Came here to celebrate my bf's bday. Parking is a bit tough... it is easiest to valet. It will cost you $8. Sit out on the patio. It is so pretty. The only downside is the tables are pretty close together... it was difficult to carry on a convo because we couldn't hear each other. We got the foccacia, brussel sprouts, arroz negro, Spanish fried chicken, pappardelle, and carrots. The stand outs for me were the fried chicken and carrots. The brussel sprouts, I was expecting it to be a warm dish but it came out cold. The pappardelle was a bit too salty. It was in a creamy sauce with mushrooms. The fried chicken was so moist. But I could only handle a few pieces as it does get a bit overwhelming. The carrots were delicious!! They were perfectly cooked and the carrot puree on the bottom was yummy as well. For dessert, we got the chocolate torte. This was so rich and decadent. A little went a long way! The only thing that kind of irked me was when the waitor brought our dessert, he also brought our check. And a minute after, he comes back and picks up the check. I felt like he was basically telling us to hurry up and get out. I don't think I would go out of my way to visit AOC anytime in the near future. I was a bit disappointed because I had heard so many positive things. read more

I just need to reiterate my opinion of the brunch here with WTF. Service is fucking awful; very haughty and slow. Food is served in basically a pool of grease and I had to ask for extra ketchup three times. I thought maybe they were having an off day the last time I came so I gave them another shot this past weekend and I can definitively say now that I will never be back. read more

So lovely to be dining with Suzanne Goin the other night. Unfortunately, she may not have known I was there. It was not really 'with' her, it was more like, at the same time. I ordered a plethora of items, and yet still, I expected the tab to be taken care of. As it turns out, I may have been was wrong to ASSUME this. So, Suzanne, you get a pass...THIS TIME. ;-) Several seating choices to choose from: =============================== 1 (BEST): Upstairs and outside: a fancy terrace patio (small, seats about 30). canvas top, wood shutters, more casual..and my more type with cool pop music. 2 (GREAT): downstairs in the front room, warm colors, traditional, tables are a bit tightly seated together. 3 (VERY GOOD): The bar. Just beyond the entryway when you walk in, it has lots of hustle bustle behind the bar, and a good spot to sit to be seen, or to people-watch. 4 (GOOD): the side room. a smallish, more intimate room...good for a larger party, but a lot less interesting, otherwise. 5 (EH): at the top of the staircase, a wait station, loud. Tons of choices for small plates (to share or not to share, that is the question): =========================================================== 1. Tapanade w/Bread (free, but didn't like). The tapenade had both a citrus and chili powder flavor. Citrus, good. Chili, not so much. 2. Huge bowl of marinated olives ($4, it was a bargain and really delicious). 3. Cheese (a dozen choices): the bleu from Wisconsin was fantastic. 4. Bacon-wrapped dates (amazing, worthy, but can be made easily by anyone). 5. Bitburger beer, bottled, but served with a chilled glass. Oh yeah. Nice choices: [http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jVYU9iXvBMiC2A4H12Azfg?select=Bqo2oFvAMaZSlvWgOJPjgQ#Bqo2oFvAMaZSlvWgOJPjgQ] 6. Green Goddess salad (a simple salad with avocado, and great dressing). 7. Arugula salad (delish) 8. Broccoli Rapini (always good, but nothing special -- add more garlic, salt, and olive oil for this guy). 9. Cauliflower (curry flavor, but prepared like a dry rub. Tasty, but I'd prefer if it was in a curry sauce). 10. Farro Rice (with currants, this was my favorite item of the night) 11. Hangar steak (great smoky flavor, and served with a creamy horseradish. A strange cut made it actually rubbery. I didn't like the texture at all.) 12. Blueberry Crisp (delicious and fresh blueberries, more like a compote, very sweet...served ala mode with vanilla ice cream). Truly, how can sugar, fruit, and a crumble topping with ice cream ever EVER be bad? It's impossible. [http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jVYU9iXvBMiC2A4H12Azfg?select=YoH2STe_IDwyKGP-RW9SFQ#2x-4Mi0udvWJ9eb2TQGRUQ] 13. Coffee (Folgers? Probably not...but it was likely made from a $5000 coffeemaker!) The menu served this night of May 20, 2012: [http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jVYU9iXvBMiC2A4H12Azfg?select=YoH2STe_IDwyKGP-RW9SFQ#YoH2STe_IDwyKGP-RW9SFQ] Happy Hours/Special Events ====================== 1. Monday nights, "AOC Flights & Bites" features $12 flights & $8 bites [http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jVYU9iXvBMiC2A4H12Azfg?select=t8lCdtC2ErZNeg2VFAdAKw#t8lCdtC2ErZNeg2VFAdAKw] 2. Keeps tabs on special nights. For example, on May 24th, they had Paella night ($50): Paella, tapas, fried artichokes, roasted apricot salad, almonds & olives, and dessert! Yum. Bathroom - WTH? ============== I've seen (and used) nicer bathrooms at a Subway, whether the sandwich shop or a real one in NYC. Beside the nice hand-dryer, this mens bathroom needs a serious makeover. C'mon Suzanne, it's time to call your favorite General Contractor. CONCLUSION ============ I like, but it's not love. I prefer the experience of Suzanne's other places: Lucques (West Hollywood), Tavern (Brentwood), and The Larder at Tavern (Brentwood, next door to Tavern...more casual). The price-point is definitely expensive. The service was excellent, so kudos to my server, Joshua, and special mention to Sylvia (a manager), who stopped by my table to say hello and welcome me, and made sure all was AOK AOC-style. read more

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a.o.c., OMG, WTF? IDK and IDC, but we weren't GTG. JTLYK this wasn't FTW. FWIW, here's the breakdown and this is QFT. Made reservations, however arrived early and found out that it really wasn't needed; there were 3 other groups in the restaurant on a Saturday afternoon. Struck up a conversation with the hostess, and I asked what does a.o.c. stand for? A blank stare and "I have no idea" followed. So we were off to a rocky start - Strike 1. Took some time to look at the menu, and the French-accented waiter came by and with a hurried & pushy behavior said, "I will bring you blueberry bread (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/aoc-los-angeles?select=n4dQfPvYXk4YnSFrkU1A2Q#IYxZ3vwHvg-QsxEyWEb86A) and dates (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/aoc-los-angeles?select=n4dQfPvYXk4YnSFrkU1A2Q#oHfQCBrESI9wnbo43ukRJQ)." Thinking these were complementary, I said sure. Then looked at the menu and realized it wasn't, and he just pushed these two appetizers onto us - Strike two. Their cocktails are $14 each. I decided on the "Nippon" which is wadka, tomato & olive juice, wasabi, ginger, balsamic soy, yuzu, stout, and pickled carrot. Sounds tasty - tasted terrible as the blend was completely incompatible. It took over 20 minutes to get the drink; seeing that the bartender was doing nothing. Called over the server who continually coughed on the table and after the 5th cough decide to turn around and cough in the other direction. I asked where the drink was? And, was met with the repy "It has been ordered." Then saw him walk over and talk with the bartender who then started to make the drink. So it was never ordered in the first place - Strike three. We ordered the following: - Wood-oven baked eggs (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/aoc-los-angeles?select=n4dQfPvYXk4YnSFrkU1A2Q#3OM5ufGPvkw4yCAUX8Z5IA) [16] - containing cannellini beans, cavolo nero, tomato confit & black olives. This was fair, but could not compete against the baked eggs from Gjelina. - Hanger steak and eggs (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/aoc-los-angeles#HwMPkyhsq671sjR-1IE5JA) [22] - the portions were large and stacked with romanos, potatoes. Probably the best dish out of the bunch, however the hanger steak was a bit tough. - The a.o.c. burger (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/aoc-los-angeles?select=n4dQfPvYXk4YnSFrkU1A2Q#yBGrWQxnu5mmcgrLNT87Iw) [16] - topped with manchengo, romesco aioli, and balsamic onions. Just a tasteless uneventful burger. - Duck confit hash (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/aoc-los-angeles?select=n4dQfPvYXk4YnSFrkU1A2Q#5WnpEscJvQ0IJUB43qKmLQ) [17] - duck hash with poached eggs and wild mushrooms. The wild mushrooms were overbearing. The restaurant decor was nice and I liked the presentation: interior bar: (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/aoc-los-angeles?select=n4dQfPvYXk4YnSFrkU1A2Q#n4dQfPvYXk4YnSFrkU1A2Q) interior seating: (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/aoc-los-angeles?select=n4dQfPvYXk4YnSFrkU1A2Q#GuhhXe-V5jG3Eqt9MD3A5w) exterior patio: (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/aoc-los-angeles?select=n4dQfPvYXk4YnSFrkU1A2Q#fFhAJKavR6pePZASOsG-jQ) I realize that this is a tapas bar/restaurant, and know that I didn't order what they are known for, so hence I have given them back a star in good faith that hopefully their tapas make up for the service and hash. TTYL read more

