Le Petit Chez Mimi

Decent food. Not fru-fru. Wished I had not eaten my bread and butter appetizer so quickly with the soup, because the entree had plenty of goodness to mop up.

Delicious. The best calf liver I’ve ever had! Endive salad perfect. Strawberry shortcake phenomenal. Apple tart too. Quiet and calm atmosphere. Delightful ambience. Highly recommend.

Some of the best food I’ve had in L.A. The French onion soup was fantastic. And although I’ve had better escargots and paté before, they were extremely well prepared. But the real stand out was the unassuming corn soufflé side dish. Perfect texture and consistency, it was really special. The best part was not just the food but the amazing service — almost every server greeted me on entry and exit and were extremely welcoming. Overall 10/10.

Charming atmosphere, welcoming staff, excellent food at a good price. A lovely French oasis in a city with many imposters.

The food is amazing. I recommend you try the pork chop. I met the owner and she is really cool and interesting. The venue is charming. We have eaten here several times. It is one of our favorite restaurants. The waiters have always been right on with their recommendations.

Very attentive service and the owner takes pride in her small little gem! I had an amazing date night here after craving French food for months

Wow! I'm so happy to find a fabulous French Restaurant with 5-star food that's still affordable in Santa Monica/Westside. I will most definitely be back. The escargot was some of the best I've ever had. My only complaint was that there wasn't enough bread to soak up the urber delicious garlic and olive oil that they were sitting in. The Caesar salad was light, yet the dressing was full of flavor and the croutons were so good! I had the mussels in white wine broth with frites. These were very plentiful, fresh and the white wine broth was so delicious, I wanted to finish it off, but was so very full by the end. No room for dessert, but I'm sure they are incredible. Kudos to the chef, owners and attentive work staff!

We came on a whim. We'd heard of the place but had not had the time to try it for weeks. But arriving to only a 5 minute wait on a Saturday evening, we were seated and treated like old friends. The service team was prompt, very kind and quite attentive. Even more wonderful was the food. The salad, the steak, the reduction sauce; the seafood and generous the portions. Far better than I had expected. For the last 20 years I'd been spoiled by a little French owned restaurant off Barham in the Valley. Sadly, it had closed earlier this year. The owners retired and returned to France. But now, we have a new, a petite rendezvous in Santa Monica. Good people, great food and a cozy atmosphere. Thank you, Le Petit Cafe. Thank you for our new refuge...

We ordered fish and roast duck. The fish was not for me, but the duck was really good. I recall that the sourness of the fish, though illuminated the fishyness, just overwhelmed all the other flavors. So I don't recommend the fish. However, the roast duck was just perfect. It's tender, juicy, and full of flavor. You have to have it. The climate is also very cozy. Staff was very friendly and explained us everything. +Nice environment -Not everything is good

The food is spectacular. If I had but one place that I could take somebody this would be the place I'd take them.

Magnifique!! I am a true Francophile, if you are too you will appreciate the authentic French cuisine at Le Petit Chez Mimi. From appetizers to soup main course to dessert our meal couldn’t have been better, In case you want to know what we ordered here it is:: French onion soup, salmon dill pate, onion tarte, creamy mushroom soup, trout almondine, sand dabs, cappuccino flourless chocolate cake a la mode! And of course crème brûlée 💚💚💚 Thank you for the perfect dining experience ! Will certainly be back again and again!!

Le Petite Cafe is one of my favorite go to nicer dinner spots. The food is delicious, the environment is cozy and the staff treat you like family. Everything is big and developed in every direction and then there is this little cafe in the midst of all of it. If you haven't been yet, give it a try...if you haven't been in a while, it's time for a visit!

I ordered the escargot (that was served with 4 pieces of sourdough toast) and a ceaser salad that were so garlicky and delicious! The lettuce was so fresh it crunched with every bite. My buds needed a wake up call, and yeow I was so pleased! The cute little patio with twinkle lights was a little slice of heaven! The staff was kind and adept. Well done Mimi...I'll so be back. Thank you, Donna

We are so excited that Mimi has opened a new restaurant and we can again enjoy all our favorite dishes we have come to love over the years, especially the Tomato Bisque and the Tarte au Citron. The menu is essentially the same it has been since we first discovered her when she had Chez Helene on South Beverly Drive back in the ‘90s. The outside patio is well heated and attractive and our party of four were very comfortable (Mimi has blankets, if needed, but we didn’t ). Three of us started with Escargot served with lightly toasted bread to soak up the delicious butter, and the fourth member of our party started with the Bisque, (which made me question my choice). The entrees selected were the Sand Dabs with Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans , Roast Chicken served with Corn Pudding and bright Green Beans, and the Poulet Moutarde ( poached chicken, dijon mustard, bechamel)...we were all smiling. I could not wait for my favorite dessert, Tarte au Citron, which did not disappoint and our friends shared the Tarte Tartin. This is French comfort food at its best and Mimi, who greeted us so warmly, never disappoints. Let’s all support this very welcome return of my favorite restaurant!

