingly our appetizers took less than 10 mins to arrive, while our dessert took only 5 mins.
Portion sizes are still overall smaller than I would prefer.
Some dishes need work (calamari salad, beef bourgiognon, bistro steak).
More desserts would be nice.
As mentioned prior, ambiance is there.
Location is convenient.
Parking is plentiful.
Will return.
Recommended for those with a preference for more subtle flavors, and smaller portion sizes.
Not recommended for everyone.
I'd rate this spot 63%
This seemed to be more of a rustic 'New American' type fare,
with French bistro…
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One word description: Butter
Pro:
French toast
scrambled eggs
decor
service
home potatoes
eggs in a hole
Con:
....
This place is great for brunch. I ordered the French toast and scrambled eggs (would not suggest you order anything with your French toast). The French toast are thick, custardy, and great. The thickness of the toast will get to you towards the end of your meal though.
Cost for 2 (Brunch)
$30
People thought this was:
One of the most laughably horrible dining experiences I've ever had.
We sat at our table for about ten minutes waiting for two others of our party to arrive before ordering. We ordered wine but no food. The hostess badgered us the whole time, informing us that we had to order food right away or else she was going to ask us to leave.
Note, she wasn't our server. Our server was fine, told us to just let him know when we were ready.
Didn't stop our Hostess in Hot Pants from grabbing a pad and looming over us, trying to take our order. We said we preferred to wait a few minutes for our friends. She informed us we weren't allowed to "just sit there." If we weren't going to order our dinners, than we HAD to order appetizers.
Meanwhile the server is standing behind her, head in hands, because he's the one getting no tip from us.
I can't imagine how in the world someone could keep a job being so rude to customers. She single-handedly is keeping us from ever going back, and from telling everyone we know to avoid this place.
Friends came, food was ordered, food arrived, not worth the prices.
Great story among friends, but still never going back there. Even though it's close. Boo.
People thought this was:
I may not be a jeweler, but I know a gem when I see one and Canelé is just that!
We came here last night and how I missed this place before last night is beyond me because it is totally up my alley. The place is very cozy and charming with rich colors, communal and individual tables and a large open kitchen that definitely makes for dinner and a show. The head chef, who I'm guessing might be the owner as well, was like watching a dream transpire. She was smooth, graceful, never broke a sweat or looked stressed out and it was amazing to watch her work.
The food itself was also outstanding. The Market Salad with thinly shaved shallots and the lightest, most fantastical vinaigrette dressing was magical. So light, so tasty, so yes please! I went with the boeuf bourguignon and while the braised beef and noodles were cooked to perfection, I couldn't really get into the reduction. It was very watery and needed a little more seasoning. As a result, I did something I never really do at a restaurant and actually asked for salt, but with a little of that, it was awesome. My friend ordered the steak and wow, poifecto as well.
Now that I know this place is here, i will definitely be back soon to taste the other yummy offerings from the kitchen! Mmm mmm! And what's this I hear about a BYOB option? Hells yes!
People thought this was:
After what seemed like months of anticipation, I finally ate @ canele and I was not impressed.
We wandered in on a Friday night @ 8 and were not optimistic that we'd get seated. We were immediately. The place on the inside was much larger than it appears- the restaurant has an entire back area and the place was full except for the front communal table which was near empty. We sat there and I preferred it to the private tables as they looked completely crammed in.
The service was ok and the food, which I have heard many a rave and (read) many a 5 star review, was disappointing. I ordered the duck confit which was dry and a tad bit salty. My husband had the pork tenderloin which was a bit overcooked. My friend had the beef bourguignon which - as she said, and I agreed with - is no better than a beef stew she makes @ home. Her husband had the bistro steak which he said was tasty (I did not try it). The pork and dry duck seemed to have sat for too long before thy were brought to the table.
The appetizers were much better- the tuna tartare was almost decadent; fatty tuna with a sea salt topping. My friends raved about theirs. The bread and butter were fresh and generously supplied. Perhaps if I ever dine there again, I'll keep the selections to the appetizer menu.
People thought this was:
I cant tell you if the food is good at canale becuase the consistently horrific service is all we ever walk out remembering. My husband and I have tried and re-tried and re-tried canele in the hopes of supporting a more upscale restaurant in Atwater, but we've finally given up.
On three separate occasions we have had our waitress clock out of her shift and leave our table without saying a word or transferring us to someone else.
