RobertC's Profile
Downtown LA
My favorites...top 21 in no order
Church and State, El Cholo, Wood Spoon, Colori Kitchen, Tiara Cafe (lunch), New Moon (lunch, chinese), Homegirl Cafe, Nickel Diner, The Gorbals, Baco Mercat, Gil's Indian, Bottega Louie, Cafe Pinot, Urbano Pizza, Umamicatessen, Pitfire Pizza, Spring Street BBQ, Spice Kitchen, Perch, Lazy Ox. Urth Caffe. Also, there are great cafeterias at the Colburn School of the Arts and Metro Water District HQ next to Union Station.
Looking for good restaurant near Shrine Auditorium
The Lab Gastropub on Figueroa is supposed to be great. I have been to their Wine Bar Downtown and it is great.
http://thelab.usc.edu/#/home
Chocolate Chip Cookies
For $1.25, the cookies at Home Girl Cafe near Chinatown are great tasting and huge. Plus, the money goes to a good cause.
Downtown dinner
I would say the Lazy Ox for the excellent quality of every item. My new favorites are The Spice Table in Little Tokyo, The Pattern Bar for Tapas, Soi 7 seems to have really improved, Bottega Louie is really loud but the food is really top quality, inexpensive and delicious. Colori Kitchen is always a favorite for excellent pasta and seafood. I do love the Carne Asada and homemade tortillas at El Cholo on Flower. I also love Spring Street BBQ, Church and State, Katsuya and I love to have a beer at the Far Bar and Spring Street and the best $2 beer for happy hour til 7:00 is Urban Noodle (with great rice dishes). The Gorbals is a fun dining experience with some great food and a few misses.
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Colori Kitchen
429 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
Bottega Louie
700 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Little Tokyo Restaurant
150 E Bonita Ave, San Dimas, CA 91773
The Gorbals
501 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
The Spice Table
114 S. Central Avenue, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Places to eat in Dana Point?
About 10 minutes from Dana Point in San Juan Capistrano is the best place for breakfast...the Ramos House Cafe. You sit outside in an neighborhood built in the 1770s (adobe houses) under a huge tree. The egg scrambles are to die for. The bloody mary's are excellent and wait til they serve the freshly made biscuits. Everything there is fresh and delicous.
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Ramos House Cafe
31752 Los Rios St, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Chocolate Chip Cookie
I just tried the cookies at Homegirl Cafe Downtown. Wow, they are fresh, not crispy but not soft, full of Chocolate Chips...Huge...and the best I have found in Los Angeles...and only $1.25 per cookie. They remind me of the place in Lake Arrowhead...Razzleberries...but better and cheaper. You must try them.
HELP! Need suggestions about restaurants at Staple Center DOWNTOWN...
I love the new El Cholo on Flower...the carne asada, the guacamole made at your table and the homemade tortillas..great. The margarita for $10 is worth the price....and you only need one.
Also recommend Wood Spoon...and Katsuya if you want to eat right at LA Live. The Corkbar and Bottle Rock are two other tasty places. For lunch...New Moon on 9th east of Broadway is so good for Chinese.
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BottleRock
3847 Main St, Culver City, CA 90232
Downtown LA- What's not to be missed?!!
You must have dinner at Colori Kitchen on 8th between Hill and Olive. It is excellent Italian in a brick walled casual restaurant. Bring your own wine...no corkage. Also, the best meal I have had in a long time was at the Lazy Ox Canteen...but make a reservation. They are always booked....For BBQ I like Spring St. BBQ in Chinatown. I also love most of the food at The Gorbals. The chef won Top Chef on Bravo a few years back.
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Colori Kitchen
429 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
The Gorbals
501 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Wine Bar Recommendations
Downtown you have 3 choices: Corkbar, Bottlerock and The Must. The Must is a very busy place in the historic core. I like all three but The Must is the most fun, inexpensive and has great small plates.
http://www.themustbar.com
best mexican in the OC?
