05/18/09

Marginal Service- AWFUL food.

by megankh

We were there for a birthday dinner. We had a reservation and they said that they "might be able to fit us in in 45 minutes" but that it would be tough. What was the point of having a reservation? They offered us nothing to compensate.

When my salad arrived, the goat cheese was frozen, hard as a rock, and they just rolled it in pinenuts trying to cover the frozen slab. When I told the manager, he said goat cheese is supposed to be hard (incorrect). When I asked why it was ice cold, he said they keep their cheese on the counter. Then why was it ice cold? I kept trying to thaw it over our candle.

My entree arrived, steamed mussels, and they were poor quality. They tasted like chemicals, the broth tasted like dirty water. I didn't even eat them but made no fuss. We ordered a dessert for our friend's birthday and after it arrived, they brought us a 2nd dessert that we didn't order in honor of her birthday. Nice gesture but they CHARGED us for it! We didn't even order it nor did we want it. I was just too embarrassed to make a fuss. I just vowed to spread the word that Cafe des Artistes is one of the most marginal restaurants I've ever had the displeasure of visiting.

• Pros: great ambiance, chill vibe, fabulous outdoor patio
• Cons: AWFUL quality food- RUDE host & manager

02/21/09

Going tonight , FULL review to follow by same author - Schizzleman (aka Aaron Schulman)

by BlitzCalifornia

Hi All,

Having grown up in LA and been fortunate enough to have family that love to enjoy great food, fine wine and lovely atmospheres I was surprised to read the reviews of such horrible evenings here at this LA establishment. I moved to Santa Barbara in 1993 for school and still reside here although Los Angeles is the hub where family meet almost monthly. Tonight is my sisters (a-hem) birthday and if tonight's experience is anything but enjoyable my intentions are to relay the experience to you all here.

Things to note:

1. We will bring our own wine, happy to pay corkage, unless of course they really screw something up.

2. We will be a happy group of peoples with enduring friends attending.

3. We do not wish to be rushed. Normally we require 15 minutes between finishing appetizers and beginning entrees.

4. We like to joke around with each other and the staff, but nothing rude and enjoy some play back.

Tomorrow, the reviews of this family will be here for all to see. Until then, let us pray.

Aaron Schulman

U.C.S.B. Communication Department

• Pros: Heritage of old Hollywood, Ambiance.
• Cons: People that have downright bad experiences write more than the ones with good experiences.

08/18/08

GREAT RESTAURANT, RUDE MANAGER

by picostreet

really awesome vibe. great music, fantastic outdoor patio in back with dim lighting and large wooden tables. really recommend this place. food is above average, although not spectacular. the only complaint is the manager who is a bit pompous and unappreciative of his clientelle.

• Pros: AMBIENCE
• Cons: RUDE MANAGER

05/30/08

Best restaurant in California craftsman-style house

by beachgirl23

This place is a real find, I don't know why more people haven't discovered it and ruined the intimate atmosphere, but hey! Better for us! It is hidden away in a 1917 California craftsman style house-turned restaurant about 15 years ago. There are several rooms in which to enjoy your relaxed, French meal, whether it be on the charming outside patio, with swooping curtains to provide enough privacy, or my favorite, the small front room in front of a cozy fireplace near the bar, or in the fabulous table-hopping back room. The entrees are all very delicious but I have made it a habit to eat the appetizers as entrees, almost tapas style. I have never been disappointed and favor the avocado salad, mushroom ravioli, to-die-for Mac and cheese (french-style) or the french pizza (called by some French name, they'll know what you mean). A varied and delicious selection of wines are offered by an extremely knowledgeable and disarming bartender to help you select one that will best compliment your wonderful meal. You can usually just drop in for lunch and dinner, I almost never make a reservation but that depends on if you feel lucky. This place is a great hidden gem, enjoy.

• Pros: ambience, parking, relaxing atmosphere

05/26/08

Best French service

by Smur

First time in that lovely charming restaurant, the food was delicious and the service was impeccable, charming french vietnamese lady. Will be back.

Down: manager was very unfriendly. Instead of greating us with a smile, he said "do you have a reservation" like you really need one on a sunday night!!!!

• Pros: delicious food and attentive service
• Cons: manager

05/10/08

French Hollywood Hideaway

by RodeoDr

Fifteen years and counting for me as a patron... and the experience only gets better! CDA has the best setting of any LA restaurant., not to mention a fabulous bartender. The moules frittes (the best in town, and believe me, I've searched) is always a fine accompaniment to a red selection from their diverse wine list. A favorite spot for relaxing after work, dining with family, or a charming evening with friends, I always look forward to my next visit. I highly recommend this unique dining experience that takes the French Bistro to a new level. Bravo to Chef Jean Pierre, the management, and the staff.

• Pros: Ambience
• Cons: Valet best bet for parking

04/30/08

bad service, great food

by ekstarr

someone needs to fire the service and keep the chef.

i have never been to a restaurant where the servers could care less about being attentive. every time we needed more water, we had to ask for it - even then, it wasn't always brought to us.

once the food was delivered, the server disappeared for the rest of the night. didn't bother to ask if we needed anything else.

the food was amazing i thought. not a fan of serving french fries with filet mignon. i wish they had alternatives that are more healthy like vegetables or something.

this restaurant could be phenomenal if the hired attentive servers that cared. as is, it just ruins the experience. i won't be back.

• Pros: amazing food
• Cons: terrible service

04/11/08

Worst experience

by Beam69

Felt dizzy during a dinner with my family, as I stood up I fainted and found myself on the floor surrounded by my family. As the paramedics came, I was already better with drinking several glasses of water. Yet as I was coming around, the only thing the waiter did was to run after my family demanding that the bill for the dessert we ordered but not received before the incident was paid; when the owner came out instead of the concern one would expect, he also confirmed that the bill was paid. Outrageous. If you expect normal human behavior, would find another locale .

03/05/08

Bad service - a shame.

by citrusave

Have had a few good experiences at this restaurant, and really like the atmosphere (esp. the front bar/patio), but the service has always been questionable. After my last unfortunate experience I won't be back. Our server was very slow, and then completely disappeared. When I found the manager, he told us her shift was over and she left. He didn't seem very concerned and no one else picked up the slack. I was dumbfounded by their attitude. I'm on they're mailing list and received a coupon for my birthday. I mailed it back explaining my last experience and told them I didn't want to put myself through that torture again.

• Pros: nice atmosphere - garden style back patio and nice front bar/patio
• Cons: Bad service and attitude. Over priced food.

02/10/08

Save your temper. Save your time.

by makestheflowersgrow

My gosh this is a lousy place. Perhaps another time would have helped. We were cold. Requests for heat did not help. Three requests for butter were ignored by our waitress. Finally I went to the host and we got butter. There were raw onions in my lentil dish. The lamb was supposed to be very rare. It wasn't. I carefully asked about one of the desserts. The waitress assured me that it would be just the way I wanted it. Of course, by now I should have known her word would be untrustworthy. Why mess with a streak? I would have told the waitress, but she was busy in the bar watching the Grammy's. From when we got there to when we left. Hey, who could blame her.