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Category: American (Traditional) [Edit]
Neighborhood: DowntownMon-Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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This was recommended by a fellow yelper as great comfort food restaurant to take some visitors- so HAD to check it out first of course - I know, really rough job!!!! (NOT)
Seems like reviews are pretty varied on Engine Co. No. 28 - but we had a great experience.... both food and service wise.....
Making a decision for salads was tough - settled on Grilled Ahi Tuna and the Portobello Mushroom - both favs of ours in general and tasted fresh with distinct complementary flavors. Also ordered garlic bread - which is always a good starter and did deliver in taste as expected.
After checking out all the pix posted of the food on Yelp before arriving - I finally made up my mind had to try to Grilled Molasses Pork chop w/Sweet Potato Fries and Spinach.....
BUUUTTTT - turns out this entree is only offered as a special occasionally - so the waiter suggested a current special - BBQ Baby Back Ribs w/Sweet Potato Fries...... said had similar taste and of of course the fries....
After tossing it around - decided to be fickle and get the Bone-In Pork Chop - just had a craving for a big piece of pork I guess.... came slathered in an Apple-Onion Marmalade (flavors which really come to life in your mouth), with Mashed Spuds and Spinach. No regrets and still licking my lips.
Have heard although that the Meatloaf is to die for - and my DC had this.... which he guarded with his life as I snatched a few bites when he wasn't watching....... very very good too - much better then home - and he did rave about it...... (Just too stuffed for dessert so cant comment there)
So, when the "fam" visits they will get a treat in my eyes anyway - good food - much better then they are eating at home I can guarantee - and the ambiance itself is fun! (and, with all the options of really delicious looking "comfort" dishes - they should all be happy)
Well worth the money when you don't want to spend a fortune on dinner.
These are mostly 3 course dinners for $20. about a 3.75 star kinda place.
Had lunch with some co-workers and a client here. Very good all around.
I had one of the specials, Crispy California Yellowtail with Blue Crabmeat and Au Gratin sauce. It was excellent.
Service was also very good.
Very nice establishment and environment. Tried the fried chicken which was good but strangely crisp on top but soggy on the bottom. Price is average for the area and food quality.
I'd go back for the meatloaf which is also supposed to be excellent.
This place is really cool. I've never heard of a fire station turn into a restaurant. What an LA thing to do!
Buffalo wings are good! Especially on your salad. That's what I recommend from here. The seafood salad isn't bad either. Be on the bad side and get their french fries to share. =)
Had lunch here today catching up with some friends. Our waitress was particularly awesome, she fed us all kinds of cool tidbits on the history of the old firehouse.
We were seated upstairs in the loft where the old firefighters used to sleep with a nice view of the original brass pole (which now leads straight up to some attorney offices, we were told.) The crowd is mostly suits given the corporate downtown location, I imagine a lot of power lunches occur here. The menu is mostly classic comfort foods like meatloaf, gumbo, fried chicken, etc. -- recipes culled from firehouses all over the country -- cool.
I wanted some light fare so opted for a simple arugula salad and a cup of corn chowder. I know, it's just salad right? But it's so easy to overdress a salad and turn the delicate greens into wilted mush but not here. The arugula was perfectly and barely kissed with lemon and olive oil with some scant parmesan shavings and lemon zest -- a nice touch! And I'd definitely return for the corn chowder, which yielded some pleasant but mild heat.
For dessert, we had the double chocolate layer cake. Now, normally I avoid such a mundane pick because it's usually too rich, dry & dense. Not so at Engine Co. I dare say, one of the best chocolate cakes I've ever had. Light but super chocolatey, moist, silky -- as close to ganache heaven as I've been and I can't wait to have more. Seriously, get that cake. Or make it yourself. The recipe's online at Epicurious or http://LATimes.com. (Yet another cool nugget of info from our waitress, yay thanks!)
I only go to this place if I'm required to go at the office. Although I live in downtown, this is not on the list of my favorite neighborhood restaurant. The food while good, didn't knock me off my feet. They however have a very good wine list. The ambiance is always upbeat and friendly.
