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Categories: Pizza, Italian, Modern European
Neighborhood: DowntownMon-Sun. 6:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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Went here in the afternoon for some pistachio and chocolate cuppies which were yummy but not worth the 2.25 each that we paid. This place is never empty.. there is a dining area that sounds like an elementary school cafeteria at night it is ridiculously loud. There is a deli/ patisserie section for confectioneries and take home goodies.. or you can booze it up at the bar.. or do all three.
Dinner
It was reasonable. The tomato soup was perfect. The King Salmon was well liked. The Pizza was fab. Crust was perfect and it bubbled. The Calamari was a disappointment it was nasty... The Caprese salad was amazing...tomato was blanched and skin peeled off... halved and then placed on a think slice of mozzarella. The father in law liked the pork chops (three of them to a plate). Salads were perfect... argula was fresh.. caesar was perfect...
Overall decent meal.
The service was stellar. Constant filling of drinks, utensils and plate hot out of the washer and replaced after every course.. the wait staff was on point.
The people.. you know.. only in LA can you get away with mixed match colors and gawd awful tacky things like studded gloves with a different colored tutu looking skirt and a fedora... some folks looked like they read three fashion magazines and tried three different looks... or perhaps this is the place where folks try to look like something they are not.. As for myself.. Yep.. wore my college sweatshirt and jeans.... at least " I matched." This place is kinda in a weird place though.. you go down a few and you are in skid row.. reminded me of Palo Alto where the difference is really crossing the train tracks
So while our husbands/boyfriends venture into LA for a bachelor party equipped with gorgeous strippers, lots of alcohol, and no inhibition...we (the wives/girlfriends) had a nice innocent dinner at Bottega Louie. We'll show them!
So, after a $35 dinner that included everything below, a round of drinks for all 4 ladies, & tax/tip...this is what we concluded:
Order:
Sausage Pizza $16.00 (4.5 stars)
Trenne $12.00 (4.5 stars)
Portabello Fries $9.00 (4 stars)
Martinis ($11.00 I think?) (4.5 stars)
Skip:
Asparagus over fried egg $8.00 (2 stars)
Roasted beets with goat cheese $9.00 (3 stars)
Sidenote: Wait was nearly 2 hours thanks to the USC game that just let out. It's bad enough I hate that school, now we gotta suffer due to those SOBs?
Sidenote 2.0: There are three parking lots. The one behind it is only $5.00. The one across the street is only $3.00 and is validated. The other one is valet which is $8.00. Of course, I'm the idiot parking near The Standard for $10, walking the streets of DTLA in fishnet stockings, booties, mini skirt, and a leather jacket. Hooker alert!
I came here for lunch one of the few times that I've been downtown. The atmosphere somehow manages to be fancy but also somewhat casual. Definitely great for lunch. Service was great, friendly, fast, everything you'd expect from a more expensive restaurant, but it still maintains this more casual feel.
We shared the sausage pizza, which I found to be pretty good, but hard to handle. The ingredients seemed to fall off the bread, and the sauce was overflowing... Also, I usually love pizza crust and this one seemed a bit undercooked... So not a bad pizza, but not a great one either.
We also got some macaroons for dessert, which I found OK, but they're just not my cup of tea.
LOVE bottega louie. so beautiful, great food, GREAT PRICES, great staff. Every time I eat here, I try something different and everytime i leave i'm so happy at how good it was.
The breakfast is 5 star, the dinner ambience is trendy and hip, and the food is reasonably priced and SO GOOOOOD.
i could eat here eveyday!
This place is definitely the tits. It's one of those downtown, hip places and all for good reason. The place is basically one huge room with an open kitchen (very cool!) and a great bar. Great date place, but can be a little loud. I would suggest going with a bunch of small plates, tapas-style. There are a couple of winners... The portabello fries are amazing and I've never had them anywhere else before. The meatballs were delicious, the prosciutto, mozzarella crostini and the calamari were real good. From the look of their pizzas, they look delicious. I've never had them, that'll be next on my list.
The one con to this place is that they do not take reservations, so if you come on a busy night (Thurs, Fri, Sat), plan to wait awhile, but that's why they have the bar. My gf and I went there on a Friday and came back the next week... it is that good.
From my food blog TwoHungryPandas (see profile):
For an afternoon of casual fine dining, we headed to Bottega Louie, an Italian gourmet market, patisserie, and restaurant located on the corner of Grand Avenue and 7th Street. Amongst the old and rubbish buildings of downtown LA, Bottega Louie or B.Louie, as Wesley calls it, stands out with its tall glass windows and brass trimmings.
The inside is even more grandiose; the first step and every step of Bottega Louie are taken on the marble floors amongst the high ceilings, white walls, and beautiful French trimmings. It was as if we walked into a culinary Italian heaven. First, we're greeted with gold sealed cupcakes, cookies, and macaroons. Walk further, and we catch a glimpse of the gourmet market and its assortment of prepared foods for those who want a quick bite. Go deeper and we see the large and spacious restaurant bustling with lunch breakers.
When we took our seats, we were surprised to find that this place is actually affordable. Pastas are, for example, $8-$12, a gourmet pizza is $14, and the small plates (sides and appetizers) are $6-$8. This prompted us (a party of three with our friend, Lena) to order way too much food: one pizza, two fish entrees, and four small plates that weren't that small.
Wesley's ice tea. Behind is the complimentary sparkling water provided at every meal.
First up came the pizza, a split of the Margherita and Napoli ($14). The tomato sauce and basil were delicious and the mozzarella cheese pulled off the pizza just like in the commercials. The other half, the Napoli, was uniquely infused with an olive taste. It also included red onions, mushrooms, olives, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese. We thought the pizza was a solid piece of pie, but the bread lining it was a bit soggy.
The batter of the Fried Calamari ($7) was light and crispy, but over salted. This was combated by the slightly citrusy marinara sauce.
The crispy Portobello Fries ($8) was paired with their special aioli sauce. Definitely give this one a try.
The bright yellow corn in the Local Corn with Majoram ($6) was crunchy and sweet.
The French Fries ($6) fell short in comparison to the other small dishes. Nothing special.
