Trois Familia at Petit Trois (Los Angeles, CA)
Trois Familia @ Petit Trois L'Original
718 Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
323-468-8916
www.petittrois.com
Mon 05/05/2025, 08:00p-10:30p
It's been a while since I last reported on the whereabouts of Ludovic Lefebvre. In fact, the last time I had Ludo's food was back in October 2020, when I checked out Ludobab, his kebab joint that'd replaced Trois Mec (an unfortunate victim of the pandemic). Ludobab only lasted a year though, and following its shutter, the Chef focused on opening a brasserie-style spot in Denver called Chez Maggy, which bowed at the start of 2022. In June 2024, Lefebvre expanded to Mexico with Delphine at Costa Palmas, a resort in Los Cabos.
Getting back to kabobs, October 2023 saw Ludobab make an appearance at the Crypto.com Arena, situated inside Golden Road Brew House next door to LudoBird, the Chef's fried chicken concept that'd been there since the Staples Center days. Ludobab made a proper debut last October, when it opened inside its own stall along with a redux of Trois Familia.
Now if you don't remember Trois Familia, it was Lefebvre's French-Mexican brunch spot, which launched in Silver Lake in October 2015 before closing in June 2019. I had fond memories of the place, so when it was announced that it'd be popping up inside the original Hollywood location of Petit Trois from May 2nd to May 5th, my interest was immediately piqued and a reservation was quickly made.
Petit Trois commenced outdoor seating during the pandemic with tables spread out over the parking lot, but now sports a proper patio dining area.
Inside though, things really haven't changed much at all from when the place first opened in July 2014. Do note that the old Trois Mec space was also being used for seating tonight.
The menu for tonight's Trois Familia pop-up is shown above, along with a selection of theme-appropriate beverages. In classic kevinEats fashion, I did indeed run the gamut this evening, ordering every dish and every cocktail. Click for larger versions.
Beet Tartare Tostada [$12.00] | cornichon, lime, avocado crema
Beets are one of my least preferred root vegetables, but tonight's preparation worked well enough. The beetroot arrived well-textured, its earthy sweetness linking up easily with an even sweeter, shattery tortilla, which, interestingly, tasted Corn Pops-esque at times. The avocado did its job, and I liked how the hit of acidity from the lime really punctuated the dish, though I wanted to get more from the advertised cornichon.
Sábila [$16.00] | lost explorer mezcal, chareau aloe, cucumber, mint
Cocktail-wise, I got things going with arguably my favorite of the bunch. The crux here really was that aloe liqueur, which offered up a beguiling mix of fruity and vegetal flavors that stood up admirably to both the mezcal and the drink's creeping heat.
Crispy Fish Taco [$14.00] | sauce tartar, cabbage slaw, radish, lime
Here, the pescado featured a crispy crust encasing juicy, almost creamy insides. The fish was also more robustly flavored than most, and made sense with the various veggies, all while that tartar sauce helped tie everything together. The flour tortilla seemed quite apropos to boot.
Barbacoa Taco [$14.00] | braised beef, avocado-tomatillo salsa, cabbage slaw
The barbacoa taco highlighted soft shreds of meat that showed off an assertive "dry spice" character that reminded me of beef jerky at times. Given those strong flavors, the slaw was key for contrast, as was the very familiar sour heat from that salsa on the side.
"Jake's Paloma" [$16.00]
Running the bar tonight was Jake, an actor (no surprise there) who actually started his hospitality career at Olive Garden. He subsequently moved through other Darden properties, including Yard House and Capital Grille in DTLA, before being recruited by one of Petit Trois' managers two years ago. In any case, the ingredients needed to make the Garden Paloma on the cocktail list had run out, so Jake came up with this replacement instead. It was based on tequila, and incorporated grapefruit, a bit of cucumber, a splash of simple syrup, and a touch of the remaining citrus cordial used for that aforementioned Garden Paloma. I think he did a nice job here, with the drink's traditional interplay of citrus and agave complemented by the freshness of cucumber in the background.