I gave this place a try one night for dinner while staying in LA for E3. When entering we noticed that people were a little more dressed up than we were (we were in shirts and jeans), but that didn't seem to matter. We were also asked if we had reservations, but there was plenty of seating so that was not a problem either.
I ordered the chicken fried steak and the chili. Both were good, but the chili was definitely the best part of the meal. I'm not through the LA area often, but if I'm in the area again I will be trying my best to visit Engine Co. No. 28 again to get another order of their chili. The chicken fried steak was HUGE and delicious as well, the overall dining experience was the best I had during my stay in downtown LA, which included a dinner at skybar as well.
The website of this erstwhile fire station with Southern culinary sensibilities claims to have been "putting out appetite fires" since 1989. That phrase is just impressive. The beautiful brick floors + dark wooden booths made for a comfortable atmosphere, even if the ceilings are tall. The place strikes me as a great place to bring a date for a bougie chicken-fried steak.
I had the grilled chicken breast sandwich with roasted bell peppers that was tasty. But the crowning achievement of the meal was the appetizer: garlic fries with spicy red chili flakes. They. were. unbelievable. My three other co-workers + I DEMOLISHED the plate, even gobbling up the tiniest molecules of potato, garlic + red pepper flakes to the very end.
Good spot for a nice leisurely lunch in Downtown. I'll definitely go back, if juts for the fries + to sample the delicious desserts that other Yelpers have posted pictures of.
Great place for business lunch meetings! It's centrally located downtown right next to the Metro Subway Station where the Red and Blue Lines meet. Food is excellent and service is usually pretty good. Try the Bone-In Pork Chop or the Meatloaf, both are great. The decor is pretty cool... it's a renovated firehouse from the early 1900's. Real popular spot! They're always crowded for the lunch rush (good sign, btw). I've never been able to walk in past 11:45 and be able to get a table. So, I definitely recommend reservations. Haven't been here for dinner yet, but will return for an update once I do. I'm sure it won't disappoint.
Engine Company is one of those restaurants that I just love. I've been going for years and years. It was one of my secret restaurants that I had never yelped (yes, there's such a thing). It was always a great place to go for a business lunch or for a bite before a theatre show.
However, I went last night for happy hour. Something they never used to do and so I was so very excited when I saw they were doing happy hour now.
Well, the "bites" were $6 and not very interesting. We got the pulled pork sliders and the fried green tomatoes. I was trying to figure out if I really wanted to get calamari, spinach and artichoke dip, fries or all the other things that may not necessarily have been worth $6. For instance, we got the fried green tomatoes but for four measly slices, I expected to be more like $3 than $6. Still, they were decent though heavy on the breading. They should re-evaluate the pricing on these bites. How could a bunch of fries really be $6?
I honestly did not like the pulled pork. Yes, the pickle was good but it was dry. Where's the moisture in the pork?
I started thinking maybe I should have gotten a meal. My favorite thing at Engine Company is the meatloaf and they happen to be running an anniversary special this week on three courses for $20 (this being the meatloaf). Ah well, perhaps next time.
I also tried out the pink lemonade martini, one of their cocktails for happy hour (there are three including a chocolate cake martini and a spritzer). It was $7.75 and pretty good though there are definitely more moderately priced happy hour drinks out there. After one drink, we absconded to another happy hour around the corner.
Stick to meals here. Oh, they have a marvelous brownie sundae. Happy hour wasn't particularly fun though I did appreciate their homemade potato chips they had at the bar. And of course, I love being in the old firehouse. I had never thought about sliding down the pole though until Victoria mentioned it.
hmmm...
A very cool place for a cocktail and dinner as I arrived into Los Angeles for a grand birthday weekend!
Ambiance 5 stars-whats not to love when you are dining in an old fire station with a brass fire pole still standing.
Service 5 stars-Miguel was a very attentive server and knew the menu well. He answered any questions we had. He gave great recommendations!
Cocktails 5 stars-good drinks and a great wine list!
Food 3.5 stars-we started with grilled asparagus topped with fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese. A simple but elegant appetizer.
We had the filet mignon topped with a peppercorn sauce that was to die for. The only complaint I would have is that my horseradish mashed potatoes could of been hotter but I have to have my food steaming hot.
