bottega louie | downtown los angeles

I know – it’s been a looong time since I’ve written, but you know life sometimes gets in the way of life.  Sometimes the best meals are when it’s unplanned – which is what happened last weekend on a gorgeous Saturday in downtown L.A.  I had spent the afternoon on the rooftop bar at The Standard Hotel because my friend was DJing (both from out of town) and the last time he was here and did it, we all went to The Library Bar across the street for burgers.  I do remember them being good, but I was also drinking champagne for the previous 6 hrs so at that point anything would’ve been good.  This time though, most of the group wanted to go back, but luckily 2 of my friends suggested Bottega Louie and I got wicked excited I practically skipped the 2 or so blocks away.

Right when you walk in, you just get a surge of energy.  The walls are stark white and the ceilings very tall (c’mon in tall drinks of water!)  The first thing you see is the crowd… busy at the bar, standing around waiting for their tables or poaching the first come first serve tables by the bar (imagine cafe style at a hip Paris joint,) checking out the delicioso-looking desserts in the display case and eye-spying the chefs at work in the open kitchen.  WOW.  The wait on a Saturday night at 7pm was an hour, I didn’t even flinch because I was so excited and timing was on our side because we walked by a woman just as she was leaving her little cafe table.  We had a seat, ordered drinks and apps as we waited for our table.  First of all, the Apple Martini was ridiculous.  You have to like apple cider to appreciate it – but if you’re indifferent, you will clearly appreciate the REALNESS of it – meaning it’s not fluorescent green & made from apple pucker (what the hell is that, really?!) We ordered the tomato bruschetta (I know what you are all thinking!*) and the arancini.  Both were really good.  The arancini had little melty cheese goodness in the middle, just a little bit, but a perfect bit.  The bruschetta was tip-toeing on the line for me & my dislike for tomatoes, but they were marinated perfectly so just enough of the “fresh tomato flavor” was masked.

For dinner we all ordered a little separately, but tried each other’s dishes.  I had the cauliflower veloute (cauliflower, balsamic vinegar & fennel) and the penne gamber (jumbo shrimp, broccolini, roasted tomatoes, garlic & olive oil broth.)  Bri had the mache salad (mache, frisee, roasted chicken, avocado, celery, green onion, lemon & extra virgin olive oil) and two sides – the pumpkin squash and roasted beets with goat cheese.  Derek had the louie salad (iceberg lettuce, jumbo shrimp, hearts of palm, avocado, sweet onions, tomatoes, bell peppers & Dijon vinaigrette) and the diver scallops (prosciutto wrapped diver scallops, beluga lentils & salsa verde.)  I was absolutely in love with my cauliflower soup.  I would 110% get it again.  My entrée was really good and much lighter than I thought it was going to be (never know with pasta dishes.)  Both salads were amazing and you can totally eat it as your meal, but with the food at this place, I’d say order as much as you can and share!  I had a little bite of a scallop (I peeled off most of the prosciutto) it was cooked perfectly with a very yummy sear.

The other amazing thing is just how nice the staff is here – yes maybe it was just our waitress (Whitney) but William, the maitre d’, was so pleasant and amazing.  I definitely will go back – who wants to go with me?!

Bottega Louie | 700 S. Grand Ave. Downtown Los Angeles | 213.802.1470

*editor’s note: being the picky eater, i don’t like tomatoes in their natural state. i know it’s weird and doesn’t make sense, but that’s just how i am. bruschetta is the closest i’ll get to a fresh tomato and even then it’s got to be particular.