Le Petit Café

Absolutely love this place. Delicious food, continental ambiance, lovely service. Was my Mom’s fav place and I understand why. Plus you can practice your French :)

I visited Le Petite Café today for lunch with some co-​workers. My first time and what a treat was in store for me. Wonderful food and service in a very un Santa Monica setting. A very cosy and fun place. A menu just big enough to be exciting but not too big to be overwhelming. Plus some excellent specials. We all ate something different and were not disappointed, everything being very well executed. The desserts are amazing here, definitely a must have. I plan on coming back many more times in the future.

Everything here was very delicious. Escargot could have been a little softer and the quiche wasn’t as soft and creamy as that which my friend coworker makes, but the liver and patte and lemon dessert were all delicious. Great ambiance in the restaurant, nice quaint and delicious place.

Delicious French food! One of the best fresh onion soups I’ve ever had with lots of melted cheese & you can bet I got every bit of it! Yummy crab cake with a side salad. Amazing homemade dessert too! I love that they bring out the dessert tray!

Super friendly staff. Authentic french food. Casual. Nestled in a residential area — an unexpected gem. Fresh warm bread. Crab cakes with a creamy sauce were tasty.

Classic French in a casual, country French atmosphere. San Dabs in a lemon butter caper sauce were excellent. Salads were fresh and flavorful.

Finding decent French place is hard among so many faux-​French and/​or over-​the-​top «fancy» options. I love French food, I’ve been to France on several occasions, I just love unpretentious places that are all about the food.
I recently tried this spot for lunch with my wife, then we returned two weeks after. I can believe I’ve driven by and dismissed this place for so long. We’re working our way through the menu, so far with great success. Duck, Calf liver (my two choices), Trout with almonds, Filet mignon (my wifes), have been all awesome. Stating it all up with Pâté and glass of wine… heaven!
Highly recommended if you want simple, delicious typical French (not French,-American, not California-​French «experiments») place.
Didn’t have troubles waiting to be seated both times, which was awesome. Nothing kills the mood like waiting for a table. Maybe both times we were a tad early.

This place usually has a long line and its been that way for the past 3 years at lunchtime.
I finally went today and it was so good! I waited for the onion soup it was super cheesy with deep flavors and just delicious!
The turkey club had great turkey. Most our party had the quiche and they raved about it.

This is a very cute French restaurant with amazing food and warm service. It’s tucked away in residential area and is super easy to miss. I love the ambiance here. I usually order fish dishes here (and whatever they have as catch of the day). The food has never been disappointing.

Very tasty pâté and hot baguette. Good amount to share with another person. I had a duck plate. It was tasty, but the sauce was a tad sweet for my liking. I had crème brûlée for dessert. It was perfect! Not too sweet.
Recommendation: make reservations. The restaurant isn’t big. It fills up fast.

Cozy and tasty little French cuisine, very friendly and like the restuarant next door. If you are looking for a nice French restuarant with the taste and less expensive, This is definitely one of them.

This has become my boyfriend and my new favorite restaurant/​date night choice. The Sancerre wine is SUPERB, the French Onion soup is better than some I’ve actually had in France, and each entrée I have tried has been excellent. Go for the side of potatoes and vegetables! My favorite was the crab cakes, but they often run out on a busy weekend night. Second choice is the salmon, so good!
The ambiance can be either romantic or even suited to a work dinner. Wait staff is helpful and kind.
Definitely worth a try!

I went to Le Petit for lunch with my daughter. It’s a cute restaurant. I have to say that the dinner menu looked impressive. There were good options for lunch as well. However, as a vegetarian, the only lunch options were garden burger and quiche. I ordered garden burger, which came with salad or fries. It was good. My daughter as a 7 year old picky eater ended up getting French fries. I wish there was a kids menu and healthier options. Service was awesome! Overall, I am giving 3 stars for a vegetarian but 5 stars for overall for meat eaters.

