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Mon-Thu. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
"i love how these new brasseries are finally hitting the LA gastronomy scene. the hall one of the many new brasseries being open only 6…" read more »
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I went to Comme Ca for a very early lunch with my girlfriend and her business partner. They ordered breakfast while I ordered the CROQUE MADAME, a hot ham and gruyère cheese sandwich topped by a fried egg. My sandwich was very yummy, and for $14, it pretty much should have been. It was complimented by a generous salad with a light and pleasant dressing. My dining partners had FRENCH TOAST and OATMEAL WITH FRUIT and they seemed to appreciate their meals.
The atmosphere is visually satisfying. I very much enjoyed the chalk drawings on the wall (the one of the cow is awesome). I also liked the added touch of the books on the wall near the bar.
The service was just okay. We were one of the first people in the place and the hostess was also our waitress. She was busy setting up other tables as we were dining so she wasn't able to be very attentive. She wasn't bad, she was just doing too much to be entirely effective, at least at these prices.
I would give this 3.5 stars if I could, but my experience didn't deserve four stars. I would think about coming back for dinner so that I could have that experience. I could easily see me giving the place four stars if I had the full "Comme Ca Dinner" experience.
It seemed to me that the early menu that we were using was rather over priced. I don't know how the dinner menu is with regard to pricing but the other reviews seem to indicate that it would be the same case.
This place is A-Okay and if you are interested in dining here I would suggest that you do. I'd much rather go to Providence on Melrose but then I've been spoiled by that place.
Nice service, good food.
I like there.
They had a great cheese selection.
The hostess was very helpful.
Overpriced and not very good. Mac and cheese had a bitter aftertaste and they were out of the skate. I ordered the halibut instead and it just sat there on the plate rather flavorless.
My friend ordered the boullibase and it too lacked flavor.
For my money Lucques across the street is much better or go around the corner to Le Petite Bistro on La Cienaga.
My foodie friend raved about Comme Ca and having seen it on many lists, I finally went with for brunch. We had the burger and the steak tartar. While the burger was good, I liked the tartar better. Fries were unfortunately soggy and our server was terrible. He was preoccupied, brought a wine glass covered in lint, and over all not at all attentive. However, the hostess were great so I'd go back, just not for awhile.
I had an absolutely lovely dinner here on a rainy Tuesday night.
My foodie partner in crime made a 7:45 reservation that same afternoon, and they seated us immediately. No qualms there.
I absolutely love the decor here. It feels very New York -- it's a bit fancier than a French cafe and a bit more modern than a stuffy French restaurant. I rarely say that a crowd dresses "smart," but that appropriately describes the patrons here. It feels like a smaller, more intimate version of Osteria Mozza.
Yes, it's loud, but in a fun energetic way. We sat next to two older couples who used their very bright flashlight to peruse the menu. There's certainly nothing wrong with that (my grandma certainly uses one) but the lady kept flashing the light towards me. I decided to get a glass of delicious Syrah to take my mind off this minor distraction.
FOOD: We were adventurous with the appetizers.
Bone marrow and oxtail jam: based on high recommendations by fellow Yelpers, I was dying to try this. Granted, it doesn't live up to Cut's bone marrow flan, but it was rich, served in the bone, and flecked with fleur de sel. The oxtail jam (braised oxtail) tasted like pulled pork, and it was served with crispy, buttery toasts. Yum!
Blood sausage special: although I'm a proclaimed carnivore, I was hesitant to order blood sausage, because when I eat sausage, I don't like to be reminded of the bloody place from which it came. (Though bone marrow doesn't freak me out at all...weird). I'm so happy our waiter recommended this dish. The sausage just fell apart and mixed with the rich mashed potatoes. Awesome flavors, loved this dish.
For our main, we split the crispy skate with green beans. This was only ok -- I liked the crispiness, but it was a tad salty for me. The green beans, simply prepared with a butter sauce, were delicious. The portion was definitely big enough to split.
We ended with the brioche bread pudding for dessert. Warm and gooey, rich. Not the best dessert ever, but a nice cap to a very good meal.
Next time, I want to try the burger for sure. One of the ladies at the table next to us devoured it, along with a plate of awesome looking/smelling golden frites. I will absolutely come back.
NOTE ON SERVICE: Our waiter stole the show. He couldn't have been more friendly and completely on-target with his recommendations (except for the skate...I would try something else next time).
NOTE ON PARKING: Despite the plethora of meters available a couple blocks away, I opted for the pricey $8 valet. There was a ginormous puddle on the corner of Melrose and La Cienega, and my favorite brown Prada boots begged me not to risk ruining them. In any other non-raining/non-Prada boot circumstances, I would definitely go for street parking.
Drinks from a mixoligist! Hells Yeah. I cant tell you the name of the concoctions i consumed but they were both good one had absinth which was really good, had that great european anise flavor. YUM!
My crew started with the Oxtail and Bone marrow which was delicious. Something i'd wanted to try forever since so many chefs seems to go on and on about its wonderfulness. It was wonderful and not as salty as i thought it would be.
