Baltaire
Steakhouse · Brentwood, Los Angeles
Restaurant in Los Angeles, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Mid-Century Steakhouse Authority
Chef
Samuel Jung
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Baltaire is a mid-century modern steakhouse in Brentwood with a serious wine list; 4,695 bottles, 3-Star World of Fine Wine accreditation; and an open-air terrace that makes it the neighborhood's most considered choice for a long lunch or wine-forward dinner at the $$$ tier.
About Baltaire
Verdict
Baltaire is the steakhouse to book if you want serious beef cookery, a wine list with actual depth, enough outdoor space to make a weekday lunch feel like an occasion. At the $$$ price tier, it sits comfortably above neighborhood casual dining but below the city's white-tablecloth tasting-menu circuit. The terrace seating alone makes it worth reserving ahead for lunch; but the wine program, accredited three stars by World of Fine Wine and carrying nearly 4,700 bottles, is the real differentiator against most LA steakhouse competition. Book it for a long lunch on the terrace or a dinner where the wine list is part of the point.
About Baltaire
Baltaire occupies a mid-century modern space on San Vicente Boulevard in Brentwood, the layout is one of the better-designed rooms in the neighborhood. The open-air terrace gives the venue a dual identity: sun-soaked lunch venue by day, dinner-under-the-stars destination after dark. The interior carries spacious seating with none of the cramped shoulder-to-shoulder energy common at smaller steakhouses, which makes it a reliable call for groups who want to hear each other speak. Chef Samuel Jung leads the kitchen, the cuisine classification sits squarely in contemporary American steakhouse territory; meaning the menu framework is familiar (cuts, sides, classics) but the execution has enough refinement to justify the price point.
The wine program under Wine Director David Taylor is the clearest point of separation from peers at this tier. A 760-selection list drawn from 4,695 bottles of inventory, with particular strength in France (Burgundy and Bordeaux), California, Italy, is a serious commitment for a Westside steakhouse. Corkage runs $50 if you'd rather bring your own. For wine-forward diners, this is one of the more considered lists in the Brentwood dining corridor, worth more attention than the steakhouse label typically invites. For a peer comparison on pure wine depth, look at what Providence in Los Angeles carries, though that's a different cuisine format entirely.
Ranked #505 in Opinionated About Dining's Casual North America list for 2025 (up from #552 in 2024), Baltaire has demonstrated upward momentum in critical recognition. That OAD ranking places it in a reliable tier, not at the level of Michelin-starred destinations like The French Laundry in Napa or Single Thread Farm in Healdsburg, but firmly in the category of places where the kitchen is operating with real intention. For Brentwood specifically, that's meaningful: the neighborhood has solid dining but few spots with this level of documented critical traction. See our full Brentwood restaurants guide for the wider picture.
Hours run Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 am to 10 pm, with Saturday dinner from 5:30 pm and a Sunday schedule that includes both lunch (11 am to 3 pm) and dinner (5:30 to 9 pm). Monday closes earlier at 9 pm. Saturday is the tightest window for walk-in prospects; book ahead if weekend dinner is the goal.
That consistency matters more than peak performance for most booking decisions, you're not gambling on whether the kitchen is having a good night.
If you're exploring the wider area beyond dinner, Pearl also covers Brentwood hotels, Brentwood bars, Brentwood wineries, and Brentwood experiences. For a different cuisine format nearby, Katsu-ya is worth knowing for sushi.
Quick reference:
How It Compares
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 11:30 am–9 pm · Tuesday: 11:30 am–10 pm
- Location
- 11647 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- baltaire.com/?y_source=1_MTAwMjE5NTM4NC03MTUtbG9jYXRpb24ud2Vic2l0ZQ%3D%3D
- Phone
- (424) 273-1660
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Baltaire presents a measured, mid-century modern take on the classic American steakhouse. The architecture and room speak first—clean lines, thoughtful proportions and an open-air terrace that pulls in afternoon light—so the dining room feels composed rather than flamboyant. Seating is deliberately scaled for comfort, and the overall register favors company and conversation over spectacle. The result is a calm, residential Westside atmosphere: refined and quietly modern, with a focus on what arrives at the table rather than theatrical service or kitchen performance.
Best For
Baltaire is best experienced at dinner, when the steakhouse format and the restaurant’s measured room come together. It suits evenings centered on conversation—date nights, neighborhood celebrations and grown-up dinners where the company matters more than the production. While it lives in the same competitive field as other high-end steakhouses, this location leans away from downtown deal-making theatrics and toward a relaxed, refined night out on the Westside. Outdoor terrace seating is a strong choice in good weather for a softer, sunlit setting.
Ordering Tips
Treat Baltaire as a traditional steakhouse: the menu asks you to judge the kitchen by its core proteins. Prioritize steaks and simple preparations that let the meat speak—the write-up emphasizes that the ribeye and strip must be right and that sourcing and cooking skill are the primary criteria. Expect no open-kitchen theatrics; order with the assumption that execution is conservative and exacting. If the terrace is open, request it for a lighter, airier setting during afternoon or early evening service.
