Church & State Restaurant

The environment is a little romantic and easy to speak～ It is very suitable for a small gathering of 2-6 people! There are not many wine choices but enough for a light drink! The speed and rhythm of serving dishes are just right. We never feel overwhelmed when we go there on Friday night. - Recommended dishes: 1Uni Otoro Toast & Crab Toast & Chicken Liver Toast Three amazing little pancakes～ If these are divided into three exquisite small plates, wouldn't it be a combination of rice and three? Haha It is recommended to eat Crab first, then Uni Otoro, and finally Chicken Liver. There is a progressive layer of flavor~ The most surprising thing is the Chicken Liver. The jam seasoning is sour and sweet, and it is paired with a silky and rich chicken liver. It's great! 2I forgot the name of the picture 3 Innovative version of puff pastry mushroom soup! Avoid the creamy and greasy taste of the traditional version. The sour taste of the puff pastry bread with the chewy mushrooms is really good~

I celebrated my birthday at Camelia and it was a masterclass in the art of French-Japanese fusion, with each dish presenting a thoughtful balance of technique, tradition, and innovation. We began with the Medai (Japanese butterfish), elegantly paired with mandarin kumquat and nori tsukudani, offering a delicate interplay of citrus brightness and umami depth. The oysters with yuzu cocktail sauce were bracingly fresh, with the yuzu lending a zesty lift to the briny indulgence. The uni otoro toast was pure decadence--silky, rich, and utterly melt-in-your-mouth--while the chicken liver toast brought an earthy, velvety contrast, both showcasing the restaurant's ability to elevate classic flavors. For a playful take on a French staple, the Croque Madame with ham katsu was delightfully crisp yet indulgently creamy, a satisfying textural contrast that made each bite irresistible. The abalone and Florida wild pink shrimp pot pie was a luxurious surprise, with a deeply flavorful filling encased in a golden, buttery crust. Moving into heartier dishes, the Spaghetti Bolognese à la Japonaise was a standout--comforting yet refined, with a depth of flavor that hinted at both Japanese and French culinary influences. The beef cheek was slow-cooked to perfection, tender and rich, with flavors that lingered long after the last bite. To round out the experience, the Donabe-steamed clams à la Bouillabaisse showcased a masterful layering of seafood flavors, a fusion of the rustic French stew with the delicate precision of Japanese donabe cooking. From start to finish, the meal was an exquisite journey through two culinary traditions, seamlessly intertwined. The attention to detail, ingredient quality, and bold yet balanced flavors make Camelia a must visit place to dine. I would love to come back again.

This is a hot spot and for good reason. Creative and inventive menu that works, fun cocktails with a sidecar, very cool and chic ambiance, good enough service. This is the newest restaurant from the team at Tsubaki, it's a French Japanese fusion restaurant that totally works! Had booked a 5:30pm weeks in advance for a party of 2, yet they only had patio seating when we arrived, disappointing. Service was phenomenal at the beginning of the meal, though tapered off as the meal went on and the restaurant got busier. Below is what we tried: Black Sesame Parker House Rolls w French Butter - 4 stars. This was quite good, but forgettable against the other dishes. Tuna Tartare - 5 stars. Delicious take on a tartare with crispy little onions and rich seasoning. (Pretty sure this was my friend's favorite dish of the night) Spaghetti Bolognese (A la Japonaise) - 5+ stars. One of my favorite dishes of the night, the fusion of flavors just works! The bolognese was rich, yet light at the same time and each bite becomes more addictive and satisfying. Sweet Potato Gratin - 5+ stars. This was rich and buttery, cooked to perfection! Quite hearty, come hungry for this one. French Fries - 4 1/2 Stars. The fries itself were cooked well, but I personally didn't love the curry flavored ketchup or the aioli. (My buddy liked the curry ketchup, definitely a preference thing) Drinks were solid, and all my Martinis had a chilled sidecar which was lovely. The presentation was excellent, and the vibe was energetic and fun. I'd definitely come back but opt for a weekday since I don't love dining on a chilly patio.

A newish (as of mid 2024) spot that blends Japanese and French flavors. Is it a bistro? Is it an Izakaya spot? Maybe a combination of both or it's the same thing in different languages or cultures. I'm the wrong person to ask, ha ha. What I do now is that this place has a fun menu with lots of different things that look so great but you almost wanna try them all. That's why it's probably ideal to come here with small group so you could order a bunch of small plates to try a little bit of everything. The service was great and the vibe was relaxed at least when we went. Note that we got here on the later side right before closing time so we were able to get seated right away. We were coming from a wine event so we also didn't drink. I would definitely love to come back and try some of their cocktails. The summary of our wonderful meal is that I feel like we ordered really well. We got a good mix of proteins and vegetables and all the items we ordered were beautifully presented with wonderful contrasting and complimentary flavors. Really sad that I didn't order one or more of the cocktails, but coming from an all out tasting wine event, it was wise for me to cut myself off. What we got: (better description in the pics) - Chicken in seaweed sauce - Beef cheeks - a squash and citrus dish - sprouting cauliflower - Kombu rice - grilled oyster mushrooms There were a bunch of things I would like to try in the future, but here is a quick list of items I really want to try. What I would love to order on the next trip: - croque madame - sweet potato gratin - abalone pot pie - house rolls - the burger I just think that there's so much to order that this place could be frequented with having a new experience each time. Parking could be tough, but again, we came to the area around closing time so we were able to find parking close by.

I've bookmarked this spot for some time as it blends two of my favorite cuisines - Japanese and French so I was pretty excited. Parking is a little difficult in the area but valet is available right at the entrance. On a weeknight, the dinner time was lively and the dim lit ambience created a cozy setting where you almost don't notice how close the tables are to each other. The staff was very friendly with good recommendations, and they have purse hangers which is a major plus. The plateware is also so beautiful. Another thing that made them in that upper scale establishment is they pack your leftovers but also leaves them by the hostess and you get a ticket to get them back on your way out so it doesn't have to sit at your table. I started with a Camelia Highball which was a solid cocktail, fizzy and light in flavor. There were some hits and misses in the dishes which for the price point, was a little bit of a disappointment. Would order again: + Sweet potato gratin - a decadent, sweet & savory dish that might have been my most favorite blend of both cuisines that we tried. It was sweet but the cheese gave those savory notes and left a nice crust on top. I really enjoyed this. + Tuna tartare - quality tuna, refreshing flavor, the chips are thin and crisp + Spaghetti bolognese - a very traditional dish that they did well and I liked the smash cherry tomatoes and the thinly shredded bundle of parmesan cheese on top. I'm not sure what makes it with a Japanese - maybe the meat sauce is a little sweeter? Would personally skip next time: + Parker house rolls - The black sesame did not shine through at all besides the rolls being black. The rolls were standard and I don't think the addition of ikura (total $27) was worth it for this. The butter was not salted enough IMO. + Chocolate souffle tart - the name implies to me that it would be lava-like chocolate but was not the case. It's a thin slice, but the coconut ice cream was excellent - smooth and creamy. + Branzino - was a tender piece of fish but I wasn't a huge fan of the sauce because it was a little too runny. I did like the greens accompanied with them but it was a little too soggy for me so there wasn't any difference of textures here. Leaving 50/50 makes me wanting to give them another try with other dishes in hoping they're all hits next time.

