The food was amazing! I have never heard of pressed duck and then stumbled on this location. The…read morepeople was amazing as well! I left the table to use the restroom, came back and found my napkin refolded! The person pressing our duck was very good as well. I enjoyed learning about the process, wish they incorporated more history though. Thank you soo much for an amazing experience for us!

Certain I'd reviewed Pasjoli after prior celebratory visits, since past visits the menu has changed…read more(to make it more of a neighborhood place) most notably the full duck experience was significantly less pricey than the current $350, but I do recall it being sublimely succulent. Friends rave about the decadent bone marrow aioli burger, so we wandered in just before 6pm on a saturday night and nabbed 2 seats at the bar. It was a wildly busy night on Main Street, due to World Cup, which made Pasjoli a bit quieter, since (fortunately) without TVs people were flocking to the places with TV. The bartenders were both super congenial and indulged our curiosity for how they made the drinks (even sharing the recipe for one of the choose your own cocktails...seriously delicious, balanced and overpriced at $25). The $28 burgers arrived and we each opted for our own $8 side of fries, since who wants to share fries! At $28 should it come with fries or a salad or a pickle...perhaps. So I guess it's ok to charge for the fries (it seems most places do). However to charge and extra dollar for an aioli dipping sauce for the fries seems a bit petty. Maybe one free dipping sauce with each order of fries. Was the burger worth $28, absolutely, it was rich, melt in your mouth, with some magical onions, on a bun that contained it all neatly, but not oversized (so you don't end up with more bun than meat). Would I return for this burger and rave to my friends. Yes. I needed something green and had a side order of green beans in a hot honey and almond sauce, which didn't really "go-with" the burger, so I'd like to see some other burger-friendly, small veggie thing on the menu... although the burger was so filling, not sure I'd even bother ordering veggies anyway. No room for dessert, but I recall their cheesecake being stellar.

Brought my daughter here to celebrate her birthday. I was surprised and excited by the change in…read morevenue. Little did we know we were in for a superb culinary experience. Entrance is around the corner from the valet service ( $16+) .Look for a doorway and ring bell for entry. Because it is a prix fix dining, please be punctual since dining starts promptly. Actually, the new Mélisse ( of Chef Josiah Citrin) is still attached to the old location . It just got partitioned off into a more intimate and relaxed space. It now accommodates only 14 guests. Diners get a close up view of Chef Ken Yakayama ( Chef /partner ) and his staff creating an incredible 18 course meal. Classic vinyl records playing for mood music enhances the atmosphere as well. We were impressed by the service during the entire meal. The staff were polite and efficient and we didn't have to ask for anything. I want to point out that I appreciated the change in the selection of different silverware throughout each course. Every dish was carefully prepared and it was our pleasure to eat it. Artful presentation and taste were deliciously merged in every dish served. You are given a copy of the menu at the end of your dinner to keep and house-made shortbread cookies as a parting gift. Another highlight of the evening was a photo request with Chef Yakayama. Also, a surprise visit from Chef Josiah Citrin ( of Citrin ,next door) who greeted diners tonight too. This is what you can expect a Michelin restaurant to be. Melisse' two Michelin stars are well deserved.

We dined here for my last birthday dinner (yep, I'm a few months behind on my reviews ) and had a…read morewonderful experience. Mélisse is an intimate, tasting menu only restaurant. Housed next door to Citrin, the space makes you feel like you are dining at the Chef's living room while listening to his really good record collection. The menu and cooking is of the French tradition and it's a two-Michelin starred restaurant. Over all, we definitely enjoyed the meal and the experience felt elevated and indulgent the way you expect a Michelin starred restaurant experience to be. The dishes were very good and well executed, though not all were hits, from our perspective. Do I recommend the experience? Yes. But do I see myself going back again? Not really. And that's because compared to other Michelin starred meals we've had, this one was not as memorable. 4.5 stars.

