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Tue-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
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I really like the Blue Dahlia on my recent visit with my friend. Its located in the Arts district of Downtown and is definitely an interesting drive to get there. Wurtkusche(sp?) is across the street and there was plenty of parking when we got there. The restaurant has a nice vibe to it with good tunes (everything from Kings of Leon to 80's New Wave). We decided to sit out in the patio that was lovely - tables with chairs on one side and bench on the other which I love. There were twinkly lights all over and the evening we were there was just right.
I started off with a Lychee Martini that was tasty, not over powering but definitely had some kick. The Lychee itself was deelish so I ordered another one. When my friend arrived, he ordered red wine and began a love affair with the owner/waiter...just kidding about the love affair but the two of them got along well and the waiter even opened up bottles for my friend to drink that werent on the menu. My friend was in paradise. We then ordered the hamburger with arugula and gouda and it was TERRIFIC! We shared it and later on that night were saying that we should have ordered another one. This burger was mouthwatering delicious and I would definately go back just for that. We also had some of the garlic fries which were ok.
After a couple of hours we decided to head over to the sausage place but really enjoyed our time at the Blue Dahlia. The only irritant was a wannabe tough guy at the table next to us who was showing off very loudly for his friends but once we tuned him out we had an enjoyable time.
Overall, I really liked this place. The only reason I dont give it the 5th star is that there seems to be something missing here and I just cant put my finger on it. Hopefully they figure it out soon...I really think this is a gem in the rough waiting to be discovered by many.
Blue Dahlia has so much potential, and from what I've heard was really hopping for a while until Wurstkuche came along and stole all (literally) of it's clientele when it opened across the street. That's a shame, because they have a wonderful back patio with a beautiful tree hung with lights for a sweet low key atmosphere. You literally feel like you've been transported out of downtown. There is ample seating, mostly because it's not very crowded, and it is certainly quiet enough to hold a conversation with friends. Yet that's also part of the problem, as it's too quiet for a wine bar. There is a drastic need for a chillout dj, or some sort of minimal music or a movie shown on the towering wall because right now it just feels sleepy.
Maybe people will wander back over after the inventiveness of Wurstkuche wears off, but I couldn't help but feel like it's on it's last legs. There's a sense of surrender here, like they've given up hope and are going down with the ship. Maybe we just hit a slow night, but the lone host just seemed like a ghost as he wandered between the sparse crowd.
They seem to have a fairly nice wine list, and the food looked pleasant enough. In the end though, we wandered across the street to Wurstkuche like everyone else.
Food/Drinks - B+
Ambience - A-
Service - B+
Value - B+
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I made reservations for a party of eight on a Saturday evening. When we showed up, we still had to wait about 15 minutes before we got seated. It was a little annoying because the place wasn't busy at all! What's the point of making reservations if the table isn't ready by the time we get there?!?
After we get seated the waiter brings out glasses of water for everyone then takes our drink orders. We didn't have to wait that long to order our food. All of us ordered the stuffed barolo braised short rib burger, I ordered mine with the arugula, carmelized onions, gouda cheese, and chipotle mayo.http://static.px.yelp.... I was pretty disappointed when I first bit into my burger. It was soooo overcooked and dry! How could they do this to a burger?! Granted the flavors from the short ribs was still pretty tasty but I had to add more chipotle mayo and ketchup on the burger so that it was easier for me to take down. It would have been nice of the waiter asked us how we wanted the burger cooked.
Also I wanted to order wine but they ran out of the two that I picked. The waiter then suggested something kind of similar that they don't usually order by the glass but he made an exception this time. I thought that was a nice gesture. Too bad the wine he picked was just ok.
Overall the place was ok, the patio outside was nice with all the lights. The service was ok too, at least they gave us pitchers of water or we'd probably wait awhile for our glasses to be refilled. If I come back I wouldn't mind just chilling with a glass of wine.
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Short Rib burger is just O.K. nothing to write a long letter home to your mother about. More like text your mom that you had dinner already.
Cool patio though.
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Food: 3
Service: 4
Value: 3
We went to Blue Dahlia after escaping from the hellhole that is Wurstkuche: (Wurstkuche link here: http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
Since most of us had already eaten, we opted for just a dessert and a place to hang out. One of our friends came late to Wurstkuche, saw the line, the atmosphere, etc, and said $&%! it and we all headed here. He ordered the short rib sandwich.
We sat in the back patio (it's so much nicer than the front seating area) and ordered a nutella panini, the tiramisu, a nutella crepe with bananas (not on menu, it's new). It was pretty good, not great, but it was a nice escape from the garbage place we had just left.
