15 Scores High in Echo Park

Published on Tuesday, September 18, 2007, by Cicely Wedgeworth / Edit Post

The hipsterification of Echo Park continues, and La Paz and its pupusas are no more, replaced by 15, a restaurant where you can get stuff like herb-grilled Hawaiian opah.

It’s definitely spiffed up from its previous incarnation, with air conditioning and an imposing bar (empty, because the liquor license is still in the works; ETA about a month). A couple of TVs hang over the bar and another two across from it. Photos of Keith Richards, Slash, and Tommy Lee hang on the walls.

The menu is kind of small, but that opah is a winner: “A generous meaty portion, grilled but rare inside. Nicely served on sauteed spinach on a plate decorated with baby vegetables and pencil-thin asparagus. Definitely the most upscale dinner I’ve ever had in Echo Park,” says LA_Eater.

Flank steak, perfectly seasoned, is crisply grilled on the outside and butter-soft inside, says bethshax. It comes on a bed of spinach with some grilled garlic.

But the short ribs get mixed reviews: bethshax says they’re not perfect though far superior to Dusty’s; lil mikey says his were offensively oversalted. Some like the kick of horseradish in their mashed potatoes; some don’t.

There’s a pretty cool deal called “$15 at 15,” which is basically a three-course meal for $15. You pick an appetizer and main dish, and the dessert is preordained. Pray that it’s the chocolate croissant bread pudding.

15 [Echo Park]
1320 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles

Board Links: 15 Restaurant in Echo Park
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ALLLos Angeles Digest
POST A COMMENT |5 Comments

COMMENT

  • Dessert not Desert

  • I really like this place for a local spot we used to go to the Edendale for local but I'm over it. I've eaten there about 12 times and the food is very good the male wait staff can be weird I had a great female waitress once. Deserts are very good the chocolate bread pudding is so yummy and I don't even like bread pudding. It's a little loud and the location is not great, I love when they ask us...+READ

    I really like this place for a local spot we used to go to the Edendale for local but I'm over it. I've eaten there about 12 times and the food is very good the male wait staff can be weird I had a great female waitress once. Deserts are very good the chocolate bread pudding is so yummy and I don't even like bread pudding. It's a little loud and the location is not great, I love when they ask us if we want a window seat and I say why so I can look at the hobo sleeping at the Pioneer chicken? The burger is very good just don't ask for rare it comes out RAW the fries are the best I've had in a long long time. It's better than Masa!-COLLAPSE

  • Gave it a try last Saturday night and our waiter ignored us. I was deciding between the pasta and kobe burger so I asked the waiter his opinion. He responded with a deadpan "I don't know. I'm a vegetarian." Umm...ok. After 20 min. of trying to grab his attention to order drinks, I gave up and went to the bar. Aside from the fact that I get better service at the DMV the food was mediocre. Tapenade...+READ

    Gave it a try last Saturday night and our waiter ignored us. I was deciding between the pasta and kobe burger so I asked the waiter his opinion. He responded with a deadpan "I don't know. I'm a vegetarian." Umm...ok. After 20 min. of trying to grab his attention to order drinks, I gave up and went to the bar. Aside from the fact that I get better service at the DMV the food was mediocre. Tapenade was scary salty, the pasta was bland and flavorless, my husband's vegetables were undercooked and the scallops were tough and chewy. Recommend going for drinks only.-COLLAPSE

  • Had a terrific meal there last night. Echo Park has long needed a decent place to eat. Lovely room, warm and welcoming service. The quail was outstanding.

  • This restaurant is far too upscale and has the wrong vibe to qualify as an agent of "hipsterification" -- more along the lines of "yuppification."