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    La Vie

    3.9 (366 reviews)
    PriceyFrench
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    La Vie Photos

    Business Info

    LA VIE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - La Vie

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    Souffle with Grand Marnier sauce
    Maydel F.

    The experience at eating at La Vie was 10/10!! The salad and mixed vegetable soup was amazing, the steak with its sides were perfectly cooked and the souffle was just perfection!! Not to mention how nice and attentive the servers were. I am going back soon to try more items!

    Diana H.

    December 2025 Finally got to dine at La Vie after 8 years of eyeing this spot. Came here with my gals and we each ordered something different so we could try everything here. Love the ambiance and the staff. Truly worth the price. Small quaint and cozy spot...perfect for dates.

    Escargot my cargo
    Will W.

    There is a distinct lack of French restaurants in the Southern parts of the SGV so La Vie fills a niche spot. I was pleasantly surprised. It's run by a Dad and daughter duo who are Vietnamese but the cooking is all French it's not fusion. The decor is decidedly an Asian spin on French but you're not really there for that you're there for the French food and it's very solid. It's not Michelin starred or anything but if you wanted a duck a l'orange some escargot and french onion soup this will hit the spot. We had a large party with a bunch of kids and they were really understanding about the kids causing a ruckus. They were nice and kept the waters filled and tables cleared. They were great.

    Le Lapin Chasseur
    Elaine Z.

    I just love the vibe of this place. Homey classic French bistro fare in gigantic portions. I don't think the owners have updated their menu, interior decor, or plating style since it opened over a decade ago. And this old fashioned-ness is its charm. Eating here is like getting a big warm hug from an old friend you haven't seen in a while. Service is warm and friendly. The matron is particularly nice and motherly. I tried the duck with an orange sauce and rabbit with mushroom sauce. Savory and rib hugging. Also the escargot and soufflé, which were hits. One more thing - the owners are I believe a Vietnamese family. The interior would pass for a Vietnamese pho shop. Really just a distillation of living in the SGV.

    Dinner salad included with an entree
    Sherry T.

    First time here with a friend. Our server was friendly and attentive. Restaurant is located in a small plaza with minimal parking spaces. There is ample seating inside; feels intimate. It feels very homey which makes sense; family owned. Our food was delicious. We ordered escargots to shared and it was tasty. The snails were very big pieces and flavorful; loved the garlic butter and herbs. We both really enjoyed our Chilean Seabass (the special). It was really delicious, it just melts in your mouth good. Our meals came with both soup, salad, and coffee. I didn't particularly like the salad. The dressing was too much and creamy. For dessert, we shared the souffle. The price point was a bit high.

    Rachel T.

    Heard about this place from my family friend and decided to give it a try. When we arrive they have a small parking out front. When we got inside, they had a cute little set up for each table. It's definitely one of the staples that has been in this area for a long time, and you can tell it is a family run restaurant. It was a very interesting French cuisine and each one of the people at my table ordered a different thing to try. I personally got the steak and it came with sides as well. Overall, waiting time was a little longer, but is expected for this type of cuisine. We also ordered a soufflé ahead of time so that it would be ready for after our meal. Everything tasted really good and was seasoned nicely. And the staff was very friendly.

    Escargots were very tasty
    Christy C.

    Very cute family-owned French restaurant Parking was pretty small so parking might be difficult Menu has a good variety, whether you want seafood, veal, steak, and even rabbit! Pricing was on the pricier side so expect to pay $20+/dish! Inside was pretty small and intimate. Service was pretty friendly and welcoming. The Filet Mignon ($23.99) was pretty good. I got it in medium rare and it was very tender and flavorful. This was 8/10 The Escargots ($14.99) were so delicious! Big pieces of snails was paired perfectly with the garlic butter and herbs! The garlic butter was so creamy and I really enjoyed dipping the snails into it. This was 9/10 Would recommend and return!

    Souffle
    amy w.

    Been to this French restaurant many times and it's always good. I gave it a five star because it took a while before we could actually place order. I especially like their French Onion Soup but they didn't have it last night. I ordered the duck and my friend ordered the scallop. Both dishes were savory and delicious. The escagot is a must order. Our meal came with soup and salad. Overall a great dining experience. This is the only restaurant in the San Gabriel area where you can eat French cuisine.

    Les Escargots De Bourgogne
    Grace C.