The Black Cod ($23) came out in a small surprise. It was wrapped in parchment paper and oven roasted with zucchini, roasted tomatoes, potatoes, roasted peppers, leeks and baby spinach. Paired together, the vegetables' aroma was infused into the fish. Evelina thought that the moist and flakey pieces of cod were fishy, but the lemon beurre blanc sauce that came on the side hid the taste. Wesley thought all the flavors of this entrée went well together and that it was a very satisfying dish.
The Escolar Grille ($23) was Wesley's pick for best dish of the lunch. The escolar was soft, yet firm and flavorful. The Puttanesca sauce (which prompted Lena to scream in astonishment, "THE SAUCE,") was the highlight of the dish. While it complemented the fish very well, just consuming the sauce by itself would put any of us in heaven.
After a short walk around downtown (we were sooo full), we headed back to Bottega Louie for Round 2: Desserts. The patisserie takes up two sides of the market. On one side are the breads and tarts and on the other are the smaller treats, such as the macaroons and cupcakes. After prancing back and forth, we sat down at the café with some coffee and our cute pink box of pastries.
Above top to bottom: Yellow Cupcake with Chocolate frosting, Napoleon, Chocolate Chip Cookie, Chocolate and Vanilla Eclairs, and Vanilla Macarons.
The restaurant has good food, but what really sells us to B.Louie is the beautiful interior and service. Plus, this spacious building has a lot to offer. We can look to Bottega Louie for a unique dining experience, jars of their great pasta sauce, or an excellent espresso, breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
A posh look that almost intimidates with high ceiling and polished marble Bottega Louie has very reasonable prices for its food. I have been for brunch and dinner, both meals were delicious. Not everything on the menu amazes but most of it quite good. The Breakfast Flatbread, Bianco Pizza and Pork Chops were wonderful. The Breakfast Potatoes and New York Egg Sandwich were good, but I probably would not order them again as there are far tastier items to choose from.
The pastries were pretty good. Some highlights are the tarts and napoleon. The eclairs were a bit disappointing.
The cocktails were pretty good as well. They use pretty much the best white peach puree you can buy for the Bellini. Fresh squeezed juices for nearly everything else. Despite having a pretty good back bar I would hesitate to order anything off the cocktail list as the bartenders there aren't as well trained as say Rivera, Seven Grand or Copa d'Oro. The classics made are decently, however the cocktail list is there for a reason. Use it.
Everyone says the prices are reasonable. Maybe it's more reasonable if you just stick to pizza? Or maybe it seems reasonable for dinner. But not so much for lunch.
Sausage w/ white beans. Pork sausage with no fat but with cheese--intriguing--grilled, served on cannellini beans, with a few pieces of greens. This was quite good. But quite small for $16.
Caprese. I guess I've been spoiled with good burrata. Eating plain ol mozzarella doesn't cut it anymore. lol. And I've gotta stop ordering tomatoes in the winter, although these weren't bad for the end of November. $12, eh not worth that price, especially since it was only 3 slices of mozz and 1.5 very small tomatoes.
Waitress annoyingly urging us to buy drinks and dessert.
For my first visit, Jenn-Jenn (or J.J. as she will be referred to from here on out), wanted to have dinner prior to getting tipsy at Seven Grand. Therefore, I made it a point to try this spot since a lot of Yelpers and friends of mine were raving about it for sometime to check out.
So for my initial drink orders were as follows:
-1 Shirley Temple
-1 Glenlevitt 12 Year Single Scotch Malt
After conversing for another good 40 minutes we finally were seated at our table and handed menus which we then ordered the following:
Appetizers/Small Plates
-1 order of Portobello Fries; Consists of: Deep fried Tempura like Slices of Portobello Mushrooms w/ Spicy Garlic Aioli Sauce
-1 order of Trenne Pasta: Consists of: Prime Rib Eye, Tuscan Black Kale, and Trenne Pasta
Additional Items
-House Bread w/ Choice of Flat or Sparkling Water
Dessert
-1 order of Peanut Butter Terrine: Peanut Butter and Chocolate layered cake, covered in a Dark Chocolate soft shell with a splash of chocolate and caramel on the side and consumable golden leaf garnish.
The initial visit, didn't really impress me in terms of service. After attempting to humor our "amateur" waitress, she might have taken offense, and barely shown any appreciation for future banter and kept up the silent treatment. The big hit, was the Terrine and lack of wait time, 20 minutes. Total costs were $76.00 with tax and tip respectively.
The second visit, nearly became a bust. After convincing Evelyn, Tom, and Sam to come check this place out. Two hours have nearly past, we were fiending for food and almost left to Soi 7 (new Thai restaurant opened next door). The "reason" for such a long wait...the mourning of USC losing to Stanford...-_-. With that said, our waitress Natalie took awesome care of us, and maintained collateral damage and made a turn around for my impression to improve my initial rating. What made it even better is the addition of complimentary small dishes because of our hunger and patience of patronage. So, here's what we ordered and received:
Drinks
-Water (Sparkling and "Flat) all Around
-1 order of Glenlevit 12 year Single Scotch Malt (one of my favorites)
-1 order of a White Russian (consistent)
-2 orders of Coffee
Appetizers and Small Plates
*( Complimentary on BL)
-1 order of Portobello Fries (consistent hit, not too bad as a tempura textured appetizer)
-1 order of Fried Calamari (slightly crispy in texture, with manageable chewy calamari)
-1 order of Asparagus and Fried Egg* (somewhat bland, but definitely a protein filler)
-1 order of Shrimp and Garbanzo Beans (not my thing, cold tapas like the grape tomatoes, another protein filler)
-1 order of Burrata and Grape Tomatoes* (very interesting sour and creamy contrast in tastes, think Tofu, with cheese, and tangy cold tomatoes
Entrees'
-1 order of Mussels & Clams soaked in White Wine (first time I ate this in a while, the white wine, brought out the flavor of the sea)
-1 order of Lasagna Bolognese (cheesy and filling)
-1 order of Chicken Parmesan (same as the Lasagna, but with Chicken and more tomato)
-1 order of Rib-Eye w/ a side of Two Sauces (Pan Made and Gorgonzola custom); Best entree ever, with the gorgonzola, being a little bit more viscous and rich, whereas the pan made one was sweet and a bit zesty).
