La Cachette Restaurant

1. Super long wait. At least an hour for dishes to come out.
2. The taste was whatever. Does not worth the price at all.
3. Very expensive.
4. Service was not too great. Waiter was not very attentive thus miscommunication, ended up having to pay more because there was a side order that I didn’t ask for.
There was nothing great about this place at all.

I expected ALOT from this place since the food is so expensive… But I must say, their truffle risotto wAs worth all my money! Soufflé was not as good as chocolat’s (so sad this place closed)…but it was decent :)
The duck was excellent!
Service was excellent. They turned all their lights on just for us! :)

I had no idea what to expect. For some reason, I thought the place would be empty, pseudo run-​down and full of octogenarians. It was full, very pretty and full of octogenarians.
Service was friendly and the food was very tasty. For better or worse (depending on whether you’re looking at things from my perspective, or my wife’s) the martinis are very big.
We ordered a bunch of appetizers, not because we’re cheap, but because we were idiots and both ate a late lunch. I can only speak to 3 of ‘em cause the 4^th was what looked to me to be a normal salad. In spite of just dogging the s.o. for ordering a normal salad, I too had the beet carpaccio under the recommendation of the chef. If that’s your thing, and it’s mine, then you’ll be pleased. It may not be super creative, but it is still delish and better than any other I’ve had. The lobster bisque is very rich, too rich for the life partner, but not for me. Speaking of rich, the last dish was the foie gras, which was very good, but I’m not going to order it again, especially in front of my former vegetarian lover. It was just a little too much for me.
I hardly remember the dessert, did I say the martinis come in a big glass? It was a rhubarb thingy which is not my thing, but I really enjoyed it.
Bottomline, I’d recommend this place to people of any age. The staff was killer and made an already good evening better.

A lovely little restaurant serving food that has clearly been cooked with great care and attention to detail. It is an expensive restaurant, but worth it for the quality of food and pleasant atmosphere. I enjoy the ambience, though it was a bit quiet when we first arrived, early on a weeknight.
I started out with a lobster crab bisque, which was boldly flavored and creamed to a nice, smooth texture. My main entrée was the New York steak, which was pretty good, but to my taste did not require the cheese that topped it. I don’t like to reintroduce the milk to its source, as it were.

I went for DineLA also, but found myself there on a Saturday night where the DineLA menu is not available! FAIL! It’s OK though, although it was more expensive we still had an excellent meal and enjoyed ourselves.
I was happy with the food, but was very disappointed with the service. I mean, it was clear we were not regulars to the restaurant, and perhaps we looked as if we never would be, so they didn’t bother explaining anything or coming to our table as often as they did to others. Perhaps I need to learn to look like I fine dine and less lost… but either way, the people around us were just spending more so they were definitely treated as more important.
That aside, I found the food to be excellent, we had the cheese plate, scallops, and duck. Of course these have far more complicated descriptions on their menu, and I’ll leave you to look them up at their website, but it would take a considerable amount of space to describe it all, so let’s just go with «it was rich in flavor and well-​presented.» Also the rhubarb tart we had for dessert was one of the best I’ve ever had.
They offer pick-​up picnic baskets, that could be an interesting service to use one day.

I went to La Cachette for the first time last night for DineLA. Like others mentioned, it is a very cute hideaway restaurant. The service was spectacular, the waiters all had French accents to match the cuisine and there was no even a hint of pretentiousness. As soon as I walked into the restaurant (which took some time to figure out, in short, use the back entrance by the valet), I was comfortable. The staff, lighting, décor and overall ambiance created a great atmosphere for taking your time to enjoy good food and good company.
I enjoyed the experience so much that I asked the maitre’d for their regular menu and he said that they’ll be continuing the DineLA promotion for the entire month of February! So go treat yourself! He also said that the menu changes daily, depending on the freshness of the meat/​food and the chef’s preferences for that day and how many cups of coffee he’s had (ha!). Bottom line, if you want to know the menu, call the day you’re planning to go. Personally, I would more than gladly take anything the chef prepares that day.
Best dish of the night: Pear and gorgonzola salad. Soft and and sweet cooked pear paired with a melted creamy and tangy gorgonzola = yummyyummy. Add some balsamic reduction sauce and leafy greens = yummyyummyyummmy.
Happy eating!

