My wife and I recently walked on Highland Ave in Hollywood, and I noticed Petit Trois, which made me remember that this was one of the restaurants on my bucket list. If you wonder why, the owner is chef Ludo Lebevbre, a master chef who managed kitchens at a young age and began LA’s fried chicken craze with crispy chicken rolled in corn starch and fried in duck fat.
According to the LA Times article, Ludo Lefebvre recently purchased both Petit Trois locations, and I enjoy watching a chef take off on their vision. Lefebvre, will ideally see the expansion of Petit Trois into other California locales and eventually into other states.
While I was interested in sitting at the counter and watching the action in the kitchen, we were seated in their outdoor setup in the parking lot. Fortunately, they had shade umbrellas, and I was amused by the Eiffel Tower topped with a propeller to keep the flies from bothering you.
Petit Trois is a cozy bistro serving French classics like Mussels Marinière, Steak Frites, and Croque Monsieur. One of the most popular items is the Big Mec ($37), a gourmet double cheeseburger with a foie gras-infused red wine bordelaise and fries. It may be the most expensive burger in LA.
We selected the Vincent Grall Sancerre Blanc, a dry French white wine from the Loire Valley. It has notes of grapefruit and lemon and is a food-friendly wine.
We chose the Shredded Carrot Salad ($14) with coriander, chili flakes, and diced pistachios as an appetizer. It paired well with the wine.
My wife is a huge fan of French Onion Soup ($25). One of her favorites was in a cafe in Pau, France, a commune in the Pyrenees. She felt that Petit Trois’ version had a rich melted cheese experience but thought the soup was thin and more like a beef broth.
Croque Madame $29 is nothing like an American grilled cheese sandwich and is the spousal equivalent of Croque Monsieur, with a fried egg on top. With the generous covering of creamy bechamel sauce, it was barely recognizable as a sandwich; inside contained layers of thinly sliced French ham.
French cuisine typically doesn’t appeal to American kids; we were both surprised to see a couple with two young kids, and one of them was enjoying Mussels Marinière.
Other items that caught my attention were the Burgundy Escargot and the Roasted Duck Breast with red wine figs, shallot confit, ricotta, fig leaf oil, and amaranth.
Part of their parking lot is dedicated to their outdoor dining space; consequently, the lot fills up quickly. The nearby residential streets are permit-only parking.
On top of a pricey menu, the restaurant imposes a hefty 18% service charge before tax and states that it’s not a tip. While the food is outstanding, I’ll leave it up to you whether it is worth visiting.
Petit Trois, 718 N. Highland Ave, Hollywood, CA 90028; petittrois.com
Bryan, We both did French this week, that is so funny. I totally agree with you. French Cuisine, for younger American children is a tough sell. The restaurant I visited, did not have a kids menu, did the Petit Trois have one? Your pictures are amazing. I agree with your wife’s choice of soup. I love French Onion Soup, it’s a shame it was not all that she expected. Good stuff, look forward to reading more. Take care
Will, thanks for your kind words. I’m not sure whether they have a kid’s menu, I didn’t ask.