I ended up eating the Paleron of Beef Bourguignon which was insanely tender and delicious. It was obviously a crowd favorite too since it appeared that someone at every table ordered ordered it. Other yummy treats on our table included the Beef Stroganoff, which was yummy but not as good as my dish, and A Monk Fish delight that was pretty damn yummy too.
My only complaint was the desert. hence the 4 stars, i order the Crepes which were suppose to have warm figs which there were not all there was was blackberry. It was also suppose to have pistachio ice cream and it had pistachio crumbs. we should have sent it back thinking back on the experience but we hovered what was there.
Intrigued by the French "block party" theme, I tried out Comme Ca for the first time. There were some big hits with a few misses.
PROS:
The small plates ($7) were uniformly tasty. I had:
- the roasted asparagus with hollandaise sauce (creamy, with the hollandaise light as a cloud),
- garlic sausage en croute (wrapped in brioche and topped with an adorable and oozy fried egg; this was small but substantial),
- Vitello Tonnato: fried sweetbread nuggets with chunks of tuna. I'm not gonna lie, I thought the presentation was confusing, with three large chunks of fried sweetbread and three similarly-sized chunks of tuna on the plate, topped with brown sauce as well as a cheese sauce. But this dish was probably my favorite of the night - the sweetbreads were DIVINE! Never in my life did I think I would use the words "sweetbreads" and "divine" in the same sentence, but there you have it.
- potato-gruyere croquettes: I thought this would be a throwaway dish. The potato croquettes looked just like frozen fish sticks fried a golden brown, which is never a promising first impression. But biting into one proved otherwise - they were silken and fluffy on the inside, like the dreamiest cloud of mashed potatoes, surrounded by a crunchy outer crust.
- I also tried their three featured cocktails (a steal at $5!!!). One of the best cocktails I've ever had is the "Page 734." Sweet (but not too sweet), fruity, and peppery, the Page 734 is made with gin, cantaloupe (pureed, methinks), muddled red bell pepper, and topped with coarsely ground black pepper. I marveled at how effectively the hint of red bell pepper served to underline the flavor of the black pepper - ingenious! This drink also featured ice chipped from their massive blocks of ice, which was actually a very impressive and beautiful presentation. I was surprised - I mean, it's just ice, right? But it was gorgeous.
The second cocktail on the special menu was the "Julia of Pasadena" (pureed watermelon, cachaca, St. Germain, watermelon, and cilantro). I closed my eyes and smelled it, and it SMELLED LIKE SALSA. No lie. (Probably due to the salt rim + fresh produce + cilantro combo). It tasted fresh and complex, with bitter tones on the front end and a sweet and salty finish. This was my second favorite cocktail, but the Page 734 was really my absolute favorite.
I also had Comme Ca's "signature sangria," which was seriously nothing to write home about. It tasted just like icy, watered-down red wine. If I want that, I can stop by a supermarket on the way home and buy some boxed wine, thankyouverymuch.
CONS:
- Service was s-l-o-w. I often had to ask for things multiple times.
- The pomme frites, which I read in a Yelp review were "double fried" (those magic words always make me order fries!) were pretty mediocre - limp and not terribly crispy; reminded me of In-n-Out's fries. I ordered these off the regular menu, as my girlfriend and I decided towards the end of the night that we needed fried + greasy carbs to absorb all the Page 734s we were guzzling. They served that function just fine, but were not very delicious, sadly enough.
VERDICT: Would I return? Yes, but probably just for another block party, which are monthly events at Comme Ca. The regular menu looked $$$, service was just "meh," and I was unimpressed by the pomme frites.
Later on, I walked the 1.2 miles (why, don't ask) down the street to 8 Ounce Burger Bar and tried to eat the Truffled Potato Skins and the dessert platter that involves cookies, rice krispy treats, and ice cream. I don't know what possessed me to do such a thing, but my stomach sure regretted that decision, as I was already stuffed to the gills with fried greasy goodness from Comme Ca. Upside - no hangover!
If you're craving some straightforward and really good French food, then Comme Ca is the place to go. I've been coming to Comme Ca since they opened for brunches, lunches, and dinners and they rarely disappoint.
Some favorites:
Pork Chop
Steak Frites
Bouillabase
Burger
The Rumble cocktail is also really good. Try it.
I've been to Comme Ca three times now. Last night 5 of us went for a friend's birthday. The restaurant is small and you need reservations. There is valet for $8 in a parking lot next door. The restaurant has a great decor, and I would say is great "1st date" lighting - medium/low light, but not too dark! It's a loud place, and you sit somewhat close to other tables.
The mixologist/bartender there is great! There is a special menu for Comme Ca mixed drinks, or the mixologist can whip you up something special upon request! The drinks are not extremely large though, so you'll probably need a couple. They are very tasty drinks!
