La Poubelle

I love the location of this place, right in Franklin Village (a cute little town bridging Hollywood and Silverlake) and the atmosphere and seating both inside and outside the restaurant. This use to be one of my favorite places to grab dinner but I have to say, within the past year I have 3 bad meals in a row. It seems the menu had become unhealthier and their once fresh and healthy fish and veggies now seems to be drenched in oil. While my mother was in town she ordered fish there that wasn't fully cooked. It's a shame because I have always loved La Poubelle but I think they need to revamp! more

Having been a "Poubelle -ee" for 34+ years, it is difficult to find fault. We have found the owners and employees to be consistently friendly and out-going, despite an earlier reviewer's negative comments about the French; (sometimes you get what you give). Our most recent server was very busy but also VERY attentive ... even to several special requests from our group of 14. Tasty "small plates," interesting wine list, lots of activity and great people watching. If you're looking for quiet, intimate fine dining, this is NOT it; this is a place to go for high energy and fun. Amusez-vous bien, et bon appétit! Pros: Great selection; great service; warm, caring owners! Cons: Fun, up-beat and loud: don't go here for a quiet evening. more

Recently moved to the block. La Poubelle has the best drink prices and best food that I've found in the hood. Really good Happy Hour that includes appetizers... and I just discovered that they have $6 martinis on Mondays now! I'm in. Pros: fun atmosphere, patio more

This restaurant is located in my neighborhood so I have given the place a few goes. what utter badness, the service sucked with servers who don't serve and you have to wait for at least 20 minutes to get a drink The servers are negative and very grumpy and when they add service to your bill, you have to wonder why!!!. The food tastes good but everything else was rubbish. What a shame.... Pros: food's good Cons: bad servers who don't 'Serve you' and are grumpy more

We now live in Franklin Village. We walk the dogs by La Poubelle daily, and tried it on a late night when we first moved to the neighborhood. That night the service was courteous and fast, the food was delicious (my wife and I like over seasoning, especially garlic…you will get that here). We ordered a martini (gin-dirty and wet at $11.00 for well gin) and a beer (house $3.00 very good). The bartender got the beer right, but the martini was TERRIBLE…small and had to be “fixed”…for $11.00, we expected it to be perfect the first time. This is a place that you want to be good. It has a “very French” look to it. Lots of people wearing odd outfits draped over the bar, with that look of non-commitment about them…like they are not actually there. Is like a stage play for a French place. So it is very cool. Some friends came up from San Juan Capistrano (were downtown buying diamonds…recession?). This night was the same only amplified. The barman this night was worse then the first. Rude, but not in the condescending (Parisian) French way (you idiots know nothing!). No, this was different…once again like a stage play for a rude bartender. Irritating to the point of being comical, in a Seinfeld-The Office-Twilight Zone way that is hard to put into words. No house beer tonight… so a Guinness is $7.00. A call vodka and soda and a (very small) lemon drop martini (with salt. not sugar on the rim) came to $23.00! The bartender was definitely put out when we asked him to re-make it. My wife had a glass of the Cote-de-Rhone…it was good, but not worth $12.00….$8.00, sure. Lesson # 1…Only drink at happy hour if at all. Getting a table was a negotiation, but once we finally got one…and fries (really tasty, garlicky-thin Pomme Frites…everyone loved them) came quickly, so as to keep me from throwing glasses at the bartender…I could only guess. At this point we were there for about an hour. When the food finally came…it was AMAZING and we all were very happy with it. The server apologized for the barman, and for the general disarray of the place…she was an island in a sea of incompetence. After reading a few of the honest appraisals of this restaurant, it is amazing that it is still in business. Given the quality that is available elsewhere. We will go back…because the food IS really worth the headache you get with the rest of it. Oddly, we like the place, in a food fight sort of way. Pros: The food Cons: The bartenders more

This place is possibly the snottiest restaurant in all of Los Angeles. What's most ridiculous about their snobbery is that La Poubelle lacks the food to back it up. At best, their cuisine is mediocre and even then, the service you have to endure isn't worth the average meal you eventually get. Waste of my time and my money. more

