CF Food Kitchen, American, French, Cajun/Creole, Granada Hills, CA

%16-%02-%2018, %RAmerican, Cajun, Creole, French

CF FOOD KITCHEN
16205 Devonshire Blvd.
Granada Hills, CA 91344
(818) 363-5781

My wife and I had been meaning to try this place for a while, especially with all the great reviews and the fact that it is so close to us in the Valley, but were sorely disappointed in just how long it took. Now it was Valentines day and a special Price Fixe menu.

It is in a little strip mall with a very small parking lot, though we did get a spot easily.

My wife made our Valentines day reservation very early, in fact they said we were the first reservation that anyone had made, and we made it for 8 PM. On the night we went and got their by 7:45 to see a bunch of people outside and waiting, which was not a good sign. The place was nuts, and we waiting a little over an hour from when we got there until we were seated. We had thought that people were just not leaving, but it turns out that was not the issue.

Once we got seated the waiter was awesome, and the food was great, but it took so long! It was a special Price Fixe menu, though similar to their multi course menu, and they had either 4 or 5 items, 2 or 3 appetizers a main dish and dessert, with many choices for each 3 or 4 apps for each choice and about 5 dinners and 5 desserts. The problem is that getting the food just took so long!

We didn't get out of there until 11:30 and the table next to us had been seated when we got there and only left a little before us, not because of waiting, but because it took so long for the food to come! They obviously did not factor in the time it would take to cook in the reservations they took! And obviously the Chef needed more help for the amount of reservations that they had. The food just took so incredibly long!

The food was great! I had the crab cake with remoulade and fruit , and it was awesome (the remoulade was good, but with the fruit it was amazing), as was the Duck confit, which was perfect and the Beef Wellington was some of the best I have ever had. And the Key Lime Pie and Cheese Cake were both great.

The food was awesome! My only complaint about the food was that bread was only OK, and my wife liked her seafood pasta, but didn't love it like I loved the Beef Wellington. Still it was all very good, but the Chef took so long! I think they just took too many reservations for the time it took to cook all those meals. Maybe with the Price Fixe menu they should have had less choices so it would take less time?

And the waiter though incredibly busy was great! He had a great personality and did a great job! I had constant refills on my water (I do drink allot of water).

The wine was decent and not too expensive, and they had a good selection and some beers you can get as well, though we didn't.

Honestly I would like to try some of the more creole dishes some time, but after the wait for the food it left a sour taste in my mouth and I am just not sure if we will be returning.

Jonah Lee Walker

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Currant American Brasserie, French American Cuisine, San Diego, CA

%03-%05-%2014, %RAmerican, Bar, French

Currant American Brasserie
at the Sofia Hotel
140 W Broadway,
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 702-6309

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My lovely Wife and I went to San Diego for our 5th Wedding anniversary, and were kind of playing it by ear as to were we would go, and ended up at the Currant in the Sofia Hotel. This is a stylish little French Brasserie and bar, and we have to say we were quite pleased.

We went early, and they have happy hour specials from 4:00 PM till 7 PM and 9 PM till close, including many items on the menu, and $5 wine glasses (red, white and sparkling), they had $5 mint juleps for the Kentucky derby as well.

The place was pretty empty, but still the service as exceptional with very friendly wait staff and buss boys. They even recommended bars to go to afterwards to see the sunset.

To star we had drinks and Popcorn of the Moment which changes every day. We had feta and basil and it was hot and delicious. Going to have to try and make this at home.

I had traditional Moules Frites in white wine with tomatoes and shallots and it was fantastic. Kelly had Moules Frites Basserie, which was in a bear sauce with bacon, leaks, chili and thyme. It was quite good, but not as good as the traditional. and they were only $8.95 instead of $14.95 because of happy hour!

Kelly also had an excellent French Onion soup.

For desert Kelly had a Butterscotch Gooey Butter Cake with Walnut chocolate praline ice cream, which she loved, and I had a very good blueberry hand made sorbet.

We also had a glass of absinthe, with the whole burning the sugar and then bringing a water decanter to pour in water. Very fun, though I am sure Kelly won't try it again (not liking black licorice, not that I do either).

Good food, great deals for Happy Hour and great service. If this was in Los Angles, we would certainly be back!

Jonah Lee Walker

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French 75, French Restaurant and Hamburgers, Burbank, CA

%24-%08-%2007, %RFrench, Hamburger

French 75
3400 W. Olive Avenue
Burbank, CA
(818) 955-5100

GOOGLE MAPS

Kelly and I decided to get a nice meal in Burbank, which isn't always an easy task, as Burbank seems to have more fast food than it does good food, but right near her house are 2 places that are both expensive and good, both Morton's and right next door to it French 75. You have to park valet, for $5.50 (youch), but the place is really amazing. It looks straight out of Moulon Rouge. The bar is amazing, and the whole place is dark with red velvet and old French posters around the place. Our waiter was a bit strange, but the food was pretty great, and the people next to us got a chocolate soufflé which we quickly ordered, so we could get it after the meal. Wow.

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Amazingly we went back not a month later. I signed up for their mailing list and got a $25 gift certificate, so we went back. I had the same, but Kelly didn't.