We started off with a large cheese plate for an appetizer. The Fromager/Cheese Guy, Anthony, IS GREAT. We get cheese becuase all of their cheeses are fabulous, but also because we love Anthony. He is very knowledgable and clearly passionate about his cheese. He offers a spirited and very thorough description of the cheeses and what goes best with them (the plate will come with dried cherries, raisins, peppers, honey or something depending on your cheese). The cheeses are very rich. But if you're hoping/worried to get full off the plate - you won't. Although very satisfying, the pieces are "just right" for a quick nibble.
We've also had the mussels, crab cakes, shrimp cocktail and risotto off of the hors d'oeuvres menu. Their seafood is very fresh and the risotto was cooked perfectly and tasted great!
I had the Scottish Salmon with polenta and oyster mushrooms. The Salmon was cooked perfectly and was a very healthy portion. It didn't have much additional flavoring to it (marinade, spices, etc.) so if you love the natural taste of salmon it will be great. I could have used more polenta, but they never said it was a side dish, only the salmon on a "bed of polenta." I also had a side of cubed butternut squash with garlic (I'm not sure how they prepared it) - this was an interesting mix of tastes, and although it was good enough to eat it all, I thought it was too garlic-y.
Two friends got the fish of the day - the Bronzino. DEFINITELY GET IT FILETED! Although they requested it fileted, they were still getting tiny little bones in a few bites and had to be careful. However, they were very happy with it, and it was tasty. Macaroni and cheese and Endive salad were their sides. The endive salad is good for one person, but not as a meal - it was served with walnuts, bleu cheese and pears and a light dressing. Very good! We were all really excited when we saw the mac&cheese come out in a cute little square iron skillet, but it was sort of bland.
The service was good. The bussers were attentive, and the waiter was very patient with our table of sort of chatty, slow-ordering girls. We were a little bummed that the food took just a liiiiiiitle long to come out.
All in all, it was a great meal. Everybody was very happy, and it was a great experience! It was loud enough for us to laugh and loudly interrupt each other without disturbing our close-by neighbors!
Highly recommend!!
I came here for brunch a while back and checked it out because my friend wanted to. It has a great vibe; I love the atmosphere and the decor of the place.
- Croque Monsieur: decent with a perfectly cooked egg right on top. I love my eggs and I'm very particular about how it should be cooked (eggs are one of the hardest to perfect), and I was very happy!
- Omelette w/ Herbs: it was alright, the herbs were very fresh and cooked perfectly with oozing cheese, but no wow factor.
- Pain Perdu: very interesting creme brulee coating, but I thought it was very, very sweet.
We also ordered a side-order of bacon, which I thought was nothing special and overpriced. The food generally was decent but I have to say our service was awful. We came at an off-peak time and service was slow. The food took forever and refilling our water and bringing the check wasn't any faster. They really seemed to dilly-dally with the service, which overall ruined my experience there.
If you're up for spending 16 bucks for a burger and some fries...go for it!! Burger is juicy and they drench their onions and cabbage in a very creamy mayonnaise dressing which is unique.
They take 20 minutes to make the burger, so if you're on a time crunch like us call them once you get off the 101 (takes at least 15 minutes form exiting to parking) so that it is ready once you get there.
This place is a french restaurant, so the next time I go I'll make sure to get some french food. So, the three stars is for the burger.
Service is good and the restaurant is very clean and modern.
Four peeps and we all got burgers with two drinks and the bill came out to $100 bucks with tip.
I would go back.
Friday was one of those oppressively hot August nights, when the setting sun offers little relief and strong cocktails with ample ice are a necessity. Thankfully, the talented bartender (I have the utmost respect for the trade, but my aversion to buzzwords prevents me from using the term mixologist) rescued the evening in the form of a remarkable Pepper Smash, made with gin rather than with rye.
My favorite starters include the Tarte Flambe and Onion Soup. It's no coincidence that both are topped with molten cheese. The steak is served properly rare, and the fries that accompany it are light and crispy. The halibut is also a standout dish, with bright veggies and enough bacon to give it some depth, but not so much that it overwhelms the fresh fish.
The check felt a little heavy, but between the cocktails, wine, and desserts, I shouldn't have been surprised. Plus, this is a unique combination for LA: classic brasserie fare and impeccable service in a stylish and energetic setting.
The burger at lunch is a 4* experience. No wait to be seated, the noise level is perfectly fine and the burger is ooh la la good. Too much food but I wasn't complaining. The fries were also perfectly crisp, not mushy or burned. This makes me want to try at dinner again!
I had the same issues as Sherry regarding the acoustics. We couldn't hear what we were saying and… Read more »
came here for the raising the bar competition...i think it represents the restaurant well...fresh ingredients...contemporary without being stuffy..its a small space but they do a lot with it...their chalkboard walls keepp everything welcoming...staff is friendly....their lot next door is used for valet but when it's not its free parking. (like when i went at 4 PM on sunday
Dinner on a Saturday night:
I was the envy on the group. Two words: duck confit. And let me tell you, had no one been there with me, I would have licked my plate. It was really that good.
