(323) 653-6359

8022 West 3rd Street (Crescent Heights Blvd.)
Los Angeles, CA 90048 34.071954 -118.364503

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Neighborhoods: Beverly Center, Central LA

aocwinebar.com/

Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 6pm-10pm

Friday: 6pm-11pm

Saturday: 5:30pm-11pm

Sunday: 5:30pm-10pm

Price:

$$$

Last updated 7.10.10

What People Are Saying About A.O.C.

Featured Review

Martha Burr

Contributor

The Scene – This chic dining room is all about subdued modern stylings in beige and white--the action peaks at the bustling wine bar, where a handsome Hollywood crowd flirts and buzzes. Those seeking refuge from the scene can seek out the charming starlit patio upstairs. – – The Food – The menu is about great wine--and a landscape of Mediterranean small plates to pair with it. Servers recommend two to three dishes per person, and will adeptly pair them with some 50 wines by the glass. A list of dreamy European cheeses range from Sardinian goat to Corsican sheep; the…

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:
A prodigious wine list offers some hard-to-find labels from France, Spain, Italy and the New World; one top feature is the off-menu half-glass pour for half the price, which allows for experimentation or a perfect pairing with every dish.
Where to Sit:
Larger groups can reserve the patio in the smaller downstairs back room, or in the upstairs alcove ideal for one long table.
Parking:
Street parking isn't easy along this stretch--your best bet is the $5.50 valet.
ambiance
93.17999839782715% positive
  1. Our only gripe was that the noise level gets uncomfortable as the evening goes on, but some people love that kind of atmosphere, so it's a personal thing.
  2. it has a very comfortable feel to just hang out, drink wine and sample the wonderful assortment of small plates.
  3. Its casual but elegant atmosphere is great all around.
  4. Great waitstaff, great menu, great atmosphere!
  5. We had the flight of sparkling wines to start which was a lot of fun (though the table favorite was the mid-priced option), and a wonderful and moderately priced bottle of a french red.
  6. went to AOC for the first time last night - The atmosphere was lovely (I sat at the cheese bar), the service was just ok (pretty slow and not overly warm & friendly), and the food was tasty.
  7. If you want to have fun a little more frugally, skip the wine, skip the cheese course, and just order the yummy small plates.
  8. I'd definitely recommend AOC as a romantic dining experience.
  9. but honestly it's good food and a fun place to eat.
  10. Grab your favorite couple and get ready for a night of fun over some amazing wine and even better tapas!
  11. the food was incredible, the service was perfect the decor is simply divine.
  12. It has a warm atmosphere, and the surrounding are warm and inviting.
  13. If you are on a date it is not the most romantic spot in the resuarant.
  14. and I would just like a little Lagniappe here when it comes to parking.
  15. Lovely hostesses, pleasant atmosphere, but a surly waitress really spoiled the evening.
  16. Try to get a table upstairs if you want a quieter, more romantic or intimate feel, or sit downstairs if you want to people-watch.
  17. Tasteful, enjoyable ambience; the least-healthy food in Los Angeles (except for Pink's)
  18. The menu is interesting and the ambience is excellent.
  19. The dishes are great (farrow w squid one of my faves) but while the atmosphere is fine it feels a little sterile-- kind of a like a big coporate restaurant.
  20. enjoyed dinner at AOC: the tapa menu is great because it allows you to sample a variety of dishes; the ambiance is pleasant; the service is fine.
  21. There is also an upstairs patio that overcomes its utilitarian groundwork with some romantic lighting and a canopy.
  22. The restaurant is decorated very simply, and it was a really nice ambiance.
dessert
95.45000076293945% positive
  1. the clams with chorizo, and the dessert that I can't quite remember the name of but was basically a brioche topped with a scrumptious plum sauce and rich cream.
  2. Although I don't recommend this restaurant for a group of hungry men bc the tapas are quite small, the food is delicious, especially their desserts.
  3. We did the champagne tasting, had several dishes, cheese, and dessert- EVERYTHING was delicious!
  4. and all of the deserts were fabulous!
  5. all right, so i may be exaggerating a bit, but really, aoc does take the cake in terms of the best food in los angeles.
  6. really enjoyed the skirt steak, the chicken and apples, butternut squash, and the chocolate dessert.
  7. No room for dessert at the end but they serve good coffee.
  8. To top it all off, we split the sheep's milk cheesecake that was heavenly--so airy and delish!
  9. the cheese course was not the best ever and the desserts were weak but overall we had a good time
  10. For dessert, I highly recommend the marscapone pana cotta.
  11. We all ate plenty, we had 2 bottles of great wine, and coffee and desert.
drinks
92.06999778747559% positive
  1. Good food and wine and the service is always professional if not over-friendly.
  2. The cheeses were divine, we tasted 4 different wines, and like everyone has said, the wait staff really love helping you with your picks.
  3. The small plate selection was varied and the staff was quick to recommend a perfect glass of wine to accompany the dishes (also served by the half glass).
  4. it has a very comfortable feel to just hang out, drink wine and sample the wonderful assortment of small plates.
  5. We ate our dinner at the cheese bar (no reservation) and were served by a very friendly and knowledgeable waiter who provided us with very unique and tasty dishes.
  6. We moved to the bar for drinks and the bartenders were as cool as our waitress.
  7. The food and the wines were superb.
  8. We all ate plenty, we had 2 bottles of great wine, and coffee and desert.
  9. the only drawback was the noise - lots of standing people at the bar not dining caused outrageous noise - i couldn't hear the waiter or the date but had to listen to the woman next to me talk about why she liked new york better.
  10. The waitstaff is well-versed in the wine list and I always enjoy their suggestions.