Definitely a chill place, prices were a little high for what it was, but the service was pretty good.
One word description: Patio
Pro:
Good Burgers
Specular sweet potato fries
Attentive service
Decor
Con:
desserts (skip it)
Good food with pretty good service. Nothing wrong with that.
Cost: Dinner for 2
$40
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After having this burger a few times now, it's just not as good or as special as the first time.
3.5 stars rounded up.
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Burger #67: Meat Stuffed With Meat (+ almost being killed by a female Asian driver)
Q. What's better…
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I have to admit that Blue Dahlia's outside patio seating is wonderfully dreamy. With trees lined with lights and its open skylight setting, its a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of downtown. (But you should know that their couches aren't that comfy - it's too deep and the back cushion doesn't support you enough.)
My bf and I already had dinner but were on a winebar marathon and just had to check this one off our list. It was a slow night so service was great. I can't remember how the wine was... which says something in and of itself. But I did remember their burger... and not in positive light. After all the rave reviews about how great their burger was, we ordered the Stuffed Barolo Braised Short Rib Burger with arugula, caramelized onions, smoked gouda, and house chipotle mayo. Let me tell you, my bf loves burgers and for the most part so do I, but this was just pure unpleasantness. I wanted to spit it right out. I generally like medium-cooked meat, but this was just pure raw meat. The texture just really kills the burger. Also, their french fries were not memorable so I would only recommend this place if you want to spend a nice night out on their terrace sipping on some mediocre wine.
FYI: They're closed on Mondays.
Don't let the neighborhood fool you, Blue Dahlia is definitely not your typical Little Tokyo haunt. Located right next door to a nightclub and just a few paces away from Staples, Blue Dahlia Cafe is just fantastic.
I first came where when a friend set up our annual "seasonal dinner" and was a little confused when trying to find the place. I drove up and down 3rd street before finally noticing a valet sign. Definitely bring a map or some sort of GPS if you don't know the area that well.
Since it was a group of 10+ we were seated in the back patio along the wall on the couches. The decor was über cute. Fairy lights were strung up in the trees and just gave it a cute lounge-ish vibe.
The best thing on the menu is the of course the braised short rib burger. I've been there multiple times and can say that all three are effing amazing. Even if you're on a diet, don't skip out on the burger! You definitely will have buyers remorse when delicious burgers get plated and all you get is filler. Yes salad is a filler, it is never meant to be a real meal.
Besides the great burger, they also have great drinks. They are part wine bar so they do have a great selection of wine. I'm not a big wino (unless I'm pass the point of no return), so my drink of choice was the asian pear w/ lychee martini. Absolutely delicious, and that's saying something since I've sworn off lychees after a not so fantastic experience.
The desserts here are to die for. It could be that I'm just fond of anything with hazelnut, but damn, it sure was tasty! If you have a fair number of people in your group, order one of each and share. Best idea ever, and a great way to taste all the yumminess they have to offer.
The service is a little slow, but for the quality of food it is easily overlooked. Especially when you have a group of friends lubricated with asian pear & lychee martinis, you won't even mind the wait!
One major gripe I have are the two unisex bathrooms. Now I know as a female I take a little bit longer than a boy, but it's really unnecessary to pound on the door like a loon after I say "a minute' four times? So here's some math: awesome food + awesome drinks + UNIsex bathrooms = don't break the seal too early in the night!
Blue Dahlia is one of my favorite spots around Downtown LA. Even on weekends it's not a very crowded place, usually no wait for a table. Their patio area in the back of the restaurant provides a very quaint and relaxing atmosphere.
What has me coming back to Blue Dahlia though are the burgers. The burger patties are stuffed with braised short ribs and the burgers have a few topping options, my usual is topped with arugula, caramelized onion, smoked gouda, and House Chipotle Mayo. You can also do the pairing which comes with 3 glasses of wine. This is all for about $25/person. Without a doubt one of my regular spots in LA.
A solid 4.5 stars.
I decided to give Blue Dahlia another chance for their infamous short ribs burger. Hey now, I didn't know we could specify how we wanted the burger to be done! Ugh! My burger came out way too done for me. I like my meat medium rare and this was borderline medium, medium-well. Oh well. It was better since I asked for the mayo on the side and the sauce wasn't dripping everywhere. But again, where is the flavor? If it wasn't for the onions, there would be no moisture in this burger.
The burger with the wine flight special might have been a good deal. $19 for the burger and three small pours of wine (or $25 for a premium flight). I opted to not have wine though and so the burger was just $12.