DineLA… a foodie’s dream. Many regular and upscale restaurants participate by creating a 3 course meal for a wallet friendly price of either $ 34 or $ 44 for dinner. It’s cheaper for the lunch courses if they offer it.
La Cachette is on Little Santa Monica in a cute housing neighborhood. You wouldn’t even know it was there except for the christmas lights on the bushes in front. Parking is valet in the alley behind the restaurant as well as the entrance.
Walking in, we all thought the décor & atmosphere was very quaint. Kind of reminded me of Maison Akira, but toned down just a bit.
The appetizer course had three options and we ordered one of each. I had the grilled pear with arugula salad. It was delicious. I believe there was blue cheese in the center of the pear. That really gave it a good flavor combo. The other appetizer was a fish soup. It was creamy and very fishy. I was expecting something more like cioppino, but it was much thicker and very fishy. Not too bad though. The third appetizer was thinly sliced papaya with a couple of small bellinis. It tasted like smoked salmon. I think it was the cream-​ish sauce on the papaya. Very interesting dish, but just okay.
They offered two main courses. A grilled pork chop with an apple relish and mashed potatoes. And a grilled sole with mushrooms and green peas in a light white wine sauce.
The pork chop was fabulous and especially great with the apple relish. The fish was light and very fresh tasting, but had bones in it which was odd cause I don’t believe we were at a Chinese restaurant.
Desserts. Rum cake, apple tart and crème brûlée. The rum cake was to die for. It was served warm with some pineapple compote in the center, caramel drizzle and vanilla bean ice cream. The apple tart was also very good. Light, crisp and not too sweet. It was also served with vanilla bean ice cream. The crème brûlée. hmmm…the flavor was good. The sugar crust was good. Maybe I’ve been watching too much Top Chef, but the filling was way too runny. It needed to be much firmer.
The service was very good. They were attentive and accommodating. The chef even came around to say hi to all the tables.
They would’ve gotten 4 stars, but the bones in the fish and the runny crème brûlée are unforgivable. Maybe the regular menu is better. I might come back and try it.

La Cachette is one the most nicest unpretentious yet sublime French restaurants on Little Santa Monica. Yes, I know that the location might be a little bit tricky and easily accessible, but there is plenty of parking spots! and where the hell in LA you find easy parking!?!
The executive chef and owner, Jean Francois Meteigner, is the most welcoming chef ever! Not only his food invites a breath of fresh air and creativity of fine dinning, but his personality and great smile make you feel really special. The customer service is impeccable and graceful.
The food, oh the food. The chef is known for his natural approach to traditional French cooking but with minimal use of butter and diary. His precise technique and innovation shines through his revolving menu of traditional items with a twist, such as flatten rhubarb used as a candy stick or strawberry pearls. No matter where you look at, there is always something hiding behind the simplicity — love for food.
La Cachette also host special tasting menus, as well as special event dinning, such as Valentines or Christmas. If you can’t get enough, sign up for a cooking class with chef Jean Francois and you won’t regret it. There is a different class every Saturday and It’s about 100 $ including lunch and wine and unforgettable company.

On the only day I can be a dominating and aggressive witch and get away with it (birthday!) — I FORCE some unlucky soul to take me here, lest they want me to reveal their deepest and darkest secrets. I’m a cheap date otherwise, so it works out right? well, not really… I’m not usually a cheap date.
They know how to do fish here. Get the Dover sole! (widely regarded as the tastiest fish in the world by foodie snobs — and this time I actually agree with them. aaaaarghhh) Order it PLEASE. The crab and lobster bisque is so divine it makes men cry (well at least 2 that I’ve witnessed). For dessert, I recommend the baba since its so hard to find excellent, homemade baba. As you could imagine, the décor is very classy with beautiful old world french furniture — you won’t leave unimpressed.
The plating is out-​of-​this-​world breathtaking. I speak enough french to make the waiters a wee bit submissive. garçon! garçon!

