There’s a new restaurant in town, Les Coulisses, adjacent to the historical Belasco Theater in Downtown Los Angeles.

I stopped by before the official opening (November 1st), to sample some of the food and drinks that are going to be on the menu. Since I work downtown, this is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from me, and new food options in Downtown are always exciting!

First off, the venue is gorgeous- the interior is very sexy, over the top French boudoir with a twist. With vintage decor from TINI on Fairfax- by where I used to live! The mirrors go up the whole walls to the high ceilings, mirror selfies are encouraged (I made that up, but I encourage you 😉).

The food is French, which one could assume from the name, which means “behind the scenes”…fitting for a place next to a theater!

Head Chef Frances Li (formerly of Maré in West Hollywood), modernizes French cuisine and adds a bit of an LA twist with lots of fresh produce. No French Onion soup to see here! I’m not complaining… I’m lactose intolerant…Now, onto the important part: the food & drink!

Beverage wise, I sipped on their Bellini, and then had a few Moscow Mules (which I think have taken over Amaretto Sours as my drink of choice. The Bellini is essentially a peachy wine. It’s not just prosecco and peach juice mixed together, surprisingly! It was very good and super up my alley as I always drink Stella Rosa Peach when I want wine at home. The Moscow Mules were pretty standard, but they did have signature cocktails as well.

As far as the food goes, the menu is sorted by Table (appetizers), Garden, Field & Sea, and Sweets. I liked everything that I tried, aside from the octopus because I don’t like seafood, but sometimes I try it out at events to see if my palate has suddenly changed…it hasn’t worked yet but it’s always worth a shot.

Swipe through to see some snaps of the food. The first few images were provided by Les Coulisses, but unfortunately I have to take credit for the terrible flash food photos…you bet I bought a portable light right after this! #foodporn coming soon…

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The Oxtail Agnolotti was my absolute favorite,  my friends Kait and Thu were there with me…we all got multiple bites of this one! This is what I’d order when I’m back for a full meal.

I also really liked the Ribeye with Bone Marrow…which says a lot because I typically don’t enjoy a ton of steaks, but this one was flavorful and tender.

A surprise favorite was the Roasted Carrot and Farro Salad. This isn’t something I’d typically think to order, but it was a fresh and light option that tasted great.

On the dessert menu (aka my favorite part of a meal), I really loved the Chocolate Hazelnut Torte and Apple Napoleon. Both were delicious in their own right. If you love Nutella, the cake is an elevated, decadent treat. The Apple Napoleon has perfectly spiced apples, cream, and crispy layers of pastry.

There’s even a few fun menu items that I didn’t get to try, but are up my alley too! Burrata crostini (that is well worth the Lactaid), fried brussels sprouts, and moroccan spiced chicken tagine…just to name a few!

If you’re in the area, definitely give Les Coulisses a shot- I was impressed with everything and will definitely be back!