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LA Prime
Category: Restaurants Steakhouses Steakhouses [Edit]
The Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites404 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90189
Neighborhood: Downtown
(213) 624-1000
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
178 reviews for LA Prime
Review Highlights
"The filet mignon was REALLY REALLY good."
(in 24 reviews)
"sides - mashed potatoes and creamed corn."
(in 13 reviews)
"Lobster bisque, rich, flavorful, creamy, delicious."
(in 18 reviews)
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178 reviews in English
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Review from Claire S.
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is officially my new favorite "go-to" place for a nice night out in LA.
There were a variety of outfits seen at the restaurant, but IMO, just dress to impress (and make the most of your night!)
We went for the dineLA offer, but didn't realize it wasn't on Saturdays; this at least gave us the opportunity to try other things on the menu!
The bread basket with butter and an olive compote is quite good, just be sure not to fill up on it!
The cedar plank wild red salmon was amazing - cooked to perfection, on a bed of tomato and fennel. The pearl onions weren't anything spectacular, but the dish as a whole was incredible.
My friends ordered the seared jumbo scallop (buttery and cooked to perfection), and the lamb chops (equally delicious). We also shared the potato gratin (rich, heavy on cream and cheese, and difficult to finish alongside our entrees).
I certainly wouldn't go here if I was on a budget, but it's an amazing restaurant, and the view of LA is spectacular. Highly recommend!
Only con: the lot for the hotel was full, so we weren't able to get validated, and were stuck with a $15 bill for the one across the street, but nothing major. -
Review from Greatsteakout ..
Los Angeles, CA
1/30/2012
High up on the 35th floor of the Westin Bonaventure, boasting spectacular views of the downtown Los Angeles skyline, is LA Prime. You might be thinking, "hey, I've heard that place rotates - I don't want a moving floor to harsh my vibe while I'm enjoying some delicious steak." Fear not--it is the 34th floor, home of the Bona Vista Lounge, which rotates (and is easily accessible via a staircase next to the host station for your pre-dinner cocktail enjoyment). Your seat at LA Prime rests comfortably on a fixed floor, providing a peaceful place to gaze at the lights while enjoying your meal. The obvious question is: how much are you paying for the view? And is it worth it?
Reaching the restaurant is a bit of an adventure, for which the agoraphobic need not apply. Access is via glass elevators which cling to the outside of the building and move swiftly. You may remember the scene in True Lies where Arnold Schwarzenegger rides up a glass elevator—on horseback—in pursuit of a terrorist who is riding a neighboring glass elevator. That scene was filmed at the Bonaventure, and is even commemorated by a plaque hanging between the elevators in the lobby. I'll admit to feeling a little apprehensive on the ride up, but the ride back down went much more smoothly, thanks to a belly full of wine and steak.
The restaurant offers a good selection of wine, with good prices, though not quite as good as we initially thought. We ordered a 2006 Turley Juvenile Zinfandel, but we wound up receiving a 2009. While the price was still good for a 2009, it wasn't nearly as good as it would have been for a 2006. We went ahead and enjoyed the 2009, and later enjoyed some free desserts to make up for the confusion.
The side items were mostly disappointing, with one exception. We sampled the vermont white cheddar macaroni, creamed corn, and spinach. All except the spinach were quite underwhelming. That goes double for the vermont white cheddar macaroni, which definitely failed to live up to the expectation of its appetizing description. The diamond in the rough was the spinach, which was combined with smoked bacon and caramelized shallots. It was fantastic, though adding bacon to anything makes it better, so this might be considered cheating in a side dish that is primarily a leafy green vegetable.
Our steak selections ran the usual gamut of filet, ribeye, strip, and porterhouse. The porterhouse was wet aged, and both the ribeye and the strip were available both wet aged and dry aged. We all prefer dry aged, and chose that option. The cuts were good and free from excessive fat, though one of us found his filet a bit on the thin side. The cooking and flavor were also good, very good even, but didn't quite make it over the line into "great" territory. Seasoning was subdued, as we prefer, so as not to overwhelm the flavor of the steak.
So, was it worth it? The price was definitely high for the quality of the steak, but the wine prices were better than average and the view was much better than average. Therefore, from a purely steak standpoint, the answer is no. However, from an overall restaurant experience standpoint, the answer is... maybe. If the view has some value to you, whether it be for a romantic dinner or to impress a client, and you're planning to enjoy some wine, then the price is not unreasonable. If you're looking for a great piece of steak, LA Prime won't be at the top of your list.
Photos: http://www.thegreatste...
More reviews: http://thegreatsteakou... -
Review from Christine C.
Rowland Heights, CA
1/30/2012
Dine here for the Dine LA pre fix menu.
Started off with the heirloom tomato, hand pulled burrata cheese.
If you like tomato, pesto, balsamic, this would be a good choice. All the flavors blended well with one another.
Lobster bisque: It was rich and creamy; however, there was a strong lobster taste which was not appealing. ( presentation was nice)
Onion soup- I prefer this soup over the lobster one. The taste was perfect and it was not overly salty and it was satisfying.
For the entree: i ordered the asparagus risotto. I was utterly disappointed with the texture. I felt like the risotto was undercooked and it had a bite to it, the flavor was good if you like asparagus.
My friends ordered the ribs and the portion was small. It was the size of a fist. the presentation was nice, however, it would have been better if I ordered off the menu instead of the pre fix one.