Oohhhhh. La Cachette. I dream about this place. …I LUST after this place. It has ruined me for all the other food in the universe.
I went for the six course prix fixe with wine pairings. When we first arrived, they presented us with a small amuse-​bouche. I ate eat greedily in excitement!!! And couldn’t wait for what was to come! They brought out fresh bread, with a tasty olive tempenade… SOooo delicious!!!
For course 1, they brought out Spanish razor clams in a fragrant broth. Baby carrots, shallots… It came out with a white wine. Nice pairing.
Course 2!!! YEAH! Foie gras! Seared foie gras of the tenderest tastiest most delicious kind. Also on the plate was a foie gras/​celery pâté ravioli. The celery pâté was even amazing! It was paired with an ice wine, which was such a crazy, BUT INCREDIBLE, decision.
Course 3. Seared sea scallops in a lobster sauce risotto, paired with a rose. Very good.
Course 4. MMMMmmm. Seared/​baked sea bass in a saffron emulsion, with a side of baby brocollini, baby carrots, and shallots. Paired with a drier white. Delicious.
Course 5. Horse-​radish encrusted baby rack of lamb, cooked medium rare, with ratatouille. I FELT like the rat in ratatouille because everytime I took a bite I felt + saw fireworks! Paired with a red bordeaux. Mmm.
Course 6. Dessert! The waiter cam carrying two plates. Both looked good but from the *Moment* I laid my eyes on the plate with the mini-​orange crème brûlée, mini organic french vanilla ice cream with grand marnier sauce, and fresh candied oranges grenadine, with a small piece of candied rhubarb, chocolate covered orange, and cinnamon stick. Paired with a ’77 port. SO SO SO SO GOOD!!! The other desert was a fresh Napoleon with organic whipped crème and fresh organic berries. It was paired with some zesty lemon sauces. All really good.
So, all in all, this may be the best meal of my life! I’m glad it’s hidden away, and I’m almost hesitant to write this review because I don’t want this place filled with douches.
On a few other notes: Service was incredible!
The crowd was a little on the older side, but WHO CARES?! You go to fine dining for the food, not the scene. More over, this place doesn’t come cheap. BUT, it’s worth every cent, and then some.
So all in all, I will glady sell my soul to eat at La Cachette every day.

This is definitely a special occasion restaurant, unless of course you have a penthouse or two on the Millionaire’s Mile. Two entrees, cocktails, appetizers, and desserts put us well over $ 200.
My girlfriend and I had a baked gorgonzola pear appetizer (which was tangy sweet and surprisingly delicious), escargots, duck cooked two ways, vension (superb sliced breast meat and duck served with an orange compote), and of course the soufflé. The duck was delicious, but the venison was too gamey for my girlfriend’s taste (not because of how it was prepared but because of the inherent taste of venison). Chocolate soufflé was superb, and is one of the few places that serve such a decadent soufflé now that the Moustache Café is no more.
The service was attentive but not overbearing. The place was extremely difficult to find and looked like it was converted from an old house, and the area is almost exclusively residential. I’ll assume its zoned correctly. The interior reminded me of a grandmother’s house, from the furniture selection, interior colors, and art.