We sat outside for Niko N's giant birthday party. It was a lovely time outside. Yes, service was slow but I have to give the server props for being able to keep up though half the table was done with their meal before the other half got them. He was on top of our water and wine though even without help. I think the patio needs to have more than one server when they have large groups.
Valet is $5.
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2.5, rounded down
Seating here is uncomfortable though I suppose it looks good in this small cafe and…
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I'm definitely a big fan of the Blue Dahlia. My friend and I love this place so much we rented it out the back area for our graduation lunch this past May. And yes, don't let the neighborhood fool you but their food is fantastic and their beer selection is pretty awesome. Come see what the rage has been about in the blogosphere- their burgers are of top notch quality. Served on fresh, glazy buns with the beef cooked medium. Mmmmmmmm. Be sure to have them with sweet potato fries. I also had the chance to try out their spaghetti bolognaise and it was actually real good too.
Business might be slow for these guys sometimes so the service can get rather slow. But I would say the food, beer, decor and back patio makes up for it though!
Blue Dahlia is a great place in downtown that doesn't make things more pretentious than it has to be. The outside patio is great and features live music every Wednesday night around 8:30pm.
I had the Stuffed Barolo Braised Short Rib Burger with Arugula, Caramelized Onion, Smoked Gouda, and House Chipotle Mayo with a 3 glass wine pairing as well as with their Sweet Potato Fries. I usually like my sweet potato fries to be a bit more crispy, but the ones at Blue Dahlia were a bit on the softer side. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed them.
What outshone the fries was the burger. I was afraid that the burger had already been overhyped and that I would inevitably be disappointed. This was not the case. I think the key here was ordering the mayo on the side. I only used about half of the mayo, and if all of it had been on the burger, I might have found it a little too much. But that's really just a matter of preference. The mayo really worked well with a good amount of gouda, onion, and greens. The patty itself was a little bit too medium, but again, that's just preference. Next time I'll just make a note to ask for it to be a little bit more rare.
This is a solid burger, and when eaten with their select wines and live music, you'll have a pretty good taste of what Blue Dahlia is all about.
GET: Stuffed Barolo Braised Short Rib Burger with Arugula, Caramelized Onion, Smoked Gouda, and House Chipotle Mayo
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First time I went here, food was good but service was shit. Maybe cause it was a weekend and the place was packed right? Okay that's understandable.
Went back on a Monday with 3 friends thinking service might be better on a less busy night. Called em up, said they were open till 11:00. Got there at 8:30 only to find that they were already in the process of closing. Dude said sorry bro, business was just too slow.
Sorry bro indeed. One meager star for you.
I've found that in some of the best burgers, like the Father's Office burger, all the ingredients come together to make a big impact. With the Blue Dahlia Burger, I found the other ingredients to be supporting actors to the shortrib meat patty, which is the star of the whole show. Which is definitely not a bad thing!
I ordered it with the #1 option of arugula, caramelized onion, gouda and house mayo. There could be more arugula and onion, the gouda kind of disappeared, and the house mayo didn't have enough kick to it. The buns worked pretty well with the whole burger though. But the amazingly juicy, savory, tender shortrib makes up for all that other stuff! OMG my taste buds went into overdrive with the umami goodness of it!
So, there are multiple ways for a burger to be awesome. I put the Blue Dahlia burger at my all-time favorite #2...for now. Best burger in LA hunt continues!
I know the Arts District is supposed to be the new, hip trend in DT LA, but it is still hard for me getting over driving past skid row to get there.
After finally arriving at Blue Dahlia we looked inside and it was dead empty! We made our way to the back patio and there was an interesting mix of people. The atmosphere outside was such a contrast to the interior. It almost made me feel like I was in TJ with the cheap chairs and tables and ugly mustard yellow paint. The food wasn't much better. The fries were straight from the freezer, soggy and lifeless and the shredded beef burger almost made me feel like a cave(wo)man.
The only plus about this restaurant was the nice Riedel wine glasses and the concept of a burger and wine pairing. The wines were decent (served a little to warm), but they had an interesting selection. All in all, the place has hope - just needs to serve some better food and upgrade the style!
I came here with some friends and some from out of town for dinner last night. I frequent the area and pass by Blue Dahlia all the time but it seems like it's always empty. The seating area is in rear patio area, a nice little spot with trees to cover the tables with good lighting at night.
I've always been curious about the short rib burger since there have been some rave reviews. So, we all ordered the short rib burger. I had mine with the the carmamelized onions, gouda cheese, and arugala. Pretty good, juicy, not overdone but obviously a different consistency. I would rate the burger as good but not great and would try it again but with some dijon mustard. The garlic fries were good but wished they were sliced in bigger pieces.
