User's Guide

Bastille Day: Seven Spots to Get Your Bag(uette) On

Kir Royale
Kir Royale Photo: Alexbrn via Flickr

L.A.’s French-aligned restaurants are gearing up this weekend for another Bastille Day, the annual commemoration of the 1789 storming that lead to a more democratic French republic. With Bastille Day approaching again this Saturday, we figured we’d call together a quick cheat sheet of Francophile restaurants planning to party it up, just to clarify who is offering what, when, and how in celebration of France’s huge holiday. Take a look (We’ve also updated the list by adding another option).

A.O.C. will honor Bastille Day on Saturday by offering a $45 prix fixe menu centered on French classics with Cali coasts, including wood-oven cooked goat cheese tartine with haricots verts nicoise, anchovy brown butter, and cherry tomatoes, steak frites, and bouillabaisse. Running from 6:00-10:00 P.M., wines paired by Caroline Styne will also be available, while pastry chef Lauren Herman will offer beignets and cheese for dessert. Reservations at 323-653-6359.

Bouchon is offering all comers a gratis glass of Kir on Saturday, along with two-dollar oysters and a special run of “Tricolour” macarons, priced two-for-one all day.

Church & State is blowing off Saturday (July 14, actual Bastille Day) for a Sunday celebration from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. on its front patio. Chef Jeremy Berlin will prepare French sandwiches, sold a la carte, while oyster dude maitre ecallier Christophe Happillon will oversee a raw bar with clams, crab, oysters, shrimp, and various accoutrements. There will also be a special selection of drinks, put together by beverage director Sarah Clarke, live French tunes, and games of bocce-like Pétanque. Reservations not required and no cover.

Cliff’s Edge is planning to show cult French films and play French tunes in the bar, with complimentary rose for anyone dressed in French-themed clothes. There will even be fairground-style scenarios where you can be photographed posing as Marie Antoinette or putting your head in a guillotine. Meanwhile, Ben Bailly will offer a $45 prix-fixe menu with frisee aux lardons, saumon a L’Orseille, steak, and desserts.

Melrose’s sterling European haunt Fig & Olive is decorating for its own Saturday soiree, promising a D.J. and a red, white, and blue color scheme. Meanwhile, chef Pascal Lorange will start the day with a $28 weekend brunch menu attached to one’s choice of cocktail, including dishes like truffle mushroom fontina eggs, a French omelet, and a Mediterranean mac and cheese. Happy hour, from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. will put eight dollar drinks into guests’ hands.

Monsiuer Marcel will welcome an accordion player to serenade guests, while pitching Kir Normales for $6.99 and Kir Royales for $7.99.

Papilles in Hollywood is planning a special Bastille Day menu of Gallic classics on Saturday from chef Tim Carey. Priced at just $30, the three-course menu includes choices of French onion soup or a frisee salad for a first course, moules or steak frites for the main, and dessert of Camembert or chocolate mousse, paired with $12 carafes of natural wines from France. Seatings are available at 6:00 and 8:00 P.M., with reservations at 323-871-2026.

Bastille Day: Seven Spots to Get Your Bag(uette) On