Lilly's French Cafe & Bar

(310) 314-0004

1031 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291 33.9922 -118.4717

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Neighborhoods: Venice, West LA

LILLYSFRENCHCAFE.COM

Price:

$$$

Last updated 6.20.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Cash, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Romantic Dining, Brunch, Outdoor Dining, Business Dining, Notable Wine List

Cuisine:

French

What People Are Saying About Lilly's French Cafe & Bar

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

French cafe serves a variety of traditional items, including salads, sandwiches, seafood and meat dishes and more.

Editor's Tips

Brunch Special:
Sunday brunch, served from 11am to 2:30pm, also features a variety of $12 specials, including omelettes and sandwiches.
B.Y.O.W.:
For a $15-$20 corking fee, you can enjoy your own bottle of wine during lunch or dinner.
Lunch Special:
The daily prix fixe lunch is only $12 and includes soup or salad and a sandwich (steak, chicken or grilled vegetarian).
The Extras:
The restaurant serves a special Sunday brunch from 11am-2:30pm.
What to Drink:
Order a drink from the bar which serves wine, martinis and beer.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. the outdoor patio has a great romantic ambiance that adds to the accents of the waitstaff, and the cuisine which is just totally from the french pallate.
  2. will com back because the atmosphere and the food fel like in france.
  3. For a romantic outdoor dining experience, Lilly's is the place.
  4. Casual french dining with a romantic patio.
  5. Lilly's has everything going for it: great location, delicious food, pleasant waitstaff and wonderful ambiance.
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. The salads (I believe they grow their own vegetables) and dessert are WONDERFUL and the service is up to par.
  2. The desserts--chocolate souffle with pistachio ice cream, blood orange sorbet, and grape ice cream with blueberry filo (looked like a blueberry crepe)--were delicious.
  3. the desserts are awesome.
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. Oh, and they know about wine, so if you are like me and not an expert on french wine, they can suggest wine for specific dishes.
  2. I've been twice with my girlfriends and it's a great plae to go for wine and aps!
  3. Nice wine list.
  4. enjoyed the wine the waiter suggested.
  5. Waiters will are happy to impart their knowledge and steer you in the direction of a good wine suitable to your tastes.
  6. Our waitress recommended the wine which was great!
food quality
78.9300012588501% positive
  1. Lovely place, great food, good prices
  2. The food was really, really good: warm chicken sandwich on fabulous french bread, fresh spring salad, and split pea soup (so good I ordered a second bowl).
  3. both the food & the staff are authentic & great.
  4. Oh, and they know about wine, so if you are like me and not an expert on french wine, they can suggest wine for specific dishes.
  5. highly recommend the mussel dish.
  6. The menu is a mix of french brasserie and restaurant classics like juicy steak with french fries with some traditionals such as ceasar salad, and franco-cal dishes like goat cheese puffs that are pretty sublime.
  7. Go next door to Joe's -- nice place, same price range, better food, and much better service.
  8. brought our group of eight here for a celebratory business dinner--a well-traveled, upscale group--and ended up embarassed by the listless greeting, the indifferent waitress (an 18 percent tip was added automatically, perhaps explaining her lack of enga
  9. Lilly's has everything going for it: great location, delicious food, pleasant waitstaff and wonderful ambiance.
  10. and poor food
  11. The food was slow coming from the kitchen, the bread basket went un-refilled, and any change to the menu seemed especially challenging.
  12. In fact, it seemed to be a huge inconvenience to him that I actually expected to receive food at all.
  13. You can tell everyone is having a great conversation; in other words, not a place where people are worried about making connections in the biz, checking each other out; but intent on full enjoyment of a meal with their
  14. The fish is also excellent.
  15. the seared ahi tuna salad melts in your mouth, the fish is always good, even if there is not a lot of selection.
  16. First the staff was cold and disorganized, the food was fair to poor.
  17. The food is decent, not great, but passable.
  18. Fantastic food at terrific prices
  19. we have a great time and great food the satff very good but the food amazing.
  20. The grilled salmon was good, but it was a very small dish.
  21. The appetizers where weak, escargot lacked flavor, the lobster bisque had no lobster and was more like tomato soup and not good tomato soup.
  22. Then, because I had read on this site many reviews that said the food was just ok and the waiters were terrible (yes Joe's and Axe were booked and we had to stay on Abbot Kinney)- I was persistent to even get our order in.
  23. And I really don't like chefs who refuse to cook meat (the Hanging Steak in my case) the way the customer wants.
  24. have liked every dish I have ordered.
  25. don't generally go here to be surprised by unique dishes but to eat great food.
  26. loved Lilly's, the waiters were really cool to us and the food was excellent.
  27. Great food
  28. The dishes we ordered were good--I thought the salmon was the best.
  29. The orange sorbet is delicious but the lemon tart is big enough and heavy enough for two to split.
  30. ordered the Canard a la lavande, a roasted duck breast specialty, which was delicious.
  31. the service was great, the food was great, and going there for lunch is a bargain!
  32. When I finally asked for a fresh cup, our classy waitress brought the entire huge thermos to our table to splash in a 3 hour old re-fill.
  33. Loved the food.
  34. I'm a big fan of French onion soup, but it was only mediocre here.
  35. the outdoor patio has a great romantic ambiance that adds to the accents of the waitstaff, and the cuisine which is just totally from the french pallate.
  36. The frisee salad with lardons and a poached egg is the best I've had outside of France, but some of the other salad dishes are simply average.
  37. I've been coming to this place for years and I've never had a bad meal.
  38. Incredible food at great prices.
  39. White table cloths and fresh baguette on the table perfect the French touch.
  40. Lilly's has wonderful food.
  41. Poor service makes good food difficult to enjoy.
  42. even the chicken (which is usually a boring dish) is great.
  43. Everything was delicious.
  44. The service is terrific, the lunch is inexpensive with lots of options and my favorite dinner dish is Mussels and Fries.
  45. will com back because the atmosphere and the food fel like in france.
  46. think for a date spot, this place is great, it's not too pricy, middle of the road but the value of the food is expensive.