I’m fairly certain that Le Petit Café is a family-​owned restaurant– it’s quaint, friendly, and authentic. My friend and I loved the ambiance, but we’re as happy with the food which was just OKAY.
PARKING: your pick of street parking or the free parking lot.
SERVICE: 5/​5, no doubt about it. We had the sweetest waiter and waitress tending to our table the entire night.
FOOD:
+ Crab Cake (⁵⁄₅): MUST TRY. The crab cake came with baby mixed greens and a side of mustard seed reduction sauce– I loved all of it
+ Poached Salmon (²⁄₅): I couldn’t get through more than 1 – 2 bites without feeling off. Its green sauce made me feel sick and I really didn’t think it paired well with the salmon.
+ Roasted Duck (⁴⁄₅): Duck was tender and was marinated in honey ginger glaze reduction sauce

My wife loves this place. Like, it’s her favorite place in LA. It was my birthday so she decided that she could pick the place for my birthday dinner and not me (funny how marriage works…). Had a table for 8:30 and got seated right away. By 8:45, we still hadn’t been acknowledged by our waiter. Which brings me to my next point, the guy was a jerk. Not only with us, but I saw how he was interacting with other tables. The guy just wasn’t good. Compare him to another waiter who we had later on, the waiter that my wife usually gets, who is amazing. Absolutely personable, knowledgable, and just a pleasant to deal with. You could tell he was happy to be there. Anyways, off of my soap box. Got ravioli for the appetizer and it was very very good. The sauce that they used on it was outstanding. Got crab cakes for the entrée and they were pretty good. Definitely some of the better ones I’ve had. Wife got a soup of the day as an appetizer and the sandab. That’s her go to dish which she loves. I tried both and they were very good as well. Finished up dessert with a chocolate dessert that I can’t seem to recall. It was pretty good as well. Damage was about $ 120 including everything but the food and ambiance are worth it. Only reason I’m not rating this higher is due to the original waiter. I’m sure we will be back, and will definitely ask to get the second person who was our waiter.

We joined some friends in the middle of the meal and sampled their entrees and desserts. Even without having a full meal to myself I am looking forward to being back and trying out even more from their menu. Authentic French speaking servers and staff, super quaint hole-​in-​the-​wall with charming rustic décor.

I LOVE this restaurant! I went there for the first time and had the BEST French onion soup and petite filet of my life – no joke, and I really appreciate good quality food. The ambiance was casual and warm. The service was good. Lovely meal. I can’t believe I’ve lived in LA for 16 years and never knew of this place. It’s a hidden gem!

Had a wonderful date night here with my husband. The food and service are excellent. They were so gracious and gave us a reservation last minute. The snapper and warm goat cheese salad are phenomenal! My husband had the duck and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Wonderful place. Came with a work group for lunch. Good food and friendly service. Will definitely come back for a date night.

Always delicious and service, love the filet mignon and salmon dish. The food is consistently great and the wines selection is great. I would definitely recommend for low-​key romantic dinners as well as small gatherings. Unpretentious and welcoming!

Really savored the duck, onion soup, and crème brûlée. Atmosphere was intimate and charming.

Delicious but expensive for lunch. It’s $$$ not $$

yes it’s petit and almost hidden around the corner from Olympic and Bundy. It’s also has a petit menu but what they make is divine, especially the escargot and fish. The wait staff are kind and accommodating, the place is unpretentious and inviting. Great on the way out for a night in West LA.

Big fan — escargot was fantastic!
I got a lunch sandwich and it was a good sandwich but nothing amazing.
I feel like i might eventually give this place a 5, but only had time for a quick lunch — it was busy and loud inside but service was prompt and courteous. Seating was cramped too.
I will come def come back to try the onion soup and some desserts and some of the other appetizing things on the menu.

Dinner here on Saturday. We were headed to Royce Hall to see Randy Newman, a classic American Songwriter. What better way to start the evening than an authentic French meal.
The fish was delectable the beef, delicious. The service was friendly and swift.
This tiny place tucked into a quiet street screams great taste and quiet country elegance.
Go, Enjoy!

You really do feel as though you’ve left Santa Monica and landed in France when you’ve taken as seat in this quaint little café.
We found it by accident while working at our Santa Monica office and have had a difficult time breaking out of our tradition of Quiche Lorraine, cheese plate, and bottle of Pouilly Fume. The one time I didn’t do the quiche, they didn’t have it (I almost cried). I had the Sand Dabs with lemon caper sauce instead. Served with heavenly mashed potatoes… more food than I could ever think of finishing… so rich.
It’s quite small and if you go on a hot day, be prepared to be somewhat uncomfortable. There doesn’t seem to be central air. Each table has a chalkboard with the day’s menu and it’s filled with traditional French fare… escargots, French onion soup, roasted duck, etc.
The waiters with their heavy French accents are incredibly friendly… not what you’d expect in a Parisian bistro… or a Santa Monica restaurant for that matter. Love the place.

