Restaurant help requested

[Disneyfreak]

Hi fellow Chowhounds! I am coming to Los Angeles on business mid April very excited since I've never been to LA before. I will be attending a conference near LA Live. and I won't have a car. I might be dining by myself --which I am fine with and now I want to plan some dinners but I have no idea about getting around LA or how far things are from where I will be. My daily food spending should be around $75 per day -- although I tend to go light on other eating to save the $$ for dinner. What places would you recommend?

Also, I have heard/read about Animal and Bazaar. How far are they from where I will be?

Thanks for all your help!

[Phurstluv]

Animal and Bazaar are in mid city. Halfway between downtown and the 405/westside. There is probably a metro train station that serves the area, but I'm not sure. It's definitely worth it to go to Animal if you can, get there early to see if you can eat at the bar.

There are lots of cool restaurants in LA Live - go to Riviera, you can sit at the ceviche bar and watch the chefs prepare wonderful nuevo latino food. Very well known chef that's worked hard in LA for years.

Also lots of cool small places in that downtown area to catch lunch or a brew. It's a great little area, you can't miss.

[Das Ubergeek]

The nearest Metro Rail stop to either is the Red Line at Hollywood/Highland... nearly 3 miles to Animal and 4 to Bazaar. You'd have to take a bus or a cab.

[Phurstluv]

Bummer, yes, that's what I figured. Well, if you end up at Hollywood & highland, there is also a lot of new trendy places there.

Pizzeria Mozza is really good, go at an off peak time to get a table or seat at the bar. And once again, I'm blanking on some specifics, but remember hearing about some new places right there. It's Hollywood as good as it's been in over 50 years!!

[Ciao Bob]

I second Phurstluv, Rivera is quite good and the best thing in walking distance.

If you are into, or want to get into, Japanese food you should also look at your Little Tokyo options. From your previous postings I see you are a Jersy girl. There's nothing like the quality and variety of Japanese places (and Korean, and Mexican, for that matter) near downtown LA on the East Coast. I love Kokeekoko (for yakitori), Sushi Gen, Kagaya (shabu-shabu) and Daikokuya (ramen). La Serenada Di Garibaldi has wonderful Mexican seafood. El Parian for birria.
Sadly, Animal and Bazaar are about a 20-30 minute -- and expensive -- cab ride away.

[Disneyfreak]

Rivera sounds good. I"m bummed about Animal and Bazaar. I might have to spend the cab money to go to at least one of them.

Any other recommendations?

[sillygoosedown]

My choices would be:
Night 1. Dine at the bar at Roy's (nearby). In terms of comfortability, this is the best bar dining downtown. Afterward, check out LA Live.
Night 2. Dine at the bar at Water Grill (easily the best restaurant downtown). Hang out at the Standard rooftop or take a taxi to the Edison.

[Disneyfreak]

Water Grill sounds good, but it is outside of my price range for the regular restaurant. Does the bar have a special menu different from the regular menu?

[sillygoosedown]

No.

[cls]

Gotta disagree on 1 and 2. Roy's is a pretty big chain, no sense coming to LA to eat there. Water Grill is good and I like it. It can be inconsistent, and nowhere near the best restaurant downtown anymore. That honor goes to either Church and State or Drago Centro IMO.

Also, to add to Ciao Bob's recommendations (which I think are good) Colori, Wurstkuche, Lazy Ox, Cole's (not for food, speakeasy in the back) The Must, Toshi Sushi, and a bunch of others I am forgetting.