For years, my boyfriend and I enjoyed dining at Mimi's restaurants in Venice and later Beverly…read moreHills. Every visit was memorable--the food was consistently outstanding, from the appetizers to the entrées and desserts. Each dish was prepared with care and perfection, always leaving me looking forward to my next visit. After many years, I was delighted to discover that Mimi had relocated to Santa Monica. I had often told my son about her restaurant and the incredible French cuisine, so I recently took him there for dinner. Walking in felt like reconnecting with an old friend. Mimi greeted us with the same warm smile and kindness I remembered, making us feel genuinely welcome. The service was excellent, and the food was every bit as superb as I remembered--beautifully prepared, flavorful, and truly authentic. It was a joy to share this special place with my son, and I am happy to say that it exceeded all expectations. I highly recommend Le Petit Chez Mimi to anyone looking for exceptional French cuisine and a warm, inviting atmosphere. I cannot wait to return. P.S. The Roasted Chicken with green beans and corn soufflé, is an excellent dish as well as the Seasoned Steak and Sauce... I hope you will love and appreciate this lovely restaurant as much as we do! Thank you Mimi to you and your team.

Went here during world cup season AND graduation season, so thought it would be packed, thank god…read moreit wasn't (yet)! This place was so yummy it got me saying "grazie" in a French restaurant. We were seven people and fit comfortably inside and the workers were too nice even though our eclectic mix of cultural backgrounds might have made things awkward. Love this place, the food, and the memories made. This place may be Petit, but it's spirit is "Grand"

This rooftop spot in Santa Monica is absolutely gorgeous and delivers a perfectly trendy vibe for a…read morenight out. The atmosphere alone makes it a fantastic place to sit back and take in the surroundings. To make things even better, we experienced really great service from the staff from the moment we arrived, which set a welcoming and positive tone for the entire evening. The food, however, was a bit of a mixed bag when you factor in the high prices. We started with the charcuterie board, which was decent, and the beef tartare, which was okay but certainly nothing mind-blowing. The highlight of the meal was definitely the margherita pizza topped with burrata and prosciutto, which was actually pretty tasty. Even with the pizza being a hit, I honestly felt that the overall taste of the food just wasn't worth the premium cost you pay here. The drinks were also hit or miss for us. My Old Fashioned was simply not up to par; it was very watered down, and I highly suggest the bar start using large ice cubes instead of regular ice to prevent watering down their whiskey cocktails. On the bright side, the Lou Lou cocktail was an absolute 10 out of 10 and completely saved the drink experience. I am giving this place 4 stars mostly for the top-tier service, the beautiful aesthetic, and that one perfect cocktail, but there is definitely some room for improvement in the kitchen and behind the bar.

Very disappointed in loulou Had muscles a small appetizer…read more Several muscles didn't open and the server could just say we are sorry. Called management and they never responded.

Absolutely cuckoo about Coucou!…read more Stopped by this hidden gem, upscale vintage diner for their famous Happy Hour (5-6 PM everyday), and it was absolutely a blast! You can get any 3 items on their happy hour menu for $33, including an impressive selection of their cocktail and appetizer menu. Our waitress recommended the zucchini beignets, which were so unique and reminded me of a zucchini-based falafel. From the happy hour menu, we also got the oysters, which were so FRESH and delicately sweet, and the shrimp cocktail, which came with 4 jumbo grilled shrimp and a unique aioli. We also opted for their iconic soft serve, which consists of a simple, milk-based ice cream, and chocolate, nuts, and blackberry sauce that you pour over, and this was easily one of the BEST desserts I've had lately! Highly recommend stopping by if you're in the Santa Monica area, and checking out their amazing happy hour specials!

We were at the restaurant for over an hour before our food arrived. Our waiter explained that they…read moreintentionally space out appetizers and entrées, which I completely understand--but waiting about 45 minutes between a small bowl of fried olives and our main courses was excessive. By the time our food finally arrived, we were absolutely starving. My burger was tasty, but unfortunately the fries were cold. When I mentioned it, they kindly offered to make a fresh batch. I appreciated that, but the replacement fries didn't arrive until I was almost finished with my burger, so it didn't really improve the meal. To their credit, they removed my burger from the bill, which was a thoughtful gesture and appreciated. Still, the entire situation could have been avoided with better timing from the kitchen. Based on this experience, I would most likely not return.