  11. Servers are friendly and helpful, I highly recommend this restaurant as it is a awesome place for good food and wine.
  12. The meals and the wine selection have always been great, wheras most of the waiters seem to be rather demotivated, arrogant and with that I-couldn'-t-care-less attitude.
  13. Our server (Nicky) couldn't have been more helpful for us first-timers, and recommended we tried the "signature" dates wrapped in bacon while we got to grips with the menu choices and the wine list.
  14. Brilliant wines, food and service!
  15. Wonderful cheese bar experience!
  16. Bit pricey for small dishes but definitely sit at the bar for the wine and cheese.
  17. service is excellent and wine list is amazing.
  18. Cheeses are usually very good, as is the wine list.
  19. The food was mostly great, the wine delicious, and the service was spectacular.
  20. PLEASE the wine was a Joke, is it to much to ask for a nice glass of wine, Order was wrong!
  21. The wine is both reasonable and eclectic.
  22. Grab your favorite couple and get ready for a night of fun over some amazing wine and even better tapas!
  23. The wait is worth it because the food and the wine are great.
  24. The wine list was good value and I like the half carafe deal, which gave you some variety of choice.
  25. Very interesting menu to begin; surprising cheese selection (sheep cheese was very good); figs stuffed with parmesan and wrapped in bacon was excellent (cooked just right and bacon was lean) combo of flavors; fried oysters were pretty good but nothing ext
  26. Nice manageable wine list.
  27. Overall our dining experience was very good and the bill wasn't crazy out of control even with the flights and wine.
  28. Great wine list, good food, nice staff
  29. The prices are fair and the wine selections are wonderful.
  30. Didn't like the 4oz glass wine pours.
  31. The pork confit, the brioche with prosciutto and gruyere, the cheese selection, the date tart and the wine program are superb.
  32. The food is great, the servers and bartenders are helpful and friendly and they have a great wine selection.
  33. The wine list is remarkable, and it's really a tremendously good place for wine.
  34. What an incredible experience, from our cheese host, Hunter (no longer there), who provided a personalized introduction, to the food, which was incredible (cheese-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon decadence) and the other more-socially inclined cheese bar pa
  35. also enjoy the fact that you can order half bottles of wine, so that you can even have more variety throughout the night.
  36. had my birthday dinner at AOC this year and it was fantastic - great food, wine and service!
  37. very tasty and your server should be able to recommend a good wine to go along with what you're eating.
  38. I'm a HUGE wine lover and this is my favorite wine bar.
  39. Our waiter, Aaron, was very helpful in describing all of the wines, cheeses and tapas to us, and even let us do a little wine-tasting to see what we liked best.
  40. went to AOC for the first time last night - The atmosphere was lovely (I sat at the cheese bar), the service was just ok (pretty slow and not overly warm & friendly), and the food was tasty.
  41. They were excellent recommendations - she really knew her wine!
  42. We had the flight of sparkling wines to start which was a lot of fun (though the table favorite was the mid-priced option), and a wonderful and moderately priced bottle of a french red.
  43. Being vegetarians did not relegate us to the usual plate of grilled vegetables, the wine list was very good, and the service was fantastic.
  44. Back to the good staff - they are knowledgeable, helpful and make you feel at ease if you do not have a great knowledge in wine and cheese.
  45. The wine in the glass is only 1/3 full, and at $7-$10/glass, it is not very good.
  46. She reviewed the wine list with us, giving great recommendations based on our tastes.
  47. Would have liked to see more variety in the "flights" of wine.
  48. Everyone who works here impressed me - from the guy behind the extensive wine bar who offered advice on a number of varietals, to our server who described each of the many dishes in great detail, to our busser who was so on top of his game I would call hi
  49. No room for dessert at the end but they serve good coffee.
  50. Note that it's probably not the best place for a vegan, people who don't drink, or people unwilling to experiment with food.
  51. Great wine, pretty people.
  52. If you want to have fun a little more frugally, skip the wine, skip the cheese course, and just order the yummy small plates.
  53. I'm not going to bore you with another AWESOME review for theis AWESOME, YUMMY, SOPHISTICATED HIP-TO-BE-SCENE wine bar.
  54. Excellent wines with many caraffe options as others have said.
  55. The service, food and wine were excellent, and our waiter went above and beyond; he was obviously someone who enjoys good food and wanted us to, too.
  56. good small plates and great wine list
  57. Amazing food, impeccable service and incredible wine list to accompany.
  58. The wine selection is also amazing and the scene here is perfect.
food quality
87.44999885559082% positive
  1. Best orders, I would say, are the bacon-wrapped dates, arroz negro (wonderful hot plate of squid over rice in its own jet-black squid ink, it's nice and garlicky and saffron-y), the salt-cod stew (which I had been against ordering) was a solid 10, the smo
  2. My wife and I discovered it when we moved within a few blocks of A.O.C. My favorite dish were the dates stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon.
  3. If you don't like tasting new food the way the chef wants you to, or if you can't understand why a resturant can't just make a simple steak/pasta/salad for you, then don't bother with this place.
  4. What an incredible experience, from our cheese host, Hunter (no longer there), who provided a personalized introduction, to the food, which was incredible (cheese-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon decadence) and the other more-socially inclined cheese bar pa
  5. If you one to save up for a special meal out, this is a great place to look forward to.
