Where Chef Nancy Silverton Gets Her Favorite Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
When Chef Nancy Silverton craves an oatmeal raisin cookie, she heads to the center of Los Angeles to a building that was established by Charlie Chaplin in 1929. On Fine Dining Lovers, Silverton admits the location is precious to her personally, as she, too, once ran a bakery at the address. Now occupying the premises sits a restaurant, cafe, and bakery named République.
République serves up French-inspired dishes that chefs make daily for customers. Fresh pastries are set into displays to tempt those who gaze longingly at the assortment of baked goods. In 2023, République's mouth watering treats helped clinch the title of James Beard's Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker, and the work ethic and skill of République's owners have made such an impression on Silverton that she wrote the forward for their baking book.
"Where do I start?," Silverton told Fine Dining Lovers. "A ham and cheese croissant? A kouign-amann? Probably both. But for sure an oatmeal raisin cookie, which is the best I've ever had." The brown butter oatmeal raisin cookies are gluten-free and have found ranking on Foursquare's 15 Best Places for Oatmeal Cookies in Los Angeles list.
A crowd-pleasing bakery
The husband and wife team powering République has opened several other restaurants throughout Los Angeles and the Philippines, and their work has been recognized by the Michelin Guide. As tempting as their cookies might be, the croissants, cakes, and Italian bomboloni served up by République have equally found favor among guests. For those not in the mood for baked goods and sweets, the restaurant section of République offers brunch and dinner menus with shakshuka, kimchi fried rice, and duck breast.
To sample brioche, canele, cremadette, madeleines, and kouign-amann pastries at home, République offers plenty of treats that can be ordered to go, and the flaky pop tarts and flavored bundt cakes have visitors returning for additional orders. "This is the L.A. restaurant our critic recommends more than any other," proclaims one review in the Los Angeles Times, with the writer gushing over seasonal baking and pastries that disappear off the shelves. If you have your heart set on a specific pastry, you may want to time your visit accordingly.