Double Decker Potato Taco [$16.00] | lime, crème fraîche, carrot pico, cheese
A reimagined version of Taco Bell's Double Decker taco just might've been my favorite dish of the night. I was a big fan of the crunch, acidity, and heat from that carrot salsa, and really enjoyed how it juxtaposed with the combo of "fluffy", mildly-spiced potato and a healthy amount of gooey cheese. I found a delightful textural contrast between the two tortillas, too.
Corn Quesadilla [$19.00] | jack cheese, mozzarella, sweet corn, jalapeno, dipping sauce
The quesadilla managed to be a surprise standout. I was impressed by how well the cheese meshed with both the sweetness of the corn and the zippiness from those jalapeños. Also crucial was the mouthfeel of the tortilla, especially its wonderfully crispy, cheesy edges. The quesadilla was already quite tasty by itself, but I didn't mind a dip into that creamy sauce, which was imbued with this pleasant, vegetal sort of heat.
Pineapple-Habanero Margarita [$18.00] | lo siento blanco, pineapple, cilantro
This margarita variation was a pretty effective take on the classic cocktail. What I liked here was the drink's distinctly floral, herbaceous character, which married well with duo of pineapple and tequila. I didn't get as much heat as I was expecting, though.
Crispy Hashbrown Chilaquiles [$21.00] | egg, cotija, salsa macho, avocado
This next dish didn't really resemble any chilaquiles I've ever had, but it was delicious nonetheless, and another favorite. I was a huge fan of that potato pavé-ish hash brown, with its sturdy exterior and tender insides, its salty savor working hand-in-hand with the one-two punch of runny egg and lush avocado. If that wasn't enough, there was also that salsa, which proffered this piquant heat that really helped everything coalesce.
Barbacoa Nachos [$25.00] | salsa roja, queso, pickled jalapenos
The robustly seasoned barbacoa from above also made an appearance in nacho form, accompanied by an array of typical accoutrements. The resulting dish was tasty enough, but just wasn't as cohesive as I was hoping for.
Trois Familia Margarita [$17.00] | lo siento blanco, citrus, agave
My penultimate cocktail was a fairly by-the-cook iteration of the margarita, and what stood out to me was the drink's almost cacao-like sensations (from the tequila I assume), which I quite fancied.
French Bean Burrito [$22.00] | american cheese, pico de gallo, garlic brown butter
This non-traditional burrito contained some rather "meaty" tasting beans, set in a rich, citrus-boosted beurre noisette that really screamed France (as did that mini flag). I appreciated the inclusion of the cheese and that zesty pico, though I wanted more of the latter in order to brighten things up a bit.
Chicken Milanese [$28.00] | raw and pickled cucumber, maggi ranch
My final savory was the Milanese, and the cutlet arrived respectably juicy, with a light, crispy fried exterior. The bird was enjoyable alone, but really sang when taken alongside those tangy pickles and warm spices, with the ranch working to bring it all together.
Oaxacan Old Fashioned [$18.00] | lo siento reposado, lost explorer mezcal, chocolate bitters
The night's last libation was an effective take on the most classic of cocktails, one featuring a smart marriage of cacao, smoke, sweetness, bitters, and plenty of earthy agave. Do note that this drink ended up being on the house, though I'm not sure if that was intentional or not.
Chamomile Flan [$14.00]
Our first dessert was one of the better crème caramels I've had in recent times. The custard was just what I wanted texturally, and I was pretty smitten by its floral, fruity edge, which married elegantly with all of the dish's caramel-y and sweet-n-spicy notes.
Tres Leche [$12.00] | birthday cake
Tres leches is one of my favorite styles of cake, and the version tonight delivered. It had that spongey, saturated consistency I was looking for, and its milky, not-too-sweet flavors really hit the spot as well.
Finally, a complimentary pour of Chartreuse Verte, one teeming with the delectably sugary, spicy, boozy, herbal astringency that I always look forward to. The consummate digestif.
Well this turned out to be quite a fitting dinner for Cinco de Mayo. This meal was certainly a nice blast from the past, one that made a convincing case that brunch food is better enjoyed at night. It was fun to see Chef Ludo revisiting his pop-up era, and fortunately, he's not done yet. A Trois Mec revival happened in mid-May, and after that, I bet that we'll be seeing LudoBites make a return in one form or another.