The service is so bad it is almost laughably horrible - laughable until someone finallly remembers that you are there and drops your $100 check.
The last time our waitress left without saying goodbye, so did we.
It's too bad that this update is going in the minus direction instead of the plus way. Since my initial review two years ago, we hadn't frequented this place that much because it was always too crowded and hard to get into. Also, a friend of ours had a bad experience with his party of four; even though they could have pushed two two-tops together for them all on a Sunday night, they insisted that he and his three friends wait for the "official" four-top.
As for ourselves, we tried this place for brunch about 4 months ago and felt ripped off--the bill was excessive for what we got, and the food was not memorable.
Then this past Friday night, we stopped by after 9 pm and were seated immediately. Our server was annoying--he had an attitude like he was overcompensating for not being in the profession he wanted, i.e. he was a classic wannabe actor. The food wasn't up to par--my fish soup was tepid temperature-wise, and the two salads we got were blehh.
People thought this was:
Last night, which was a Friday, another couple called and to see if we wanted to get together for… Read more »
wine anyone??? read next review!
*~**~*
combo of french/italian cuisine.
cute spot ... in the middle of nowhere ... which is probably why i DID like this place because it wasn't one of those "hollywood" places... kudos to that. i swear, we need more of those in LA. wishful thinking, i know.
very SF-y! extremely intimate and cozy....
i guess this place is either a hit or miss.
i dunno... im just NOT a fan when it comes to small spaces.. i can tolerate it to an extent but often times i feel a bit uneasy .... with an open kitchen and a communal table in front, you can't help but to be drawn in by the set up, but dont be fooled... the place got pretty crowded after a few minutes we settled in and it can get a bit loud to the point of not being able to hear the other person, so if you're on a date, think again, but if you're with a bunch of friends, you're good to go....
the menu is quite small, but theres a lot of room to play around with variety. reasonably priced, but for a bistro, lots of potential to grow... i would STRONGLY suggest in NOT getting the fish, but the duck, was quite tasty... an average meal could be ~$60 w/wine at most.... so overall, i would say that the food was a bit too heavy...
service could have been better... one min, the server was attentive, then another second, she'd be simply rude.. ugh, dont even ask me, i can go on forever, but not to the point of pissing me off, if i was pissed off, you know youll never hear the end of it on yelp!!
one remarkable touch is when the GM came around and presented us with a tray of caneles before we left, how could you not? you have to represent your restaurant, yes? quite a treat i must say! :) and def a sweet touch....
People thought this was:
There are some experiences in life that elevate the bar so high that you can never view what you thought was good the same way again.
Like the first time you fly first class. Or the first time you slip into a bespoke suit. Or your first threesome.
Today I added to that list the first time you try the french toast at Canelé.
A 2" thick round of toast, crispy and tasting almost baked on the outside, perfectly eggy and sweet, almost custardy, on the inside. So perfect that the addition of syrup would diminish its taste. Served with mascarpone and poached prunes, this is truly an indulgent brunch treat.
The duck confit hash topped with a fried duck egg was also phenomenally good. The amount of duck in the hash is generous, almost 50/50 I'd say, and deliciously good. Cut a mouthful with your fork, break the soft yolk of the sunny side up duck egg and dip the hash. Heaven.
The side of house cured bacon would have been a standout in any other brunch but was almost overlooked in this company. Almost, I said. But not.
A blood orange mimosa and a rhubarb lemonade rounded out this outstanding brunch.
The restaurant itself is charmingly rough hewn. All dark unpolished floorboards, exposed bricks and beams, heavy and high blood red walls, and a menu written in chalk on a blackboard wall. It's a small space with a large communal table in the front window and smaller tables tucked around the two partially separated rooms. An open kitchen dominates the space.
And yet, on a Sunday morning, the space didn't feel crowded or busy. On the contrary, it felt quiet and casual and neighborhoody.
No first class reservations are taken here and you can leave the bespoke suit at home.
Although a post-threesome morning after brunch at Canelé would be something special.
Either way, this is the best brunch I've experienced in LA.
People thought this was:
After really tasting what 5 stars should be all about I am convinced I am not going to go back to giving those stars unless I am absolutely sure about it!
I have only one thing to say about the brunch I ate this morning - Fucking fantastic. You are a complete idiot if you don't take my advise and go there like tomorrow.
I had 2" thick french toast with marscapone and prunes and it was the best I ever had. Then the BEST bacon. Linden had duck hash with an egg and it was heavenly as well. Also a blood orange mimosa. Talk about decadence. Calories shmalories what the heck is THAT??