Dessert
-1 order of Special Butterscotch Cream Mousse W/ a hint of Alcohol (perhaps Rum)*; Probably the finisher for our filling meal Creamy Vaccine to end our night. Photo on review...
Overall, after probably four hours of dining and waiting we ended our evening at BL, with great content all around. The costs, probably costly since it was on my friends' tab...(I'm going out on a whim to guess probably near $200.00 plus with tax and tip) Will I come back? On a not so busy night (no USC games, not friday-saturday after 7pm). I think I got a sense of Bottega Louie, but if the brunch/lunch impresses me more, I'll reconsider my final rating. Come here for the Manhattan-esque ambiance in Downtown LA, with a twist of Italy in modern pizzaz! Cheers!
My darling gf brought me to Bottega Louie for a catch up dinner. The place is a lot bigger than what it looks from the outside. All the entrees we ordered were pretty tasty.
Portobello mushrooms: This was pretty good! Very interesting to use the big slices of the portobello mushrooms as fries. I love mushrooms and french fries. This was a genius idea!
Mussels and clams: when can you ever go wrong with this anywhere? They give a hefty amount which was great!
Prosciutto, mozzarella, and sage corstini: This kind of tasted like home food to me by grabbing a piece of sliced French bread, a slab of mozzarella cheese, slices of prosiutto and putting it all in the toaster oven to bake. However the one ingredient that pulled everything together and made it extra special was the sage. It was crispy and tasted very good with each bite.
I think this place would be great for brunch as my gf puts it. It has a very wide selection of dishes to choose from. The small dishes were very decent in size. I think it's a more of a casual place to unwind and to try a few dishes without breaking the bank.
The highlight of the night was that our first round of wine was complimentary. Our waiter was really cool. I would love to come back again and try their pizzas and dabble into other dishes. Oh and the workers were all good looking. :)
Cost: 1 entree, 2 small dishes, 1 glass of wine with tip and tax for two: about $30 per person
It seems to me that people either really love this place, or they really hate this place. Reviews seem quite polarized, but being one of those Must-Go places in LA, I gave it a try.
I will have to admit, I walked out, on the trailing end of that rating scale. Sure, it looked very trendy and bistro like, but all in all, I couldn't say it was great.
Menu for the night:
Clam pizza- Actually very nice crust, with some diced clams. Though I have had others in New York that really load it on. These tasted like from a can, but what can you expect. Also, the cheese was very nice, particularly stringy. Different
Portobello fries- Seems like a must have but I'm not convinced. Mushrooms don't exactly fry up that well. Even zuchinni's keep their form, and allow for a crispy crust and cooked inside, but the portobello fries were just all around mushy and not all that crispy. Being all that wiggly, I just didn't trust it.
Sausage and beans: Sausage, typical and undescribeably tasty. The beans were a cooked through white bean, so almost like mashed potatoes, but rather wet and mushy.
Ravioli- I forgot what was inside, but when I took a bite, i really could not tell either. White with green? The sauce was very, very light, almost bland.
Louie salad- Liked the shrimp. All the ingredients were fresh.
Carpaccio- Actually tasty, but paper thin, you're always left asking for more.
I would say the food was average. I love how some liken going to Maggianos or Bucas, though I won't be that harsh.
Lastly though, the place is a converted warehouse. High ceilings, check, exposed ducts, check, echoey and loud as hell... CHECK. Absolutely one of the loudest restaurants I have ever been to. And I have had my share of Chinese dim-sum.
All in all. Nice to try, time to say bye
I came here when the circumstances weren't promising: a USC football game had just finished and Louie was packed. I don't follow football, so I had no idea it would be so busy. BL does not take reservations and I was here to celebrate my friend's birthday with my husband and a friend. My friend really wanted to eat here, so we ended up waiting 2 hours. Despite the long wait, BL really delivered.
When our server found out how long we waited and that we were there to celebrate a birthday, she was very to nice to us. What we ordered: lasagna (very, very good, a large portion suitable to sharing), chicken parmesan (decent, not too heavy tasting), portobello fries (not actual french fries but sliced, breaded and fried portobello slices served with a garlic sauce), calamari that was very fresh and tasty with a slightly spicy sauce, rib eye steak (decent), and mussels and clams (good).
Sizes of the dishes were good. Banter between the birthday boy and our server was entertaining. Our server gave us complimentary small dishes (asparagus with fried egg, a shrimp and garbanzo bean dish, an order of Burrata and Grape Tomatoes) as well as a birthday dessert which the birthday boy shared with us. I liked the sweet butterscotch flavored and pudding.
Other notes: I really like the way the interior of Bottega looks. I think it would be better if they had real tablecloths as opposed to butcher paper, but one doesn't notice that so much when hungry after a long wait. They also have a deli area and bakery area selling muffins, packaged salads and more. Our friends enjoyed the bar while waiting. The staff offered my husband and I complimentary sparkling or flat water while we were waiting.
My only caveat with Bottega is that if you're going on Friday or Saturday after 7pm or after a USC game gets out, you might be waiting for a long time. You'll have better luck at off peak times. Overall we had a good experience here.
I loved this place!! Looks like you're in NYC. The food was great and the place is modern and posh. I tried the mussels and some other tapas dishes. the pasta with caviar was interesting and flavorful. Pretty good prices too. will definitely come back. The accompanying market/baker has lots of goodies.
I only wish I could join the ranks of Bottega Louie fans, but the rude service ruined my experience.
Upon arrival, the hostess informed us that there wasn't any seating available in the main dining area, but that we were welcomed to dine in the bar/café section. The few open tables were still littered with used glasses and dinnerware but we sat down anyway, hoping a busboy would be by to clean up shortly thereafter. We waited. And waited. 10 minutes later a waiter (name: Doug) finally came by to offer menus and clear the table. Then we waited another 15 minutes before he came back to take our order. As we briefly scanned the menu to name our dishes (it'd been so long, we forgot what we wanted), he rudely interrupted, "You guys have a minute to order. Do you know what you want?" I was shocked!! I'd never been timed when giving my order and couldn't believe he had the nerve to infer we were holding him up when we'd been waiting nearly a half hour!
