Lingua Franca

Lingua Franca is an impeccable dining experience from start to finish! Everything from the decor to service is warm and welcoming. We have tried nearly everything on the menu at this point having had to go back multiple times, and the food is delicious and refined but not fussy. There is a great wine selection and expansive non-alcoholic options including root beer on tap! Standouts are the braised leek and endive salad, beef cheek stroganoff with homemade parapadelle noodles, delicatessen fish spread with butter crackers, cheeseburger on a homemade sesame bun that is like an english muffin, and for dessert the walnut tart! Highly recommend for your next happy hour or date night. They also have a kids menu if you want to bring the whole fam!

Wow! We are so happy Lingua Franca is open and it did not disappoint. The east side is blowing up w great restaurants and we couldn't be more thrilled! We enjoyed their spigarello salad that had a tasty pistachio purée at the bottom of the plate and their market greens, which I initially thought came w no dressing by the look of it but it was actually perfectly dressed! Both starters were super leafy and delish. Our server helped us w the entrees and guided us toward trying the opah, which she described as close to swordfish in texture and not a mainstay on their menu. It was incredible. Perfectly grilled, very moist, and the texture of the snap peas combined w a subtle hint of acidity on the plate from the lemon purée was fabulous. It's everything we look for in a fish dish, just spot on. No brainer to try their root beer braised beef cheeks. The cheeks were cooked to perfection, and although their rigatoni wasn't homemade, it was superbly al dente. There was nothing on this plate that was surprising or a new, fresh take, but the ingredients were quality and it was very well made-- an instant classic and something I would have again without hesitating. While neither of us would have ever done a walnut tart for dessert, our server encouraged us to try it. It ended up being one of the most inventive, fun desserts I've tried in recent memory and a wonderful way to end our meal. Looking back, I wish we had ordered two so I didn't have to share mine! Their vegan saffron & pistachio ice cream scoop, while seemingly frost bitten, melted nicely and was interesting. Probably wouldn't order it again, but I appreciated the effort. My husband was dismayed to find the only high ABV beer they had was a 22oz imperial porter (11.1% ABV). He wished there were more selections in the 8-10% ABV range; there were none. The malagousia kontozisis vineyards "a-grafo" glass of wine was so crisp and easy to drink, I indulged in two glasses. If you're into skin contact wines veering toward amber/orange wines, you'll love this one. And at only $14 a glass, it's a steal! The ambiance of Lingua Franca was beautiful and down to earth, while still feeling special. I loved the choice of using a local vendor for most of their ceramic dish ware, their cloth napkins were also a fun, thoughtful choice, and their outside dining area is bigger than I thought it would be w much more space than the inside - we felt a tad cramped inside although the surrounding were pleasant, well curated, and a pleasure to take in. We'll definitely be back again!

Came in to dine alone due to the lovely atmosphere that I witnessed on my river walk. Highly recommend coming here just before sunset! Well, what can I say. The food was honestly exceptional - I highly recommend the pork belly and the baja kampachi. The dessert tart I had was fantastic and the selection of wines is amazing. One of the best dining experiences I’ve had in LA!

The meat was surprisingly nice! Delicious burger! But didn't like the fries that much Hope they change their fries style

We are big fans of their other restaurant, Wax Paper and we have been waiting for Lingua Franca to open. We tend to celebrate new years eve early in the afternoon due to kids. We could not have been happier with our choice to make reservations here! We had a party of 14 and everyone found something they loved. The kids had beautiful pancakes, fresh fruit and the adults had food from the brunch menu. The presentation was above and beyond but the flavors were divine! The flavors were American, modern and an ode to the neighborhood, nopales, in Elysian Valley. We impressed friends and started the year off right. Kid friendly too!

A nice restaurant hidden in Frog Town. Great place to go with friends. Very tasty food. I recommend the mussels.

Very beautiful atmosphere , they have the front seating outside , indoor and backdoor seating all connected. Very attentive servers

A nice evening with friends Follow @tenazvision

We came here for dinner about a month ago and tried brunch today. Absolutely fabulous brunch. Excellent fresh ingredients, innovative flavors, and the atmosphere was lovely. Highly recommend the lemonade with the luxardo cherries!🍒

Excellent food and drink menu. Great service and ambience. We sat on the patio and had a gorgeous view of the LA river. The cocktails, burger, and dessert menu were particularly great, I loved the wine selections as well. We definitely plan on returning ASAP.

Fantastic food and overall vibe. And I loooove the riverside setting, even if it’s the LA River. New neighborhood favorite.