My brother asked me for a recommendation for a nice fancy restaurant to take his lady friend for a nice fancy dinner, and La Cachette instantly came to mind. This despite the fact that my experience at La Cachette is limited to one weekday lunch (paid-​for, holla) with a bunch of dudes I worked with over the summer, none of whom I was looking to sleep with.
I don’t speak French, but I gather that «La Cachette» translates roughly to «impossible to fucking find,» and boy, they weren’t kidding. Google it, GPS it, better yet, make someone else drive and pretend to fall asleep. But fine, I suppose it’s part of the charm.
And charming it is. The place is intimate and cozy, like a cute little cottage. It was pretty empty at the Friday lunch hour, with our table isolated from the four or five other diners in the room (who were, incidentally, all way retired). Décor is very warm with light creamy colors, crisp and clean but not clinically so. The service is polite and attentive, though I can’t speak to whether that changes in busier hours.
Food was sublime. Great bread always gets me excited for a meal, and La Cachette has some great soft-​on-​the-​inside, crunchy-​on-​the-​outside bread. The meal more than lived up. I had the pear and gorgonzola salad and the grilled swordfish. Both beautiful dishes. The salad was especially interesting, and months later, I remember it better than the main. The pears came soft and heaped with warm gorgonzola, and there was a teeny tiny side of arugula. It wasn’t a big dish, but I kind of appreciate it when a salad boasts yummy fixings like pear and gorgonzola and actually makes them the centerpiece rather than the decoration giving a color boost to the plate of greens. The whole thing was drizzled with some incredible pomegranate balsamic sauce and it was such a perfect blend of sweet and tangy that I thought I might cry. Swordfish was tender and served with a wasabi-​based sauce that was spot-​on. Not a scrap left on either plate.
I was dismayed that no one else seemed to want dessert! I’ll have to go back with another sweet tooth, because based on the rest of the meal, I can’t imagine that any dessert La Cachette serves up would be anything but delicate, flavorful, and sinfully delicious. I have to say, I’m much more jealous of my brother’s dinner reservation than of his well-​ordered love life.

This place continues to be my favorite classic style Frenchy in LA… had to work Thanksgiving so my sweet friends had everything boxed up to go for me, since I’d missed dinner reseravtions. And even if I was a bit bummed out that this is the very first T-​Giving in a while not spent over a home cooked meal, the elegance of each course carefully packaged and brought back to my buddy’s place were all my favorite traditional T-​Giving delectables… but with a French kiss. No… I mean twist! (so sorry, a Freudian slip)
La Cachette Thanksgiving Menu:
First course:
Crusty Baguette with Kalamata Tapenade
Organic Yam, Butternut Squash and Corn Soup (I think the yam gave the traditional butternut some great depth) I feel it could have been seasoned better with a dash of cinnamon & a bit of nutmeg but the texture & consistency was perfect.
Second course:
Grilled Vegetable Terrine with Truffle Oil, Capers and Mustard Dressing
Not personally too hot on traditional terrine, as its traditional style is a mold, ususally involving pâté with other featured ingredients. This was more like a vegetable millefeuille with delicately sliced veggies carefully stacked and smothered with a nice tomato/​caper based sauce that was accented with truffle oil. Sexy! I devoured this wholeheartedly with ultimate enthusiasm.
Main Course:
Roasted Turkey Two Ways with Chestnut Spinach Stuffing, a Corn Polenta Cake, Red Yam Purée and Cranberry Citrus Relish. The turkey two ways were obviously delicately sliced white meat turkey breast paired with a dark turkey roulade that had been thinly sliced and quite a nice presentation. I shall dismiss the polenta, for I’m not a huge fan of it. The yam purée was the perfectly prepared and nicely presented via star tipped swirl and the side of cranberry & citrus relish was just the right tartness & sweetness to offset the above savory turkey.
Dessert:
Sampled thier dainty little slices of both organic pecan and pumpkin pies… Hey, I said just a sliver! Both were pretty light, decadent, airy, flavorful and quite the harmony as I’d like to experience.
Now would I’ve opted for this over a home cooked T-​Giving? Well. In my personal family, J expats like myself & parents don’t really celebrate T-​Giving properly. It usually involves J-​Food and fam-​friend gatherings… with not-​so-​much-​American-​turkeyness-​only J-​food-​presented. This was quite the great alternative!

When?: Friday, 8:30PM dinner reservations
Who?: Hubby and I.
What?: Hubby had the Open Table «Appetite Stimulus Menu» (soup, fish, chocolate cake) and a cabernet. I had the Alaskan cod, a chocolate soufflé and soul kiss cocktail. We shared the escargot.
So?: Apparently this place has changed since my hubby last came here. He said that the restaurant use to be more upscale and intimate and now it was just like regular restaurant, nothing fancy. Our food was average and our server was really having an off night because I saw him going a little bonkers and actually threatening the other servers. I mean our service was fine, but he shouldn’t have lost his cool with the other staff and vented it in public.

