Bottega Louie
Bottega is an Italian term traditionally used to refer to a place where aspiring artists learn from masters. Based on this definition, Bottega Louie has it all wrong, because there is nothing amateurish about this place. Bottega Louie is only about one year old, but it became one of my favorite places in Downtown L.A. after my first visit last summer. I fell in love with Bottega Louie all over again over the weekend.
Bottega Louie is absolutely huge. I mean literally. The restaurant is divided into four parts: 1) restaurant; 2) bar/cafe area - the only part of Bottega Louie I haven't actually experienced yet, but from what I understand, offers some selections from the restaurant menu and the gourmet market; 3) gourmet market; and 4) patisserie. My main focus will be the first and last parts, as they are what make me a repeat patron.
The restaurant side of Bottega Louie is deceptively simple. The spatial atmosphere is created by the white marble floor and high ceiling, but all the tables are fairly close together. The combination of the two creates a very loud environment sometimes that you do have to shout just to be heard by someone at your own table, which gets really annoying. It is worth it though for the food, which also seems simple on the surface but is quite grand once you start exploring the flavors. I love truffles, but that aside, I just do not like mushrooms at all. So it really says something when I tell you that I am addicted to the Portobello Fries ($9). This is a must on every visit. Bottega Louie gives a really generous portion of thick, long chunks of portobello that has been battered, deep fried, and served with an aioli sauce.
There are actual entrees that are excellent, as well. The two I would strongly recommend are the Hanger Steak Verdura ($18) above and the Burrata Pizza ($16) below.
The steak is served with black truffle sauce. (See previous comment on how I feel about truffles.) There isn't anything particularly special about this entree - it's just plain good. This is definitely for someone who enjoys some good prime beef. The Burrata Pizza is my favorite at Bottega Louie. I tried the Bianco Pizza over the weekend, and while it was good, it does not surpass the burrata one in taste. I am a sucker for burrata, which is like mozzarella but tastes creamier. The prosciutto and rapini make me love this pizza more. The only thing about Bottega Louie's pizzas one must be aware of is it is best when you eat it as soon as it is brought to your table. The cheeses and texture of the dough change as the pizza cools, so grab a slice while it's hot.
I have yet to actually have dessert at Bottega Louie, as I am obsessed with the patisserie there. My visit over the weekend had a great deal to do with the fact that my dining companion informed me that Bottega Louie launched a chocolate line last month. So after a huge filling lunch, we bought chocolates and macarons to stuff ourselves even further. There were five different chocolate flavors to choose from: pistachio, cherry dark chocolate; English toffee dark chocolate; milk chocolate; toasted almond, raisin milk chocolate; and hibiscus, passionfruit white chocolate. Each chocolate bar costs $6. While all good, the first one was definitely my favorite by far. As for the macarons, you can't go wrong with any one of them, though the raspberry one was particularly flavorful. Each macaron had a crispy yet delicate shell and smooth filling sandwiched in between. I'm also a sucker for the macaron packaging. The boxes are adorable, and I reuse them after I devour the macarons.
Miscellaneous:
The gourmet market is actually not that impressive to me. Not a wide selection of cheeses and sandwiches, but it's a good stop for someone who wants something high end and is on the go. To me, however, if you're going to go to Bottega Louie, don't just pass through - stay for a while.
There is a parking structure nearby, but honestly, I just take the Metro Rail and walk on over from the station on 7th.
Bottega Louie
700 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Phone: (866) 418-9162
Hours: Monday-Friday 6:30 am-11 pm, Saturday-Sunday 9 am-11 pm
Bottega Louie is absolutely huge. I mean literally. The restaurant is divided into four parts: 1) restaurant; 2) bar/cafe area - the only part of Bottega Louie I haven't actually experienced yet, but from what I understand, offers some selections from the restaurant menu and the gourmet market; 3) gourmet market; and 4) patisserie. My main focus will be the first and last parts, as they are what make me a repeat patron.
The restaurant side of Bottega Louie is deceptively simple. The spatial atmosphere is created by the white marble floor and high ceiling, but all the tables are fairly close together. The combination of the two creates a very loud environment sometimes that you do have to shout just to be heard by someone at your own table, which gets really annoying. It is worth it though for the food, which also seems simple on the surface but is quite grand once you start exploring the flavors. I love truffles, but that aside, I just do not like mushrooms at all. So it really says something when I tell you that I am addicted to the Portobello Fries ($9). This is a must on every visit. Bottega Louie gives a really generous portion of thick, long chunks of portobello that has been battered, deep fried, and served with an aioli sauce.
There are actual entrees that are excellent, as well. The two I would strongly recommend are the Hanger Steak Verdura ($18) above and the Burrata Pizza ($16) below.
The steak is served with black truffle sauce. (See previous comment on how I feel about truffles.) There isn't anything particularly special about this entree - it's just plain good. This is definitely for someone who enjoys some good prime beef. The Burrata Pizza is my favorite at Bottega Louie. I tried the Bianco Pizza over the weekend, and while it was good, it does not surpass the burrata one in taste. I am a sucker for burrata, which is like mozzarella but tastes creamier. The prosciutto and rapini make me love this pizza more. The only thing about Bottega Louie's pizzas one must be aware of is it is best when you eat it as soon as it is brought to your table. The cheeses and texture of the dough change as the pizza cools, so grab a slice while it's hot.
I have yet to actually have dessert at Bottega Louie, as I am obsessed with the patisserie there. My visit over the weekend had a great deal to do with the fact that my dining companion informed me that Bottega Louie launched a chocolate line last month. So after a huge filling lunch, we bought chocolates and macarons to stuff ourselves even further. There were five different chocolate flavors to choose from: pistachio, cherry dark chocolate; English toffee dark chocolate; milk chocolate; toasted almond, raisin milk chocolate; and hibiscus, passionfruit white chocolate. Each chocolate bar costs $6. While all good, the first one was definitely my favorite by far. As for the macarons, you can't go wrong with any one of them, though the raspberry one was particularly flavorful. Each macaron had a crispy yet delicate shell and smooth filling sandwiched in between. I'm also a sucker for the macaron packaging. The boxes are adorable, and I reuse them after I devour the macarons.
Miscellaneous:
The gourmet market is actually not that impressive to me. Not a wide selection of cheeses and sandwiches, but it's a good stop for someone who wants something high end and is on the go. To me, however, if you're going to go to Bottega Louie, don't just pass through - stay for a while.
There is a parking structure nearby, but honestly, I just take the Metro Rail and walk on over from the station on 7th.
Bottega Louie
700 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Phone: (866) 418-9162
Hours: Monday-Friday 6:30 am-11 pm, Saturday-Sunday 9 am-11 pm