Creme bulee was very good, definitely would recommend that one over the chocolate moose. -
Review from Roland R.
Went here again last weekend to celebrate a friend's birthday (that means I paid - unlike the last time when it was MY birthday). I'm happy to say that even though the food is kinda pricey, it's absolutely worth it. You won't find many places in downtown LA that has better views.
We started with the seafood platter which was very fresh and delicious.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Then we had the lobster bisque which is one of the best I've ever had.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
They also make a very good Caesar Salad but make sure you add extra crispy bacon on it! That's what separate the men from the boys!
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
For my entree I went with the bone-In, dry aged, Delmonico Ribeye which was perfectly cooked and packed so much flavor. Just writing this is making my mouth water (*drool wipe*).
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
The steaks come a la carte so you'll have to order the sides separately. My favorites are the Mac & Cheese - very rich and tasty, Creamed Spinach - ohhh so creamy (in porn voice), and the Au Gratin potatoes.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Expect to spend about $100 per person and that's only with one alcoholic drink. To cut cost down, I recommend bringing in your own bottles of wine/champagne. They charge $20 per bottle in corkage but it ends up being a lot cheaper than if you got the same bottles there.
FYI, validated parking at the bottom of the hotel for $7 is available (entrance is on Flower St.). Not bad considering the top hotels in DTLA charges fees that makes you feel violated!Listed in: Fine Dining, Foodgasm for Carnivores
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/10/2011
I was taken here for my birthday which means I didn't pay. :) Nothing tastes better than free… Read more »
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Review from Ms T.
Rowland Heights, CA
1/6/2012
Great steak.
It's definitely a great place for dates.
It's on the 35th floor - the view is not the tallest with the surrounding buildings.
I'm keeping this one short.
Food is pretty good. I would only go there to get the steaks though.
Seafood is ... it depends on what you get I suppose.
Lobster was too dry.
Nice ambiance.
Nice Decor.
Good Service, only with the server.
Cocktails, too sweet.
Get the fresh oysters, they are awesome! -
Review from Objective R.
Los Angeles, CA
1/9/2012
Went to this restaurant only because some friends were meeting here.
The food is decent, the view amazing on a clear day, and service is good. I am not a huge meat eater so I just had some salad. The wine list is very nice.
Will be back for the wine and view. -
Review from Gretchen G.
Corona, CA
12/27/2011
1 star because they deny customers who want dessert only. They said over the phone "this is fine dining only" and there is a cafe downstairs. It's not like i was going to show up in my pajamas and flip flops. I suppose it's understandable, but I'm quite upset that I was denied :( I've dined there before and the dessert was amazing. Very disappointed....
FYI: I'm also leaving a 5 star review for their food from a previous dining experience. -
Review from Steven K.
Los Angeles, CA
1/26/2012
I have to say I really really like LA Prime. I go here all the time and usually split the Del Monico steak and have never been dissapointed. The cream corn and asparigus and cream spinish all great. They often have a great seletion of wines and some good deals on some interesting wines as well. Vicki is my favorite server and the staff is always pleasant to say the least. I've tried all of the most well known steak houses in LA and to me this is the best steak in town, hands down! I had the same steak type at Mastro's last night and LA Prime is better if you ask me.
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Review from Edwin E.
Los Angeles, CA
12/3/2011
I've had better!
Dry aged Rib Eye- for 60 dollars, I was expecting something more flavorful ( I ordered mine medium well and it was more like well done)
Sea Bass- yummy, but nothing extraordinary
Mashed Potatoes- tasted like it came out of a box
Escargot - eeeehhhh.
My loyalty still belongs to Mastros! -
Review from Christian R.
Santa Clarita, CA
11/20/2011
Great location and view. Top floor of the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. Had the lobster bisque, dry-aged rib eye, and sampled the creme brulee and cobbler desserts. Here's my breakdown:
Location: 4.5 stars (great views)
Ambiance: 4.0 stars (dim lighting, low background noise)
Coctails: 3.5 stars (ordered dirty martini, martini small. olives small, gimlet good though)
Wine list:: 4.0 stars (comprehensive wine list, $20 corkage/bottle a little steep)
Service: 4.5 stars (prompt, comp'd side orders after a member of our party's steak was overcooked)
Lobster bisque: 4.0 stars
Dry aged rib eye 4.0 stars (charred exterior red-pink center;)
Desserts: 3.0 (good, not blown away)
Parking: 3.5 (restaurant fully validates, dropoff was smooth, pickup took a bit)
Value: 1.5 stars. (too expensive of a meal for quality. In my opinion, you're paying for the location, views, and service. The food was good but I've had similar steaks and meals at other steakhouses and paid half to 2/3's the price)
All that said, I had a wonderful experience with some great friends. The dinner wasn't the highlight, however. -
Review from Amy P.
10/24/2011 8 photos
LA Prime is located atop the Bonaventure Hotel in the heart of Downtown LA. Therefore, you get a prime view of DTLA's skyline.
While the twinkling lights of the city are a great sight to see, I found the food and experience to be mediocre in every way. The drinks were okay, the service was decent, our dry-aged Delmonico Rib eye ($57) was cooked perfectly (charred black and blue) but it lacked flavor!
LA Prime's signature seafood platter ($48) was a disappointment; the oysters and shrimp cocktail I enjoyed, but the lobster and crab tasted frozen and bland. Based on my experience, I would take the "LA Prime's Signature" off of the title and just call it a seafood platter. That way the customers might not be quite as disappointed.
