Ambiance: It's upscale, however they could work on the…read morespacing between tables; specifically, the table for a large group blocking the walkway. It makes it difficult to exit when there's other people dining there and waiters moving around. Loved all of the cat decorations and how they kept the red theme going. It's quite dim, but personally that's preferable to it being extremely florescent and bright. Service: Johannes was very pleasant. Food: We came because we wanted to eat escargot. Our favorite French restaurant, Le Gourmet in Upland closed in 2024 or 2025 so we needed to find a new French place. The lamb loin in lingonberry sauce was wonderfully complex with the savory cheese complemented well by the sweet lingonberry. The escargot was perfect. The only caveat was that we tried the pastries of the day -- one was a puff pastry, forgetting the flavor/name and some kind of cake, maybe Napoleon? We did not care for the desserts at all, if I were to get another dessert I'd probably stick with the crème brulée. The bread and salty whipped butter were delicious, seemed house-made? The bread was slightly sweet and I had to hold myself back from gorging on it. Parking: Parked in a nearby garage for $20. I think there was an event going on.

Another incredible meal at Le Chat Noir. Thank you to our incredibly attentive and friendly server…read moreAdrien who provided truly excellent service, including making minor modifications in order to accommodate my diabetic mother. We ordered the greatest hits: the Voil au Vent (scrumptious!), the rack of lamb with herbs, the French Onion Soup + bread service, and the special of the day which was swordfish served with capers and a white wine sauce, and a rosemary risotto. The food was excellent, as always: perfectly sized and seasoned portions, with high quality products worthy of the price point. The meats were perfectly cooked to medium, juicy and just the right balance of firmness and melt in your mouth softness. Incredible! We will be back again, and again, and again. Merci Le Chat Noir!

My partner and I are regulars at the Cellar and love coming for the innovative cocktails and…read moreseasonally rotating dinner menu. The staff are always so attentive and kind and are part of the reason that we keep coming back. We felt the need to speak up for something we witnessed. When we were visiting this Tuesday, September 1st, a bit after happy hour, we couldn't help but overhear how entitled and rude the table next to us was being to our server. I'm someone that has been working in the food and beverage industry for years, but it doesn't take that experience to see that the restaurant was clearly full. Our server was tending to every table on the bar side including ours and was attentive and kind. The table next to us was making a scene and acting like our server was supposed to wait on them hand and foot. We were having a great time and decided to ignore them for a while, but eventually we noticed the gentleman from that table get up and follow our server into the kitchen when she was clearly in the middle of something. She informed him that he could not be in the employee's only area and to that he told her "Shut up, I'm not listening to you anymore". We're not sure if he felt like he had the right to talk to her like this because she's hispanic, but there is no excuse. The staff put up with too much nonsense here. 5 Stars for the craft, the service, and the patience. We've never seen this couple here and we hope to never see them disturb the peace at this establishment again!

One of the best, truly amazing service by our server - and I rarely am impressed by a service. She…read morewas so attentive, friendly and had great recs. We were celebrating a birthday and she made sure we were taken care of, from the timing of the course to making a memorable celebration. We requested lobster bisque to be less salty and it came out to perfect saltiness but very creamy. Filet mignon was perfectly medium rare. I'd come back for this filet mignon. Cocktail the cuff for the day (07/23) was lovely brandy with peaches and some other fruit and orange peel. It was very refreshing and delicious. I'd come back for this too. Perfect place for an occasion. Looking forward to coming back with my family!

Fantastic traditional Basque menu! Centro Basque is part of…read morea large property with buildings dating back to the early 1900s when immigrants from Spain coming to California found temporary housing as they found work. Many became farmers and sheep ranchers. We love the lamb dishes prepared with local ranch and farm ingredients. Beef, chicken, fish and vegetable dishes are also great. Ownership is still in the original family. All service personnel know the history of Centro Basque and enjoy talking about it. Have fun!!

I came here for a Mother's Day dinner a few months back and I'm still thinking about how deeply…read moreunderwhelming the food was. One of their signature dishes just ended up being butter noodles with sausage. My mother split a plate featuring green beans with my grandmother. I am not kidding when I say that one of the plates had cooked green beans and the other received clearly canned green beans. The service was good but the food was one of the worst meals I've eaten at a restaurant to date.