Overall, nice place, good service, friendly waiter, and good food.
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3 3/4 stars
Instructions: As soon as you walk in greet the gracious host and proceed towards the patio.
The patio is cozy, refreshing, romatic-esque, modern lush feel to it. It was completely unexpected.
Next: Skip the Antipasti and inform the waiter that you'd like to start with their Burger and wine pairing.
Vegeterians: No need to stop reading...they also served burger/wine pairing with portobello mushrooms and tofu.
$19 good size burger choice of fries with 3 (2.5 oz = 75mL) wine (SCORE!)
toppings I chose:
1. Arugula, Carmelized Onion, Smoked Gouda, House Chipotle Mayo
~ could've done it without the House Chipotle Mayo...(I suggest changing this dressing to something a bit more flavorful)
I would've given this place an extra star...but I was waiting for the burger to explode in my mouth with intense orgasmic flavors but this burger was a tease.
I've been completely spoiled by Umami.
Wine:
La playa, Estate, Cab Sauv 2007 Chile - okay.
Don Rodolfo, Malbec 2006 Argentina - more than average (2006 was a great year for Argentina ~ I wouldn't spend money on Argentinian wine unless its from 2006)
Sangiovese, Farnese 2005 Italy (mm Yumm...I had to order another glass)
Do not order the Garlic Fries!! unless you like grounded garlic / paste on your fries. It's probably not the same garlic fries you're thinking of.
Price Range :: $ - $$$$ (completely depending on you appetite and how broke you say you are)
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A friend and I met for happy hour at Blue Dahlia's after work, on a Tuesday.
Sadly, they do not have happy hour menus or pricing. Also, they don't open on time. Their sign says open at 5:30pm, it's closer to 6:00pm than 5:30pm.
However, we were excited to try a new place that had good reviews from Yelp. So we waited until it opened.
Entering Blue Dahlia, we were pleased as the front and back patio are cute. The front is rather dark and dimly lit so we went outside. The back patio is charming with lights strung across the top and white booths along the orange wall.
We wanted to sit near the propane heaters since it was a little chilly and the waiter said no, those seats were reserved. During the time we were there (one hour) the place remained empty. Yet, we remained optimistic and ordered two glasses of wine, mixed olives, and mini panini sandwiches.
Sadly, we were disappointed as the "mixed olive bowl" was comprised of CANNED OLIVES! It was a bowl of green olives that were stuffed with pimentos, black olives (the ones on pizzas), burnt pieces of garlic with some peeled and some not, and mushy purple olives that were unrecognizable. CANNED OLIVES at a wine bar!
The mini panini sandwiches are true to their name. Each mini panini (four in total) were 1" x 2". If the bread wasn't so hard, you could consume each in one bite. This dish is served with a heaping serving of salad.
Finally the wine. The chardonnay was watery. It tasted like sour water.
While the front and back patio are cute, the canned olives in a wine bar were too much to ever endure again.
My 3rd time here was not a charm.
Sweet potato fries needed to be fried for longer-- not crispy enough.
And why would anyone change the brioche bun? Ridiculous. Why fix something that's not broke?? I flirted with giving this update 2 stars, and now I'm not even sure if I will have the motivation to come back for the burger in my last 2 weeks in LA. I'm almost thinking of revising my blog entry also. Very disappointed.
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Let me begin by saying that I am a huge fan of burgers. I haven't been to every burger joint in the… Read more »
I remember when I was a kid and pretended to shoot things with my toy guns and how awesome that was. A few years later I was able to shoot a BB gun and thought, "this is so much more awesome than pretending to shoot things."
I had a similar experience after eating a burger at Blue Dahlia. Though, Instead of likening their burger to a BB gun, I liken it to having your own personal Death Star, exploding planets willy-nilly.
Sadly, their garlic fries weren't comparable to a Death Star. I guess they're a BB gun, or maybe a revolver. They were very garlicky. My girlfriend refused to kiss me after I ate them, which is weird because she loves garlic.
Anyway, the sweet potato fries are the way to go here. They're crofty, that's crispy on the outside and soft on the inside like a real fry should be. On that note, what gives with soggy fries? It's like having soggy bacons or square tires. Just doesn't make sense.
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Their outside patio is like coming into a dream... You can't even tell you're in downtown in a sketchy area! There are so many twinkly lights and fairy lights, it's SO nice and romantic!