  6. Really delicious plates, great service
  7. felt the food was wonderful, I very much enjoy small dishes and being able to share.
  8. The dishes are not big, which means you need two dishes per person, tapas style.
  9. Food was good; meats were oversalted, but the other dishes that I had (chicken liver crositin and squash) were very good.
  10. Great food without the attitude
  11. Great food and service, the winelist and menu items are a little overpriced, but when the place is packed and they do everything right, you can't really blame them.
  12. Tasteful, enjoyable ambience; the least-healthy food in Los Angeles (except for Pink's)
  13. would recommend this place since the food is good.
  14. the food was fantastic - i had some bizarre crabapple with mustard oil from italy?
  15. Note that it's probably not the best place for a vegan, people who don't drink, or people unwilling to experiment with food.
  16. The small plate selection was varied and the staff was quick to recommend a perfect glass of wine to accompany the dishes (also served by the half glass).
  17. The dates were awesome, as were the rest of our choices (arroz negro, lamb, cheese selection).
  18. The tomato salad is still perfect, and the black cod is one of the best plates in the whole city.
  19. Our bartender was very helpful and friendly, the food was good (didn't knock me sideways, but certainly worth a return trip), and despite the crowded conditions, I found this to be a great place and I'll certainly recommend it.
  20. The service, food and wine were excellent, and our waiter went above and beyond; he was obviously someone who enjoys good food and wanted us to, too.
  21. Service here is sketchy,they dont inform you how long the food will take or suggest you any good things to order.
  22. Our server Nicki was extremely helpful and knowledgeable, and recommended some great dishes.
  23. The service here is great, and the food lives up to its repution.
  24. enjoyed dinner at AOC: the tapa menu is great because it allows you to sample a variety of dishes; the ambiance is pleasant; the service is fine.
  25. Anyway, AOC's food was disappointing.
  26. went to AOC for the first time last night - The atmosphere was lovely (I sat at the cheese bar), the service was just ok (pretty slow and not overly warm & friendly), and the food was tasty.
  27. Standouts were the selection of cheeses, pate plate (loved the rabbit with pistachios) , fish (sea bass with a sort of curry spice rub with carrot pure) skirt steak, pork cheeks were amazing as were the morrels.
  28. We tried to be adventurous, and everything we ordered was delicious, particularly the market fish, the duck confit, and the brussel sprouts.
  29. The dishes are great (farrow w squid one of my faves) but while the atmosphere is fine it feels a little sterile-- kind of a like a big coporate restaurant.
  30. The food is fantastic, I've never been disappointed here.
  31. And for pete's sake do NOT forget to order the bacon-wrapped dates.
  32. Very interesting menu to begin; surprising cheese selection (sheep cheese was very good); figs stuffed with parmesan and wrapped in bacon was excellent (cooked just right and bacon was lean) combo of flavors; fried oysters were pretty good but nothing ext
  33. Great food without spending too much money
  34. *I love the food, but will choose a different restaurant next time where the waiter doesn't give attitude.
  35. For starting the food is horrible and i mean horrible,second clueless service from the waiters here.
  36. The cheese course (estrella I think, it was a blue cheese) was next and it was nice as well, although some bread or apples slices would have been nice with it (it came with a single fig & walnut).
  37. The food is creative and delicious.
  38. awesome food, love this place!
  39. Great food, helpful service, watch on how much to order
  40. mean, last time I was in there I was able to eat bacon wrapped dates stuffed with parmesan while listening to some great music (The Grateful Dead was on while we ate - I really love the laid back vibe there) & being served by a down to earth waiter.
  41. We did the champagne tasting, had several dishes, cheese, and dessert- EVERYTHING was delicious!
  42. The bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with parmesan are the perfect combo of salty & sweet.
  43. My favorite dishes were the warm pear salad, the sweet potatoes with bacon, the blackened cod with brussel sprouts and the lamb.
  44. Regardless, the food was very good.
  45. AOC may become a haunt for chowhounds, not folks looking to have a beautiful meal.
  46. While the prices seemed a bit high for the meat and seafood dishes, in the end the bill was reasonable.
  47. For the price, the food is not very good!
  48. The scallops are to die for, my friends LOVED the dates wrapped in bacon, I loved the garlic broccoli, the carrots (and I usually hate carrots!)
  49. The food and the wines were superb.
  50. The skirt steak was also good.
  51. didn't encounter the pretense that some other reviewers did, the hostess and our server were very friendly, as were the busboys who consistently refilled our bread.
  52. Great small plates (tapas) style food
  53. Everything was really good, especially the bacon wrapped dates and the proscuitto sandwich, though my boyfriend thought the halibut had too strong of a taste.
  54. Amazing food, impeccable service and incredible wine list to accompany.
  55. Our server (Nicky) couldn't have been more helpful for us first-timers, and recommended we tried the "signature" dates wrapped in bacon while we got to grips with the menu choices and the wine list.
  56. The shrimp and corn salad, and the cauliflower are almost as good, but you have have have to order the figs!
  57. The pork confit, the brioche with prosciutto and gruyere, the cheese selection, the date tart and the wine program are superb.
  58. Really friendly service, from the valet to the front desk to the server, but food just wasn't anything special.
  59. Brilliant wines, food and service!
  60. some of the more outstanding dishes were the roasted dates stuffed with parmesan and wrapped in bacon, braised pork cheeks with mustard gremolata and the devin's chicken thighs.