    Friend took me here for my birthday. It was my first time visiting but my friend has been here many times. At first sight, the interior decorations are very outdated but it is romantic, good for a date. Looked like a Chinese restaurant at first but everybody spoke in English. Their special of the day was Chilean sea bass. We ordered escargot, 2 dishes to share which included soup, salad and coffee. We got the Chilean sea bass special and another order of the filet mignon. Also ordered a souffle as dessert. Our complimentary bread and butter came first followed by the soup. It was a delicious tomato bisque soup. Very light and savory in flavor. Next came the escargots and they were hot buttery and flavorful. Each order comes with 6. Then came our entrees. The sea bass was so delicious melt in your mouth goodness. Didn't particularly love the sauce for the filet mignon and the texture was a bit weird when biting into the meat. The souffle looked great but after diving into it and pouring the sauce, it tasted very soggy. Didn't particularly love it. Would come back for their fish though. For the price you cannot beat it compared to French or American restaurants in Pasadena. But the service was lacking. Our dishes included soup, salad and coffee. We had to remind the server to bring the coffee and also remind them to refill our waters. At that point we were already eating our dessert. Not sure why coffee is being included in the dish. For somebody that cannot sleep with too much caffeine intake I only took a few sips. Also we were done with our dishes and were still talking and enjoying the meal. Didn't want to move onto dessert yet but the servers were already cleaning our plates fast. We felt rushed and compelled to move on to the last dish of the meal. Food is delicious but service could be a bit better.

    Filet Mignon Special
    Ray T.

    This place has been here a long time for a good reason. They serve very good french food at very affordable prices. If you go, must get the escargot and the souffle, those are really good. Dump the garlic sauce on the bread for really good garlic bread. For the entree our favorites are the sirloin steak with peppercorn sauce and the lobster tail.

    Caesar Salad
    Andrew L.

    This spot is by far the one of the best French restaurants I've tasted! Y'all definitely need to check this mom and pop shop out! Food: amazing! All of their food is fresh and cooked excellently! They serve fresh baked bread and butter, then a salad and soup, and your entree shortly after. The steak was a special that night and was SO good. The flavors were well seasoned. Service: good! They are a mom and pop shop so they have a good relationship with the customers. They check in frequently and run the front of house pretty well!

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    18 days ago

    Good food, good service, reasonable prices. Easy parking, will be going back real soon.

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    2 months ago

    The food at this French Vietnamese restaurant was better than expected is a small place tucked in a corner of a strip mall.

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    La Vie Reviews in Other Languages

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    Entre Nous French Bistro - Escargots de Bourgogne.

    Entre Nous French Bistro

    4.4(441 reviews)
    6.9 mi
    $$$

    塞翁失馬,焉知非福,人生所有的失去,都藏著另一種成全,世間萬物,禍福相依,一時的得失,從來不是人生的結局~…read more 今天來介紹一家在 也是在Pasadena 新發現的小店, 法國餐,環境從裡到外都很優雅, 食物, 從麵包, 鍋牛前菜, 沙拉, 主菜 mussels, 鱈魚, 菲力, 通通都90 分以上, 我們三個女生都很喜歡,甜點表現較爲普通, 一進門就看到一個帥哥侍者,,令人眼睛一亮,這點也加分, 但是飲料只有啤酒, 可樂, 紅白酒, 沒有調酒,這點就小小的扣分, 整體是一家會讓人印象深刻的浪漫小店,超級適合約會的地方,價格偏高一些,也很適合幾個女生一起過來, 有機會我會再回來的

    Entre Nous delivered one of those nights you don't try to top you just let it happen…read more From the moment we sat down, Julian took care of us like we were regulars, striking that rare balance of attentive without hovering. The owners added to the warmth of the space genuinely welcoming, the kind of presence that makes a place feel personal rather than polished-for show. The sea bass was the standout: perfectly crisped skin, buttery and delicate underneath, resting over earthy lentils that soaked up every bit of flavor. Paired with a smooth Malbec, it all came together effortlessly. But honestly, the best part of the night wasn't just the food or the wine. it was the company. The soft candlelight, a shared table, and her next to me made everything taste better. A spot that feels intimate without trying too hard. Definitely coming back.

    Photos
    Entre Nous French Bistro - Inside

    Inside

    Entre Nous French Bistro - Halibut.  3.5 stars. Properly cooked. Great sauces but tad fishy