The place is cute and rustic. Our server was nice. The food is fantastic.
People thought this was:
Went there last friday for a birthday..the place was quite crowded but we were seated right away (we had to settle for the 1st table when you walk in). The table was unstable and that was quite annoying as i pretty much had to hold it to one side during out entire dinner. I had the beef bourguignon which was ok and my partner had the seared ahi which was good..we also had the tuna tartare as an appetizer and that was pretty good. The portions are a bit small for the price though..we ended up paying about $70 with only one glass of wine.
Service was good and polite.
I don't know if i would recommend it or not..i'd have to try more of their dishes.
I suspect that being strategically located in a sleepy stretch of Atwater Village allows Canele to get away with things it wouldn't be able to somewhere else, and that's its charm. Things like: not taking reservations, being tiny and having a communal table. The size of this place is definitely more on the scale of restaurants in SF or New York, but it actually works to its advantage, feeling very warm and cozy. Just make sure whoever you take is comfortable with not being able to stretch out. The communal table seems undesirable most of the time, but might come in handy if you are dining alone or your party is in a hurry.
Not to imply that Canele is unambitious, because they are. The food follows the golden rule of being seasonal and local. The open kitchen takes up about a third of the floor space, whereas a typical restaurant would have hidden the kitchen in back and used the front space for a bar instead. I have a thing about eating whole fishes, and the branzino here was amazing. Once you get past picking out some bones, there was sooo much tender flesh to be had. The skin was so beautifully silver and crispy that I wouldn't let a single flake go to waste. The salads are all very fresh, simple and unadorned. I could have skipped the appetizer course because the entrees are very complete. Dessert was okay. I thought the cheesecake was very dense in its cheesiness, but also kind of coarse in style.
There is a lot of talk here about the service. Maybe it was the luck of the draw, but I found the servers totally professional and kind. And yes, they do pop up right as you're leaving to hand you a canele.
I think of Canele as being a miniature, satellite version of any number of great L.A. restaurants. Because of the small space, they are forced to strip the restaurant down to only the essential elements, and that results in a refreshingly undiluted experience (compared to, say, Palate up the street). The food doesn't necessarily rewrite history, but it marches to its own simple, offbeat drum and makes a memorable visit.
i've always wanted to go here, because i love the atwater village area.
the seating is tight, but i don't mind that really, its pretty warm and forces you to get over your anxieties about sitting too close to strangers. we're all in for the same thing -- eatin good foodddd.
i had prix fixe with the caesar salad, tuna ziti, and the prunes dessert. it was very good. i cleaned my salad, practically cleaned the ziti, and ate most of the prune. i walked outta there fulll.
the servers are all very nice, the hostess is cute and she gave us complimentary treats when we walked out, and all of the cooks here are pretty nice to look at, too.
People thought this was:
Trés bien:
Braised pork short ribs with Brussels sprouts
Asparagus with fried egg and brioche appetizer
Bien:
Service
Pas mal:
$10 corkage
Cheesecake
People thought this was:
This place has received pretty high marks from people I know, so I hope that this is an anomaly and not signal of a decline for Canele'. My girlfriend and I went her last night to celebrate my birthday (5 days early). I'd been looking forward to it because both her and Ericka l raved about their last experience. My experience left me feeling a little betrayed. All the comments on the decor as right, it's nice, sexy, homey, modern, whatever - it decent, though the tables are about 6 inches too close for my comfort, on the other hand I don't have much trouble with their shared tables policy. I do take some exception to the large mirror in the back room, yes it does afford everyone chance to peak at the kicthen, but watching myself eat isn't that great.
The wine list, while not expansive is thankfully NOT overwhelmed by California wines - people have been making wine in other place for centuries longer than California so it's good to expand the horizons. We ended up ordering a Cote du Rhone and a Bordeaux that were both deep red, complex and heavy. Too bad we didn't both match of food selections.
My girlfriend ended up ordering the Branzino while I had the Cauliflower Soup with Currants. The soup was deliciously creamy though not very complex. The currants added a welcome splash of sweetness. I however, found the Branzino (salted cod) to be way too greasy.