After placing our order the hostess informed me that a table had opened up in the main dining room, so we moved. 2 minutes later Doug comes by and THROWS a bill at us, saying "Take care of this for me, will ya?" and leaves. We hadn't even received our food yet and he just throws a bill at us? They don't even do that at Denny's! I was ready to leave at that point, but my friend insisted that we talk to the manager. The manager was very understanding, apologized for our experience and comped us our wine. So while the manager's kindness was appreciated, my evening was nonetheless ruined.
Now that's out of the way, a few comments on ambience and food:
The restaurant is lovely with its gilded moldings, large gleaming windows (meant for looking in, rather than looking out, I wager) and pristine marble flooring. Feels like Dean & Deluca meets French café. As you step into the restaurant the clink of silverware and chatty diners reverberate off the high ceilings to create vibrant atmosphere. The showcase of pastries and deli items are dazzling and really get you "in the mood"--for eating that is.
The food is aiiiight. The mushroom fries were dry and the batter was was too cakey. The prosciutto, mozzerella & sage crostini was average. They went too heavy on the cheese and it overwhelmed the dish. The corn, chard and bacon was delicious. The highlight in an otherwise dim meal. So my take on the menu is don't be fooled. The vocabulary is far more sophisticated than the execution.
When I walked in I thought to myself, great..another bougie place...I must say I was wrong though..we all sat around the bar area waiting for our table and when it was finally ready, the host sent us two complimentary pizzas for waiting. Our server was extremely friendly. I love attentive and pleasant staff when I go out. It just makes the experience that much better.
As others have said, it is a bit noisy. I would think this is due to the floor plan but if you're not 50+ I wouldn't think this would be a problem. Now to the food. Pizza was great and we actually sat right next to the station where we could see the guys making the pizza and putting it in the brick oven. Three of my friends ordered pasta dishes. I think I would pass on the pasta. Honestly, Olive garden has better pasta.
Overall friendly staff, fun environment, good pizza and drinks. I would come back, but I wouldn't get a pasta dish. Oh, and the host is a cutie :)
This review is for Brunch only. I was disappointed! Given the amazing corner, double-ceiling height space, beautiful clientele, gorgeous bakery case, and open kitchen & bar, I was hyped up.
For a 1pm on Sunday, the short 7 minute wait was not bad. My girls and I had the following (served by our john mayer/adrien gregnier looking waiter):
**Bellini: really tasty cocktail! pricey, but good.
**Lemon Ricotta Pancakes w/ Blueberry syrup: AMAZING. The pancakes were fluffy yet super moist, and not too sweet.
**Ham & Gruyere Frittata: Umm, no. This thing was so dry, it tasted like it had been microwaved 10 times. It lacked the moisture that frittatas should have. Had to drench it in tabasco AND ketchup
**Salmon Eggs Benedict: hollandaise sauce came on the side. The sauce was slightly bland, but the salty potato pancakes on the bottom balanced it out.
**Side of Herb Potatoes: SALTY!!!! and DRY!
I am sure the dinner menu here is much tastier. I'll have to come back. Macarons here are good (but $1.25 for a half-dollar sized piece? I'd rather go to La Maison du Chocolate iN NYC!!). The Red Velvet Cupcake was small and tasty, but I've had better.
Definitely check this place out. But don't dress like a bum w/ no hair-didddd like i diddd.
After rave reviews from my family members who decided to dine at this place without me, I went with some friends on a Tuesday night. My cousins kept telling me how busy this place was, but when I went, the 10 of us were seated right away.
As soon as I entered this restaurant, my jaw dropped. It is gorgeous!! High ceilings, check. desserts/pastries stacked beautifully for all to drool over, check. cute little market, check. open kitchen, check. friendly staff, check. hottie in a suit, check. and the list goes on...
What we ordered:
- portobello fries - YUM
- modena salad - it was good, but not great
- burrata with grape tomatoes - YUMMMMY....but i LOVE tomatoes
- roasted beets with goat cheese - YUM
- calamari - nothing out of the ordinary
- beef carpaccio - OK
- fettuccine belmondo - was a little on the salty side.
- mussels & clams - it is what it is
- french fries - YUM
- asparaugus with fried egg - tasted like an asparagus w/ a fried egg
- chicken carcioffi - chicken was tender
I visited this place again 2 more times shortly after. I'm a nut:
- penne gamber - YUMMMMMM
- ravioli - YUMM
- trenne - eh, didn't care too much for this one. the pasta tasted like french fries.
- pasta fagiole - my bf and sister Loved this soup. Its just beans!!
Now for the sweet and simple:
Pros:
- delicious
- great decor
- cute manager guy walks around in a suit. talk about eye-candy.
- servers were friendly and efficient. my water glass was never empty
Cons:
- none so far
Tip:
- they have valet, but there's a parking lot across the street for a flat fee of $3. street parking is also available, but sometimes hard to find.
- I think it would be a nice place to have a bday party. Its spacious and the food is good. For our party of $10, I paid $33, but we also got a bottle of wine)
I wore a baseball hat to Seven Grand across the street, but since I wasn't taking off my hat, and Seven Grand wasn't letting me in with my hat, my party of 3 ended up here at Bottega Louie. I did not eat the food because it looked almost as ridiculous as the clientele. I did make 2 attempts to muscle down some overpriced wine. Now I will admit this is not my kind of place, and I did not want to be here, but I went in with an open wallet and an open mind.
We sat at the bar because it appeared that the 4 Jonas Brothers would be able to efficiently and expediently pour a few glasses of wine. I ordered the $14 glass of Pinot for me and my girlfriend and my famous restaurant reviewer friend ordered the Nebbiolo. I couldn't tell if the Pinot was past or it was just terrible wine. I had never heard of it, so it could have been either or both. I brought it to the bartenders attention but he only made a snide crack, and I forget the exact words, but something about the wine "being fine, and definitely not past..." All of which is fine, but then you are stuck with wine that is easily confused with wine that has past and that earns you 1 star for bad attitude, bad wine, and stupidity. Whatever wine this was, it was a better fit for some salad with a little olive oil.