4.5 Stars - 5 for food and service, 4 for ambiance and price. Camelia has become a notable name in the LA dining scene, attracting attention for its French-Japanese fusion cuisine. The ambiance channels the charm of a French brasserie, with a combination of bar seating, tables, booths, and an outdoor patio. While the setting is chic, the music volume was a bit loud, making it challenging to hear our waitress clearly. The restaurant caters best to small groups of up to four, both in terms of table arrangements and food portions. For larger parties, reservations on OpenTable often push dining times closer to 9 PM. That said, Camelia is perfect for an intimate date or double date. I was particularly impressed with the table setup--it's both chic and unique. Each place setting includes chopsticks and a charming ceramic snail-design holder with a slot for resting your knife. The high-end water glasses, wine glasses, and plates added a refined touch, and the servers' attentiveness, especially Kristine's superb care and attention to detail, elevated the experience. On the photogenic appeal for social media? Not quite. The dim lighting doesn't lend itself to great photos. While a rechargeable table light, like the Fatboy, might help, I suspect the low lighting is intentional, encouraging guests to savor their meals rather than focus on their phones. Now, the food--this is where Camelia truly shines, earning a solid 5 stars. I love that the restaurant acknowledges its kitchen staff, listing over 20 names on the menu. The thoughtfully crafted dishes pair beautifully with the extensive wine and sake selection, and even the dessert menu reflects this careful curation. I feel the pricing is on the higher side, and comparing to other restaurant such as Citrin (before going set-menu) for it's similarity in style, Camelia should consider putting some emphasis on high-end ingredients to justify the price. My top three dishes at Camelia are: Donabe-Steamed Clams - A standout dish also available at their sister restaurant, Tsubaki. Abalone and Florida Pink Shrimp Pot Pie - A perfect balance of flavors. Oyster Mushroom Kushiyaki - A delightful yakitori option, with similar offerings available at sister restaurants Ototo and Tsubaki. All of these dishes were exceptional--kudos to the talented team!

Quite the happening spot! Made a reservation on a weeknight evening and the place was packed. We were a party of two and were sat at a two top squished in between two other two top tables. It felt a little cramped to me. Service was absolutely fantastic! Loved our waitress and all of the waiters and bussers were professional and friendly. Loved the cocktail and wine list! They are happy to make suggestions as to what beverage to pair with your food. We tried several dishes including the black sesame with ikura, roll bluefin tuna tartare, sweet potato gratin, spaghetti bolognese, sage stuffed loup de mer and the souffle tart. I would say the tartare, spaghetti bolognese and loup de mer are absolute must tries. The black sesame rolls were OK, didn't have a ton of that black sesame flavor. The sweet potato gratin was SUPER rich and very cheesy. It was good, but felt like a lot. I liked the coconut ice cream more than the actual souffle for dessert. Overall, a unique dining experience with the fusion of flavors, but not every dish was a hit for me. Valet parking available!

An enchanting spot and welcome addition to the Arts District. Camelia has made a splash in the LA dining scene and for good reason. Elevated Japanese fusion dishes, amazing service, and a solid wine/cocktail program in a charming bistro-like space. We had dinner here on a weeknight and were seated on the outdoor patio with plenty of heat lamps. We ordered quite a few things from the menu, so here's the full breakdown: Black sesame Parker house rolls - 9/10. Loved the use of black sesame here not only for the striking color but added the slightest nuttiness. Dungeness Crab blini - 8/10. An amuse bouche-sized starter. Very buttery and paired nicely with the generous mound of flaky crab. This bite was over too soon. Spaghetti bolognese - 9/10. I might be biased because I love Japanese fusion pasta dishes but this was a hit. The sauce was deeply savory and meaty. We were left wondering what the secret ingredient was, possibly soy sauce? Koji-roasted Green Circle Chicken - 10/10. This was the star of the night for sure and the one dish that I would come back for again and again. The chicken was so succulent and flavorful and paired well with the seaweed cream and cabbage. Sweet potato gratin - 9/10. We nearly didn't order this but were convinced by the wait staff and glad we were! The restaurant is located in the prior Caboco space in the Biscuit Company building and love what they have done with the place. There is street parking, valet, and a few paid lots nearby. The restaurant was packed that night and highly recommend making a reservation.

I was surprised to see Camelia on LA Times 101. It is fairly new, and how did they even make it there so fast? It is still questionable.   Many reviews complaining about slow service, and yes, I do have to agree with it. It was definitely not as slow as others described, but they could have done better. It was also extremely hard to get anyone's attention to ask for anything.   Most staff here do not seem fully trained; they can't even recommend a dish off the menu or wine to go with it, which I think is a big fail.   Food was mediocre at best, and we tried a lot on the menu for just a party of two. Bolognese pasta was not as expected. It had a weird flavor profile that I cannot explain. Sweet Potato Gratin was just too plain but worth the picture, I guess. The chicken? Just no. It is super dry, not juicy nor moist. They did give us the rice to eat with it (on the house), and that was probably the best dish out of everything we ordered. The chicken was not even hot or warm, and it did take forever to serve. It was super lukewarm and just did not cut it.   The salad with persimmon was probably the best off the menu if I had to choose. Iwashi toast was a total letdown. Super fishy, and the bread/toast texture was way off. If you had the real iwashi toast, I am sure you'd relate.   Abalone with puff pastry was decent, but then again, it was not anything to wow for that I'd come back to Camelia.   I said it; it is ok to come and try yourself, but I don't know how many of those will return. Overall, execution is very lacking and I am confused as to what flavors they are trying to portray on their dishes.

Camélia is the latest sensation in the Arts District of DTLA. Its sensibilities bounce between fine French and Japanese cuisines. Some French dishes have a Japanese spark, while some Japanese plates have French inspirations. The modern decor is classy wood paneling meets white vents and pipes. Before your meal starts, you are treated to a warm towel and your utensils are treated to a stone resting slab. Everyone on the staff is really gracious and friendly. The Beef Cheek is so tender, softer than the most comforting pot roast. It may be one of my favorite cuts of beef now. You could cut it into succulent chunks or shred it all with very little effort. The red wine sauce signals allow and steady simmering of the beef and wine, reminiscent of a beef bourginon. The wasabi and green chives atop the beef is a brilliant nose-clearing flavor boost. I need to start eating all my beef with wasabi. The creamy, white, pearl onions are meltingly soft, sweet, and juicy. Frizzy strands of burdock root are crispy like shaved potato chips, which get tender over time in the gravy. A few stalks of bok choy accompany the cheek. A glass of pastis always reminds me of the south of France, even if it doesn't necessarily pair well with the beef. Dining Area: There are plenty of tables in the renovated spacious interior. There are also seats in the green patio with heaters. Parking: There's the typical Arts District valet, but there's probably plenty of street parking on Mateo Street nearby.