For our entre, Wendy, ever the fish lover order the catch of the day - Halibut, while I orderd the Boeuf Bourguinon. I passed on trying the Halibut but I could see from across the table that it was way overcooked. The Boeuf was a huge disappointment. The dish was very poorly balance, with an overabundance of smokiness from the smoky pancetta and saltiness. The beef was cooked to melt in your mouth perfection and the crimini mushrooms were a nice addition. The buttered noodles that it was served over, were good, though a tad undercooked for my taste.
I'm a big fan of chocolate cake, and even though it was a birthday dinner for me, we decided to skip desert. Both because we were both tired, but the meal had left us disappointed.
Part of me wants to try Canele' again, but with so many other restaurants in LA to try, it might be a while before we get back there.
People thought this was:
We had a great night at Canele recently on one of their "Friend's Cook" Tuesdays. Top Chef Ilan Hall was cooking up some comfort food, it was unusual and delicious. Service was very prompt and friendly, although the server does not know how to serve champagne. I have been a long time friend of Canele, and need to visit this place in my neighborhood with more frequency. It is definitely one of the top 5 spots on this side of town despite the fact it is aimed at locals/neighborhood peeps. I think I would go more foten if they took reservations. Also, i would detail what I ate here, but none of it is on the regular menu. Suffice to say it was yummy.
People thought this was:
This review is for brunch only.
Arrived a short while after opening and sat at the communal table which was already occupied by a few other diners. Water was provided in a well chilled vintage-looking bottle with a porcelain cap. A nice touch and charming.
I ordered a mimosa [$10], a nice champagne and pulpy obviously fresh squeezed orange juice. Coffee [$2] was good ... robust, not watered down.
The confident and attentive server listed the items on the menu which were not available that day and mentioned the specials which were heavy on quiche which I am not particularly find of.
The brunch menu offerings initially did not impress. I opted for the special: Corned Beef Hash with a Turkey Egg and a side of Buckwheat Toast.
I had reservations about having the corned beef hoping it was not left over from St. Patrick's day a few days earlier. It was covered generously, perhaps too generously with a nice white cheese and topped with a perfectly fried turkey egg. The buckwheat toast [a substitute for the wheat toast which the restaurant was out of] was excellent and a standout served with a wonderful homemade Meyer Lemon Marmalade. The toast $2.50. Breakfast was served with a small arugula salad.
Overall a good experience. Am looking forward to trying dinner.
People thought this was:
We were recommended to this place by a few friends for a nice be together. It looked good outside and people watching inside was nice too.
The first warning sign was the "family table" we were asked to sit at. That left 4 empty seats when our party of 7 were crammed in. Later in the meal.. They crammed in 4 more even after out protests of no leg room.
Wine selection = BOF. that means tacky and tasteless in French btw.
Food = bland, no passion and no inspiration. It's like you cooked it without the seasoning and timing. Even the free bread and rock hard cold butter was very cafeteria like. Don't get me started about the tap water.
The place is a big dog and pony show without the dog and pony.. With a full audience. At the end if the meal, we got some free caneles on the way out that tasted like 2 day old glazed doughnuts. No lie.
I'm from SF and live food everywhere no matter what the locale. But this place doesn't peak the interest. Good company is what you need here. We had their nonni aioli olio (plain pasta with olive oil and garlic) as one many dishes ordered. It was like eating dry spaghetti with shaved Parmesan. NO THANK YOU.
They had the nerve to charge $10 for that. And slapped us later with a 20%gratuity for a party of 7.. If which one was a small CHILD
This place is going to be easily forgotten in my mind when it comes to LA.
This is my absolute favorite restaurant in Los Angeles. It's a bold statement, but I love everything about it: stellar seasonal food, friendly staff, modern but warm and intimate atmosphere (I love the communal table), unassuming neighborhood. It's never too crowded or too trendy for my simpler sensibilities. And it almost doesn't feel like it belongs in LA. I've always said from the first time I stepped foot in the door that it has a very Pacific NW vibe to it.
Dishes that I am particularly smitten with:
Brandade w/ Tomato Confit (oh dear god)
Farmer's Market salad (refreshing and light)
Coop's omelet (simple and delightful)
Polenta w/ chanterelle mushrooms - appetizer special
Boeuf Bourguignon (I repeat: oh dear god)
Duck Confit
Bistro Steak
Cheesecake
I am a very lucky girl to have once been here with a big enough group where we could order all the desserts on the menu--the cheesecake being the decided winner. I know, I know, I'm not a super huge fan of cheesecake either, but this one was pretty unstoppable.
