I cancelled my reservation in advance and was charged $25pp ($75). There were tons of other reservations available/availability on Resy (it is not as though the restaurant lost out bc of my cancellation). Called the restaurant to request a refund and was told by the owner that I needed to reschedule in order to be reimbursed - No restaurants operate this way, let alone charge a fee for a cancelation in advance. Luckily Amex reimbursed. Poor management!! read more

I had one of my favorite meals in all of LA here. From the food, the drinks, and the decor, everything about Violet is spectacular. To start, we had the Quiche and French Onion Soup, which were both great for sharing. The quiche was simply out of this world--the pastry was so flaky and delicious. The french onion soup was also very rich and flavorful, and every spoonful made you want to have more and more. I got the Duck Leg Confit and my friend got the Mary's Organic Chicken. Both dishes were cooked perfectly. Plus, it was great to have all of this delicious food while having some Chimay Red. The outdoor seating here is beautiful, and because of the timing of our dinner reservation we got to see it transition from natural sunlight to their lighting setup. All in all, this restaurant is my favorite in Westwood. I'm always looking forward to my next visit to Violet! read more

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A beautiful bistro that gives small French village vibes. The food and service was great, a good place to share delicious appetizers with wine. read more

They have such a simple menu And the service is fantastic But this is not a place for authentic French food Other than it is kind of on the overpriced side The atmosphere is lovely like really wonderful and lovely very pretty yard and the entire restaurant is beautiful they even have a cooking school upstairs The food is truly mediocre read more

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I stopped in here to grab dinner after a visit to the Getty museum. I have been trying to find a French restaurant in LA since moving here 7 years ago and heard really good things! Being vegetarian, I figured I wouldn't have many options but... THE FRENCH ONION SOUP IS VEGETARIAN! Not only that but it was THE BEST I ever had in my entire 33 years of life. The croutons - no words I have been dreaming about this soup ever since! Then... when I thought my palate couldn't be satisfied anymore.. the bartender (I forgot his name... I think it starts with a C) helped me find a wine to pair with the soup. My god. It was perfect!! He showed me a wine from a vineyard in Napa and took his time to talk about the story behind the winery. I was more fascinated by this story than I was for the entire 3 hours I spent at the Getty. I loved my experience at Violet and will be coming here regularly to get my fix (yes, I'm an addict ) of the French onion soup and that bartender who made my night by being so attentive and accommodating. read more

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I found Violet to be, as promised, an adorable bistro that would be perfect for a date, quiet lunchtime place to read, or girls day. I discovered it thanks to an instagram post highlighting their cute ambiance and the popular Violet spritz cocktail. I walked over around noon on a Friday, which is right when they open. There were already people dining inside and the ambiance is very cozy, the inside dining space was small but not crowded, clean, a woodsy interior and a well stocked bar that looked very classy. I chose to sit outside, which I loved despite the overcast weather. Personally I was chilly and the hostess kindly offered to turn on a heater if I got too cold. The staff are prompt, friendly, & attentive. She gave me a choice between two tables, one in a little alcove. It was just private enough for one, or two, while still enjoying the views of their garden-like outdoor dining area, which is extraordinarily cute and also very cozy. You no longer feel as if you're in Westwood. I went with the Violet Spritz, which was highlighted on IG and also recommended by the waiter as their most popular drink, but they all sounded good. All cocktails were $18, except a mimosa. The drink was refreshing and lightly sweet, well made. It came out quickly. The mint tasted fresh and was the perfect garnish. It may have been the fastest I ever finished a cocktail- not too strong or watered down or sweet. I wasn't hungry but got the almonds, everything else seemed too much for one non-hungry person. The table next to me got the baguettes which did look amazing. The appetizers also started around $18, except the olives or almonds. Most of the crowd seemed to be older, UCLA staff or ladies lunching, at least on Friday afternoon I saw few younger people. Overall it's pricey, not the place to pick in Westwood if trying to save money (compared to others), but you're going to get lovely vibes. It's a perfect lunch or dinner date, I even sent pictures to my friends. I will be back to try some real food, along with another wonderful cocktail! read more