As I was planning my recent LA trip, I consulted the New York Times 2024 list of the best restaurants in America. The review for Camelia immediately got my attention, so I made a reservation for Thursday evening. The restaurant offers valet parking, but it was so backed up when we arrived, we went to a nearby pay lot. Although I would have preferred to dine inside, the heaters made the outside patio comfortable. It wasn't until we were ready to leave that we noticed blankets were provided to most tables, to block the wind. If you dine outside on a cool night, make sure you get one. Many recent Yelp reviews were negative, which surprised me for a restaurant celebrated locally and nationally. Some diners didn't like the French/Japanese fusion, portion sizes, pacing, friendliness of the staff and the pricing. Our experience was amazing and we'd highly recommend a meal at Camelia. Crystal, our server, has worked at the restaurant for a few months and was very helpful in finalizing our order. I felt the pacing of our order was perfect. We started with a half dozen oysters which were delish. I especially liked the yuzu cocktail sauce. The Bluefin tuna tartare was a unique presentation with ponzu gelee and sunchokes. As someone who loves traditional pot pies, I had read the version at Camelia is very different. First off, it doesn't contain chicken or a mix of vegetables. It contained Abalone and Florida wild pink shrimp, plus large mushrooms. The garlicky snail butter made it all come together. The thick crust of puff pastry was perfect for dipping into the pie's sauce. The Japanese version of Spaghetti Bolognese featured a sweeter and lighter sauce than the traditional Italian version. But we enjoyed every last bite. But the star of the show was the incredibly tender Beef Cheek, served with red wine sauce, creamed pearl onions and some kickass kizami wasabi. As a fan of wasabi, I never had it on beef before and it was a hit. The Sweet Potato Gratin was probably our least favorite selection. Not that it wasn't good, but after all that food and many flavors, it had a hard time standing out. My two cocktails, the Camelia Army Navy (made with Fords Gin) and Camelia Milk Punch (made with Mizu Saga Barley Shochu) were superb and worthy of my recommendation. Great meal and many other signatures to try on our next visit.

Camelia provided an interesting take on Asian fusion, with experimental dishes I haven't seen before. The restaurant is quite pretty with the exterior reminiscent of a bistro you would find along a street in New York. Our servers explained each dish as it was brought out and provided good recommendations. The night started off strong with the Uni Otoro Toast. It was only a single bite, but that one bite held so much impact. The uni and otoro together was rich, fatty, and buttery, absolutely melting in your mouth. The seafood tasted fresh as well - uni can be a little hit or miss, but in this case it was a hit. I was also impressed by the Croque Madame. It was definitely creative - I had never seen Asian fusion with a Croque Madame before. The bread was shokupan and the ham was breaded and fried in a katsu style. The sandwich was pressed, similar to a panini. This made the bread crispy, which texturally worked very well with the fried ham katsu. For being a ham sandwich, I thought the sandwich was quite meaty and substantial. And the melted Gruyère cheese on top was absolutely delicious. The meal kinda dips a little when the bigger entrees came out. I did not think they were as good as their precedents. The spaghetti bolognese, for example, was fine. It was good, lighter than your typical bolognese with an interesting aftertaste, but nothing special in my opinion. Definitely not a showstopper like the first two dishes. And the beef cheek was a miss for me. It was tender - everything on that plate was tender from the meat to the pearl onions to the bok choy. But the wasabi chutney thing on top was overpowering. On my first bite, I was ambushed by the wasabi and recoiled. On my second, third, and fourth bites, although I was prepared for it, I just could not enjoy the beef with the wasabi on top. The meal was saved by the good graces of the Daifuku Mochi dessert. It was absolutely delicious. Every flavor and texture blended together so harmoniously. It did take a while to come out, but I forgave it immediately on the first bite. A chewy mochi skin, dusted in matcha, blanketed a nest of spiced pears. The pears held a surprisingly mature flavor and contrasted beautifully with the brightness of the tart yuzu marscapone. On top of that, it was not too sweet and quite light. I could not get enough. Overall, I think that Camelia had some interesting dishes. The evening was quite pleasant. The space is gorgeous. The food is innovative and fresh. It is definitely worth a visit.

My girlfriends took me to Camelia for my birthday this year, and it was a wonderful venue for a celebratory dinner. We'd been to Church & State together for one of their birthdays in 2012, when we were young women, and the vibe was similarly trendy and sophisticated. Perfect for a group of totally super cool moms. Camelia is a hot new restaurant, already on the L.A. Times 101 after six months in business. I made our Sunday night reservation two weeks in advance and there was no availability between like 5:30 and 8:00. We went with the 8:00 and the place was full when we arrived. We were on time, and it took over 15 minutes for us to get our table. The host blamed some party that was lingering over the check. I kind of hate it when restaurants do this. I had time to get my first cocktail, in any case, and got good service at the bar, if not a comped drink. Table service was okay once we sat down, friendly but not especially attentive and maybe a little rushed. They seated us after 8:15, but got us out of there by 10:00. Something to keep in mind if you have a late reservation. The drinks were excellent. I started with the Army Navy, a bright, refreshing cocktail of Fords gin, green Chartreuse, mitsuba, rice orgeat, and lemon. Then I got the house Negroni, smooth and bitter, made with A Land of Muses gin, sakekasu, Campari, sweet vermouth, and genmaicha. The food was delicious, innovative French/Japanese/L.A. cooking from the team behind Tsubaki and Ototo in Echo Park. We started with the chicken liver mousse toast, which came with two neat little bite-sized toasts per order. Rich and flavorful, finished with preserved summer peppers and ume aigre-doux, a vibrant plum sauce. The kabocha and chanterelle mushroom agebitashi was a comforting, brothy dish with burrata, vadouvan, curry leaf, and whatever the kitchen calls "sweet and sour." The oyster mushroom kushiyaki was tasty, with a meaty texture and plenty of flavor from the charcoal grill. It came with Tokyo negi soubise and a brown butter tare sauce. We got three seafood dishes and this was my favorite part of the menu. Absolutely loved the donabe-steamed clams à la Bouillabaisse, served with lobster butter and seeded country bread. Delectable clams in a broth I kept drinking by the shellful. The abalone and Florida wild pink shrimp pot pie was superb, maybe the most memorable dish of the night. Buttery, flaky pastry dough on the outside; abalone, shrimp, and king trumpet mushrooms on the inside, bound together with "snail butter," the garlicky decadence of escargot. The Koshihikari risotto was nice, too. Lush, almost cheesy, with uni butter, shiso, and grilled Monterey Bay squid. I'll be honest, I don't really know what made the spaghetti bolognese à la Japonaise, well, à la Japonaise. It was good, though, satisfying and savory. The dry-aged burger was fantastic, with a thick, juicy patty, melted provolone, grilled onions, and pickled jalapeños on a brioche bun. It came with beautiful golden French fries, served with curry ketchup and aioli. We shared the clafoutis for dessert, and it came out warm in a tiny cast iron pan, accompanied by a birthday candle. The clafoutis was sweet and tart and loaded with huckleberry, with lychee fro-yo and candied pomelo on top. I had a lovely time at Camelia and would highly recommend it for your next night out. It's an exciting restaurant with great ambiance and spectacular food and drink.

I was here on 11/15/2024 and the food was absolutely amazing! My favorite items were the Grilled Oyster Mushroom and the Abalone and Florida Wild Pink Shrimp Pot Pie. The oyster mushrooms were charred to perfection with a flavor both bold and delicate. The Pot Pie had a wonderful flaky crust, and the flavor of the filling was a delicious umami blast. One of the most interesting things was the plate warmers they had that were set to 4 different temperatures. I'd never seen that before at any restaurant, really cool. Excited to come here again!