Over All Value 4 stars. It is pricey but well worth it!
The glowing reviews have to refer more to the cool setting in an old fire station than they do to the food. I ate here recently with a party of six. The service was great, the waitstaff really friendly, but honestly, the food was only so-so. Actually, my burger was downright tasteless! This is the kind of place I would eat a meal at a second time. However I would probably return to have a drink at the bar, just to enjoy the setting.
This place gets all five stars because of its food, its service, its ambiance and its location. All outstanding in my assessment.
They serve traditional American food here, and, thus far, each item I've tried has been excellent.
For appetizers try their raw beef (comes with sauce and capers) and seared tuna salad. I prefer my dressing on the side because restaurants tend to put too much and drown out the veggies and whatever protein I've chosen.
They have a great selection of wine, especially when it comes to the reds. You'll have no problem finding something full-bodied, fruity-licious or whatever else you may be in the mood for...
Their steak? Superb. Absolutely superb. I had mine done as raw as you could get without making me sick to my tummy and savored every last bite. It wasn't too salty and was definitely soft and moist. Nothing tough about it. I barely touched it with my knife and boom, I carved easily bite after bite after bite. I got mashed potatoes with it and steamed veggies. A sprinkle of salt and a touch of butter and it was heavenly.
Never tried their sweets to be honest, so I couldn't tell ya' whether they're delish or not. I suspect, given how quality the entrees are, that they're great, really.
Basics like their chicken salads, fries, salmon and soups are always a good place to start if you want to experience this place but are on a tighter budget.
This is definitely one place worth saving up for. It's decor is classy, classy, classy and the waiters first make sure they get your order right and then attend to you constantly.
Most certainly one of my favorite places in all of Los Angeles to visit. A real treat.
Came here today for lunch for my coworkers' bday. I really liked this restaurant. It has a nice and interesting atmosphere, great service, and good food. I ordered the Mediterranean style arugula salad with grilled chicken. It was topped with kalamata olives and shaved parmesan cheese. The salad had a lot of flavor and the chicken was tender. I also got to try some of their chocolate cake and that was really rich, but nothing special I guess. The service was attentive the entire time and in a very timely fashion. My only complaint is that it is a little pricey.
Another favorite place of mine. I first came here years ago (love the firehouse theme) and enjoyed the food. Now that I am working downtown I find myself coming back time & time again. The firehouse chile with sopaipillas is one of my favorites, as is the Cobb salad, and must do the chicken fried steak - may not be on a healthy diet but if you must deviate, this is the way to go! They have a great menu for catering/office lunches and definitely do the creme brulee
I absolutely love the fried chicken here. The atmosphere is nice and classy. The service is good. What more could you want?
We arrived a few minutes before 9pm on a Friday night and were told that the kitchen was closed, but that they could fit us in if we hurried. Not a great start -- what kind of place shuts down at 9pm?
I guess word is out that dinner is not the thing to order here because the joint was empty -- no one even at the expansive bar. Engine Company 28 is apparently aimed at the lunch/post-work/suburban crowd.
We had the skirt steak salad and jambalaya, both of which were clearly microwaved and over-salted (and I heart salt). The wine list is mediocre and very limited. We didn't stick around for dessert.
The food is fine -- nothing to write home about. The experience is saved by the historic ambiance and the attentive wait staff.
We won't be back since there are so many other steak joints in Los Angeles with better food.
Since it's near the subway - that means I've been here!
The ambience was great, I started at the bar with a some appetizers(spicy garlic fries) while the bartender (I believe her name was Christy) poured me ridiculously strong drinks - since she knew I was walking -and then convinced me to sit down for a meal - which was the grilled skirt steak - which was excellent. It was all excellent - the fries were unbelievably spicy though - so be careful with that!
Very popular lunch place (used to be a power lunch spot). Gets very loud at lunch. Much different and more quiet at dinner time. The food is good but not more than that.
Eating here feels like getting a big bear hug from America. They serve American firehouse classics, stick to your ribs kind of food. Like chili, chicken pot pie, meatloaf sandwich and chicken fried steak.