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This is more 3.5 stars. Came here for brunch. We ordered the baked eggs, AOC brioche & gruyère omelet. The baked eggs with feta, sumac & chickpeas made this a good dish with lots of flavor. The AOC brioche was a thick slice of brioche topped with frisée, prosciutto & a sunny side up egg. Good but nothing amazing. Gruyère omelet was a little disappointing. It would have been better had there been some vegetables in the omelet. Also, the accompanying potatoes did nothing for me. I think they would have benefited from a sauce or something drizzled on top of them. Also, the dish came with 2 thick, delicious slices of bread. While they were good (i mean, it's bread. When is bread NOT good, right?) they didn't feel like they went with the meal. There was no sauce on this plate to dip the bread in & they did not even serve it with butter so it felt like it didn't go. Kumquat & blood orange bellini was pretty good but not $14 good. For a cocktail I'd be more understanding of paying the premium but for a bellini it's not worth it in my opinion. Overall was it good? Yes. Was it great? No. I should say that the ambiance is fantastic & I imagine it's a wonderful choice for dinner. I would come back to try dinner & cocktails but for brunch i think there are better choices nearby. read more

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Although he stated that he just wanted to take me out for a nice dinner because he wanted me to have a good impression of LA from the brief stop that I made for his med school graduation, I'm suspicious that the boy actually brought me to A|O|C as a peace offering for hauling my ass across the country, subjecting me to this ridiculous heat, and making me meet his parents for the first time all by myself. Regardless of the actual intent, he was very thoughtful; whether he meant it to be a pleasant experience or recompense for my troubles, it was a complete success, because I totally fell in love with this restaurant. Upon walking in, the vibe was very upscale and trendy. A lot of attractive, well-dressed, well-groomed LAers were crammed into benches, tables, and trestles throughout the space. We were led up to the outdoor upstairs patio and seated within a handful of minutes after we announced ourselves to the hostess. Fortunately, we had reservations - (NB) it seems like the type of place that would require them. At first, we were a little confused about the menu, but our server was extremely helpful with explaining how everything worked: basically all of the dishes are served tapas style. Although she recommended three to four dishes a person, we split four between the two of us (with lots of ample crusty bread and a carafe of delicious Albarino wine) and a single dessert and left completely satisfied. The service was pretty stellar overall. She was knowledgeable about each and every dish, capably answering all of our numerous questions on ingredients, helping us select a great carafe of wine, and being on hand for most of the evening. Although I imagine that it would be virtually impossible to make a poor selection about the food here, I had a few notes about the cuisine here at A|O|C: - The majority of dishes here contain a hint of spiciness, so those averse to capsaicin in their food should beware. The olives offered as a starter must have been brined in something with chili oil because they had a delightful heat to them that was unexpected at first. - The crusty bread came out for us with just four slices on a plate, but we went through many many plates of it because so many of our dishes had sauces that begged to be sopped up, not wasted in the bottom of the bowl. - I'm not a fan of beets at all, but the beet salad served over a bed of deliciously creamy Greek yogurt, with a blue cheese was savory. The beets themselves were fresh, and it was a pleasant surprise for me that they weren't excessively sweet. - The clams were ridiculous. I'd come back for those at the drop of a hat. Buttery and garlicky, but what truly set them off for me was the subtle... char(?) flavor, as though they'd been seared. Phenomenal. Once the sun went down, a cool breeze filtered around the outdoor patio, and between the candlelight and the dessert, I thought the evening wrapped up ideally. I left A|O|C content and satisfied, and I can't imagine anyone else not having a similar experience. read more

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Not having reservations and coming from a champagne tasting, we sat at the bar. The waiters were knowledgeable, very nice and sociable. We had a little bread and cheese platter that wasn't on the menu, very tasty especially the peppers went great with the all different wines that they have by the glass. The decor is very nice and intimate. The only thing is the corkage is $25!!! That's kind of a lot considering they are wine bar and we gave both waiters a pour of the bottle we brought. I heard that if you bring your own bottle though and buy one there they will waive the corkage. I would love to actually eat dinner there the food looks great, saw some yummy claims at one table, but I do like the bar set up a lot get to chat and meet other wine and food people which is always good times. I would have given 5 stars but I just can't get over the corkage. :( read more

AOC - bar area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I heart AOC!! This restaurant is just fabulous. The ambiance is classy, rustic and warm. The bar has an amazing wine list and for those wanting something a little stronger, the bartenders rock. There were two bartenders working the bar the night I was in, but my guy invited me to taste the wine before I chose one. He was able to tell me in great detail about each selection, even on a busy Saturday night. I was really impressed by how knowledgeable and attentive he was with us. The food is scrumptious and pleasing and the service is tight. The food presentation is so awesome, it feels like each plate is a gift from the kitchen. AOC is going to be a yes and rushes to the top of my favorite places to eat list!! I came here by the request of a friend, and since I've had it bookmarked for at least a year, I was happy to make a Saturday night 8:15 reservation for three of us. Upon arrival, the host found that my reservation was in place for Sunday not Saturday (their bad), but it was cool. They sat us in their rustic bar area which has romantic candle-like lighting and was lovely. Here we had wine and shared a cheese plate while they got our table together. After a reasonable wait, we were seated in a cozy velvet wrapped booth near their indoor wood burning fireplace. I should mention that you can sit under stars on their beautiful French inspired garden patio or inside. Either option is delightful. For dinner we shared: Bacon wrapped dates w/ parmesan ($8) Sweet and savory, I have to echo what other yelpers have already declared- this is a MUST ORDER! 5 stars Spanish Fried Chicken, romesco aïoli & chili-cumin butter ($13) crispy and flavorful with a bit of a spicy bite. 4 stars Brioche with prosciutto, gruyère and egg ($14) - inviting and impressive in presentation, this is perhaps the fanciest and yummiest grilled cheese sandwich I've ever had. Another must order. 4 stars Suckling pig confit, coconut rice, lemongrass sambal, w/ peanuts & bok choy ($44) The pork for this dish is tender and juicy. Honestly, I was in as soon as I read suckling pig confit. This dish was perfect. 5 stars House made sausages, with madeira, kale-chestnut stuffing & dates ($38). Tasty comforting and good, just the way brown food should be. 3.5 stars For dessert we each had our own butterscotch pot de crème with fleur de sel & salted cashew cookies ($10) This was super rich. If you order this, share it. I couldn't eat the whole thing. The cookies were perfect. 4 stars As you can probably see, we ordered too much food. Next time I will keep that in mind. Moreover, these precious dishes add up, so if you are on a budget- maybe skip AOC. Dinner for 3 with drinks (which were pricey) was $$$$ (about $100 per person). Worth it for sure but wanted to give you a fair warning! If you are in search of a romantic restaurant for a date or special occasion, you found it. AOC is perfect for two people or twenty. The vibe is intimate but fun and definitely sexy. I think its fun to come with three people or more just so you can try a more dishes. Any LA foodie with a taste for wine and an eye for little bit of scene will love AOC. This is where the beautiful people are eating. Trust. Enjoy!! xo Dre read more