If your primary discerning factor in a restaurant is the view, this is the place for you! If not, you can easily find better steakhouses to spend your dollar dollar bills at!Listed in: DTLA, Carnivore Haven
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Review from David C.
1/4/2012
Delicious food and delicious view. I'm an avid steak eater and I grill a mean one myself, but I was blown away by the cut and preparation of the meats served here. I also like that their medium-rares are always consistent. As for the view, this place sits above the LA skyline, and soaking it in while dining on steak and wine is breathtaking. Not to mention, they have a great winelist to go with many items on the menu. This is a perfect venue for a date or special occasion. Although pricey, its definitely worth a visit.
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Review from Eileen L.
Rowland Heights, CA
2/1/2012
came here for dineLA the other day. the food was good, but I don't think it was worth it. the dineLA menu for LA Prime didn't have steak on it, so i was a little disappointed that I wasn't going to be getting steak :(
the bread bowl is so yummy! they have a wonderful olive dip that is to die for and yummy cheese bread and fruit/nut bread.
lobster bisque- a little too creamy for my liking, but my other friend who got it seemed to enjoy it
pan seared greek barramundi- was delicious! came with roasted potatoes on the side. in my opinion, i think it tasted better than my friend's braised short rib.
chocolate mousse ganache bon bon- i'm not a fan of desserts, so this was too sweet for me. i liked the candied pistachios on the side tho!
I'll probably come back again some time to try the steak tho because i hear such good things about it! :) -
Review from Sergeh F.
La Crescenta-Montrose, CA
11/28/2011
I absolutely LOVE this place. I go here about twice a year with my girlfriend and have never been disappointed. The food is absolutely delicious, from their appetizers, to their sides, and of course the stars of the restaurant - the steaks! I enjoy my steak medium-well and it has always come out PERFECT!
They seem to always do something special whenever we're there. Once during our anniversary, they brought us a complimentary glass of champagne. Another time, the chef was making a tiny dessert sampler which they brought out to us - complimentary as well.
Add all that to the fact that you're sitting 35 floors up with absolutely beautiful views of Los Angeles and it's no wonder I'm giving this place 5 stars! -
Review from B S.
Los Angeles, CA
1/6/2012
I'm going to spare the details and summarize our experience...
Used to be our favorite date spot. Then we went there recently to celebrate the birth of our first child..our first night out away from the baby! Enjoyed a nice dinner, but on the way to pick up our daughter, both of us were knocked out with extreme intestinal distress. Horrible food poisoning...and it was obviously LA Prime as we both were hit so suddenly at the same time within a couple hours of completing our meal. We were so ill we did not make it home that night, and ended up staying with family to have help in caring for our baby.
We called the restaurant the next day to let them know of the situation. It was handled very professionally, and they took a full report, which I truly appreciate. However, the reason for the low rating is that the did not refund our bill. I'm sorry, but considering we were so ill, I do feel that our meal should have been refunded, or at least we should have been offered a complimentary dining experience for a future date.
It took me two days to fully recover, which was not easy considering I have a newborn and am nursing. The restaurant did call a day later to see how we were doing, but again, I do feel in a situation such as this that action speaks louder than words, and taking care of refunding our bill would have been most appropriate.
We are hoping to have a "do-over" of our celebration dinner, and will be taking our business to Nick and Stef's a few blocks away. My fiance is still fine with continuing to dine at LA Prime, but it will take me a long time, if ever, to be able to return after the illness we experienced, and the seemingly greediness of the ownership. -
Review from Jack n Mary Z.
Glendora, CA
9/30/2011
Positive feedback: beautiful view of the city, great service.
Negative feedback: This restaurant is a little overrated, very pricy, and the food, ehhh, we had better.
For the price that we paid, and the taste of the food, really was not worth it. We sat right under the AC vents. By the time we left, I had a runny nose, and felt like I'm getting sick, it was way too cold.
This would be a great place if you want to impress your date. Other than that... pay less, get more tastier food.Listed in: NEVER again
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Review from Natalie K.
Encino, CA
12/16/2011
Was here last night for dinner. The view is incredible. Great place to go for a special night on the town. I had the filet mignon. I ordered it medium, and it came out medium rare... but it was good. The service was slow, so just ok... until I left my iphone in the booth and Francisco was holding onto it. Phew! Thanks for a great night!!!
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Review from Michelle B.
Pico Rivera, CA
12/12/2011
This is a perfect place to celebrate an anniversary. The view, service and food is amazing. If you want to impress that special lady in your life than I would recommend that you bring her to this place.
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Review from Grace S.
Los Angeles, CA
6/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Westin Bonaventure itself is a so-so hotel according to my standards. It rates four stars on hotel listings and I only stayed there because I'm an SPG (preferred guest) member and I get amazing deals.
Atmosphere is average. Lots of older folks and not such a hip place. Decorations should be updated and needs some renovation to add some spice to the place.
The food was good. Filet mignon was up to par and the prawns are also scrumptious. Do not get to three-onion soup, if you're not a fan of a sweet onion taste. Service was good and very intricate and I love the fact that the server assistant was so attentive.
The parking for this place is $7 for 3 hours so if you're planning to stay longer at the revolving lounge after dinner, ask the valet where to park best. -
Review from Moolinh H.
Westminster, CA
5/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
My party ordered:
* seabass: pretty good for a steakhouse
*jumbo asparagus: yum!
