If you haven’t been to A.O.C., the wine bar and restaurant off of 3^rd Street in Mid-City West, then consider this another spot to add to your to-do list.

Angeleno Magazine named A.O.C. one of their “Ten for All Time” places for true foodies to dine, and the Los Angeles Times Magazine called it “the star” to look out for. Perhaps that’s a result of the management, which consists of the team behind Lucques, owners Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne. They successfully created a menu and ambiance meant for sharing, as well as admiring.

Once inside you’ll find two dining rooms, two bars with seating, and a rooftop patio; all with subdued modern touches like cream lighting, sleek cobalt leather booths, and crisp white tabletops. There’s a simplistic elegance from designer Barbara Barry that also lends to the convivial atmosphere, and it’s not unusual to see tables passing carafes or glasses of wine back and forth.

The menu further lends to this communal environment, offering smaller Mediterranean dishes (like the clams with sherry and garlic toast) perfect for sampling. While the plates may be shared, you’ll have a hard time choosing with their extensive menu- arranged by Cheese, Charcuterie, Salads, Meat, Fish, and from the Woodburning Oven. Their impressive cheese selection includes blu di bufala from Italy and garrotxa goat cheese from Spain, which can easily be paired with one of the 50 available wines, served by the glass or carafe. Other must-haves include the mouth-watering squash blossoms stuffed with salami and provolone and the seabass, finished off with a potato-tomato gratin and tapenade.  Their list of desserts makes it near impossible to choose, but the butterscotch pot de crème with salted cashew cookies is the perfect dish to share with friends.

A.O.C. (Appellation d’Origine Controlee) – (323) 653-6359 – 8022 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles