Legendary French Eatery L’Orangerie Returning to LA

For those whose tears flattened their souffles upon hearing that LA’s iconic French eatery, L’Orangerie, was closing in 2006 after 29 years of business, we have news that might brighten your day.

The legendary restaurant is being reincarnated as a more low-key bistro as L’Orangerie Bistro.

Taking the helm of the new French bistro is former L’Orangerie GM Stephane Clasquin, who is currently preparing the spot for its summer 2014 debut.

The 4,000-square-foot bistro will take over the S. Robertson space formerly occupied by The Treehouse/Les Habitudes and fittingly, will make its independence known on July 14, Bastille Day.

The restaurant is reportedly being designed by Rodeo jeweler Don Tallarico in a way that will pay homage to the legendary restaurant with chandeliers and oversized mirrors, but will bring something entirely new to the table with a piano bar and a retractable roof.

For those unfamiliar with this iconic spot, L’Orangerie was where chefs like Ludo Lefebvre got their starts and was famous for serving French staples like eggs with caviar, prime rib with potato soufflé and béarnaise sauce, and, of course, the aforementioned soufflé. While $60 entrees like Le Bouef – filet de boeuf grille’, ravioli d’artichaut, queue de boeuf aux legumes, bearnaise a l’huile d’olive- grilled loin of prime beef with ox tail and vegetables, artichoke ravioli and olive oil bearnaise sauce – were the norm, expect to find typically flavorful fare in a less formal environment.

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