*filet mignon(med-rare): yum!
*New York steak(dryaged/med-rare): pretty good
*baked potato: it was pretty bland even with the sauce and toppings
*cheesecake: not good.
Service: They use a two waiter system. I think they need a new system because they work very awkwardly together. If you tell one waiter something you pretty much have to tell the other one also(pointless).
We made a reservation on Easter weekend and were told that there it was packed. When we came there was at most 5 tables seated...not sure what their definition of packed is.
Tips:
If you want the 360view sit in the lounge below the restaurant.
The bread basket is cold. Ask for it to be heated if needed.
Don't order the cheesecake. -
Review from Harry T.
Pleasanton, CA
11/5/2011
At $50 per entree, I'd expect fantastic food. I had the veal, medium rare, and it is not medium rare. Actually it tasted like microwaved dish, no flavor and nothing to be excited about.
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Review from Blanca S.
Pasadena, CA
11/4/2011
Good Food! Would probably be back, I went there to have a nice dinner with the bf...the view is great!!! The food is good, loved their dark chocolate martinis. Liked the private/romantic feel, more for an older crowd but overall great service.
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Review from Traci O.
Eastvale, CA
4/21/2011
ehhh...I wanted to give it a 2.5 stars. I've had better. I was really looking forward to this experience. First off our reservation was early because we were seeing a play downtown. We were seated promptly and the waiter's assistant came by to offer water and introduce himself. Our waiter was very nice as well. She delivered our drinks quickly and gave us a few minutes to look over our menus. As the waiter's assistant brought bread to the table I asked a question about the how many mussels are on the mussel appetizer. He was lost! Then he said five. The waiter then said no it was seven. Okay...we started with the mussels; entrees were the 8oz filet and shrimp scampi. Mussels showed up and there were at least twelve on the plate. I mention this because I would have had this for my main entree rather than a starter. Shrimp was chewy, my Husband liked (not loved) his filet.
I ordered a glass of Chardonnay with dinner and the waiter did let me have a small wine tasting between two bottles so I could pick which one I wanted, which was very nice. To end dinner a small piece of cheesecake was brought with a nice little chocolate sign that said Happy Anniversary (which it was for us). But...I've had better cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory and I'm not a fan of that place.
I just feel that if a restaurant is going to charge between $38 and $64 for entrees the service should be amazing. Everyone that touches a table should know the menu front and back and be able to help patrons along in their choices. Our bill was over $200 for two mixed drinks, one glass of wine, one appetizer, two entrees, one side and an espresso. I just wanted unbelievable service, I wanted to be WOWED! and we got something just on par. -
Review from David W.
Oakland, CA
6/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
I decided to check out this restaurant because I was staying at the Westin for a business trip.
I ordered the dry-aged Rib-eye steak, a side of creamed corn, and a side of Mac and cheese. Everything was delicious! The steak in particular was tender and flavorful.
And of course, the view was awesome! I would have ordered a side of creamed spinach as well, but as it turns out, the meal was already costing me $93 (after tax and tip). It was fine since it was on the company, but I don't think I could justify eating here again with the prices, even though the food was good. The asian in me just says that one meal for that much money can't be worth it... -
Review from Shaun-mathieu S.
North Hollywood, CA
2/6/2011
In 1884, an international conference was held to decide on the zero line of longitude...or, as some call it, The Prime Meridian. Lines of latitude and longitude are important not just for mapmakers, but for the world population - because these invisible lines determine timezones. On Saturday, I took my own line of longitude up to the Red Tower at the Westin Bonaventure to LA Prime.
I came here on Saturday for my roommate's birthday celebration. The ambiance of the steakhouse is very hotel-esque, circa 1998. Our party of seven was seated at a nice table that showcased the stunning view of the downtown skyline - a view one could get lost in for hours! It was also the last night of Dine LA, so I took advantage of the special menu provided. Here's what I had:
Rodney Strong Cabernet - I believe it was an '07 or '08. A bold red with hints of oak. Very smooth. I think I drank most of the bottle.
Bread - An bread tray with an assortment of carbs was presented, in addition to an olive tapanade and butter. The tapanade was good, but a bit salty. All were good, but my favorite was the raisin loaf.
Daily Seafood Bisque - A creamy blend of seafood (mostly lobster), cream and the right amount of seasoning choreographed into a fanciful ballet of soups. Pieces of succulent lobster could be found throughout. One of the best I've ever had - it was excellent.
Petaluma Chicken Breast - Fully organic, this chicken was moist and tender, with a delicious, mildly breaded coating on top. Served with chanterelle mushrooms and sauteed wild green onions, it was absolutely exquisite.
Jumbo Asparagus - My roommate Dan ordered this, and it was some of the best asparagus I've ever had. Not overly cooked (as can happen with asparagus), but blanched ever so slight, with a hollandaise drizzle. Highly exceptional.
Banana Cream Pie Brulee - Amazing! Slices of banana are imprisoned within the amber-like brulee shell. The custard of the dessert was also noteworthy, and simply decadent.
Now while the food and drink was excellent, the service left something to be desired. It took over an hour for all of us just to order our drinks. Anytime one or two people would order wine, she would promptly leave to go get said bottle, before checking to see if anyone else would like anything. It was almost comical. And others in my party were given a little attitude when placing their food order. It wasn't until the main course was served that I actually felt waited upon. Now while I'll most likely be back to LA Prime in the future, the poor service is somewhat of a deterrent. I am more likely to return to the Bona Vista Lounge downstairs where the LA Prime menu is also available. -
Review from Daniel P.
