Going to LA staying downtown

[gennasam]

We are New Yorkers and we hit all the NY and Brooklyn hot spots. We are visiting LA and staying downtown at the Biltmore which is where the wedding party is staying, can you give me a great place for dinner close to the downtown area. A place where the food is great anything will do, price is not an issue. Just give me a unique to LA place no chains, it can be classic, it can be California cuisine, or new and inventive, don't care. Thanks

[mikester]

I'd also highly recommend Rivera. Jonathon Sedlar, the man behind Rivera, was one of the founding fathers of Southwest cuisine, back in the 80's, oddly enough at a French restaurant in Manhattan Beach. At Rivera, he is doing wonderful things that are not easy to categorize but have been called "Pan-Latin fusion". I'd say this is very much what LA is all about - also, the cocktails are amazing !

[josephnl]

I'd put Rivera as a very close 3rd. I like it a lot, but Patina is definitely tops for downtown in my book!

[josephnl]

Patina if you want elegant and beautiful contemporary ambiance.
Water Grill if you want something less fancy.
Both have terrific food.

[Thor123]

Sushi Gen will be a long wait. Baco is good if you enjoy eating cubed fat and poor service. Rivera is very good as are the other recs here.

[mc michael]

+1 on Rivera.

[PommeDeGuerre]

Or you can get a reservation and not wait at all. :-) And I've always enjoyed Baco, but it's definitely NOT fine dining, just good eats (IMO).

[djquinnc]

Diito on Thor123's comments on Baco. Shoddy service, food that missed the mark, and glasses of vinegar to drink. My vote for the biggest hype of the year.

[Dirtywextraolives]

Hmm, too bad you had bad service, etc. I have been hearing nothing but raves for the place. Guess I'll have to venture out of my little westside cave and try them very soon.....

[ipsedixit]

Patina would be my first choice.

Then Water Grill as a fallback.

[AlkieGourmand]

I'd rank the restaurants like this (I tend to prefer fine dining/more traditional):

Water Grill
Drago Centro
[gap]
Patina
[gap]
Sushi Gen
Rivera
Lazy Ox

Water Grill (seafood focused) is next door to the Biltmore. Drago Centro and Patina are short walking distance.

[PommeDeGuerre]

My oher choices would be Church and State, Drago Centro, Patina, Water Grill, and for more casual, Sushi Gen, Lazy Ox Canteen, and Umamicatessen.

[wienermobile]

WP24?

[djquinnc]

+1 for Sushi Gen.

[Dirtywextraolives]

+1 for Lazy Ox, UMAMIcatessan or Patina....

Or consider Baco Mercat or Spice Table.....

[PommeDeGuerre]

+1 on Baco and Spice Table

[Servorg]

Rivera

[boogiebaby]

+1

[wienermobile]

+2