After Justin Timberlakes expert wine review, he did pour another glass of the next wine on the list which was the Beckman Syrah, one I am familiar. I have been to Beckman and it's a worthwhile vineyard in Santa Ynez, however, this particular bottle seemed to perfectly follow the Pinot. There is something wrong with this bar, I don't know if they are storing wine improperly or maybe the Beckman and whatever Pinot they pour are just wines they bought from somewhere else that deemed them unfit.
Regardless, this place is quite silly. At the end of a short visit, getting the attention of our cartoon character bartenders to get my check took a little longer than expected. I guess 4 isn't really enough for a bar area that holds about 15 people. I cannot comment on the food because I didn't eat, but it looked plastic and overpriced. I don't see how this place could possibly be good. This is more of a place to hang and be seen than an actual restaurant. I think the food, service, and bar is an afterthought.
I was there this morning for brunch, the food is decent, nothing amazing, the farmer's market breakfast was good, the coffee is OK and the apple tart was not very good, the prices are great though, for a place that looks as good as Bottega Louie you'd expect higher prices, the service was so so, i definitely do not recommend this place for parties bigger than 5, we waited an hour and a half to get a table, we were seven, i'd go back but it's not my favorite restaurtant in dowtown.
Maria...maria...maria....you made my night. Fab food, servers, ambiance and Jaime(new manager?). 5 months have passed since the first time I walked in to this place. Ive lost count how many times I have went back. Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch and Dinner. Thanks guys. :)
My favorite place in downtown as of the moment! Ive been there 2 x the past 36 hours! :) Read the… Read more »
Who knew Downtown LA could be so polished?
I'm glad places like this have sprung up downtown. For me, the mental connotation of Downtown LA mostly involves junkies, mental patients, trash blowing around the streets and the occasional poorly appointed bar with cute kitsch decorations. There's also the skyline, of course, which I love, but in the past, that hasn't outweighed the nastier aspects of Downtown for me.
Bottega Louie is beautiful on the inside, I absolutely loved the white marble floors and the high, tooled ceilings. There were plenty of small tables around the bar, which was great since the bar itself was populated with a vast selection of stereotypical douche types of all genders, ages, varieties and races.
The food was pretty good, but not great. I tried the margarita pizza and found that the crust was a little thick, and unfortunately they used tomato sauce rather than fresh tomato. I also ordered the peanut butter tarrinne, and though it was delicious in flavor, it was also impossibly thick and heavy. I would have loved a creamy element to smooth it out a bit!
I can also note that the service was VERY inconsistent. It took effort to get our cocktail server over to us, but when he was around, he was keeping me in vodka pretty effectively.
I'd definitely go back and have a full meal here, BIG four stars for the ambiance, the size of the place and the potential of the food- minus one for the service and some (perceived) issues in execution.
WOW WOW WOW. Setting foot upon this place took my breathe away. It was like walking into a restaurant in NYC. The fact that they have so many large windows outlining the walls makes the space seem huge. Tables are everywhere, even by the bar area. We came for dinner on a Friday night and it was chaos. What completely took me by surprise was the great service we received all night. From the hostesses to the bartenders to the waiters and bus boys. To be honest, the food could've sucked and I would've still been amazed.
We sat at the bar while we waited for our table. We were a little uneasy about sitting at the bar because we thought we could potentially lose our table if we weren't standing by the hostess stand, but the hostess put as at ease and said that she'd come looking for us when our table was ready. The bar was overcrowded with patrons waiting to get seated but luckily we snagged two stools. I drank a French martini and a Strawberry Lemon Drop martini. Both were good and strong as heck. The bartender crushed fresh strawberries in the martini and it made the martini all the more fresh. Still strong though.
As soon as you're seated at your table the waiter will ask you if you prefer still or sparkling water. You'll also get slices of bread while you wait for your food to come out. There are so many choices we couldn't decide what to order. We ended up ordering the Caesar salad, fried calamari, Napoli pizza, and the Tagliatelle Bolognese. The salad and calamari came out minutes after. The salad had large and crispy romaine hearts sprinkled with reggiano parmesan cheese. It was decorated with garlic herbed croutons on the sides. Very fresh and crispy. I felt like a dang bunny crunching and munching on them. The calamari was decent but what made it stand out was the spicy marinara dipping sauce. The calamari itself was lightly breaded, nothing out of the norm. As I kept dipping more and more, my mouth started to burn. I loved it! The sauce kicked butt.
Our pasta and pizza came out soon after. The timing of it all worked out to our advantage and I think it was all skillfully planned by the kitchen. Our pasta came out first. We had some time to taste the bolognese when the pizza came out immediately after. The pasta was so simple but it tasted better than average. The meat sauce tasted different. I couldn't put my finger on it but it had some sort of vodka kick to it. My friend couldn't taste it though. The noodles were amazing. I know right? How can noodles be that good? I don't know but Bottega Louie knows how to make mean ol' noodles!
The Napoli pizza reminded me of the pizza I had in NY. Thin crust with not too much cheese and a lot of sauce. The cheese isn't thick or rubbery like your pizza staples (Pizza Hut or Domino's). The Napoli is topped with thinly sliced red onions, mushrooms, and olives. I didn't like the olives all that much although they were so juicy and soft. It was like eating a Gusher! The slices are so thin and big that you really have to fold it so nothing falls out.
I had such a great experience dining at Bottega Louie and now I understand why this place is so loved on Yelp. BELIEVE THE HYPE people! Just don't bring your date here because it gets so loud you won't be able to hear anything. Also, if you want to get something at the bakery I advise you to get it early. They closed it down before we finished our meal. I can't wait to go back!
Went to Bottega Louie and ended up eating Bubba Gump Calamari
and Olive garden pasta.
(Pasta- watery, like having a half glass of wine soup.
Calamari- basic, batter uninspired)
*The Cherry on top: When I asked " for just water" An open 32 Oz non labeled bottled water shows up...."oooooohhh, wow..thanks..but . I'll just take some good old fashion water please"
When you were in high school, did you ever look at the most beautiful, most popular girl in the school, and rationalize to yourself that something (maybe a lot of things) are wrong with her that the rest of us are not privy to.