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This space is stunning. Tremendous effort has been made to creat what is now one of the most charming and romantic restaurants in Los Angeles. The staff is lovely and attentive. The French onion soup was delicious yet lacked the necessary amount of caramelized onions. Nice balance of flavor though. Rich veal stock kissed with thyme. I missed the necessary Sherry. If it was there, it wasn't enough. Chef tip, a tiny splash of sherry b4 service makes a big statement. Beet salad- as beautiful as it is delicious but slightly over dressed. Chicken- a fail. Tasted gamey. The dark meat was rubbery and the white meat wasn't juicy and tender enough. A simple 10% salt brine for 20 minutes along with more herbs would have solved everything. Steak - meh. The meat was properly cook but it was absolutely drowned in a terrible flavorless peppercorn sauce. A solid veal stock reduction is needed followed by a kiss of cream, a heavy dowsing of cognac, and a generous amount of peppercorns. What they served was cream of beef soup. This should have been presented with just a drizzle of the sauce and the rest on the side. Big disappointment. Chocolate mouse was Devine. I wanted to love this place. If they could get the food right, they would have nothing short of magic. read more

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Met friends for lunch and it was just ok. As a fan of French food this wasn't close. Putting Le in front of menu items doesn't make it French. I had the Brie sandwich and the bread-cheese ratio was off. The baguette was too much for the amount of other goodies on the sandwich. The potato wedges were interesting and very good. So-so wine list. Very basic. Nothing to brag about. read more

The restaurant is lovely, particularly the patio. Romantic, and an interesting mix of people. Very good food and service. Also recently enjoyed a private pasta making class and dinner for a friend's birthday. The family style dinner of pastas, salads and a few proteins was absolutely delicious read more

Everything delicious and the place is beautiful. Has a cooking school on second level.

Came her for a bday celebration with a group during a quiet weekday lunch. The place is gorgeous, feels like you stepped into a restaurant in a tiny European village. Food is delish, everyone enjoyed their food--fries were amazing. Service was restrained friendly. Food took a long time to get out and it took us a long time to get our bill. Not sure if it's understaffed or we were ding the whole French vibe. But a lesson for us busy Angelenos Will definitely return. read more

Everything was phenomenal, from the ambiance to the food to the service to the ... everything! We were seated in an indoor ceilingless patio with adorable hanging lights and an open sky. Brick facade, candles, ivy ... It's like you're stepping into a Parisian cafe. The caesar salad was perfect but the beet and goat cheese salad blew my mind. Somehow the chef made the beets taste soft and sweet and tangy and the blood oranges and candied cumquats just added to the party in my mouth. This place also nailed the French onion soup, my mind was blown when I found out the broth was vegetarian. But the craziest moment was when I ate a head of cauliflower for dinner, a first. It was rotisserie cooked and covered with pickled shallots and some sort of pumpkin seed salsa verde over a cauliflower curry purre. Good Lord! I did not know a vegetarian dinner could be so tasty and satisfying. My dinner companions got the Salmon, it was cooked perfectly, and the smashburger, which my friend raved about. Topped it off with a perfect cheesecake. Color my stuffed and happy. I don't get to LA very often and I'm pretty sure I saw a movie star eating with a group of guys in the corner table. So that was a cool fun sighting. Don't worry, I played it cool. But the place was packed and buzzing, it seemed like a hip spot with lots of positive energy. Finally our server was phenomenal. Never had to wait for a thing she was Johnny on the spot. Hands down a perfect dining experience. read more

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Food, Service and overall charm of the restaurant. Always a place we like to go when in LA.

This place is an amazing experience, the food is delicious, the place is adorable and the service is great. 100% recommand because of the excellent ratio quality-price. read more

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I will not come back The French onion soup was overly spiced with pepper. The gnocchi was mundane and doesn't deserve such a price. The only perk is how cute the restaurant is. read more

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An awful evening due to staff. Wasn't able to order a glass of wine for 15 minutes, then waited 20 min for it to arrive. The waiter, Fabien, was flat out rude. Our order took about a half hour to arrive but then we waited another 20 minutes for the fries we ordered. No explanation or apology. Asked if our late arriving friend could sit at the empty table next to us and was told it was reserved. No party ever came to fill that seat. I asked friends who have been there and their experience was the same as mine. The food is ok but generally unmemorable. read more

