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It's hard not to be dumbstruck by Bottega Louie, a majestic food hall in a former Brooks Brothers flagship, a slab of urban renovation that suggests less downtown Los Angeles than Rodeo Drive. The enormous, double-height room, big enough to swallow a basketball arena, whitewashed and gleaming, has been restored to its early-century glory and staffed under what appears to be the guidelines of a USC sorority full-employment act. (Physically at least, it dwarfs both Balducci's and Dean & DeLuca in New York.) One corner of the premises is occupied by a market selling high-end cheeses and a tiny selection of the produce you might have forgotten to pick up at the farmers market. A long bakery counter sells breads and croissants and pastries to the breakfast crowd; a bar, with seating exceeding that of most gastropubs, sells snacks and sandwiches to go with the beer and cocktails. And at the rear of the space is a full restaurant, a dining room with the feel of a brasserie but a mostly American-Italian menu structured a bit like the one at Pizzeria Mozza: lots of small dishes, like stuffed artichokes, fried calamari, clams oreganata, and a dish of mushy peas with prosciutto that could have come out of the kitchen of any trattoria in Rome; crisp-edged Neapolitan-style pizzas from the big wood-burning oven in the corner, and old-fashioned things like eggplant parmesan, sliced steak and seasonal black cod roasted in parchment. Bottega Louie is the grand restaurant downtown deserves. See full review.
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The service doesn't just hop at Bottega Louie. It skips, jumps and pirouettes as a platoon of nattily dressed servers, runners, ballet-slippered hostesses and suited managers race across the marble f... More »
The service doesn't just hop at Bottega Louie. It skips, jumps and pirouettes, as a platoon of nattily dressed servers, runners, ballet-slippered hostesses and suited managers race across the marble floors. The energetic staff has a professional attitude and actual skills, both old school and uncommon to experience. No question about how all that crowd-pleasing cuisine flies out of the kitchen: The chefs are on view, there are no secrets here. Pizza makers toss and twirl at one end of the... More »
There's this Dean & DeLuca vibe in the space - clean white tiles, the market attached to the resto - except there's much more square footage than you'd ever see in NYC and the menu is Italian with a massive list of "small plates" made for sharing. No reservations, so be prepared for a wait for weekend dinners (you must queue up to put your name in, and then there may be an additional wait to be seated) - however, they have a fun cocktail menu in the bar and you can also order food there. I found the pizzas - which are getting a lot of buzz - to be competent, but the lasagne bolognese is heaven. Veggie sides are simple but delicious. High ceilings make for a loud room so be prepared to use your outside voice. Recommend the $7.50 valet since downtown street parking can be mildly sketchy.
Crowded, noisy, and great people watching - like I'm in a real downtown.
I came here with my auntie for an amazing brunch. Their dishes include fresh produce and clean flavors that i love.
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