You just HAD to tell yourself things like that, as it was the only way you could go on living, because the sheer fact that she IS so beautiful and so wonderful, and you, being a total loser-geek-dork, who was in marching-band and Key Club, could not play a sport, and who, at 17, still only had baby-hair for pub---
...Anyway, point is, you'd never stand a chance with her, so you lie to yourself, making up shortcomings about her that you'd eventually convince yourself existed, just so you could say, "Meh, I don't see what the big deal is about her..."
Well, I hate to say it, but the head cheerleader, prom queen, and the most beautiful, most popular girl in high school is Louie Bottega... and she's perfect. I've looked hard for shortcomings. I've tried to make-up lies about her just to spite and make me feel like I'm too good for her... but really, it's that she's too good for me.
Some girls really DO have it all.
Fun and loud place. Excellent service. Try the ravioli. Reasonable pricing.
More like a 3.5.... but they are trying very hard to please.
Meh. I'd only come here if I wanted to dump my man.
It's pretty and impersonal. It's distracting and packed. It's loud enough so you can ignore him when he asks for his Jay-Z collection back or glaze over the fact that you screwed his best friend.
The food is cheap but pedestrian and mediocre enough that it won't build up any new happy memories that you'll reminisce on and wonder if you should give him a 2nd chance. Much like Joan's on 3rd, BL exists on smoke and mirrors. It's cute and elegant enough to give unsuspecting LAers a 'downtown NY' experience and then bamboozle you into Cheesecake Factory quality food.
We ordered a couple dishes to share. Decided to split a pizza into two flavors - Bianco and Clam. Both were really really heavy on garlic. The Bianco was rather 'milky' tasting possibly from the overload of ricotta and mozzarella. The arugula on top was kinda odd and unnecessary. The clam was meh. Kind of chewy.
We also got a side of marinated shrimp which was a throwaway order but ironically the best thing we had all night. It was light and refreshing in contrast to all the oily fried food we ordered.
Speaking of fried foods, the portobello fries that everyone raves over? Tell me it's interesting after the first two. I dare you. Yea. It's fried mushrooms. Go get that shit and your local hamburger hut. The novelty was there...... for 3 seconds.
And the chocolate souffle and calamari we ordered? Not even worth mentioning. In a blind taste test, I wouldn't be able to separate Bottega Louie's food from Olive Garden.
If you have a horrible palate but want to "feel" like you're in a chic New York hot spot for a night, come to BL. If you ignore the surroundings outside BL, the lack of bustling crowds and energy on the streets, the bums, and the low rent food, it's EXACTLY like NY.
....and I'm really Megan Fox.
Went there for lunch on a monday afternoon. My friend was visiting from NY and somehow he found himself in San Pedro. I blame his gps for leading him astray, and i laud my impeccable direction giving skills for getting him to this dining establishment so we both didn't have to starve.
Mebe cuz it was monday, it wasn't too busy. We were promptly seated. Well, it was more like i was promptly seated and then joined by my hapless friend 30 mins later. but regardless the hostess and the waiter were very nice. we ordered a few dishes, a tomato salad - caprese (tomato felt a bit too cold and hard as if it was frozen), a pasta - tagliatelle bolognese (i liked how the pasta was cooked - al dente - but the sauce wasn't all that great...kinda watery), an eggplant caponata (good, but a wee bit too sweet), and jambon serrano (prolly the best dish). actually the best dish was prolly the macaroons that the manager gave us on the house (she's a sis-in-law of my friend).
anyways, i liked the decor - it's very open and airy. kinda reminded me of dean and deluca stores from ny, except a lot nicer. i should prolly try their pizzas and other main dishes...
UGH.
OVERRATED.
Yuppie guppy Hollywood hangout masquerading as a New York-style layout. First of all...the restaurant is probably half the size on Manhattan, SOOOO not New York, gimme packed like sardines, elbow to elbow unpretentious service ANY day of the week.
First reason I hated it? Parking...WEIRD random, sketchy lots; for a place that is sooooo popular and even more pretentious, I'm shocked they don't have their own dedicated douchy lot.
What is this telepathic service people speak of? Our server was the love child of Mr. Frodo and Bilbo Baggins...with a LIMP!!! Seriously freaky. He hobbled up to our table and basically took our order. You know..like a REGULAR server!!?
My friend had the penne pomodoro. I had the shrimp louie salad and we shared a small plate of calamari. All the food came out at the same time, fine; the more the merrier. The calamari was traditional and of a average portion; nothing more nothing less.
First off, my friend's "penne" was basically a palm full of penne with plain, everyday warmed tomato sauce on top. Unmemorable and frankly, very bland. NOT worth $10, to say the LEAST; there wasn't even any protein!!
My shrimp louie salad; was quite possibly one of, if not thee worst salads I've EVER had. The dressing tasted rancid; the shrimp were chopped into dime sized pieces, which in plain text means...there were only about 3 shrimp total in my salad. There were jawbreaker sized pieces of bell peppers and index width pieces of "hearts of palm"; those are just artichokes, right?!! The sweet onion just added to the imbalance that was the flavor of this salad. I think it's an absolute TRAVESTY that they call it by the same name that is the shrimp louie salad; it may be a salad, but it is NOT a louie. It's like a designer impostor!!! For shame!!!
It was a grand total of $38 before tip for all that...also known as...totally overpriced for the quality and quantity.
Their gourmet market is visibly enticing; however, after the faux meal we just had, I was hesitant to buy premade crab cakes for the BF at $5.00 a piece; so I tested the waters by ordering pastries. My friend was thinking of ordering a large number of cupcakes for his b-day from Bottega, but after I tried them..I convinced him otherwise.
First off.....their pastries are horrifically overpriced as usual; the cupcakes are half the size of a normal cupcake, at about $3.00 a piece. The frosting is too sweet, and the cupcake itself is not moist or flavorful in the least. I ordered a raspberry danish, which was standard. A strawberry macaroon, which tasted like jam. Disgusting. The size of a quarter, thickness of one finger...$1.75. WTH!?!? Are you kidding me!?!? Even if they were delicious, that's still a pretty penny to pay for one bite.
The kicker of my experience were their "beignet"; I've had the powered beignets at The French Market in New Orleans, so I've had my share of beignets.....it looked very suspect to me. First thing I noticed was that it resembled a Winchell's sugared donut hole, and it had no powdered sugar...and ya know what? It tasted as good as day old supermarket donuts. .