Jonah Lee Walker

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Bouchon Las Vegas, French Restaurant by Thomas Keller, Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino, Las Vegas, NV

%17-%04-%2007, %RFrench

Bouchon Las Vegas
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Suite 10101
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 414-6200

GOOGLE MAP

I have wanted to go to Thomas Keller's the French Laundry since I saw Anthony Bordaine go there on his old Food Network show, A COOK'S TOUR, and started learning that this was the number one restaurant in the US, and when I went to NAPA, I ended up going to the number 3 restaurant the BISTRO JEANTY instead and loved it. And then again it was Anthony Bordaine who showed me about Bouchon Las Vegas, but this time on his travel channel show, NO RESERVATIONS. And on the plane ride to Vegas to go to NAB this year I was reading Anthony Bordain's book THE NASTY BITS, which had the article that he was writing about Bouchon when he did the show, and I knew my girlfriend and I had to go. We called at 3 in the afternoon (they are not open for lunch) and got reservations for 9:30 PM. And I recommend you get there early and ask for directions, because the restaurant is quite well hidden away in the new tower, but it is quite nice inside.

Kelly and I got there a few minutes early, and got a table outside in the courtyard next to a fountain. It was a bit overly windy, but quite warm, and an amazing setting. The place is gorgeous. And when you sit down, the menu is a piece of paper wrapped around your napkin, so you can keep it. The wait staff was very good and helpful, and the food was honestly some of the best I have ever had. And the price was quite reasonable. With 1000Ml of wine, and an order of Oysters the dinner for the 2 of us was just under $150 with tip. Quite reasonable for food of this quality. If you are ever in or near vegas, YOU MUST GO TO THIS RESTAURANT NO MATTER WHAT! IT IS AMAZING!!!! Now I have to try THE FRENCH LAUNDRY!!!!

Jonah Lee Walker

Comments (1)

Bistro Provence, French Restaurant, Burbank, CA

%04-%04-%2007, %RFrench

Bistro Provence

345 N. Pass Avenue,

Burbank, CA 91505

(818) 840-9050

GOOGLE MAP

I have been reading about this little French Restaurant for some time in Los Angeles Magazine, and decided I finally had to give it a try. It is strangely located in a strip mall in between a Starbucks and a Dry Cleaners with an Albertsons and a Bank of America, and is only about a block from my girlfriend's house, so where better to go for her birthday celebration? Well, maybe The Hungry Cat just spoiled us, but honestly this place seemed only mediocre. Not bad, but not amazing in any way shape or form.

Jonah Lee Walker

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Monsier Marcel Pain Vin et Fromage at Farmers market, French Restaurant, Los Angeles, CA

%04-%03-%2007, %RFrench

6333 W. 3rd Street

Los Angeles, CA 90036

(323) 939-7792

Mon-Thu 11:30am-10PM, Fri-Sat, 11:30am-10:30pm, Sun 11am-8:30PM

GOOGLE MAP

Located at the Farmer's Market, so the parking can be a bit hectic, but you get 2 hours free with a meal, this is an excellent French Cheese, and Wine

Jonah Lee Walker

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Eat on Sunset, French Cuisine, Hollywood, California

%24-%07-%2006, %RFrench

Eat On Sunset
1448 N. Gower St.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 461-8800

GOOGLE MAP

I have wanted to eat here for some time, though reviews seemed either great or horrible, but i was interested in trying some of the Fish since the chef Joachim Splichal was a chef at the French laundry. The food was decent, with good flavors, though a tad overcooked, but the mixed drinks were spectacular.

Jonah Lee Walker

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Pinot Bistro, French Cuisine, Studio City, California

%14-%02-%2006, %RFrench

Pinot Bistro
12969 Ventura Blvd
Studio City, CA
(818) 990-0500GOOGLE MAP

This place is pretty incredible. A small restaurant from the outside on Venture Blvd's north side, it has reasonably priced valet parking. The inside is quite nice and elegant, with a dining room on one side, and a full sized bar on the other, along with some tables, near the window and along the bar. We sat on that side next to the window. Their are also seats out front on the sidewalk for when it is warmer. The service was excellent as was the food, this is highly recommended!

Jonah Lee Walker

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Catal Restaurant & Uva Var , California cuisine restaurant, Orange County California

%29-%10-%2005, %RFrench

Catal Restaurant & Uva Bar
1500 Disneyland Dr.
Anaheim, CA
(714) 774-4442

GOOGLE MAP

I have always wanted to eat at one of the Patina Group, and was finally able to try one, though I got my girlfriend to the Uva bar instead of the upstairs more expensive Catal Restaurant (different menu) which probably would have been even better (sounded amazing) and will have to try it next time we go back.

This place has excellent food and very large portions. A great choice, and the only place to eat at Disneyland.

Jonah Lee Walker

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Bistro Jeanty, Yountville, Napa Valley, California

%29-%09-%2005, %RFrench

Bistro Jeanty

6510 Washington Street

Yountville, CA 94599

GOOGLE MAPS

Excellent food and excellent service. A great french menu, though it was a little hot out on the patio, but that wasn't their fault. Sure it is a bit pricy, but certainly worth checking out.

Jonah Lee Walker

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