Violet - Review - Westwood - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"We never thought we’d say this, but the most romantic patio in LA might be in Westwood. Violet’s back patio looks like someone opened a bistro inside a lush sunroom, which, at night, is lit up with string lights. It’s an ideal place to flirt with someone who is equally into fussy French food, which this place does well enough, i.e., steak au poivre that sits in a kiddie pool of peppery cream or duck à l’orange with quinoa that tastes like the ‘90s heydays never left. Violet seems to be the go-to date night destination for couples who live in the area, so the crowd does lean a little mature, or perhaps, distinguished. Food Rundown Champignons à l’Antoine Squeeze that lemon on top because these baked mushrooms need some brightness. These salty morsels are loaded with more parmesan, breadcrumbs, and olive oil than their crostinis can hold, making them an indulgent but tasty bite. photo credit: Sylvio Martins Salade Mizou This giant salad is balanced and the type of communal leafy green you want with braised meats and confits. Every mouthful has crunch from the pistachios and a little sharpness from the sheep’s cheese, and the punchy vinaigrette tastes like it’s been massaged into each leaf. photo credit: Sylvio Martins Duck à l’Orange Look past the undressed (and random) quinoa salad and this is an impressive duck confit: the skin crackles like gift wrap when you slice it, and the bone slides right out. The orange sauce, however, is more like sweet marmalade than fragrant citrus, which makes it a bit overpowering. photo credit: Sylvio Martins Steak au Poivre Steak au Poivre Sadly, the steak was overcooked, but it still managed to be tender. The buttery au poivre sauce is the saving grace here, so make sure to use some of the table baguette for dipping. photo credit: Sylvio Martins" - Sylvio Martins