A.O.C.
Los Angeles, CA 90048-4307
Phone: (323) 653-6359
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- Crescent Heights Boulevard
- Hours:
- Mon-Fri 6pm-11pm, Sat 5:30pm-11pm, Sun 5:30pm-10pm
Editorial Review for A.O.C. – by Martha Burr
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 charcuterie bar shaves tender, moist prosciutto and fra'mani salumi. A culinary journey begins with popular bacon-wrapped roasted dates. Perfectly fried oysters arrive crispy outside, creamy inside, offset with tangy celeriac remoulade. Standouts include halibut on a bed of gorgeously roasted peaches with yogurt and pistachio, meltingly tender squid over black rice bathed in bold saffron aioli, and woodsy chanterelles with gnocchi.
Hits: A huge selection of top wines by the glass and first-rate cheese, charcuterie and small plates makes dining casual yet fun and adventuresome.
Misses: Weekends are crowded, so there may be a wait to sit at the wildly popular wine bar. When it's this busy, it's more difficult to sample wines by the glass.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
What to DrinkA 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 SitLarger groups can reserve the patio in the smaller downstairs back room, or in the upstairs alcove ideal for one long table.
ParkingStreet parking isn't easy along this stretch--your best bet is the $5.50 valet.
User Reviews for A.O.C.
04/26/2008 Posted by salsucks
Actually enjoyed the food but it felt like dining in an airplane hanger. Loud as hell, real losers - t-shirt wearing with no-manner types - dining there, and a pretty lousy attitude by management and wait staff. Baffled about all the 5-stars. Is there some ballot-stuffing going on here? Try some other places, the environment is so awful here that this one's a definite pass.
Pros: Pretty good food
Cons: Jackhammer loudness, t-shirt loudmouth loser customers, weak waiters
03/21/2008 Posted by dthstar
we don't get how your site gave this place a 5-star rating! upon your site's recommendation, we went there for valentine's dinner. not only did the place look and feel like 'restoration hardware' (w/ the same bright lighting & everything), none of the servers knew if the cheese bar was open or not (we were really in the mood for cheese), and when we asked for hot sauce cuz the food was so bland, they had none! as they had a set menu cuz it was valentine's day, they served a multiple-course dinner, and w/ all honesty, each course just got worse and worse. none of the food had any flavor- staying home and eating 'lean cuisine' would've been so much better! it was so bad that we had to ask for salt and luckily they had THAT. 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. we seriously don't know why your site gave this place such a high rating- they must put up a lot for PR.. lastly, what star-siting?!?! the valentine's dinner patrons even looked like they shop at 'restoration hardware' anyway- bland and boring. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO ANYONE (especially if you're trying to impress guests from out of town)!
Pros: none
Cons: where do i start?
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