Thankfully, we found parking on the street. Came here on a Wednesday night, for an 8 pm reservation. Was seated right away The ambiance is quite nice and feels cozy. Feels french Sat close to the open kitchen. The richness of French cuisine and the Japanese pairing is awesome. They have a lot of raw seafood options. They messed up on our order so we were waiting for a while. They gave us an extra dish of our choice. The mushroom was better than some of the other dishes we chose. The Pot pie Puff Pastry- Love this! the sauce was a bit on the salty side, but paired with the puff pastry helped. The Sweet Potato Gratin-decent but took a while Beef Cheek- wasn't a huge fan Clams- wasn't a huge fan Chocolate tart Dessert - love this! was also delicious!! Mushroom was good Cauliflower was whatever, maybe too al dente

Japanese influenced French bistro in the arts district. Parking on a Thursday night for dinner was a pain but there's a valet if you don't want to try and find street parking or a local lot. Super impressive sake selection that is treated just like a traditional wine list. Stand out dish for us was the tsukune (meatball) pithivier which is such a cool take on a pastry that is normally sweet.

We came here for my birthday dinner. We were excited to try some Japanese/French Bistro Fusion and we'd already studied the menu. Fusion isn't normally my thing but it looked good. We found street parking easily and didn't need the valet service. Nice. We started with the black sesame Parker House rolls w/butter. Good. Next up some oysters which were tasty and came with a soy mignonette and a spicy cocktail sauce. Cold, a bit smart and briny. A good start. I ordered the Duck Frites ($70!) that came with red cabbage, carrots, Bearnaise and of course fries. Very good but a bit small for such a big price. I very much enjoyed it but I'd like to try a few other dishes in the future. The scallops caught me eye. Next time. My son got the Spaghetti Bolognese ala Japonaise and he loved it. I tried a bite and agreed. My wife tried the Croque Madame with ham Katsu, mornay sauce and an egg on top with cornichons. Also quite good. I also had a dry Haku martini with a twist of lemon. I'd asked for olives but I think our server misheard me or perhaps they didn't have any. No big deal as it was great. We perused the dessert menu but we were feeling a bit full. All in all I'd recommend Camelia but be prepared to pay for the high quality and good service. We'll be back again soon.

Friend wanted to stop by here because she knew one of the servers. Made a reservation and was promptly seated. We ordered a few dishes to share as each was delicious. The uni tar tar bite was amazing. The uni was soft and creamy and melted in my mouth. Definition of the perfect bite. The cheese in the bolognese was sharp and added a nice dimension to the dish. The chicken was soft although could have been a little more moist. Even though the dishes were yummy it seem seem a bit over priced for what you get. Either way still a solid spot to try out. Food: 7.5/10 Service: 7/10 Ambience: 6/10 (Sat outside, cold. Inside is beautiful though) TIP: The interior is pretty large but there are outdoor seats as well. We were seated outside so it was pretty cold so I reckoned asking to be seated inside if preferred.

Vibes here are indeed immaculate. We decided to come here on a whim and put our names down while we walked around the neighborhood. I already had dinner so I came here for drinks and apps and boy did they deliver! I ordered the abalone pot pie and their speciality martini and they were both delicious. Drinks are made strong yet balanced. I am not a martini drinker by any means but this one was very pleasant. Service is great. Our server was so kind and knowledgeable about the menu. The wait took about 1.5 hours on a Thursday night. The abalone was perfectly cooked. It had a good bite to it and reminded of escargot in a crispy pie crust. I would say the negative part about coming here would be the high prices and the long wait. In addition to waiting for our table, we also had to wait probably 30 minutes for the check after we asked for it. Camellia is a new restaurant so hopefully they'll work out the kinks as time goes by. I would come here again in a heartbeat for the vibes alone.

Japanese and French fusion, had to give this gastronomical work of art a try Came here the other evening as a could dishes on the menu sounded like they needed to be in my face. We sat outside on the patio, and though it was getting cold, they have heat lamps to turn on to keep you nice and warm We started out with cocktails, the Milk Punch with cacao and matcha, that was so well balanced and flavorful, very surprising. The Daiquiri was also very nice with the rum and mango brandy pairing well with pineapple. For starters, we tried the clams with seeded country bread and lobster butter. The broth the clams were in was very tasty. The lobster butter definitely wasn't what I expected, but it was interesting and great to dip into the broth. We shall tried the sweet potato gratin which, while good with the sweetness of the potatoes being contacted with the saltiness in the gruyere and fontina cheese, but it just want as good as I hoped. The clams though, very good For entrees, we tried the beef cheek and the burger. The beef cheek was so tender, just melted in your mouth, in that red wine sauce. Very good. The burger looks phenomenal with a great slice of melted provolone on top. The burger patty itself is not what you expect or to be. It isn't like a normal burger patty as this one felt like it falls apart in your mouth. I can't say it was the best burger, I think I expected more from it Overall, a very nice restaurant with our server being very attentive and great with recommendations. The food, overall, was a hit, though I don't think I would recommend the burger nor the sweet potato gratin

What a sweet French Japanese restaurant right in the arts district- walking in I already knew the vibes were going to be great. We were greeted with great service, and a beautiful interior ,, great for a date night but also didn't feel too fancy. We started off with the cauliflower with the miso bearnaise sauce and it was our favorite dish of the night. The cauliflower was charred, at the perfect saltiness, and it's almost insane how you could taste every single ingredient in the bearnaise sauce- and i know there was a lot of different things out into it. It was simple and complex at the same time, I would 100% come back for this dish. We then had the Bolognese Pasta and Pot Pie, the pasta was also very yummy! I loved the type of noodles that were made with it. The puff pastery on the pot pie was great, and the inside filling was a bit on the lighter side but I wish it was a bit more seasoned! Regardless we finished everything. We found some free parking down the street that was about a 5 min walk away, but there's valet if you don't want to wait. Would definitely come back, thank you for the great experience!

Newest restaurant in this kinda cursed location. However, it continues the tradition of being a tasty restaurant. Service wasn't as warm as previous tenants, but the food was good. We weren't overwhelmed by anything, but it was a pleasant meal.

I went here recently as it was all over social media. For drinks I got the yuzu sake cocktail- really yummy! Its pretty sour but tasty. I know yuzu is a sour taste already but if you don't know what that is imagine like calamansi or lemon-y taste. We ordered most of the popular plates Sesame bread 3/10- you could probably skip this Mini Uni toast 6/10- mainly ordered cause it's cute but that's it it's just cute lol Tomato Salad 5/10 - not bad Spaghetti 5/10 -not bad but not amazing for being their most popular item Katsu croque 9/10- surprisingly was really good & I don't like the croque in France so I was really skeptical about this one! Sweet potatoes 10/10 I would not go out of my way to come back here. But if you're in the area & stumble upon it, i guess it's worth a try! They have valet or you can find free street parking. There's also a lot down the street usually cheap also. We had a reservation at 9 got seated like 20 mins later

We arrived a few minutes early for our reservation and waited about 25 minutes for our table. They were super busy and we understood they couldn't force people out of their seats (especially saturday night during holiday season). We could have been seated sooner had we been willing to sit outside under heat lamps. We had a long list of items we wanted to try and told our server we aren't huge eaters, but they advised 6 plates, we could easily have had 5 and been totally satiated...even 4 would have been enough with room for birthday-dessert. All the dishes had layers of complexity and flavor. Loved the seasoning on the Dungeness crab with ikura on purple yam blini, but it's all a matter of personal preference since I thought the Kabocha squash with burrata and curry leaf was terrific and my BF liked it but didn't love. I really liked that each server who brought the dishes to our table, described every dish as he placed it in front of us so we didn't have to go back to the menu to remind ourselves of what we ordered. I couldn't wait to try their Soufflé Tart Chocolate, passionfruit, coconut ice and it was perfect, not overly sweet, lots of flavor and an exclamation point to the end of a delicious dinner. Would absolutely go back here again!!

