Thank you for your recs! We ended up at Prep Kitchen but Urban Solace took a close second! We also went to Bencotto, Burger Lounge (for lunch), and Extraordinary Desserts. Bencotto was just okay in book. I think I have to agree with the earlier posts about weak Italian in SD but then again, that was just one Italian restaurant. Thanks again for your suggestions!

Cafe Chloe looks so cute! We will have to try this restaurant on our next trip! Thank you for your suggestion!

Thank you for your suggestions! We ended up trying both of them! We really liked PrepKitchen. The atmosphere, decor, and food were exactly what we were looking for. Their famous chicken dish did not disappoint and neither did their desserts! Thank you!

Hello San Diego Chowhounders! My old girlfriends and I are visiting San Diego this weekend (staying close to Downtown SD) and are looking for a couple of places to go for dinner. We would prefer a casual yet trendy restaurant, moderately priced. We will have a car but would like to stay fairly close to the downtown area. I believe our hotel is near Seaport Village, the Gaslamp area, and Horton Plaza, just to give you an idea. Also, we are looking for a good Italian restaurant one of the nights this weekend. Recommendations for other ethnic cuisine (including American) for the other nights are also welcome! Thank you!

Thank you mj, I'll check out all of these restaurants as well!

Nob HIll Grille sounds interesting! Thank you for the suggestion!

Thank you, Steve h. I will check it out!

Thank you for the recommendation on Nopa. We did go there two year ago (the last time we were in San Francisco) and loved it. I believe we are having Italian food on Saturday so would like to try a different cuisine on Sunday. Thank you for your suggestions!

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Nopa
560 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117

We will be coming from the Huntington Hotel on California between Taylor and Market Street.

Hello Chowhounders! We are from out of town and will be in the Nob Hill Area on a Sunday night. Can someone please recommend a good restaurant for dinner? Somewhere casual and trendy and fun preferably. Thank you!

Wood Spoon sounds good, too. I'll have to check it out! Thanks!

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Wood Spoon
107 W 9th St, Los Angeles, CA 90015

I'll have to keep La Golondrina in mind for other occasions, too! Thanks for your suggestions!

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La Golondrina
17 Olvera St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Thanks! I'll check it out!

I think you're right, more casual and fun is more along the lines of what we're searching for. I did not mention this earlier but we will just be finishing an urban race through downtown l.a. so I imagine everyone will be dressed casual.

Pinot looks beautiful as does Bottega Louie and the atmosphere at Bottega is appealing. I really like Bottega but when we discovered that they do not take reservations (even for a party of 20!). Wursktkuche is sounding promising, actually! They do take reservations and will be able to seat all 20 of us once the last person has gone through the line. Spice Table sounds yummy, too, but it's too spicy for the celebrant! Any other suggestions would be helpful! Thank you so much!

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Bottega Louie
700 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017

The Spice Table
114 S. Central Avenue, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

Thank you all for the Dim Sum recommendations but I should probably clarify that this group often goes out for Dim Sum so we will probably steer clear of Chinatown restaurants.

Thank you, JAB, that is a good point about Wurstkuche.

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Wurstkuche
800 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Thanks! Church & State are only open for dinner on Saturday and we discovered that Yxta is only for dinner on Saturday, too. Botega Louie sounds like a good possibility (right price, casual, and only a few blocks away). Thank You for the suggestion!

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Church & State
1850 Industrial Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Thank you for all of the great suggestions! We are going to check out Wurstkuche (sounds like so much fun!) and Yxta (sounds delicious!) to see if they can accommodate our party.

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Wurstkuche
800 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Hello Chowhounders,
Please help me figure out a good restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles within walking distance of the California Water Plaza for a group birthday lunch (about 20 people)! Some suggestions I have already received include the Noe at the Omni Hotel and Nic and Stef's Steakhouse but both are more than our budget allows. It would be idea to find something within walking distance but if nothing exists, we would be willing drive a short distance for good food and cool atmosphere. Another suggestion made if we drive is Yxta. Someone help me, please! Thank you!