Café La Reve is a cozy, homey French café tucked away in a quiet plaza in Orangecrest that…read moreimmediately took me back to my visits to France. Like true Parisian style, you'll need to make a reservation because seating is limited and this spot is quite popular. My boyfriend and I were very fortunate they had a table available when we visited (we didn't know it was reservations-only) but the staff kindly seated us. Next time, I'll definitely call ahead. Right away, you're greeted by a warm and welcoming mother-daughter duo. They patiently walked us through the menu and shared the specials of the day. The chef himself came out to say hello and even took the time to explain a few items we were curious about. Soft French music plays in the background, creating such a calm, inviting atmosphere. *Plain Croissant: A perfect classic. Flaky on the outside, soft on the inside; it's exactly what you'd want from a traditional croissant. I'd come back just for their pastries alone, though this time I was excited to try their savory breakfast items. *Croque Monsieur: Absolutely delicious and wonderfully authentic. I ordered it with ham in the traditional style, and it came with creamy béchamel and melted cheese layered perfectly on top. The portion was generous and satisfying. You can add an egg to turn it into a Croque Madame. This came with a Provençal tomato and a potato pavé on the side, both of which were flavorful and beautifully prepared. The pavé, with its delicate layers, was such a standout. I haven't seen these sides offered at other French restaurants in the U.S., and I'd honestly return just for them. *Machaca Frances: My boyfriend ordered this dish, and it was such a pleasant surprise as a creative, well-executed blend of flavors. The short rib was incredibly tender, paired with potatoes, caramelized onions, and more, all wrapped up in a soft tortilla. The fresh pico, sauce, and avocado on top tied it all together perfectly. When my boyfriend mentioned he was eyeing this dish, the chef smiled and said the machaca filling was similar to beef bourguignon, and he was right! It had that same rich, deep, savory flavor. If they ever have actual beef bourguignon on the menu, I'd order it in a heartbeat based on how good this was. *Side salad: This had fresh greens, carrots, and caramelized onions, with oven-roasted tomatoes, and more, drizzled in a rich balsamic reduction.You could tell a lot of effort went into even the salad, and it tied the dishes together beautifully. This café really reminded me of France, which I miss so much. The space is clean, the atmosphere is warm, and you can tell the staff knows their regulars well. It's the kind of place that makes you feel like family as soon as you walk in. Spots like this are rare for both atmosphere and traditional French cuisine, especially around here, which makes Café La Reve feel even more special. I'm already planning my next visit to try their sweet breakfast options and maybe a lunch entrée. I saw in another review that they also offer dinner on Fridays by reservation, something I'm excited to experience soon. Thank you to the entire team for your kindness and hospitality. Café La Reve is a true gem, and I can't wait to come back.

Need a reservation to come!…read more Called right when they opened on a Saturday at 10am and they had seating for us at 11:15 but ended up seating us a little earlier! the food here is very very good with generously large portions and Rich flavor. On top of that extremely affordable too! We got the duck and waffles, steak bene, potato pave, and half order of the brioche French toast which were all heavenly! I really loved the brioche French toast with the fresh berries and cream! it is definitely on the heavy side as afterwards I went home and had a food coma!

