Housed in a stunning place, République was our choice for Christmas Eve dinner. Awarded a coveted Michelin Star, this place is incredible. Built in 1929, this building was Charlie Chaplin’s office before he lost it to one of his wives during a divorce proceeding. With its very high ceiling and stone walls, it is like entering into a church where the angels of food would sing: yes, with its three kitchens, this place serves a fantastic food. The owners, Walter and Margarita Manzke, have succeeded in creating a unique experience, with dishes that change on a regular basis, based on what they find at the market.

Although they have a dining room in the back with individual tables, the concept is to eat at communal tables, a way of sharing an experience with your immediate neighbors who are hopefully not annoying...We got lucky as we sat next to a couple who loves food and in fact, the wife, Karis, is also a food blogger. Here is what we had:

As a cocktail, I decided to try their Eggnog, perfect for the season. It was made with rum, cognac, coconut cream and egg. I loved it but this is the kind of drink that is dangerous as you drink it like milk...

We then got their bread that was a succulent baguette that they make in their bakery, served with some salted butter from Normandy, France (Rodolphe Le Meunier). That bread was amazing and was like traveling to France: the thin crust was deliciously crispy. I definitely recommend it: it is worth paying $8.

The first appetizer was the potato and leek beignets, filled with gruyère and served with a dijonnaise sauce. That was a very good start: these little balls were slightly crispy on the outside and very cheesy inside.

The second appetizer was the Hudson Valley foie gras, a sautéed foie gras served with a roasted pineapple that gave a nice sweetness that counterbalanced well the fattiness of the liver. It was a delicious dish, but I admit that it was pricey considering how small the foie gras was.

For her entree, Jodi ordered the butternut squash agnolotti, some perfectly made ravioli filled with butternut squash, served with brown butter and Parmesan. This was a great dish: the ravioli had a nice sweetness from the squash that paired well with the brown butter and the saltiness of the Parmesan cheese.

Butternut squash agnolotti at République in Los Angeles

On my side, I went for the duck breast that was cooked as ordered, medium rare, with a delightfully crispy skin that was slightly fatty. The duck breast was sitting on steel cut oats, accompanied by roasted baby beets and a sour cherry-peppercorn sauce. I never had roasted beets with duck, but I admit that all of these elements went well together. I definitely recommend this dish.

Last was dessert. We ordered the almond brown butter cake and, because it took some time to be served, they graciously offered us some house made sorbets: pear (my favorite that is unfortunately not often proposed) and lemon. Both were fantastic, creamy and fruity.

The almond cake was worth the wait: served with berries and an earl grey ice cream, it was phenomenal. Buttery, the outside of the cake were slightly crunchy. This is a must have.

Overall, we had a great time at République: no wonder why this place is one of the popular spots in Los Angeles: the food was delicious and the service on point. I should mention that they add 4% charge to the bill to pay for the staff medical coverage; a charge I do not mind paying.

Enjoy (I did)!

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République- 624 South La Brea Avenue, La Brea, CA 90036

Los Angeles: République

I Just Want To Eat!