Bottega Louie brings European panache to the streets of LA with a delicious contemporary Italian menu. Opt for the Farmers Market Breakfast at their weekend brunch, a platter of poached eggs, vegetables and parmesan, or relish small plates of raspberry beignets or portobello fries. Complement your meal with something from their extensive beverage list; flavored soda, beer, juices, lattes or heady cocktails to name a few. The sprawling high-beamed space is decorated with crisp white walls and marble counter tops for a classy, East Coast feel, and exudes an understated elegance. Head to the deli for food to go, as well as inspiration to experiment in your own kitchen.
Still commonly known as the "Rainbow Room," this fabled Sunset Strip institution continues to deliver a good time with live rock shows, fun finger food and late-night dining. The roomy interiors consist of a dining room, several bars, upstairs dance floor and patio decorated with kitschy rock 'n' roll memorabilia, Christmas lights, burgundy leather booths and even a vintage arcade game. The food offered is an Italian-American fusion of popular munchies such as pizza, sandwiches, steaks and a diverse vegetarian selection. Keep in mind that it is possible to reserve special seating above the stage.
The flagship of this charming chain looks and feels as good as ever. Designated as a State Point of Historical Interest, this is the first Bob's Big Boy! Take a moment to admire the huge Big Boy statue before you head inside this child-friendly spot. Enjoy classic American diner food that feels like the type of dishes Fonzie would approve of. There is even car-hop service on the weekends. Friday night brings loads of car enthusiasts showing off their hotrods.
Locals trek to Coral Cafe day and night for the wide selection of inexpensive food. Open 24 hours, it is the perfect for lunch or stopping by after a night at the bars or clubs. The simple layout and sparse decorations may not add to the ambiance, but it creates a mom-and-pop feel. Make sure to order the tortilla soup, topped with a mound of cheese, it's simply one of the best soups in the city. Coral Cafe also has a great breakfast menu.
A refreshing change from your typical global coffee shops chain, this local café boasts of serving organic varieties. This coffee shop offers in-house blends of coffee like Scandinavian Cupp, Urth Italia Espresso and teas like Darjeeling Shiva Gardens, Moroccan Mint Certified Organic, The Mystical Traveler and so forth. That’s not it, along with fine drinks, it also serves delectable platter that includes salads, sandwiches, baked goodies and even special vegan items.
This meat lovers dream come true, Animal is a raved about American eatery in the Beverly Grove neighborhood of Los Angeles. Utilizing every viable piece of the meat, celebrity chefs Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook collaborate to create scrumptious meals even a vegetarian might be tempted to eat! With an ever-rotating menu, dishes at Animal are always new and exciting. Not for the faint of heart, past dishes have included veal tongue and brains, chicken liver toast, marrow bone with chimichurri sauce and other oddities that are surprisingly delicious. A minimalist setting is an overstatement, this restaurant has stark white walls, dark stained weathered tables and a large skylight flooding the space with bright natural light.
Justice Urban Tavern has an airy and swank look to it due to is high ceiling and industrial-chic decor. This gastropub is a great place to drop in for any time of the day or night. Taking pride in their inventive menu which focuses on seasonal and local farm-fresh ingredients, you can check out their dishes from the chalkboard. Enjoy their happy hours with wines and beers from Californian wineries and breweries.
With innovative offerings like crispy tamarind glazed pork belly and chicken tikka poutine, this downtown gastropub will change the way you look at Indian food. Soaring ceilings and a wall covered in colorful horizontal stripes greets patrons in the dining room. Contemporary light fixtures punctuate the entire space. Kitschy Bollywood posters adorning the walls complete the decor; a refreshing change from the done-to-death exotic themes prevalent in most Indian restaurants. The menu offers a mix of traditional and quirky creations. Street food favorites like papri chaat and samosas start off the proceedings. Traditional favorites include the butter chicken, smoked eggplant mash and chicken tikka masala. The spiced lamb burger has received accolades and should not me missed. The drinks list offers a choice of wines, beers as well as Indian cola imports like ThumsUp and Limca.
Kushi Shabu is known for their all you can eat Shabu-Shabu, although the restaurant does offer a limited selection of a la carte options as well. A Shabu-Shabu meal essentially consists of a communal pot of broth and a selection of thinly sliced raw meats, vegetables and noodles that are meant to cooked in the boiling broth at the table itself. The meal is accompanied by a variety of homemade sauces and an unlimited dessert selection as well. With friendly and attentive service, delicious food and reasonable prices, Kushi Shabu is a great choice for those days when your appetite knows no bounds.
In an underground location on South San Pedro Street, Fu-Ga Izakaya & Bar is a treat for the foodies with a tapas menu consisting of Japanese fusion dishes. It is great for relishing some good varieties of sake and beer while gorging on Kushi Katsu, Seaweed Salad, Yakitori, Sauteed Shishito Peppers and Unagi and Chirimen Jyako Fried Rice. There is a separate happy hour menu that helps to quell the raging appetites. The Bento Boxes offer delightful combinations of salad, tempura, stew and oysters that can be packed and relished at leisure. The venue is dimly lit and perfect for a romantic dinner date. The staff and service are also appealing.
Redwood is leading the league of downtown Los Angeles' innovative renaissance. And there is no better way to reap the benefits of this cultural transformation than hitting up Redwood's cocktail menu. Specialty drinks like Lava Lamp, Schooner Float and Cloud 9 make patrons forget about how irksome it is to find a decent parking spot in the vicinity of Redwood. And for all of those nautical lovers out there, Redwood's has a pirate theme. Unlike traditional bar cuisine, Redwood provides food that is actually edible, try the delicious fish and chips or the vegetarian Rueben sandwich.
The Truckit Fest LA Art Walk is held on the second Thursday of every month from 6:30p to 11:30p within a parking lot near the intersection of 3rd and South Spring Streets. The fest is a part of larger DTLA Art Walk and draws in thousands of visitors every month. With live music, craft stalls and games alongside the usual Truckit Fest gourmet food trucks, the Truckit Fest LA Artwalk has come to be a monthly ritual for many. Some of the regular food trucks include street kitchen, the Lobos, Currywurst, Kabob Express, Me So Hungry and Belly Bombz.