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As usual I just realized my dumbass ate here about a year ago and forgot to review it, then I stumbled upon the receipt(s) and realized I came back a second time for brunch with the family and somehow all of this did not involve alcohol. ROAST PORK SANDWICH http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/aoc-los-angeles?select=KqrzDMOhcRIqGKd82hne_Q#KqrzDMOhcRIqGKd82hne_Q Great focaccia bread, tasty braised red cabbage, sweet sweet potato and perfectly cooked pieces of pork confit...one of the best damn $15 sandwiches I've had in a while. BACON http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/aoc-los-angeles?select=YPfP2TC9n5pPKs09x3xKKg#YPfP2TC9n5pPKs09x3xKKg No brunch is complete without it...obviously. HEAVENLY HEFFE http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/aoc-los-angeles?select=9j4Z6jfNyyPpWZC6sWH0fg#9j4Z6jfNyyPpWZC6sWH0fg I was told this was a brunchy type of beer. Who am I to argue with a waiter? FRIES http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/aoc-los-angeles?select=sYzKZcivVzY_slvOAs0cPA#sYzKZcivVzY_slvOAs0cPA Decent amount of fries for only $5...the kids ate 'em up. CHICKEN AND WAFFLE AND PROSCIUTTO http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/aoc-los-angeles?select=VwUz1y_kmauY8H7pjxZCyQ#VwUz1y_kmauY8H7pjxZCyQ Spanish fried chicken and cornmeal waffle with prosciutto and maple syrup. How do you elevate fried chicken and waffles? Simple....wrap the chicken in thinly sliced cured PORK! TURKEY SANDWICH http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/aoc-los-angeles?select=VwUz1y_kmauY8H7pjxZCyQ#xyrNSrQl5qqZw1oxWCmItA I am not a huge fan of turkey if it's not the fourth Thursday in November...but I had a bite...and it was not horrible. Pretty damn good as a matter of fact. I thought it was only fitting that at the end of the meal I washed my hands with converted and purified grease from their kitchen... http://furtherproducts.amazonwebstore.com/Further-Hand-Soap-16-oz/M/B005IRYE98.htm told ya. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/aoc-los-angeles?select=-wVZ_7ctmNWj6hqNg017sw#-wVZ_7ctmNWj6hqNg017sw I wouldn't recommend tasting it though. Because it tastes like soap. read more

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Amazing service!! The food was delicious and recommendations by our server, Michael, were great! Love the ambiance too. I definitely would go back! read more

Overall, if was a pleasant dining experience here (3.5 star, 2/6/2019). I love the interior - not overly decorative, reminds you of an outdoor dining scene somewhere in Europe. We started with dates wrapped in bacon (first time, but it was a good snack!), turkey sandwich (must be accompanied with fries!!), Moroccan chicken salad (It was a good healthy choice), mocktail and hot mint tea. Nothing disappointed us. The waiter checked in time to time to see if we were doing okay. Again, the interior also made our long stay so pleasant. After 12:30, the place was packed, yet our conversations were never distracted by other people's voices or noises. Given the trendy places today tend to use reflective materials (metals and concrete) a lot, whenever I visit a place like this, it makes me feel so comfortable! read more

AOC - Moroccan chicken salad - good volume for lunch! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I came here for my birthday dinner and was blown away! I made reservations for 9:30, but there was still another party that hadn't left so we had to wait a while. There's a bar to the left when you walk in, so my party grabbed drinks there while we waited. Our table was in the outside covered patio and it was gorgeous. It looked like we were in Italy, with the trees, fountain and lights. Our table was a round table which I loved, because we could all talk to each other and it made it easier to share food. Since it's tapas style, we ordered a few items to try. We started off with the brussel sprouts with a side of burrata cheese. They were good, but order two if you have a larger group because it's really small. Then we had the seared scallops, which were served on top of sweet onions. I wish they were seared a little bit longer. The pappardelle came next, with thick al dente pasta and creamy white sauce. My favorite of the night was the arroz negro with squid and saffron aioli. It had hints of lime and reminded me of a paella but better! Another favorite was the hangar steak!! It was juicy, tender and cooked perfectly!! We finished off with the duck thighs, which weren't too gamey and sat on a bed of cous cous (I think). They were amazing as well. Everything I tried was great and kept me wanting more!! I'd recommend coming with a group so you can try a bunch of stuff!! Also, order 2-3 plates of each dish depending on how many people are in your group so everyone can have a taste. read more

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It had been a while since I had been here and I could kick myself for staying away so long. I could come here for the cheese selection alone and be perfectly happy. However, we ordered so much more and it all bordered on bliss. We had 5 different cheeses - I honestly don't even know what they were, but every single one was completely different and it was an excellent mix of both hard and soft. Paired with the charcuterie and bread, it was wonderful. We got the prosciutto di parma and speck with apples and arugula. Following that were a couple of deliciously flavorful, but light salads, the hanger steak with horseradish creme fraiche, an arctic char with greens and a roasted broccoli dish. I don't remember everything we ordered, basically because we didn't order. We left that up to our server to take the reins and she did an impeccable job in her choices. The wine list was something to be reckoned with. By no means a complaint, but it was difficult making choices because it's so big. We settled on a malbec flight that we were really happy with, someone else got a white flight and another DC downed a whole bottle of a rioja all by himself. It was the perfect amount of food and wine. My only minor regret was not having dessert. At the same time, I was pretty satisfied, so I can live with it. Everything here is perfectly and creatively constructed without being fussy, wonderfully paired flavors all in a lovely, chic but cozy setting. read more

beautiful and serene restaurant in the weho/3rd street area. if you're looking for great french inspired food and beautiful ambience, this is the spot. - everything is good and shareable - have thought of doing a simple roasted chicken dinner with white wine dinner one of these nights, but it's so easy to order all the things - good cocktails - great service - the brioche prosciutto thing is nuts - lovely patio; try to get a seat out there if you can to enjoy la nights read more

