Best bars in Los Angeles

[RageAgainstTheAoki]

Yeah, I liked it. They're still working out a few operational kinks, but they have a really nice and really capable staff so I'm sure they'll iron those wrinkles out. Are you in the Haas building? One of our group just moved there and we were checking out her apartment. Uber chic. Very jealous.

[RageAgainstTheAoki]

Did Club 1984 (80s themed night) on the outskirts of Koreatown tonight for a friend's b'day. Was expecting it to be awful. While I did see some of the typical 8-inch-heeled-hemlines-at-the-lady-hamper gals who prowl my neighborhood every weekend, the crowd was surprisingly mixed and really really friendly. A ridiculously accurate Depeche Mode (they sounded just like them; it was kinda creepy) cover band played and then one of three dj's played a really great mix of 80s dance music; some of it slightly... refreshed without losing the core of what made them fun songs. There were no lights in the mens room, but for some that can be a bonus.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Not a bar, but we discuss food in here too...discovered the MOST AMAZING breakfast place yesterday! EUREKA CAFE on Washington near Crenshaw. the food was seriously out of this fucking world! Four of us went based on a friends' Yelp investigation and we couldn't believe how delicious it was! Nice outdoor patio and the friendliest staff I've ever met. It's a small operation and everything is prepared fresh so don't go in a hurry and just relax.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/eureka-cafe-los-angeles

[RageAgainstTheAoki]

Drinkey with the timely posts! I never eat out for breakfast, but I have some friends in town this coming weekend and I know they're going to want to do so. PEFECT. Thanks!

You guys have any thoughts on the best Ethiopian restaurant in the Little Ethiopia area? (Well, it's more like a two block section, but you know...)

[SepaGroove]

This is the most useful thread I've come across. Thanks for the advice guys, I'll definitely be hitting up some of these bars

[sonnyboy11]

http://www.BUZZwinebeershop.com

Oh man. Someone pinch me. A recently opened high end beer/wine shop in Downtown by the Arts District. Went by it tonight with moderate expectations. Found some beers I haven't been able to find almost anywhere. Fer godssakes look at their beer list

http://buzzwinebeershop.com/buzz-wine-beer-store2

A large wine selection. Picked up a 2008 AU Hales fruit bomb.

People dressed in odd gray jumpsuits with BUZZ badges on them offering customers help.

The kicker? THEY DELIVER!! $2.95 to anywhere in Downtown- Go crazy Downtowners!

I know I did- it would've made Dylanja proud

...Glory, Glory, Halllllllieujah!!!

[buddy]

http://buzzwinebeershop.com/buzz-wine-beer-store2

that list looks awesome, and the galaxie 500 song playing on the site makes me want to visit even more.

[mmsk123]

I bought a golden tripel from there yesterday and a bottle of wine. Was delicious if a bit expensive. Nice to have someplace to get beer other than Ralphs.

[RageAgainstTheAoki]

Not a bar, but we discuss food in here too...discovered the MOST AMAZING breakfast place yesterday! EUREKA CAFE on Washington near Crenshaw. the food was seriously out of this fucking world! Four of us went based on a friends' Yelp investigation and we couldn't believe how delicious it was! Nice outdoor patio and the friendliest staff I've ever met. It's a small operation and everything is prepared fresh so don't go in a hurry and just relax.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/eureka-cafe-los-angeles

Nice recommendation here, Drinkey. Had a mixed experience, but it's probably worth a second shot. Took my friends for brunch today. All the Yelp reviews raved about the pancakes so I figured I'd let myself cheat for one day and got 1 pancake with scrambled eggs and the maple bacon. The pancake was phenomenal; almost cake like. Really delicious. I'm afraid the bacon was bland and my eggs had tons of shards of shells in them; kind of a big no-no for a place specializing in breakfast. My friends got eggs benedict and said it was excellent. Mimosas were reasonable ($3). And you're right about the staff. I think it's a family owned and operated establishment. Everyone was really warm and friendly.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Glad you enjoyed it, even with the mixed results. The egg shell thing is pretty wack attack.

Tonight i am going to experience Musso & Frank's for the first time. i've lived in L.A. my whole life and have yet to cross this one off my list.

