French 75
What People Are Saying About French 75
The Editor
Andrea Rademan
Citysearch
In Short
The warren of love nests, glamorous flower arrangements and a candlelit fireplace make an ideal setting for a romantic rendezvous. The dark-wood paneling, leather booths and champagne bar's cherub mural hark back to '40s Paris, but the sophisticated Laguna clientele is as modern as the menu. Standout fare includes a flatiron steak covered in onions and Gruyere; grilled pork tenderloins with chanterelles and fava beans; and desserts like dark-chocolate souffle with Grand Marnier chantilly cream.
User Reviews
Subscience007
February 16, 2009
Upon arrival the first thing that bothered me was instead of being seated in the restaurant... they ushered us out into a makeshift patio tent where they crammed as many people as possible into. The heaters were somewhat working to say the least but we didn't make a scene and beared with it even though it was a cold evening. For the 130/person pricetag on Valentine's, you'd think maybe a glass of champagne or sort of holiday cocktail would be in order as part of the menu, but no, drinks were 15 dollars extra. For Starters, a lobster citrus pallete taster... which actually was probably the best item we had all night, even though it was one bite. Appetizer- I had the Oysters on the half, I love oysters, and these tasted like seawater with a splash of their special vinegarrette, which basically hid the taste. Horrible... oh, and probably the smallest oysters I'd ever seen. Dinner- had the Filet Mignon, which, was "just ok". Finally... dessert. I ordered a berry dish with vanilla ice cream, and a cabernet sauce. From the sound of it it sounded refreshing... but what I got was a joke. The Service- From dropping plates, to serving us the wrong bottle of wine, to delivering drinks and food to our table that wasn't ours and having to backtrack, this service was an absolute joke. I ended up spending 400 dollars and I was treated like was at Outback. Oh, and the best part... I get a 25 dollar gift certificate with my bill..Oh AND they gave my date a rose, which would have been great, IF THEY REMOVED the thorns from it! are you serious, a thorny rose? Someone didn't get the memo. The bloody marks on my date's fingers I'm sure have already healed... After signing my check I left the restaurant, apologized to my date, threw the gift certificate away, and said a couple of prayers.I never complained once while I was there ... but thats what sites like this are for.
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hjotis
November 10, 2008
It's been a few years since my wife and I paid a visit to this Laguna Beach land mark, but we were feeling frisky and needed to get away from the kids so we decided to revisit. What a great night! We were greeted in the charming patio area by a very friendly waiter who escorted us in and introduced us to the cute hostess. We opted for a drink at the bar. The bartender offered a few champagne cocktails (forgot the name, I think it was a Chanel), and they were very well made, not too sweet and very refreshing. The bartender and the waiter who greeted us engaged us in a entertaining conversation about travel experiences. The bartender sweetly showed us a picture of his baby to us and others at the bar. It's obvious the staff is very close and work together well. We had another round then we're taken to our table. Once again the same waiter who greeted us and introduced himself (Michael,easy to remember as it is our sons name) and after a brief conversation left us alone with the wine list. Some of the best bread I've ever tasted arrived along with a great olive spread. The chef sent out a tasty little cheese dish and we were off and running. After choosing a favorite Pinot, our server described the menu highlights and offered a few recommendations. His culinary knowledge was impressive and he treated us as if we dined there every night, very friendly and amusing. We shared a fantastic scallop appetizer, they were served with a corn and truffle pudding that was amazing. I had the lamb which was perhaps the best I've ever had and my wife had a filet that was perfectly cooked. The service was attentive without being obtrusive. We were offered a souflle but passed,a decision we were soon to regret as we saw one being served at the next table. The Manager stopped by to thank us for dining with them, which I thought was a nice touch. After some nice strong French roast style coffee our check was presented with perfect timing. A fantastic experience! Thanks!
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Martinep
May 17, 2008
After reading the book A Year in Provence, I was in the mood for good French food. My 24TH anniversary was coming up so I had the perfect excuse to try French 75 in Laguna Beach.It almost didn't happen though after reading some of the previous reviews. I almost cancelled our reservations. However, I always play it safe returning to the same tried and true eateries. Yes, they are always good, but I wanted an adventure so we decided to see for ourselves if French 75 would deliver or not. I am so glad I checked it out. French 75 was a great place for a special occasion. The atmosphere was romantic. Our waiter was attentive and pleasant. Our dinner was wonderful. The sauces are what I would expect from good French cooking and the dark-chocolate souffle was dreamy. I didn't quite feel like I was in Provence, ( a waiter with a French accent might have helped), but the food was great, the wine pairing was perfect and it was a fun time. I hope to go again.
read full reviewThe Details on French 75
What to Drink:
The wine list has 38 types of champagne, 11 available by the glass. Corkage is $15, with a two-bottle maximum.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Discover, Diners Club, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Romantic Dining, Quiet, Outdoor Dining, Private Rooms, Business Dining, Online Reservations, Group Dining, Dine At The Bar