  61. Bit pricey for small dishes but definitely sit at the bar for the wine and cheese.
  62. Great wine list, good food, nice staff
  63. very tasty and your server should be able to recommend a good wine to go along with what you're eating.
  64. We started our meal off with the bacon-wrapped dates, which were just fantastic, but be warned they are hot and take a while to cool down!
  65. really enjoyed the skirt steak, the chicken and apples, butternut squash, and the chocolate dessert.
  66. great room , cool design , good food and great place for meeting people.
  67. The food is great, just don't go hungry or you might have to eat when you get home.
  68. The lamb ragout was outstanding - very flavorful with great textures, and the ricotta gnocchi was the perfect accompaniment.
  69. Great service, great food, perfect seasonings and great cooking.
  70. The proscuitto plate and bacon wrapped dates were excellent.
  71. All our dishes were delectable!
  72. the food was incredible, the service was perfect the decor is simply divine.
  73. If you want to have fun a little more frugally, skip the wine, skip the cheese course, and just order the yummy small plates.
  74. Good food and wine and the service is always professional if not over-friendly.
  75. Overall, I thought the food was interesting but not outstanding, especially for the price of each item.
  76. The lemon tart was delicious, though the mocha pot-de-creme had too much cardamom which overwhelmed it (but the meringue topping was great).
  77. The taste of a perfectly fried egg is not lost on many people, but put that hot egg on top of a frisee salad with crispy brioche, and you almost have to stop and think about what is going on in your mouth.
  78. Good for a big group, more food to share.
  79. We weren't looking at prices, we just wanted to have a good meal.
  80. Everyone who works here impressed me - from the guy behind the extensive wine bar who offered advice on a number of varietals, to our server who described each of the many dishes in great detail, to our busser who was so on top of his game I would call hi
  81. Did not opt to order the cold-cuts and cheeses, as we serve that at home almost everyday for tapas/meze/antipasto, so we first orderd the crostini with chicken livers, and it was the worst liver dish I've ever had.
  82. but honestly it's good food and a fun place to eat.
  83. Sweetbreads was good, too, but not one of those that you would say to yourself that you want to go back for that dish or to reminisce over it.
  84. great food, great for groups
  85. went to A.O.C. fully expecting decent food at an above average price.
  86. The food was good, but not worth the $170 we spent.
  87. Actually enjoyed the food but it felt like dining in an airplane hanger.
  88. The food at this place is great.
  89. The food is great, the servers and bartenders are helpful and friendly and they have a great wine selection.
  90. This place has good, not great food.
  91. Try the charcuterie dish-- really good stuff.
  92. It was the first time for all of us there and the waiter was very helpful in suggesting dishes as well as the quantity to order.
  93. The food here is increibly delicious and served in small portions for 2 to share.
  94. The dishes that we tried were all good esp pork cheek, halibut and squid with black rice.
  95. They had this warm duck salad with peaches and nuts.
  96. She then patiently guided us through the potentially overwhelming menu, the choices at AOC being fresh and unique.
  97. Although I don't recommend this restaurant for a group of hungry men bc the tapas are quite small, the food is delicious, especially their desserts.
  98. all right, so i may be exaggerating a bit, but really, aoc does take the cake in terms of the best food in los angeles.
  99. Aside from this, the food is great, the bartenders and support staff are great and the room is great.
  100. Each time, the food is good and the service is RUDE.
  101. Servers are friendly and helpful, I highly recommend this restaurant as it is a awesome place for good food and wine.
  102. Still - everything on the menu is sure to be tasty and worth the price.
  103. Nothing was tasty.
  104. The food was mostly great, the wine delicious, and the service was spectacular.
  105. will definitely return to AOC - amazing food and service.
  106. had my birthday dinner at AOC this year and it was fantastic - great food, wine and service!
  107. knew the food would be good, but the tapas far exceeded my expectations.
  108. best food in la. period.
  109. The wait is worth it because the food and the wine are great.
  110. The tapas style food was OK, but there was no "Wow" factor with the food (alb eit interesting).
  111. the clams with chorizo, and the dessert that I can't quite remember the name of but was basically a brioche topped with a scrumptious plum sauce and rich cream.
  112. The food is fantastic, even for vegetarian.
  113. Bad food and bad service
  114. tasty food, aloof waiter
  115. We ate our dinner at the cheese bar (no reservation) and were served by a very friendly and knowledgeable waiter who provided us with very unique and tasty dishes.
menu variety
90.0% positive
  1. The waitress was attentive and helpful with our menu selection.
  2. She then patiently guided us through the potentially overwhelming menu, the choices at AOC being fresh and unique.
  3. The wine list was good value and I like the half carafe deal, which gave you some variety of choice.
  4. The server was especially helpful as we were choosing our cheese, since I am not very familiar with the specific types, he made some great recommendations and was VERY knowledgable about the tastes and textures of the different options.
  5. Wine was great, and our waiter was very nice and very patient when we asked about nearly everything on the menu.
  6. Everyone who works here impressed me - from the guy behind the extensive wine bar who offered advice on a number of varietals, to our server who described each of the many dishes in great detail, to our busser who was so on top of his game I would call hi
  7. Very interesting menu to begin; surprising cheese selection (sheep cheese was very good); figs stuffed with parmesan and wrapped in bacon was excellent (cooked just right and bacon was lean) combo of flavors; fried oysters were pretty good but nothing ext
