Fraiche

Doesn't Recommend

sromnaggie

Joined 2 years ago

Disappointing Service. I saw this place on the food networks "Best Thing I Ever Ate" when Giada said her favorite dessert of all time could be found here.

Since the show, the place has taken on new management.

I came in town from out of state to visit friends and decided I had to try this place. I couldn't wait.

It looked beautiful when I arrived, but was told they weren't serving anymore (about 9:30 pm, the website and window said 10:30, with the bar open until 12am)

I said I just wanted dessert, so the host said we could do that and seated my friends and me. There were these two stuffy french men who came from the kitchen (The new manager staff) and approached our table. They just stood there. Starring down at us. One finally asked if he could help us. I asked for a dessert menu, and he said "I'm done." with his french accent. In his Rock and Republic jeans. It was just weird. We all starred at him blankly and he replied, "The kitchen is closed." I just said, "We were told we could still get dessert?" THEN he slyly walks off. A lady comes to our table and was extremely rude. "Our kitchen is closed, you can get drinks at the bar, but you can't sit in the dining area." As if we just waltzed right in and sat ourselves down?? We were told we could get dessert!!! So awkward.

Well, we finally made our way to the lounge and were served our stinking dessert. WHICH was good, but rather small, and I couldn't even pay attention to the food because of the french managers peering at us the rest of the night. How strange.

Recommends

Martha Burr

Joined 10 years ago

Citysearch Editorial Review. Santa Monica’s former Italian eatery Riva has transformed into a second location of the Culver City favorite Fraiche. By day, sunlight filters in through the large front windows which look out onto Wilshire Boulevard, while soft yellow lighting casts a sexy glow at night. Vaulted ceilings with exposed white piping, natural wood accents, and a foyer lined with rows of tiny potted herbs create a clean, deliberately simple scheme, while the eclectic group of diners--jeans-and-anorak tourists, well-to-do families with kids, smartly dressed couples--lend an insouciant, New York City kind of vibe (minus all the black, because, you know, this is Santa Monica). Like the space itself, which never gets too loud despite the loft-like setting, the rustic French and Italian menu is subtle yet progressive. Chef de Cuisine Sydney Hunter includes signature dishes -- the fruits de mer tower, boudin noir with beluga lentils, roasted chicken with wild mushrooms and onion soubise -- as well as seasonal dishes like chestnut soup, black squid ink tagliarini, branzino a la plancha and lamb spezzatino.

Recommends

weho333

Joined 4 years ago

No longerserving brunch. Too bad because I liked brunch here.

Recommends

LaMaria

Joined 4 years ago

Lovely. Go for the Farro salad and the fish. High quality wine menu!

It's so typical for people to complain about service at a French restaurant.

Doesn't Recommend

bigbellyboy

Joined 6 years ago

Horrible Staff----Good Food. This is the third time my Wifey and I have tried this place. May NOT be back.

Let me just say, the food is VERY good. But why did I smile at the Manager (dude in suit) while we were sitting at the bar and get a snarl??

Why did it take shouting and waiving my arms and asking the bussboy to tap the bartender's shoulder to get a second round. When it took us 15 minutes to get the first.

Why spend money in a place that feel as gracious as a towyard downtown at 3am??????

Can't survive on GOOD food alone.

Maybe a staff meeting would help. It should go like this: "Smile, and say hello." Oh. , and "Hey guys welcome, what can I get for you?"

good luck

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thyrdiopen

Joined 4 years ago

owner is out!. Heard it through the grapevine. Terri, the hospitible and charming Maitre'd that everyone raves about, is finally out. The rumor is that he was forced out by the other owners because of his attitude. No longer at Fraiche, no longer at Riva. Its about time! I live around the corner and have boycotted the place since my first dissappointing visit. I am excited to go back as I remember the food being excellent.

Doesn't Recommend

belakrava

Joined 5 years ago

overpriced place for mediocre food and poor service. we came to this place for the happy hour which according to their web site goes till 7pm. then waitress said this is a misprint and the happy hour just finished at 6:30 pm. we asked her then if we can seat outside and she said 'sure, this part is for the bar patrons. we picked up our stuff and went to the patio just to find out that all seating was already taken. couldn't the waitress tell us this beforehand? the place is easily visible from the bar. then we asked to seat in the dining are and we found out that the outdoor chairs and cheap and uncomfortable. the waiter was running through the evening special, and even though we soon after had out menu's closed he went on taking the order from a couple that arrived after us and were still perusing through their menu's. i had the lamb bla bla bla, which was equivalent of a simple lamb stew. the meat was old and everything was overcooked without any distinct taste. i would avoid this place since for the same or lesser price one can have a much decent meal and service at the few surrounding restaurants.

Recommends

Erika

Joined 4 years ago

Hey, Citysearch - you spelled it wrong! It's FRAICHE. Great restaurant - but you spelled the name wrong, Citysearch. FRAICHE (same meaning, different language).

Doesn't Recommend

CSMobileUser3

Joined 5 years ago

Food great service NOT GREAT at all!. It's a Friday evening and we happened to order the fondue at the bar 10 minutes later our table was ready... HOWEVER the food we ordered at the bar could NOT be taken to our table! WHAT?!? The drinks can but not the food. So we basically had to walk back and forth to the bar and our table eating he fondue and our appetizers in a 5 star restaurant. All the while the manager and bar manager was laughing at us walk back and forth!!!! At least go to the back and laugh at us!!! Unacceptable!!! Negative 5 stars for me!

Doesn't Recommend

RustyJames

Joined 4 years ago

Average Food & Rushed Service. The title says it all. A group of us went for dinner here a few weeks ago and I have to say we were disappointed on many levels. While the ambiance is nice, the food was quite average (especially for the price) and the service was horrible. From the moment we sat down we had the feeling that they wanted us to be done with our meal and move on as quickly as possible to make room for the next customers. The waiter was overly attentive to the point of "used car salesman" status... pushing overpriced drinks on us and hovering to refill our glasses after every sip. I told him we were in no hurry, and in fact had been looking forward to a relaxing evening. Didn't seen to make any difference and they were dropping off the main course before the appertizers were even half finished. Very tacky. When told we weren't interested in dessert our waiter got very huffy and dumped the check off without another word. I wrote to the restaurant manager via their website to voice my concerns. As others have noted, no response was forthcoming.

My advice... stay away! Save your money for an eatery that has respect for their customers.