Service was great but found few things that they need to address, if reservation is at 5pm maybe open the doors 10-15 mins so customers could come into wait maybe at the bar or have a seating area available. I called and message on open table, never got response so the front of the house needs to figure what happened? Food had some great Asian spin, the crowd pleaser was the appetizer's (uni/toro & Dungeness crabmeat) and the loup de mer must have. All others were ok, flavors were good but didn't stand out like the others. Indoor and outdoor seating with heat lamp street parking around including valet. Music playing all around so could get very loud when it gets full the decor is very sophisticated and intimate as it's very low light/dim.

Had a fun time at Camelia! Like many of the other reviewers, my boyfriend and I are huge Ototo and Tsubaki fans so we knew Camelia was going to be a cool addition to the fam. Everything about the space is thoughtful from the cute snail adorned utensil stands to the immaculate playlist. We were also blown away by the in-house sake sommelier who helped walk us through the sake menu and pair with our meal. Overall the food was bright and unique however I think we both mentioned we still preferred the food over at Ototo. Nevertheless we ordered the below: 7/10: Uni toro toast - fun and a pop of flavor but super small portion, think the size of a Ritz cracker 8/10: Croque Madame - a little soggy for my liking but I appreciate the layering of the French technique with Japanese inspired ingredients 4/10: Soft Shell Crab - it might've been us but we didnt really get the sauce which was a bit too tangy and sour for the light and delicate crab. There were also these pickled jalapenos that just weren't doing it for us 9/10 Abalone pot pie - probably our favorite dish of the night! A fun and creative combination of little morsels of bouncy abalone combined in a delicious bechamel sauce careful covered in that divine puffed pastry

First, the ambiance was great. Warm, cozy with some 90s hip hop in the back. Other than a biker gang revving their loud engines making every customer stop and stare, but that was more entertaining then annoying as the bikes were miniature and not Harley's. The service was also very attentive and fantastic. I really wanted to like the food, but my friend's steak was very salty. The Kombu rice was bland even with the Japanese flare and French butter and the Croque Madame was just alright. More heavy than anything. The Parker rolls were fine but nothing interesting other than being black sesame. The one thing that was very good was the sweet potato gratin. Maybe it was an off night as I have seen great reviews. So I will be back with a bigger group to try more things. I really wanted to try the bolognese but was told to first try the Madame. So that for sure is my choice next time.

This space has been home to several spots all of which were snake bit and died young. This new Resto has been brought back to life, but be advised, it is so loud it could wake the dead. The joint is jumpin' from the jump a 5:00 PM and the Hip Hop loop bounces off the walls and brick floor. The Decor: Unfinished construction project chic, despite it being several restos since it's birth. Open high industrial ceiling with exposed build out guts. The current investors killed some 2-Tops to add a padded bench along one wall otherwise it's still Church and State. Be advised the tables are so close that the runner had to drag his beefy cheeks across my Beef Cheeks to serve the neighboring diners. The Staff: Good for a laugh as they are pretty much green and unpolished. They are willing but it's "Flip the table if you're able" is the mantra in Staff Prep. Interaction was minimal, but then I came for the food not to make new friends. (Although I did make friends with the next table. You can't help that if you pick food off a stranger's plate with a smile). Who's here? Apparently, everyone. Family and Friends? Industry fringe players? Those who find Pasjoli and Amour too sedate. I mean who really wants to hear your date or companion is saying, anyway? The Bar: Ambitious with lots of Sake choices which is predictable as Camelia's roots spring from Ototo Sake & Tapas Bar. The Wine List is as deep as Crater Lake and the Signature Cocktails are well thought out. My Martini was really two Martinis. (Or was I seeing double after the first one?). You get a Coupe and a mini Carafe both full of joy juice, however, it was a touch too sweet for me or a Martini. A Daiquiri had Rum, Rhum, Mango Brandy, Pear Liqueur, Calpice (a Japanese Soda), and Peychaud (Gentian) Bitters. Now, this was sweet, pretty damn good and the whole Chemistry Set dumped into a VitaMix with Ice would have made a perfect Slushie. The Food: The Menu reads like an eHarmony Profile that's too good to be true. (Like that picture was taken 12 years ago?) The descriptions are so luscious you'll salivate just reading about what's coming. It's Japanese/French kinda, sorta, which means it's really neither. The 5 Black Sesame Rolls masquerade as Pumpernickel Bread. The ground Nigella Seeds get lost in the dough. No matter, the Rolls are warm and slathered with Cultured Butter they are decent enough although they do take up valuable real estate. The Uni Toast featured yesterday's Bread rounds was merely a meet and greet pass around at a Time Share pitch Lunch. The Duck Confit Croquette wasn't fit to eat. Sorry, Camelia. It was nothing more than some breaded Mashed Spuds and bits of Lap Cheong (Chinese Sausage). The Duck must've ducked out the back. The Confit had been defeated. Not even the tasty coins of Pickled Daikon and Tartare Sauce could save this. 6 Oysters were served with jarred (?) Cocktail Sauce and a Yuzu/Ponzu Mignonette (Syrup) both of which added little. The Oysters were properly cold and as large as Shaq's hand (or foot). 3 Would have filled a T-Rex. I asked 4 servers what the is Oysters were and the best and same answer I got was "Pacific Shelf" which could mean anything from Tierra del Fuego, Chile to the Arctic Circle. (WTF?) Everybody texting during Staff Prep? The Market Lettuce was a bowl of Greens that were fresh...last Tuesday. It had a few slice of squishy Mango, some shreds of Comte Cheese, which isn't a cheese to bolster a Salad like a bolder and older Parmesan/Reggiano and a Calamansi Vinaigrette. This was nothing much beyond Bunny Food. The Abalone and Shrimp Pot Pie. Now, we're talkin', right? Wrong. What do you think of when someone says Pot Pie? Something that screams Garden Peas, Carrots, Baby Pearl Onions, and Celery all settled into a rich creamy gravy topped with a Double Butter Pie Crust. This version simply just screamed. It was a mini Ramekin with a hat of Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry which was the best part of this mess. Underneath the dome there were bits of farmed Abalone and Bay Shrimps submerged in the last of the Exxon Valdez oil slick. I had to leave this abalone all alone-y. The Golden Eye Snapper with Greens (?), a few chewy Manilla Clams, indicating they'd been in their bath until the water was cold and their skin was pruny. The fish was sitting in an insipid Dashi Broth which never made it to the menu description. The skin was mushy and had to be surgically removed, but in all fairness the small piece of Fish itself was nice and nicely cooked. Let's call this dish a "Bait and Switch". Dessert: This was a sprinkling of Black Sesame Seeds that looked like Billy Bob teeth on a soulless slice of dry tasteless fake cake or perhaps something lurking under the foil peel in Economy Class. I get opening jitters, but someone has to pick up the reins and spur the pony. Camelia, time to get real, ya?

