From bon appétit to bon voyage, it looks like Downtown LA must say c’est la vie to Le Petit Paris, the highly acclaimed French restaurant that first opened its doors in 2015. Noted for its elegant decor, stylish European furnishings, and signature cognac-flambéed truffle pasta, Le Petit Paris has just closed its doors, making it yet another addition to the growing list of beloved eateries leaving the area.
A Little Slice of Paris on Spring Street
While Los Angeles has plenty of French restaurants, Le Petite Paris was more than your basic bistro. For starters, it was housed in the historic El Dorado building on Spring Street, originally built in 1913 and once home to Hollywood icon Charlie Chaplin. It was also a massive space, occupying two floors and capable of holding up to 300 guests. Le Petite Paris’ luxurious interior design – including chandeliers, high ceilings, paintings by top French artists, and stunning skylights – may have given the joint a classier aura than you’d find in most Downtown LA restaurants, but evenings saw the venue turn the upstairs area into a club with DJs, allowing it to fit right in with the local nightlife scene.
And then, of course, there’s the delectable food. Le Petite Paris’ aforementioned cognac flambéed truffle pasta is noted not just for its richness but for its ostentatious presentation; the pasta is prepared in front of guests in a massive Parmesan cheese wheel, then set aflame before being served into individual plates. The menu also included other mouthwatering items like beef bourguignon, steak au poivre frites maison, and quite possibly the classiest burger on the planet, prepared with gruyère cheese and confit tomato.
Downtown’s Dining Scene: Shrinking by the Bite
Le Petite Paris was the brainchild of restaurateurs David and Fanny Rolland, who achieved considerable success with their previous restaurants – Mirvamar Plage on La Croisette and the first Le Petit Paris – both of which are situated on the French Riviera. With a reputation as the hot new date night spot and experienced talent behind the (Parmesan cheese) wheel, Le Petit Paris should have been a long-lasting pillar in the Downtown LA dining scene.
Unfortunately, it just wasn’t meant to be, and instead, the restaurant joined the ranks of many other Downtown LA restaurants that, despite their popularity, have closed their doors over the last several years. Other shocking high-profile eateries on this list include Pacific Dining Car, Woodspoon, Capital Grille, and the Pantry, among various others.
No official reason behind Le Petite Paris’ closure has been given to the public as of yet, though it could be for one of the numerous reasons that so many other DTLA restaurants have shut down recently. Rising operating costs due to inflation, the presence of ICE in the area and the resulting protests, and new customer habits that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic are just a few of the varied challenges that local eateries face trying to get butts in seats. And with so many people still struggling financially from the massive fires that ravaged LA earlier this year or from an increasingly shrinking TV and film industry, it’s no wonder that a large number of Downtown LA restaurants are fighting to stay afloat.
Hope Is Still On the Menu
LaLa Land may have a little less ooh-la-la with the closing of Le Petite Paris, but Downtown LA still has a thriving dining scene with several new restaurant openings, all of which showcase the culinary community’s diversity and innovation. Some of the latest additions to the area include Bomb Hot Dog, which prepares bold new twists on the common street food; Sama Sushi Handroll, a lauded sushi spot in the Arts District; and Settecento, where guests can sink their teeth into modern takes on classic Italian dishes.
While Le Petit Paris has taken its final bow, Downtown LA is still serving up plenty of joie de vivre – just with a different menu.