  8. Waiters are helpful as the menu can be a bit confusing.
  9. Great waitstaff, great menu, great atmosphere!
  10. The dates were awesome, as were the rest of our choices (arroz negro, lamb, cheese selection).
  11. Excellent wines with many caraffe options as others have said.
  12. We have been there for their prix fixe menus on New Year's and Valentine's Day, which are superb.
  13. Want some insight about what items on the menu your server would recommend?
  14. The prices are fair and the wine selections are wonderful.
  15. Our server relieved us by offering help and went through the menu with us even though it was apparent the restaurant was filling up.
  16. also enjoy the fact that you can order half bottles of wine, so that you can even have more variety throughout the night.
  17. Great food and service, the winelist and menu items are a little overpriced, but when the place is packed and they do everything right, you can't really blame them.
  18. enjoyed dinner at AOC: the tapa menu is great because it allows you to sample a variety of dishes; the ambiance is pleasant; the service is fine.
  19. The menu is fantastic, the restaurant is sexy, and the experience is simply devine.
  20. Still - everything on the menu is sure to be tasty and worth the price.
  21. The menu descriptions were a bit confusing, but our waiter was extremely helpful and answered all of our questions.
  22. Our server (Nicky) couldn't have been more helpful for us first-timers, and recommended we tried the "signature" dates wrapped in bacon while we got to grips with the menu choices and the wine list.
  23. The small plate selection was varied and the staff was quick to recommend a perfect glass of wine to accompany the dishes (also served by the half glass).
  24. The pork confit, the brioche with prosciutto and gruyere, the cheese selection, the date tart and the wine program are superb.
  25. The meals and the wine selection have always been great, wheras most of the waiters seem to be rather demotivated, arrogant and with that I-couldn'-t-care-less attitude.
  26. The food is great, the servers and bartenders are helpful and friendly and they have a great wine selection.
  27. This was the worst New Years Eve dinner we have ever had, and I truly hope that the establishment is ashamed of it's lazy, pathetic menu and it's cashing in on the people who didn't subscribe to it.
  28. The wine selection is also amazing and the scene here is perfect.
  29. Would have liked to see more variety in the "flights" of wine.
  30. The menu is interesting and the ambience is excellent.
  31. Standouts were the selection of cheeses, pate plate (loved the rabbit with pistachios) , fish (sea bass with a sort of curry spice rub with carrot pure) skirt steak, pork cheeks were amazing as were the morrels.
overall
92.30999946594238% positive
  1. Our bartender was very helpful and friendly, the food was good (didn't knock me sideways, but certainly worth a return trip), and despite the crowded conditions, I found this to be a great place and I'll certainly recommend it.
  2. If you one to save up for a special meal out, this is a great place to look forward to.
  3. It's a great place for entertaining visitors too.
  4. best restaurant in l.a.
  5. The dishes are great (farrow w squid one of my faves) but while the atmosphere is fine it feels a little sterile-- kind of a like a big coporate restaurant.
  6. great room , cool design , good food and great place for meeting people.
  7. but honestly it's good food and a fun place to eat.
  8. great restaurant
  9. I've eaten at all the best places in the US-French Laundry, Charlie Trotters, Per Se, all over LA and NY and this restaurant still ranks as one of my favorites.
  10. Overall great place - looking forward to return visit
  11. The wine list is remarkable, and it's really a tremendously good place for wine.
  12. Definitely a great place for a date!
  13. Note that it's probably not the best place for a vegan, people who don't drink, or people unwilling to experiment with food.
return potential
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. Sweetbreads was good, too, but not one of those that you would say to yourself that you want to go back for that dish or to reminisce over it.
  2. Overall great place - looking forward to return visit
  3. We'll be back despite the two lame staff members.
  4. Our bartender was very helpful and friendly, the food was good (didn't knock me sideways, but certainly worth a return trip), and despite the crowded conditions, I found this to be a great place and I'll certainly recommend it.
  5. All in all, a satisfying experience and I can't wait to go back!
  6. will definitely return to AOC - amazing food and service.
service
78.29999923706055% positive
  1. The small plate selection was varied and the staff was quick to recommend a perfect glass of wine to accompany the dishes (also served by the half glass).
  2. The food is great, the servers and bartenders are helpful and friendly and they have a great wine selection.
  3. The manager was nice and professional though and did give us a different server who was great!
  4. Our server was really nice, no attitude at all.
  5. Nice table, great service.
  6. we were seated promptly the service was great.
  7. Want some insight about what items on the menu your server would recommend?
  8. And Caroline has put together a friendly and knowing staff that understand what they're doing.
  9. Back to the good staff - they are knowledgeable, helpful and make you feel at ease if you do not have a great knowledge in wine and cheese.
  10. The server was especially helpful as we were choosing our cheese, since I am not very familiar with the specific types, he made some great recommendations and was VERY knowledgable about the tastes and textures of the different options.
  11. service is excellent and wine list is amazing.
  12. The waitress was attentive and helpful with our menu selection.
  13. Brilliant wines, food and service!
  14. The service is great there.
  15. First, the greeting from the hostess was very pleasant.
  16. It's a shame the service was so poor.