The bread and butter with dinner was contagious...we could not stop eating it. Totally went into carboholic mode. Everyone was happy with their dinners, though my friend had to send back her pork as it was a little too tough. Not sure what that was all about, but I never heard another peep when her plate returned.
My ONLY gripe was that our seats were right next to a step and my chair was literally an inch from falling off the step. It was a little freaky.
Otherwise, go and check this place out if you haven't. It's not overly pricey, snooty or the anything else negative.
Had to order the burger for lunch. But I needed to clarify the sauce - and based on the fact it has aioli (and I hate mayo) I had it served on the side and I am very happy with that decision. Burger perfectly cooked and the fries were out of control.
My husband had the pulled pork and I would order that too.
It was a mellow Friday so I'm sure the atmosphere is totally different for dinner. Nice wine list and very good service.
I came here for a birthday and the place is so so cute! It has a poshy feel to it but very comfortable at the same time. I thought the hor d'oeurves here were so yum and my entree wasn't bad.
Hor d'oeurves:
Mushroom risotto: Mmmm very well made! Very mushroomy too! Loved it!
Oysters: they were really fresh and the sauce they made for it was really good.
MD's charcuterie platter: I actually really loved this dish! They had slabs of ham and duck pate that wasn't overwhelming in taste. Definitely the best quality right there.
Roasted beef & oxtail jam: This was super good! I'm not the type to suck out the marrow from bones but this really changed my mind towards it. It's so flavory... so fatty... so good.
Entree:
Steak frites: the iron steak wasn't bad. I think they could have possibly marinated it more. The dip for the fries was very good though!
Maine diver scallops: the scallops were tender and not overly salted like other places. I really liked this dish.
Overall thoughts:
I thought the appetizers were more delicious than the entrees but that may be because I was full by the time they came out. I was surprised by how large some of the dishes were... especially the braised lamb! It was huge! I don't eat French food too often but this place gave me a nice experience.
Cost:
4 appetizers, 8 main entrees, about 2-3 glasses of champagne per girl, and tip: about $100 per person.
Been here twice now, once for brunch and once for dinner, and both times I've really enjoyed the food, the service, and the atmosphere. Seems like the people here are more foodie than "look at me eating at the hot restaurant du moment." Definitely a must try that I'd return to anytime I've got a good amount of cash burning a hole in my wallet.
LE BRUNCH
Applewood smoked bacon - not sure if it was intentional but a nice balance of crispy to soft bacon.
Creme brulee French toast - Holy Fuck, what are you supposed to say to that? French toast. That tastes like creme brulee. Fantastique!
LE DINER
Pomme frites - yum
Creamed corn (without cream) - off menu special, double yum.
Crispy skate grenobloise - perfect, crispy but tender and juicy on the inside, which can be so hard to do with fish - highly recommended
Comme Ca... well was quite comme ci, comme ca. It was packed on a Friday evening. I have read a lot of reviews on this place about people being displeased with how noisy and loud this place could get... I actually didn't mind that at all! Especially with the recession, I am really happy to see a bustling place with a light, cheerful energy. The decor here is lovely, but a bit unimpressive from a restaurant design standpoint.
We had a reservation but apparently weren't able to seat us for at least half an hour, which is unacceptable... I sipped on some Sancerre at the bar while waiting for our table while my friend got a cocktail.
Our food selections were the following:
Split the Salmon Tartare with Lemon Essence and Potato Crisp.
This was excellent! I loved how lemony and refreshing this was and had a great presentation. I thought it could be garnished with a touch of Caviar - that would have been perfect.
Maine Diver Scallops - The Scallops were ginormous, tender and very well seasoned. This came served with a nice Celery Root Puree, then garnished with Carmelized Grapefruit. Deliciousness.
My friend ordered the Beef Bourgignon with Glazed Carrots and Fingerling Potato Salad. Meh. Not a huge fan of Beef Bourgignon, in general and I found the meat to be pretty tough and a bit chewy. Heavy and totally overwhelming!
I would love to come back here for Brunch - the menu looks amazing. And when I do, I'm ordering the Croque Madame for sure!
C'est comme ci, comme ca.
I first learned about this restaurant through an article in the NYT about the chef's quest for The Perfect Burger (http://www.nytimes.com...). As an aspiring burger connoisseur (I'd probably go vegetarian if it weren't for a good burger) and a fan of sandwiches in general, it was on my list of places to go.
Due to schedule changes we made a last minute reservation @ 7pm which they still had available on a Friday afternoon, and then due to the infamous LA traffic we were running a little bit late, which they happily obliged. Upon arriving we must have passed by the place a couple of times, the restaurant front is deceivingly small (the interior is much more spacious). Unlike most other LA restaurants which block off the front for Valet, they have spots available right up front, which I'm happy to I got one. (They do have Valet just about 25 ft past the restaurant front).
