A 15-minute drive for a great meal? This Glendale girl is already halfway sold. Add a night out with my girlfriend, and I’m especially glad we made the trip.
Sous Sous is a Southern-inspired French restaurant and bar in Silver Lake, inside Hotel Lucile, a historic, nearly century-old former church built in 1931.
We find street parking just outside, despite the valet, and head up the steps. The entryway makes me think of a church foyer. I can imagine people gathering here before a service, with candles for sale nearby.
A few steps later, the hostesses welcome us into the main room. A circular bar sits at its center, surrounded by a lively, stylish crowd. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and there’s a sense that people have come ready to enjoy the evening.
Credit: Patrick Michael ChinThe building still carries the feeling of a church. Arches and stained-glass windows frame the room, and green banquettes follow its curve toward the narrower end of the former sanctuary. Marble textures, soft lighting, and simple flower arrangements make the grand space feel comfortable. We sit just below the raised banquettes. It’s a little theatrical, in a way that makes this night out for two moms feel like something special.
The restaurant is part of an intriguing setup for L.A.: a dining destination inside a former church that now also houses a hotel. The city has other examples of old church buildings put to new use, including downtown’s Redbird, in the former St. Vibiana’s Cathedral, and Hermon’s, which opened in a former church banquet hall in Northeast L.A. last year. Hotel Lucile brings lodging and dining together in one of these historic spaces.
We ordered a bottle of Pinot Noir and began with the pickled mussels and mushrooms, following our server’s recommendation. The acidity is exactly right: bright and lively without overpowering the dish. It’s my favorite of the evening. We also ordered hamachi crudo, bluefin tuna crudo, and heirloom tomato salad. They’re all enjoyable, and the seafood makes a natural fit for the restaurant’s coastal menu.
The menu brings together influences from Southern France and the American South, with California seafood and produce in the mix.
Sous Sous gives this Silver Lake landmark a new purpose and offers a memorable setting for dinner. It’s a welcome addition to the neighborhood—and a meal worth the drive, even if it’s only 15 minutes.
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