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| The Original Texas BBQ King returned to Downtown with a small satellite location on Seventh Street. It debuted in August. Photo by Gary Leonard. |
Downtown Added Plenty of Places to Stuff Your Face in 2008
by Richard Guzman
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - When it came to eating in 2008, Downtown was like an all-you-can-eat buffet of new restaurants. It almost seemed as if there was no recession, as in November and December alone, 15 new dining establishments arrived.
New restaurants were everywhere. The Arts District welcomed a French Bistro and an organic coffee haven, while the Financial District got a $7 million investment from a celebrity chef and South Park embraced the many choices at L.A. Live. Here is a look at some of 2008's new additions and a couple of culinary milestones.
Enter the Drago: One of the most anticipated restaurants of the year was Drago Centro, the $7 million, 9,500-square-foot Italian restaurant from famed chef Celestino Drago. The high-end eatery opened Nov. 29 in the heart of the Financial District on the ground floor of City National Plaza. The 250-seat restaurant in a former bank space has vaulted ceilings, black Murano glass chandeliers and entrees such as osso buco, roasted squab and truffle-crusted chicken breast.
Go to Church: Restaurateur Steven Arroyo, the creator of the tapas restaurant Cobras & Matadors, added a shot of energy to the southern edge of the Arts District in September when he opened the long-awaited Church & State. The French bistro at 1850 Industrial St. in the Biscuit Company Lofts was an instant hit, with dishes such as boeuf bourguignon and escargots. However, the $900,000, 3,000-square-foot establishment hit a road bump shortly after opening, when Executive Chef Greg Bernhardt left abruptly. He was replaced by Walter Manzke, formerly of Bastide in West Hollywood and Patina.
Welcome to Planet Urth: The organic coffee trendsetter Urth Caffe made a splash in November when it opened its flagship location and factory in the Barker Block project in the Arts District. The $6 million, 14,000-square-foot facility at 513 S. Hewitt St. also brought 100 employees to the area. With its celebrity clientele (at least at its Westside locations) and organic coffees and meals, it has instantly added life to the area.
It's Good to Be the King: After being forced out of his City West castle to make way for the Orsini apartment complex, the Original Texas Barbecue King reopened in Downtown, bringing a small satellite location to 525 W. Seventh St. on Aug. 6 (its headquarters is in South Los Angeles). It's a relief to many customers who longed for the Texas-style ribs, chicken and brisket.
Back to the Future for Dips: Cole's, the Downtown landmark that claims to be the inventor of the French Dip sandwich, reopened Dec. 4 after a $1.6 million renovation that took more than a year. Nightlife impresario Cedd Moses helmed the comeback of the 1908 restaurant at 118 E. Sixth St. Well-known chef Neil Fraser was brought in as a consultant on the menu.
A Century-Old Original: The other Downtown Los Angeles legend that claims to be the French dip originator celebrated its 100th birthday on Oct. 6. Thousands of people came out and lined up around the block as Philippe The Original rolled back prices to 10 cents for sandwiches and a nickel for coffee.
Steak Their Claim: The high-end steakhouse Fleming's opened Dec. 10 at L.A. Live. The restaurant, which boasts 100 wines by the glass, has been filled to capacity since opening night, with a mix of visitors to L.A. Live and Downtown residents.
Everyone Into the Yard: With its 100 beers on tap, the Yard House is to beer lovers what ESPN is to sports fans. The 500-seat restaurant that dishes up burgers, sandwiches and salads opened Dec. 21 at L.A. Live.
Lucky Seven: Seven Restaurant Bar was billed as "Cheers" for Downtown, a place where everyone knows your name and that is "Hollywood cool" without the attitude. Seven opened at 555 W. Seventh St. in April with a dim-lit room and entrees such as grilled lamb chops and mushroom gnocchi. It's the first new fine-dining establishment on quickly changing Seventh Street.
The Restaurant Has Landed: David Tardif opened Tranquility Base on Feb. 14. The 3,200-square-foot restaurant on the ground floor of the Sky building at Grand Avenue and Eighth Street is inspired by the seasons, changing its cuisine and decor in the spring, summer, fall and winter. The name comes from Neil Armstrong's first words as Apollo 11 landed on the moon: "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."
Small Bites: Other 2008 Downtown restaurant arrivals included WurstkŸche, a sausage and beer spot in the Arts District; McKay's, a restaurant and lounge with a focus on casual, contemporary American fare and its namesake, former USC football coach John McKay; Johnny Rockets, the 1950s-inspired chain that serves up burgers, shakes and other American classics, which opened at the Union Bank Tower; and L.A. Live saw a slew of other dining options, among them Lawry's Carvery, a quick-bite eatery; The Farm of Beverly Hills; ESPN Zone, a two-floor restaurant aimed at sports fans; and Boca, located inside the Conga Room.
Contact Richard Guzman at richard@downtownnews.com.
page 6, 12/29/2008
© Los Angeles Downtown News. Reprinting items retrieved from the archives are for personal use only. They may not be reproduced or retransmitted without permission of the Los Angeles Downtown News. If you would like to re-distribute anything from the Los Angeles Downtown News Archives, please call our permissions department at (213) 481-1448.