The service is wonderful, the courtyard is absolutely gorgeous, and the tuna nicoise salad is delightful. Didn't love the Westwood bowl, rice was soggy and not very flavorful but the fries are killer! read more

Last night we came back to Violet for another try. Third time is definitely the charm! The food, delicious! This time, we split the quiche; the creamiest yummiest quiche I've ever had and the cheese smashed burger with FF, soooo good! The food (once again) exceeded my expectations. I'm really happy to say that I would definitely return! Yayy! Thank you for the birthday dessert, it was delicious! read more

A gem that gives a mashup of Paris upscale-casual and plant-lover. Well manicured ambiance. Simple menu, pretty plating. The tuna niçoise tuna was fresh and yummy, better than average salad, but dressing-heavy (in LA that's bold). Excellent service. Reservations are a must. Even for lunch midweek. read more

We were in town to drop off our daughter at UCLA for her first year and wanted a place where we could have a fancy dinner out and enjoy each other's company being empty nesters for the first time. Violet Bistro was lovely - we were glad from a noise perspective to be seated on the second floor on our own little balcony (we were next to the staff restrooms and what looked like a classroom for cooking classes - so there was a little bit of traffic from staff for that reason), but it was quiet up there and we had a quaint view of the first floor courtyard seating. The menu was very traditional French fare, we had the steak frites and the trout almondine, both were excellent. The bread and butter provided at the start reminded me of the baguettes you can get in Paris, deliciously light and crusty with salted butter, yum! read more

We found Violet's from another yelp review. We arrived just in time to secure a table on their lovely patio. The ambience is great. We had attentive service and the food was well prepared. It is a limited menu for lunch. We found their Nicoise Salad and burger very tasty and fresh. The dinner menu offers a few more options. We will definately be back.. read more

Violet Bistro - Exterior view on the patio. Lots of bright light and greenery. - French Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I had a dear friend visiting from out of town and I decided to take her to Violet Bistro for the Haute Tea experience. It was the perfect choice ....I would describe it as "casual elegance". The food offerings were wonderful and plentiful, we had to request a box to take some home (no problem). We were offered a glass of sparkling rose before selecting our tea, which I thought was a nice touch. The restaurant itself is quaint and beautiful, you could not ask for a better setting to sit and catch up with an old friend . Last but not least, the service...our server was very attentive without disturbing our flow of conversation....brilliant. Next visit, dinner! read more

Amazing solo dinner at the bar! I had a delicious mocktail, olives, green beans and the French onion soup. The staff were friendly and the ambiance was super lovely. read more

Violet Bistro - French onion soup, green beans and olives - French Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Too expensive for the quality of food in my opinion but still a nice place to go spend time with friends in an upscale restaurant. Also great for first dates and their drinks are fun. read more

Violet Bistro - Cauliflower, Quiche Verte - French Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Absolutely delicious experience in such a charming space. I can't say enough good things about Violet Bistro, I came here for an organized group dinner and got to enjoy a meal with a group of about 20 in the Kitchen Space. Here goes my F.A.B review Food: Food was delicious, homestyle cooking and shared plates. Our meal started with bread and french butter. If someone is serving french butter, go. You already know it will be good. I don't know why or how french butter is so good but it's nuts how delicious that butter is. I loved their take on Caesar Salad. Delicious with so much umami, deeply caesary if that makes sense. I love when a place has great veg options and the roasted cauliflower was delicious with a touch of their curried sauce. The roasted chicken was delicious, served family style. The breast was a touch dry but the juicy au jus was there waiting to help you smoother the chicken. I think if time allows and the chicken just rested a bit more before carving into, it would have been epic. It was served with some delicious potato wedges sliced thin so it resembled a thick potato chip. It was an interesting shape, lots of surface area for a nice crunch with a soft texture on the inside. The fried potato wedges were served with a delicious chickpea aioli. And then, the piece de resistance, the height of my experience, the Basque Cheesecake. I learned from the chef that they blend it and it's easy to make. This is something I must learn. Ambience: Beautiful space, charming patio, I was so surprised! Bottom Line: 5/5 would go again and definitely would recommend to others! read more