Camelia recently opened earlier this month. I think on the day we went there were a few hiccups which I'll attribute to construction and newness. I visited with friends that are huge fans of Tsubaki and love great food. When we arrived it was clear that the restaurant was still in construction. The restaurant was very beautiful inside but still a work in progress. We ended up ordering a ton of dishes and had way too much but it was honestly so much fun to try different things. The menu is pricey and on par with comparable restaurants. Uni toro appetizer (3/5) I don't really like uni but it was just ok. The toro was fatty but the overall dish was just ok. Vegetable plate (4/5) probably the most beautiful vegetable plate I've ever had. The tempura shiso was my favorite! Scallop and shrimp (4/5) was yummy. The scallop was sweet and tasty Steak and watercress (3/5) the steak was somewhat dry and lacked flavor. The watercress salad was superb, perfectly seasoned, and my favorite dish of the evening Japanese pasta (3/5) when we asked what made it Japanese, it was the tomatoes. A solid dish but nothing special Konbu rice (3/5) just ok. I tasted shiso which was a nice touch Abalone pot pie (4/5) the abalone was soft and tasty. The puff pastry top was ok. Sesame chocolate gateaux (3/5) I love sesame and it was good with chocolate. It was not too sweet and well made While we were waiting for our food, and even as food arrived, there were so many flies in the restaurant. It was not only annoying but very disgusting. The flies were large and aggressive. They landed on plates, my hands, and we kept swatting them away. Yuk. I think it was Hecate doors towards the back were removed. Whatever the reason, it distracted from what would've been a much better dining experience. Service was great and everyone we encountered was well trained. The service definitely matched to mood and ambiance of the swanky looking restaurant. When we first arrived it was mostly empty. But by the time we left it was packed! As we left I had a star sighting, Henry Golding and his wife were waiting to be seated. I'd definitely give them another try maybe after all the kinks and construction are worked out. A very pretty restaurant for special occasions. LOCATION: 4/5 FOOD: 3.5/5 SERVICE: 4/5 VALUE: 4/5 AMBIANCE: 4/5 PET FRIENDLY: not sure CLEANLINESS: 3/5 PARKING:3/5

Parking options include valet, street parking, or a lot across the street. While the lot advertises $5 parking, it's misleading--it actually cost $15 for three hours. If you can find a cheaper parking spot, I'd recommend going with that. The service was great. We sat on the patio, and they had a designated patio server taking care of everyone in that area, which was a nice touch. The ambiance was modern French--clean, sleek, and inviting. As for the food, the beef cheek was outstanding. It was soft, tender, and packed with flavor, with a mild kick that elevated the dish--I loved it. The chicken, however, was underwhelming. I found it dry and lacking in flavor, with a sauce that tasted like watered-down ranch. The appetizers were the highlight. The uni otoro toast and liver toast were both full of flavor and absolutely delicious. To finish the meal, the lychee froyo dessert on a pancake was fantastic--a sweet and refreshing way to end the experience.

I loved this place!! Pretty decent pricing for the large portions of everything! The uni toro toasts were AMAZING - so light and refreshing and I highly recommend. The black sea sand rolls with the ikura is on another level! The salty mixed with the butter and fluffy bread is perfection. Croque madame and clams were also very good. Market lettuce salad was yummy too. Seafood risotto wasn't my favorite as it was cheesy rice paired with squid. Chicken was super moist and juicy but the beef cheek was better!! Service is good, but the food comes a little slow. Ambiance is a little lout inside but very warm and lovely.

This dinner left me puzzled LOL I was expecting a much heavier Japanese influence on the cuisine but I really couldn't put a finger on anything that felt inspired. I will say the bread was good but the black sesame flavor is extremely subtle. The dungeness crab blinis are teeny tiny which I would've been ok with... if it compromised in flavor but it was also too mild to call it one-biter. The risotto was so ridiculously heavy I could not eat it because there was nothing in the dish to cut through the all the cheese and cream. The oyster mushrooms were the highlight - so smoky and soft! The spaghetti bolognese was miles better than the risotto. Cocktails were also not very memorable. Probably would pass on revisiting in the Arts District.

I loved everything we got here. Drinks - the bar program was amazing! every drink was delish and well balanced - Decibel martini came with a sidecar, strong but well balanced - Spritz my bf loved it, he ordered a second Food - - Parker house rolls: soft and so buttery. Pro tip: we saved a few rolls to pair with our next dishes. - Celebrity tomatoes and burata: we both were obsessed to say the least. I might have to start making the ponzu jelly at home! - Croque madame: everything you read about her is true. get it! - Koji-roasted chicken: delicious! it came out the same time as the kombu rice. pair well together. We waited for a long time for this dish and unfortunately, it came out still VERY pink in the middle. We had to send it back (something we don't usually do, but it was inedible). Our server was apologetic and rushed the next one for us. - Japanese flan for dessert! I am a self proclaimed flan connoisseur lol and this definitely hit the spot. The only thing was... the caramel was burned and a tad too bitter. Ambience - we loved the retro vibe of the whole place. I'd like to give compliments to whoever put together the playlist! I am happy that Camelia joined the neighborhood! I believe that the little hiccups during our visit will be fixed as the restaurant finetunes the operation. Looking forward to my next visit.

Service was really slow. After offering drinks our waiter didn't check in with us for what felt like 15 minutes. It was too long since we were waiting for someone to go over recommendations on the menu. The food also was not paced well, with items taking too long between serving, especially for items intended to be shared. The folks that brought out dishes were too soft spoken given the louder atmosphere (introducing dishes and cocktails). After 50 minutes, we only got 2 appetizers for reference. We got the black sesame bread, risotto, beef cheek, Dungeness crab, and oysters. To top it off, when we were waiting for the last dish, the chicken, our waiter asked if we wanted anything else, to which I reminded him that I think we ordered the chicken, and he didn't think so but would double check. And then behind him came the busboy behind him with the chicken. That was a comically sad way to top off the night.

Food was very good & the ambiance was very nice. We came for a girls night so the cocktails were super good. But we were kind of rushed out & constantly reminded of their 90 min dinner time reservation which was a bit off putting. We got: 1.Mackerel warayaki 5/5! 2. Oyster mushroom kushiyaki, Tokyo negi soubise 4/5 3. Donabe-steamed clams à la Bouillabaisse, 3/5 4. Spaghetti Bolognese à la Japonaise 5/5 5. Scallops, dashi lime cream. 4/5 6. French fries 4/5 Drinks: We recommend the highball! 5/5!

I've been wanting to try Camelia and it did not disappoint. All of the dishes were unique and delicious. We tried the Dungeness crab with ikura on the purple yam blini, celebrity tomatoes with burrata and ponzu jelly, abalone and shrimp pot pie with mushrooms and snail butter, scallops with maitake and king trumpet mushrooms and chestnut date puree, beef cheek with bok choy, pearl onions, and kizami wasabi, and the sweet potato gratin. The crab with ikura on the blini was a great start to the meal, though pretty small so I might want the whole order to myself if I come back. The sweet potato gratin was made with Japanese sweet potatoes, miso butter, Gruyère, and fontina. We almost didn't get this dish and so glad we did, creamy and smooth and not too heavy. The beef cheek was very tender and flavorful and the wasabi added an additional deep flavor with the pearl onions, perfect on top of the kombucha rice. The ponzu jelly was a great compliment with the fresh celebrity tomatoes and burrata. The abalone and shrimp pot pie was so flavorful and the puff pastry top was light flaky. The desserts were also unique, we tried the melon sago and chocolate soufflé tart. The melon sago was refreshing and light while the chocolate soufflé had a deep cocoa complimented by the coconut ice cream and passionfruit. All of our server's recommendations were great and she was attentive to us while not rushing us. Good spot for a treat as it's a bit pricey but worth it. We were able to find street parking but they also have valet.