AOC - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

It was my LA girlfriends' turn to treat me out and they took me here to A.O.C. in LA, another restaurant listed under Michelin guide's Bib Gourmand, and my goodness it was SO yummy! It's a French tapas restaurant and every dish was very good! AOC is a pretty cozy place. We were seated in the back where the restaurant was shaped like an "L". The spicy paste that comes with the complimentary bread was freaken yummy on the bread. Good start to what's to come. Food: Bacon wrapped dates stuffed with parmesan cheese: I wasn't a fan of bacon wrapped dates but I am now! The first time I had them they were stuffed with bleu cheese which were bleh to me but even so the texture and softness was not like the ones at AOC. My mind has changed towards bacon wrapped dates and now I love it! 3 cheeses: I believe we allowed the chef to make the selection for us. I liked 2 out of the 3. The ones that looked like brie were more mild in taste and creamier for easier spread. Brioche with prosciutto, gruyere, and fried egg: WOW this was my absolute favorite dish of the night! It was so flavory! The brioche tasted like a really savory french toast but minus the sweetness. Kabocha squash with wild mushroom persillade: I loved this one too! This whole dish tasted meaty instead of like veggies. It had a great hint of butter and had a good combination of textures. Sweet potatos with bacon and romesco: I thought the sweet potato was ok but the thick pieces of bacon were really good. Farro and black rice with pinenuts and currants: This rice was tasty. Nice flavor. I did find some pieces of the rice to be hard.... if it was rice. Skirt steak with roquefort butter and crispy onions: Mmmm the skirt steak was very tender and cooked medium rare. There was bleu cheese on top of some of the steak, which we didn't know, but it didn't kill the taste. The flavor of the skirt steak with the roquefort butter was very flavorful that the bleu cheese was an ok ingredient added. Not too much of it though... for me at least. Pork cheeks: This was wonderfully braised and very similar to braised short ribs. We also had 2 orders of salads... one with blood oranges and another that was simple with only greens and nicely coated with dressing. First thought when I saw them was... wow... they give very small portions. So if you come here and you are craving a salad as a starter with a party of 4+... I say get your own order. It's the size of a personal plate than a sharing one. Everything we ordered here was really good! I think this is the best tapas place I've been to thus far. If I were to recommend any dishes in particular I would go for: brioche with gruyere, prosciutto and fried egg bacon wrapped dates pork cheeks kabocha squash with wild mushroom persillade I heard this place is seasonal so these items may or may not be available. You really can't go wrong here with any of the tapas. My French tasting has been very satisfied. read more

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Alright, peeps....... a bit of personal YELP info for everyone....... this is my 1,000th review, which I feel mighty proud to proclaim. That's a lot of opinions about food and other stuff that I've had the pleasure of sharing (and hoping you've had the pleasure of reading)...... I'm proud of myself for reaching such a lofty number of reviews. It's been great fun, and I have enjoyed every minute of sharing my findings......onward, I go. Tonight, we dined at A.O.C., which was also for my hubby's 'n my wedding anniversary.... so, that's another celebration revolving around this particular review. However, I heave a rather heavy sigh as I state that A.O.C. let me down. I didn't really like it, to be perfectly honest. I expected and wanted that blissful state of moaning and groaning over the amazing flavors of the food prepared for me. I simply did not get it. With anything. I expected far more from a restaurant of this caliber, fame, and popularity. While it's an attractive restaurant, especially the patio area, the chairs (at least at the indoor tables where we sat) were VERY UNcomfortable. The kind of chair that is wood backing and bottom, without cushion, comfort or coverage. Even their booths, which we had the option of dining in, looked stiff and unappealing. Honestly, the patio looked to be the most comfortable (hindsight is 20/20), but it's been so disgustingly humid these days, I wasn't interested to dine al fresco, even at night with the sun gone. Humidity is there 24/7. Dammit. While other Yelpers have complained of the wait staff being less than decent, WE found them to be delightful. Smiling, kind, concerned about our dining experience, we had no problems. We waited a bit in between each dish brought, but honestly, I liked that. I HATE when several dishes are brought at once...... it's too much, too fast, so this way, it gave us time to digest a bit, and we didn't have to feel rushed. All that was just fine to me. So, now for the dishes. Here's what I've found over the years. IF the food I'm eating makes me happy, makes me blissful, makes me moan and/or groan with pleasure, I know I have hit pay dirt........ and I know that all the money I'm pouring out for this state of perfection, I'm happy to shell out. Tonight, we shelled out our hard earned money for just okay food. It wasn't good, it wasn't bad. It just was. It had flavor, but minimal flavor at that, and not necessarily flavors I enjoyed. It had texture, but nothing making me say "wow!" Last year, we dined at Jose Andres' The Bazaar, another small plates venue, and my husband and I are STILL talking about that dining experience, and we remember VIVIDLY what we ate. It had THAT kind of impression on us. A.O.C. does not hold a candle to that place AT ALL. A.O.C.'s dishes SOUND good, but here's what we experienced... 1. Focaccia - summer squash, gruyère, pecorino & salsa verde - probably the dish with the most...and best flavor, but it was too greasy. 2. Kampachi crudo, citrus, marcona almonds, avocado & fennel - Just items on a dish, didn't work together. 3. Tuna meatballs, spiced tomato sauce, kumquats, mint & pea shoots - different, and probably a little too spicy for me, but meatballs had good flavor. 4. Stuffed squash blossoms, brown butter ricotta, honey & hazelnuts - ricotta very bland. Hazelnuts just there...... didn't add to the dish. Squash blossoms perfectly cooked, but no real flavor. 5. Spanish fried chicken, romesco aïoli & chili-cumin butter - overly fried chicken, ultra greasy, didn't love the flavor of the chicken, aioli or butter. 6. Hanger steak, roquefort butter & shallot rings - steak good but nothing great, could have done without the roquefort butter. We didn't even want dessert. Between the chair issue and not feeling wow'd by our meal, we just didn't want to spend even more money. We spent approx. $150 to be underwhelmed. Again, it wasn't bad food, but it wasn't amazing either. I'm sorry to have a less than raving commentary for my 1,000th review, but I pride myself on my honest approach to writing. This was my experience, and I simply expected more. Sorry, A.O.C. read more

Stopped by for lunch and really enjoyed the beautiful atmosphere. Had a reservation for 12 and we were seated right away out on the patio. There were only a few people dining when we came in but it got super busy about 30 min after we arrived. It was a nice warm afternoon and the patio is beautiful with vines covering the walls and a fireplace. We started off with a two cheese and charcuterie plate which was good but kind of tiny compared to others I've tried. We had sheep and goat cheese with three different meat choices. We actually didn't get to choose any of the items as it was chefs choice but it would've been really nice if we got to choose our own. Spanish fried chicken with romesco aioli and chili-cumin butter. The chicken was nice and crispy however the sauce left something to be desired. I expected the sauce to have a little kick but I actually didn't taste anything. Farmer's lunch came with summer veggies, burrata, muhammara, chickpea puree and toast. Everything is separated on the plate so you can pick and choose what you want to eat from the plate. This was good but the veggies were served cold. I prefer cooked veggies to be served warm but that's just me. Torchio with baby broccoli, roasted tomato, chili and breadcrumbs. This dish had good flavor and the pasta was cooked well. Although it was a good dish, I didn't really find anything too special about it. It was a fairly large plate and we weren't able to finish it between the two of us. For dessert we had the bittersweet chocolate torta with melted marcona nougat and sherry ice cream. This was very very rich. I love chocolate but the torta was just a little too rich for me. I'm glad that it came with the nougat and ice cream because I would not have been able to eat it alone. The sherry ice cream was really good. Grilled fig leaf panna cotta with walnut lace tuile and melon sorbet. This was my favorite out of the whole meal. It was so light and refreshing I couldn't have asked for a better end to my meal. This dessert wasn't too sweet and the walnut tuile was a great crunchy contrast to the panna cotta and melon sorbet. Overall I would rate the food 3.5 stars but the lovely atmosphere and service we received makes it a four star for me. read more

