A.O.C. Restaurant Review

8022 W. Third St. (Crescent Heights Blvd.) Send to Phone

A.O.C. features upscale small-plates dining and an extensive selection of wines by the glass, carafe and bottle.

A.O.C. Restaurant is one of our 2012 | Top 10 LA Small Plates Restaurants | Top 10 LA Wine Bars Restaurants | • We got the scoop! Find out what President Barack Obama had for dinner when he went to Tavern restaurant on April 21st, 2011, A.O.C's sister restaurant. Read GAYOT.com's blog.

Cuisine

Open

Dinner nightly, Brunch Sat.-Sun.

Features

Reservations suggested
Outdoor dining
Valet parking
Casual

Wine

Great Wine List

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Bustling, upscale A.O.C. pioneered the small plate concept locally and draws folks looking simply for a glass of CÃ´tes du RhÃ´ne and a slice of pÃ¢tÃ©, as well as those eager for a multi-course feast. A venture of chef Suzanne Goin and partner Caroline Styne, the duo behind Lucques, A.O.C.---short for Appellation d'Origine ContrÃ´lÃ©e---offers a long wine bar listing over 50 pours by the glass, a charcuterie bar and table service (for easier conversation and less of a crush, ask for a table on the upstairs patio, which has a retractable roof). The menu is primarily composed of tapas-sized portions of French and Mediterranean comfort foods. We like to begin with the bacon-wrapped Parmesan-stuffed dates, baked in the wood-burning oven, followed by lightly tossed salads or seared albacore, then move on to sinfully delicious treats like boudin noir, brandade fritters with Meyer lemon aÃ¯oli, or pork rillettes with pickled onions (we find the grilled skirt steak a bit chewy). We also enjoy the intriguing selection of vegetables and starches (garlicky cavolo nero, farro and black rice with pine nuts and currants) and the multi-national cheese selection, one of the best in town. The wine list offers many interesting finds from France, Spain and throughout the New World, including some relatively undiscovered California producers.

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