Perle - Review - Pasadena - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"Perle checks all the boxes for a nice, romantic French restaurant: fancy chandeliers, cutesy floral table settings, and servers who will bring you extra throw pillows for maximum back support. A meal here is polished but personal, like you’ve been invited to a friend’s impeccably furnished house for dinner, though the washed-out lighting did leave us wishing there was a brightness slider in the room. The food consists of classic upscale French dishes like steak frites, coq au vin, and escargot—nothing groundbreaking, but well-executed and great for date nights, or those long, drawn-out dinners that go past your bedtime. Food Rundown Salade Lyonnaise Our favorite dish. There’s a lot happening in this salad but in the best way, like thick-cut chunks of bacon and a poached egg that oozes over the greens. There’s also a small, crunchy piece of toast with chicken liver spread that might seem random, but delivers a great contrast to the bright, vinegary dressing and cherry tomatoes. photo credit: Cathy Park Steak Frites We were pleasantly surprised this steak didn’t need béarnaise or a drizzle of some sauce to shine. It stands on its own with a buttery richness and deep sear. The fries are extra thin and are almost Potato Stix-esque in texture. And while the dainty side salad is only three mini romaine leaves, we appreciate adding something green to the plate. photo credit: Cathy Park Apple Tarte Tatin We definitely burned our mouth on the first spoonful of this dessert, but that didn’t stop us from continuing to shovel in these molten caramelized apples anyway. photo credit: Cathy Park" - Cathy Park