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When I was invited to brunch at AOC, my gut told me I wasn't going to like it after I scanned the menu online.... Always listen to your gut. This restaurant does NOT cater to the diet of someone with food allergies... A specific type of diet like veganism or vegetarianism sure, but allergies and intolerances, not so much. The brunch menu was SLIM PICKINGS for me... I had to make my own meal essentially... I mean, that's fine and I am pleased to say that our waitress was very accommodating, however I did say no sauces and what not (specifying allergies) but of course my meal came with some sprinkled bread crumbs and a dollop of cream! I pushed as much of these toppings to the side but my handy work didn't pan out too well because I wound up with a stomach ache later that afternoon :( I really wanted to like this place and put a smile on my face as I ate... The eggs I got poached were perfection and the carrots and asparagus were nicely done (& I don't even like carrots- but if I didn't eat them, then I would have left at least $7 worth of food on my plate!).... But this dish wasn't memorable, other than giving me a stomach ache but of course, ha! My friend wasn't overly pleased with her selection either. She thought the blueberry bread was good, but wanted to incorporate more fruit into her meal so she ordered the fruit plate. Um, $6 for a plate of sliced apples? And not even the DELICIOUS FUJI variety, ha! She kept telling me that she felt like she was just crunching on water... What a disappointment. Oh and her two over easy eggs... OVERCOOKED. Sure my friend and I sound a little food SNOOTY but that's because we ARE! We are food bloggers and we know good food when we eat it, and AOC didn't enthrall our tastebuds in the least. Sorry AOC but I won't be coming back... My gut thanks me for making such a decision. PS: $6 valet parking read more

AOC - Built my own breakfast! Spring vegetables (grilled) with asparagus & heirloom carrots... With 2 poached eggs. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Yes, yes, YES! I have been a fan of Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne for a few years now and AOC, their wonderful little winebar in mid-city is one of my favorites. I'm actually surprised I haven't reviewed this yet! In any case, this is a review of their brand spankin' new: BRUNCH which they just started doing a couple of weeks ago. AOC's brunch is similar to that of their other restaurant, Tavern in Brentwood. I ordered their wood-fired pain perdu which came in a small cast-iron skillet. Sweet and savory-- very rich. The bacon bits were so tasty and the roasted apples were so natural and perfect. It was eggy and the maple syrup was perfect with it. We also had the toasted brioche with prosciutto, gruyere, fried egg, and frisee salad-- SO comforting. Very high quality ingredients and bright flavors. To drink: the most amazing blood orange and honey mimosa; sweet and tangy with just the right amount of dry bubbles and a smooth honey finish. I can't wait to come back soon. Service was friendly and fantastic and if you make a reservation, there's no wait at all. I highly recommend coming here at night, too. One of the best wine lists around. read more

[3.5/5] This place is really cute and has some stellar dishes but they are not consistent and for the price I would expect super consistency. Pros: The farro and black rice was amazing. What a surprisingly delectable dish. Just perfection. The foccia is also really good, but maybe a little small in portion size for some people, to justify the price again. Cons: The fingerling potatoes are pretty mediocre and pretty much the biggest let down of the meal. Most of all however the service was pretty "meh" and the attendant didn't give any good recommendations and wasn't really bothered to know how our experience was and/or do something about it. In short think it is a pretty pricey place and great if you want to spend the bucks and don't feel bad if it's not the most delicious place you have ever been to. It does have a generous vegetarian menu though. read more

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AOC is a fantastic tapas restaurant from Suzanne Goin. 4 and 1/2 stars. It is on 3rd street next to a synagogue. From the outside the building is so ugly, it clashes so much from the beautiful decor inside. The restaurant is large. Downstairs the tables are really close to each other, not so romantic but great for groups. Try to request a table next to the windows if you are only two and want a quieter spot. The food is delicious, and divers. The ingredients are fresh and so enjoyable. The current menu may be a little heavy and pork centric but we did not mind. We tried: One cheese: Bleu de basque with figs and walnut. It was a great cheese special. We were a little bit disappointed by the cheese menu as it did not have a lot of interesting cheese ( most of them could be bought at Whole Foods or local cheese stores) But adding the figs and walnut was a great touch.. Roasted Dates in Prosciutto: A delicious hors d'oeuvre, a tad on the heavy, oily side but great to share perfect for groups. Chicken liver crostini: Delicious chicken liver spread on crostini with a fresh salad. The liver pate was tasty and perfectly seasoned. It was extremely enjoyable. The dish comes with 2 crostinis so order more for groups. Pork Confit: It comes with cabbages. It has a german taste, sweet and tangy thanks to the cabbage, salty with the bacon. It is a good dish showcasing the white meat parts of pork. The flavors are interesting and different. Get it before the quail.. see below... Grilled Quail: Fabulous dish! Outstanding! A stuffed quail perfectly cooked with great stuffing: bread, chestnuts, delicious veggie. It is a whole quail! We devoured it. It was fantastic. Just get it. Arroz Negro: Rice and squid in squid ink. It is a large dish compared to the other tapas plates. It is filling and messy. Be ready to have black lips, teeth, napkins, shirts, fingers... It is piping hot and extremely flavorful. The squid was tender and nicely cooked. The change of plate was necessary. Bread Pudding: All the desserts sounded great but we settled on one with chocolate. It was phenomenal. It cames with real madagascar vanilla ice cream. The sweetness of the brioche bread and chocolate was perfect. The combination of cold icecream and hot bread pudding was divine. Just get it don't think you are full, you can do it. Pitchers of wine are a great idea. The selection was appropriate for the dishes presented on the menu. Kudos to the restaurant manager who was really friendly and caring. We were able to ask her opinion on some of the items on the menu and she was spot on. She went beyond the typical " 'vrything good?" Overall it was a great dinner. It was a lot of food and we felt full. Next time we will cut one of the larger dish out. read more

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Plain and Simple restaurant decor, with some not so plain "tapas" style dishes! great for sharing/sampling/wining & dining. but 3.5 stars overall LET'S GET RIGHT TO THE FOOD, shall we? ---complimentary bread, VERY spongy w/ an oily red spread (harissa?) ---bacon & parmesan wrapped dates (6 pieces) on the 1st page of the menu under the cheeses! we almost didn't order it because we couldn't find it! A LITTLE too sweet for me, but my bf's loved it ---arroz negro w/ squid: INTERESTING flavors, but not something i'd order again ---duck confit MY FAVORITE dish! it was so tender, juicy, and flavorful w/ crispy skin! ---coppa, sopressata and cacciatorini (assorted salami plate) i wish this plate came with crackers or cheese.... ---hamachi crudo: ANOTHER FAVORITE! fresh and flavorful ---hanger steak: cooked as if it were seared ahi tuna, very rare in the middle ---stuffed squash blossoms: nice fried coating, but the inside was like a chile relleno ---brioche w/ prociutto & egg: breakfast for dinner?! but it was yummy w/ that crunchy brioche ---DESSERT berry budino w/ pistachio ice cream.. a very mediocre bread pudding the waiter suggested we get 2-3 dishes per person BUT we would of been fine w/ just 2 dishes per person, though it really depends which dishes you order because the portions sizes vary! read more

