Everyone knows LA's Little Door, which is probably half the reason most locals avoid it altogether unless on a first date or entertaining out-of-towners. Located on a reality-TV star saturated strip of LA pavement known as 3rd Street, the owners of Little Door have created a counter-style eatery and wine bar that's one of the best casual restaurants to open on the street to date. Painted a confusing shade of Cabo cobalt blue, the front terrace features black rod iron gates and façade more suitable to a Spanish tapas bar or the cantina next door. The interior space contains an L-shaped counter area and walls lined in $40 French wine and gourmet accouterments packaged in delicate jam jars. The crowd includes neighborhood know-it-alls in man-sandals and fedoras as well as French ex-pats who realize the rarity of this fine café.
The Food
Heavy leather menus contain a surprisingly lengthy all-day menu, especially given the compact dining room and casual service by super-stylish French waiters. The menu is one you’d expect find in the 8th Arrondissement or stumble upon in a casual Parisian café complete with signature dishes like green lentils, olive tapenades and homemade terrines of liver. A breakfast menu features egg omelets and sweet American-style dishes like pancakes and not-so-French waffles. Lunch and dinner offers oversize salads, provincial chicken dishes, grilled fish and bowls of homemade soups topped with cheesy, crusty bread. While a recent Britney Spears sighting scares us to think what the future holds, we can only hope this casual French café doesn’t go the way of nearby Toast.
Last Word
Bistro-style French café on LA’s trendy 3rd Street offers delightful lunches interrupted by the occasional mouthy celebrity.