We ordered the burger and wine pairing. I had the short rib burger with caramelized onions and my friend had the tomato and cheddar. The food was very yummy and the patio was just so sweet.
Everything was so great!
I tried the Steak Panini this time around (since I already knew what the burger was like), and I thought it was just as bland as the burger. The texture was fine and the ingredients seemed they would work well together (steak, caramelized onions and fontina), but it was tasteless! You know it's bad when you have to ask for Tabasco sauce to have some fun w/ your food. Is it that hard to just add a little bit of flavor?
Just for kicks, I had a bite of my friend's burger to see if it could redeem itself from my first visit... and it was just as uninteresting as it was the first time.
I'm adding an extra star again just for the ambience.
The Stuffed Barolo Braised Short Rib burger was... just okay. To start, I wasn't particularly fond… Read more »
Tried various panini sw and all were ok.
Wheatberry in pasadena had the best Panini sw's until they closed down. (The secret is in the bread -fresh baked daily)
Didn't try the burger, so maybe next time.
So anyways, wine list is like all other places that serve wine.
It's a cute place though that serves up decent panini's.
Really cute patio.
Location is odd.
Let's keep this short and sweet, shall we?
What I have to say regarding their infamous stuffed barolo braised short rib burger: Hooooooooooooooooooooot daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn. Juicy beef stuffed with.... JUICIER BEEF?? How in the world can you go wrong with that???
Now THAT, fellow Yelpers, is a REAL gourmet burger. Although F.O's rendition of the sweet potato fries certainly is a strong dominant jab in the jaw to Blue Dahlia's version, burger-wise, F.O can GTFO because they've been K.O'ed.
And the backyard patio in the evening? Quaint, simple, but so very beautiful with the foliage and the lighting accents.
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I've gotta tell ya, i don't know what's so great about blue dahlia. Maybe it would go over better with a hoppin' bar scene, but we were the only guests there...so can't give you that perspective.
After reading everyone's reviews, i had high expectations for the burger, and low expectations for everything else. so...eventhough I wasn't in the mood for a burger, I ordered the barolo, w sweet potato fries. I've gotta tell you..the waiter could have been more attentive. Yes, he doesn't need to be there continuously...but when the check is dropped off, I would have imagined he could have been back sooner. Maybe that's just me..
Food-wise..the burger was good. Definitely tender, and very shortrib-ish. However, I didn't find it that amazing as a whole. The toppings, etc... all good toppings, but they just didn't come together to make anything fantastic. I also would have preferred my food to be at a higher temperature...the sweet potato fries were also, just whatever. I felt like they could have come out of a freezer bag easily.. and again, lukewarm, if not cold.
The patio's pretty when the lights are turned on! Too bad the waiter didn't turn them on until we were leaving...
don't really have a desire to go back..but maybe if someone would recommend something else other than the barolo to try. all the reviews were for the barolo...almost all the other reviews seemed inconsistent, veering on bad.
Only been here once. My observations:
~- Limited selection of wines - mostly from Italy and Spain.
~- Food is better than what I expected. Burgers look great; includes your choice of fries, $12 each.
~- Sweet potato fries are overrated.
~- Garlic fries are truly garlicky. Good, but the garlic paste makes the McDonald's-esque fries kinda soggy.
~- Nice but smallish ("cozy") interior, nice ambiance.
~- Outside is cool. They have a small stage for local musicians to perform. You sit underneath an umbrella of tree branches. Very nature-y.
~- Service is excellent. Josh is nice.
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Came here after Wurstkuche for a night cap. We got an order of the garlic fries while Vinh got the short rib burger with sweet potato fries so we could share. Jackie actually told me I wasn't allowed to get any other food. Yeah, I dunno, it's not like we're dating, so ??? hahahaha j/k
I got a glass of the Moscato d'Asti and I was expecting a small glass like some places do, but no, I got a full pour like the other wines. Score....
The garlic fries didn't have a lot of minced garlic on them, but still had that garlic taste. The sweet potato fries were good like last time.
I don't really quite appreciate the guy kind of rushing us to get out of there so they could close up, but eh.
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4.5 Stars
Came here for dinner on Friday and I was somewhat impressed.
Our reservations were for 7 but…
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The first bite was the best (mostly because it was different), the braised short ribs stuffed in the patty makes it very soft and tender. Then as quickly as this burger wows you, a couple of more bites later, it became just your average gourmet burger. I guess there are other parts that go into a good burger that are just as important (i.e. like the seasonings, ingredients, and even the bun), but none of these parts really came together to make this burger that great...beyond the first bite at least.