This is a long-overdue post. République has been on my must-visit list of LA dining experiences for…read morequite some time. I just never realized where it was since I don't usually make it out to Hancock Park. Then one day, while I happened to be in the area, I stumbled upon it and had one of those "Wait...this is here?!" moments. You ever have one of those places you've wanted to visit forever, only to realize it was much closer than you thought? My first visit was actually for dessert after having a less-than-memorable lunch at Mish down the street. Unfortunately, I arrived later in the day and most of the pastry case had already been wiped out, leaving only a limited selection. The staff recommended the Dulce de Leche Cremadette ($6.75), and I'm glad they did. It was perfectly flaky, buttery, and sweet, with the dulce de leche tucked inside the pastry. The caramel reminded me of the caramel coating on a caramel apple. I also picked up some brownies at the staff's recommendation, and those were fantastic -- incredibly moist, rich, and delicious. Definitely a must-get. I was a little disappointed that I missed out on the majority of the pastry selection, but I was told that the pastries are made in limited batches each day and once they sell out, that's it. So if you're coming specifically for the pastries, get here early. Earlier this summer, I made the acquaintance of an OG Yelper, Joseph A., and we've been corresponding back and forth on Yelp. I happened to know that he's a regular at République, so I asked if he'd be interested in meeting me right when they opened. I figured if anyone knew what to order, it would be him. Joseph was incredibly kind and gracious enough to treat me to breakfast. I ordered his usual breakfast recommendation: the Regular Breakfast ($24), which comes with bacon steak, fingerling potatoes, a demi baguette, French butter, jam, and an egg prepared any style. Joseph went with the soft scramble, and I followed his lead. That was definitely the move. They really know how to cook eggs here. The soft scramble was absolutely divine -- creamy, delicate, and perfectly cooked. The bacon steak was a little on the salty side, but still very good. The demi baguette was excellent, especially with the French butter and jam. Honestly, I could have eaten several pieces of that baguette with the butter and jam alone. The fingerling potatoes were nicely seasoned and quite good on their own, but a few dashes of hot sauce really took them up another notch. I'll be honest: $24 is definitely on the pricey side for what you're getting, especially when you break down the individual components. That said, when you factor in the quality of the food, the setting, and the overall experience, I can understand why people are willing to pay it. We also shared several pastries, and every single one was excellent in its own right. I'm officially hooked on the pastries here. They just don't miss. Service was pretty good during my visit. One thing worth noting is that République adds a 4% surcharge to the bill to help cover healthcare for their staff. It's certainly something to be aware of when looking at the final bill. f you're looking for a quintessential LA brunch experience to take out-of-towners to, République is a great option. Just be prepared for potentially long lines, especially on weekends. I visited on a weekday morning over the summer, so I didn't personally experience the weekend crowds. My only real wait was at the pastry counter during my first visit. I've heard you can expect people lining up before they even open at 8AM, so plan accordingly. The cult following surrounding Walter and Margarita Manzke's restaurant/café is understandable. Between the food, pastries, atmosphere, and history of the building, there's a lot to appreciate here. And speaking of history, the building itself is pretty special. The property was built in 1928 by Charlie Chaplin. It became a restaurant in 1989 when chefs Mark Peel and Nancy Silverton transformed the space to open La Brea Bakery and Campanile. After Campanile closed in 2012, the building was renovated and modified to open up the space while returning it closer to the spirit of its original construction. République opened in 2013 and has been going strong ever since. Do yourself a favor and eat at République. Come for the food and pastries, but also take some time to appreciate the ambiance and the history of this incredible LA property. And whatever you do, get here early if you want the pastries. Once they're gone, they're gone! Don't walk--run to République.

The breakfast plate used to be really good & it had purple potatoes…read more I got it last month and it was off, and tasted very salty. It had regular white potatoes and the eggs seemed on the 'hard' side.

Honestly, better than most of the food I've had in Paris! I went on a Thursday night, and it was…read morenot busy at all. We each got fish as a main and we shared an escargot. The escargot is probably the best I've had. I loved how buttery it was and the snail itself was so fresh and tender. I'd definitely repurchase this on another visit. I even dipped some of the baguette bread (which had the best crunch!) into the butter and it was perfection! For our mains, we got the sea bass with lentils and the Alaskan halibut, and both were prepared perfectly down to taste and texture. Everything about its execution felt very intentional. The halibut was baked with the right amount of breading and the sea bass was pan seared to give that nice crispy texture to the skin. My only critique is I thought the lentils were a bit too overpowering because of the huge quantity, but honestly, everything else was amazing enough that I'm not bothered by it.

Always wanted to try this french restaurant and finally was invited by my family for donner…read more Very chill spot and perfect for a intimate date night. Overall this restaurant layout was pretty cool and the night we went the noise level was moderate but I can see that if its packed this place could get loud. They offer outdoor seating as well that looked cozy. Our waiter and his team was very attentive and always made sure we had what we needed so service was exceptional. Food is always an area that I leave up to everyone's own taste. To me I felt some of the dishes needed more salt but I always enjoy my food from how the chef prepped it so I can try new dishes.

