Camphor — Restaurant in Los Angeles

So we tried Camphor on a steak frites pre-fixe night, and it was good but not really the mind-blowing experience we’d heard from various other reviews. That said, my husband and I are both big time foodies and he’s French, so we were committed to finding a top-tier French restaurant in the city we could call our spot for special occasions or an escape from LA.

We came back last night and asked our lovely server Ashley to suggest their best hits! We tried their bread and butter, radicchio salad (OMG YUM), scallops dish, steak au poivre, frites, and their bread pudding (!!!!). And WOW, truly, a French culinary adventure. They start the experience with an amuse-bouche, and then the food came out (at a very nice pace I might add). The radicchio salad came out first followed by the bread and butter, and where do I even beginnn! I’ve had my share of radicchio salads in my life and this took the cake. It was fresh, perfectly dressed, and had some hearty pieces of the most delicious parmigiana cheese. Yum yum yum! My husband was obsessed. The bread came out hot and crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, with the most delicious butter/cheese spread. I had the butter alone because I’m sensitive to the more pungent cheeses, but my husband loved it. And I will say, even the butter alone with sea salt was delectable. Next the scallops came out in a truffle sauce that was just insane. They’re encased in a thin pasta or dumpling exterior, and they were just divine. Melted in your mouth, I almost ordered another, but we had the steak coming. The steak was a perfect steak au poivre. The best I’ve had since I was in Paris, and perfectly cooked. The sauce was on point as well. The steak is a little on the fattier side, but where there’s far there’s flavor! So, we went with it and cut around the fatty bits, and the steak was very tender and flavorful. And that sauce, Dios mio, the perfect place to dip your frites!! Do it! Yummyyy! Finally, we were pretty full at this point, but the table next to us sold us on the bread pudding they were enjoying, so we obviously had to try it. And, omg I’m so glad we did. It is not a heavy bread pudding, they use brioche which is lighter and they bake it with a creme anglaise with chocolate chunks between the layers. It was giving pain perdu with a twist, and it was beyond delicious. It was truly a decadent indulgence that was just the cherry on top of a delicious dining experience. Oh and we also tried their mango refresher, forgetting the name, and it was so perfect. Had we not had so much food coming, we would have ordered another. All in all: delicious food, lovely service, a romantic and intimate ambiance. We’ll definitely...

I had the chance to dine at Camphor this past weekend. I told my best friend that I was coming into town and he instantly sent me a viral video of "Le Burger" from Camphor. After watching the video I told home to make reservations for us to dine at this fine establishment. Parking can kind of be a pain unless you are going to use valet so plan a little bit of extra time for this.

We arrive at the restaurant and were promptly seated and I couldn't help notice the aesthetic of the restaurant as 'white.' White walls, white tables, white ceilings, white uniforms, white. I dig it and I normally don't see this decor. Cool.

Our server was trained on a different level on expertly explaining each dish. I swear he went to a 4 year school just to get the vocabulary to help us contextualize each dish. He brought each dish to life with just his words. It's a thing of beauty and I applaud Camphor for training their servers to provide this level of detail. After his detailed explanation we went with the silver anchovy, clams, and Le Burger.

To start off they provide you with apéritif palate cleanser. This thing was crazy and I don't have the words to describe it but I'll try, it's like a puffy, crunchy, creamy, foamy, bubbly, cucumber flavored snack. It was good and it was a sign of good things to come. First to arrive was the silver anchovy in their gunpower seasoning. Man this dish is addictively deliciously! Out of this world goodness. The silver anchovy were crunchy and flavorful. Next up were the clams and these were just as good. Creamy, succulent, and tasty are the best adjective I could use here, just wish we had more to eat! But I digress and didn't want to ruin my appetite for the main dish, why I flew over 2,000 miles to be at Camphor and that was Le Burger. The burger is served with fries and three dipping sauce, ketchup, a horseradish sauce, and a spicy mayo sauce. The burger is impressive and the bun just shines in the dining room when served. I dig into the fries and it's your standard fry but I wasn't there for the fries. The burger was phenomenal. Le burger with the duck meat and beef and beef fat remoulade with grilled onions was out of this world goodness. I need to comment on the brioche bun also. The bun toasted with duck fat was lip smacking good. I'm just drooling writing this review and remembering how good that burger was. Everything was amazing at Camphor from the atmosphere, service, and food. A+. If you haven't gotten a chance to dine here then do yourself a favor and make a reservation on their website and get in there now! Don't forget to try the silver anchovy, bet you can't...

If you're looking for a dining experience that's both elegant and exciting, Camphor in the arts district of LA is the perfect place to go. This cozy restaurant, recently granted a Michelin star, offers a unique blend of French and Southeast Asian cuisine that's sure to please even the most discerning palates.

From the moment you step inside, you'll be transported to a world of luxury and sophistication. The intimate setting, with its warm lighting and plush furnishings, creates a welcoming and inviting atmosphere. If I had a list of top 10 restrooms in LA, this would top the list. But the real star of the show here is the food.

Every dish on the menu is a work of art, beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. If you're feeling adventurous, I'd highly recommend omakase and letting the knowledgeable staff guide you through the menu.

One of my favorite dishes was the chicken roulade, which was cooked to perfection and finished tableside with a delicious jus. The gunpowder shrimp was another standout dish, with each bite packing a flavor punch that's both spicy and savory. And the mushroom rice was a real surprise - it may seem like a simple side dish, but the blend of spices and flavors makes it anything but ordinary.

But it's not just the food that sets Camphor apart. The cocktails are also not to be missed. The mixologists here are true masters of their craft, creating elegant and sophisticated drinks that perfectly complement the flavors of the food. I personally loved the Provence, with its delicious martini accoutrements.

And let's not forget the desserts! The kiwi dessert is one of the most visually stunning desserts I've ever had, almost too beautiful to eat. But trust me, you'll want to dig in and savor every bite. And the chocolate hazelnut dessert is a must-try - it's the kind of dessert you'll find yourself thinking about long after the meal is over.

But what really sets Camphor above other restaurants is the attention to detail. Every dish is carefully crafted and presented, and the staff is knowledgeable and attentive without being overbearing. And while the prices here are on the higher side, it's worth every penny for the experience.

In short, if you're looking for a dining experience that's both elegant and exciting, Camphor is a must-visit. Just be sure to make a reservation well in advance, as this restaurant is one of the hottest spots in...