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 11:30 am–9 pm
- Tuesday
- 11:30 am–10 pm
- Wednesday
- 11:30 am–10 pm
- Thursday
- 11:30 am–10 pm
- Friday
- 11:30 am–10 pm
- Saturday
- 5:30–10 pm
- Sunday
- 11 am–3 pm, 5:30–9 pm
Location
11647 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049 · Directions
baltaire.com/?y_source=1_MTAwMjE5NTM4NC03MTUtbG9jYXRpb24ud2Vic2l0ZQ%3D%3D
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Le Bernardin; French, Seafood, $$$$
- Atomix; Modern Korean, Korean, $$$$
- Lazy Bear; Progressive American, Contemporary, $$$$
- Alinea; Progressive American, Creative, $$$$
- Atelier Crenn; Modern French, Contemporary, $$$$
Restaurant context
How Baltaire Compares
Baltaire operates at $$$ while its named comparison set; Le Bernardin, Lazy Bear, Alinea, and Atelier Crenn; all sit at $$$$. That price gap matters: Baltaire delivers a credentialed wine program and consistent kitchen execution at a lower price point than any of those venues, without the tasting-menu format or the booking difficulty. If your priority is a great bottle of Burgundy with a well-executed steak in a comfortable room, Baltaire wins on value and accessibility against all four.
Where Baltaire loses ground is in kitchen ambition and theatrical dining experience. Lazy Bear and Alinea are destinations for diners who want a transformative meal; Baltaire is not competing for that occasion. Le Bernardin sets a standard for technical precision in a different cuisine category entirely. The honest comparison for Baltaire is within the LA steakhouse tier rather than against national fine-dining flagships. On that basis, its OAD ranking, wine depth, terrace format give it a clear identity: Brentwood's most wine-serious steakhouse, without the Michelin-level price tag or booking friction.
For Brentwood specifically, the alternatives thin out quickly at this price and cuisine type. Diners choosing between Baltaire and a weekend drive to Addison in San Diego or Blue Hill at Stone Barns are making a different kind of booking decision; those are destination meals with tasting-menu formats and higher price floors. Baltaire is the call when you want serious food and wine without committing to a four-hour tasting menu. Book it for that occasion and it will deliver.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Baltaire guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Baltaire
| Venue | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Baltaire | 2026 OAD Casual in North America Recommended2026 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence2025 World's Best Steaks 50 Best Steakhouses in North America · #362025 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #505World's Best Wine Lists 20252025 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence2024 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #552World's Best Wine Lists 20242023 OAD Casual in North America Recommended | |
| Le Bernardin | $$$$ | 2026 Eater NY 38 Best Restaurants in New York City · #82026 North America's 50 Best Restaurants · #132026 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City · #212026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #342026 Forbes 5-Star2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2026 Wine Spectator Grand Award2026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2025 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City · #3 |
| Atomix | $$$$ | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #62026 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City · #72026 North America's 50 Best Restaurants · #7Star Wine Lists 20262026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 World's 50 North America's Best Restaurants · #12025 James Beard Awards · #12025 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City · #2 |
| Lazy Bear | $$$$ | 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants · #100Star Wine Lists 20262026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Highly Recommended2026 Wine Spectator Grand Award2026 Michelin 2 Stars2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 World's 50 North America's Best Restaurants · #252025 Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century · #852025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #176 |
| Alinea | $$$$ | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #442026 Forbes 5-Star2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century · #12025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #20Chef's Table Featured Restaurants · 20252025 The Best Chef Three Knives2025 Forbes 5-Star2025 Michelin 3 Stars |
| Atelier Crenn | $$$$ | 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants · #292026 North America's 50 Best Restaurants · #442026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #672026 Forbes 5-Star2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2026 Michelin 3 Stars2026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2025 Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century · #312025 World's 50 North America's Best Restaurants · #46 |
How Baltaire stacks up against the competition.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Baltaire good for solo dining?
Yes, it works better for solo diners than most steakhouses in the area. The bar seating and spacious layout avoid the awkward two-top squeeze, lunch hours; Monday through Friday from 11:30am; give you a relaxed window without the evening crowd. The $$$ price point is easier to stomach at lunch when you're eating alone.
What should I wear to Baltaire?
The mid-century modern room and Brentwood address set a polished tone, so dress accordingly; neat casual at minimum, business casual is comfortable. The open-air terrace means you're visible, so avoid anything too casual. Nothing in the venue record mandates a dress code, but the $$$ cuisine pricing signals this isn't a jeans-and-sneakers crowd.
Is lunch or dinner better at Baltaire?
Lunch is the sharper value play: the open-air terrace is at its best in daylight, the room is less pressured, you get the same kitchen under Chef Samuel Jung. Dinner is better for occasion dining; the full evening service runs until 10pm Tuesday through Saturday, the 760-label wine list earns its place over a longer meal.
How far ahead should I book Baltaire?
Book at least one week out for dinner, two weeks for Friday or Saturday evenings. Sunday lunch (11am–3pm) tends to be more accessible, but the terrace fills on good-weather days. Baltaire ranks #505 in Opinionated About Dining's 2025 Casual North America list, which means enough demand to make last-minute bookings unreliable.
Is Baltaire good for a special occasion?
Yes, particularly for occasions where wine matters as much as the food. Wine Director David Taylor oversees a 4,695-bottle inventory with strength in Burgundy, Bordeaux, California, Italy; that's a serious cellar for a steakhouse. Corkage is $50 if you'd rather bring your own bottle, which is a reasonable option at the $$$ price tier.
What are alternatives to Baltaire in Brentwood?
Baltaire is the dominant steakhouse option on this stretch of San Vicente. For a different format at similar spend, Brentwood Restaurant and Lounge offers a broader American menu with less wine focus. If you want a more formal steakhouse experience with a longer LA pedigree, Nick & Stef's or CUT Beverly Hills are worth the short drive, though both carry higher price ceilings.
What should a first-timer know about Baltaire?
The wine list is not just decoration; with 760 selections and a World of Fine Wine 3-Star Accreditation, it's one of the stronger steakhouse lists in Los Angeles, worth reading before you arrive. Cuisine pricing sits at $$$ (typically $66+ for a two-course meal excluding drinks), so factor in wine if you're budgeting. The terrace is a genuine asset; request it when booking.
