la.foodblogging

I took a little jaunt downThird Street last weekend in order to do some necessary shopping and to try out the new annex to the Little Door, the Little Next Door. You don’t really need to read this whole review. All you need to know is this: it is like the French version of Joan’s on Third. But with more space (for now).

And when I say French, I mean French. Like, you really feel like you’ve rolled up into some little French cafe somehow, even though you started out walking down an L.A. street. Not only are the food counters filled with pates, terrines, quiches, baguette sandwiches, and brioche sandwiches, but if you listen, you will hear people speaking French all around you as well. At least, on the day I was there, it seemed as if the entire French population of Los Angeles had popped by for lunch. There’s also a splendid shiny big bronze espresso machine standing tall on the counter if you need a pick-me-up. The walls all around you are filled with wine bottles, drink selections, homemade preserves and French products.

The model is much the same as Joan’s. You choose your meal from the counter, or from the chalkboard list of sandwiches and daily specials, pay for it and receive a number to put at your table and someone will bring you your food. Sandwiches run between $6.00 - $12.00 (for foie gras on brioche). Salads are $3-$4 a portion and come in tiny little bowls. Terrines are $4-$6 per slice. After your meal, you can round the corner of the counter for some baked goods, which will put you out $3-4.75.

I chose a crab cake that came with a combination harissa and saffron aioli dipping sauce, and one celery root salad portion and one quinoa salad portion. The crab cake was excellent. It’s on the small side–two would make standard portion, but I was fine with one plus the salads. The celery root salad was julienned celery root in a light creamy dressing, while the quinoa salad was quinoa with dried currants, red peppers, carrots and gren onion. I preferred the quinoa salad only because there was a maybe a little too much of the creamy dressing on the celery root, but both salads were good. I would definitely order the quinoa again if I saw it, although I have to admit there was something gritty in mine at one point.

The atmosphere was nice. We were probably at one of the worst tables - an inside table for two next to the door, and it didn’t bother me at all. There is quite a bit of seating out on a nice front patio that’s slightly secluded but still allows you to watch and comment on the pedestrian traffic that goes by on Third St.

We had no problem getting our food and a table and I have to admit I was quite shocked when I left and found a huge line of people waiting for Doughboys when this was readily available right next door. I noticed that one couple came in and commented that the place was “too confusing,” and then left. I saw them waiting at the end of the long Doughboys line as we left, so I guess they would rather wait an hour for their lunch than figure out the complex system of pointing at the food you want, paying for it, and then going to a table and waiting for someone to bring it to you. Well, that’s L.A. for you. So I guess I’m not in France after all.

One word of caution - if you have dietary restrictions, ask what’s in stuff. There was a polenta dish with sausage in it, and the sausage was not listed on the descriptive sign. I knew it was there, because I asked about the dish, but I saw one woman who had ordered it and had to bring it back because she was vegetarian.

All in all, I liked it a lot and can’t wait to go back. It is the kind of place I like, casual, but great care is taken with the food and you can always find something special to have.

The Little Next Door
8142 West 3rd Street, CA 90048
Open Daily 10 am - 6 pm
323.951.1010
http://www.thelittledoor.com/lndhome.html

By KT (see more of her posts). You can find more of KT's writing at her own website Gastronomy 101.