Definitely go with a wine pairing with the burger as the restaurant does do a good job in that aspect. The soju mixed cocktails were also pretty good and creative. Prices were very reasonable as well.
The location sucks, but the lounge/place itself is awesome! There's street parking but usually all the spots nearby are taken up so you'll be driving in circles hoping you're lucky to spot a spot. If you get really frustrated like I probably would have been if I was driving, they have valet.
I had a party here and I would say this place is great! The drinks are good and strong. The staff is really really friendly and funny to boot. After the bartender mixed my drink, he asked me to taste it in case it wasn't to my liking. I've never had anyone do that before, so hat's off to them for that!
I heard the food is great but I only had drinks so I can't comment on the food. Everything sounds really scrumptious though so I'd definitely consider giving this place another try!
I would definite recommend having a party here as well. If you reserve the back patio, they pretty much give you free range of the area and they leave you alone. They don't check on you or anything, so it's nice because you don't feel like you're at a restaurant where they are rushing you. It feels more like you're at an outdoor rooftop party in NYC. Well what I'd imagine said rooftop party would be like. There is like a blues bar (?) next door so you'll get some noise leaking over from there but it's not bothersome.
Only downside would be parking and location. But if you want to have a nice private party or grab a bite to eat away from immediate downtown, this place is cool.
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Alright people...let's break it down.
Located in an artsy, poster walled street neighborhood with lofts surrounding the area is this little gem...Blue Dahlia Cafe. Interior is very chic; almost zen like (it is within j-town), very LA, without all the hype and hoopla of wannabes. I love the suburban chic feel walking around the area...A nice plus is plentiful FREE street parking on weekends!
Ok so onto my dining experience. We were graciously welcomed into this very inviting establishment, greeted with a smile and delightful salutations. I HIGHLY recommend dining in the outdoor patio in the back. It's a nice cobblestone escape with high brick walls covered in ivy and scenic trees. I can totally visualize a dinner party here. It is a wine bar so an intimate dinner party here would be awesome!
Onto the food. I wish I could've given this place 5 stars, but due to the above average gourmet burger, I really can't 100% endorse it. HOWEVER, the fact that the have an option for a gourmet burger with wine parings (3 glasses) for 19 bucks including the burger, you really can't complain. I had the pleasure to enjoy a generous, mountain sized burger:
- Stuffed Barolo braised short rib burger with, arugula, delicious caramelized onions with smoked gouda, and a very light and creamy chipotle mayo, within a welcoming potato bun (not overwhelmingly bready).
- Garlic Fries: I was slightly disappointed in the presentation. It was more like regular fries topped with garlic paste. It would be a vast improvement If they were seasoned or tossed more with the garlic.
- Sweet potato fries: not so great, actually not great at all. The whole crinkle cut, a little dry and thick...it didn't work for me.
- Paired with:
- La Playa, Estate, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007, Chile
- Don Rodolfo, Malbec 2006, Argentina
- Sangiovese, Farnese, 2005, Italy (my favorite, very light on the palate)
The burger was juicy, tasty for the most part, the texture was new to me. I wouldn't classify it as the best burger I've ever had, but it was pretty good for what it was.
Would I recommend coming here? Absolutely. Would I come back? Definitely. Great service, an inviting patio area, and welcoming/attentive wait staff...they deserve at least 4 stars.
Thank you, Blue Dahlia Cafe! I had a delightful experience dining with you.
Dine. Live. Love. Laugh. Play! - John
What a cute little romantic date place!
You have to get a table outside in the patio area to truly enjoy this place.
The tables are nicely spaced out so you get a little intimacy and the decor is not overwhelmingly L.A. ish, just some simple paper lanterns and some plants.
The BEST part!, they have heat lamps and blankets for you. Okay, not the BEST part, but I'm a pansy when it comes to chilly weather.
The BEST part was the sweet potato fries. I would go there just for that.
Everyone orders the burger here, I wanted to be different and opted for the portobello and tofu burger.
I loved it! I love a good meaty burger every now and then, but the portobello tofu burger was very filling and not coma-inducing.
We also had the Ahi tuna appetizer. . . avoid. Texture was like damp jerky.
The Olives were delish
Good wines, poor hard liquor selection.
They only carry Han Vodka, bleh.
Desserts!!!
A little disappointing.
The Nutella panini was just toasted bread with a light smear of nutella.
The bread pudding was pretty good in my opinion. It was nice and warm, but the best part was the hazelnut ice cream that it came with. MMmMm
Excellent service and great company. I heart Sarah L. and Matt K. because they have good taste and are wonderful dinner companions. Austin, you're okay too.