  17. the food was incredible, the service was perfect the decor is simply divine.
  18. BAD BAD BAD service.
  19. I've gone to AOC several times and never have gotten poor service.
  20. enjoyed dinner at AOC: the tapa menu is great because it allows you to sample a variety of dishes; the ambiance is pleasant; the service is fine.
  21. The cheeses were divine, we tasted 4 different wines, and like everyone has said, the wait staff really love helping you with your picks.
  22. The speed of the coursing has always been appropriate, and the service is attentive without being intrusive.
  23. The service has always been friendly and efficient.
  24. To AOC's credit, the manager recognized this and compd us but still the terrible service on a holiday was inexcusable.
  25. didn't encounter the pretense that some other reviewers did, the hostess and our server were very friendly, as were the busboys who consistently refilled our bread.
  26. Lovely hostesses, pleasant atmosphere, but a surly waitress really spoiled the evening.
  27. Great food and service, the winelist and menu items are a little overpriced, but when the place is packed and they do everything right, you can't really blame them.
  28. Really delicious plates, great service
  29. Each time, the food is good and the service is RUDE.
  30. One caution I would give is that the servers recommend each person in the party order three plates.
  31. It was the first time for all of us there and the waiter was very helpful in suggesting dishes as well as the quantity to order.
  32. Our server relieved us by offering help and went through the menu with us even though it was apparent the restaurant was filling up.
  33. Loud as hell, real losers - t-shirt wearing with no-manner types - dining there, and a pretty lousy attitude by management and wait staff.
  34. Bad food and bad service
  35. tasty food, aloof waiter
  36. It was just a bummer that the hostess was such a witch because there was a decent wait, in which we had to hang near her for a while - she felt like she was doing us a favor or that she was the Queen of England and we were Serfs.
  37. The service was good and knowledgeable.
  38. From trying to make a reservation, where they rattle off a laundry list of their rules which includes the fact that they do not guarantee that they will honor any specific requests for seating, to the attitude we got when we were seated on their tiny "out
  39. I'm sorry to read about other people's bad experiences at AOC.
  40. Great wine, pretty people.
  41. mean, last time I was in there I was able to eat bacon wrapped dates stuffed with parmesan while listening to some great music (The Grateful Dead was on while we ate - I really love the laid back vibe there) & being served by a down to earth waiter.
  42. The staff was friendly and helpful even though they were very crowded for a Tuesday night.
  43. The service, food and wine were excellent, and our waiter went above and beyond; he was obviously someone who enjoys good food and wanted us to, too.
  44. The service here is great, and the food lives up to its repution.
  45. Service was great, and the server was helpful.
  46. *I love the food, but will choose a different restaurant next time where the waiter doesn't give attitude.
  47. Good food and wine and the service is always professional if not over-friendly.
  48. The food was mostly great, the wine delicious, and the service was spectacular.
  49. Note that it's probably not the best place for a vegan, people who don't drink, or people unwilling to experiment with food.
  50. The taste of a perfectly fried egg is not lost on many people, but put that hot egg on top of a frisee salad with crispy brioche, and you almost have to stop and think about what is going on in your mouth.
  51. Aside from this, the food is great, the bartenders and support staff are great and the room is great.
  52. Our bartender was very helpful and friendly, the food was good (didn't knock me sideways, but certainly worth a return trip), and despite the crowded conditions, I found this to be a great place and I'll certainly recommend it.
  53. Our only gripe was that the noise level gets uncomfortable as the evening goes on, but some people love that kind of atmosphere, so it's a personal thing.
  54. Wine was great, and our waiter was very nice and very patient when we asked about nearly everything on the menu.
  55. We'll be back despite the two lame staff members.
  56. have been there numerous times, usually on special occasions, and have never received anything but friendly and attentive service.
  57. excellent customer service.
  58. This spot is great, but a few people ruin the overall experience.
  59. Being vegetarians did not relegate us to the usual plate of grilled vegetables, the wine list was very good, and the service was fantastic.
  60. had my birthday dinner at AOC this year and it was fantastic - great food, wine and service!
  61. Excellent Selection of Wines, Cheeses, Meats - backdropped by outstanding service
  62. Tables were filled with beautiful people and a couple of celebrities in sight.
  63. the only drawback was the noise - lots of standing people at the bar not dining caused outrageous noise - i couldn't hear the waiter or the date but had to listen to the woman next to me talk about why she liked new york better.
  64. wonderful learning experience, exceptional service
  65. Great looking place with very friendly staff.
  66. have to wonder if people receiving rude service aren't arriving with a chip on their shoulder for some reason.
  67. We ate our dinner at the cheese bar (no reservation) and were served by a very friendly and knowledgeable waiter who provided us with very unique and tasty dishes.
  68. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful.
  69. Our waiter, Aaron, was very helpful in describing all of the wines, cheeses and tapas to us, and even let us do a little wine-tasting to see what we liked best.
  70. The service - at least tonight for Valentines Day - was the absolute worst of any place I've ever experienced.
  71. Arrived a bit late and hostess was totally cool and sat us right away.
  72. The manager was absolutely Obnoxious and instructed me to not be rude by interrupting him while he was on his rant of why he needed the table.