My date had read that the restaurant can get pretty loud and she requested a table in the quiet area, which again they happily obliged. Unfortunately it wasn't all that quiet, but I suspect that the rest of the restaurant had it much louder. Other tables weren't so close that you could hear their conversation, it was just the general volume was very drowning. Otherwise the general ambiance was nice, contemporary but not so minimalist and overall comfortable.
Now on to the food! So as I alluded to before I came for The Burger. I had commented to my date how in the article the Chef has spent so much time and effort into his creation, taking into account the very specific cooking time, lean meat percentage, and going through several iterations until he was satisfied. I was very excited to try the burger and when the time came I ordered it without hesitation, medium rare.
Unfortunately I think I may have hyped myself up too much on it. The meat I felt was under seasoned and didn't have a lot of pizazz. Overall, it was just ok. It wasn't bad, but wasn't really memorable either. My date had the maine diver scallops, which I tried some. I was actually more impressed with the scallop dish and enjoyed the combination of the grapefruit, frisee, scallops and I believe it was pureed celery.
For dessert we shared the =Pot au Creme du Chocolat. Having forgotten most of my french I was expecting something more than pudding. A rich pudding and pretty good pudding, but its still pudding. Yeah...
Well overall the experience was ok. I found it difficult to talk with my date, having to constantly strain to hear and ask her to repeat things; makes me look like I'm not a good listener, which according to ex girlfriends I'm sufficient at portraying that myself. I don't need a fancy restaurant to advance that image for me. I'd consider giving the burger a second chance but... there's just so many more places out there...
After a four hour flight from Chicago to top off a long week at work, we toddled into Comme Ca for dinner. We were late, so the banquet that we'd reserved was no longer available. They put us at a table that, well, sucked....but, we didn't really care after the menus were handed over.
It was super noisy so we scooted around from opposite sides of the table to sit next to each other and dove into the drinks menu. The cocktails this place conjured up were fantastic. Reminiscent of one of my favorite places in Chicago - maybe better - gasp!
After drinks were secured, we moved onto the food and decided to order a few small plates to share and see how we felt. A cheese plate followed which, while a bit too subtle for my liking, was lovely (and the fromagiere or whatever he's called was awesome). We ended with a desert (chocolate mouse and black pepper ice cream) accompanied by a couple glasses of wine.
The food and our adaptation of our crappy seating situation made everyone (her and I) happy. I'd go back.
I decided that I wanted to give Comme Ca another try after being disapointed with their brunch! My girlfriend was visiting from San Francisco so I thought we'd try Comme Ca for dinner.
It was a Thursday night and the place was crowded! We were seated right away even though I called to let them know that we were running 15 minutes late. We had impeccable service. Our waiter wasn't over the top attentive but just enough to give us room to breathe and enjoy our meal.
I started off with the roasted beet salad which had amazing flavors--the sweetness of the beet mixed with the creaminess goat cheese, the texture of the pistachio and the hint of spice of the horseradish cream was a delight. And of course for my main dish I had the roasted pork chop!! Yummy in my tummy!!! It was perfectly cooked, juicy and tender. I could've ended the night there face flat on my plate!!!
I'm glad that I gave it another chance.. hope they keep it up and maybe I'll go back for their brunch!!!
I've been wanting to try this place ever since they opened but figured I'd wait until everthing… Read more »
I've been to Comme Ca several times with my friend and each time I had a great experience. My favorite dish is beef MarrowBonnes with Oxtail Jam and roasted leg of lamb. Over all new generation of flavor French cuisine. I like the location especially this place is located in Melrose Ave. To me, best area to hang around.
This place is kind of crowded and noise level can be overwhelming.
Good solid HELLO for the food in the place...
Had an AWESOME brunch at Comme Ca. Arrived at 12 noon on a Sunday, having made a reservation online in advance. We were greeted by the hostess, seated immediately and then given water promptly. Our waitress came by moments later to introduce herself and take our drink order. Service was friendly and efficient the entire time we were there.
The decor in the restaurant is wonderful. The black & white really works-- everything looks lovely. The space is one big, open room with nothing but hard surfaces and as many other reviews have stated, it is loud in there as a result. The restaurant was about half full while we were dining, so the noise level was okay. It sort of turns into white noise after a while. I can imagine when the place is full to capacity it could be uncomfortably loud. Also, the tables are very, very close together. When the restaurant is full you'd be sitting shoulder to shoulder with other diners. No one was at the tables on either side of us at brunch, which was nice.
The noise and closeness of the tables are really the only negatives I can come up with for Comme Ca. Service was great and the food was absolutely fantastic. I ordered the jambon & gruyere omelet and my husband had the pain perdu. They were both ridiculously good. My husband thinks it was the best French toast he's ever eaten, and I was just in love with my omelet. The price we paid is quite reasonable for food of this quality, in my opinion. Portion size was pretty large. We were definitely full afterward. My latte was great. Water was refilled regularly. After looking over the menu we'll definitely be back to try some of the other options. The dessert menu looked incredible but we were way too full to go there.