718 Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
323-468-8916
www.petittrois.com
Mon 05/05/2025, 08:00p-10:30p
It's been a while since I last reported on the whereabouts of Ludovic Lefebvre. In fact, the last time I had Ludo's food was back in October 2020, when I checked out Ludobab, his kebab joint that'd replaced Trois Mec (an unfortunate victim of the pandemic). Ludobab only lasted a year though, and following its shutter, the Chef focused on opening a brasserie-style spot in Denver called Chez Maggy, which bowed at the start of 2022. In June 2024, Lefebvre expanded to Mexico with Delphine at Costa Palmas, a resort in Los Cabos.
Getting back to kabobs, October 2023 saw Ludobab make an appearance at the Crypto.com Arena, situated inside Golden Road Brew House next door to LudoBird, the Chef's fried chicken concept that'd been there since the Staples Center days. Ludobab made a proper debut last October, when it opened inside its own stall along with a redux of Trois Familia.
Now if you don't remember Trois Familia, it was Lefebvre's French-Mexican brunch spot, which launched in Silver Lake in October 2015 before closing in June 2019. I had fond memories of the place, so when it was announced that it'd be popping up inside the original Hollywood location of Petit Trois from May 2nd to May 5th, my interest was immediately piqued and a reservation was quickly made.
Petit Trois commenced outdoor seating during the pandemic with tables spread out over the parking lot, but now sports a proper patio dining area.
Inside though, things really haven't changed much at all from when the place first opened in July 2014. Do note that the old Trois Mec space was also being used for seating tonight.
The menu for tonight's Trois Familia pop-up is shown above, along with a selection of theme-appropriate beverages. In classic kevinEats fashion, I did indeed run the gamut this evening, ordering every dish and every cocktail. Click for larger versions.
Beet Tartare Tostada [$12.00] | cornichon, lime, avocado crema
Beets are one of my least preferred root vegetables, but tonight's preparation worked well enough. The beetroot arrived well-textured, its earthy sweetness linking up easily with an even sweeter, shattery tortilla, which, interestingly, tasted Corn Pops-esque at times. The avocado did its job, and I liked how the hit of acidity from the lime really punctuated the dish, though I wanted to get more from the advertised cornichon.
Sábila [$16.00] | lost explorer mezcal, chareau aloe, cucumber, mint
Cocktail-wise, I got things going with arguably my favorite of the bunch. The crux here really was that aloe liqueur, which offered up a beguiling mix of fruity and vegetal flavors that stood up admirably to both the mezcal and the drink's creeping heat.
Crispy Fish Taco [$14.00] | sauce tartar, cabbage slaw, radish, lime
Here, the pescado featured a crispy crust encasing juicy, almost creamy insides. The fish was also more robustly flavored than most, and made sense with the various veggies, all while that tartar sauce helped tie everything together. The flour tortilla seemed quite apropos to boot.
Barbacoa Taco [$14.00] | braised beef, avocado-tomatillo salsa, cabbage slaw
The barbacoa taco highlighted soft shreds of meat that showed off an assertive "dry spice" character that reminded me of beef jerky at times. Given those strong flavors, the slaw was key for contrast, as was the very familiar sour heat from that salsa on the side.
"Jake's Paloma" [$16.00]
Running the bar tonight was Jake, an actor (no surprise there) who actually started his hospitality career at Olive Garden. He subsequently moved through other Darden properties, including Yard House and Capital Grille in DTLA, before being recruited by one of Petit Trois' managers two years ago. In any case, the ingredients needed to make the Garden Paloma on the cocktail list had run out, so Jake came up with this replacement instead. It was based on tequila, and incorporated grapefruit, a bit of cucumber, a splash of simple syrup, and a touch of the remaining citrus cordial used for that aforementioned Garden Paloma. I think he did a nice job here, with the drink's traditional interplay of citrus and agave complemented by the freshness of cucumber in the background.