[shermanoaksyo]

Don't order anything cheap or moderately-priced on the M&F menu. It will be inedible. Don't order the Welsh Rarebit per Jonathan Gold. It is not good. The only decent stuff are overpriced steaks/chops that are at least $35 and up.

Better yet, don't order any food at all and just get massively fucked up on martinis - which are all they are cracked up to be and more.

Oh - and make sure they seat you in the darker room with the grills and host's station, don't let them put you in that goofy bar/ballroom area with the flourescent lights.

[spiggums]

if you're looking for a chill spot near Hollywood, but a little off the main strip...

Checked out Next Door Lounge tonight. It's on Highland, between Lexington and Santa Monica. Opened a little less than two weeks ago. Chill jazz in the background with a general prohibition era vibe. Definitely cocktail focused, yet still had a really great selection of beers on draft. Staff is all very friendly. Feels a little more downtown than Hollywood to me, which I'm not particularly mad at.

It also works in its favor that it is only three blocks from my apartment. But still, dope little spot which I could see doing really well for itself in a short period of time.

[JamesMills]

That sounds appealing. How did the girl scene look, were there a considerable amount of single girls or was it mostly just groups of people / couples?

[spiggums]

I don't know that last night was the best time to get a vibe on that. There were probably only about 20-30 people in there. Mostly groups, though I ended up having a lovely conversation with an attractive woman at the bar while I was there. Will probably try to check it on a Thursday or before hitting the dance club one Friday night to get a better vibe on the place.

[shermanoaksyo]

Drinkey, I request a review of Musso & Frank's!

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Drinkey, I request a review of Musso & Frank's!

AHA!

So Musso and Frank's was pretty fun...don't know how often i would go back, but definitely more for drinks then dinner. Spent about an hour and a half at the bar as our group slowly trickled in. I love the decor and had a blast hanging out with the cranky bartenders and the extremely old crazy people that basically live there. I wasn't in a gin mood and started off with a Makers on the rocks before switching to beer.

We had a group of 8 that then got a table and had dinner and more drinks. i had linguini and clams which was not only one of the cheapest entrees on the menu but actually was pretty good and a ton of food. We found a really decent bottle of wine for $30 and split it amongst 4 people.

The service was excellent and i got away without spending an arm and a leg and we had a fun night. Next I need to take my girlfriend to the Dresden, which i think i still prefer in terms of outdated dinosaur L.A. establishments. M&F's has a better crowd though - I prefer weird old drunks to Los Feliz assholes.

[RageAgainstTheAoki]

Hey Angelenos, I'd love to just get a list of your favorite full service (moderately priced) restaurants in two neighborhoods: downtown and Hollywood. No other 'hoods. I have family in town and we may end up at Wurstkuche for something more casual or Lazy Ox for slightly higher end, but I'd love to try something new as well. In my bid to get healthier I cook almost all of my meals at home and rarely eat out these days so I haven't been keeping up. No fast food or quick casual stuff. Full service only. What you got?

[sonnyboy11]

DTLA:
Besides the two obvious ones you mentioned, these come to mind--

Spice Table
Sushi Gen
Daikokuya
The Cork
Roy's Hawaiian Fusion
Botegga Louie

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Botegga Louie is gooooooood!

[PlayaDelWes]

DTLA:
Rosa Mexicano
McCormick & Schmick's
Conga Room

[ThomThom]

Downtown

Bottega Louie
Drago Centro
Rivera
Mas Malo
Church and State
First & Hope
Lazy Ox
Yxta Cocina
WP24
The Gorbals

If you are bringing a big group of people you can NEVER go wrong with Bottega Louie, pretty good food, servers that can cater to large crowds, and wherever you are in that facility there is something to eat, drink, look at, talk about while you are waiting. Probably your safest bet.

Also, if you want to head to the more family friendly east side of hollywood such as Los Feliz and Silverlake I have a myriad of recommendations for those areas as well.

[RageAgainstTheAoki]

You guys are awesome. If anyone has any Hollywood recommendations (as in Hollywood proper; not adjacent) let me know. If we dine out in Hollywood it will be near-ish to Hollywood and Vine. We've got Umami, Kabuki (sushi) and I've heard good things about The Hungry Cat..

