Food & Nightlife

Beer and Wine Signed for P.E. Lofts' Nightlife Row

By Eric Richardson — June 17, 2009
16 Comments

BabyCakes

The ink is barely dry on a deal to bring a new beer and wine bar to the growing nightlife stretch on 6th street between Main and Los Angeles. The owners of the USC-adjacent Bacaro LA are signed to open in a roughly 800 square foot space in the Pacific Electric building, next to Blu LA Cafe.


Touring Downtown WIFI: Cafe Bermuda*

By Ed Fuentes — June 17, 2009 — 3 Comments

5th and Main Ed Fuentes

The ever changing northeast corner of 5th and Main has had quite the evolution. It held a chicken joint selling legs and thighs with a side of nefarious inventory, then it "upgraded" to Main Street Cafe . . . briefly. Now the business has been purchased, the interior redesigned and opened as Café Bermuda.

The current soft-opening began last Thursday, just in time for Art Walk. It came down to the wire -- the last of the permits were issued the day before. — Continued Inside...


Tonight: Cocktails and Cabaret at The Edison's Radio Room

By Jeannine Denholm — June 16, 2009

Edison Radio Room

Tuesday evening, the Edison continues its tradition of bringing some of the best mixologists Downtown with Radio Room, a night of original cocktails and cabaret.


Touring Downtown WIFI: Plum Tree Inn

By Ed Fuentes — June 01, 2009
1 Comment

PlumTreeInn

Today's Downtown WIFI spot might be a bit of a surprise, but Chinatown's Plum Tree Inn is a place where you can have a working lunch or knock out a last minute deadline. So how does a 30-year-old family-owned restaurant stay traditional and yet cater to new customers?


ESPN Zone Gets Big New Screen to Replace Bezels

By Eric Richardson — May 29, 2009

ESPNZone's New Screen

It's amazing how big a few little lines can be. Since its opening in December of last year, visitors to L.A. Live's ESPN Zone have complained about the pair of bezel lines running through the main picture of the venue's centerpiece Screening Room. As of this morning, they're history.


L.A. Live Unveils Discount Program for Downtown Residents

By Eric Richardson — May 29, 2009 — 53 Comments

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill Eric Richardson

L.A. Live today announced a discount program designed to encourage Downtown residents to visit its restaurants and nightlife on the complex's quieter nights. The program offers up to 15% off at many of the L.A. Live restaurants, but only applies on nights when Staples Center and the Nokia Theatre are dark. — Continued Inside...


Does Biltmore's La Bistecca Count as a New Restaurant?

By Eric Richardson — May 29, 2009
1 Comment

Biltmore Hotel Rendevous Court

Last night was opening night for the Biltmore's La Bistecca, which the hotel's PR calls a "fine-dining steakhouse concept." Set in the hotel's Rendezvous Court, the eatery has gotten good hype in the food blogs. But is it really fair to call it a new restaurant?


Versus Invites Community Input Before Permit Hearing

By Eric Richardson — May 26, 2009
15 Comments

Versus

Spring street nightclub Versus hopes to receive permission to reopen after a June 9 hearing on its Conditional Use Permit. In the meantime, the new ownership is inviting neighbors to visit the club on Thursday to see the venue and ask questions about what that reopening entails.


Brand New Johnny Rockets in Little Tokyo Already Expanding

By Ed Fuentes — May 24, 2009
7 Comments

Johnny Rockets

The small Johnny Rockets in Little Tokyo has only been open a week, but already it is looking to expand. The location opened with only 15 indoor seats, but will soon be adding capacity in a portion of the space vacated by the closing of Pastagina.


Tony's Saloon Pushes Cedd Moses' Downtown Empire East

By Blue Derkin — May 22, 2009
1 Comment

Tony's

In an almost anti-Hollywood move, the latest offering from Cedd Moses’ 213 Ventures opened without fanfare on Friday, May 15. The unassuming soft opening was fitting for a bar that blends in quietly with its industrial surroundings. Much like 213's other bars, Tony's sets out to be a neighboring water hole. It's just further east. Much further east.