The idea of French cuisine meets Japanese is doubtlessly intriguing. Yes, the reason why my attention is tickled to give Camelia a try, despite the fact that as much as possible I always try to stay away from DTLA knowing the traffic around it as well as the parking space are almost always tricky. If you're planning to pay a visit to this place, highly recommend you to make reservations beforehand especially if it's on weekend. I did my 'homework' by doing so, but made a mistake by coming earlier than the reservation time. So my booking was for 7pm and I arrived there 6.10pm thinking they might have available table but they said they unfortunately didn't and we're asked to wait in front. We could order drinks from the bar, but had to bring it outside and still had to wait in front. What frustrated me was the fact that our table was even only ready by 7.15pm although at 7 sharp I tried asking and the attendant by the reception desk just said the prior guest still camped out. It was unfortunate that my first experience in this cutely designed space with classic French theme touch had to start unpleasant. So there I was, really wishing the foods blew my mind to at least balanced the early disappointment. Starting with the Black Sesame Roll paired with French Butter, I would say it's okay but not special. I opted for additional Ikura, which was pretty steep IMHO costing $12, and it surely gave additional taste to enjoy but wouldn't say it worth the cost. Their other specialty was the toast with Otoro sourced from Japan and Uni from Santa Barbara. Coming in two petite pieces, this one was luscious as the sweet uni well balanced the super fresh otoro as well as the extra kick from the wasabi. For the main course, we followed most other guests, going for their Beef Cheek cooked in red wine sauce. Among all our orders, I would say this one nailed its best with the beef being so tender and served at perfect doneness level. The sauce and the kizami wasabi on top certainly were game-changer for this dish, elevating the overall flavor. I did love the idea serving it with turnips, burdock root, and pearl onions; all of which came as great complements and surely not stealing the thunder from the protein. Curious with the dessert, we closed our dinner with their Pistachio Tart with berries, which made its duet with yuzu cremeux, combining sweet and crunchy texture with refreshing sour and smooth cream. It came as pleasant ending to the dinner set. Overall I would say the place served decent food, though the price might be bit high for the portion and the taste. Not to mention, service would be the area they might wanna pay more attention to assure guests keep coming back.

It can be cursed to open up in the Arts District. I remember who occupied this space before. It takes a lot more to compete here than in the Westside since the rich folk have to purposefully drive to eat out here. Camelia is solid. The service was top notch and attentive. The food came out quickly and was well explained. They're doing a great job. My critique is on the food. When you are doing fusion, there's math that goes into how French or how Japanese a dish is and whether they are the right portion. I felt that some dishes were classically French with 1 minor addition of a Japanese element like the duck pate with yuzu or beef cheeks with a little horseradish. They're solid French dishes but don't do enough to go into the true creative territory of what mixing these 2 cultures could be. The desserts (black sesame chocolate cake and caramel pudding) did a better job representing the 2 cultures. I hope this restaurant has a better future than the Brazilian spot that came before. This area is tough. I don't think it has the vision to last as long as Bavel/Bestia/Girl&the Goat but wish it luck. Free parking is painful. I went on a Saturday before 6:30pm and was so very lucky to find 1 spot a block away. Valet is $16. I hate all the new housing ruining the parking in this area. The Arts District hasn't changed for the better sadly.

Came here on a Friday night at 8 pm to celebrate my man's birthday. Despite the reservation we did wait about 10 minutes before being seated at a cozy table out on the patio - so yes if you get chilly bring a jacket. They do have heat lamps but for some they may not be enough. My boyfriend though the place gave hotel restaurant vibes - I got French Bistro vibes. Our server was Eric who was happy to make recommendations like the incredible wasabi mackerel toast. It was a little bite but so flavorful. Actually our fave thing we ate. We got the parker house rolls with the ikura , which was different but good. Not sure I would order again though - but only so I could have room to try something else. The celebrity tomatoes with the burrata and ponzu jelly were refreshing. The Croque Madam was so pretty and buttery that it almost reminded me of popcorn. My boyfriend really wanted the spaghetti - it was good but I don't know what was fusion about it. My boyfriend felt it was the perfect al dente texture with the sardines. I did really enjoy it paired with the Heirloom Red Sake Eric suggested. The Purin for dessert was so tasty , especially with the contrasting textures. Honestly I felt the price was reasonable. I had two drinks and it was under 200. I can't wait to try more of the menu.

I usually don't write my reviews right after having the meal, but we had such an amazing time at Camelia last night I couldn't wait to share my thoughts. The restaurant is newly opened in the a beautifully remodeled space that used to be Church & State, by the people behind Tsubaki. I wasn't sure how I would enjoy the food as I'm not usually a fan of fusion, and the food was billed as a blend of French & Japanese cuisine, but it ended up being a perfect match. They took some classic French dishes and infused them with japanese elements, somehow making the richness of that cuisine lighter. The flavors paired so nicely and created something I had never tried before or imagined possible. We enjoyed all of the dishes we got but the standouts were the momotaro tomatoes (with buratta, shiso, ponzu jelly and pickled ramps), the salad of lettuces, mango, comte cheese, and calamansi vinaigrette, and the beef cheek (with red wine wasabi sauce, hinona turnips, and crispy burdock root). We will definitely be back for more!

Excellent food! We particularly loved the pot pie, the scallops, and the clams. I also loved the cocktails, which came with little side cars! The service was also excellent -- the perfect level of attention and guidance without being overbearing. And the restaurant itself is beautiful and pleasant. Highly recommend!

Had the most incredible meal at Camelia. From the restaurant itself, the ambience, the drinks and of course the food, everything was absolutely fantastic. We were a group of 4 and we almost ordered everything off the menu. The standouts were the croque madam, the spaghetti bolognese, the chicken liver mousse, the celebrity tomatoes, and the sweet potato gratin. We weren't the biggest fans of the duck frites as our duck was chewy. Overall though, we had a great time and will definitely be back!

I enjoyed my experience at Camelia. I wish there was a way to clarify if you wanted an indoor/outdoor table at time of booking but happy that I was able to snag a table reservation to celebrate a friend's birthday. When we arrived, they had a table outside but neither of us brought jackets and the table was not near a heat lamp. I asked the hostess if she would be able to seat us inside instead. She said there's a few tables waiting to clear up so if we didn't mind waiting, she could put us inside. There's a small waiting section inside towards the restroom so we waited there. We were seated shortly after and our waitress knew that it was a birthday (I put the note in our reservation) and came over and asked whose birthday we were celebrating and started us off with a complimentary small glass of bubbly. The table was by the front near the entrance so it was still a little chilly but better than being outside. The table was also really close to the table next to us and we were able to hear their whole conversation. But we got to see the kitchen expo which I loved! I heard the cocktails were good so I ordered a milk punch which was in fact really good. For food, we got the black sesame Parker rolls with the house-cured ikura, the uni otoro toast, the chicken liver mousse toast, the celebrity tomatoes with burrata, the scallops, the beef cheeks and the sweet potato gratin. Everything was really good and I was pleased with everything we ordered. It was definitely too much food for 2 people but that's ok because the food was amazing. The combo of the salty ikura with the creamy butter and nutty black sesame rolls were delicious but I would've been happy with the black sesame rolls on their own so you don't need to splurge on the ikura unless you like ikura. The uni otoro toast was a must have for me since I love uni. Everything in that one bite was perfect. Would definitely recommend. I also loved the chicken liver mousse. It was so smooth and creamy and flavorful. The tomatoes were surprisingly amazing! So refreshing and juicy! It was definitely the star of the show for me. The scallops were cooked perfectly and I loved the mushrooms it comes with. The scallops themselves were slightly salty for my taste but still tasted great when you ate it with the mushrooms. The beef cheeks were super tender and tasted amazing with the gravy. Loved that it came with bok Choy too. It was especially good with the sweet potato gratin that we ordered. The sweet and creamy Japanese sweet potato with the salty melted cheese was the best accompaniment to the beef cheek! Don't sleep on this dish! Like I said, I was happy with all our choices for the evening so I would recommend all of it. Even though we were super full, I couldn't pass on dessert since it was my friend's birthday so we ordered the rum caramel pudding which they put a candle on for us. The pudding was soft and jiggly, not too sweet which paired nicely with the sweet rum caramel, light and fluffy whipped cream and nutty toasted topping. I loved the fresh figs it comes with too. Overall, I'm glad we got to come here. It's definitely a pricy experience (~$300 for 2) but worth it for a special occasion! Can't wait to try the other items on their menu!

Great restaurant overall. I really like it here. Highly recommended. I just wish they could seat us on time, as per our reservation, ya'no'...

I know Camelia opened fairly recently, and I usually don't like trying newer restaurants until they've figured everything out, but we decided to give Camelia a shot after seeing it featured on Eater multiple times and because the folks running this place are apparently seasoned, accomplished restauranteurs. Big mistake...the food itself I guess was ok and the restaurant is beautiful, but the service was just absolutely atrocious...like unacceptably so so sooo bad. The Dungeness crab pancake thing was pretty good, and we finished each pancake in one bite. The crab seemed pretty fresh and it was a refeshing first dish to start the meal. We also got the soft shell crab, but I probably would skip this dish. The crunch of each bite dominates everything else including any flavors. The croque madam was probably my fav out of all the dishes...it was pretty delish. The soft outer texture with the katsu crunch inside was amazing, and each bite had a rush of multiple subtle flavors. The scallops were also good, but nothing really special about it. I also got a side of fries because I love fries, and it was well, just regular ol fries just the way I like em. We also ordered the spaghetti bolognese, but it was just taking way too long so we unfortunately had to cancel it. The restaurant is designed and decorated beautifully, and the lighting throughout is just perfect. We were seated outside and were we not in the middle of an intensive September heat wave, it would've been pleasant. I think the hostess should probably ask customers if outside seating is ok, which she failed to do, but in any case I probably would've chosen the outside seating over waiting longer anyways if given the option so no big deal. The service was just absolutely terrible. For some odd reason, they don't give you the full drink menu with the wines by bottle when they seat you, and so I had to ask for it multiple times from multiple people. The drinks also took way too long too come out. Once I had to go to the bar and ask them for the drink myself. Also they managed to bring out the wrong bottle of wine, and the correction took forever. They also need to train the servers better on proper wine serving etiquette... they just suck at opening up the wine, pouring the first taste and glass (it spilled everywhere when they poured the first glass for you), and they don't give you the cork. The food also takes way too long to come out, and there was an unpleasant amount of waiting time between the dishes. We ended up having to cancel the last dish (spaghetti bolognese ) because it was taking way too long. The servers and the staff also fail to check up on you regularly, and I ended having to ask multiple people everytime I needed something. Overall, everything just takes way too long, they fail to check up on you, and way too many mistakes are made. When I go to a restaurant, the service and the ambiance are just as important to me as the food...With Camelia, the food is decent and the ambiance is great, but they absolutely fail on the service aspect. The terrible service here affects the dining experience so greatly, that I probably wouldn't recommend Camelia until they hopefully figure things out down the road. I think this may be the first time I've had no choice but to leave a $0 tip. 4 stars for the food, 5 stars for the ambiance, 1 star for the service.

Service was very slow, 2.5 hours for 5 courses is crazy and unfortunately overshadows the entire experience. I loved the mushrooms. They were delicious. The Parker rolls were also pretty good however, nothing was very inspiring. I don't know if they just don't have enough kitchen staff to service the number of tables they cover. The servers and kitchen staff honestly all seemed extremely stressed. Our server gave us attitude, even though we did not complain to them directly. They also leave the doors wide open with tables near them, on this cold night we were freezing the entire time and the table next to us agreed, seems like an oversight. I really wanted to give this place a chance.

Camelia is an absolute standout, not just for its incredible food but also for its impeccable service and unique fusion of Japanese and French cuisine. Our waiter, Amanda, was so friendly, knowledgeable, and truly attentive, making sure every part of our dining experience was perfect. She know the menu inside and out, and her recommendations were spot on! The fusion of Japanese and French flavors is what really sets this place apart. It's rare to find such a creative blend that works so harmoniously. You can taste the thought and care behind each dish. A must-try is the sesame rolls--they are seriously addictive, with a delightful crunch and flavor that had us reaching for seconds (and thirds!). And don't even get me started on the Bolognese--it's unlike any version I've had before. The rich, hearty sauce with just the right amount of umami from the Japanese twist was absolutely divine. I never expected to love a Bolognese this much! Their drink menu is also top-tier. We had a couple of their signature cocktails, which were perfectly balanced and complemented the meal so well. Whether you're into something strong or prefer something more refreshing, the bar staff really knows how to craft a great drink. Camelia delivers not just a meal but an experience. Between the fusion cuisine, amazing service, and stellar drinks, this place has quickly become one of my favorites. I can't wait to come back!

What a lovely restaurant! I regret not taking pictures of the interior - it was like I was eating at a friend's NY loft. Very pretty. The food was exciting and tasty! The top two favorites are definitely the pot pie and the croque madame. I can't wait to come back and try more of the menu! The drink list looks like a well thought out menu. I'd love to explore the pairing possibilities.

Being big fans of Tsubaki and Ototo we were very excited to try Camelia and it didn't disappoint. Everything we ordered was amazing and the food came out promptly. We sat outside on the kitchen side and it was cool to see the chefs in action. Do dress warmly if you're going for the outdoor tables. They have high chairs available but no changing tables however the waiters were kind to share that the back restroom had a high marble counter which worked out perfectly. Our toddler was rocking to their music all night but it was a tad loud for our newborn, nevertheless everyone still had a fantastic time. Highlights: super sweet turnips, abalone pot pie that tasted just like escargots with perfect puff pastry, beautiful tomatoes with crisp shiso leaves that tasted like seaweed, scallop dish is a must order can't remember the last time I had such perfectly cooked scallops, duck was just incredible. Dessert: Rum pudding topped with crunchy soba cha bits reminiscent of the Hojicha sundae at Tsubaki with watermelon and Okinawan citrus sorbets. Halfway through the meal, I was already planning our next time back.