THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Lunaria

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Lunaria Restaurant Review:

After years of managing posh restaurants and hotels, Bernard Jacoupy became one of L.A.'s most beloved and celebrated hosts. Eventually he opened Lunaria, his own little piece of his native France on the Westside. This bit of France, though, also includes a hot jazz club in the adjoining space. We like the square, marble-topped bar and the relaxed elegance of the dining room, with its lovely watercolor paintings and glass-ensconced kitchen. The cuisine has a strong Provençal influence, and there are also a few pastas offered---even a respectable paella. Among the appetizers, go for the light pastry tart topped with smoked salmon and onion cream, or a tomato tarte Tatin with basil fondue and balsamic syrup. The entrées are consistently excellent: a traditional bouillabaisse, braised lamb shank, entrecôte with Cognac-peppercorn sauce, and specials that might include an exotic sausage- and spinach-stuffed chicken breast with green olive-almond sauce. Finish up with a très French chocolate soufflé or espresso profiteroles. After dinner, move into the lounge for the live jazz and you'll understand why Lunaria is such a special---yet relatively unheralded---place.