In short... YUM. Two thumbs up from us.
I have to start and focus on the negative with this review: the service. Laughably bad is the best way to sum it up. Disorganized, slow, and unapologetic would also work, and overall it ruined our experience at Comme Ca. It is absolutely no stretch to say you will be treated better at 99% of the Applebee's/Olive Gardens of the world, compared to this place.
The good: secondary service was attentive (bus boys, water, bread/rolls), a few dishes were OK (scallops), and the space is great.
The cocktails were spotty, so your best best for drinks is to go with the well-chosen wine list.
Given recent reviews, I expected much more. In the end, the food was forgettable, and worst of all, poor management spoiled what could have otherwise been an OK dining experience.
Try at your own risk.
This is a brunch review. Have not been here for dinner or lunch ... yet.
Brunch: 4 words: CREME BRULEE FRENCH TOAST
I'm sure that's what they serve in heaven, because that is just a decadent and divine creation. Ingenious. Unbelievable. I'm still raving about it and it was weeks ago.
My friend ordered that. I had the craving for eggs, so I ordered the eggs benedict w/ lox. The eggs were perfectly soft on the outside and gooey on the inside; not too salty, as the lox provided the salty flavor. The English muffin perfectly toasted and carried the flavors of the egg and salmon. The only drawback was it was not served with sides. My plate looked quite empty, and I felt compelled to order something on the side (we started w/ the bread/jam platter, which was a great way to kick off the brunch).
Being an avid and loyal coffee drinker, I strongly suggest NOT to order the coffee here, it is so disgusting it actually wakes you up. And I drink coffee for the flavor.... not so much its effects.
The service was decent for Sunday afternoon, the restaurant wasn't very busy.
The interior is exactly as Max M. describes it: Think Ralph Lauren Home meets an East Hamptons brasserie. Country sophistication with a big open dining room that is gorgeous on a sunny weekend afternoon.
It would be fun to come here on a casual date as well, if you are willing to shell out a little more than average for Sunday brunch in LA.
I had read several glowing reviews of Comme Ca and was pleased with some aspects of the experience but quite disappointed in the meal itself. I'll start off with the positive aspects. The staff was extremely friendly including the hostesses, the mixologist/bartendars and our waiter. The decor here is above average, French with somewhat of a modern kick. I liked the white leather benches lining the walls, the hodgepodge of antique mirrors hanging and the beautiful hard wood floors. The best thing about this place was the atmosphere. This is one of the liveliest restaurants I've eaten at in LA. LA diners tend to eat on the early side, especially compared to New Yorkers. Comme Ca, on the other hand, is an exception. We were not seated until close to 10pm and the place remained at capacity until we were finished with our meal. The tables are placed very closely together, creating a communal, friendly environment. If you're looking for a peaceful restaurant and quiet conversation, this is not the place for you.
Now the food. We started off with the cheese plate (5 cheeses chosen by the fromagier of the evening). This was quite good. He chose 5 very different, although all delicious selections. Some of the cheeses were paired with honeycomb, dried organic cherries and spicy red peppers. We also ordered the oysters, which were also tasty but not exceptional.
From here, it went downhill. I ordered the Monkfish. It came drowned in some type of orange sauce I couldn't place because everything tasted overwhelmingly like salt. The same for the fish. It had been braised and the texture was perfect- no trace of toughness but all of this was drowned by the unavoidably saltiness. The fish was surrounded by a mixture of potatoes and carrots buried in the previously mentioned orange sauce. I finished about 1/3 of the entree before returning to the baguette and butter served at the beginning of the meal.
My friend had the duck confit and it receives just about the same review as the monkfish, perfect texture but similar to licking a salt tab.
I'm not sure if it was an off night or if my friend and I are particularly sensitive to salt? Although the atmosphere and service were above average, the food was definitely below average. I would not go back. We ended the night by getting the saltiness off of our taste buds with a few glasses of wine at Bar Marmont (5 stars :) )
Decent place.
Their cheese plate is excellent.
Their charcuterie plate is marvelous
Their food is decent.
Their wine selection is OK.
Their price is reasonable for the food you get.
The open atmosphere makes the place loud.
one of my favorites restaurants in L.A. and my vote for BEST BURGER IN L.A. - there, i said it! Beware of the wafting smell of cheese when you walk in, they make their own as well as their own butter. so fabulous. you know a place is good when just their bread and butter is amazing. the beef bourguignon is amazing. they just have really great quality beef here. doesnt get much better than this.
Just got back from a trip to Los Angeles and met some friends for dinner at Comme Ca. Love the atmosphere -- lots of activity, full of life and great staff! Food was excellent...and so were the three bottles of wine! All great recommendations from the team. I had steak with frites -- EXCELLENT! A must do restaurant if in West Hollywood.
AMAZING...
I had a great dinner at Comme Ça. Really one of the best restaurant experiences in LA.