La Poubelle has the menu if you are tired of the same (o) same (o). The clientele are diverse and exciting. I would suggest making a reservation as it gets packed especially on the weekends. Pros: Nightlife atmosphere is a strong plus. The food is excellent. Cons: Parking can be difficult and it gets packed rather earily. more

I have been dining at this casual, neighborhood bistro for about 5 years, and have always had an enjoyable experience. The staff is friendly and well informed, and the crepes are great. Very nice small wine list - I suggest the Cote du Rhone, personal favorite. Early evening - from 5 to about 9, the restaurant and bar is great for a quiet & romantic pre-movie & date night spot. Usually after 9 (especially on weekends) the place is bustling with neighborhood locals, celebrities and people like myself that enjoy the company of a fun crowd. The brunch is really good and very well priced - try the breakfast crepe & the maroc eggs - Cheers, Sam Pros: local neighborhood bistro Cons: nothing more

Went in for dinner a couple of nights ago with the friends and had a great dinner. It was nice and warm inside when it was really cold outside. I would definitely recommend this for dinner or to meet at the bar for business or pleasure. Great wine list! Pros: atmosphere, food, wine more

I came on here to write a less-than glowing review about La Poubelle and find it VERY interesting that the last four FABULOUS reviews all sound like they came from the same writer (all have the exact same Pros and Cons) and were posted on the exact same day. In fact, if you look at most of the 5 star reviews, they all seem to have a lot of similarities. No doubt these are from employees of the restaurant or the owner as anyone who visits will realize that the service is shameful. Who else would write such gems as: "The owners are friendly, caring and just lovely considerate people that take great pride in servicing and cooking for the community." or "You could just see that the staff and the owners take great pride in servicing the clientele. It was really nice to see a restaurant in Hollywood where the people actually care about serving great food and wonderful, warm ambiance." I encourage people interested in this restaurant to stop, take pause, and read the dozens of REAL reviews about the atrocious service that this restaurant seems notorious for. Why would someone need to make fake postings otherwise? I won't even go into my dining experience as I think this speaks for itself. Cons: Fake reviews and horrible service more

I have been dining at La Poubelle for years - about 10 to be exact. I have had birthdays, holiday parties, date nights with my wife, wonderful brunches, great wine and cheese at the bar with friends... just about every memorable way to enjoy your local restaurant. The owners are friendly, caring and just lovely considerate people that take great pride in servicing and cooking for the community. This is a gem that is rare in a big city such as ours. To only say that La Poubelle is from that time and place where people truely cared about how they work for the community is an understatement. From the staff to the customers - you can feel a presence of comfort, charm & warmth that can only be found in such a gem. My favorite dish is the coq au vin and the onion soup. Other exceptional dishes are the filet mignon, the ratatouille crepe and the shrimp & gorgonzola crepe. Hats off to my favorite home away from home. Pros: everything Cons: nothing more

I really wanted to share this with others that, like me, love a good deal. I have been gathering a few friends every Sunday evening for a great meal at La Poubelle - Sunday Night Supper! Every week a new selection of appetizers and entrees are featured for $16. To accompany the meal is a selection of wine that compliments that weeks special - also $16. So last week we had a choice of 1/2 dozen oysters or French onion soup as an appetizer and a choice of a fantastic ribeye steak with shallot and red wine sauce or perfectly prepared salmon in a beurre blanc sauce. WOW!!! It seems that every week they still manage to surprise our group of friends with fantastic options, great service, memorable moments and lots of wine and laughter. May we say "Merci Beaucoup, La Poubelle!!!!" - Stephanie Klein Pros: everything Cons: nothing more

Our group of friends -16, to be exact - had the BEST New Years dinner & party in years. The food, the service, the music, the party was terrific... We are all so glad that we began the New Year at our favorite local restaurant - with the BEST servers & bartenders in Hollywood!!! Pros: everything Cons: nothing more