Violet Bistro - Violet Caesar Salad - French Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Cute spot and cute outdoor patio in the back The hostess was very nice as well as the waiters Wine menu to me was weak and corkage fee of $35 a bottle is steep Food menu is good but one I have seen many times in LA There is no bread. That costs $7.00 I had the tomato salad with feta cheese that was way over dressed and salty. It could have been good as the ingredients were fresh and tasty but someone had a heavy hand. Also expensive for $17 for a tomato and feta salad I had the hangar steak which was cooked well. There was not enough chimichurri sauce - but that too was overly salted. Usually hangar steaks are $29. At $39 is was overpriced in my opinion The halibut was the best dish. Cooked perfectly. However the corn it was on was not salted at all and needed some. The halibut was the same price as the hangar steak. (????) Last we had dessert. The banana dessert was good. The chocolate cake was like a black out cake that could have been great but to me the cinnamon ruined it Well, we tried Violet but I definitely would not return as our dinner for two at $200 a couple made me feel violated read more

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Adorable ambiance, perfect for a date night. The food was tasty but not knock your socks off. Soup was about a b+, I wish there was more cheese and it was charred a little more. The broth of the muscles was delish, however the portion was a little small in my opinion and the muscles slightly over cooked. The fries were delicious. Overall we enjoyed the experience and will definitely be coming back around for the summer seasonal menu. read more

Violet Bistro - Muscles and a side of fries - French Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I love this sweet little French bistro! Housed in an authentically old building of Westwood, in walking distance of both Trader Joes and the Geffen Theatre (IFYKYK) the food is sublime (they even have a little cooking school upstairs that offers classes), well portioned to satisfy. This is not your carrot medallion and a squirt of foam plate. They offer French and American food -- duck, trout, steak, chicken, quiche... even their own double smashburger (which is delicious!) The cocktails SLAY, I order the Violet Spritzer every time and it has never let me down. But I have also tasted other people's choices and been tempted! Ambience is delightful, soft lighting and comfortable seats inside great for a date or a catch up with good friends. You must book a table in advance! It's not a big place and they fill up at the most popular times. When the place is full, it can get a little loud for me in the indoor seating -- but there is a patio area out back that is my favorite spot, and sound dissipates better out there. The patio area (although tiny) reminds me a little of Disneyland's New Orleans Square. I really don't want any more competition when I want to book there, but they deserve a stellar review for the several lovely experiences I have had there that fed my stomach and my soul. read more

Cute French Bistro in Westwood with authentic French cuisine and attentive service. They teach cooking classes here, and apparently they are qualified to do exactly that; they have the techniques of elegant French food perfected! The feel of the restaurant is like being in France, without the need to get on a plane. read more

Fantastic vibes, even better food and service. Going to be thinking about the berry shortcake for months...

5(00000)/5!!!! During COVID, I've kept my expectations relatively low for most restaurants given the circumstances. But the Violet Bistro experience exceeded even my pre-COVID dining expectations. First, the charming ambiance was exactly what I've been missing ever since the days of indoor dining. There is a courtyard inside with beautiful decor and lighting. We were seated on the second floor on a balcony overlooking the indoor patio. It was nice and secluded. The service was impeccable. I never felt ignored, but also I was never overwhelmed. The food came in a timely manner and I was only treated with the utmost respect the entire time. I believe the owner even came over and said hello right as we sat down. Now, for the food (all 5/5, would recommend): 1. The striped bass - absolutely delicious. Crispy skin, perfectly cooked fish in a fresh, light sauce. The white beans gave the dish some body and the broccoli I was also cooked perfectly (just the right amount of crunch. 2. Steak frites - a simple and classic dish, but done to perfection. The steak was seasoned wonderfully with a delicious sauce that had a unique flavor. The French fries were crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. 3. Simple salad - fresh lettuce, crunchy pistachios, dressed lightly with a nice salty touch from the cheese! 4. Violet rice - MMMM this was great. The rice had a sweet and savory flavor with a great addition of caramelized onions. Finished off the meal with an americano. I was just so impressed. This restaurant fills a niche that is needed in Westwood for a classy, charming restaurant that makes for an intimate dining experience. I will be back to try everything else on the menu!! read more