It's a bit loud (the place gets crowded, and deservedly so), but the food is amazing. My girl and I wanted to stick to the true frenchy side of things, so to start we went with the escargot and beef marrow. Both great. We then had the Coq au vin and the Scallops as our entrees.
I can rave enough about this place. I really loved the meal, the drinks, and the service.
An incredible dinner if you don't mind a crowded joint that's a little bit noisy. Worth every penny if you are a real foodie.
Sona is one of my favorite restaurants in LA and I am a big fan of its chef, David Myers. When he opened up Comme Ca, I immediately went there to check it out. This was a few years ago and all I remember is that the food was really good but not too memorable because I can't remember it. I still like Sona much better.
Overall, I'd have to give this place 4 stars. Very noisy. However, the burger definitely deserves 4.5 stars, with half a star off for having too much mayo dressing on the burger itself. The waiter admitted this at the end of the night when we talked to him about the burger, so a bit disappointed that it wasn't fixed before we were served the burgers. Even so, my friend Melinda and I thought it was one of the best burgers we've had.
However, the burger definitely deserves its accolades for being one of the best. The meat was perfectly seasoned and cooked to a medium rare. There is more than enough beef in this burger for you to truly taste the meat, and the burger is garnished with some sharp cheddar, iceburg lettuce, and a mayo sauce. The brioche bun pairs perfectly with the burger and provides a very satisfying experience. Also, probably not talked about as much are how good their fries are that come with the burger. Double fried-- and paired with a garlic aioli dipping sauce. Perfection.
I would come back here again, however, only if they go light on the mayo for me. :) Oh, and look forward to a more in depth review soon on a new blog I plan to start with some friends!
for dirty old man's b day, d.o.m, j.oh, and i went on thursday night. the crowd was an interesting mix -- young hip couples and local senior couples. this isn't church & state but a pretty decent french restaurant for the locals.
first of all, the baguette is probably the best you will taste in the los angeles restaurants! there's something about this warm bread and butter, it's so good! it's even good the next day (as i'm eating while yelping).
RECOMMENDATIONS:
($9) onion soup - really good!!
($14) bone marrow & oxtail jam - comes with toasts, big enough to share by two
($7) corn side dish - which doesn't have cream in it but really creamy and yummy(!), recommended by the waiter
($16) burger - minimal seasoning but really good
JUST OKAYS:
($10) salmon tartar - if you don't like the smokey taste, don't get it
($28) steak frites - good but had better
($28) roasted leg of lamb -- thursday special (i was hoping it would blow me away but it didn't)
although our southern waiter forgot to bring a candle lit dessert for d.o.m's b day which annoyed j.oh, the overall experience was pleasant enough (after all he did pack extra baguettes with the leftovers when we asked for it) i'll come back for the onion soup and burger. oh yeah, and definitely for the baguettes!
The first time I went here was kind of a sad day; some friends of mine got laid off and we wanted to drink it off in a boozy-tasty-luncheon of some kind. I drove past this place a few times but finally found it. The food is fantastic; we had salads, sandwiches, egg dishes and...
that East Side Cocktail is THE BOMB DIGGITY HOLY CRAPOLA.
It's basically a mojito but with gin, but for some reason it always tickles me pink.
One star off because the coffee was pretty gross. I love me a strong cup of french coffee but this tasted like garbage. Maybe they got a batch of over-roasted beans? Not sure. I'd only take a half of a star off if I could.
That chocolate tart (pictured in the Photos section) is definitely worth a try for a chocolate lover. They also have a prix fixe menu that's pretty decent but I always stick with an entree of some kind and I ALWAYS get a side of frites with aoli. YUM.
My favorite place for date night with my husband. The service is always great. The wine, cheese plate and food are always up to par. The decore is casual-elegant and eye appealing. The ambience never dissapoints.
Nothing about this French restaurant really enticed me. The food was just ok and almost forgettable really. I was disappointed because I truly expected more.
French Onion Soup - The Italian said it was not salty enough. He loves French onion and was not impressed with it.
Butter Lettuce Salad - Nothing to rave home about. It was quite literally, the butter lettuce leaves plus oil and vinegar.
Steak - The Italian said it was boring and plain. It wasn't awful, but not anything special.
Salmon - Let's just say, I could have made it. It was VERY small portion-wise, and bland in taste.
All in all, we most likely will not be coming back by choice. Boo....
Anyone who says that a man can't have multiple orgasms is full of it. I had multiple mouth orgasms multiple times in the course of one meal. It was enough to make my girlfriend think that I was cheating on her. Hmm, this is starting off a little bit weird, perhaps, I'd better go back to the beginning.
Marrow. Oxtail jam. Yeah, give it to me like that baby.
My sister is in town, and she is at least as much of a foodie as I am. She wanted to go out for dinner, and she had heard some good things about Comme Ca. I consulted Yelp (of course), and saw some very mixed reviews. We went nonetheless, but I was certainly having my doubts.
Marrow and oxtail jam and crostini OH MY!
