We had one of the most amazing dining experiences in my life not long ago at Trois Mec. Now, Trois Mec is not cheap, and it's difficult to even get a reservation. You have to stalk the website to see when tickets are going to be released, then you log on at 8am on whatever day the tickets go on sale. And then you Refresh, Refresh, Refresh, Refresh, until you see the blessed window that gives you the available times. It's just like Ticketmaster, except without the explicatively outrageous surcharge.
We were aiming to go to Trois Mec on our anniversary. Obviously, the reservation system makes it difficult to eat on the exact date that you would like. The restaurant isn't opened on weekends, and Friday was gone by the time I had chance to purchase tickets. We ended up taking a Monday night at 8:15pm, a few days late, but we were looking forward to the celebration at the restaurant in LA that we most wanted to dine at.
Trois Mec is tiny. Very few tables, and it's brighter with a more casual feel than I was expecting. But this lack of poshness ends with the atmosphere. The food is all class. And it's fabulous. We were seated at the bar (there are no two-top tables, so if you are a party of two you will be seated at the bar) over-looking the small, open kitchen, and overhearing all the goings-on with the line cooks. Someone got scolded and it was a little awkward since we were so close, but it was cool to see a real kitchen in action. Especially since Chef Ludo Lefebvre was doing the reprimanding (and, yes, he is that good-looking in person).
Since we were so up close and personal, it just seemed wrong to take photos of the food. Now, there's not a no photo policy of any sort, but it just seemed inappropriate. Improper, if you will. And I was afraid that Ludo would scowl at me and that would've made me very, very sad. I might have cried. So I am sad to report that I used my better judgement and I have no photos of the truly glorious meal that we consumed in celebration of four years in wedded bliss. But I have the next best thing--photos of the menu!
I know, it's a letdown. But here it is. The menu changes every night, so you are given the menu from your meal as a keepsake when you leave. Which I very much appreciated since my memory is not so good.
The menu is fixed, everyone gets the same courses in the same order. You have the option of adding an appetizer, scallops the night we dined. We passed, hoping our other courses would fill us up. If you're worried about there not being enough food, worry not. We left absolutely stuffed and relieved that we didn't order the scallops because it would've led to an uncomfortable situation in our stomachs.
Also, when our drink bill came, I was kind of shocked at $18 for a glass of wine, the only wine they offer. So the wine pairing for $49 is an excellent deal.
Now, for the food. All the courses were first-rate. My favorite, the one that came in a good-sized portion but I would have eaten five if they kept bringing them to me, was the raw beef. Just the thinnest slice of raw beef laid over lots of great flavors including eggplant and other delicious things I've never eaten before. Just perfect. And a surprise.
Also, one of the most decadent things I've ever eaten was the potato pulp. As the name would suggest, it was potatoes, run through a ricer with cheese. Then with more cheese grated on top. Tart, potent cheese. I could imagine French royalty being served this hundreds of years ago, it was that old school and that luxurious.
Just a great meal all around. And with the menu changing every day, we will be saving our pennies to go back in a different season to see what this talented kitchen does with other fresh ingredients.
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