Los Angeles, CA
3/26/2011
Ate here recently for my girlfriend's birthday. From the moment we got there, the customer service was fantastic. They were extremely friendly and catered to every need. The complimentary bread basket comes with like 4 or 5 different types of bread and is delicious. The chef sent out a couple complimentary amuse bouches.
We had the lobster, a steak, and the asparagus and spinach for sides. All four of these plates were exceptional. They really were incredibly delicious.
Whole tab for dinner, glass of wine, dessert was about $200 for two people. Really a great place to go out for a fancy dinner every once in a while.
Little warning: when we first sat down they asked us if we wanted sparking water or normal water. We said normal, they bring out a nice bottle of water, which was great but it's not free, haha. -
Review from Sunny L.
2/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Being the good girlfriend that I am, I tried... I really tried to like this place. I was tooken here for Valentines day, and I liked it.
notice how i didnt say love, but like :)
I liked it, not only because my sweet sweet boyfriend picked it out, but the view at this restaurant is beautiful. I would definitly the out-of-town guests here to show them a view of lights in dt la.
We started off, with the well talked about Seafood platter $48, and was throughly dissappointed. The prawns were over cooked, oysters werent the greatest, I think the crab legs were frozen at one point, so when we came to the lobster, it couldnt have been amazing, and it was not. how dissappointing.
okay,okay this is a steakhouse, maybe the seafood wasnt the best to pick. So We both had the Bone In Rib Eye, Dry Aged. It was perfectly cooked to a medium rare, seasoned well, and tasted like steak. good. I didnt finish my steak, it wasnt exceptional where I had to scarf it down, but my bf did polish off his dish.
The service could have been better. Besides the view and the location of the restaurant, there isnt much to offer, the food is too pricy for what it was.
Dissappointing my friends. hope my bf doesnt read this!... love u baby, :DD -
Review from Kristy C.
Studio City, CA
2/6/2011
Oh I so loved this resty!
Ok there were some things that I could have done without--the pot smokers wearing spandex in the ladies room (they didn't even offer any!), the ladies room being a floor downstairs, and god love her, our waitress.
She didn't understand the concept of taking the entire tables drink order first THEN disappearing for a half hour. Ah well.
This place puts the cLAss in L.A. !! Really, sometimes being downtown makes you feel like such a grown up! It has a 360 view and L.A. really is quite lovely at night. Then you dig into a whore-ishly dirty martini and wash that down with the tenderest piece of beef you've had in a while--ex boyfriends included, and bam you've done supper the right way.
They have "The big 40" right now on their wine list which gives you 40 bottles that they have picked for under $40. It was amazing. have I had better pinot's, sure, but the bottle was $24!
ok, so white and green asparagus with greens and burrata. Did someone say burrata. I will often do anything for burrata--including eating perfectly al dente asparagus.
steak au praou...something? whatever it was pan cooked steak, a big fat juicy piece of meat that was cooked a perfect medium with a slight crispy outside. It was on a plate with beef sauce and nothing else, yum. Honestly I thought it was better tasting then the birthday boys prime rib.
I did not know what to do withmyself after this gluttonous eating and drinking, usually I choke down a scallop or two when out bc I'm perfectly full with wine, so my stomach said stop, but the strawberry dessert said keep going. i really don't know what it was by that point, i was in a food coma, but it was good. And big. The shots of espresso were extrodinary too.
There are bdays galore this month, so keep a tab going for us... -
Review from Wombat H.
Irvine, CA
12/21/2011
LA Prime is a 3.5, and just doesn't quite get to 4. The view is unparalleled. The service was quite good. The valet parking at the Bonaventure was complimentary. The food should have been better for the price.
It was a rainy night in LA, and the freeways were jammed. What a surprise. We were running a bit late for our reservation, but I called the restaurant and the very pleasant woman who answered the phone said there would be no problem holding our table.
(Know before you go: if you aren't familiar with the intricacies of downtown Los Angeles, study a map. I've lived here for 30 years and I can still get turned around, especially at night, in the rain, and when someone is filming in the vicinity. GPS is largely useless when streets are closed for filming.)
We were seated immediately and the server appeared promptly with menus and wine list. The bread basket was impressive and generous, and came with both butter and tapenade. The tapenade was too salty, but still a nice accompaniment. We also received a complimentary appetizer of crab on a cracker, but the crab was not the freshest I've had and almost tasted canned (I'm an East Coast girl, so my crab standards are really high).
My petite wedge salad was very good, and another in our party enjoyed the lobster bisque. Caesar salad was declared "too salty." Two of us had the steak au poivre and while the sauce tasted like au poivre sauce, there was no poivre to be seen. Another in our party had the plain filet, and two of the filets were cooked exactly to order while mine was closer to medium rare than medium. I don't know why restaurants in Los Angeles can't seem to get flavorful beef, but the closest I've had in Southern California to a really tasty filet has been at Ruth's Chris, and I've had truly delicious filets in other parts of the country. Without the sauce, this filet would have been pretty bland though it was certainly tender. One of our party ordered the shrimp scampi, and pronounced the shrimp "stringy." It was served a bit strangely, too, without pasta or rice to soak up the sauce, but there was a mini baguette on the side. We also ordered a couple of sides, and the mushrooms were good but the mashed potatoes were underwhelming. We were told the sides were designed to serve two, but ours easily served four.