Never again. SO over it.
I came here to pick up lunch this afternoon. I was impressed by how many offerings they had for pick-up and how fast I was able to get in and out of there.
The ambiance is also impressive. It has an upscale feel with the high ceilings, huge windows, and wooden counters with golden fixtures but the prices are not high end.
I had the chopped salad and even though it was pre-packaged, it was very fresh. I also got one of the chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting. Total came to about $11 and I'm feeling full and satisfied.
Besides how good the food was, I'm was very impressed with the service. The hostess greeted me and asked if I had any questions about the food and she even got my cupcake and wrapped it up as I was paying. Living in LA all my life, I can't say that I had a hostess that was so genuinely nice.
Can't wait to come back and try out all the other goodies!
Downtown LA sure doesn't look like it did in the 80's when I worked near here. Although it may take another 30 years before it is totally cleaned up. I do have to say that the food here is awesome. My trick and I, I mean date ordered several items, the meatball pizza, brussel sprouts, carrots, corn dish, chicken breast, it was all fabulous.
My only complaint this place was so damn noisy I could have farted so loud as to shake the table and NO ONE would ever hear it. I have no idea why everyone in here was screaming. I did feel a bit old as I think the average age in this place was 25-30. It was a tad bit pretentious looking for a restaurant in downtown but this place seriously needs some drapes or art on the barren walls to absorb some of the sound. The pizza at $14 was reasonable it was big enough for two. Overall, I left satisfied, too bad I wasn't later on with my trick..er uh I mean date. Oh nevermind.
An expensive, deliciously indulgent lunch venture. Bottega Louie makes me feel fancy with their shi-shi leather bound reservations book that underfed chanel-wearing aspiring model hostesses scroll your name into with the most pretty writing. (They OBVI don't eat here.) Oh LA, you're so cute.
Yes, despite how HUGE this place is, it was buzzing on a Friday around 2pm, and there was a short wait (5 minutes or so, I think it was just for looks because I could see available tables). ENERGY is the best word to describe the ambiance. Bottega Louie is NOT for those that get easily overstimulated/have ADHD. Bottega's is guaranteed to overload your system with sights, sounds, tastes and smells and textures. All kinds of people made it a buffet for the eyes, and you'll find yourself wondering if someone is a music mogul, out-of-towner, drug dealer, or soap star.
I found that I had to raise my voice a bit for normal conversation, despite the fact that there were tables relatively close by to ours. This is NOT the place to discuss your latest surgical procedure or sexual escapade! (Unless you're into that whole sort of thing, then by all means, go ahead!)
Onto the food: The portabello fries with aioli were wonderfully unique. (Listen, if you've deep fried it, and I haven't tried it, well I'm gonna HAVE TO try it.) The fries were thinly battered and seasoned beautifully. LOVE.
Pepperoni pizza was fantastic. I don't exactly know how to describe what makes a "fantastic" pizza--but it was something about the strechiness of the cheese as I bit into it, the bold flavor of the pepporoni and the steaming hot crunchy on-the-outside soft on-the-inside crust.
The Italian chopped salad was refreshing and very enjoyable. The dressing was light with a slight tartness. Needless to say, the ingredients were all fresh--no wilted lettuce leaves here--just brightly colored veggies and high quality meats.
The shrimp pasta was one of the best pasta dishes I have come across. Pefect al-dente penne is sauteed in a buttery-brothy sauce (that is amazingly NOT heavy at all) and tossed with sun dried tomatoes and broccolli. The shrimp tasted fresh and were delightful as they soaked in the sauce. 5-6 large shrimp were in the dish.
We spent about $35 for lunch (the pizza was comped) which I found unjustifiably steep. I'd say the prices were more appropriate for dinner. Next time I'm definitely going to try the market side and get one of the amazing looking eclair-thingys or prepared sandwiches--they looked DIVINE!
Also, paid $6 for parking right next door--and the lot across the street said $7! Where is this magical $3 parking lot of which Helen K. speaks? Must find it!
When I stay in the Bunker Hill area, I have been hard pressed to find something to eat other than going into Chinatown and Little Tokyo (read my other reviews for some good places there). The concierge of our hotel recommended this place for some good Italian.
When we got down there, I was afraid it might be a little too upscale for my tastes. The building is HUGE, it looks like an old bank or something. It's all white and clean inside, marble everywhere. Which unfortunately leads to the loudness that everyone complains about. There is a little market and a bakery. And then the espresso bar, the bar bar, and then you get into the acutal restaurant area.
We got our table and I read the menu. Everything looked good, but I was still worried that it might be pretty pricey. I thought it was gonna be one of those places where you get everything a la carte and they give you live four raviolis. But the waitress told us everything was big portions, and totally shareable.
So between four hungry guys, we ordered the Italian salad, a pepperoni pizza, lasagne and chicken parm. The food came out quickly and it was all delicious! And filling. Totally satisfying.
On my way out, I treated myself to a few madelines. Mmm, good stuff.
WOW- never thought I would like many restaurants in Downtown LA! Was staying at the Standard Downtown LA and we were told to check Bottega Louie out. This place was great- we waited about 45 mins to be seated but while we were waiting the staff came around with a few samples of their food. What a tease as we were all so hungry. The food was great, atmosphere was hopping, and would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a trendy spot in Downtown LA!
All right, Bottega Louie ... so somehow you managed to cajole me out of $70 (it wasn't hard to do) on a few pretty-looking offerings from your deli-counter: A dozen macarons (darling and quite edible but lacks that delicately sticky crunch like the ones I had in Paris & even the divine ones @ OC's Marche Moderne); spicy corn & swiss chard that lacked any heat but I still gobbled up as I can never say no to fresh corn salad; nice orecchiete with pesto & tangy tomatoes, a generous slice of the 8-layer lasagna, a ham & swiss baguette ... and I think that's it ... ha. Can we say, oink, oink? I shared. Honest.
all was fine & tasty BUT after I pigged out on said buffet, my guy refused to come near two feet of me. I had MAJOR death breath. No really, he recoiled from me and I retreated to the bathroom to vigorously brush and rinse. Twice. Not sure if it was one or two particular items that contributed to the halitosis but it was pretty hilarious and much to my boyfriend's dismay, will not deter me from being going back.
