Figaro Bistrot brings real bistro classics to Los Feliz

Figaro Bistrot has been holding down the corner of Vermont Avenue long enough that most Los Feliz regulars treat it like a given. French onion soup, steak frites, croque monsieur, coq au vin, the menu reads like a straightforward French bistro checklist, and that is exactly the point. These are dishes that are easy to get wrong, and Figaro mostly gets them right, which is why 1,300-plus reviews have settled at 4.4 stars.

The sidewalk seating on Vermont is one of the better spots in the neighborhood to sit with a glass of French wine and watch the street. Weekend brunch draws a crowd, so expect a wait if you show up late on a Saturday. The moules marinières and the niçoise salad are solid lunch or dinner options if you want something lighter. Finish with the crème brûlée if it is available.

At $$ pricing, Figaro is not cheap for the neighborhood, but it is not pretending to be a special-occasion restaurant either. It fills the role of a reliable local bistro, the kind of place you bring out-of-town friends because it looks and feels like what it is, and the food backs it up.