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Been to many of Suzanne's restaurants and she does a fantastic job of catering to the masses from gluten free to vegan options. AOC which is one of their higher end restaurants with a Spanish flare has a beautiful atmosphere and located among some interesting cuisines on 3rd street. I've been here for dinner and lunch which both fell short on numerous occasions. However, while I was at a dinner party few night ago - people were raving about the brunch so had to try it myself to see. My husband ordered the Spanish chicken and waffles which were spicier than the normal chicken and waffle. Waffle is a cornmeal waffle which has a gritty corn cake feel that plays well with the chicken. I ordered what I thought was baked eggs and wanted it more cooked instead of running eggs and instead received a half cooked chickpea dish that was watery with a fried egg on top. To my disappointment, I tried a few bites and left it. The chickpeas were par cooked and kale was quite oily. It lacked any salt or pepper with an over powering taste of oil. On top of it all, food took nearly 40 mins to arrive and when we got our check, there was a phantom charge for a side of jam which we had removed. Overall, it was an okay experiment but not one that I would try again for brunch. Quite surprising seeing how their baked eggs at Tavern are super delicious and actually BAKED. read more

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I came back because the girl has wanted to try this place for a while. It was just as good as I remember, maybe even better. We stuck to food, no wine, so I'm not sure how that changes the experience (except that the price was significantly lower than it would have been). We ordered the lamb skewers, sea bass (which was their fish of the day), brioche, asparagus, bacon covered dates, and grilled leek salad. That's 6 dishes for 2 people; way too much. I would recommend 4-5 dishes tops. 4 dishes if you want room for dessert. The biggest waste was the asparagus. It wasn't bad, just nothing special. Also, it was incredibly salty, so yeah, maybe bad. The bacon covered dates were just as amazing as I remembered, I could eat two orders of these myself (but probably shouldn't). The lamb skewers were very tender and didn't have that gamy taste that lamb often comes with. Brioche was also delicious, though a bit too salty for my taste and difficult to eat because it all kept falling apart. The sea bass was fine, but I'm not a huge fan of fish. It also came in this broth with chunks of bacon there were very good. The grilled leek salad was surprisingly tasty, but not something I would get again (since so much on the menu looks good). Valet was $5.50, not including tip. Hope that helps! read more

This place is good! Arroz negro was pretty good...I think it's the texture of the black rice and the butter. It wasn't AMAZING like everyone said. I like the fact it's tapas style, and the dishes are pretty heavy, so if you order like 5 plates, you can easily take 2 home. The hanger steak was so yummy. The brioche w/sunny side up egg was good, but not as good as Bouchon's version. The other stuff was okay and not memorable (ie: the salads were really just normal and like any other salad). I'd come back here again...even if you're not hungry. Atmosphere is cozy and tight (the table next to us is really close and you can hear their conversation). I didn't really like sitting at the patio so I'd recommend indoor sitting to enjoy the ambiance. Couldn't find parking at the main street, so I just valeted for $5.50. read more

PRO-TIP: Come in for happy hour AKA cocktail hour, everyday from 5-7 PM. The cocktails on the list are $10, as opposed to $14, and some of their options are $3-4 cheaper, which can definitely add up! If you like a variety of menu options, definitely start out at the happy hour area and move to the dining area to maximize your experience. FOOD Bacon-wrapped dates ($5 - HH): This was pretty raved about in the reviews below, but let me just warn you and say the serving size of this appetizer was literally laughable. The six bacon wrapped dates came in a ketchup serving container size. [Look at my picture for reference]. I've never had bacon wrapped dates that I didn't like, and this is a great way to start out your meal for $5. Spanish fried chicken ($10 - HH): Should this be called Indian fried chicken? I swear, the flavoring on this chicken tasted like Indian herbs. Anyway, the chicken was very flavorful and really didn't need aioli/butter dip on the side. The chicken was not too oily, but so flavorful that I wished there was some sort of bread to balance out the flavors. Brioche with prosciutto/gruyère/egg ($14): This mountain is essentially a giant salad on topped with an egg sitting on a bed of perfectly crisp, but soft, brioche bread. I did like the variation of textures and flavors on this dish, but I didn't think anything about the dish was TO DIE FOR. DRINKS Pistolero ($10 - HH): This cocktail was really good! I honestly cannot drink any form of tequila after college, but the honey, lemon, and ginger really made the drink taste more like a whiskey and the flavors worked really well. Green goddess ($14): This drink was really refreshing, like a summer day. SERVICE From Happy Hour seating at the communal table by the bar to our dining table that we had set with a reservation, we had great service with friendly bartenders and waitresses. My cocktail had a dead fly in it, and my waitress made sure I was brought a new drink right away and kept apologizing about it. LOCATION Since this is located right next to Lady M, the parking around here is pretty bad. I suggest valet ($6). The restaurant itself is beautiful and looks like you are dining in a mansion's personal patio with beautiful vines and lights! read more

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I am NOT a picky and ignorant customer, but my friends and I had a TERRIBLE experience here ! We had brunch here on Wednesday afternoon. We made our reservation one day in advance. it was quite when we arrived but It started getting crowded after we ordered food (around 12:30pm). Here is what we ordered; 1) Fried Chicken for appetizer - $14 - this was our fav dish so far (4.5/5) 2) Cheese plate with 3 dif kind of cheeses, walnuts and dried fruits - $ 15 - it was picked by the server and it was just okay ;/ ( 3/5) 3) Jamon Serrano - $11 - the server also ordered this to pair with the cheese plate, it was 3/5 it tastes like the prosciuttos from Costco but with lots of fat *** The server asked if we wanted a small side of salad with avocado for our entrees and we said yes, the salad portion was so small and over seasoned with TONS of salt, we couldn't find any avocado in the salad nor could we taste any avocado in the sauce! Each of us only took one bite of the salad and ended up leaving it on the side :( Worst of all, he never even mentioned that it's an additional charge for side of salads! All of us thought it was complimentary side of salad with the entree! He charged us ****** $ 33 ****** for three small over seasoned salads. - it was definitely overpriced! And I hate to reiterate but all we could taste was SALT! 4) Grilled Market Fish of the Day - $22 - Halibut was the fish of the day, the fish was under cooked, I love halibut and I always order from other restaurants and cook it at home so I can tell that it was not cooked but the server says that's how they serve it and didn't take it back to the kitchen, I only had 3 bites of the fish & decided to take it home with me ( 2/5 ) 5) Soft Shell Crab - $22 - my friend ordered the soft shell crab with some corns, the sauce on top was good but she could tell the soft shell crab was NOT FRESH, but she was hungry so she finished the crab ( 2.5/5 ) 6) Hanger Steak with French Fries - $22 - another friend of mine ordered the hanger steak and it was good 4.5/5 7) Mock Goddess - $6 - I ordered this drink for my refreshment and it was pleasantly good compared to the rest of my meal. ******************* An hour later, both my friends and I got upset stomachs ***************** My friend is sure that she got it from the soft shell crab and since she could tell that it was not fresh ! I think I got it from the halibut because it was under cooked !!!!!!!! I don't think we will go back there again because it's just way overpriced, the seasoning on the salad, the bad service, the food poisoning :((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( read more