Throughout the meal, the service was attentive but not overbearing, and we were offered more wine, more water and more coffee promptly. We were celebrating a special event and we were treated to a complimentary dessert that was large enough for everyone at the table to enjoy a bite. We were all pretty full, so we didn't order any additional desserts.
While we didn't stint on our orders, we didn't order especially extravagantly. The tally (which included four starters, four main courses, 3 sides and two glasses of wine) came to $100/person, including gratuity. I don't mind paying top dollar for an amazing meal. The food here, though, just wasn't quite worthy of the cost. -
Review from Erica R.
El Monte, CA
10/4/2011 5 photos
Our busboy Francisco was awesome... he's the best!!
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Review from Allen D.
Norwalk, CA
3/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
This spot is a great place to relive the late 80's. Because it seems as NOTHING has changed here since then. If it were rated on decor alone, I would give it one star. This place is in DEFINITE need of an update. If it were given a hipper, upscale vibe, I think this place could do much more business. (Minus one star)
1st you will notice the view. Nothing is quite as awesome as the LA skyline on a clear night, especially from the top of a rotating tower. The service is excellent and some of the best I had had at a restaurant; very attentive and focused. The food is excellent. The FILLET MIGNON is some of the best I have had yet. -
Review from Zina K.
Burbank, CA
2/15/2011
Beautiful view,i had a great time with my valentine. We had reservations about 3 weeks prior booked on http://opentable.com...although they were already pretty booked for the weekend.
Walked in right at our time, there was no wait and got directly seated. Now to the point, the place is great for a romantic night or a special event, the menu is limited to sea food and steak lovers, (being a steakhouse), the menu is pricey but worth it for the vibrant and beautiful scene, and a romantic little getaway. If your looking for a nice romantic place to relax, dress up and have a nice dinner in downtown, this should be the place.
Head down to the lounge after dinner for some drinks and appetizers as well, the lounge spins which is cool and different. i give this place 5 starts and will be returning. -
Review from SD H.
Long Beach, CA
1/22/2012
Live in NYC and Long Beach, CA--so of course Delmonico's in Manhattan and 555 in LBC are favorite haunts....Have attended several of Chef Andreas Nieto's cooking classes at the Bonaventure and opted to hang out at hotel bar and dine at LA Prime afterwards....BIG Mistake--7:30pm reservation, empty tables galore and deplorable service from the minute we sat down & attempted to order appetizers and a bottle of wine along with our steak dinners...And I quote, "Sir, we can serve you wine, but the lady is going to have to eat some food before we serve her wine"......Wow, I guess that pre-champagne cocktail at the downstairs bar was a bit much for their liking and evidently the 'service' reviews here on Yelp and Open Table are pretty consistent with our sub-prime experience....In the end, the 30 minute drive back to Long Beach and to dine once again at 555 with their divine atmosphere, gracious & grateful service and beautiful food--proved that deviations from GREAT are far and few between! Once again, will be hard pressed to return to downtown LA for fine dining and/or for future Chef Andreas' cooking classes--where LA Prime is plugged repeatedly.....
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Review from Chuck S.
Industry, CA
1/22/2011
This is not a place I can love. Not for the price at any rate. However, in all fairness, the view is just gorgeous. I feel like I can just stare out the window, and stay mesmerized at how the view is subtly moving, lost in focused awe like some autistic cevant. There are times when food isn't the priority on your list. Dim lighting, partitioned personal booths, sparkling city lights overlooking the city... the faint fragrance of your date's pheromones... as if prompted to give in to the urge of subtle kisses and gentle bites to your date's neckline. It's that kind of a mood.
And the food... I can't say I'm in expert, but I feel like it's very similar in quality to Morton's. Pricy, yet, the quality of the ingredients is top notch. Yes, for the occasion, and I'll say for non-foodie folk, this is good enough.
How top notch? I ordered the Delmonico dry-aged bone-in ribeye, 24 oz. More than enough protein for the average person. Yes, I ordered it medium rare. Slightly charred on the outside, succulent, rich marbling on the inside. No sauce offered. Just slight seasoning on the outer char to bring out the ribeye's deep, addicting flavor. The greens served alongside tasted fresh, and bursting with flavor. Almost as if to say: I am what the cow ate, before he got butchered into your dry-aged ribeye. Good enough for me, good enough with glass of chianti.
The 10oz Filet mignon is the correct amount of protein a person should be getting.... but it lacks the marbling, and thus, the kind of flavor that brings a smile to your face. I guess if you're against fat and buttery taste, then the Filet would suit your palate more.
Other dishes? We got a complimentary, ahi-tuna slice, seasoned with spiced mayo and fleur de sel. Tender, satisfying, smiles all around for everyone. Sides? Share it. Creamed corn, creamed spinach, white cheddar mac and cheese... there was more than enough for us to split amongst 8 people. The white cheddar mac and cheese stood out for me the most. Surely the other sides were premium ingredients, but the recipe felt pretty standard.
The breads? Good stuff. Comes with butter and wonderful olive tapenade. I had to reserve myself before I fattened up my tummy and appetite off the offering.
Dessert - Between the Chocolate souffle and Apple crisp: Textbook execution with the quality ingredients. The taste is there... but why do I feel it lacks a soul? Does that make any sense?
So, if you just wanted to snack and drink while taking in the view, the lounge downstairs does a fine job. No need for tasting critics to spend needlessly.
