République

The story

République in Los Angeles: French-Inspired Dining on La Brea Ave.

République sits at 624 S. La Brea Ave. in Los Angeles, a French-inspired restaurant that earned a Michelin Recommended distinction in 2026. Chefs Walter and Margarita Manzke run the room, and the menu is built each day around French technique and seasonal produce, with American and Mediterranean touches.

Chefs Walter and Margarita Manzke

Walter Manzke trained at Patina in Los Angeles, then cooked with Ferran Adrià and Alain Ducasse before leading kitchens at Bastide and Church & State. Margarita Manzke, born in the Philippines, worked in Los Angeles kitchens including Spago and Mélisse before becoming pastry chef at Bastide. Her pastry program at République carries her own techniques and flavors, and it is a reason many guests come back for dessert.

Standout dishes

Past tasting menus show the range of the kitchen. A Valentine's Day menu paired Maine lobster with red beet berlingot pasta and kaluga caviar, and Dover sole came with morel mushrooms and sauce vin jaune. A black truffle menu from summer 2022 featured agnolotti with cellar-aged butternut squash and Black Hawk wagyu with chanterelles. The wine list earned a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence in 2019, and it is designed to pair with courses like these.

The rooms

The front holds a bakery, café, and bar, while the more formal dining room sits toward the rear. The main room has custom chandeliers, oversized mirrors, and twenty-foot ceilings. Kitchen Tables sit in the center beside the open kitchen and seat up to 16, while the Alcove above the main room seats up to 8 for tasting menus. The original 1920s brick, tile, and ironwork were uncovered during the redesign.