Bouchon, Beverly Hills

If you couldn't already tell from the hoards of food bloggers taking pictures of their meals with expensive cameras and the fact that the restaurant is completely booked weeks from now, Bouchon is the latest hot dining spot in L.A.. I was lucky enough to score a reservation for brunch the second week it opened.

Fans of Thomas Keller are die hard, and I had high expectations. I had seen the salmon rilette on the Food Network show "Best Thing I Ever Ate". Tyler Florence (I think it was either him or Bobby Flay) boldly claimed that this was the best thing he ever ate. It's a mixture of smoked salmon and fresh raw salmon mixed with extra virgin olive oil. A coating of clarified butter is poured on top and hardens. The waiter takes the clarified butter off and you can spread it on the bread with the salmon. It was divine.

We also got the frisee salad with lardons and poached egg, the croque madame and the bouchons for dessert. It was all great, but my favorites were the croque madame and the bouchon dessert.

The service was impeccable. Not snooty or pretentious at all, very relaxed and friendly and polite. This was the best service I have ever had in L.A..

Note: Unlike Vegas, they have the same menu for lunch and dinner. No brunch menu or bakery.