We ate at Lingua Franca for a birthday celebration a couple of months ago - with our son and his girlfriend, who live locally and had highly recommended it. Everything exceeded expectations. The food was delicious, with some different and interesting flavor combinations that totally worked for us foodies! We enjoyed the matchstick potatoes, onion salad, short rib, and a pork belly dish that I have craved since. We sampled all of the desserts that were on the menu that night and they were all hits - especially the red walnut tart. The owner and waiter were both very helpful and recommended a Loire Valley wine that we wouldn't normally have ordered but was excellent. The atmosphere was casual and fun. We're going to have to visit our son again very soon - just to return to this gem of a restaurant!

Stopped by Lingua Franca before a show at the Elysian and wow—what a perfect pre-show bite. My friend and I split the burger and fries and… yum yum yum yum. Everything was cooked to perfection and packed with flavor. Cozy vibes, great food, and the ideal spot to fuel up before a night of laughs. Can’t wait to come back!

Absolutely delightful birthday dinner here on a mellow Sunday night. The pace of the service, the feel of the space and the lovely view of the river made for a super cozy and warm feel. Each dish was perfectly done, and so delicious. Would recommend this to anyone anytime. Thank you LF team!

One of the best meals I’ve ever had in LA. You can tell the chef loves what he does. The food tasted clean and fresh, and every dish was either wholly unique or an original take on simple dishes (a skin on roast chicken that isn’t greasy? Pork belly that’s crispy, yet melt in your mouth delicious? My partner hates pork belly and even he was impressed!) Our party of 4 ordered quite a bit of food and I found the portions to be perfect. I ordered the burger for dinner, and as a “best of list” skeptic, I can confirm they absolutely earned that spot, it was incredible. The desserts sounded “LA fancy” (pretty to look at, sounds impressive, but mid in execution) and I was expecting heavy, especially with the ingredients listed, but they were the *exact opposite* - meticulously made, not overly sweet, and *light and delicate*. We got the panna cotta, the walnut tart, and the fried pie, and each one was a smash hit. The walnut tart was insane. They accommodated my sister’s gluten allergy, and we never felt rushed or unwelcome. A new favorite for sure. if you can’t decide what to order, get the burger!!

Hidden Gem is an understatement. This place is tucked away along the LA River. You can also access them from the street. Beautiful atmosphere whether you dine outside or indoors. Burger was mouthwatering. Great date spot!

Great spot along LA River! Small but well-crafted menu. The pork belly with peaches was phenomenal, also really enjoyed the tomato salad we got. Was able to walk in on a Friday evening, which is always a plus!

This was such a beautiful experience. We had a reservation right at open but arrived early for happy hour. We started with a few appetizers and had the burger with fries and risotto as our mains. I can see why chef has the burger on the menu, I hope it doesn't leave. Perfectly cooked and the fries are the skinniest and crispiest potatoes I've come across. The risotto was devine and I'm still thinking about it. The menu changes so please know the risotto might be updated with something else! The space was beautiful and we were able to make a reservation on the patio without issues. The staff was extremely kind and knowledgeable. Happy hour was out front and had a view of the LA River. We don't live in the area (about a six hour drive) and this was such a lovely dinner, we cannot wait to come back. Well done, Lauren and Peter. Another wonderful concept, can't wait to see you again

Every meal I have had here doesn’t disappoint. The food is comforting and delicious. The staff are so kind and friendly and the atmosphere is amazing. I have long been a fan for dinner but now after going for brunch I can’t wait to go back and will always be on the top of my recommendation list

Fabulous spot in frog town. Great for a casual experience or date. I recommend timing your arrival for sunset or golden hour and sitting on the patio. Everything here is solid. The servers are successful and the place is just very chill.

Such a cute spot! They have more outdoor seating in the back. We came for brunch and liked all the food, and when we address something regarding one of our dishes they were very responsive. Will be back!

Well hidden restaurant can be entered from the LA River side or street. Menu is tight but offers some very good quality dishes. Considering it's location I wasn't expecting it to be so pricey. $25 for a sesame muffin burger $5 extra for shaving fries. $36 for the curry don't expect to leave without a bill for 100 if you have drinks desert and tip. That said a good burger, quality meat and cheese we also sampled an interesting mushroom dish and the chocolate sponge cameral desert pretty good. Overall enjoyable experience good service and delivery of food in good time,

I just couldn’t get into this place. The vibe was buzzing and lovely, and the service was generally nice, though our waiter was quite cut and dry. The food and menu overall just didn’t really inspire me. The cabbage was the star as a spicy starter, but the pea risotto was a miss, and the scallop was a clash of flavors that wasn’t really working for anyone in the group. The burger apparently is a hit, but they were out. It was cool that they had a Moroccan beer as a drink option. Overall not too inspired to return.

