Going to a new restaurant is always an adventure. Will it be a disappointment or a pleasant surprise? I went to Fraiche in Culver City (Los Angeles) recently and wondered which one it would be. When I opened the menu and saw that they served finocchiona, a Tuscan salami made with fennel seeds, I felt more at ease. One rarely comes across a restaurant in California that serves finocchiona. The food turned out to be very delicious: piquant farro salad with blood oranges, savoury pappardelle with oxtail ragout, succulent duck leg confit. I could have tried one of the desserts but alas, I had already eaten so much. Fraiche is now one of my favorite places to eat in LA.

• Vibe: airy open restaurant with outdoor seating, tables spaced apart for civilized conversations, elegant but unpretentious decor

• Pros: delicious French, Italian and Mediterranean dishes cooked to perfection, excellent wine list; valet parking.

• Cons: the neighborhood (Culver Boulevard) is dead at night so you will need to drive elsewhere for a nightcap.

Fraiche
9411 Culver Boulevard
Culver City, CA
+1 310 839 6800
www.fraicherestaurantla.com

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