So it's me, my sister and my girlfriend. We walked into the restaurant, and it's a great looking interior. I would define it as nouveau French bistro minimalist (or something along those lines)... lots of sharp angles and hard surfaces. Which I can assure you make for A LOT of noise. It was difficult to hear my girlfriend and my sister, who were sitting just across the table from me. We tried to get a table in the back room, which is supposed to be quieter, but there was a private party. There is also a small bar on one side of the restaurant, and a small cheese bar facing it... wine and cheese? Nice touch.
Marrow.... Marrow...
I ordered a mojito, and it was good... not great, not bad.
marrowoxtailmarrowoxtailmarrowoxtailmarrowoxtail
The crowd? I was facing the wall and gave the girls the view (even though it was an early bday celebration pour moi), so I didn't get to do much people-watching. From what I did see (and my gf confirmed), lots of fake breasts and lots of the standard flashy West Hollywood crowd.
MARROW! JAM OF THE TAIL OF THE OX!
The service was friendly and attentive -- I had been a little bit worried about this after reading some of the reviews. I have zero complaints; the waiter answered all of my questions (some of which were asked twice), and the busboy refilled our waters constantly. The bread and butter came quickly, and our appetizers came less than one minute later.
The food? Well, my meal was FANTASTIC, although the girls' left something to be desired. Both of them ordered the melon soup as a starter, which was relatively uninteresting. For her entree, my sister ordered the beef stroganoff ($24). It was pretty tasty, with nicely spongy homemade noodles and nice pieces of beef... not too creamy at all, with a nice mushroom punch to it. My girlfriend went for the halibut with eggplant caviar and crisped pork ($29); it was perfectly browned on the edges, although after eating what I was molesting I couldn't taste much.
And what, you ask, was this dish to which I was making love? Nothing short of a culinary wet dream! I started with the roasted beef marrow and oxtail jam with crostini ($14)... in case you hadn't already picked up on this. This is one of the most decadent and special dishes I have had in awhile. Two huge beef bones brimming with juicy marrow, and a bowl of stewed oxtail that was otherworldly. I could live on this stuff, and it is an absolute MUST ORDER. If you eat meat, you can't pass through life without trying this stuff. Preparation, presentation and flavor were all top-notch. For my entree, I went for the braised lamb shank with ratatouille and lamb jus ($26). A huge lamb shank with meat that fell off the bone with a fork, perfectly braised, and the ratatouille was fantastic! The lamb jus reduction that sat under the whole dish was rich and flavorful and perfect. My dinner was total comfort food, and it ensured that I will definitely be back.
For dessert, I went for decaf coffee and the profiteroles ($8). The coffee was pretty bunk, decent flavor but I expected more, especially in a French restaurant. The profiteroles were nothing special... I've definitely had better, but they weren't bad. The pastry was crisp, but not flaky at all, and the ice cream inside was standard fare... the vanilla was pretty good, the amaretto was bleh (I don't like amaretto to begin with).
All in all, 4 stars. 5 stars for the design of the restaurant, 1 star for the noise. 5 stars for the service, 5 stars for MY meal, 3 stars for the others. Oh, and 5 stars for the prices... totally reasonable for the quality of food and presentation that you receive. Mmm, did I mention that marrow/oxtail jam? I will be back, but I will be splitting my meal (it was too much for one person... the flavors are too rich and the portions too big for one person alone... but perfect for 2!). My meal was absolutely fantastic, and I recommend those two dishes to anyone who happens to find themselves in the West Hollywood area. Oh, and to combat the noise issue, I would simply go for either an early dinner or a late dinner... don't go at the Friday dinner rush ;)
I'll get you my oxtail, and your little marrow too! AHEHAHEHAHEEE!
Went here for a friend's birthday dinner. We ended up getting half price off the bill and free drinks because my friend had a connection. And I'm not talking about a flight. But even if we didn't get a discount, I really liked this place. The ambiance is very French bistro, but darker and probably more hectic. It really is a beautiful place though. There's something about magazines/newspapers hanging from a rack that's so cute. It's like a void in my life being filled when I see one of those.
Apparently, they make their own syrups for drinks so that was a plus. They had some unique cocktail mixtures. Sweet drinks normally give me stomach pains, but these were good. As for the food, it was definitely pricey, but definitely tasty and fresh, and most definitely French. I recognized their desserts from Boule so those weren't new to me, but you can't go wrong with dessert in my eyes. And it doesn't hurt that I saw a porn star working here as a waiter. Not that I watch that filth. But, it does legitimize the business.
This has official become mine and my fiances place.
When went back last night for another fun Anniversary dinner date and had an amazing time. I ordering the 5 Cheese/ Plate and Anthony who runs there Cheese Bar created an amazing presentation of combination of cheese most from France. I was in heaven the drinks were amazing and I'm on my way to trying a different one every time.
We also ordered the classic Steak Frites and it was completely mouth watering. I couldn't believe how flavorful and succulent the Steak was.
You have to go! Try and enjoy its an amazing creation of French classics which have been mastered by Chef David Myers.
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