  73. From the sweet hostess, Jessica (thanks for big welcome and smile everytime) to the fantastic service and to DIE FOR FOOD!
  74. Try to get a table upstairs if you want a quieter, more romantic or intimate feel, or sit downstairs if you want to people-watch.
  75. The server was proficient enough, but she was quite annoyed that we chose to order the tapas in stages.
  76. Our server Nicki was extremely helpful and knowledgeable, and recommended some great dishes.
  77. This place is fantastic, the servers are all really knowledgeable, and everything is made very well.
  78. Waitress was friendly and helpful.
  79. Amazing food, impeccable service and incredible wine list to accompany.
  80. service is really slow.
  81. I've been there several times (over 9 in 3 months) and all the wait staff have been amazing.
  82. Great food, helpful service, watch on how much to order
  83. all with the guide of our very helpful waitress.
  84. very tasty and your server should be able to recommend a good wine to go along with what you're eating.
  85. The meals and the wine selection have always been great, wheras most of the waiters seem to be rather demotivated, arrogant and with that I-couldn'-t-care-less attitude.
  86. will definitely return to AOC - amazing food and service.
  87. Most staff are happy to help and service you.
  88. Everyone who works here impressed me - from the guy behind the extensive wine bar who offered advice on a number of varietals, to our server who described each of the many dishes in great detail, to our busser who was so on top of his game I would call hi
  89. Our server (Nicky) couldn't have been more helpful for us first-timers, and recommended we tried the "signature" dates wrapped in bacon while we got to grips with the menu choices and the wine list.
  90. The manager is rude.
  91. Great wine list, good food, nice staff
  92. Upon being seated, we were immediately greeted with a warm, knowledgeable waitress.
  93. The hostess was rude, telling us they were getting the table ready when we asked her several times what the delay was.
  94. The menu descriptions were a bit confusing, but our waiter was extremely helpful and answered all of our questions.
  95. We moved to the bar for drinks and the bartenders were as cool as our waitress.
  96. great room , cool design , good food and great place for meeting people.
  97. Servers are friendly and helpful, I highly recommend this restaurant as it is a awesome place for good food and wine.
  98. Really friendly service, from the valet to the front desk to the server, but food just wasn't anything special.
  99. went to AOC for the first time last night - The atmosphere was lovely (I sat at the cheese bar), the service was just ok (pretty slow and not overly warm & friendly), and the food was tasty.
  100. Great service, great food, perfect seasonings and great cooking.
  101. Bad table next to the window where cold air was coming in, and so loud do to poor acoustic planning that you couldn't hear a screaming customer complian about how bad the server was.
  102. Overall, the prices are totally fair for the quality, and if you happen to get an off server, ask for a different one; I've never had poor service.
  103. This was the worst New Years Eve dinner we have ever had, and I truly hope that the establishment is ashamed of it's lazy, pathetic menu and it's cashing in on the people who didn't subscribe to it.
  104. Our waitress was extremely friendly and helpful and helped us pick exactly what we wanted!
  105. The service was a little pretentious, and I couldn't help feeling like I was being looked down upon (not good, as I've eaten at quite a better restaurants where I've been thoroughly pampered).
  106. For starting the food is horrible and i mean horrible,second clueless service from the waiters here.
value
73.53000164031982% positive
  1. While the prices seemed a bit high for the meat and seafood dishes, in the end the bill was reasonable.
  2. The food here is increibly delicious and served in small portions for 2 to share.
  3. The wait is worth it because the food and the wine are great.
  4. Overall, I thought the food was interesting but not outstanding, especially for the price of each item.
  5. The food was good, but not worth the $170 we spent.
  6. Bit pricey for small dishes but definitely sit at the bar for the wine and cheese.
  7. Still - everything on the menu is sure to be tasty and worth the price.
  8. Overall, the prices are totally fair for the quality, and if you happen to get an off server, ask for a different one; I've never had poor service.
  9. Our bartender was very helpful and friendly, the food was good (didn't knock me sideways, but certainly worth a return trip), and despite the crowded conditions, I found this to be a great place and I'll certainly recommend it.
  10. The prices are fair and the wine selections are wonderful.
  11. We weren't looking at prices, we just wanted to have a good meal.
  12. The wine list was good value and I like the half carafe deal, which gave you some variety of choice.
  13. went to A.O.C. fully expecting decent food at an above average price.
  14. Great food and service, the winelist and menu items are a little overpriced, but when the place is packed and they do everything right, you can't really blame them.
  15. For the price, the food is not very good!
  16. The cheese course was a little overpriced.
  17. Great food without spending too much money
wait time
40.0% positive
  1. Service here is sketchy,they dont inform you how long the food will take or suggest you any good things to order.
  2. the music was even bad- as if it was haphazardly put together last minute by some uninvoloved by-standard, cuz the same songs played in a loop over and over all nite long.
  3. went to AOC for the first time last night - The atmosphere was lovely (I sat at the cheese bar), the service was just ok (pretty slow and not overly warm & friendly), and the food was tasty.
  4. service is really slow.
  5. The small plate selection was varied and the staff was quick to recommend a perfect glass of wine to accompany the dishes (also served by the half glass).
4 Star Rating: Recommended