Unfortunately, I have to save this restaurant for special occasions because it's a bit pricey. Though they've recently remedied this with their Prix Fixe menus on Tues/Wed/Thurs. I have been to the Wednesday one with the Porcini Risotto and it was excellent. The citrus salad with kumquats and fennel was so flavorful.
I have never experienced any poor service at Canelé. In fact, I've always been greeted warmly by manager Jane and have had great rapport with the other wait staff.
Exceptional everything. Hands down, my favorite.
This place was packed !
We ordered duck pate and leeks vinaigrette with dijon and hard boiled egg as appetizers.
The pate was great! It was on the "Today's special" and we had to try it!
It came with fresh toasted bread and fresh parsley, and dijon mustard.
Also there are some pickled green beans on the side. They are little spicy, and it's perfect for duck pate.
Also the leek salad was really nice.
As main dishes, we ordered roasted duck and leg of lamb. The duck was really good. The duck with greens and glazed/sliced apple and almonds are perfect match! The meat was moist inside and crispy skin on outside.
On the other hand, the lamb was really bad,,,,. I am sad to say but the meat was really gamy. I only had one bite.
We took that lamb back home and recooked with scramble eggs and put some horseradish, the lamb became little more edible, but still gamy.
I give only 4 stars, because of the lamb and its not 5 star worthy, but
I would definitely come back.
The restaurant is cozy and all stuff are very nice!
PS, On the way going to Canele, I saw a guy who is sweaty at Bikram Yoga( next to Canele) and I lost my appetite for a second, because he totally grossed me out by squeezing his sweaty/ wet t-shirt on the street.
I am sorry but Bikram Yoga sucks!
People thought this was:
I am so amazed by this small hidden treasure. I am so thankful for my sister who told me about this restaurant.
The atmosphere is cozy and warm like a little cafe/bar. The waitress was friendly and informative. All of the menu from appetizers to dessert are so delicately prepared & tasted. We had a puffy fluffy egg white dish that came with some greens and it tasted somewhat heavenly. But I don't think anybody who is used to junk food will appreciate this sophisticated tasting dish. The duck dish was WONDERFUL, too. so flavorful~! They use fresh, bit unusual (nothing strange, just rare) ingredients in their dishes. They don't follow other restaurants for trendy, common, sometimes boring food. When we stepped out the restaurant, the hostess handed over a pieces of dessert to each of us and guess what? That mini-piece of dessert was Canale. It was kind of a nice gesture for a good departure.
I wish we can have more number of sophisticated, inventive (not fusion) restaurants like Canale in Los Angeles. This is a real charm~!
People thought this was:
Not really my cup of tea, but I did it for my sister she loves these kinds of restaurants and I'm always open to try new things. The latte I ordered was not hot enough every time they'd "warm it up" it still was not hot. And not to mention they charged my credit card for someone else's meal. I will say that when I went back regarding my credit card the owner immediately refunded me. Overall not a place I'd go back to.
It's a small French restaurant hidden on a crowded street inbetween random stores and I'm not gonna lie, I had my doubts when I first passed by it. Looked a little shady, but once you step inside, you suddenly find yourself in a crowded but quaint French restaurant.
It's small and a bit crowded (I swear our table was touching the tables next to us and i was pretty much sitting on my neighbor's lap), but it's very cute. Out waitress was patient when we asked her to explain what certain dishes were and gave great, mouthwatering descriptions of her recommendations and that night's specials.
Although the menu is a little limited (it's barely a page long), the dishes we did get were pretty impressive. We got a toast with asparagus and egg appetizer. Sounds like a gross combo, but it was so good, we polished it off the second she put in on our table! I got the vegetarian pasta dish which sounded a bit bland when she described it but surprised me with how flavorful it was! My date got some kind of lamb dish which I think he said was good, but it was literally just 4 slabs of pure lamb.
At the end of the meal, the owner (I'm assuming) came up and asked if there was something wrong with my date's dish since he only ate half of it, but he said it was just because it was too much meat in one sitting but it was good. The place definitely got and extra star for great service and being very attentive to its patrons.
I've never given a one star, and I don't know if it's totally fair to do so since we didn't actually eat. So that's my disclaimer - the rest is my sad story.