AOC - $33 for 3 really small portion SALTY salad :( all you can taste was SALAD ! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This place is amazing, the staff rock, and as long as you aren't aggressively misogynist you will be just fine. I was devastated to see all of the horrible reviews below about the "private event" that was actually around how women were less than men. AOC does not condone undue hostility towards women, and no, I don't work here, I don't even live here, but am infuriated by the people who left a shadow upon a five star experience because of their hateful views of women "leeching" off of men for money. I tried "the cask" and "the green goddess" while enjoying friendly conversation from both male and female bartenders (feels odd I should even have to specify.) Both drinks were stellar. The ambiance is impressive and I would take pictures of the place if it weren't full of people who would likely be freaked out seeing an iPhone aimed at them. Bottom line: Come here. Try a drink. See for yourself. As long as you aren't outwardly rude or hateful you will have a wonderful time. read more

Sometimes I forget how many amazing restaurants are on 3rd Street. Then I eat at one of them and it brings it all back. AOC has been on my to-try list for a while. But it was definitely worth the wait. We showed up around 7pm on a Sunday night and the place was pretty full. Thankfully our reservations gave us a great seat near the bar. AOC has a tapas style menu which is great. The best thing about tapas menus is the chance to try multiple tastes instead of getting stuck with one big entree that is the same with every bite. My uncle and I love us some food, so we ordered a lot! To start out we got the three cheese plate. I don't remember exactly what each cheese was, but all three were delicious. I could have eaten nothing but cheese and left extremely satisfied. When these cheeses were spread on the table bread it was even better than boring crackers. After the cheese we went for the sweet corn, avocado, cilantro, and chili-lime salsa salad. The salad came nice and cold and each ingredient only added to the flavor of the other ones. Plus, there's nothing better than fresh, cold avocado, right? Next came the brioche with prosciutto, gruyère and egg. Oh. My. God. This open face sandwich was the best dish I've had in a looong time. The bread was perfectly crunchy and super rich. The runny egg almost acted as a sauce to every bite. And the melted gruyère was flavorful and melted throughout the dish. I wanted to order just three or four of these babies and call it a night. After this came the market fish (with rajas, baby squash, radish, and crema). The fish was extremely soft and flaky. I could literally cut it with my spoon. The radishes were marinated in something, I don't know what, and I kept those to just one bite. Everything else was bursting with flavor and each bite got better than the last. After all these plates we were pretty much stuffed. However we still had one more coming. Then the cauliflower (with curry, red wine vinegar) came. I don't really like plain cauliflower, but this was delicious. The curry had just the right kick without being too overbearing. But the cauliflower was a little too soggy because of all the sauce. We actually each stopped after a few bites simply because we were too full. We both decided that this dish was one too many. "One too many" never counts for dessert though. This is a fact. The table next to us ordered the AOC 'smores: house-made graham crackers with chocolate sorbet, bruleèd marshmallow and caramel popcorn. It looked so amazingly beautiful that we had to order one for ourselves. The marshmallow was melted and like a gooey blanket over the top of the whole dessert. The sorbet was incredibly rich and among the best I've ever had. The graham cracker and caramel popcorn added a great crunch to an otherwise melted, liquidy dish. AOC is an amazing restaurant with an exotic menu that mixes opposite flavors and ingredients together to make them even better. When paired with a great glass of wine or imported beer the meal becomes even better! read more

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Has a good lively ambiance, the food was kinda oily to my taste though. Service was pretty good.

Love the vibe and ambiance of this restaurant. We were lucky to sit in the patio area, it felt like I was in a small town in Spain. Service is great and everyone is really friendly. We ordered the mock green goddess, and it was delicious! It tasted like a healthy green juice with a little sweetener. I am sure with alcohol it is even better! I was starving, so I convinced my sister that we should get the Blueberry toast, and it was delicious, you can see the blueberries embedded into the bread. For our meal we ordered the Farmer's lunch and Vintner's lunch. Both were so delicious! I really enjoyed all the little elements that go into planning these plates, there are so many little details AOC thinks about with pairings and combinations! In the Vintner's lunch, the pickled carrots and onions were my favorite! They sealed the cheese, cured meats with the grilled toast. In the Farmer's lunch, I loved the grilled vegetables especially these sweet red and yellow peppers. It was a good size to share and for 2 people to try different pairings. I need to go back and try other things on their menu! read more

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We made reservations for 8pm, but showed up an hour early, thanks to hubby's growling tummy. The hostess led us up in their wine room and we were seated at a window seat with an awesome view overlooking the restaurant below. We were the only ones to be seated there for a good while so we felt extra special with a whole room and servers to ourselves. Our server was extremely attentive and pleasant. For the dishes he recommended that we ordered 2-3 small dishes per person, so we ordered the arugula salad, sherry garlic clams, spanish fried chicken, farro and black rice, and duck crepinette. All 5 dishes were great, I would have to say the spanish fried chicken was the winner if I had to pick. Perfectly seasoned and crispy on the outside and oh so juicy on the inside. Dip in it the accompanied sauce and mmmmm. I had stuffed my face just a couple hours earlier at Eveleigh and now here I was stuffing my face all over again, yikes! For drinks, I ordered the moonraker. It was really good, very refreshing with lots of fruit notes. For dessert, we got the chocolate torte with candied nuts and a coffee cream. It was good, but looking back we wished we had ordered something more adventurous. I would love to return, the ambiance was great, the food was superb, staff was on point. All around great experience! Valet parking is $6. read more

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I've been wanting to try this place for years, but for some reason never made it there before last night. I had a bunch of friends in town looking for somewhere nice to have dinner and I was surprised to find tons of openings on opentable when I looked on a Thursday for the next night. When I got there, it was clear why... the place was about 25% full, and probably never got 50% full the entire evening. For a Friday night, that is not a good sign. I guess AOC just isn't as "hip" as it used to be... Everything was delicious, but I am giving it three stars because it is totally overpriced. The bill came out to $60 a person for 5 people and it didn't feel like we had that much food at all. The dishes were really small, and I felt like half the table left hungry. I felt bad for my friends from out of town who had to pay $60 and not even eat that much. Granted, some of it was drinks, but we had maybe 1-2 a person, which is not a lot. And on top of that, we had to pay $5.50 for valet (in 3 separate cars because, well, we're in LA). I'm not sure where people are finding this alleged street parking. We all circled looking for a spot and there was nothing.. there's just too many restaurants in the area. If you think you see a spot on the street, it's probably a 5 minute loading zone, and all of the residential areas nearby are permit only parking. In terms of food, the things that stand out are the bacon wrapped dates and the prosciutto. The duck stood out for me also, but that's because I'm a duck person. I'm not sure I'd go back here unless someone else picked it. Not that the food wasn't good, because it was great, but it just wasn't special enough for the price and parking hassle. There were also some loud patrons (read: KIDS) although that is not the restaurant's fault. I guess it would be a good choice if you are looking for somewhere nice to eat on a weekend night and everything else is full.. it will definitely do the trick. Or if the price doesn't really bother you. read more

