Bar Etoile

Matt B. and I went to Bar Etoile a couple weeks ago and immediately ran into a friend of mine, who was there with a large group celebrating a 40th birthday. I know I'm just a middle-aged mom, but believe me when I say my friend is very cool, and she was rolling with a very cool crew. I took this as a sign that we'd picked the right spot for a fun Thursday night out without kids.The reservation was easy-ish to make on Resy a few days in advance. The place was mostly booked, but I was able to grab bar seats at 8:15. The restaurant was super busy when we arrived, and we got seated closer to 8:30. The restaurant was charming, an elegantly decorated French bistro/wine bar with a cozy, bustling vibe. The bar was large and central, with a dozen or so counter seats. It was nice there, though the experience was probably faster and less formal than in the rest of the dining room. The bartender acted as our server, and we were in and out in less than an hour and a half. He was great, though, friendly and helpful.We also got excellent guidance from the sommelier. He talked to us about our dinner order and wine preferences, then presented us with several reasonably priced options. We ended up with a bottle called Se Kwa Sa?, which is more or less French for "what is that?" This was a natural French red, which we would never have known to pick on our own. It was lovely, and outside our usual lanes.The food was delicious. We started with a cheese plate, which came with four wonderful cheeses I'd never heard of: Aries, a sheep's milk cheese by Shooting Star Creamery; Briana, a raw cow's milk cheese by Jacob and Brichford; Apricity, a soft cow's milk cheese by Alemar Cheese Company; and the Big Woods Blue by Shepherd's Way. They came with preserves, raisins, radish, and thin crackers of toast.We love a yellowtail crudo and have gotten several variations in L.A. over the years. Bar Etoile's was a standout, silky kampachi and Calville Blanc d'hiver apple covered in a flavorful garlic-and-almond ajo blanco sauce, with a pop of calamansi lime. My cool friend also hooked me up with a taste of the Caesar beef tartare, a delectable house signature.For our mains, we shared the striped bass and the steak frites, both superb. The fish was beautifully cooked, served over fennel and caramelized sunchoke purée and finished with salsa macha. The steak was a tender medium rare, and it came with perfect golden fries and Montpellier butter, a green, herbal compound butter that went splendidly with both steak and frites.We were pretty full by dessert, but had enough room for a buttermilk vanilla affogato and some blood orange sorbet. Both were light and satisfying, but I particularly enjoyed the tart sorbet. We got little pates de fruit with the check (I think passionfruit), a last sweet bite to end our meal.We live close to the Area Newly Designated as Melrose Hill, and I imagine we'll be back to Bar Etoile for more wine and French-Angeleno cooking. It's a versatile place where you can celebrate a special occasion or grab dinner at the bar.

I like this casual & modern restaurant/ bar. When we were there, the majority of the crowd was older and the restaurant had a sophisticated vibe. The noise level was medium-loud but it didn't bother me at all.Food: They didn't have too many items on the menu so it was easy to order. The wines were good. Actually, they were really good. I was happy with everything we ordered. "If the ingredients are fresh, the dishes will go well with the wines they serve". I thought that was the whole point of their menu. The cod was cooked perfectly. The Beef Tar Tar and Rockfish Crudo were fresh. Polenta was rich and flavorful :-) Maybe the Rockfish Crudo could've been better with a different type of fruit. But it was still good tho. The only thing I didn't care for was the chocolate tart. It wasn't special. I thought their dishes + wines were nice together. I will definitely go back.

Heard a lot about this place so we decided to come by. First impression - it's a busy spot! Almost every single table was taken! We were greeted immediately and asked for our drink order. The drinks came quick. We got to ordering some foot and the waiter gave some suggestions. We started with the cheese tart - I think this should be served with bread. The jam made the dish better and it would be so good smeared on some yummy bread. The crudo was our least favorite - the mayo thing that the fish sat on wasn't flavorful. When we got the yams and the tartare we were super happy. Both had so much flavor and were presented beautifully. I'd come back for those dishes. The steak frites was good - steak was cooked nicely but way too salty. We ordered the chocolate tart for dessert because it mentioned passion fruit on the menu but the passion fruit was more of a paste on the side under something else. Not our favorite. Overall it's a cute new spot that'll probably get better and better over time. Worth checking out.

Such a great new spot for the area! The inside is cozy but with enough light to see your dinner partner. The service was excellent, and the food was even better. The herb salad was so tart and incredible - I could have eaten four bowls. The bread came out warm and was the perfect complement to the salty butter. The steak frites were also delicious! Perfect for a date night or evening catch up with a friend.

The place was good with great service. The chicken and steak were solid dinners. The place itself felt more 70s diner than French Bistro but still had charm. French Bread and butter always a win. The only thing I did not think was good was the Gruyère Tart even though it was highly recommended. Maybe it was an off night. Overall, great spot to try.

What a thoughtfully designed space! From the matchboxes to the plate designs. So cute and welcoming!My absolute favorite (and most unique) bite was the caesar tartar. It was creamy with the homemade dressing, crunchy from the thick cut bread, and umami from the steak. Delicious! I wasn't expecting to love the crudo as much as I did - the thinly sliced pair made the soft texture from the fish a perfect bite. Also don't sleep on the desserts! I LOVED the sorbet (the texture was *everything*) and the chocolate pie (not sure exactly what it was called) was the perfect amount of sweetness. I recommend going with a friend and splitting g dishes - they were all delicious! SO good! I'll definitely be back!

My friends and I went to Bar Etoile for dinner a couple of weeks ago and I still think about the meal to this day. The stars of the show for me had to be the yams, steak frites, and cod. Each dish had a unique flavor that left me wanting more after every bite. The service was incredible and we were greeted almost immediately as we arrived. The lively ambience and expansive drink menu (which also includes non-alcoholic alternatives) makes this a great place for good conversation with wonderful company. Looking forward to visiting again soon!

This place is such a gem!! Service is amazing, food is spectacular; crazy to believe a place so nice is so close by!

Never been moved after being sat at the bar because of another reservation and then being sat at the worst seat facing the pole to see someone else take the bar seat. Very odd service.

The vibe of the restaurant is lovely; the restaurant is darkly lit with wonderful tasteful decorations on the wall. The servers were delightful and attentive, describing each item in each dish. I ordered the Cheese Tart, Yams, and Polenta, and each item was standout. Everything was delicious and creative.The Cheese Tart looked like a slice of pie dusted with matcha but was very smooth, creamy, and savory. The jam it came with was a perfect pairing. Overall I really enjoyed it and the also was surprised by the form factor of it. The Yams were excellent as well. They were well cooked, and covered in a sauce that both stood on its own and accentuated the flavors of the sweet potato. This was a dish I have not had at any other restaurant and will be back to have this again. Finally, we had the Polenta. So yummy and flavorful - not your average, boring polenta. I will be back - very rarely am I inspired by an eclectic but great mix of ingredients and flavors. My only tidbit is that they didn't have that many vegetarian options but given how good they are - I wouldn't dare take a point away from them.