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There is no particularly good reason to come here. The Yelp rating for this place is wildly generous. The first clue to the disappointment you will experience is the size of the restaurant. They have crammed as many tables possible into the two story space (plus outdoor space). I am sure this increases revenue but the number of tables far exceeds the capabilities of this kitchen (and creates a loud ambience that borders on unpleasant). You will get an ok, but flawed, meal here and pay excessively for the privilege. The problems are particularly evident with the fried food selections offered here (for example "tempura" artichokes and french fries). Due to the number of tables here, it is evident this kitchen does not fry to order. They fry up ahead and the result is soggy and oily. The burger they offer is $31. And they do NOT include fries. You have to pay $12 additional to add the fries and what you get is oily and soggy. The burger itself is pretty good (overly salted and not great). But why is this just decent burger accompanied by soggy oily fries priced at a total combined price of $43? As they say, fool me once... read more

We go to Violet regularly. Love their ambiance in the garden area. The service is prompt and efficient. Love their steak frites with peppercorn sauce and the Caesar Saad. Highly recommend!!! read more

My son treated me to a birthday dinner at a restaurant of my choice. I didn't hesitate to choose Violet. This is definitely my favorite French restaurant at the moment. I don't think you can beat the atmosphere and decor. The staff was friendly and the food superb. I highly recommend the steak au poivre, the duck, and sitting on the patio with all of the twinkling lights. read more

Mon dieu! What incredible food and service. My favorite is Salade Nicoise and I've probably eaten at least a couple dozen, in the US, Canada and France. Here's my verdict: Violet Bistro makes THE best Salade Nicoise ever! My husband was very impressed with his hamburger and fri Our next table neighbors were speaking French and eating the most stylish, wonderful looking quiche. It was very exotic, a crust pocket filled with cheeses, eggs, herbs and spices. The back room garden will be the site of our next meal. It's gorgeous, as are the waiters and waitresses. All in all, c'est manifique! read more

Came here before our show at the Geffen -- was blown away. My lady is vegan and this place accommodated us in great fashion. Had the salad, the French onion soup, the cauliflower, the chicken and the chocolate mousse. Cauliflower was best I've ever had -- honestly. Chocolate mousse texture was something i still think about days after Our server Megan was top notch -- drinks were heavily poured, service was good -- would definitely return. The atmosphere here is like nothing else on this side of town. read more

We went to Violet last night for the first time, the first of many times we will dine there in the future. What a perfect restaurant. We started with the baguette and the marinated olives...delish! I had the Half Chicken, my husband had the Trout. The food was so tasty and the service was great. Oh and the Pomme Frite, beyond. We met the owner Dana, she was so friendly and chatted with my friend Laura and I about the restaurant. I loved the crowd, I loved how she knew a lot of the clients. We skipped dessert this time but we will be back. Thank you for a lovely experience Dana. read more

We ended up not eating here for a few different reasons, but FYI if you have a dog, then you can only be seated in the curbside parklet. They only allow service dogs in the courtyard garden. read more

I've been wanting to try Violet Bistro since last year, and was so happy to finally visit for my birthday dinner! Street parking was scarce at 7 p.m., but then again, this is Westwood Village. We parked in the structure across the street, at 1100 Glendon Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024 (Westwood Center Parking). We got there about 10 minutes early, but we were warmly greeted by the hostess and invited to hang out at the bar. I ordered the Enchanté (mezcal drink) and he ordered the Double-Barrel Aged Old-Fashioned. Both were solid drinks! Once we were seated, the waiters were friendly and attentive. We were warned that portions are generous here, which they were! We ordered the fried artichoke, olives, le double smashburger with fries, and the bistro steak with salad. The steak was amazing; it melted in my mouth like butter, and was cooked to medium perfection. For dessert, we ordered the basque cheesecake, and my partner asked if they could bring it out with a candle. The rose gold candle was so cute and the pomegranate seeds and "Happy Birthday" chocolate sauce letters were a welcome touch! We've eaten at other "fine dining" restaurants in Los Angeles, and for once, we actually left fully satisfied. We'll be back! read more

Super charming restaurant with delicious food and great service! What more you can ask for?!