  47. The French bistro menu was limited but the food was ok and the service was slow and mediocre.
  48. Wonderful, authentic french bistro -- unfortunately this includes the standard-issue french attitude.
  49. possibly the best food on Abbott Kinney
  50. Food was tasty - they serve french fries with everything that resemble McDonalds but better.
  51. to our surprise, we read the menu at the door, and found the prices pretty reasonable for french food.
  52. The desserts--chocolate souffle with pistachio ice cream, blood orange sorbet, and grape ice cream with blueberry filo (looked like a blueberry crepe)--were delicious.
  53. However, my friends and I were disappointed with our Sunday brunch entrees: the chicken salad and the onglet a l'echalotte had somewhat dry meat.
menu variety
71.4300012588501% positive
  1. The service is terrific, the lunch is inexpensive with lots of options and my favorite dinner dish is Mussels and Fries.
  2. Our server was very nice, pretty and very helpful with the menu (the fact that she spoke French was very helpful).
  3. The food was slow coming from the kitchen, the bread basket went un-refilled, and any change to the menu seemed especially challenging.
  4. the seared ahi tuna salad melts in your mouth, the fish is always good, even if there is not a lot of selection.
  5. The menu is a mix of french brasserie and restaurant classics like juicy steak with french fries with some traditionals such as ceasar salad, and franco-cal dishes like goat cheese puffs that are pretty sublime.
  6. to our surprise, we read the menu at the door, and found the prices pretty reasonable for french food.
  7. The French bistro menu was limited but the food was ok and the service was slow and mediocre.
overall
87.5% positive
  1. You can tell everyone is having a great conversation; in other words, not a place where people are worried about making connections in the biz, checking each other out; but intent on full enjoyment of a meal with their
  2. Go next door to Joe's -- nice place, same price range, better food, and much better service.
  3. waitstaff is awesome, the quiche is great, i really like this place.
  4. great place for lunch
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. don't normally do it, but I loved this place and I can't wait to return.
service
65.0% positive
  1. the service was great, the food was great, and going there for lunch is a bargain!
  2. Worst service ever!
  3. The waitstaff are very professional and it's refreshing to have service that is not intrusive -- not "Hi, I'm so and so and I'll be your server tonight.
  4. The service is always amazing and the price is right.
  5. both the food & the staff are authentic & great.
  6. Very much like the excellent service at La Cachette, although obviously slightly more casual.
  7. Our server was very nice, pretty and very helpful with the menu (the fact that she spoke French was very helpful).
  8. The salads (I believe they grow their own vegetables) and dessert are WONDERFUL and the service is up to par.
  9. loved Lilly's, the waiters were really cool to us and the food was excellent.
  10. had to write after I saw something about poor service.
  11. Go next door to Joe's -- nice place, same price range, better food, and much better service.
  12. The service, however, is consistently slow and rude.
  13. Upon complaining to the manager/owner, his attitude was much the same, which explained more why he allowed such rude, stuck-up attitude upon his staff.
  14. Then, because I had read on this site many reviews that said the food was just ok and the waiters were terrible (yes Joe's and Axe were booked and we had to stay on Abbot Kinney)- I was persistent to even get our order in.
  15. The service is friendly and prompt and the prices are very reasonable for such a charming setting.
  16. enjoyed the wine the waiter suggested.
  17. In a great neighbourhood we were expecting the typical excellent service you experience on most of Abbott Kinney.
  18. The service is terrific, the lunch is inexpensive with lots of options and my favorite dinner dish is Mussels and Fries.
  19. When I finally asked for a fresh cup, our classy waitress brought the entire huge thermos to our table to splash in a 3 hour old re-fill.
  20. Poor service makes good food difficult to enjoy.
  21. brought our group of eight here for a celebratory business dinner--a well-traveled, upscale group--and ended up embarassed by the listless greeting, the indifferent waitress (an 18 percent tip was added automatically, perhaps explaining her lack of enga
  22. The service was awful.
  23. First the staff was cold and disorganized, the food was fair to poor.
  24. went to Lilly's about 2 weeks ago and had the absolute worst service I've EVER had - rude, disorganized, inattentive.
  25. Small, intimate and friendly, this place offers some of the best casual French dining in town.
  26. The service was great and very friendly.
  27. The French bistro menu was limited but the food was ok and the service was slow and mediocre.
  28. Our waitress recommended the wine which was great!
  29. You can tell everyone is having a great conversation; in other words, not a place where people are worried about making connections in the biz, checking each other out; but intent on full enjoyment of a meal with their
  30. The server was so incredibly snotty, however, that I actually couldn't in good conscience leave a tip.
value
85.71000099182129% positive
  1. In fact, it seemed to be a huge inconvenience to him that I actually expected to receive food at all.
  2. think for a date spot, this place is great, it's not too pricy, middle of the road but the value of the food is expensive.
  3. Go next door to Joe's -- nice place, same price range, better food, and much better service.
  4. my opinion you should save your cash and go to Joe's just next door a little more expensive but vastly better.
  5. Lovely place, great food, good prices
  6. have to say though, this place is a bit pricey considering.
  7. When I finally asked for a fresh cup, our classy waitress brought the entire huge thermos to our table to splash in a 3 hour old re-fill.
  8. And the prices are very reasonable for dinner as well.
  9. to our surprise, we read the menu at the door, and found the prices pretty reasonable for french food.
  10. The service is always amazing and the price is right.
  11. Incredible food at great prices.
  12. The service is friendly and prompt and the prices are very reasonable for such a charming setting.
  13. Fantastic food at terrific prices
  14. The service is terrific, the lunch is inexpensive with lots of options and my favorite dinner dish is Mussels and Fries.
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. The French bistro menu was limited but the food was ok and the service was slow and mediocre.
  2. The food was slow coming from the kitchen, the bread basket went un-refilled, and any change to the menu seemed especially challenging.
  3. The service, however, is consistently slow and rude.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/05/11