To be fair, I would most accurately give this place a 3.5. The food was good, the waiter was cute, and the waitstaff was attentive. However, the food wasn’t so good (especially considering the price) that the I could whole heartedly give this place a 4 despite the flaws.
Flaws: the Bordeaux wine was ick. This might just be me and my personal taste but the wine was watered down (despite being advertised as their «heaviest») tasting and generally lacking in flavor. Second, and perhaps most majorly, the fruit fly problem. Maybe it was the corner table that I took, but one fruit fly ended up in my half finished glass of wine. To their credit they replaced my wine (with another pour of the tasteless Bordeaux, sigh) but I had to be hyper-​vigilant about the other three fruit flies swarming the table. Fruit flies should be something I combat in my dinghy apartment, not at your restaurant.
Anyway, as I left the owner I presume) opened the door. A nice touch and nice touches all around, but please fix your fruit fly in wine problem!

oh my gosh! This place is so amazing, my boyfriend brought me here the other night and I’ve been wanting to go forever, being a huge french food fan!
So when we got there it was quaint and small and lovely to be, romantic and great ambiance. So then our server approaches, miko I think his name was, but it was french BC he was an authentic french man! He was absolutely wonderful and completely made the dining experience!
I went off of all his recommendations, starting with the mushroom salad which was incredible and then I had the trout!
Overall my experience here was amazing but it really was the service and our waiter that sealed the deal for this sweet night!

One of my favorite restaurants! I’m here at least once a week. Welcoming, friendly and knowledgable (also French speaking) staff and authentic French cuisine, without the pretentiousness.
My boyfriend loves the calf liver with shallots & parsley, I’m obsessed with their mushroom soup, French onion soup, red wine mushroom sauce that comes with the filet mignon. So happy to have this gem 4 blocks from home :)

Love this family owned restaurant!
The food was absolutely delicious and the service was so friendly and outstanding.
Le Petit Café feels like you are on vacation in a small café in France!
We had amazing hot crisp bread, mussels with a delicious sauce and yummy crab cakes for starters, then I had sand dabs for the first time in my life and they were fabulous and my fiancée had the special which he raved about. The mashed potatoes and beautifully cooked vegetables were perfect sides. The chocolate mousse was so good I wouldn’t share it with my fiancée and he loved his apple tart with raspberry sauce and cream. We were able to sit and enjoy our meal with our wine and never felt rushed. The atmosphere was just what we wanted! We have been here before and would highly recommend the mussels a la crème and french onion soup, that are served at their happy hour and for dinner. We are looking foward to coming back again soon.

The restaurant is tiny… uh petite, yes, but so cute. It looks like it was once a house and has been converted into a restaurant. Ambiance is loud and casual. Imagine your living room filled with 30 people chatting. There were two dining rooms.
There are 4 parking spots designated in a lot for this restaurant, and the space of it, you guessed it, petite. Parking was not an issue for us, seems like a lot of the patrons are local people who walked there.
We didn’t get the memo, but that night we went, all the customers were in their 50s or older. There were roughly 50 – 60 customers. We were the only table of people in their early 30s. We felt a little out of place.
The service is good and food was alright. Maybe it was just the dishes we ordered. I did love the French onion soup. It was delicious and smelled so good. I would order it again. The crab cake was delicious as well, made with real crab meat of course. But at $ 11 for one crab cake, the French onion soup was a better value as an appetizer. The petite filet mignon was very tender and grilled just right as we had ordered. The seasoning was a bit too salty though. The poached salmon with dill sauce, I didn’t appreciate it as much. The dill sauce was overwhelming the salmon. It tasted more like dill sauce with salmon and not the other way around. Plus poached salmon, that was pretty plain. Now I know I prefer grilled salmon as opposed to poached.
I highly recommend making a reservation. They are only open 4 hours or so for dinner and they can get filled up with reservations. They might not be able to seat you as a walk in. We were lucky a couple didn’t show for their reservation so we took their table.