I loooove converted buildings, especially firehouses. And you can definitely tell this was an old fire station. The restaurant is full of comfy booths, has a little mezzanine, and a long traditional wood bar....next to a bench with a quaint coat rack :)
It's a downtown staple and a must-try if you're in the area! Just be sure to make reservations for lunch 'cause lots of people want into America.
Underwhelming.
Once we got past the fact that the waitress thought my actual mother was my sugar mom, the food is underwhelming and even mis-named on the menu.
The pot pie is not pot pie, more like pot soup with a crusty chunk on it, not even a biscuit topping, and the panko crusted chicken is in fact just chicken parmiagiana, without the mozzerella.
Anyway the sodas come in a small bottle, and the food is just underwhelming, the service is over-friendly, even the bread was underwhelming.
The decor is nice, sort of American up-class standard decor, but the food doesn't equal the decor.
Engine Company - My favorite place for a power lunch. Works well for a pre-show dinner as well. The service is always great, the food is consistently good, and - the place has ambiance!
Engine Company 28 was originally a fire station built in 1912. The original huge fire doors still stand at the restaurant's entrance. The original decorative tin roof is still in place, and one of the old brass fire poles still stands. Several blown up copies of old, period pictures consummate the nastalgia of the old fire house.
The restaurants menu selections are inspired by firehouses around the country. So expect a meat and potatoes menu (some fish selections too) with a gourmet flair. And the prices are very reasonable. I've been here many times and the food is consistently good. In fact, it's one of my personal favorites. My favorite lunch item is the ahi sandwhich. The Ahi is seared rare (perfect) and served on a soft kaiser bun with a mustard-soy mayo. Sooo good!!
During a post meeting lunch last week, I opted for something a little different - the Kobe burger (a FH special). And it was GREAT! A little fattier than standard American beef, which is a +++! for flavor! Cooked to a perfect medium rare, and served with garlic mayo. I was reveling from the sheer pleasure of fatty beef decadence and glut!
Just a caveat on Kobe beef - if the restaurants don't disclose this, you should know that if you pay $15.00 for a Kobe burger, then you're buying American Kobe. The specialized beef from Japan is actually called Wagyu (Kobe is ONE of many regions that sales it's beef, and created an extraordinary marketing campaign to make it a household name - much like Kleenex). Anyway, it's NOT that American Kobe is bad (these are the Wagyu cow offspring that are shipped to America and are American raised). But, the cows aren't raised by the same standards and practices as those in Japan, rendering inferior beef. And believe me, there's a difference - in taste, texture, and price. Expect to pay around $120 per pound (minimum) for true Japanese Wagyu beef that is almost white from the copious marbling, and that you could almost cut with a spoon. That means a hamburger plate (why anybody woudl ground such good beef is beyond me) would probably run at least $30.00. We've all heard of the restaurants that serve $60.00 Kobe hamburgers (probably real Japanese Wagyu beef).
So, my dilemma for today - trying to talk myself OUT of going to Engine Company - AGAIN!!
Thumbs up!
I vouch for the cobb salad and onion strings, as does the 4 different homeless people I shared the leftovers with as I walked back to my car.
I'll give this place one thing: It got in on the gentrifying craze long before there was a gentrifying craze in Downtown L.A. And at least they didn't gentrify in that God-awful Italianate or whatever it's called style that all those crappy luxury condos are. Sometimes I'm just glad I don't live in L.A. anymore.
So apparently, this used to be Engine Company No. 28. It was transformed at some point into an upscale restaurant. I assume it was many other different things in between its original and present iterations, but you'll have to read the story on the menu or ask your server or whatever. All I know is that I came here for the first time before I knew that I didn't like gentrification. There's something to be said for old-school opulence. The Pacific Dining Car is a ripoff, but at least it was there back in the bad old days. And it weathered the storm of its weird neighborhood while all the rich people inside continued to spend $17 on salads in the mid-'80s.
Engine Company No. 28 is just there. And expensive. And not terribly creative. I don't remember the food either.
It was raining and gross, and we were looking for somewhere nearby we could walk to and grab dinner- and we found this little gem. Before we left the hotel I had read some reviews on Yelp and read about them on Opentable- so we knew we had to check it out.