Service? No one at our table had any complaints. I think we were all happy with the promptness and consideration we got. Many of the waitstaff offered to take pictures for us. Complimentary cheesecake for the birthday girl too. -
Review from Evelyn L.
1/3/2011
LA Prime sucks. Don't go. If this is all you read of my review then I have served a purpose! My friends and I walked out of there without eating our entrees.
LA PRIME has problems with TEAMWORK. You guys need to work on it. More team meetings MANAGEMENT!
The good:
Customer solidarity: 100%
While complaining in the elevator others hotel guests and LA Prime customers complained about spending exorborant amounts ($400.00 for TWO) and getting the same slow service and mediocre food.
The bad:
Service: Horrendous.
Example, I had a empty glass after finishing my drink at the bar while waiting an hour to be seated. I, being nice, did not want to leave it on the railing or floor so I asked the receptionist if she would take it. She took it with after giving me a evil soul searing glare as if I was being rude. B**chy? Yes. Next time I will leave it on the floor and let LA Prime be sued for letting their customers get cut up.
Wait: 1 hour wait, I guess is acceptable on New Years Eve.
Food:
SLOW, Ordering slow, water slow, food slow blah blah blah. I get waiting for expensive food and highclass places but 30 minutes to take an order and then over an hour to NOT get our food? No bueno.
Waitress tried, but was barely there. Bus boys were also absent when we needed water, even after we asked...
Taste:
Blah, as if I was at a chain that did not care or was cutting back on expenses. Luke-warm and cold food. Nasty "complimentary" champange meant for mimosas, not to drink alone.
Decor & Ambiance:
Super dim but may have been pretty once.
If you want a peaceful dinner shattered by the horrible music played by the DJ downstairs then go to LA Prime. I do not want to hear "tonights gunna to be a good night" by Black Eyed Peas while eating my bread. I do not want to be told to go to the left, to the right, to the back, to the front etc. while enjoying my mint sorbet. -
Review from J. T.
Beverly Hills, CA
5/5/2011
Sea bass was sooo delicious it melted in my mouth!
My gf said the lamb was excellent!
Service was great! The macaroni was great, not too salty and very cheezy! -
Review from Danni C.
Irvine, CA
Updated - 1/13/2011
An opportunity for us to dine here again happened.
I have to admit, we were hesitant to come back for round 2 but everyone deserves a second chance.
Luckily, the service this time around was impeccable. A very special thanks to our server Mark Zaba and his assistant Francisco. They made our dinner very special. They were extremely attentive and made sure our glasses were never once empty! We plan on going back and requesting that we get seated in his zone from now on!
Overall, the food was a definite UPGRADE from our previous dining experience. Had we stayed for our entrees the first time, we would have never ever gone back to dine at LA Prime in the future. Now, I would come back and dine solely for their seafood!
Starters: Get the Seafood platter, it is amazing! the oysters were perfectly cold this time with no shells or fishy taste! The crab legs were meaty and perfectly seasoned. The shrimp, plump and succulent. The half lobster was so juicy and perfectly cooked!
Some friends got the escargot which was in this delicious garlic butter. Highly recommended.
I got the tuna tartare really basic and not that tasty. The tuna was decently fresh but this avocado puree they put on top ruined the taste for me.
Second: Lobster Bisque. Delicious. Rich. Smooth. I would definitely get this again. My only complaint is I like my soup piping hot rather than lukewarm but I realize, most people don't like it my way.
Some got salads: average.
Entree: I ordered the 24oz dry-aged bone in rib eye done med rare. What I got was super dry and very lacking in flavor. I could tell that they didn't let the meat rest long enough because there was a huge pool of blood on the bottom of my plate!
The fillet mignon my friend order was much more palatable, but he ruined the experience of fillet by getting it medium....foodie law no no!
The new york strip was also more moist than mine. I was disappointed with that.
Another one of my friends ordered the lobster tail. Really Delicious. I would definitely get that next time I go. It was garlicky and herbacious
Another friend ordered the hand cut fettucini. I wasn't too impressed with the sauce I must admit. But the texture of the pasta was nice because it had a good chew.
Sides: we ordered the asparagus with hollandaise sauce, cream corn of the cob, mash potatoes, mushrooms medley, and potatoes gratin.
Asparagus was decently cooked but nothing amazing.
Cream corn off the cob was definitely a crowd favorite! I would order that again in a heart beat.
The Mash was tasty and much better than the gratin, Gratin was too undercooked and lacking in seasoning.
Mushroom medley was definitely in need of salt.
Dessert:
We each ordered one of everything off the menu.
6 layer cake, chocolate mousse, apple crisp, banana creme brulee, strawberry romanoff, and cheesecake.
Do order the banana creme brulee, cake, mousse, and romanoff.
The banana creme brulee was my favorite! Smooth, creamy, with a good banana flavor.
Cake, mousse, and romanoff was tasty but nothing particularly special.
Do NOT get the cheesecake, I thought it tasted terrible and that costco's frozen cheesecake was much better.
All in all, our second dining experience, particularly the food, was vastly better. I told this to the manager, which he replied "of course because we're not cooking for the masses"
It makes sense but when you're a restaurant, you have to be able to cook large quantities of QUALITY food or no one will come back to eat!
I would definitely come back just for the seafood, which is ironic seeing as its a steakhouse but their seafood is just so much better than their steaks!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/1/2011
F U LA PRIME for ruining our NYE DINNER!