France.
No passport.
No airfare.
Just a willingness to let your technology «sleep», allow your heart rate to return to «resting» as you take shelter in this charming bistro. Partake in hospitality, civility so generally absent these days, and fare exquisitely, authentically prepared, perfectly portioned, timed so you’ll never glance at your watch yet still make your next appointment better for the repast, the respite.
That was my President’s Day Le Petit Café lunch experience, lucky to score one of the four parking spaces in their lot, my dine was meant to be. If only I hadn’t been working, a glass of wine, perhaps Vouvray, would have complimented the herby, garlicky, buttery, tender escargot followed by a Gorgonzola, walnut adorned, perfectly dressed, half spinach salad framed by equally perfectly cooked hard boiled egg and locally sourced tomatoes.
Bread.
Those of you who follow me know I do NOT eat bread at home or in restos, opting to politely send breadbaskets back. I ate Le Petit Café’s bread but skipped the additional butter due to it being an escargot vehicle. Actually I mopped up every drop in the baking dish with a soft, semi-​crusty, rustic bread reminiscent of my Mom’s.
Unfortunately there was no room for dessert even though my lovely, knowledgeable server tempted me. Le Petite Café is renowned for their Tarte Tatin and Crème Brulee.
Dinner here is in my future when friends can join me either inside or at a table on the café’s small sidewalk extension along Colorado Avenue, when there can be wine and the business park workers have left for the day and the parking is easy.
Leave your car on the street during the week, be prepared to walk a bit to avoid a ticket in a permit zone or on a sweeper day. Alas, it is the parking that prevents this from being a five star experience as the food, the service clearly is such, 4.5 stars for me!

Oui!
That is French for yes. If you do not know this then I am unsure how you will fare at this restaurant, as they are pretty French here. They have French accents, they come over to your table with a little chalkboard, etc. I am not sure that the chalkboard thing is French but if you don’t know what oui means, you don’t know anything about pretty much anything so I can make up whatever I want.
The sky is underneath the ground. Cars can fly. I was a king but I gave up my crown to focus on my knitting degree. I am almost finished. I will have a Ph.D. in knitting. Just like all of the men in my family before me.
I’ve lived a few blocks away from this restaurant for the past three years and I just tried it for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I was on the verge of giving this four stars but my lady friend reminded me the other day that she wasn’t that impressed with it and it has forever tainted my memory. Sorry, café. It’s not you, it’s her.

Here’s another one of our faves. I hesitate to write about it because it’s so small, I’d hate for it to get packed. But it deserves the accolades because it IS a lovely little bistro.
We come here for two things (Vegans turn away): 1) CALF’S LIVER that is so moist and juicy, it’ll make your taste buds sing; 2) fantastic Kir Royal, my absolute favorite drink on this planet. And while everything else is fab, these two things take my breath away. I’ve been craving the calf’s liver for weeks now and I finally satisfied that yearning this past Friday.
The joint is just as I remembered: intimate and cozy, and weirdly situated in a mostly residential area (think blocks upon blocks of apartments). Neighborhood folks have been coming here for years, and the lovely lady owner still greets guests warmly with her French accent.
Price is totally affordable especially for the culinary skill and French authentic food you’re getting. If you want a romantic dinner, this place exudes all sorts of romance from the music, to the French waiters, to the tasty fare. You will leave smiling.

The French onion soup is to die for! It takes 15 minutes to prepare but it is totally worth the wait :) The ooey-​gooey cheese along with the onion flavor is divine. I could almost eat this all on it’s own.
The rainbow trout is absolutely phenomenal as a dinner option as well. It is prepared with a scrumptious butter sauce and topped with capers. I didn’t even order it myself and I kept asking my roommate if I could eat more off her plate. The next time I come here for dinner I am definitely ordering the rainbow trout.
The ambience of this place is super cute too. The staff are mostly all French and the inside is adorned like a Parisian café.
I highly recommend this place and I can’t wait to continue to come back for more.

This was my first time here! We had our family dinner with about 10 of us and they catered very well to a large party. All our drinks came on time and were never empty because thy were very on top of refills. Our alcohol beverages came in at a reasonable time.
We order appetizers, escargots! So delicious. French onion soup which was like family size. We only got three but it was enough for everybody. There was however a little air time between our appetizers and entrée. Too much air time, to the point where we all started to run out of things to talk about… My entrée was veggie ravioli. I love ravioli and it was perfect. I also had a bite of the chicken liver and livers Not my thang and it was still good! Oh! And the dessert was sooooo good. We got the crème brûlée and the chocolate moose. There was nothing left. They were licked clean.
I would def come back again to try the trout since the night we came, they ran out of trout.

Yep, vermutlich so wie sich ein Amerikaner ein französisches Restaurant vorstellt. Und die Vorstellung ist zugegebenermaßen lustig. Cup soup du jour ($ 14,25) ist echt nichts Anders als eine Suppe, die man bei uns zum Mittagstisch bekommt. Solltet Ihr zufällig oder bewußt da sein, laßt Euch Grabcakes ($ 15,95) nicht entgehen. Alles andere hat schon mal woanders besser geschmeckt.