It's so funny that Bottega Louie came up here. I just learned about that place in the sleaziest manner possible, but then I looked it up and it sounded perfect. The main complaint I read about that place is that the space is so open that if it's crowded you can't hear your party without screaming. True?

[spiggums]

I really like The Hungry Cat. Need to go back there again sometime soon.

[Kyliediscope]

My favorite full bar right now is Liquid Kitty. My gosh. Tasty martinis, great bartenders.

[sonnyboy11]

You guys are awesome. If anyone has any Hollywood recommendations (as in Hollywood proper; not adjacent) let me know. If we dine out in Hollywood it will be near-ish to Hollywood and Vine. We've got Umami, Kabuki (sushi) and I've heard good things about The Hungry Cat..

It's so funny that Bottega Louie came up here. I just learned about that place in the sleaziest manner possible, but then I looked it up and it sounded perfect. The main complaint I read about that place is that the space is so open that if it's crowded you can't hear your party without screaming. True?

Hm. That might be a valid complaint. Bottega is definitely not an intimate setting. There is bar area at front with the bakery and tables in between the two. It makes for a line of people ordering either coffee or pastries only just as you enter the main door. To get to the restaurant area you have to walk in a bit further. It's an awkward set up. Plus, tall, high ceilings with a tiled floor. Large, open space. It's noisy! And once you're seated, you'll most likely be making new friends since they pack the place tight in spite of its openess. I still highly recommend it. Plus, you'll "wow" everyone in your party by simply showing them the bakery case up front- that thing is AWESOME! Bottega should be a good place for families in general.

Oh, and make sure and order their caprice salad as an app.

[sonnyboy11]

Btw, Mas Malo (which I left off my original posting) is right across the street. I have eaten there 4 times or so. If the family would rather, that is a very good sit down Mexican food alternative to Bottega. Parking for both is just a bit past Bottega on Grand Ave in an outdoor lot.

Also, Mas Malo has a special tequila tasting room in the back. I have only been there for lunch so never been inside. But it looks pretty damn sweet.

Oh, and 7 Grand is literally through the same door as Mas Malo. Just go right at the entrance to Mas Malo and head up the stairs instead of straight ahead to the restaurant. 7 Grand is a cool, rustic haunt filled with delicous scotch. A nice place for a pre-dinner drink.

[RageAgainstTheAoki]

Thanks, Sonny. Gotta say, Bottega Louie looks like it's winner-winner Pizza dinner. I actually drove by it recently but didn't realize what it was. Looked so... tony from the exterior but I see that it's actually very reasonably priced. Oh, and THIS was the reason I heard about the place. I know, I know...



One assumes that Gus Van Sant and Dustin Lance Black took the Twilight kid out to discuss his big coming out story over some pizza pie.


Anyone else done Silo Vodka Bar in downtown yet? I went to their soft opening a couple of weeks back and was really impressed. They had a few operational kinks to work out, but the service was friendly and fast and the cocktails were fantastic.

[spiggums]

Btw, Mas Malo (which I left off my original posting) is right across the street. I have eaten there 4 times or so. If the family would rather, that is a very good sit down Mexican food alternative to Bottega. Parking for both is just a bit past Bottega on Grand Ave in an outdoor lot.

Also, Mas Malo has a special tequila tasting room in the back. I have only been there for lunch so never been inside. But it looks pretty damn sweet.

Oh, and 7 Grand is literally through the same door as Mas Malo. Just go right at the entrance to Mas Malo and head up the stairs instead of straight ahead to the restaurant. 7 Grand is a cool, rustic haunt filled with delicous scotch. A nice place for a pre-dinner drink.

If the concern about Bottega Louie is that it might be too loud when crowded, Mas Malo is not really a good alternative. That place is loud as fuck when it's crowded.

[RageAgainstTheAoki]

It's not a huge concern. We're definitely going to do Bottega Louie. Thanks again, guys!

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

I was extremely shit-faced and loud and throwing things when i was at Bottegga Louie hahaha. it was a huge group dinner the night before my high school reunion and I had been drinking for like 7 hours prior. The pizza was soooooo good. Then we went outside and bought shitty mandolins out of a Mexican lady's shopping cart and serenaded everyone in the restaurant.