Le Petit Chez Mimi offers charming French cuisine in a cozy, intimate setting. The authentic flavors and warm hospitality make it a delightful spot for a relaxed meal.

Brunch was SO GOOD can’t wait to come back. Eggs benedict. Pain Au chocolat. Coffee. French toast. Yum! Met the owner and she was lovely. Exceptional service by all staff. The food - omg. Q U A L I T Y.

Good atmosphere, relaxing and cozy place. The owner is a sweet woman and I’m glad to meet her in the restaurant. I ordered the Calf’s liver and Tarte Tartin. The dessert is great! I think it’s a good place for a family dinner or for someone wants to enjoy him/herself. By the way they allow dogs in outdoor seating area.

Madame Mimi is there to great you with a big smile! The food is divine and the service staff is the best!! The food is consistently delicious and the menu is varied!! Feels like France!!

Mimi is the best! She's an owner who truly cares about her guests. The food is delicious and the ambiance is romantic and cozy. Get the French onion soup - thank me later! This review was made in connection with a Toast promotion.

We have been coming to the various iterations of Chez Mimi (Chez Helene, Le Petit Chez Mimi) for over 40 years and still love it! Mimi's food is delicious, plentiful, thoughtfully prepared, beautifully displayed, in an adorable setting that makes you feel as if you have gone to someone's home for dinner. Don't miss this little gem!

A tiny but delicious French bistro in a sleepier part of Santa Monica. I’m a huge fan of French cuisine and I’ve pretty much been to all the other options in Los Angeles but for some reason I missed this place. Everyone at our table was really happy that we chose this location because we all had a great meal and great service. Our server was very polite and all of our items that we ordered came out very quickly. The owner was also there and gave a very sweet goodbye when we were leaving. The menu is not very large, but it has all sorts of bistro classics that you would expect and everything that we ordered really had a great taste and a fair price. They also have a large free parking lot attached, which is a huge bonus, especially for Santa Monica. The restaurant size is really tiny but done well and it really feels like the French countryside. It almost feels like you are dining in someone’s house, but with professional service. Being our first time we wanted try some of the classics on the menu. We both started off with the French Onion Soup and thought it was fantastic. It wasn’t overly salty, there was loads of cheese, and great overall flavor. For my entree I ordered the Sanddabs Meunière because I love those flavors and sand dabs are a California classic fish. Only found on the West Coast so I order them anytime I get the chance. Everything was very light and buttery and it just had tremendous flavor. I was honestly sad when I finished it. We wanted to order a dessert, but by the end of the meal, we were just too full and decided to save that for next time. Overall a fantastic bistro and I would recommend to any fan of French cuisine or anyone searching for a great dinner option.

Wow we are new fans. After spending the summer in Paris we were jonesing for some regular French cooking and Mimi came through with a smooth and refreshing salmon mousse, a lamb stew and a snapper, all specials of the evening. Great wines and folks in a comfy room. Back soon for more. Merci.

Wonderful little french restaurant with delicious food, great service, cozy ambience and a lovely owner and staff. Been here for Brunch and Dinner and it was always a highlight during my trips to Los Angeles.

The review by K Young is ridiculous. Lighten up, dude… I trust this guy’s opinion on food about as much as I trust my mechanic. Anyway, having lived in Paris for 3 years, I am always searching for excellent french food and Le Petit Chez Mimi is my favorite French spot in LA. It’s a great mix of upscale and bistro-style. Steak au poivre, escargots, patè, and the chomeur are all delicious and make a perfect meal. The setting is relaxed and enjoyable. Keep it up!

Le Petit Chez Mimi knows how to do things right. The place has a fantastic, French bistro vibe, good energy and a focus on what matters: great food. I went with the daily special—duck—and it was outstanding. Perfectly cooked, rich, and packed with flavor. No gimmicks, great meal done right. Service was sharp—attentive without hovering, and they know their stuff. You can tell this place is run by people who actually care. If you’re looking for a spot that delivers on taste and experience without the fluff, Le Petit Chez Mimi is the place. I’ll be back.

The interior is charming. The cuisine is hearty and comforting. I would describe the Thursday dinner clientele as "mature francophone". Dinner entrees are in the $30 to $50 range.

Lovely restaurant, particularly the outdoor patio. Outstanding French food!

Beautiful and quaint. The service was perfection as well as the food and wine. They have a wonderful vegan option for those on a plant based diet. Highly recommend.

Manda Carpenter

Mimi is the best! She's an owner who truly cares about her guests. The food is delicious and the ambiance is romantic and cozy. Get the French onion soup - thank me later! This review was made in connection with a Toast promotion.

Joan Singleton

We have been coming to the various iterations of Chez Mimi (Chez Helene, Le Petit Chez Mimi) for over 40 years and still love it! Mimi's food is delicious, plentiful, thoughtfully prepared, beautifully displayed, in an adorable setting that makes you feel as if you have gone to someone's home for dinner. Don't miss this little gem!

Zan Lee

A tiny but delicious French bistro in a sleepier part of Santa Monica. I’m a huge fan of French cuisine and I’ve pretty much been to all the other options in Los Angeles but for some reason I missed this place. Everyone at our table was really happy that we chose this location because we all had a great meal and great service. Our server was very polite and all of our items that we ordered came out very quickly. The owner was also there and gave a very sweet goodbye when we were leaving. The menu is not very large, but it has all sorts of bistro classics that you would expect and everything that we ordered really had a great taste and a fair price. They also have a large free parking lot attached, which is a huge bonus, especially for Santa Monica. The restaurant size is really tiny but done well and it really feels like the French countryside. It almost feels like you are dining in someone’s house, but with professional service. Being our first time we wanted try some of the classics on the menu. We both started off with the French Onion Soup and thought it was fantastic. It wasn’t overly salty, there was loads of cheese, and great overall flavor. For my entree I ordered the Sanddabs Meunière because I love those flavors and sand dabs are a California classic fish. Only found on the West Coast so I order them anytime I get the chance. Everything was very light and buttery and it just had tremendous flavor. I was honestly sad when I finished it. We wanted to order a dessert, but by the end of the meal, we were just too full and decided to save that for next time. Overall a fantastic bistro and I would recommend to any fan of French cuisine or anyone searching for a great dinner option.

David Krivit

Wow we are new fans. After spending the summer in Paris we were jonesing for some regular French cooking and Mimi came through with a smooth and refreshing salmon mousse, a lamb stew and a snapper, all specials of the evening. Great wines and folks in a comfy room. Back soon for more. Merci.

Martin Hiemer

Wonderful little french restaurant with delicious food, great service, cozy ambience and a lovely owner and staff. Been here for Brunch and Dinner and it was always a highlight during my trips to Los Angeles.

tommy pickett

The review by K Young is ridiculous. Lighten up, dude… I trust this guy’s opinion on food about as much as I trust my mechanic. Anyway, having lived in Paris for 3 years, I am always searching for excellent french food and Le Petit Chez Mimi is my favorite French spot in LA. It’s a great mix of upscale and bistro-style. Steak au poivre, escargots, patè, and the chomeur are all delicious and make a perfect meal. The setting is relaxed and enjoyable. Keep it up!

Filippo Decotto

Le Petit Chez Mimi knows how to do things right. The place has a fantastic, French bistro vibe, good energy and a focus on what matters: great food. I went with the daily special—duck—and it was outstanding. Perfectly cooked, rich, and packed with flavor. No gimmicks, great meal done right. Service was sharp—attentive without hovering, and they know their stuff. You can tell this place is run by people who actually care. If you’re looking for a spot that delivers on taste and experience without the fluff, Le Petit Chez Mimi is the place. I’ll be back.

Blake Sloan

The interior is charming. The cuisine is hearty and comforting. I would describe the Thursday dinner clientele as "mature francophone". Dinner entrees are in the $30 to $50 range.

Michael Ong

Lovely restaurant, particularly the outdoor patio. Outstanding French food!

Mel's Fit Lyfe

Beautiful and quaint. The service was perfection as well as the food and wine. They have a wonderful vegan option for those on a plant based diet. Highly recommend.