Thanks to the reviews here I was looking forward to going. We arrived, got rock star parking and the last two-top in the joint at 8:30 on a Saturday night. Niiiiccccee! So far, so good. The hostess was fine - not really nice but not really anything else, so that moment was okay. The sweet 'bread and water' gal was talking to us about water, you know sparkling or flat when this waitress tries to get her attention - but she's finishing with us. I mean, it's one question. The waitress says, Um excuse me - but I NEED her right now...and proceeds to rip this poor girl away from the table. I can't explain how abrupt and rude the whole thing was - oh are we interrupting you? How weird right?
So we got a rough apology a moment later from said waitress. So now we're looking at the menu and I'm thinking, oh please. Let that not be our waitress, I don't enjoy her vibe. Well, no such luck. Cheerful one comes back a little later and clearly uncomfortable (or was that me?) starts to run down the specials. Man she was so strange - sorta vacant, and sure I'm a sensitive soul but jeasus with the daggers she shot me with her looks. Bleech. So I'm sitting there thinking - do we let this go? Do we ask for another server? Do we leave? ...then I imagined the way food I would ingest would go down with such bad vibes and thankfully my husband was up for the 'up' n leave the water and bread on the table' move. So that's what we did.
Food did look good though, and it was darn pretty in there. As we drove back by there tonight after a great meal at Michelangelo's I wondered if I could stomach trying it again. But. I don't think it's worth the risk.
People thought this was:
Had dinner and then weekend brunch here. Both were outstanding meals. The price was laughably reasonable to us San Francisco foodies. This is very much a small neighborhood place, so call ahead to make sure they have room for your party. The boeuf bourgignon was marvelous as was the (whole fish) branzino. Desserts were enormous and rich. Don't miss the duck hash at brunch, either!
Great place to have a dinner with a friend or group of friends. You can see the chefs cooking your food so you feel like you're part if the cooking experience. They have nights that they have guest chefs come in and it's a flat $30 for a three course meal. I went on a night when they had Ilan Hall, the winner from season two's Top Chef. The ingridients are all fresh and the menu is delicious! Service is good and the atmosphere of this place is so chill. I highly recommend it.
This is a small trendy sort of fancy/cafe style restaurant in Atwater. We went on a friday night at 6:30 and got a table but by 7:00 the place was packed. The service was attentive but not great or especially friendly. Feel like the hostess might be related to the owner or something. Not to be sexist here but a sweet, nice and patient girl would make the experience much better. Also for some reason we did not have one waitress, maybe they were helping each other out, but it we had to repeat ourselves a couple times.
The food style I would call new american. It is meat heavy despite giving the vibe of a organic healthy kind of place. I had the bourguignon which was absolutely delicious. The beef was tender and the outside was crispy and flavorful. My girlfriend had the roasted chicken which she loved. The farmers market salad was simple yet fresh and delicious. The wine by the glass was served in a small water glass which was weird.
The restaurant was pretty small and the kitchen overlooks the seating area which I actually liked. We sat by the front door and everytime someone came in cold air blew on us, which became less important as we drank more. It was pretty annoying at first.
Overall I think this restaurant is worth trying. They are working out some kinks. The hostess could be a little more patient and friendly. The food is good quality and everything tasted delicious. The portions and right unless you like to stuff yourself. It might be a little on the expensive side but I think you are paying for the uniqueness and quality of the food.
we came here for a girl's brunch today and the place is pretty cute! we sat at the large "shared" table - i loved the all the flowers and things on the table; it made it feel like it was thanksgiving! we all ordered coffee or tea, all refillable, which was nice! we all shared all the food we ordered - the ridiculously large french toast, two orders of the duck hash with a duck egg, the quiche, a side of the smoked bacon and a side of the house-cured bacon. all were pretty yummy! i'd recommend the smoked bacon over the house-cured bacon though. the house-cured bacon was more like pork belly than bacon, haha. i'd have to say that my favorite dish was the duck hash - pretty damn yummy and it came with a side of pickled radish and onions! overall, food was pretty good, ambiance was nice and of course, the company made it all the more fun! =) $17 per person (tax and tip included in that already) - not too bad...pretty typical for LA. now i have to come back for dinner one day to use my coupon for a free bottle of wine! =P
Sometimes everything goes perfectly, sometimes you miss. One of the rare qualities that earns a place a 5-star rating is when it's very hard to miss. I've been to Canelé about three times now and every dish I've tried has been very tasty, fresh, and unique. The menu seems to rotate through a range of fresh, seasonal meats and vegetables. The atmosphere is classy but with a distinct neighbourhoody, locals' favourite kind of vibe. The price isn't exactly cheap, but it's 'understandable.' I'd recommend this place to anyone, especially to take a date or your parents when they come to visit.