I love all of the new development on the river path. I hope it keeps growing. This restaurant has a great look and vibe. The food was good although quite expensive.

Great place to find along the river. Food was a pleasure, the scene was great and overall we will return! Dog friendly matters too.

WARNING: Can be difficult to find parking nearby. Dining outdoor in the back seems nice but you can view into the apartment building next door which can be a bit awkward. We went on Mother’s Day & the staff was nice but the food/service was not the best… We could only order drinks at the beginning. We weren’t allowed to order appetizers because we were told we had to put in all the food orders at the same time. We ordered: •Lemonade •Bub & Grandma’s Bread •Little Gem Salad •Soup of the Day •Mary’s Chicken Wings •The Lingua Franca Burger •Matchstick Potatoes (with cheese) •Root Beer Braised Short Rib •Spicy Pomodoro Pasta The bread took some time to come out and when it did, they delivered burnt bread, there was 1/5 slices that was semi decent. We enjoyed the burger, wings, & salad the most. The short rib was not something we enjoyed but other food was alright. When it was time to order dessert, we wanted to order the Cobbler Pot Pie. The menu stated it took time to make it & we were okay to wait. When we ordered it with our waiter, he informed us it might not be a good idea since the kitchen was backed up but we were more than happy to wait. We had our appetite set on it. Once the waiter came back after asking the kitchen, we were told “it was not looking so good” to order it. We were ready to pay and leave. I’d only go back for the burger & matchstick potatoes.

Atmosphere and it's unique/fun location is the draw here. Service was pretty good and staff was mostly nice. I wouldn't recommend going here for the food though. I had good expectations for the food here but flavor, texture and temperature wise it was very disappointing. I never do this but my Spicy Clam dish was so bad (full of sand, shell pieces and had a bad clam in there, from the 3 I ate) that when they asked how the food was I couldn't help but express my disappointment. Also when the waiter took away the clams the chef walked out and started at me to see who sent it back. Mind you I had declined to have it removed from the bill when they offered. I found this to be rude and lacking class. To summarize, the location is great but food needs to improve tremendously.

My husband ordered the dinner special, beef tenderloin and I had chicken wings. The wings were good and didn't taste like they were fried earlier and fried again. The beef was ordered to be medium but it came out rare. They both tasted good but the only thing was for $44 plate of 6 oz. beef tenderloin, it didn't come with any starch or vegetables. I ordered a margarita and it was different than the usual ones but it cost $17. Everything were pretty good except the seating outside was small wooden table with round flat wooden stools with no backs. They were extremely uncomfortable. Had to eat and run.

Menu on Dec. 31 was more limited and more pricey than the website showed. The $17 chicken wings and $44 beef tenderloin special were tasty but neither came with anything else--not a grain of rice or a leaf of vegetable. Hence way overpriced. A $17 margarita and $8 beer rounded out our order. Wood stools and heaters outside passed for atmosphere. Waiter was nice and friendly. Not going back there.

We had an 8:30 reservation but we’re seated after 9. My drink order was wrong but quickly corrected. Many items were sold out. Hated the drink (corrected one). Way too expensive for what was received. $28 for a small charred cauliflower. The main Chicken dish was divine. The Red Velvet cake was served right out of the fridge. Clearly not fresh. Rather dissatisfied and robbed of $200.

Food was REALLY EXPENSIVE!!! A hamburger was almost $30.00. It's not worth eating there. The happy hour menu was ok except the food which was very little and there only 4 small, over price plates. The menu is very limited with small portions. Basically, you are going to pay for the name of the place and a low view of the polluted LA river. Don't go there

The wine and apps were good. The service was really really good, can't stress that enough. The mains however weren't so. The duck was way to over seasoned, and they should give some carbs with that dense and powerful jus. The burger is a good size, but way to charred for our taste... And a bit too greasy... For 20+ dollars, not worth it

Sometimes you can try too hard and lose sight of some important things. With a seasonal creative menu, Lingua Franca has a delicious selection of fresh ingredients with some great hits and misses warranting thoughts on whether there is any value. First impressions are the fine dining pricing. The decor is as creative as their menu, but our starters were eye-opening at least for a hungry party of four. The Caramelized Onion Dip came with exactly five sweet potato chips perched on top of the dollop. The House Made Ciabatta had a delicious salad of fennel and olives and two small and cute little breads. Our server made no effort to explain how thin these orders were as they were simply meagerly sized for a party of four. Further down the menu, you will find entree-sized portions. The burger is very fine and an order of fries will set you back $30, but it will be between a muffin. The Pork Belly is reasonable and delicious. The Beef Cheeks is rich and delectable. The half-roasted chicken is excellently prepared and certainly of very high quality, but it is listed at $40. Our waiter was the low point of the dining experience here as he was completely unfamiliar and apathetic to answering questions about food allergies. His apathetic attitude could have been attributed to external means by the way of a 420 break, but I could be just guessing. Frog Town is changing with its decor and some really good food. Unfortunately, there is a certain turn-off when you set prices that mirror what is happening to the neighborhood.