    Halibut. 3.5 stars. Properly cooked. Great sauces but tad fishy

    Entre Nous French Bistro - Malbec,

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    Malbec,

    Perle Restaurant - Seabass with ratatouille

    Perle Restaurant

    4.2(599 reviews)
    7.0 mi
    $$$$

    Ordered 2x DineLA courses - duck liver parfait (5/5): the…read morepaté wasn't organy at all and tasted very creamy with the bread. The fig jam added a sweet and tangy twist that cut through the creaminess. The duck prosciutto was good but sadly only one small slice was provided. - French Onion Soup (4/5): Very hearty and warm dish to start the course. My gf preferred a stronger onion flavor but I found it fine. - Branzino et Ratatouille (4.5/5): Perfectly cooked fish, with distinct aromas from the vegetables and spices. The skin was crispy, but it would have been nicer if it was evenly crispy. Overall very flavorful and a good lighter dish option than the steak frites - Steak Frites (5/5): Ordered this medium rare and was not disappointed. Perfectly cooked and super juicy. The outside of the steak was nicely seared giving it a nicely crisp texture with richer flavors too. Paired super well with the sauce which had a distinct mushroomy flavor to it in addition to the peppercorn. Fries were very generous and crispy. - Creme Brulee (4/5): The Creme Brulee was a bit more runny than we were used to but the flavor was perfect. Breaking through the caramelized sugar was super satisfying. - Cheese Board (3.5/5): Pretty simple cheese board with bread, a fig jam, some nuts, and 2 cheeses. I enjoyed the triple cream cheese a lot as it paired very well with the bread and jam. Overall (5/5): We booked a reservation here on a Friday evening for DineLA back in early Feb but didn't get to posting this till now. The restaurant was pretty vibey and perfect for a date night. We were seated in the corner by the entrance making it feel more private than the other seats in the room, which was nice. It wasn't too loud either. Service was friendly and prompt. The food was very well executed, although at this price range we'd hesitate to try the regular menu. Overall, a very solid experience I'm glad we had!

    Beautiful location , prime structure parking right in front . The restaurant itself if small ,…read morecozy and beautifully decorated. I instantly felt France ... when I walked in. The hostess was very kind and attentive. The waiters were amazing ! Our main waiter check in often! He gave us a lot of good suggestions but ultimately allowed us to make our own decision. The food was decadent and delicious. One of the best French onion soups I've ever had . Tasted strikingly like the one I had at La Chaise au Plafond in France. The crème brûlée was amazing , well prepared with just the right amount of sweetness.

    Photos
    Perle Restaurant - Inside

    Inside

    Perle Restaurant - Apple Tarte Tatin

    Apple Tarte Tatin

    Perle Restaurant - French Onion Soup - $19 Caramelized onions, beef broth, white wine, sourdough bread, Gruyère gratinée

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    French Onion Soup - $19 Caramelized onions, beef broth, white wine, sourdough bread, Gruyère gratinée

    Bistro de la Gare - Amazing desserts!

    Bistro de la Gare

    3.9(622 reviews)
    5.4 mi
    $$$

    Definitely a hidden gem in South Pas! The interior has a Parisian bistro vibe, so cozy and…read moreinviting. The service was friendly, the ambiance was lovely, and everything is farm-to-table, so you can really taste the freshness in every dish. I'm a huge fan of foie gras, and I absolutely loved it here. You might call me crazy, but we tried three dishes with foie gras. We started with the foie gras appetizer, it's unlike ordinary liver pâté, it was soft, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth. A good foie gras is like caviar or Japanese A5 wagyu, yes it's pure indulgence. We also tried foie gras in pasta and burgers, and both were flavorful. In my opinion, the best way to enjoy it is grilled. Oh so heavenly! We'll definitely be back to try more!

    Food was good and staff were nice and friendly but service was very slow and poorly planned. Our…read morekids' meal came out fast but had to wait about an hour before our main meals were served despite the fact that they were ordered at the same time. By then our son had already finished eating and was ready to go home. This was for an early dinner on a weekday. It looked like a mistake had happened because numerous tables had been seated after we had ordered but received their food much earlier. Our server was apologetic when our food finally arrived and was well aware that the food was very late but the overall vibe felt like they didn't care all that much.

    Photos
    Bistro de la Gare - Quaint little bar.

    Quaint little bar.

    Bistro de la Gare - Prosciutto de Parma

    Prosciutto de Parma

    Bistro de la Gare

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    Shiro - Crepes special

    Shiro

    4.2(462 reviews)
    5.2 mi
    $$$

    Tugged away in South Pasadena, a friend told me about Shiro a legacy contemporary French Japanese…read morerestaurant that's been serving delicious fine dining for over 40 years! The decor is very classy and elegant, soft lighting with background piano music but you can still have conversations. They have daily fixe menu specials for Thursdays as well as their regular menu. First timer so we had to try a variety of dishes to get a good feel of their cuisine. Wine and cocktail options: had the Shirotini which is a twist similar to a lemon drop. My friend had the pink crane which is bourbon based. Both cocktails were well balanced and tasty. Appetizers: Their famous ravioli: had very creamy sauce over 4 wobton skin ravioli with plump shrimp inside topped with shiitake mushrooms on top. It's a mini meal in itself! Also tried their grilled octopus, cooked perfectly with a nice crunch on the outside and soft on the inside. The main star was the fried catfish sitting in what tasted like a ponzu sauce and please is big enough to feed 4 people! Also had the scallops which were delicious but truly the catfish stole the show. *The main dishes come with a medley side dish of broccoli, carrots and scalloped potatoes. Dessert was the crepes with strawberries and glazed pecans for the filling. The wait staff was attentive but also the owners were there to check in with all the guests to ensure everything was top notch. Learned that the co-owners are best friends. The original owner/chef was Shiro and his niece is one of the co-owners while one of is staff became the other co-owner. What a unique story. Definitely happy to support a legacy business and hoping others will too from this review.