Better go early on Saturday. We arrived

by iamchristophe

Better go early on Saturday. We arrived at 6:45pm and left at 8:30; it was packed.

1 Star Rating: Poor

04/06/10

Never Again

by Deb in Santa Monica

Despite the fact that Rubempre's review was written some time ago, I'm here to tell you nothing has changed since he or she wrote that review. I went to Lilly's about 2 weeks ago and had the absolute worst service I've EVER had - rude, disorganized, inattentive. After the better part of an hour, my lunch had still not arrived, it seems the waiter never gave the order to the kitchen. And, not once during those 40 minutes did my waiter stop by my table to check on my order or my needs. Nor did he apologize in any way for his oversight. In fact, it seemed to be a huge inconvenience to him that I actually expected to receive food at all.

There are way too many good places to eat on Abbot Kinney to put up with this, and if they're all busy, go to Main Street. I'm done with Lilly's. I'll never go back.

  • Pros: nothing that I could find
  • Cons: well, just about everything
1 Star Rating: Poor

10/13/09

Beware Mondays--maybe every day

by Rubempre

I brought our group of eight here for a celebratory business dinner--a well-traveled, upscale group--and ended up embarassed by the listless greeting, the indifferent waitress (an 18 percent tip was added automatically, perhaps explaining her lack of engagement) and food that ranged from near-inedible (lobster bisque that seemingly was made from near-spoiled ingredients, flavorless and possibly defrosted duck, cold tuna dish) to adequate (filet mignon, pesto-crusted whitefish). Decent wine selection at a predictable 2x the store shelf price. Our bottled water was unceremoniously dumped on the table for us to pour, each course arrived via confused barking from brusque staff. A bad experience from a place we once loved. Wish Joe's had been open. Our advice--seek alternatives.

  • Pros: exellent desserts
  • Cons: abysmal service, several dubious dishes
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/30/09

the best ever

by lolayon

i was last at the new lounge at lillys.

we have a great time and great food the satff very good but the food amazing. we get disturb by one angry client but i acn tell you the staff and the owner did everything to make him happy and even offer wine to him. i will com back because the atmosphere and the food fel like in france. I really love it

  • Pros: Mussels and wine
  • Cons: What are the drawbacks?
1 Star Rating: Poor

12/28/08

Not worth your time or money!

by LRick

Was always one of our favorite places to eat when walking on Abbot Kinney. Went with the family 12-27 and the place has changed. Service was pathetic, the waiter forgot one of the meals, no refills on the drinks, food was over cooked. Do not waste your time. Wait for a new manager or the owner to take notice and make some changes.

  • Cons: Poor Service.

The Details on Lilly's French Cafe & Bar

Place Categories:

  • great better food
  • great place
  • worst service
  • very reasonable prices
  • especially disappointing dessert
  • suggest wine
  • cold staff
  • not great food
  • very professional waitstaff
  • great romantic ambiance
  • really cool waiters
  • unique dishes
  • very good lilly
  • simply average frisee salad
  • good grilled salmon
  • great outdoor patio
  • vastly better just next door
  • never bad meal
  • excellent fish
  • authentic french bistro
  • favorite french restaurants
  • heavy lemon tart
  • great better service
  • very nice server
  • romantic outdoor dining experience
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