Rate-A-Restaurant, #144 in a series

Restaurant: Canele

Location: 3219 Glendale Blvd. (Atwater Village)

Type of restaurant: French/Mediterranean

They stipulated: There's a communal dining table in the front, or if you're looking to stick with just your party, plenty of tables in the back. Also, at the end of dinner, diners are given an actual canele -- a French pastry with a soft center and carmelized outer layer.

We stipulated: We were looking for a nice meal close by, and a spot that would be friendly to Blogger Toddler. Luckily, we weren't the only ones with a kid in tow (plus, BT behaved nicely).



What we ordered: Pan seared snapper with herbed rice and shell beans ($17, above); Roasted half chicken with root vegetables ($20, below). Also, rock cod spread with pita chips.



High point: The food's good -- portion size is spot on, and the chicken was moist (I didn't love the snapper, but it wasn't bad). Canele manages to keep the airy, casual vibe of the old Osteria Nonni even with the more upscale menu. But the real high point? The nice surprise at the end, when you're handed a canele pastry on the way out.

Low point: I ordered a glass of wine; but it came in a small water glass, rather than a wine one. The pour also seemed stingy -- making me feel a bit ripped off. Also, it is too bad that Nonni, a nice, go-to Italian joint, had to disappear. How great would it have been to have both Nonni and Canele in the same hood?



Overall impression: We didn't have to wait for a table and the staff was friendly. Canele is a bit cramped, but the environment is mostly inviting... and when Evan was itching to walk, there's plenty of sidewalk space up and down Glendale Blvd. in Atwater Village.



Chance we will go back:: Yes... but I'm going to stick with water next time.

(For our complete list of almost 150 restaurant capsules, visit our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.)