    I didn't realize Shiro was still around. Boy did this bring me back down memory lane when I passed…read moreby during my week long stay in So Pas. I had to make a reso before we left So Cal and it was available for the next night. So happy we came bc WOW. I remember why I loved this quaint restaurant over 2 decades ago when we used to come for every special occasion. If memory serves me correctly, it's the same host. She was so hospitable and made us feel right at home. Our server was amazing. Gosh, I forgot his name. Tall skinny guy. Nightly specials. Truffle ravioli with spinach ricotta. Delicious. Had to share as it was a bit rich for a starter. Shaved truffles and blanched spinach. 5/5 Chilean Sea Bass 5/5 light and flaky Crème Brûlée with berries and bananas I didn't know I needed until I had the very first bite. Wow. So good and full of vanilla bean specs. Chocolate soufflé was more of flourless chocolate chocolate. Not too rich. Scoop of bold coffee ice cream. I just needed a tad more ice cream to finish the cake with. I didn't get it to try the crepe special since nephew ate most of it. Crispy wonton with poached pear. Raspberry sauce and orange custard was so unique and tasty 5/5 Both Hubs and Bro ordered the Mary's chicken and absolutely loved it. Well seasoned and garnished well. Filet was perfect cooked and seasoned even for an 8 yr old to finish on his own. DD ordered the salmon. It was so tender and fork soft. Her broccoli was so full of flavor and not overly creamy. I remember even saying out loud that this was a more decadent experience than TFL and Per Se without feeling so overstuffed and heavy feeling upon leaving. So glad I found Shiro again. Will definitely return again.

    Photos
    Shiro - Interior

    Interior

    Shiro - Special menu "Grilled artichoke"

    Special menu "Grilled artichoke"

    Shiro - Salmon

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    Salmon

    The Cellar - A Wine Library - Another one of our favorite servers/ sommelier

    The Cellar - A Wine Library

    4.5(604 reviews)
    6.9 mi
    $$

    This was a fabulous special date night and makes you feel like a rockstar. From the velvet rope to…read morethe speakeasy/literati vibe, this place feels swanky and sophisticated. You can almost imagine a 60s beatnik, decked out in a black beret and turtleneck, sitting in the corner, reading Thoreau. The charcuterie board was delicious and the wine lovely. Great for special occasions...or a last minute surprise, like it was for us!

    Waiter Manuel. This…read moreis a review reflected on you, solely. Being kind is the moral of the story, from the beginning you were passive agressive with your comments and tone. Being in a party of 4 girls coming from high tea, we were dressed in elegant dresses, first comment was asking if we were coming from church, followed by eye flutters, short "okay" with an upward inflation to a joke about the day, an impatient comment about hurrying up and trying the wine while we were talking, asked for water when we were out, were left to pour the rest of our wine, didn't ask how the food was all the while was attentive to the table behind us, the cherry on top comment was when we were discussing the bill at the end, he was hovering at the table behind ours, then when we were ready, we asked to split the bill into 2, my portion on mine and the rest on another card, he then said "this isn't like a drive through, we can't do it that way" so I asked him to explain his comment, cause it was passive agressive and rude. After he wasnt able to becuase he wasnt expecting me to call out his rude comment, I had to then break it down and specify what I had ordered, he then sold "okayyyy....so how much, cause we don't itemize?" I had to again express for him to specify how they do it cause he has still yet to explain where his attitude is coming from and explain how they do their check splits, from my understanding it just felt like he wanted to play dumb and make me to the math, one I did he was like "ohh, okay" should have asked for the manager but we paid and left, I hasnt had this experience before being a returning customer, but he needs an attitude adjustment as his attitude was completely out of pocket. Do better Manuel, you alone got your place of work a 1 star. The rest of the staff was kind, facility beautiful and food and wine was good. This restaurant is not reflected in the 1 star.

    Photos
    The Cellar - A Wine Library - The coolest atmosphere.

    The coolest atmosphere.

    The Cellar - A Wine Library - Bordeaux

    Bordeaux

    The Cellar - A Wine Library - Wine selection for the night

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    Wine selection for the night

    La Vie - french - Updated May 2026

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