Decor: A-
Food: A
Service: A
Value: A
People thought this was:
Really fantastic meal, great service, and very cool ambiance. Their corkage is reasonable ($10), so we brought a bottle and purchased a bottle of Cremant Sparkling Wine from Burgundy off their list and had a great night.
The Market Salad is delicious and the portion is fantastic - lots of leafy lettuce with fresh herbs and a creme fraiche vinaigrette, overall a fantastic salad for the price.
My wife had the Nonni's Aglio Olio (a holdover from the restaurant Canele replaced) which is simple, yummy noodles - and I had the vegetarian plate which was a choice of 3 veggie sides - all amazing. The portions here are pretty big which is nice for a change - seeing as how the "small plates" scene is hugely popular but not always the best pairing with a evening where multiple bottles of wine are being served.
This place does something very simple and does it incredibly well. We'll definitely return.
People thought this was:
I love this place! Just love it. I'd wanted to go for a long time after passing it on an outing to LA Mill. FInally made it a couple fo weeks ago with my girl Erin R. The entrees were wonderful, I had the beef bourginon, and it was rich, winey, superb, everything it should've been. Now that it's fall I'm excited for cool weather so I can come back and eat it again, this time kicking up some sycamore leaves on the way, just for posterity.
Erin loved her salad and sides. The wine list was great, and the caneles at the end were phenomenal! I can't wait to try other dishes, like the fish, lamb, pasta aglio olio...yum. It all looked so good, and the people at the table next to us said it was ALL good!
Can't wait to come back!
People thought this was:
Romantic, cute, cozy.
We had the roasted beets with fennel and goat cheese salad, the pan seared snapper, and the seared beef tenderloin. DELICIOUS!
The seating is intimate and the lighting is low, but not too low. You have the choice (depending on how crowded it is) to sit at a table with other people all banquet style or to sit at a table by yourself. I know we all like our personal space in the US of A, but after a few glasses of wine, everyone's best friends anyway, you know? So it all works out. Mmhmm.
People thought this was:
Absolutely lovely!
The duck was wonderfully cooked. Just a tad crispy on the outside and perfectly tender on the inside with just the right amount of juice.
They don't take reservations so be patient when you visit this place. They will make room for you but you may have to wait a little. Totally worth a visit though. Yum!
People thought this was:
I enjoyed this place so much, I joined Yelp and am now Yelping all about it.
The man and I strolled on over (we live in the neighborhood behind) last night - must admit, have been looking at this place for a year and a half, but had yet to go in... We were greeted warmly by the host and sat immediately.
The interior is fun and cozy - if you have intimacy issues with your fellow diners being close enough to share your dish, this is not the place for you. We went at 8:45p and they were still doing a good business, many more people flooded in after us. I've read other reviews stating it gets a lil warm in there, which seems to happen if you're sitting close to the big oven in the kitchen, as I was. But it's not so hot you'll need a change of clothes!
I ordered the roast chicken, the man had the beef tenderloin. My chicken was delish, but his tenderloin was to die for. Some of the best beef I've ever had - melts in your mouth like butter. Our waitress said they use locally raised grass-fed meats and your palate can certainly tell the difference.
I see some people say service is slow... I'd call it leisurely. They want you to enjoy your meal and conversation and it's clear the goal isn't to turn tables all night long. It felt nice not to be hustled.
The perfect cap to the meal was the little canele they offer you on the way out the door. Ours had just come out of the oven and were amazing - one perfect little bite to send you happily into the evening.
My only issue was that our water was a lil on the fishy-smelling side, but that can happen this time of year on city water.
People thought this was:
I have been wanting to eat here forever. I went for brunch and sat at the bar with a pile of work, and a big appetite. The staff was great, the service was graceful, the food was delicious. They kindly kept refilling my coffee, like, six times, and asked me if everything was okay from time to time, yet never were intrusive or forced. The vibe was casual and mellow, an achievement considering that the interior is dark and sensual. I loved the vegetable centerpiece on the community table, and the light seeping in through the front window, which I absorbed from my comfortable perch, drinking an endless coffee.
People thought this was:
$7.95 breakfast menu Mo-Fr
Neighborhood: Mid-City West
SiLa Specials
Neighborhood: Silver Lake
Neighborhood: Silver Lake
Category: American (New)
Los Angeles, CA
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Silver Lake
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Silver Lake
Category: French
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