New restaurants were everywhere. The Arts District welcomed a French Bistro and an organic coffee haven, while the Financial District got a $7 million investment from a celebrity chef and South Park embraced the many choices at L.A. Live. Here is a look at some of 2008's new additions and a couple of culinary milestones.
Enter the Drago: One of the most anticipated restaurants of the year was Drago Centro, the $7 million, 9,500-square-foot Italian restaurant from famed chef Celestino Drago. The high-end eatery opened Nov. 29 in the heart of the Financial District on the ground floor of City National Plaza. The 250-seat restaurant in a former bank space has vaulted ceilings, black Murano glass chandeliers and entrees such as osso buco, roasted squab and truffle-crusted chicken breast.
Go to Church: Restaurateur Steven Arroyo, the creator of the tapas restaurant Cobras & Matadors, added a shot of energy to the southern edge of the Arts District in September when he opened the long-awaited Church & State. The French bistro at 1850 Industrial St. in the Biscuit Company Lofts was an instant hit, with dishes such as boeuf bourguignon and escargots. However, the $900,000, 3,000-square-foot establishment hit a road bump shortly after opening, when Executive Chef Greg Bernhardt left abruptly. He was replaced by Walter Manzke, formerly of Bastide in West Hollywood and Patina.
Welcome to Planet Urth: The organic coffee trendsetter Urth Caffe made a splash in November when it opened its flagship location and factory in the Barker Block project in the Arts District. The $6 million, 14,000-square-foot facility at 513 S. Hewitt St. also brought 100 employees to the area. With its celebrity clientele (at least at its Westside locations) and organic coffees and meals, it has instantly added life to the area.
It's Good to Be the King: After being forced out of his City West castle to make way for the Orsini apartment complex, the Original Texas Barbecue King reopened in Downtown, bringing a small satellite location to 525 W. Seventh St. on Aug. 6 (its headquarters is in South Los Angeles). It's a relief to many customers who longed for the Texas-style ribs, chicken and brisket.
Back to the Future for Dips: Cole's, the Downtown landmark that claims to be the inventor of the French Dip sandwich, reopened Dec. 4 after a $1.6 million renovation that took more than a year. Nightlife impresario Cedd Moses helmed the comeback of the 1908 restaurant at 118 E. Sixth St. Well-known chef Neil Fraser was brought in as a consultant on the menu.
A Century-Old Original: The other Downtown Los Angeles legend that claims to be the French dip originator celebrated its 100th birthday on Oct. 6. Thousands of people came out and lined up around the block as Philippe The Original rolled back prices to 10 cents for sandwiches and a nickel for coffee.
Steak Their Claim: The high-end steakhouse Fleming's opened Dec. 10 at L.A. Live. The restaurant, which boasts 100 wines by the glass, has been filled to capacity since opening night, with a mix of visitors to L.A. Live and Downtown residents.
Everyone Into the Yard: With its 100 beers on tap, the Yard House is to beer lovers what ESPN is to sports fans. The 500-seat restaurant that dishes up burgers, sandwiches and salads opened Dec. 21 at L.A. Live.
Lucky Seven: Seven Restaurant Bar was billed as "Cheers" for Downtown, a place where everyone knows your name and that is "Hollywood cool" without the attitude. Seven opened at 555 W. Seventh St. in April with a dim-lit room and entrees such as grilled lamb chops and mushroom gnocchi. It's the first new fine-dining establishment on quickly changing Seventh Street.
The Restaurant Has Landed: David Tardif opened Tranquility Base on Feb. 14. The 3,200-square-foot restaurant on the ground floor of the Sky building at Grand Avenue and Eighth Street is inspired by the seasons, changing its cuisine and decor in the spring, summer, fall and winter. The name comes from Neil Armstrong's first words as Apollo 11 landed on the moon: "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."
Small Bites: Other 2008 Downtown restaurant arrivals included WurstkŸche, a sausage and beer spot in the Arts District; McKay's, a restaurant and lounge with a focus on casual, contemporary American fare and its namesake, former USC football coach John McKay; Johnny Rockets, the 1950s-inspired chain that serves up burgers, shakes and other American classics, which opened at the Union Bank Tower; and L.A. Live saw a slew of other dining options, among them Lawry's Carvery, a quick-bite eatery; The Farm of Beverly Hills; ESPN Zone, a two-floor restaurant aimed at sports fans; and Boca, located inside the Conga Room.
Contact Richard Guzman at richard@downtownnews.com.
page 6, 12/29/2008
© Los Angeles Downtown News. Reprinting items retrieved from the archives are for personal use only. They may not be reproduced or retransmitted without permission of the Los Angeles Downtown News. If you would like to re-distribute anything from the Los Angeles Downtown News Archives, please call our permissions department at (213) 481-1448.
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| The Class of 2008 | I See Dead Businesses |
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