We got sat in a booth on the side where we go to check out more of the design of this old time firehouse. Our server was great- very responsive and knowledgeable when we had questions on the menu. Mac and Cheese was our selected appetizer-- enough for the both of us and very tasty! For an entree, I got the meatloaf- so yummy and delicious and served with garlic mashed and sauteed spinach which was all very flavorful and hit the spot. My boyfriend got the fried shrimp po-boy sandwich and enjoyed it as well with the spicy fries that I kept stealing off his plate.
woohoo for a fancy dinner at not fancy LA prices!
Just OK. Went here on two separate ocassions on a business trip to LA. The first time I had the Chili and the fried onion strings (which were amazing) and the second time I got the Capellini. The pasta was just pasta with chunks of whole tomato on top. No flavor whatsoever...it is hard to screw up pasta, so bravo on that one.
Try the bananas desert with the ice cream. That was awesome.
The decor is great, the bar looks like a good happy hour spot, and the waitstaff is friendly and attentive. I feel like they could step up the level of food...make it more flavorful. It should tell you something when the waiter labeled a lot of the menu items "just ok".
We went here on a Saturday night after a wonderful victory for my USC trojans and wanted to get a nice bite to eat for dinner.
The main reason for giving Engine Co. only 3 stars is no. 1, the kitchen literally stops serving at 9pm on a Saturday, who does that?...
and no. 2, I probably could have got the same quality food at many other restaurants in LA that stay open later where we wouldn't be rushed.
I had the panko crusted halibut with over-oiled green beans, the halibut was actually really good.
Strawberry shortcake dessert, yummy, but really how difficult is that to screw up.
Service was great, he was attentive and friendly but not over-intrusive.
I wouldn't be opposed to coming back again, but it wouldn't be my first choice for a weekend dinner spot.
I love this place,
mainly because they provide shuttle service to the music centers.
But also, I love taking guests there and facinating them with the story about the place. very historical and entertaining.
I've been there so many times, but never got to dine at the second floor.
Anyhow, very good service, good seafood.. I love their sword fish :)
good steaks. Food is relatively average american food, but the idea of the fact that you are dining in the historical ex-firehouse adds on the flavor of the food :)
Very average.
Heres what I like:
Decor/environment (yes, its a converted firehouse)
Excellent house beer
Good service
Good bread
Heres what I didn't like
The FOOD, had ahi tuna salad and capellini. Both was just ok.
I really agree with Anh Dao T's review. This place looks cool from the outside, but inside its just an average downtown restaurant.
I really was looking forward to eating here but I have to say the food was disappointing.
Being a member of the clean-your-plate club, I didn't finish my meal here and that says a lot.
The decor and the bar were beautiful but the food, blah.
one menu item, the CORN CHOWDER secures this place as a 5-star for me for two reasons:
ONE - N*O*B*O*D*Y ELSE IN THIS CITY (that I'm aware of) SELLS THIS DELICACY!
and TWO - its soooooooo gooooooood!
Besides that, its a fun environment and the rest of the food I've had was good to very good, theres a lil' bit of a foggy mist of upper-classy ambiance though that makes a middle-with-little-classyness sort of individual like myself kind of less-than-comfortable BUT FOR THAT CORN CHOWDER man its seriously WORTH IT! *BANG* :)
Nostalgia sums it up for me.
Really cool place in the heart of Downtown. Food, service, and wait time is decent. Real lively at lunch and happy hour.
This place sounds a lot cooler than it actually is. Maybe I was expecting too much - but this was just like any other typical Downtown restaurant. I looked around for any sign that it used to be a firehouse and couldn't even see the pole until my coworker pointed it out. Boo. I used to work at Spaghetti Factory and one of the reasons I liked that chain was that they restored old buildings and kept a lot of it intact..how cool is it it to have dinner in a bank vault?! Anyway...back to Engine Co...
So we went after work and expected to find Happy Hr, but they don't have one, so we opted for the bar. Ordered some drinks and food (the shrimp po-boy was pretty damn good, and prob. the best I've had outside of New Orleans). One of the girls ordered a mojito and it was one of the worst I've ever had. There was waaaaay too much lime in it and you couldn't even taste the mint. She obviously didn't like it but it wasn't until one of the other girls told the bartender how much it SUCKED that he offered to "take care of it." And by that, I mean telling us he'd remove it from the bill and then handing us the bill with no such thing. We had to flag him down again to remind him.