I love Mimi. I have known her and her restaurant for many, many years. She is a gem, and the food is first class. I'm so glad she's back in business. On another note, her flourless chocolate cake is the best .

it was soooo good 10/10 recommend u should go. we got carrot soup, mushroom soup, onion tart, corn souflé, coq au vin everything was super good, it’s cute in there gonna go back and try more things

Liz

it was soooo good 10/10 recommend u should go. we got carrot soup, mushroom soup, onion tart, corn souflé, coq au vin everything was super good, it’s cute in there gonna go back and try more things

LIPSETT ROCHELLE M

Le Petit Chez Mimi offers charming French cuisine in a cozy, intimate setting. The authentic flavors and warm hospitality make it a delightful spot for a relaxed meal.

Daniella Means

Brunch was SO GOOD can’t wait to come back. Eggs benedict. Pain Au chocolat. Coffee. French toast. Yum! Met the owner and she was lovely. Exceptional service by all staff. The food - omg. Q U A L I T Y.

Katja Bijoux

I love Mimi. I have known her and her restaurant for many, many years. She is a gem, and the food is first class. I'm so glad she's back in business. On another note, her flourless chocolate cake is the best .

The owner welcomed us , the staff was warm, concerned and attentive. The food was delicious. I'm recommending this little jewel to anyone celebrating a special occasion or as a routine place to meet friends and share a meal in unhurried peacefulness .

It's hard to give Le Petit Chez Mimi 5-stars when I give Pasjoli 5-stars. But if you want simple but good French cuisine, in a simple, home-like and charming atmosphere, then this place is for you. Whereas Pasjoli is on busy Main Street in Santa Monica, Le Petit Chez Mimi is located at the storefront of a business park, at the T-intersection of Yale and Colorado. I pass by all the time either on the way to work, or running errands, but this place always looked closed: Only open for dinners Tues-Sun, and brunch on Sundays. Therefore I made an effort to finally try this cute little place with my family. The restaurant, the food and the service is very reminiscent of eating at a local cafe in Paris. You know, you walk around, look around and finally pick a place for dinner, any place, because so many of the restaurants in Paris are good. This is how I felt of my first experience at Le Petit Chez Mimi. Many who dined tonight (Friday night) seemed to be regulars and locals. The service staff dressed casually (blue jeans) and the service was good. Whereas Pasjoli, the wait staff are uniformed and professionally trained - what you expect from a Michelin recognized establishment. With Le Petit Chez Mimi, its simply good food, not particularly IG worthy in its presentation. Surprisingly, the prices were higher than I expected. I guess I was expecting a simpler, quaint French cafe to be more reasonably priced. But I guess this is to be expected for French cuisine. Now for my food review: -Escargot. Not bad. I've had better. I felt it needed salt and more of that greenish garlicky sauce (pesto-like.) Please excuse my lack of knowledge of the correct ingredients. -Onion Soup. Excellent! One of the best French Onion soups in town. The portion size was perfect. Sometimes, the portions are so big, you dont have room for the remaining courses, but theirs was perfect. Nice gooey cheese! -Entrées: the 3 of us had 2 different steaks and one pork chop entrée. Again, all were tasty and the steaks were perfectly cooked, but the pork chop was overcooked. This place isn't Michelin-worthy because of the simple presentation (not much presentation at all.) -Dessert: The Tarte Tatin was excellent. It was like warm apple pie with fresh cold whip creme. It was perfectly spiced, slightly tart, and not overly sweet. Someone posted on Yelp! that this was an "award winning" dessert. Hmm, it maybe?

I think the best way to describe Le Petit Cafe is as A Small Cafe. I don't know what more needs to be said. Very good food. Only critique is that while the cafe may be petit, the prices are quite grands (Les Grands Prix?).

