brad s.'s Profile

I had the pleasure of being introduced to church & state this past wednesday night. it is a little french style bistro in downtown (LA) right near Alameda & 7th. first of all, that area (just below japantown) looks like shit. but once we turn a few corners I felt like I was on a small street in soho, or downtown sf. it was beautiful. the kitchen, bar and full dining area is all exposed to the street, brick floor runs throughout and the walls all have character and an old world feel. I could have stood at the window all night watching the chefs in that tiny little kitchen.

I recommend everything, except for the entrees, while we only had one that night, friends have said the entrees are nothing compared to the starters, and that was definitely the case for my first experience. don't get me wrong, the short rib was prepared well, all four of us agreed, but we also agreed that is was not necessary to order.

the first cocktail I had was called "the dealer's choice". you chose a liquor and let the masters go to work. I chose scotch and got this amazing ginger/bitters/lemon concoction that I will not soon forget. while we waited for our first round of drinks one of the waitstaff brought out some mini popovers that were quite delicious. then came the freshly warmed bread (from bread bar in LA, one of the few that is comparable to an NYC bakery) the starters we ordered were: the goat cheese & lavender honey (pots de macon), blue lake bean & okra tempura with basil aioli, herring & potato salad, escargot baked in garlic & parsley butter, roasted bone marrow (the table loved it, but I am not really a fan), and finally the tarte with brie, roasted peaches, caramelized onions, and arugula (my fav). my 2nd cocktail was a "blood & sand" a favorite of mine from when I lived in the bay area, and this one did not disappoint. for dessert I would recommend the creme brulee, the chocolate pot au creme, or the cherry tart. all three were amazing.

I will definitely be going back to church & state, it seemed almost everyone ordered the french fries, so I will definitely have to try those. *also, the menu on their site is very different from the actual, they seems to use in season ingredients so the menu constantly changes.

I know this place is a popular brunch spot on the weekends, but I go here at least twice a week for lunch.

the town & country salad (w/grilled chicken added), tuna melt, orzo salad, and hummus are my favorites. I always grab and arnold palmer on a hot day. the staff and the owner are great, so generous and friendly. this is definitely one of the best spots in my area.

Best egg salad sandwich in North Beach. I love this place, great to stop in a grab a sandwich & chips on the way to the park. Plus the service is great, you may want to call your order in early if plan on stopping by btwn noon and 1pm. The wait can get a bit hectic.