If it was possible to give negative stars for a restaurant,… Read more »
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Review from Aimee I.
Los Angeles, CA
4/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for dineLA and was not really impressed.
We all ordered the course menu and a great bottle of wine. I ordered the arugula salad while the others ordered the chowder. Since this is a steak house, we all decided to order the petit filet.
Before we sunk our chops into some fine dining, we whetted our appetite with some tasty bread from the bread basket. Not long after our food arrived.
The starters were nice, average, but good. When our steaks came out, my mom's was undercooked, ours were done perfectly, medium rare. My mom likes her steaks well done. She let the server know and the server ordered my mom a new one on the fly. The second one came out to her liking.
For a Sunday night, the restaurant was pretty busy. There were many groups around us ordering from the dineLA menu as well.
The view is spectacular and the restaurant is dark and intimate. A perfect date place. -
Review from Kate R.
Los Angeles, CA
1/29/2011
My boyfriend and I went here recently for dinner during Dine LA. We were curious about trying this place due to its Yelp rating and thought that Dine LA would be a good chance to do that.
General ambiance in there was weird. It definitely felt like a hotel. We were seated in one of the round booths. The view was awesome, but the kitchen was right behind us and something knocked very hard (like fight in the next apartment hard) against the wall at least four times during our meal, which we found amusing.
Wine service aside, we ordered from the Dine LA menu, which were items that were definitely versions of entrees on the main menu. We shared the lobster bisque, wedge salad, shrimp scampi, steak au poivre, strawberries romanoff, and banana cream pie creme brulee.
I ate from the bread basket, and I liked the pretzel bread and the white bread with the olive topping. That was excellent and unusual, I wasn't expecting to like it. The appetizers were the best part of the meal. I got the wedge salad without onions, and it was everything a wedge salad should be, minus the bacon. The dressing was amazing, very creamy and mild, with Maytag blue cheese. My boyfriend, who generally does not like blue cheese, absolutely loved it. The lobster bisque was ultra creamy, with some very small pieces of lobster. I've never had a bisque that smooth, and it was almost too much. While it was initially delicious and rich, we both got sick of it after a few bites.
After they took our appetizer plates away, we waited at least another thirty minutes for our main courses. Our waiter came by at one point to the wait to tell us our food would be right there, but that didn't happen for at least another ten minutes. They switched our entrees, giving me the steak and my boyfriend the scampi, which didn't matter since we were sharing, but I remarked that it had been so long she had probably forgotten who ordered what.
The steak au poivre was the better entree between the two, although it was completely rare. I have certainly had better au poivres, but I enjoyed eating it all the same. The scampi was passable, nothing to really write home about. The flavor was good, but lacking. It could have been more garlicky, more lemony, a little spicy, something. We had a side of mashed potatoes that were quite creamy, but we ate very little of it in the end. The busboy pressured us to take them home, which always annoys me.
Cue another twenty minute wait for dessert. My boyfriend took a single bite of his banana cream pie brulee and his face fell in disappointment. In theory it sounded pretty good. I had the strawberries romanoff. Now, my single other experience with strawberries romanoff is with the chain French restaurant La Madeleine, which doesn't exist around here, and they make an excellent version. The dessert I got at LA Prime was far worse. It was at most three strawberries cut in half, around a scoop of ice cream, with a thin red sauce. The menu described strawberries sauteed with grand marnier, but they were cold and hard, the sauce was hardly noticeable, and the ice cream was more like frozen yogurt form Pinkberry. I did not care for it.
Fortunately, we paid pretty quickly and got out of there. I really can't think of something else on the menu that I'd rather try other than what we had, and the high point was really the dressing on the wedge salad. I was expecting more. I'd much rather go to Morton's, which has equally good blue cheese. -
Review from Rey L.
3/3/2011 2 photos
Took mama here for Vday. We ordered the prixe fixe that came with bubbly. Not a bad price considering it is the heaviest commercially marketted, nonsensically generated, biggest horsepooh day for those "In love". I'm not bitter or anything. I just loathe this day for all it is NOT, which is an expression of the supposed "Amoration" for your significant other. That day should be each and every day. Not just once a year. Pooh on you Vday!
(steps off the soapbox)
Anyway, mama deserves to be treated to a night out on the town with me all cleaned up every so often. It was a little difficult trying to find the elevator for the floor where LA Prime was located. Also, the Bonaventure is doing some remodelling so kinda cluttered down in the lobby. The glass elevator (when we found it) was a nice ride. From what mama told me since i'm not the biggest fan of heights.
We got in early for our reservation. First seating. The place was still pretty empty. Got seated quick. Servers were on point. Got our cocktail order in good time. The 4-course menu was served up timely, albeit in the wrong order. The amuse bouche came after the appetizer. No worries though.
I'll make this quick since i've babbled on already...
2nd course - mussels for me and prawns for mama.
very good flavors, sauces and broth were excellent
1st course - maine lobster slaw
came late, but not bad. could've used les dressing for the slaw.
main course - oscar style beef tenderloin for me, scallops for mama.
not impressed with tenderloin. nothing to write about. scallops were delicious.
desert - chocolate mousse terrine, candied pistachios
not bad. it was dark chocolate thou, unfortunately. i prefer milk chocolate.
bubbly - korbel.
it was korbel.
price satisfaction - 3.5
food - 3
service - 3.5 (the chef came out to say hello)
view - 4
company - 10
overall experience - 3.5