4.5 stars.
A friend earnestly recommended Bottega Louie so we ventured in after 10 p.m. for a late…
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Senator Louie, I know Senator Mozza and you're no Mozza. Still, you're better than the average Italian joint and if we met earlier we could have really had something special.
Walking up to the door I couldn't help but notice the gaudy gold railing at the entrance. It seems the entire place was headed to Las Vegas, missed getting on the freeway and just decided to stay downtown. It's a big empty space with huge cathedral ceilings and hospital white walls that cry out desperately for a painting or tapestry to liven them up.
The seating is crisp, modern but not particularly comfortable, and there is enough fake gold around to make Christian Audigier feel right at home.
Service here was exceptional, but only in the sense that it was exceptionally slow. There seemed to be a server, host or waiter for every diner in the building yet you couldn't have gotten service if you tackled one of them. In fact our waitress seemingly only appeared when we didn't need her and then talked until I wanted to disappear. It's easy to see this place can get insanely busy, but it was only about half full on this day so one can only imagine the quality of service on a full house. It got so bad at one point that the pizza's were piling up out fo the oven and the chefs were wildly waving for servers to come and deliver them. The strangest thing was a few minutes later a host came over and reprimanded the chefs for not working fast enough. Very weird, and showed a complete lack of awareness by the host on the issues they were having. Oh also, no bread and they make a big production out of serving you special tap water. Ummmm....okay.
Because it was early afternoon, only the brunch menu was available. It's full of traditional breakfast offerings at much to high a price, but there are a number of reasonably priced pizzas to choose from. We ordered a clam pizza and after quite a wait it arrived. The good news is that it's a perfectly credible pizza. It's larger than expected and more than enough for two. It's generously appointed with huge amounts of finely chopped clams and three types of cheese. It was good and substantial, but the letdown as is usually the case for pizza is in the crust here. It was just missing that perfectly cooked goodness they've perfected over at Mozza. Then again, there is only one Mozza.
It turns out the dessert here is perfection. Peanut butter terrine is as good as advertised. Think Reese's Pieces with better quality ingredients. Sinfully rich.
Just a few quick notes for the uninitiated. There is a wonderful deli up front and to be honest the offerings there looked amazing. There's also a small market and a pastry counter that are equally inviting. There are no reservations. If I return, it will be for the deli which looks like it might be special.
Best Plates: Clam Pizza, Portobello Fries, Peanut Butter Terrine
Food - B
Dessert - A
Ambience - B+
Service - D
Value - B
Lots of style, lots of quality for the price. I think this is a great downtown option -- much more affordable than the other usual business spots (Water Grill, etc) and the atmosphere is more fresh, though with that you get a higher quotient of d-bags.
Also, yes, the place is really, really loud.
Excellent pizza! Just might be the best in Los Angeles! Worth the effort to go down town and deal with parking - though a loading zone for take out would make me a regular.
Bottega Louie seems as if someone carved out the dining terrace at a posh shopping mall and plopped it in the middle of downtown LA.
Beautifully accented and appointed, glorified "Italian deli" with wine selection & section, deli, and a dining area. Very cosmopolitan / Euro-chic for the regentrified and yuppie dwellers and loiterers of downtown LA. Very packed with purveyors fashionably decked out to the 9's.
However, the food was immemorable save for the oft-mentioned Portabello fries (maybe because I was immersed in great conversations), and the lighting in the dining area seemed incommensurate with noise level of everyone trying to talk over everyone else. Too dim, too loud. Maybe some strategically placed Dynamat or canvas paintings would help.
check 1-2-1-2.
So get this, my first visit here was for dinner with friends on my very special BFF's bday... (yes i used the term "BFF") so onto the ARRIVAL!
i walk in the the spacious and clean establishment, walked over to my parties table and I am immediately approached by the waiter for my selection of beverage. i just walked in, and i already loved it. No crazy hype, just good vibes and everyone's conversing, not afraid to be hushed or stared at. During this visit i was on a raw eating regimen so i did not enjoy the gourmet pizza and various dishes that my table was ordering. I ordered a salad and they made it to my exact liking, all raw with avocado/ lemon wedges and olive oil. For just greens, it was excellent. service was great and i knew I'd be back.
since then i have tried other dishes that were actually cooked vs just a raw salad and I must say, it was good. Definitely quality produce and fresh tasting items. the red snapper i ordered was good, it was missing something though, i just can't put my finger on it. nonetheless. give it a shot, then grab a dessert from the bakery to go..... definitely drop by and grab a seat.
i plan on trying brunch, so I'll holla back and let you know ;)
Let's get the negative out of the way first. Saturday night, around 6:15, and this place is already packed. Where did all these people come from??? If you like a packed, noisy restaurant, then great but it was difficult having a conversation.
Party of three, we were scrunched into a table for 2, with a chair on the aisle, instead of giving us the bigger table for 4. Their timing on the food was off, first one salad came out, then a soup, then a pizza, finally an entree and small plates, which left us all eating at staggered times.
That being said, food was overall very good with the exception of the vegetarian lentil soup which had watery broth--needed lots of salt, pepper, and parmesean sprinkled in. Too bad. I expected something much richer and thicker.
Bianco pizza--very,very good. Smooth ricotta under mozzarella, light airy crust, and a bunch of fresh arugula on top. Very tasty.
Arugula salad with red onions was aromatic and fresh, I would order it again.
Portobello fries w/ garlic aeoli dipping sauce were so decadent--a must have if you go here. Crunchy goodness, rich tasting light batter.
Yum. Come just for these.
A friend ordered the chicken carcioffi with artichoke hears, and capers. It wasn't a breast, but chunks of chicken in sauce, served a la carte, so you need to order something else with it. I'm veggie so I didn't try it.
Nice selection of wine, and they mixed up an excellent vodka Gimlet, which I decided to try after remembering someone ordering one on Mad Men--they add simple syrup, basil and cucumber to it to make it super refreshing.
Also, nice selection of deli items, sandwiches, pastries, etc, to go. Nice for downtown loft dwellers, or just if you're walking around downtown and find yourself hungry fo a quick bite.
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