We left pretty soon after. The food was okay but the service was lacking. The funny thing is, turns out I know the bartender's wife, who's really cool and sweet. And I actually called him once to help work an event at my old work. So I guess I'll have to give him the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to an off day.
The ambiance and decor is really nice, here. I went with a group of co-workers, and everything was delicious, and prompt.
I had the crab cake sandwich. I'm very picky about crab cakes, let alone putting them in a sandwich format. Sometimes it can get too dough-ee. However this particular dish was very good. It came with these fabulous shoe-string fries. Very crisp, and thin. Loved 'em.
And at the end, they deliver these Glacier mints to boot.
It's really 3 stars, but any place w/in a 1 block radius of my work get instant 1 star upgrade.
Food is okay to pretty okay range. Service is fine. There's a huge stripper pole. Come to think of it, it might been a firefighters pole when it used to be a fire station.
A real neat setting smack in the middle of Downtown LA. Allow enough time to search for parking because you can't see the tiny valet parking sign with nobody in a white jacket.
Once inside this obviously historical building you can't help but notice the Engine Co pictures that lined the walls - okay it's an old firehouse.
We sat upstairs in a semi private mezzanine table for our business dinner and it took a while to 'read' the menu which consists mostly of comfort meat from loaf to rib eye.
We did order appetizers - crab cakes and thin onion rings that did not taste fresh....tasted around 4,000 miles between oil changes - a little burnt.
My ROASTED BEET SALAD was EXCELLENT and the dressing was flavored on the sweet side but it must have neutralized the onion rings.
Our wine was fantastic - a 2004 Cab from Frank Family Vineyards...etched bottle, no paper label.
For my entree, I ordered the special BONE IN PORK CHOP with perfectly criss cross grill marks = A+ on the presentation, unfortunately, the chef must have been more concerned with perfect lines and not worried about allowing one drop of moisture in the pork chop I had. Suggestion, tell your server to cook your chop pork medium!
The night we dined was really slow so the serving staff seems to be in slow motion. I'm sure the lunch crowd has this place hopping and the signature sandwiches flying from the kitchen.
Oh, another plus that I saw....bowls of potato chips at the bar and try the Angels Lager on tap - not bad.
OKAY place to go once or meet a client.
I had been looking forward to eating here. Although in hindsight, it was probably because I'm such a fan of old firehouses and fire trucks. Seriously.
And admittedly, it's probably hard for a vegetarian to eat at a place with a real 'American meat-and-potatoes' kind of menu. All the same, I was disappointed with my meal here.
There were four of us in the group, and we came on a Saturday after a matinee at the Ahmanson. For a Saturday night dinner, we were here early, about 5pm. I would have thought that that would mean we might get good service, since the place wasn't all that crowded. Unfortunately or service was slow, and our server was unattentive. Once our food was dropped off, he never came back! No kidding. He brought the bill eventually, but that was it. No checking on how everything was, no drink refills, nothing.
Someone in the group ordered a plate of the fries as a side with the meal. When they got to the table they were cold at best, and mushy. We wanted to return the plate, because who wants to eat cold fries. All four of us tried to flag the server down. We told the bus-boy, and still our waiter never came. Eventually we were able to flag down the manager. He promptly brought us a piping hot plate of fries and apologies. Bonus points there.
Our waiter only returned to bring us the check, which is really poor service in my book.
Plus, the food was just so-so, and my Irish coffee was terrible.
Amazing food. The scallops I had were some of the most delicious I've tasted. Excellent soup...
The inside really gives the impression of an old fire station garage, complete with brass pole.
I'll be back...many, many times.
The Engine Co. is a great place for a business lunch and that's pretty much it.
It has standard American fare, so it's pretty much easy on the palate. I've only been here for lunch, so I always get the sandwiches. The club is delicious with its freshly carved turkey. Also, I'd recommend the chilli with its fried up little sopapilla pockets. Oh, those are so delicious. The rest of the food there is eh...especially for the price.
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Restaurants
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