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I’m so happy to finally be sharing with you Frogtown’s most anticipated restaurant: Lingua Franca.
In July 2022, while I was in the process of writing the “Exploring Frogtown (Elysian Valley) — Places, Restaurants, Coffee Shops” article, I would go to one of Spoke Bicycle’s night pop-ups, sit by the LA River and spend all evening there. Other than Spoke Bicycle, there wasn’t really a dinner spot in this area. But finally, there’s another reason to go to Frogtown at night: Lingua Franca!
Before I get into it, let’s talk about the founders. Husband-and-wife duo Peter and Lauren Demos opened Wax Paper Co. in 2015. This tiny sandwich shop inside a repurposed shipping container made waves in the LA food scene thanks to their delicious freshly made sandwiches. In 2017, they opened a bigger location in Chinatown, but I think the first one has more charm and allure. I did a mini interview with Lauren in the “Exploring Frogtown (Elysian Valley) — Places, Restaurants, Coffee Shops” article.
The concept behind Lingua Franca didn’t take a year or two — it took six!
Peter and Lauren wanted to emphasize the ingredients, which are all derived from the Golden State.
Peter shared with Opentable.com: “We’re so blessed to live in Southern California, and that we can use the products all around us. We don’t need to fly in olive oil from Italy. We have plenty of good olive oil in California, and we can tie that back to Lingua Franca being a California restaurant. That’s what I want more than anything.”
From spotting Great Blue Herons while walking down the LA River path to making small talk with artists and the baristas from La Colombe Coffee, “There’s a really cool, creative energy in Frogtown. We just can’t see ourselves anywhere else.” Peter said.
The logo is an homage to the Great Blue Herons, a bird typical of this area.
What I liked about Lingua Franca is the fact that each dish is so carefully crafted and meant to take you out of your comfort zone. They all have their own twist, which I’ll get into later.
I went there right at dusk. While I walked onto the bike trail, the sight of the snow capped mountains and the sound of the extremely loud, yet calming rushing river welcomed me. When I walked in, the place was bustling with people inside. Just like me, there were a few solo diners who were also looking forward to trying Lingua Franca! The servers were so nice and there was such a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
I like how The Great Blue Heron is incorporated into the space, like in the water bottles and the stained glass window, which was a collaboration with Judson Studios, located in Highland Park. The silverware, which also caught my attention, is from Mt. Washington Pottery. All in all, the interior decoration is a nod to the artistic community that abounds in this area of LA.
The day I went there, the menu had slightly changed from the pictures I saw on Instagram the day before. For example, the pasta I ordered was a different pasta type than the one I saw in a picture on Instagram.
Lingua Franca stated that they’re currently working on expanding their menu options. And just like the seasons in California, the menu will change along with it. So if you’re reading this in summer time, the menu will likely have changed.
The menu items I ordered were the ones I came across the most on Instagram. Here they are!
Grilled salad with chopped citrus “agro dolce”, point reyes “original blue” and bread crumbs
This was the salad that caught my eye and the appetizer that was being ordered the most. The leafy grilled romaine was grilled on a medium level. In other words, not too grilled. The blue cheese they used was from Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company, located outside of San Francisco. Their award-winning blue cheese is made with pasteurized milk and is gluten-free.
I had had blue cheese before, a long time ago, but I had forgotten its strong flavor profile. It definitely overpowered the agro dolce sauce, which was the other condiment. Everyone’s taste buds are different, but I wasn’t able to taste the dolce sauce at all.
In this dish, I was able to appreciate the crunchiness of the bread crumbs, the crumbled texture from the cheese and the crispness of the romaine.
However, if you’re someone who isn’t a fan of strong cheeses, then this might not be the best appetizer.
Root beer braised beef cheek pasta
I love pasta, so of course I knew I had to order this as soon as I saw it. The pasta comes with beef that’s marinated in root beer. The amalgamation of all these ingredients together created a delicious explosion in my mouth: the thickness of the pasta, the tender shreds of beef – which broke apart effortlessly – the subtle hints of the root beer, the savory notes of the button mushrooms, the slight sourness from the sour cream. Then, to top it off, the rich and creamy sauce from the beef. It’s a must-order!
Walnut Tarte
This dessert was the most photographed on Instagram, and presentation-wise, it looked stunning! I like walnuts, and they make for a great light snack. But after having this dessert, I realized that I don’t like them enough to eat a whole pie made of them. The tarte was loaded with flavor from the walnuts, which were very rich and substantial. Thankfully, the dollop of cream, the slightly tart flavor of the pomegranate seeds and the flaky crust balanced it out very well.
Bubs Bread & House Butter
The Bread and Butter was another appetizer that was being ordered a lot. The bread they use is from Bub and Grandma’s, a bakery that has had a cult following for years in LA. Their restaurant opened a few months ago in Cypress Park, drawing long lines. You can read my full review + backstory here. Because I was full, but still wanted to get some of their bread, I ordered it to go. I had three bites before the Walnurt Tarte came and I had to refrain from eating more because it was that good.
The next day, I heated the bread in the oven and it held up so well!
As you read my description of the dishes above, you should realize that the common theme is bold and rich flavors. If there’s an ingredient you’re allergic to or you don’t really like, have the server give you a rundown of the menu.
I don’t know if you can tell by the pictures, but the portions were smaller than I thought they would be. As I was leaving, I saw two people who looked like they were really enjoying their burgers. I’ll definitely go back to try it and report how it was (hopefully it’s still there).
Update (April) I went back and had the burger. It’s probably one of the best burgers in LA. The star of the show is not only the perfectly cooked patty, but the black garlic sherry brown butter, which added a special oomph and set it apart from the rest of the burgers you can find in LA. If you like burgers, then this one is a must-order.
The matchsticks were a pass for me because these were way too thin for my liking. I’m a shoestring fries type of person
For now, Lingua Franca is open from Wednesdays-Sundays from 5 to 10 pm seven days a week from 5 to 10 pm, preceded by a Happy Hour session from 4-5. Additionally, Lingua Franca is currently working on expanding their hours in the next months with a daytime menu that will feature dishes such as buttermilk waffles and breakfast sandwiches! Lingua Franca also has an outdoor patio, perfect for those warm nights! It says on their website that although walk-ins are welcome, it’s not guaranteed that you’ll get seated at a table, only at the bar. This is why, if you’re going with someone (or by yourself), and you don’t want to wait too long to be seated, reservations are strongly encouraged. Make your reservation here.
2984 Allesandro St, Los Angeles, CA 90039
Have you been to Lingua Franca?
