La Cachette Restaurant
(310) 470-4992
10506 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles,
CA
90025
34.0554
-118.4271
Neighborhoods: West LA, West Los Angeles
What People Are Saying About La Cachette Restaurant
The Editor
Andrea Rademan
Citysearch
In Short
French for "the hideaway," La Cachette is a prime spot for power lunches and client dinners. (It's also appropriately named, considering the entrance is out of sight in the alley behind the restaurant.) Whitewashed ceiling beams, leaded-glass room dividers and navy fabrics create an atmosphere more crisp than cozy, leading up to the fantastic Provencal fare. A master of traditional French cooking, chef-owner Jean Francois Meteigner manages to give his dishes a modern edge by minimizing fat, salt and calories without sacrificing flavor. A tart packed with goat cheese, roasted red peppers and black olives is as wispy as cotton candy. Marseilles-style bouillabaisse, served with a rich rouille, brims with black cod, halibut, mussels, clams and scallops. The mesquite-smoked salmon is served with blini or in a savory sandwich with a mountain of fries while sweet finishers include indulgent tarts made with apple, apricot and almond, or blueberry and black currant.
User Reviews
sschalin
April 05, 2009
If you're looking for fine, traditional French cuisine, look beyond La Cachette in Century City. The name translates into "the hideaway" and it is indeed off the beaten path on little Santa Monica Blvd, tucked into a neighborhood of apartments. The setting is perfect for a date night out. The lights are dim, the decor very soothing with soft whites hues and plushy seating. We started with a martini and Cosmo at the tiny bar to unwind and slowly roll into the evening that we wanted to enjoy and make last. When we finally sat down, Leslie started with a generous plate of beef carpaccio, served chopped with a sugary balsamic-pomegranate glaze that over-whelmed that meat completely. I opted for a smoked trout dish which was light and pungent with an almost-herring-like vinegar taste over micro-greens. Good, but not great. The entree selection is very French provencial. The menu reads like you've just stumbled into a farmhouse near the south of France. Lamb shank, veal stew, venison chop and several steaks along with some traditional French seafood dishes that you would expect from that lower region. I opted for the Cassoulet. If you're unfamiliar with this dish it's a thick stew infused with soft, white beans, like Navy beans swimming alongside fork-sized chunks of duck and lamb. The meat was tender and the broth thick and rich. If you could imagine a cold, rainy night in the French countryside, this would be the dish to order. But its sheer decadence and heavy stock made a little go a very long way. Leslie opted for the Bouillabaisse. We were in Nice one time many years ago which claims to be the town that invented this dish which is France's white-brothed answer to Italy's Cioppino. In fact, we specifically ate a restaurant where the owner - a character in his late 70s - claimed to have practically invented the version of the soup that has become world famous. There, the broth was light and fishy, with a hint of saffron and the taste of the sweet ocean. Unfortunately, La Cachette's version was a thick, fishy mess. It had the consistency of carmel pudding, complete with a semi-thick layer of skin on the top. This being one of their signature dishes, we were surprised that it had the taste of something made many, many hours ago and left to sit. With every entree hovering near $30 there is no quarter given to mediocre dishes. La Cachette is a hideaway best left hidden.
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jimmy_woodwork
March 05, 2008
The service here was very goodl. Our waiter was attentive and he knew the menu well hence was able to give a lot of helpful suggestions. For appetizers, we got the yellowtail special and tuna tar tare, both tasty. My girlfriend got sweetbread which was cooked just right. I ordered the country dish of the week, which was venison. A bit gamey but cooked just the way I like. Dessert was a snuffle, a tiny bit undercooked, but still very good. This is a very "expensive French restaurant" and generally quiet with soft music. A bit dressy, but not over the top. I recommend it, but only for special occasions when you want to spent extra.
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rokonrae
August 10, 2007
The La Cahette Restaurant is amazing! Service was very nice, it always seemed to be there if you needed anything. The French cuisine was incredible! It was very authentic. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone!
read full reviewThe Details on La Cachette Restaurant
The Extras:
Chef/owner Jean Francois Meteigner offers cooking classes on the third Saturday each month. The $100 fee includes instruction, lunch and wine.
When to Go:
Special menus are served on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's.
Know Before You Go:
Bring your own bottle--La Cachette offers $1 corkage on Sundays.
When to Go:
Special menus are served on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Diners Club, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Romantic Dining, Quiet, Special Occasion Dining, Private Rooms, Business Dining, Online Reservations, Notable Wine List
Cuisine:
Notable Chef:
Jean-Francois Meteigner