Another excellent meal…read more Delivery: well wrapped and arrived within 30 minutes. Food: unreal. The salmon with yogurt sauce was perfectly cooked and delicious. The seasoning salt and char on the broccolini was great too. Would eat that meal every week for the next year if I could. Price: on the pricier side but the quality matches the elevated price

The quiche was good but cold and the salad was just a bunch of undressed lettuce…read more I got a cold brew coffee drink and asked for it iced and there was not a single ice cube.

We came for brunch. I recommend making reservations as this is still a busy place. We came early…read moreso I was able to score a last minute reservation but you should plan ahead - brunch is popular here. We got a lovely table outside. Coffee was good, strong and refilled often. The service was good but a little slow - again, they get busy. Everyone talks about the omelette and it IS good and also really beautiful. After a few bites though, it's a bit too much. A better idea may be to get the Omelette Petit Trois and share it for the table. It's also $29, which isn't crazy but is still a bit much for eggs. Even really pretty ones. My friend had the Croque Madame. It was also a gorgeous plate and he said it was, as expected, quite good. It was also $30. Both of these dishes come adorned with a sparsely dressed pile of lettuces. Very French, no? While the food was good, I don't know that this was worth the over $70 for brunch (with no alcohol) price tag. It's sure to impress your Francophile friends and I'm guessing it's very authentic. For me, it was a nice brunch but not special enough between the food and service to justify the prices.

The service was very good and the ambiance is ok but the burger the Big Mac as they call it was…read moretotally underwhelming. It tastes great but for a 38$ burger it's minuscule. If you're coming here for the burger like we did you're better off going to Hinano Bar in Venice or The Benjamin in Hollywood or Heavy Handed. Although it was delicious there wasn't much of it and it's not worth it. Their banana cream pie on the other hand was a much better deal and totally worth it. It eased the disappointment of the burger. Petit is the obvious word here and I would stay away if coming for the burger.

Petit Trois, you had me at the white tablecloths and little Parisian café vibe -- tucked into a…read moretiny strip mall shopping plaza, but somehow transporting you straight to France. The service was absolutely on pointe thanks to Kaiya, Teri, and Randy. Warm, polished, attentive, and just the right amount of fun. Hubs and I split everything, which was the right move because this meal was rich, delicious, and very filling. We started with the baguette bread service, which is an additional charge but 100% worth it. The bread, salted butter, and mixed berry spread were pure France in a basket. Next up was the French onion soup, and wow. Cheesy, full of flavor, with a beautiful broth that somehow managed to be rich without being too salty. Perfection. Then came the Big Mec burger, as seen on Food Network's top burgers -- and yes, it absolutely lives up to the hype. Definitely enough for two. Perfectly seasoned patties, melty cheese, a fresh brioche bun, and that bordelaise sauce bath underneath? Flavor-forward, decadent, and unforgettable. We rounded out the meal with a slice of French toast because apparently we make excellent life choices. Also delicious, also worth sharing. This was not just lunch -- it was an experience. Will I go back? Absolument! Next up: dinner.

Not sure how I had never been to Petit Trois, but here we were. Was in the area, so made a quick…read morereservation and we headed over. Got seated on the patio on a beautiful day, so we were perfectly happy. After a quick glance at the menu, our recommendations from our server, we decided to order. We started with the escargot, as one does at a French restaurant, and the French onion soup. The escargot cube bathed in butter, garlic and parsley and were very tasty. I mean, how can they not be when bathed in garlic and butter? The French onion soup was also delicious with ample gruyere cheese overflowing. Pure indulgence! For entrees, we all tried something different. The steak frites were.... steak frites. If you've tried one, you've tried most, so not very memorable. The duck confit was cooked well and not overly fatty, which was nice. The omelette, let me say, is beautiful to look at. You almost don't want to touch it because it is very picrure-esque, and absolutely cooked perfectly. A, dare I say, perfect omelette. Finally was the Big Mec. Now, there are a lot of good burgers in Los Angeles, but the Big Mec is one of the greats. So much flavor with the double wagyu patties, cheese, special sauce all while sitting in a Bordelaise sauce. It isn't something you would eat every day, as it is heavy, but it is phenomenal when you do. I'd say one of the top five burgers in Los Angeles, in my humble opinion. Overall, delicious French restaurant in Hollywood, a little above Hancock Park, serving delicious food. Get the escargot and French onion soup to start, and definitely get the omelette and the Big Mec, you will not be disappointed.