Wow this place is amazing, 1st time and we really enjoyed our dinner here…read more Food was outstanding. Every thing was delicious tasty and great flavors Service was accommodating and friendly, shout out to Maya/Naya thank you for the good service Love the ambiance here so chic Def coming back here again when I'm on LA

After years of wanting to visit The Little Door I finally got to go to celebrate my birthday with…read moremy partner. The Little Door is known for their gorgeous outdoor seating under twinkly lights but be aware you cannot garuntee a spot there - only request. We had reservations on a Sunday night and they were fairly busy around 7pm. We were taken to the back seating area which is indoor. I appreciate that they have the option of a personalized dinner menu which is what my partner got for me, and they even bring you a large envelope so you can take the menu home. It took us some time to be greeted by our waitress. I felt the service was lacking. She was nice, but I felt like we were often forgotten. For our drinks I had a cucumber gin martini and my partner had the Casanova. Both were delicious! For our appetizer, we ordered the Piri-Piri shrimp. It was 4 pieces of shrimp lined up with small circles of flatbread in between each piece, seated on top of a smoky and flavorful sauce. We both loved it! For our main meal we ordered the couscous "Royale," fresh Papardelle pasta, and roasted carrots. The couscous came with one lamp chop, stewed lamb, merguez, and chicken - with a side of sliced almonds and dried apricot for topping, extra lamb stew sauce, and the most incredible harissa. I absolutely loved this dish, it was so flavorful. The pasta was a solid dish as well, and the roasted carrots were also fantastic. For dessert, we ordered the lava cake and I had Moroccan mint tea. The lava cake was well balanced with flavor and not overly sweet. The tea was fragrant, sweet, and the best way to end the meal. Overall I had a nice first experience at The Little Door. I don't think there's much left on the menu that I would want to try. I would love if they added more Moroccan-inspired dishes to the menu to make them stand out! But I feel like I would still come back, and I recommend it as a place for date night or to celebrate a birthday.

What a hidden gem!! Chef Joo really impressed us with his…read moretasting menu as it was hit after hit. The food was generous with high quality ingredients (like the Uni pasta that was surrounded with uni sauce, a fat piece of uni on top and decorated with grated dried uni). The flavors were well thought out - by taste and by visual, it was evident how much care was put into each dish. We scrapped every dish for every last bit of sauce. Service was extremely attentive and well informed about each course. Chef Joo even came to greet us towards the end of the meal. It was insightful to hear about his vision and philosophy for his craft. We will be come back to try everything on the menu!

This place is incredible. From the cuisine, the ambiance, to the service - definitely a hidden gem…read moremore people should visit! Restaurants like this are extremely rare in Orange County. Food - everything we've had is delicious, but my absolute favorites are the Hamachi Crudo appetizer and the Diver's Scallop Symphony. Husband loves the Lobster Bisque, Pork Belly Ssam, and the Umami Steak. You really can't go wrong, everything else we've tried has got great blends of complementary flavors and were delicious. It's obvious that Chef Andrew puts a lot of care and thought into his art. Service is great - attentive, mindful and personable. We've only been twice so far and they remembered us. Ambiance is amazing also - clean, cozy and feels so inviting and warm. Looking forward to our next meal at The Wild Artichoke.

First time here. My wife and I enjoyed the brunch, especially the Pineapple brûlée pancake. Great…read moreservice as well. The owners daughter works here part time and she gave us the history of the restaurant. My wife witnessed someone eating French onion soup and escargot and told our waitress that we will be back! Ohhh and the owner (Manny) came out and thanked us for our visit. Right on Main St in downtown Lake Elsinore- Must try.

Went for brunch, and it was very good! Lots of vegetarian options. Got the French toast with…read moremascarpone cheese, and it was really good. The service was very friendly and kind. Food came out in good time. Would definitely love to see more on the menu, but the selection is good.