Petit Trois — Restaurant in Los Angeles

The first time I ate at Petit Trois, I didn't order the omelette, but I did sit at the counter watching the skilled chef crank out omelette after beautiful omelette. So the second time I came here, I knew I had to try the omelette. Plus, I met Chef Ludo the second time around. You'll want to get here early, because there are no reservations. The restaurant is very small and can feel rather cramped as it is counter seating only. If you get a seat facing the open kitchen, it kind of makes up for that. It is very entertaining observing the chefs crank out deliciously rich dishes. We received a warm and toasty baguette with very creamy butter that was scooped into a small ramekin. Even the bread & butter are delicious.

$14 Winter Formal - cardamom-infused grey goose, pear, lemon: I have an affinity for vodka and citrus flavors, so it is not surprising that I enjoyed this drink. It was sweet and rather refreshing in the warm space. I do think the food here is better suited for wine, and their table wine is not half bad!

$13 French Onion Soup - gruyère, emmental: Good! I also had the pleasure of witnessing them crank out dozens of orders of soup. Each bowl is topped with so many layers of fromage and then baked until it melts beautifully over the bowl. I love cheese, but this was a lot, even for me. Unfortunately, it was a little burnt on one end. The cheese was very thick and not easy to penetrate, but once I dug past all the cheese, I tasted the sweet onions and savory broth. I can't help but wonder how they wash these cheese-encrusted soup bowls.

$18 Omelette - boursin pepper cheese, chives: Excellent! This omelette just melts in your mouth. It is as fluffy and beautiful as everyone says. Stuffed with boursin, it was extra rich and creamy. Though I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderfully executed omelette, it was definitely price-y.

$19 Steak Tartare - fried shallot, elderberries: Great! It was meaty and tart, but not overwhelmingly tart with some capers. It was pretty much covered in fried shallots, which the dish didn't need, but who doesn't like fried shallots? The warm, thick bread was good too.

$24 Confit-Fried Chicken Leg - brioche butter, frisée salad: Good! This is one giant fried leg & thigh with some lovely frisee to cut through the rich chicken fat and fried batter. Perhaps I do not have a very sophisticated palate, but this just tasted like fried chicken to me. When I ripped into it, I was pleased to see steam emanating from the tender meat.

$25 Big Mec - double cheeseburger: Great! I ordered it medium rare, and it was a little pink in the middle, very nice. I would not say this burger is a must have, but it is definitely a rich burger with two juicy beef patties covered in melted cheese and heavy, sweet sauce and finished with a brioche bun. Besides the top bun, the entire plate is drenched in sauce, so it was a little messy to eat.

$28 Mussels Mariniere - white wine, crème fraiche, frites: Great! The mussels sit on top of the broth. Underneath, they are supported by more thick-cut toasted bread that soaks up the broth like a sponge. The mussels tasted sweet and tender in the sweet broth. The creme fraiche added a touch of creaminess.

$36 Steak Frites w/ cognac pepper sauce: I would not normally order steak outside of a steakhouse, but Mr. Joy ordered this and the petite filet under the mountain of frites was very tender and juicy. I am pretty sure he just wanted the frites, which were pretty good in the steak sauce, but could have been a little more crisp.

Overall, Petit Trois was a 9/10 for me. All the dishes were delicious. I would not go so far as to say any of the dishes truly stood out or had that oomph factor. However, I do think these classic French bistro dishes were done superbly well and I left satiated. My favorites were the omelette and the steak frites. Oh, and the...

Probably one of the BEST BURGERS I have had---most certainly a contender for my top 3. This rating in itself derives from the burger; though I also got a wagyu steak frites, French onion soup, and Boston lettuce salad, the burger stole the spotlight and carried this place to a 5 for me. I would come back here JUST for the burger. However, I will still go into the service, the atmosphere, and other dishes I got.

The burger was incredible. Each bite left me wanting to go back in for more, and the only thing I wish now is that I enjoyed it more slowly. It had so much flavor, and was unique in that it was soaked with a wine-reduction veal sauce. The veal sauce glaze is to die for, and you will find yourself dipping every bite into it. The meat was cooked medium-rare (on the medium side) and was incredibly soft and juicy. The cheese was not super sharp or overpowering, and served to complement the two fresh patties. Finally, the burger wasn't overly salty despite all the sauces and cheese. Overall, by far one of the best burgers I have had to date, and I would gladly come here again just for that.

We also had the steak frites, which was good. Not much to really say given it is a fairly classic and simple dish. I would classify it as on par with other steak frites I've had at other French restaurants. There wasn't too much sauce and our cut in particular did not have much compound butter. Meat was still tender, and fries were decent. One thing about the fries, though, is that they were short---but that is just preference. In the future, I would like to try the Steak Au Poivres and Hachis Parmentier.

French onion soup and Boston lettuce were also great little starters. French onion soup was easily the star of the appetizers.

Ambiance was great on one side of the restaurant. However, we got sat on the right side of the restaurant, which was a bit cold and desolate compared to the left side which was more vibrant, warm, and lively. Still, the surrounding environment was relaxing and aesthetic, though I would have preferred to be seated outside or on the left side. Service, however, was great, and made up for this. Our waitress was funny, attentive, and incredibly friendly.

Overall, I would 100% come here again for the burger and to try new items on the menu. I'm also more inclined now to try out their Sherman Oaks location to see how it compares. Final verdict: get the burger (you won't regret it) and request to get seated on the left side or...

I had high hopes for Petit Trois. I reserved in advance and even called a few hours prior to confirm we’d be seated at a table—not the bar. I was assured it wouldn’t be an issue. That assurance clearly meant nothing.

Upon arrival, the host greeted us with a cold, dismissive attitude and insisted on seating us at the bar. I politely explained that I had called ahead, but she didn’t care. No apology. No effort. Just pure entitlement. I asked to speak with a manager.

Enter Terry. After making us wait a good 10 minutes—this is a small restaurant—she finally appeared, exuding the same arrogant energy. Instead of addressing the issue professionally, she acted like she was doing us a favor just by showing up. She talked in circles, made excuses, and rudely demanded I show her proof of the phone call—as if I were lying about the whole thing. The smugness and lack of basic hospitality were jaw-dropping.

After going back and forth for another 10–15 minutes, we gave up and stayed at the bar with a view of the kitchen—not exactly the ambiance I had in mind. Fortunately, our server Jake was a bright spot. He was warm, attentive, and genuinely tried to make the best of an awkward situation. Thank you, Jake.

We started with French onion soup, escargot, and an old fashioned. The cocktail was the highlight of the evening—beautifully crafted with a subtle coconut-infused whiskey that was truly special.

But the night took another dip when we asked to speak with Terry again—this time after spotting several empty tables. Once again, she showed up late and carried herself with the same cold, condescending attitude. After another round of excuses, she finally moved us, acting as if she was granting us a royal favor.

For our mains, we ordered the steak and the Big Mec. The steak was dry, lukewarm, and drowning in black pepper. The burger was a greasy mess—no balance, no finesse, no redeeming quality.

To sum it up: the food was forgettable, the service (thanks to Jake and the bartender) was the only saving grace, and the management—especially Terry—was shockingly rude, unprofessional, and downright hostile. The entitlement, the attitude, the complete lack of grace or customer care? Unbelievable.

For a place that charges premium prices and carries itself like a serious culinary destination, the experience was amateur hour at best—and...