Taleo in Irvine is my favorite...more upscale...but the food is fresh and delicious. They also have great margaritas and guacamole! It is located off the 405 and Jamboree. Beautiful restaurant and the best flan I have ever had. Check out the reviews...
http://taleomexicangrill.com/reviews.html
Where to eat near Kaiser-Permanente on Sunset & Vermont
I am going through a similiar situation with a parent. Warm thoughts to you..
Where you are staying is off the Red Line so it connects you to so many places. I like Home in Los Feliz on Hillhurst for breakfast..great patio. You can walk there.
Another great restaurant within walking distance is Vermont. It is a more upscale but the food is excellent and I am sure you will have a great steak there. I also hear great things about Little Dom's for Italian
In downtown LA without transportation
Interesting Lunch places:
Bottega Louie on 7th, Tiara Cafe on 9th, Nickel Diner on Main, Colori Kitchen on 8th, El Cholo on Western (taxi or drive) and Urth Caffe in the artist's district (short taxi ride).
Bars with Character:
The Edison (a must see in an alley off 2nd near Main) Seven Grand on 7th, Golden Gopher on 8th, Casey's on Grand, Broadway Bar on Broadway, Varnish on 6th and Main, the Association on 6th and Main, the Must Bar on 6th and Spring, The rooftop bar at the Standard Hotel, the Library Bar, Bar 107 on 4th near Main, the Galley Bar at the Biltmore Hotel, the Bar in the O Hotel on Flower and 9th, the Mountain Bar in Chinatown.
Alll of these places are within walking distance of your hotel
Downtown LA Italian/Pasta
I second Colori Kitchen. The chef is from the Milan area and knows how to cook pasta. Bring your own wine (my friend always has a glass the night before he runs a marathon). No corkage fee and you must make a reservation. I also like the pasta at Bottega Louie. Drago will be more expensive but is supposed to be excellent. You can walk to all three restaurants mentioned from LA Live.
Casual Bars/Lounges in Hollywood or Downtown?
The W is not Hollywood and Highland but Hollywood and Vine. Nice place! Loved Delphine.
Also, The Association is one of my favorite lounges on 6th near Main Downtown. (There is no sign on the Door...the Door is a replica of 10 Downing St and it is next to Cole's. Also, I love the whiskey bar Seven Grand. (7th St. Metro)
Dining Near Staples Center / Nokia Theater
What about Magnolia? I love their food. Very close to LA Live...across the street.
I don't believe Wood Spoon serves wine or beer. It is an excellent place but I like wine with my dinner. Bottlerock also has excellent food....and if you can afford Rivera...great place.
Sunday lunch in downtown before concert at Disney Hall
Kendall's opens at 11:30 AM on Sunday. I have always enjoyed it. Also, Bottega Louie on Seventh is open early. Checkers has a great restaurant in an elegant setting...boutique hotel feel.
Downtown restaurants
Regarding Downtown, good suggestions. Other recommendations here..
After Alabama wins, I would suggest heading over to Seven Grand for a whiskey or a glass of vino. Breakfast is great at Bottega Louie or I love the pancakes at the Standard Hotel. For dessert, I would head over to Urth Cafe (quick cab ride) and have either the incredible pumpkin pie or coconut/custard pie. If you are looking for the most beautiful patio downtown...go to Cafe Pinot. A glass of wine at Cafe Pinot always tastes better because of the location. I hear great things about Drago Centro and I love the food and atmosphere of Church and State.
Oh, and I love having a drink at the bar at Biltmore...just a beautiful building.
Downtown (or downtown-convenient) for dinner tomorrow night
Zip Fusion has the best patio..and the building is over 100 years old. Fun place for dinner. It is located near Little Tokyo. He will love the patio.
Best lunch spots near Los Angeles Convention Center
Also don't forget:
Colori Kitchen on 8th between Olive and Hill (Italian)
Wood Spoon on 9th (Brazilian)
New Moon on 9th (Chinese)
Tiara Cafe on 9th (American)
Panini Cafe on 9th across from Ralph's. Excellent Chicken Kabobs.