08/14/11

Kudos to the chef!

by maybell

Yummy! The food is so delectable and satisfying that the small plates satisfied a big appetite like mine. That is quite the compliment because our waitress told us that each person usually orders 3 things each.We started with 2 items each thinking we would order more but never did because we were so full. I think it is because we were so satisfied by the rich flavors and textures of the food that we didn't need more. The only bummer was our waitress. She was really unfriendly. We complimented the food and tried to engage her but she was very disinterested and seemed almost contemptuous of us. I would advise the manager to train the waitstaff to be more personable and while they are at it to train the busboys not to pick up the water glasses by the drinking rim every time they fill up the water, that was a little unsettling.

Everything else we loved. We will just make sure to stay out of the red haired waitresses station next time we come.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/17/10

Fabulous

by Ed Charrington

Ate there last night with a group of old friends. Haven't been to L.A. for awhile and it was nice to be back in the city. Loved the small plate concept, had a few things I'd only heard of. Sampled several delicious wines, thank God I wasn't driving. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful.

As so often happens in public these days, there is always some oaf that has to make a scene. This jerk, on the pretense of taking his "wife" out for her birthday, berated our hostess, no doubt to impress her with how "important" he was. If it were my restaurant, I'd have tossed the guy out on his ear.

  • Pros: Fun place, great food, fantastic wine, friendly staff
  • Cons: Idiot patron - but you find those everywhere.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/20/09

HIghly recommend!

by BIngoBango

Susanne Goin is one of the best chefs in LA and AOC is fantastic. I recommend sitting at the bar. The food is great, the servers and bartenders are helpful and friendly and they have a great wine selection. The bacon-wrapped dates are a must.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

02/02/09

great food, great for groups

by kara nortman

I had my birthday dinner at AOC this year and it was fantastic - great food, wine and service! Try the scallops and skirt steak.

  • Pros: fantastic tapas, no dish disappoints
  • Cons: bright, a tad of 'tude
4 Star Rating: Recommended

11/28/08

Great small dish menu

by jasoncoberfest

The first time went to AOC I loved it, but I have since backed off on that. The dishes are great (farrow w squid one of my faves) but while the atmosphere is fine it feels a little sterile-- kind of a like a big coporate restaurant.

  • Pros: Wide variety of options, super high quality.
  • Cons: Crowded, noce but sterile atmosphere.

The Details on A.O.C.

Place Categories:

  • good more food
  • great exceptional service
  • great fun place
  • great manageable wine
  • bad dining experience
  • rude second clueless service
  • favorite coporate restaurant
  • helpful servers
  • helpful most staff
  • favorite great dishes
  • helpful knowledgeable waitress
  • very helpful aloof waiter
  • just order yummy small plates
  • friendly bartenders
  • delicious everything
  • great tapas
  • overpriced great food
  • great tapa menu
  • just fantastic baconwrapped dates
  • usually very good cheeses
  • great dim living room
  • not best place
  • tasteful enjoyable ambience
  • great atmosphere
  • rude manager

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