Recommends

seigo

Joined 5 years ago

Wonderful cheese bar experience!!!. Been there at least half a dozen times and it never dissapoints. Our first experience was w/ no reservations on a weekday. We waited for a while for things to open up at the main bar, then the cheese bar had some space available and we went for it not knowing what to expect. 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 patrons provided a unique experience that has kept us coming back for more. If you haven't been to AOC or tried the cheese bar, it's definitely a worthwhile experience.

Recommends

NICseattle08

Joined 5 years ago

Great for a Special Dinner Out. If you one to save up for a special meal out, this is a great place to look forward to. My sister took me here to celebrate my birthday while visiting L.A. and it was such a treat for us (we don't dine out--nicely like this--very often). The cheeses were divine, we tasted 4 different wines, and like everyone has said, the wait staff really love helping you with your picks. All the tapas were great, creative flavors. To top it all off, we split the sheep's milk cheesecake that was heavenly--so airy and delish! Can't wait to go back sometime.

Recommends

finedine2008

Joined 5 years ago

Excellent Tapas. The tapas here are amazing. The environment is great for both group dining and couples dining.

Servers are friendly and helpful, I highly recommend this restaurant as it is a awesome place for good food and wine.

Recommends

ilovemesomewine

Joined 5 years ago

My favorite place to go!!!. What is there to complain about??!! The food is FANTASTIC (The cheeses... OMG... The cheeses!!!) The wine is both reasonable and eclectic... The servers and bartenders are smart and sassy... The hostesses are sweet and HELPFUL (Jessica called me back twice to squeeze me in on a busy Friday night and then remembered and greeted me like an old friend!) I have never had a better dining experience. Period.

Recommends

gina_jones

Joined 6 years ago

I love this place. The negative reviews truly are a surprise to me. I've gone to AOC several times and never have gotten poor service. The NYE package seemed kinda lame since this was their first year doing it and even the hostesses felt insecure about it if you asked them more questions about it.

I would recommend this place since the food is good. Its tapas, so don't expect the freakin cheesecake factory portions. You're gonna have to shell out more to eat more because Suzanne Goin is the most underrated chef.

I would also recommend eating upstairs if you're so wrapped up in how snooty/people watching other people are or eat at the charcuterie bar for more of an engaging type of service.

Doesn't Recommend

drsg

Joined 7 years ago

WORST NEW YEARS DINNER EVER!. We went as a party of four to AOC to celebrate New Years Eve this year 2007/08, as we have in the past years. This year we went with two vegetarians. I called 3 times to note that we had two vegetarians in our group. It didn't seem to be a problem. "We have many vegetarians & vegans coming..." said the hostess on my 2nd call. So cut to the night of... At $125 per person (for the 9:45 seating) the vegetarian options turned out to actually be the EXACT SAME pre-fixed options on the standard menu, MINUS the meats & fish. So a Scallop dish on a bed of potatoes and salad was served AS a bed of potatoes and salad. The short-ribs on a bed of lettuce, was served AS a BED OF LETTUCE!

My dear friends had to eat 7 courses of, basically, accompaniments and greens... for $125 PER PERSON! NO PRICE DIFFERENCE WAS OFFERED, NO SPECIAL PREPARATIONS, NO SPECIFICALLY VEGETARIAN COURSES WERE MADE.

It was embarrassing, humiliating and pathetic.

Not only would I never go to AOC for New Years Eve again, but I am done with the establishment period.

After receiving a $700+ bill and my friends ate 7 courses of rabbit food... and left still as hungry as when they arrived, I felt shame that I have never known before.

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.

If someone paid me $700 right now to go to AOC, I wouldn't go back.

I will tell all of our clients and friends to avoid, forget and dismiss the option of ever going.

Please... Skip this horrible place.

every night of the year.

Go to any other restaurant... this place should be ashamed.

Recommends

tigereyez

Joined 6 years ago

OVERALL SATISFIED. I HAD MADE A PREVIOUS RESERVATION AT AOC FOR MY BOSS, SO I DECIDED TO CHECK IT OUT FOR MY BDAY. FINDING IT WASN'T HARD. I FELT A SNOOTY VIBE WHEN I WALKED IN WITH THE PATRONS STARING AT US, BUT THE HOSTESS SEEMED NICE ENOUGH. THE AMBIANCE WAS SIMILIAR TO A HUGE, DIM LIVING ROOM. YOU GET BREAD AND A SORT OF TAPENADE WHICH IS INTERESTING WITHOUT BEING SAVORY AND THEIR WHOLE OLIVES ARE AMAZING. WE ORDERED THE CHEESE PLATTER AND HAD THE SERVER PICK OUT THE CHEESE FOR US. IT TASTED GREAT. WE TRIED THE PORK RILLETES (EH), PROSCUITTO (GREAT), SOME KIND OF FISH WITH APRICOT PISTACHIO YOGURT (INTERESTING) AMONG OTHER THINGS. THE COST OF DINING WAS WHAT I EXPECTED, ABOUT $50/PERSON FOR THE TAPAS AND COUPLE GLASSES OF WINE. I'M NOT SURE I'D MAKE AN EFFORT TO GO BACK BUT WOULDN'T MIND IF I FOUND MYSELF THERE AGAIN.

Recommends

sweeteekay

Joined 6 years ago

Best tapas ever!. My boyfriend introduced me to the bacon wrapped figs, and they are amazing! The shrimp and corn salad, and the cauliflower are almost as good, but you have have have to order the figs!

Doesn't Recommend

contrary_mary

Joined 6 years ago

Tasteful, enjoyable ambience; the least-healthy food in Los Angeles (except for Pink's). Bacon-wrapped dates, fried oysters, ubiquitous prosciutto, fancified egg sandwiches, sextuple-cream cheeses--there is much for a health-conscious person to avoid on this menu. I suggest going nearby to Joan's on Third or The Little Door if you want to live to celebrate your fiftieth birthday. True, the wine list is fabulous--but man (no, let us say, "people") do not live by booze and fat alone. And--happily--there are a few over-priced mushroom and salad concoctions to ensure that you will not pass out from hunger if your goal is to eat healthy and your trendy friends require you to join them here.

Recommends

jlselwyn

Joined 6 years ago

Excellent Selection of Wines, Cheeses, Meats - backdropped by outstanding service. 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 him the best busser in LA county. Even the host pitched in to check on our table.

Everything here is small plates, so I tried a variety of dishes, and found them each delicious. I will definitely go back. Highly recommended.