commecarestaurant.com

It’s hard to understand why, with so many Francophiles running about, there aren’t more French restaurants in Los Angeles. Where are the bistros, those hearty, easy to love spots that seem to be on every corner of Manhattan? David Myer, the brainchild behind Sona, must have asked himself the same question and opened Comme Ça as an answer. Not only is the food, which is on the traditional tip, lip-smacking, but the scene is grand cru people watching. Staples such as soupe à l’oignon share space on the menu with richer partners like roast beef marrow with oxtail jam and arguably the city’s best bouillabaisse. Every dish uses first-class, fresh ingredients that make all the difference. The best spot is the black and white dining room, complete with a small bar, tufted leather banquettes, and a fromager station, but any table will do as long as there’s an order of their addictive fries on it. Sometimes, the place may be a bit loud or crowded, but what kind of brasserie would it be otherwise? Myers has, thankfully, imported a hip, casually French aesthetic to a city that was screaming Allez, s’il vous plait.

8479 Melrose Ave   323 782 1178