Double Decker Potato Taco [$16.00] | lime, crème fraîche, carrot pico, cheese
A reimagined version of Taco Bell's Double Decker taco just might've been my favorite dish of the night. I was a big fan of the crunch, acidity, and heat from that carrot salsa, and really enjoyed how it juxtaposed with the combo of "fluffy", mildly-spiced potato and a healthy amount of gooey cheese. I found a delightful textural contrast between the two tortillas, too.
Corn Quesadilla [$19.00] | jack cheese, mozzarella, sweet corn, jalapeno, dipping sauce
The quesadilla managed to be a surprise standout. I was impressed by how well the cheese meshed with both the sweetness of the corn and the zippiness from those jalapeños. Also crucial was the mouthfeel of the tortilla, especially its wonderfully crispy, cheesy edges. The quesadilla was already quite tasty by itself, but I didn't mind a dip into that creamy sauce, which was imbued with this pleasant, vegetal sort of heat.
Pineapple-Habanero Margarita [$18.00] | lo siento blanco, pineapple, cilantro
This margarita variation was a pretty effective take on the classic cocktail. What I liked here was the drink's distinctly floral, herbaceous character, which married well with duo of pineapple and tequila. I didn't get as much heat as I was expecting, though.
Crispy Hashbrown Chilaquiles [$21.00] | egg, cotija, salsa macho, avocado
This next dish didn't really resemble any chilaquiles I've ever had, but it was delicious nonetheless, and another favorite. I was a huge fan of that potato pavé-ish hash brown, with its sturdy exterior and tender insides, its salty savor working hand-in-hand with the one-two punch of runny egg and lush avocado. If that wasn't enough, there was also that salsa, which proffered this piquant heat that really helped everything coalesce.
Barbacoa Nachos [$25.00] | salsa roja, queso, pickled jalapenos
The robustly seasoned barbacoa from above also made an appearance in nacho form, accompanied by an array of typical accoutrements. The resulting dish was tasty enough, but just wasn't as cohesive as I was hoping for.
Trois Familia Margarita [$17.00] | lo siento blanco, citrus, agave
My penultimate cocktail was a fairly by-the-cook iteration of the margarita, and what stood out to me was the drink's almost cacao-like sensations (from the tequila I assume), which I quite fancied.
French Bean Burrito [$22.00] | american cheese, pico de gallo, garlic brown butter
This non-traditional burrito contained some rather "meaty" tasting beans, set in a rich, citrus-boosted beurre noisette that really screamed France (as did that mini flag). I appreciated the inclusion of the cheese and that zesty pico, though I wanted more of the latter in order to brighten things up a bit.
Chicken Milanese [$28.00] | raw and pickled cucumber, maggi ranch
My final savory was the Milanese, and the cutlet arrived respectably juicy, with a light, crispy fried exterior. The bird was enjoyable alone, but really sang when taken alongside those tangy pickles and warm spices, with the ranch working to bring it all together.
Oaxacan Old Fashioned [$18.00] | lo siento reposado, lost explorer mezcal, chocolate bitters
The night's last libation was an effective take on the most classic of cocktails, one featuring a smart marriage of cacao, smoke, sweetness, bitters, and plenty of earthy agave. Do note that this drink ended up being on the house, though I'm not sure if that was intentional or not.
Chamomile Flan [$14.00]
Our first dessert was one of the better crème caramels I've had in recent times. The custard was just what I wanted texturally, and I was pretty smitten by its floral, fruity edge, which married elegantly with all of the dish's caramel-y and sweet-n-spicy notes.
Tres Leche [$12.00] | birthday cake
Tres leches is one of my favorite styles of cake, and the version tonight delivered. It had that spongey, saturated consistency I was looking for, and its milky, not-too-sweet flavors really hit the spot as well.
Finally, a complimentary pour of Chartreuse Verte, one teeming with the delectably sugary, spicy, boozy, herbal astringency that I always look forward to. The consummate digestif.
Well this turned out to be quite a fitting dinner for Cinco de Mayo. This meal was certainly a nice blast from the past, one that made a convincing case that brunch food is better enjoyed at night. It was fun to see Chef Ludo revisiting his pop-up era, and fortunately, he's not done yet. A Trois Mec revival happened in mid-May, and after that, I bet that we'll be seeing LudoBites make a return in one form or another.
posted by kevinEats at
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