I came here twice before the restaurant week to try out their menu and give a fair judgement. I have to say my experience are pretty much same among other diners. The portions are small, you definitely need to either stuff yourself up with the bread or eat elsewhere before/after to save money. Many people ordered cheese plates, I recommend to order it if you know your cheese or you want to accompany with wines. My recommendation for the first timers: 1) Roasted Dates - wrapped with bacon. Crisp outside and sweet mellow taste inside. Perfect starter. 2) Market Fish - pan grilled. Depends on the fish of the day, its one of my favorite fish full of flavor and its natural juice. 3) arroz negro with squid and saffron aïoli - real good blend of squid ink with saffron. Its salty, be warned. I generally find their items from the wood burning oven are very good. Whats so so: 1. Hanger steak - compare to what I had at their sister restaurant, Lucques, this is just very disappointing. While steak is juicy but the meat was luke warm when it was served and the tendens in the meat makes me miss the same steak that I had over at Lucques. 2. shrimp salad - small portion, average in taste. Their salad dressing was not enough to cover the salad leafs. Their desserts are too sweet, I had persimmon pudding and it was just TOO sweet. I recommend this place for casual hang out or dating scene. read more

Came here on Saturday for brunch with 2 other friends. Waitress was clueless about the food menu. Food was way overpriced with very mediocre taste. ambiance was still ok. 3 beers on tap from which one of them they ran out and the other 2 horrible taste. How do you run out of beer at 12:00pm on a saturday ? food selection was horrible read more

Delicious dinner with wonderful staff. The patio is beautiful at night with wonderful lights. Knowledgable Sommeliers made finding the perfect pairing easy. We will definitely be making a return trip. The fried chicken is a must. read more

If I could give more than five stars, this would be the time to do it. I recently came here for a private party and can honestly say that everything about AOC is perfect - the decor, the food, the drinks, the service... thank you for making our night so wonderful! AOC is known as a wine bar, but I have to recommend their cocktails - I had both the Tennessee Shandy and the Rothschild and thought both were phenomenal - I know cigar liquor sounds weird, but it tasted awesome. My friends commended me for drinking a "man's drink" - girls can totally drink it too, though! YALL THE FOOD. Every single thing we had was spot on: Bacon-wrapped dates, the Farmer's table, Cauliflower, Grilled whole fish platter, Roasted chicken platter, Hanger steak... yum yum yum!! I could not stop eating because everything was so good. Oh and probably the BEST thing is the peach salad - it's a must with burrata and dandelion! And don't even get me started on dessert!! It was like I died and went to sugar heaven - Butterscotch pot de creme, Chocolate torta, Homemade s'mores, Homemade chocolate peanut butter cups... ugh too unreal. AOC, you did me dirty and I can't thank you enough for it. Seriously can't WAIT to come back! Also, shout out to the waiters - yall were so attentive and sweet - thank you! read more

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I'm a big fan of Chef Suzanne Goin. I love, love Lucques! AOC is another one of hers and it's a beautiful, intimate space to share small plates and wine. We had a reservation at 6 pm on a weekday and were the first patrons. Our server recommended 2-3 plates per person so we decided on 5 for starters (it ended up being enough and we would've even been fine with 4): * DIVER SCALLOPS - One of their specials, this dish came with two seared scallops seasoned with rosemary and thyme, with tangerine wedges and some risotto-like base. The scallops were to die for! * CITRUS SALAD - Their other special. This one featured baby watercress, with slices of blood orange, grapefruit and avocado and a dressing of pistachio. Awesome! * BRIOCHE - A thick slice of brioche topped with slices of prosciutto, shaved gruyere and a runny egg...similar to a croque madame. The brioche was divinely rich and the prosciutto was so lean and silky. Another hit! * SWEET POTATOES - Disappointing. I was excited to see it came with bacon, but this dish ended up being way too salty. We barely touched it. * 3 CHEESES - We also ordered a 3 cheese plate and had them select a cheese from a cow, sheep and goat. * SORBET - I know this makes six things we ordered. I'm sure our server wasn't counting dessert. Their flavor that night was blood orange...sweet and tart. You can get a single, double or triple scoop. I would love to come back with more people to try more things between all of us! read more

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This place has been on my list for awhile, but I never got around to going here. Finally, AOC was the spot for my first birthday dinner. Woah... so many reviews. I'll try to keep it short and sweet. They always start you off with sourdough bread (complementary) served with harissa, a North African condiment, made from ancho chilies, garlic, and cumin. Now the list of items I ate: 01. ROASTED DATES with parmesan and bacon ($6) - 5 stars, a must order You get 5 pieces of deliciousness. The smokey-saltiness from the bacon, combined with sweet dates stuffed with gooey cheese was d-lish. 02. COW'S MILK CHEESE... i can't remeber the name ($5) - 3.5 stars It's like brie, but with a slightly stronger taste than a regular mild brie. It was great on bread. 03. GRILLED LEEKS with burrata, salbitxada ($14) - 4 stars, a must order A Catalan inspired dish. Salbitxada is a sauce generally made with: blanched almonds, bitxo peppers, garlic, tomatoes, parsley, red wine vinegar, olive oil and S&P. The sauce pulled the dish together, perfect with the soft burrata and grilled leeks. The dish was simple and tasty. 04. BRIOCHE with prosciutto, gruyère and egg ($14) - 4 stars, a must order It's an open-face sandwich. First you see a sunny side egg topped with cracked pepper, then beneath a layer of proscuitto, frisée salad, melted gruyère and finally the toasted brioche at the bottom holding everything. The taste is rich and satisfying. It's like eating a good breakfast. 05. HALIBUT with carrot purée, favas, crème fraîche, pistou ($16) - 4 stars, a must order Firm, thick crispy crust and flaky descrbes the piece of halibut. There seem to be a lot of ingredients, but it worked well. The pistou, the French version of a pesto, was yummy. 06. BRAISED DUCK LEG with kale stuffing, golden raisins ($15) - 3 stars Probably my least favorite dish of the night. The duck was cooked soft to fall off the bone. Everything that cooked with the duck didn't help bring out the flavors of duck. 07. APRICOT AND BROWN BUTTER TART with creme fraiche and almond ice cream ($7?) - 3 stars It came out as a round disk, the tart served with a scoop of ice cream and creme fraiche. The tart was really sweet, but I could taste the apricot and the creme fraiche help balanced the sweetness. I love the almond ice cream the best. The food here is consistent and solid. It's great place for dining with a group. The more people you have the more dishes you can share without getting full to quick. Oh and if you've never ate a tapas place, generally, 3-4 dishes per person is enough to be full. But it's up to you. read more

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My table of 4 ordered just about the entire menu--and finished just about everything. Without a doubt one of the best meals I've had in Southern California--topped only by ink. Collective meal highlights (but not everything ordered): Vintner's plate Bacon-wrapped dates Fingerlings with creme fraiche and chives Pappardelle with chanterelles Pork belly with lardo toast and sour cherries Spanish fried chicken Brioche and prosciutto (Croque Madam) Hanger steak Bittersweet chocolate torta Butterscotch pot de crème Our waitresses were reasonably attentive, polite, and very knowledgeable and excited about the food. The place is very low-key and romantic, and excellent for couples or groups of people who prefer to share their food. We sat upstairs, and I'd recommend it if you want more privacy and quiet for talking. Considering we ordered about 16 plates total and two bottles of wine, $315 isn't bad for a group of four. Absolute recommendation on all fronts, Angelenos. read more

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