Water Grill - Los Angeles

My partner and I have had the chance to finally check this place off of our list of restaurants to try out & we will for sure be back!

It started off with the warm greeting of the manager, Sherryl! She is so personable, engaging, and provided the best hospitality from entry to leaving. She made sure the floor was attended to at all times and we can tell that her and her team worked very well together.

We were at the bar and all of the bartenders were very nice, made sure you were comfortable and had really great cocktail options.

The seafood was fresh, the entrees and appetizers we ordered were hot and there were so many options to choose from. We cannot wait to go back for dessert and to have such a wonderful dinner experience again!

I had a wonderful experience at the Water Grill. The food was delicious, the waitress was friendly and accommodating. My husband and I will be making regular trips!!

Water Grill is an absolute gem in the heart of downtown! From the moment our group stepped in, we were greeted with warmth and hospitality. Sheryl runs a tight ship with grace and professionalism, ensuring every guest feels like a VIP.

Our server, Denise, was great. Her knowledge of the menu and recommendations made our dining experience exceptional. She went above and beyond. Everything we ordered was delicious. 5 stars all around.

First time ever. We sat at the bar and Jonathon "Johnny" was our bartender and server. He is a vibe!!! Amazing person. Good energy. Efficient. Fast. On top of it. I would come back here just for him. The food is good too ;)
Get the calamari with the oyster dipping sauces. The white and purple ones. See photos.

We appreciate you, Johnny!

Visited on a Saturday night; service was prompt. The ambiance was comfortable with manageable noise levels. Enjoyed the fresh and flavorful bread service.

The off-menu pink bream ceviche was a standout, deserving of a 5/5 rating. Oysters were also notably fresh.

The lobster roll showcased fresh ingredients, complemented by crispy toasted bread. While slightly bland, it might be typical for a lighter flavor profile in lobster rolls, as it was my first experience with one.

The filet was cooked correctly. Suggestion: offering steak butters as an alternative to chimichurri would enhance the dining experience

BLUF
Clams and chorizo (yes!!!!) calamari (yes) crab cake (yes)

Love, love, love our date night at the Water Grill. Was here about a month ago and couldn't wait to get back for another helping of the Clams and Chorizo. This is a great dish but we go old school and soak our bread in the clam and chorizo sauce as part of our "plan of attack". The sauce has a hint of Safron, garlic and other tasty spices. Oooohh so good! Order this, you won't be disappointed. The Calamari and Crab Cake were both cooked to perfection as well. The house bread they serve you pre-meal w the garlic butter is to die for. Service was outstanding and the ambiance just as good!

A few of my friends were talking about seafood and I thought we should try this place. You do need a reservation.

My friend and I arrived but had to wait for the other two. We first went to the bar to wait and then I said for us to just be seated. We were seated right away. The minute we sat down with immediately we're greeted with our server " Carlos". He asked us if we would like to start off with some cocktails while we waited for our friends. We had two manhattans.

So, the rest of the crew finally arrived. Fashionably late. Carlos, our server came back around as he noticed that they arrived.

We started off with the Hollywood Maryland fresh oysters and the Calamari. Mind you two of my friends had never tasted fresh oysters before. Their excuse was it look too prehistoric. Needless to say, I start it off and ordered three so that each one of them could try it. Let me tell you they wanted more. These Hollywood Maryland oysters were wonderful. They were freshly chucked. It was simply lovely.

The calamari on the other hand tasted very fishy to me. Did not taste fresh at all. Even spreading lemons on top of it didn't really help. I have a keen tastebuds. This was not the ticket.

I ordered the filet mignon for dinner, and it was cooked perfectly. The à la carte mashed potatoes were so creamy they were divine. Almost tasted like mine.

My one friend ordered the fish and chips, and he said that the card was very moist but the batter had literally no flavor to it. I didn't bother tasting this one.

My other friend had the shrimp scampi. This was very light yet flavorful and the shrimp or cooked perfectly.

Lastly, my other friend had the Seabass and I also tasted that as well. I actually wish I would've gotten that instead of the fillet mignon. Not saying that the filet mignon wasn't great because it was but the Chilean Seabass was the absolute bomb!

After dinner was finished our server Carlos asked us if we wanted any dessert and of course we passed. But I did request a special type of margarita. I believe it's a margarita, cucumber Verde. Let me tell you this drink is refreshing and good yet it's addicting.

After all is said and done our survey, Carlos was absolutely magnificent. He's one of the best servers I've had in a very long time. Attention to detail attention to his customers and overall just a positive person.

For a franchise this is an actually great one. A definite must try. Make sure you get the fresh oysters they have different varieties.

Should up to one of the places that I've been wanting to try in dtla. The ambience is very upscale/casual. We were seated in a booth as soon as we walked in. Our server was pretty cool also. I would want to come back here in the day time to see if the vibe is different. I prefer the sea bass and caesar salad and my guest ordered the salmon and calamari. Both entrees were to die for. I could actually go for it right now as I'm typing this. Parking is $12. Not much to say besides... make a reservation!

Price: $$$$
Ambience: Moderate/Casual
Noise Level: 2

My partner and I both work in downtown LA. Some
Mondays we try the restaurants by our jobs and this past Monday this was our jam. The ambiance is really chill and the service was amazing. I'm not even sure where to begin with the food! I had looked at the menu several times and decided on the crab cake as an appetizer, the scallops as an entree, Mac and cheese as a side. My partner got the Cesar salad as an appetizer, the swordfish as an entree and asparagus as a side . The food was AMAZING!
They also serve you fresh bread
Lastly ! There is valet only . $5 with validation for 2 hours !

Stopped by for afternoon drinks and oysters during the weekend around 1 pm. Restaurant was almost empty with the exception of a few tables.

Ordered a Pershing Square cocktail which was really good, not sweet and had a hint of citrus. It definitely paired well with the vodka.

We ordered the oyster sampler, clam chowder, and lobster roll to share. I asked the server not to bring any hot dishes until we were done with the oysters.

The dozen oysters arrived and we got to try one of each type. My faves are still the Kumamotos because they are slightly briny and sweet.

Another server didn't get my request and promptly brought the clam chowder before we even got to taste the oysters. Luckily, the original server caught this and took the chowder back to keep them warm while we worked on the oysters.

Clam chowder was standard, slightly runny with a few pieces of clam and veggies. I will always order clam chowder when I see it on a menu, but this fell short of impressing me.

The lobster roll was the star of the meal, served warm and buttery with a side of the lemon mayo, fresh cut fries, ketchup, and a dish of pickles. Each bite was decadent and flavorful with every element together in one bite.

Service is great, not overbearing but attentive.

Parking is $5 for 2 hours with validation.