Republique is one of the hottest new French-modern restaurants in town and has rightfully earned that title. Pronounced Re-Poob-Leek, step inside this trendy La Brea Avenue eatery and you'll feel
like you're in the East Village in NYC. The modern space bustles with energy in the former Campanile building. The setting is gorgeous with its oak tables and wrought iron accents. Service is very knowledgeable and friendly and is a true dining pleasure Our
server Adrienne was fantastic! Start off with some crisp breadsticks while you pour over the extensive wine list. We had a glass of the French white burgandy ($19). Be sure to order the Beurre de Baratte ($5). This is a loaf of crispy on the ouside, chewy
on the inside, fresh bread with Normandy butter. Now if you've never eaten Normandy butter, you are in for a nice surprise. Normandy butter is smooth in texture and slightly salty with a rich, rich taste. Once you try it, you will never go back to regular
butter! You can get it at Gelson's or Whole Foods.We also had the Bacon Tart ($16) with Neuske's bacon, caramelized onions, and gruyere. The caramelized onions made this dish slightly sweet, but the bacon provided the saltiness to make it perfect! We loved
the Mary's Rotisserie Chicken. ($29) Skin was plumped and crispy and perfectly seasoned. Meat was juicy and bursting with flavor. We love Barlo Kitchen's rotisserie chicken, but Republique definitely gives them a run for their money. This chicken is phenomenal!
Sauteed kale and fingerling potatoes complete the dish. We loved the juices from the chicken which made it all the more delectable! Of course we forced ourselves to have the Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake ($11) for dessert. This cake reminded me of
the cake my Nana Lila used to make. It was the perfect combination of sweet and salty, not the abuse of sea salt like so many desserts today. The tiny milk concoction served in a shot glass on the side was a thoughtful finishing touch. This
dinner was truly a special "date" night.
Republique 624 South La Brea Avenue Los Angeles (310) 362-6115. Hours: Mon-Sat 8:00 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon-Wed:
6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Thur-Sat: 6p.m.-11:00 p.m.
Recommended Dishes: Beurre de Baratte, Bacon Tart, Rotisserie Chicken, Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake.