The Little Door

“Food was definitely great, used to go to their old location in santa monica. Their atmosphere is magical, service is alwayas great, and food is really tasty. Just wished they would give us a better seating on my recent dine there, it was my anniversary and had a reservation, but got a table way in the restaurant by the wall not in the pretty area. And the other parties that came after us kept getting the better seats.”

“The Little Door is my go to spot in LA for a romantic dinner and it earns that reputation. The candlelit courtyard, ivy covered walls, and intimate dining room make it one of the most atmospheric restaurants in the city and it’s been voted one of the most romantic spots for a reason. The food lives up to the setting. The Mediterranean inspired menu is consistently excellent, with beautifully cooked meats, fresh seafood and dishes that feel rich and indulgent without being heavy. Everything I’ve had here has been well executed and reliable, which is exactly what you want in a place you’re bringing someone for a special night. It’s the kind of restaurant that’s perfect for dates, anniversaries, Valentine's Day or any night where you want the room and the food to do some of the work for you. A classic for a reason.”

“I went here for my girlfriend’s birthday and we had an absolutely phenomenal experience! The Little Door brings an amazing balance between service, food, and an incredibly romantic ambiance. They put great care into ensuring your special day goes as planned, and even create custom menus per your request. I had also requested a special spot a week prior to my arrival, and they took great care into ensuring that happened. The service is prompt and friendly, and food comes out very quickly. The dishes were fairly tasty, though I should note, this restaurant brings packs more of a punch ambiance-wise and not so much food-wise. The gnocchi was good but there was a very overpowering flavor of cheese. The salad was very average for the price you pay, mainly kept afloat only by the crunch on top and the dressing—both of which could have been plated on more generously. The crudo and French onion soup stood out a little more above the rest though. The crudo was very fresh and flavorful, and packed a nice punch of acidity. I will note, it did require a bit of balancing out particularly because of how acidic it was, but it was nonetheless a nice (refreshing) appetizer. And for the French onion soup, they brought justice to an all-time classic dish. Finally, our Cod dish—which was presented so beautifully and brought high expectations—had a lot of potential to be phenomenal. The sauce, the presentation, the purees, the green beans and the sear of the COD were all done exceptionally well. However, the issue lay in the Cod itself, which we both found to be quite fishy and difficult to enjoy as the fishiness overpowered all the other flavors on the plate. Nonetheless, the dishes were still enjoyable on our special day. I should also note that the dessert—early grey creme brûlée—was one of the best creme brûlées I had. It is super flavorful and very unique/unheard of. My only complaint is that it was quite hot and not traditionally cold as one would expect a creme brûlée to be. Overall, the Little Door would for certain be a place I would come back to and try, especially given its uniquely romantic vibes.”

“This was my first time visiting this restaurant, and I chose it to celebrate my birthday. I was verbally congratulated, but that was the extent of any effort from the restaurant to acknowledge the occasion. As for the food, we ordered mussels, a mezze platter, and a fish dish, along with two Aperol Spritzes. Our server asked about the preferred order of dishes, which we appreciated. The mezze platter and mussels arrived first, but after that, there was a long delay with the fish. Eventually, a dish was brought to the table without any explanation or introduction. It did not look like the fish we ordered. When I asked the server, she confirmed it was a mistake - it was actually octopus - and left it on our table. The food itself, including the mussels and octopus, was tasty. However, we never received the fish we originally ordered. After about 50 minutes, I approached a server to ask about it. I was told that there was “no space on the table” and that they were waiting for us to finish some appetizers before preparing the main course. I found this explanation unconvincing and somewhat unreasonable. It would have taken just one simple question to ask whether we were ready for the next course - assuming the order had actually been remembered. Instead, it felt like the dish had simply been forgotten. While mistakes can happen, giving such a reason rather than acknowledging the delay was disappointing. In the end, we decided to cancel the fish. Overall, my experience was mixed. No one made any effort to make my birthday feel special. Throughout the visit, no one checked on us to ask how everything was or if we were enjoying the food. At one point, my friend was left with a plate full of empty mussel shells. I had to call a server and ask for it to be replaced. Although the plate was taken away, no clean plate was brought, and I had to ask again. I would also not recommend ordering the mezze platter. It felt like a waste of money - the babaganoush was overly salty, the couscous was cold and slightly undercooked, and the rest consisted of random piles of vegetables. Overall, it resembled a leftover plate you might put together the morning after a holiday. When I paid the bill and thanked the server for the service, she responded with a visibly displeased attitude, despite the fact that I left a 22% tip - which, frankly, did not reflect the level of service we received, especially on such an important day for me. I’m glad I tried this place, but unfortunately, my experience was not a successful one, and I’m unlikely to return.”

“We visited The Little Door for their New Year’s set menu dinner, so this may not reflect their usual operations, but it does give a sense of how they handle a busy night. Ambiance: The setting was undeniably beautiful, with soft dim lights and natural tree branches creating a charming atmosphere. However, the tables were packed very close together, which made the space feel crowded rather than romantic or intimate. The music was loud—though enjoyable—but added to a rushed vibe. Service: Unfortunately, service was the weakest part of the evening. Our server asked for the entire order upfront—starters, mains, and dessert—and only returned once to drop off drinks. Even that simple order wasn’t correct: one of the drinks was wrong and had to be sent back. It was clear they wanted us to eat quickly and free up the table. When the check arrived with a mandatory 20% tip and a prompt for an additional tip, it explained why the server did the bare minimum: the gratuity was guaranteed. For a $400 dinner, we expected more attentive service. Food: Starters: Flavorful, with the duck confit being the standout dish. Mains: The salmon was beautifully presented, tasty, and a generous portion. Desserts: Earl Grey crème brûlée and coconut sorbet with berries were just okay—forgettable enough that we didn’t even take photos. Overall: While the setting was lovely and some dishes impressed, the rushed service and lack of warmth left us underwhelmed. Perhaps it was just the New Year’s chaos, but we don’t see ourselves returning soon.”