My husband and I were recommended to go have dinner at La Poubelle by our neighbors. Finally, we had a moment to go after all of these years of hearing about it. What a great recommendation!! We had a fabulous and enchanting evening. First of all, the atmosphere was totally romantic with candle light and the music was reminiscent of my early days at university in France. We had oysters to start, which were SO delicious. Our server explained to us that they fairly new to the west coast oyster scene and they were the best oysters we've ever had. She also informed us that our bottle of wine was completely organic and that all of their wines are from small, family owned vineyards in France. One of the owners stopped by our table to ask us how our dinner was going and we were treated to the story of the history of La Poubelle, which has been owned by the same family for 40 years. You could just see that the staff and the owners take great pride in servicing the clientele. It was really nice to see a restaurant in Hollywood where the people actually care about serving great food and wonderful, warm ambiance. Then we had the Coq Au Vin and Boeuf Bourgignon and it was just absolutely fabulous! We had this wonderful feeling when we left knowing that we had just found our gem in Hollywood! Pros: everything Cons: nothing more

This place is an absolute joke. Lousy service and very average food for the price. Overcooked and over seasoned. Took forever to get drinks sent to the table and the waiter seemed bored, as he stood in a corner chatting with a bartender throughout half our dinner. more

A friend recommended La Poubelle so when my husband and I had a rare night out, we were very excited to give it a try. Sadly, I can honestly say this was the worst dining experience I've ever had. From the get-go, the waiter was extremely curt and seemingly annoyed and virtually disappeared after taking our food order. He never checked on us to see if we needed new drinks (we did) and when the food came out it was lukewarm at best. We asked to speak with the manager or the owner and when the woman came out to speak to us, I immediately knew the conversation was not going to go well. She basically stomped up to our table and in a very raised voice, started telling us that we did not know what we were talking about, that the food was fine and that we could take our business elsewhere. I was jaw to the floor shocked as were several of the tables around us. With the way the owner treated us, it was no wonder the waitstaff was so incompetent and they all need to take Customer Service 101. Save yourself the trouble. Pros: Was recommended by a friend Cons: Horrible service, lukewarm food more

Had to make a comment about this great trendy spot called "La Poubelle". I came here for an intimate holiday party of 10 which my friend had there last week. The ambience was fun and festive, the waitress earned over a 20% tip and the food was so delicious, I've been dreaming of it ever since! I suggest you try the Steak Au Piove and the Sauteed Mushrooms-you will not be disappointed. Upon leaving I immediately called to make my New Years Eve Reservations!!! I highly recommend this fantastic restaurant! -Alison Craig. more

I lived in Paris for four years and I'm just not that impressed. Plus it's kinda overpriced, especially given that the food at the other restaurants on the street is more appetizing. The garlic fries were great. Filet left a lot to be desired Atmosphere is a little cold and pretentious to be honest. It's not horrible, just too sceney. ANd SO much smoke outside that it filters in and really ruins a non smokers meal. Pros: Full bar, nice apps Cons: Parking, Price, Smoke, Crowd more

I haven't been this disappointed in a long time. This was Hollywood trendiness at worst-- dripping in overly pretentious pseudo-sophistication. The name is French for the garbage can-- how appropriate! While the decor is really nice-- it is; it's cozy, kitchy, hip etc-- the only thing you're getting is packaging. I have never had a more inept waiter. The sad thing is, he was trying for the most part. And that's okay if you go to Denny's. It's even okay if you go to Bird's next door where basically they serve bar food. This is supposed to be one step away from a high-end restaurant. It's a few. The food is average at best. I had a steak which was doused in too much salt and sauce to hide the fact that it was a crappy piece of beef. The fries were good but when you fry something it kind of has to be pretty good, no? Overall, I will say two redeeming things about this place. One, they have a fun bar. Two, it really does have a cool look. more

La Poubelle is a very special place with a special history, as anyone from the neighborhood knows. I am there 2 or 3 days a week... Sometimes for lunch meetings ( their brunch is really tasty and affordable), sometimes for dinner dates, and sometimes just to join some friends for drinks at the bar. This place works for any occasion!! My food suggestions are the Steak Au Poivre, Coq au Vin, Shrimp or Duck Crepes, and they always have incredible specials!!! On top of it all, the same family has owned La Poubelle for 40 years and the staff mem ers are all people from the neighborhood. A+++ Pros: Ambience, Food, Service, Very Unique Cons: none more