Henry Ting

It's hard to give Le Petit Chez Mimi 5-stars when I give Pasjoli 5-stars. But if you want simple but good French cuisine, in a simple, home-like and charming atmosphere, then this place is for you. Whereas Pasjoli is on busy Main Street in Santa Monica, Le Petit Chez Mimi is located at the storefront of a business park, at the T-intersection of Yale and Colorado. I pass by all the time either on the way to work, or running errands, but this place always looked closed: Only open for dinners Tues-Sun, and brunch on Sundays. Therefore I made an effort to finally try this cute little place with my family. The restaurant, the food and the service is very reminiscent of eating at a local cafe in Paris. You know, you walk around, look around and finally pick a place for dinner, any place, because so many of the restaurants in Paris are good. This is how I felt of my first experience at Le Petit Chez Mimi. Many who dined tonight (Friday night) seemed to be regulars and locals. The service staff dressed casually (blue jeans) and the service was good. Whereas Pasjoli, the wait staff are uniformed and professionally trained - what you expect from a Michelin recognized establishment. With Le Petit Chez Mimi, its simply good food, not particularly IG worthy in its presentation. Surprisingly, the prices were higher than I expected. I guess I was expecting a simpler, quaint French cafe to be more reasonably priced. But I guess this is to be expected for French cuisine. Now for my food review: -Escargot. Not bad. I've had better. I felt it needed salt and more of that greenish garlicky sauce (pesto-like.) Please excuse my lack of knowledge of the correct ingredients. -Onion Soup. Excellent! One of the best French Onion soups in town. The portion size was perfect. Sometimes, the portions are so big, you dont have room for the remaining courses, but theirs was perfect. Nice gooey cheese! -Entrées: the 3 of us had 2 different steaks and one pork chop entrée. Again, all were tasty and the steaks were perfectly cooked, but the pork chop was overcooked. This place isn't Michelin-worthy because of the simple presentation (not much presentation at all.) -Dessert: The Tarte Tatin was excellent. It was like warm apple pie with fresh cold whip creme. It was perfectly spiced, slightly tart, and not overly sweet. Someone posted on Yelp! that this was an "award winning" dessert. Hmm, it maybe?

Richard Leuchter

I think the best way to describe Le Petit Cafe is as A Small Cafe. I don't know what more needs to be said. Very good food. Only critique is that while the cafe may be petit, the prices are quite grands (Les Grands Prix?).

Le Petit Chez Mimi offered a warm and accommodating experience for our group dinner. We were a large group, and the owner was genuinely kind and flexible. They arranged individual checks, which was a thoughtful touch, even though I know that’s a lot of work. The atmosphere was charming, and the restaurant handled our group size very well. The food was decent—certainly not the finest French cuisine I’ve ever had, but good enough for a pleasant evening out. The à la carte options allowed everyone to choose to their liking, which made coordinating a large group easier. Overall, it may not be the top spot for the best French gastronomy, but it was a delightful setting for a friendly gathering. Thank you!

One of the best French styled restaurants I have been to in a while. Loved the cuisses de grenouille they were juicy and plump, the steaks were cooked to perfection and the deserts were lovely, the Tarte Tatin in particular was superb. Great ambience, great food and great value. Viva la France!

Brad Fossey

One of the best French styled restaurants I have been to in a while. Loved the cuisses de grenouille they were juicy and plump, the steaks were cooked to perfection and the deserts were lovely, the Tarte Tatin in particular was superb. Great ambience, great food and great value. Viva la France!

I’d give it 3.5 stars. All of the dishes we tried were fine to good. Nothing was spectacular. Service was solid. Pepper steak was probably the best thing we had. The sauce is creamy and tasty. Pass on the frog legs in the future but glad we tried them.

David Shapiro

I’d give it 3.5 stars. All of the dishes we tried were fine to good. Nothing was spectacular. Service was solid. Pepper steak was probably the best thing we had. The sauce is creamy and tasty. Pass on the frog legs in the future but glad we tried them.

It is a nice place, but the food Just OKNothing great about it. It’s overpriced for what you get.

Shevi

It is a nice place, but the food Just OKNothing great about it. It’s overpriced for what you get.

Two stars - just for the kind service (zero stars for the food). We ordered the leek and potato soup, tomato soup, snapper, and mustard chicken; all of it completely mediocre. Each dish was shockingly bland, under seasoned, overwhelmingly unspecial. My husband and I love to frequent Santa Monica’s local fine dining establishments to support local businesses, but this is truly beyond saving. He accurately compared it to retirement home food - correctly cooked with no flavor. At the price, I was massively disappointed and will not be returning. If you have this kind of money for quality French food, I would instead recommend you hop over to Pasjoli for a true culinary experience.

Two stars instead of one because service was great. Breakfast was maybe one level above hospital mess hall. Dried overcooked eggs, stale potatoes from bent over par-cooked, and very obviously contaminated butter. Very surprised that they couldn’t nail the fundamentals.

There are quite some groups of seniors coming to this restaurant, but... Its food is mediocre. Every fish dish has the same sides, very low tier, unthoughtful, American sides. I don't recommend.

Zhihao Yuan

There are quite some groups of seniors coming to this restaurant, but... Its food is mediocre. Every fish dish has the same sides, very low tier, unthoughtful, American sides. I don't recommend.