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Oh how I miss DTLA...let me count the ways *sigh*
Pulled up to the Blue Dahlia right as the Sun was tucking herself in for the night.
I quickly found my party and ordered the burger I've been longing for eons.
"Clink Clink! Happy Friday, Mes Amis!"
I took a bite and instantly I gave it a medal ceremony and sang the national anthem in my head.
Braised in Barolo, melt in your mouth good. If I had taken it to-go, I would've climbed into bed and ate the entire thing and the delectable sweet potato fries (they were crinkle cut! ) with a zero guilt factor reading. Of Course this would only be if I had it to-go.
But when the Men-Folk are around.....hahaha
I was expecting the portions to be "ana" size since it was a cutesy romantico Wine bar ,perfect as a gateway to a night of possible hot luvin. But this was definitely a hearty helping of food on my plate.
Why 4 stars and not 5 then? Uhmm we ordered dessert.....
Bread Pudding = it was OK. I really liked the hazelnut gelato it came with but I thought the bread pudding was kinda just whatever.
Nutella Panini = it's exactly what it is. This one REALLY disappointed me.
I like the Blue Dahlia...a lot. I want to HEART it tho...desperately.
Maybe their desserts will be better next time....maybe, just maybe.
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I'm not going to lie, sometimes, I don't like to share. I was quite hesitant to review this place, but since it already has 128 reviews, I guess the secret's out!
This is a cute gem in Little Tokyo. I LOVE the outside patio area, (it's all the way in the back) and the decor is nice, simple and earthy. They have a decent wine list, and also offer legit belgium beer... which is pretty rare in LA! Lastly, the food is amazing for a good price! Sweet potato fries are to die for, some of the best I've ever had. I also like the grilled portabello mushrooms with sun-dried tomato pesto sauce... yum!
Things that ran through my mind:
- Hell no I'm not paying for valet with all this glorious free parking on side streets!!
- This place is cute, but small. (it will grow on your though)
- Um... I guess I'll seat myself (thats just what you do apparently, it's more like a lounge/cafe... hence the name)
- Yummy drinks
- I can't get enough fries
- I want to steal the fries off the table next to me
- Should I order some sweet potato fries to take home too?? *drool*
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Went back to Blue Dahlia tonight after a trip to Chavez Ravine to watch the Dodgers beat up on the Astros (word). It was already a good night... so how better to end it than with a great burger?
So I was a good boy... no Dodgers dogs at the game, actually had a fruit platter (fresh strawberries, pineapple, watermelon, etc... go Dodgers Stadium!). Oh, and a beer (of course).
So off to the Blue Dahlia... it only took me about 10 minutes from the stadium, thanks to the directions of my friend who used to live downtown. My buddy and I each ordered a burger, and my girl went for the portobello mushroom/tofu burger... I tried hers, and it was very, very tasty. Impressive. And my burger? Well, the meat was exactly as I remembered it, oh so tender, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. But they had changed the bun, which is SUCH an integral part of any burger experience. It was a thinner bun... that was simply eh. I thought about downgrading to 3 stars... but then I realized that, simply based upon the bun, this might be slightly irrational considering that the meat was other-worldly, all of the ingredients were top-notch, my buddy inhaled his in under 2 minutes (and it's a big fatty of a burger), and the ambiance was pleasant and not too crowded at 10:30 at night (especially considering that the club next door and Wurstkooch across the street were ROCKIN). We easily got a table outside without a wait, which was nice; the interior is very cool, but I prefer the outside patio... why? Because it's just a very unique setting and ambiance, sandwiched between three buildings in the middle of downtown.
Oh yeah, and they now offer fries on the side. The waiter told us that they'd always had fries, but we called bs because we both remembered being astonished the previous trip that they only had salad on the side... no fries. No fries even on the menu at that. But now they have fries under the sides, and next to the burger it says (served with salad or fries). Don't try your tricks on me gypsy.
Anyways, Blue Dahlia's still got a great burger, but they need to go back to the fluffier, toasted buns. Nonetheless, I'm still a fan, and will be back as soon as I revive myself from my present state of meatcoma-ness.
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Father's Office is the best burger in LA??? Pleeeeeeeeeease!!!!!