The Persian restaurant on Hill South of 9th for lunch...excellent
Gill's in the Hotel Stillwell (Indian)
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Colori Kitchen
429 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
Wood Spoon
107 W 9th St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
New Moon
112 W 9th St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Looking for Authentic Belgian Food
Brussels Bistro in Laguna is great. The owner is from Brussels and I believe it is as authentic as it can get. Great atmosphere...very Euro...and worth the drive. Belgian Fries and beer are worth the trip.
What's good at Javier's in the Irvine Spectrum?
I was very disappointed with Javier's the last time I visited. In Irvine, go to Taleo for a nice, great upscale Mexican experience. They are located in Park Place off Jamboree and Michelson.
Tranquility Base Downtown
Stopped by the new Tranquility Base in the Sky Loft building a few days ago. They opened last week. We just stopped by to have a drink and ended up ordering a small plate (cheese plate). Wow, it was great. Everything that came out of the kitchen looked delicious. The owners are very friendly and they are going to open a patio fire pit soon. This place is a very is a much needed addition to the restaurant scene. All small plates but the range is around $6 to $12. Great drinks as well. I hope the downtown locals really support it. Finally a place in South Park that is open every day.
Saffron? Fast Food Indian Downtown?
I love Gills. They have a new owner. I used to have to order Chicken Tikka Masala with white meat, now they only serve it with white meat. Great flavors and the onion naan is the best I have ever had. If you haven't tried it in a while, go now. Now, can someone tell me why the owner of the hotel has had carpet rolls in the lobby for years...very tacky (along with the lobby couches that look like they were left on the street). I keep hoping someone will buy the Hotel Stillwell and put some money into it. Until then, I will happily walk thru the lobby to get a great local Indian meal!
Red Velvet Cake
I just stopped by The Cobbler Lady on Crenshaw. Got there at 9:00 AM when they opened. I had a red velvet cupcake just out of the oven...for breakfast. It was great. This place is such a find. The Oatmeal cookies are excellent as well. I did not get a chance to try the cobbler but it looked delicious. Thanks to chowhound I have found a reason to head down MLK Blvd. I also found the neighborhood very charming....streets of great old spanish homes.
LAX to Palm Springs-Lunch Stop
What about the Mission Inn in Riverside?...Historic and beautiful.
http://www.missioninn.com/restaurants.php
Weekend lunch for first time visitors to LA
No budget. Is the food bad at the Observatory? Isn't it a Wolfgang Puck operation? It has excellent views...I will go anywhere between the Getty and Hollywood for a good lunch.
Weekend lunch for first time visitors to LA
I am taking a group of four Croatians around LA on Saturday. We will start on the west side in Santa Monica, go the the Getty, Beverly Hills, the Griffith Observatory and end up at Disney Hall and the Cathedral Downtown. Three of these people have never been to the US. So, where should I take them for a late lunch around1:00 or 1:30 in the Beverly Hills area. I am looking for a "California" place to go. I am thinking about the Farm in BH. The other option is to eat at the Getty. Any other suggestions? Has anyone eaten at the cafe at the Observatory? Thanks!
Best Happy Hour/Meeting Place Downtown?
I second the Golden Gopher. Open for happy hour at 5:00 on Friday and stop two doors down to have a bite at Colori Kitchen. You can buy a bottle of wine at the Golden Gopher as they have a liquor to go license. Colori has no corkage fee and does not have a wine license yet. The GG is not crowded and a pint of Stell is around $4. Great music as well.
Rehearsal dinner near downtown
Even though Ciao Trattoria is Italian, you would be hard pressed to find a more beautiful room than the lobby they rent for catering next door. Like something out of a movie. I walked by once on New Year's Eve and the place looks amazing...and it very centrally located on 7th Street downtown.
http://www.ciaotrattoria.com/BANQUET/index.html
Italian near Downtown/Silver Lake/Los Feliz
Thanks for all the suggestions. Colori Kitchen is around the corner from my loft and is a favorite but they are only open for dinner Thur thru Sat. It is funny but my choice will depend of how much time we have and the traffic. Los Feliz is most likely my destination. The family from OC will like that area and there are a few choices. I would take the Red Line but my sis is recovering from Achilles surgery (another obstacle). Much appreciation!
