Bar Etoile

Tucked along Western Avenue in East Hollywood, Bar Etoile is the kind of neighborhood French bistro that makes you feel instantly at home. The space centers around a gorgeous horseshoe-shaped bar, with cherry wood banquettes along one side perfect for intimate dinners and spacious circular booths on the other ideal for celebrations with friends. It’s a room that adapts to your needs, whether you’re stopping in solo for a glass of wine or gathering a group for a proper feast.

The menu leans into classic bistro territory without pretense. The steak frites alone is worth the visit—a generous portion of medium-rare beef served with thin, impossibly crispy shoestring fries and an herb-enriched butter that seeps into every layer. The cheese tart is another standout, a savory creation that somehow captures all the satisfaction of a cheese plate in elegant pastry form. For something lighter, the trout rillettes come piled with housemade potato chips that are thick, salty, and dangerously addictive.

Bar Etoile comes from the team behind Domaine LA and features a former Voodoo Vin chef, which means the wine list is exceptional and the approach is refreshingly unpretentious. You can easily spend two hours working through a bottle of cab franc while chatting with the bartender, or make it a quick weeknight stop for steak and a glass of something interesting. The restaurant never feels like a battle to get into, which is increasingly rare for spots this good.

Whether you’re celebrating something special or just need a reliable neighborhood spot that consistently delivers, Bar Etoile fits the bill. It’s the kind of place where you know you’ll have a good time before you even sit down—and that’s exactly what a great bistro should be.