Blue Dahlia is a diamond in the…
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Blue Dahlia rounded out my bizarre week at the LA Superior Court at the end of my Jury Duty odyssey that was certainly an experience of experiences. I won't go into details (aren't there confidentiality clauses i need to keep secret or the long arm of the law will hunt me down???),
so, to reveal less top secret but no less bizarre occurrences at the court, i observed that:
1. I could not stop staring at the juror in my group who bore a shockingly uncanny resemblance to my youngest sister in all facial features and expressions, to the extent i thought i was staring at a clone. hopefully she didn't notice my slack-jawed gawking. i'd hate to be exposed for the freak i am. whoa. ;)
2. I wish I had had the chance to serve on the Mr. Larry David's (yes, THAT LARRY DAVID--Seinfeld Co-Creator, Curb Your Enthusiasm impresario) jury panel, but i left him behind in the general juror assembly room. man, to deliberate with that dood ion the same jury woulda been a trip...
Anywhoozers, shellshocked by the 'Fog of War' on Temple St., I stumbled out of that courthouse and ambled unsteadily, legs and arms akimbo like one of those zombies from 'Night/Return of the Living Dead'....down down down i went into the bowels of east Downtown...past J-town and on into the arts district in search of libations and a chill spot to decompress and dull the senses ;P....
The Blue Dahlia was empty when i arrived (around 6 pm), possibly due to the timing and the fact it was a wednesday, and also possibly b/c of the cratering economy...
As others have mentioned, the front room is a cozy spot with some comfy furniture and a good layout/flow. I settled at the main sofa and plugged in the laptop and ordered up the Short Rib Burger set for $19, partially out of curiosity over the burger raves, but mostly due to the 3 vino tasting menu (sangiovese, malbec, and cab).
As it was a bit stuffy inside from the VERY warm winter day, I was pleased to learn they had several outlets on one side of the outdoor patio, so it was time to take in the experience from back there.
I found the waiter to be pleasant and pretty attentive, though i don't count that for much b/c throughout the hour and a half i was there, there was only one woman drinking coffee inside the joint and two girlfriends eating appetizers out on the back patio, so it would have taken a really BAD server to fuck that up!
the famed burger was not so famous to me. i was counseled by the server that getting it medium rare (like i usually do) was not a good idea due to the interplay of the short rib burger ingredients. ok, so i got it on the well side like he suggested.
the burger was too dry and though i generally liked the flavor, for that degree of cook-thru i felt the burger was too thick. Btw, i got the version with the gouda and chipotle mayo (you get three choices), which is supposedly the most popular choice.
i would definitely come back, as it's a cool hang inside and outside, just next time i will stick to the wines and possibly some appetizers....
DONE.
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You need to get the short rib burger, especially if you don't feel like schlepping all the way out to the west side for the burger (and wait) at Father's Office. Oh, it is divine with the gouda cheese and caramelized onions. I've had a few of the other items on the menu, they're all pretty good but nothing out of this world.
Service can be a bit slow when it's busy, there usually isn't more than one or two people manning the place, which doesn't really bother me much.
Great place for lunch or dinner if you're in the downtown area, I like the decor inside and their back patio area is a nice leafy spot for a meal.
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So I checked this place out on yelp ahead of time and i really wanted to check out the decor and the backyard because the pictures looked so nice. Got there around 7-8pm and the place was packed... the waiter told me the backyard was reserved and offered a small dinky bar table on the side to a wall.... I was about to leave but i was starving so stayed.
then after waiting about 20-30 mins for food, the waiter literally accidentally tosses some ranch sauce and it hit the wall right next to me, luckily only a lil got on me.
if your coming here, everyone seems to be drinking so it's better if you order some drinks with your meal. the food finally came and the sweet potato fries were bomb like another yelp recommended. steak panini was pretty awesome too. my friends pasta wasn't so good... really dry and i would definitely not even try finishing it.
I would like to give this place another try in the future but i would try to make a reservation or something. and this time I'd try a wine or something. the decor is very awesome though and the outside looks like a random hole in the wall place.
Burger and it's fixin's was nice but the bun was weird.
It was like egg-washed to a dark golden bread. I don't know about you but I don't like my bread to feel like a pastry. The garlic sweet potato fries were bomb! The wine choices have a small description of how it tastes. I thought that was helpful and EVERY place should do that. They'll sell more wine that way.
Blue Dahlia is one of those beautiful gems in LA - they have a burger that rocks your world, modern decor that makes you feel like you're in a cool ass comfortable loft, and an outside patio where you can smoke a ciggi and take in the warm winter nights. Like Bodega Bar in Santa Monica, it's more of a sophisticated wine bar than a rowdy college hangout, a place to kick it with your old buddies and reminisce about the good old days.
More with pictures: http://www.mymodernmet...
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Join us for Happy Hour!
Neighborhood: South Los Angeles
Breakfast Served All Day!
Neighborhood: Downtown
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Pubs
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