I ate here a while ago with my parents, but i still wanted to write a review for the purpose of writing about the foie gras. Mmm.
I love foie gras and this place does it well. I also like that they have a few selections of foie-​torchon, classic, etc. For me classic foie gras with the fruit and brioche accompaniments is the best. The other food was good too, but the foie gras is the only thing i can think about. Unfortunately, the prices here are sky high, so this is more of a special occasion restaurant.

Came here last night after being way over dressed for the overly hyped Trader Vic’s but was perfectly dressed for this place. My honey told me this was one of his very special places and that I will really like it.
I did. the interior is a very light French design with patels and bright interior. One would think for the prices it would have a more subdued and more darker wood look but never the less it was well appointed.
The service was EXCELLENT. Our server was spot on and it was a very European style serving (aka not hovering like most US style restaurants). It can be seen as a bit distant to some but knowing this going in you are prepared.
The food was very delicious however my salad had way way too much vinegarette. It was quickly replaced with another salad. I had the scallops dish and it too was very well prepared and perfectly seasoned.
OH and you MUST MUST try the souflle but order it ahead so you don’t have to wait the 25 min for it!
Will I be back… hmm yes just it is very pricey for my budget… But noting the place had 5. *5* Rolls Royces parked in front along with a Ferrari I knew it wasn’t going to be cheap

This is THE special occasion restaurant of Los Angeles. Whether it is a romantic dinner for two or a larger celebration, the food and service never disappoint. I think my world would collapse if they ever stopped serving the duck two ways, the breast and compote in a fruity sauce is heaven.
That is until you taste a single bite of the deliciously rich chocolate soufflé (don’t forget to order early!).

We returned to La Cachette, and everything was lovely. Our server was very polite, professional, helpful, friendly. This time I had started with a «pomosa” – pomegranate juice with champagne, really nice. The food was excellent.
The Chef sent out a couple of amuses: tomato on puff pastry with saffron, smoked salmon and crème fraîche, I think, on blini. There were two starters that were specials for the evening, and I couldn’t give up either of them, so I had both. First, the Chef’s creation: layered foie gras, duck aspic, and a quail egg, all in a cylindrical shot glass, served on a bed of crushed ice. Nice presentation, and really delicious! The foie gras and aspic flavors complemented each other so well, and then when I got to the quail egg, it added even more to the blending of flavors and textures. Plus, aspic is really quite special, I mean, when are you ever going to make aspic at home? The sauteed fresh sardines were delicious, I could never pass up fresh sardines. I also tried a bite of the fig salad, and that was very good.
I opted for the duck two-​ways for my main. It was perfectly cooked sliced duck – really beautiful, and shredded duck with I believe it was sweet and tart cabbage. I also tried some of Denita W’s black cod, and omg that had to be some of the best black cod I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a lot. Plus my glass of pinot noir was very nice.
For dessert, I had one of the special tarts, the wild strawberry. When I am fortunate enough to be offered wild strawberries, I never say no. It was beautiful, sweet, perfumey strawberries. The Chef added some red currants for a little bit of a punch, and the tartness worked very well with the strawberries, plus they’re so pretty, the red currants looked like little holiday lights.
Chef Meteigner was so friendly and welcoming. And clearly well loved by many of the diners there. Now I know why. La Cachette is a top notch restaurant, housed in a gorgeously decorated house. Warm and inviting, and delicious!

Could it be true? 5 stars for Gyu-​Kaku AND La Cachette? You got it, baby!
Our good friend Tony, who coincidentally told us that Gyu-​Kaku was the bomb, also recommended this French restaurant named La Cachette. Now mind you, I am not a big French food fan. In fact, we went to Paris about a year ago and I almost swore it off for good. I did go to Bastide not too long ago (and enjoyed it) but still. Yes, the sauces are supposed to be exquisite but I’ve always been skeptical about French food… small portions, pretty expensive, not THAT tasty. Well, tonight that all changed.
Cont’d with pictures at:

Awesome Country French food!
The Chef was at L’ Orangerie for 10 yrs previously.