What a let down. Lingua Franca was so promising that I gave it two chances. But both times we were utterly let down by the slow and lackluster service. The food is ok, but nothing to write home about… but overall food of that quality should not take over 40 minutes to come out. When we dined for dinner, we waited over 10 minutes for a glass of wine and a beer. Fine.. but then we were made to wait over 50 minutes for our main courses. The table next to us arrived after us, and paid the bill before we even got our food!!! They ordered the same burger as us, but theirs came first, we felt like they forgot our order. Our server kept mentioning that the kitchen was backed up, but the place was half empty!!! Yes, the burger and fries were good, but my partner ordered the pork belly, which was the smallest portion we had ever seen. Small plates are fine, we love sharing. But we feel the server should have let us know that his plate was not really a main like the burger. I really wanted to like this place, but the menu needs rearranging, the service needs to improve, and the pricing doesn’t match what you get. Won’t come again…

The restaurant is attractive with indoor and outdoor dining. The food is tasty. The bicycle rack is located next to an open 6-inch wide uncovered pipe so be careful not to drop your wallet or keys down there. I had an overpriced cup of average coffee. I was charged full price for a refill - apparently it’s considered a second order, not a refill. That’s an amateur move. I’m not going back there. Also, the loud muzak was off-putting.

Food should be called « elevated fast-food » Too expensive for the quality. What a shame. The restaurant is nice but the food is awful unless you aren’t an average healthy eater. No lunch menu but instead, snacks/sandwich I took a mushroom toast to avoid all the worst and I couldn’t even touch this white industrial bread which was burnt. My husband took a burrito, he is not fussy but he just ate quarter.

First time here, asked for tea with oatmilk, had to ask for sugar, it was brought with a tiny spoon to stir, half my knuckles in the mug, the brioche French toast was horrible, not sweet, saggy and underwhelming ( I didn’t say anything) the brought out the fruit yogurt for my friend, no spoon, again had to ask for it ( these are common sense ) one of the waiters seemed in his own world and felt like he didn’t want to be there. Also overpriced! I will never go back. And finally don’t tell me how much to tip by showing 20% or more… I felt 15% was deserved if that.

It takes a lot for me to write a bad review, but I would like to warn others before paying fine dining prices for extremely sub par food. Ambiance next to river was promising, but that’s where it ended. Waited more than 40 minutes for first appetizer, a salad to come out. Mussels entree came out another 20 minutes later, a lazily put together dish that was so salty it was inedible. The burger, besides the basic salad, was the only thing I would consider ordering again. At that, to charge $30 for a burger that came out with cold fries, and one I had to add extra sauce on to make up for the dryness. Nothing from the experience warranted the price point or the wait for food. Both things on their own can be fine if it’s made up for with excellent food, but that was not the case here. The only redeeming point was removing the mussels from the bill. The staff is clearly trying, but are under staffed or have poor leadership.

I don't like writing bad reviews but this restaurant is disrespectful. I ordered their $25 burger. It does not come with lettuce or tomatoes, so I asked if I could add it and was told that the chefs do not like modifications. My table asked if we could get it on the side. The waiter went to ask the chefs and was told it would be a $5 extra charge. I ended up just getting something else because the restaurant was clearly being disrespectful. Will never come back.

The restaurant's music was pleasant, and its cool location held potential. Unfortunately, tables were uncomfortably close; we relocated due to chewing sounds. Poor space utilization in the design. Despite our 7:30 pm reservation, both the burger and chicken were unavailable. After ordering a $15 plate of fries, suddenly the burger was back. Our request to add the fries to the burger order was denied due to size difference (It's potatoes.). Drinks were overly sweet. Small, flavorless risotto. Burnt onions on burger, odd marshmallow taste on it (marshmallow is only supposed to be on the sweet potatoes that we did not order) raises kitchen quality concerns. Spending $100 for two left us unsatisfied; had to eat more at home.