Insider Pages Reviews for Bottega Louie Restaurant and Gourmet Market

4 Stars: Great Food (by troywarkentin)

troywarkentin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Like this place, cool ideas and changes to traditional Italian...

4 Stars: A great 'pre-theatre' alternative (by jay2002)

jay2002 — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Heard about this place from everyone at Citysearch the last few months, tried it out tonight before going to see Arias with a Twist at the Red Cat (fantastic, too!). Massive room with high ceilings and all white minimalist decor, rest of seating etc looks like an italian cafe style. Food is yummy... we tried the pizza, the chicken milanese, the arugula salad, the the mussels. Everything was fast and great. We could not get a table in the main room for 20 min which we could not spare, so we ate in the bar area which felt about the same as the other room. The high ceilings and hard surfaces make this place LOUD, but somehow it was tolerable. Since i don't have other favorites near the Disney Music Hall area, this has just become the default pre theatre dinner spot.

1 Stars: A ridiculous dining experience (by Eater101)

Eater101 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT

LA's most ridiculous dining experience. Pretending to be New York and looking silly at it! NO BUZZ just NOISE! A beautiful space with great looking food that may as well be catfood because you can't sit and enjoy it unless you are a 20 year old air head! So noisey that you can't hold a conversation, can't hear the waitress and can't hear yourself think let alone put down a plate of food. The help looks like they are in pain overcoming working in the noise. Too bad because the food is beautifully prepared. You also have to FIND help and ASK for service at the takeout counter. Not a great location either unless you like street urchins. IF I never go back I will not be missing a thing- except a head ache and indigestion, wishing I could enjoy their beautiful plate of food.

4 Stars: Finally! A #DTLA Brunch Spot (by Michael Fran)

Michael Fran — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I've been for many an evening meal (side note -- you MUST get the Portobello Fries), but never brunch... until last Sunday. It hits the same strides as lunch and dinner -- fantastic menu options, great server-to-patron ratio and excellent service and food. Go for the Farmers Market Breakfast and try a side of the berries with honey yogurt. The fresh juices make a great combo, and the on-the-house bread and jam while you wait is delicious. It's as busy and loud as any other time, but if you're a downtown resident you can't be but happy to see the place flourish.

5 Stars: top notch food, beautiful space (by heyitsmikesmart)

heyitsmikesmart — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I love this place. The pizza is great. The assorted sandwiches at brunch are amazing. The coffee is pretty damned good. The bread is fantastic. And the prices are SO GOOD.

Plus, they're incredibly flirty. So you get to feel really attractive.

4 Stars: A Must See Location (by abraz)

abraz — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Great space - high ceilings - this is how I imagine Prague - I felt like I was in another country - big room, lots of people, open kitchen, bakery off to the side - great for breakfast, lunch or dinner - I bet the people living in the area (or working) come here all the time.. we live in Santa Monica and we have made the drive in a few times ourselves - and that says something when you are willing to drive in to the belly of LA just to grab a bite to eat.... well worth it...

3 Stars: come for the portabello fries, stay for the great service (by kara nortman)

kara nortman — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Entering the space, I walked through the bakery, take-out portion of the huge space. Immediately I felt the weight of the spectacular downtown lofty ceilings. I was accosted by the wafting smells of pizza set against the classic, yet modern incarnation of the brick pizza ovens (in this case white brick). My first thought and last was I wished I lived nearby as this is the kind of place you would like to call yourself a regular for brunch with the sunday times.

Dinner was good, certain dishes verged on great and the experience was excellent for the price (3-4 courses with wine ended up coming out to $50/person) .

First the musts- the portabello fries. If you order one thing, make sure you don't miss out on these scrumptious, well seasoned, though still healthy (c'mon let me pretend, they are mushrooms after all!) small plate. The regular old potato fries were excellent as well, coated with perfect dusting of salt and crunch. The pizza, eggplant parm, branzino and beet salad where also quite good.

The chicken hero and calamari small plate were below average.

We enjoyed the assortment of macarons for dessert- my favorite was the chocolate passionate fruit, but all were good depending on your preference.

All in all good, service, nice atmosphere, appropriate but not overwhelming number of downtown hipsters and good food with a few occasional misses.

5 Stars: MUY DIVINO! (by antihipster)

antihipster — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 09:00:00 GMT

..................this is a true dining expierience! everything is so worth it, is not just good food, it is an expierience for the palate....the wait was so worth it...splurge , and order up , portabello fries, great steaks ,desserts,, its ALL so yummy......beautiful people without the ugly hollywood cheese factor .WAY TO GO DOWNTOWN ! and thanks Bottega Louie for a great expierience !

4 Stars: Great Place for lunch (by Nirali2009)

Nirali2009 — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT

This a great place for an afternoon lunch with girlfriends. They have a great selection of gourmet sandwiches. Loved It ! definitely will be going there again. However finding a parking spot on the street was a real problem in downtown.

Overall, I reccomend it for the food and the wine. They also some great stuff for pick up !

5 Stars: Pizza heaven (by BobDob)

BobDob — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Very impressive space and yet it's casual. Some very nice decorative flourishes, but best of all is the food. Their pasta is very, very good, and their pizza is the only "real" pizza Downtown. Now if they could just deliver...

5 Stars: Beautiful (by Terrance99)

Terrance99 — Sat, 16 May 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Really enjoyed myself. I am was referred by a client and I am so happy I went. I will be bak many , many times.

5 Stars: Awesome! (by joekuttan)

joekuttan — Thu, 14 May 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Im surprised there are not more reviews about this downtown jewel. This place is amazing. Its basically one huge, HUGE room. No real interior walls. There is a semi-bakery, small bar area, kitchen area, and pizza oven area - all are exposed so you can see everything. The restaurant is amazingly clean and service is wonderful. I went on a Wednesday night and it was packed but I did not have to wait for a table. Food is great and very reasonably priced. I will definitely go back!

5 Stars: AMAZING!!! (by roxiehall)

roxiehall — Thu, 14 May 2009 09:00:00 GMT

This is a great addition to downtown!! The food is delicious and the staff is wonderful! Try the lasagne or the petit sandwiches that surprisingly fill you up. The desserts are to die for as well. Everything is great about this place. Go and enjoy, you will not regret it!!

5 Stars: This place is absolutely beautiful! (by IHeartCheapFood)

IHeartCheapFood — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:00:00 GMT

OMG, this place is like walking into heaven. I swear! It is downright beautiful, gorgeous, stunning, palatial, breathtaking, and de-lish!

I love that the pizza oven is the focal point of the restaurant. I love the open concept of the kitchen, I LOVE the staff. I seriously cannot say enough about this place.

You can either have a casual experience where you sit in the market/cafe area or you can wine and dine in the restaurant dinning area for a hot date. Trust me, bring anyone here and they will be wowed.

Last but not least, I just adore the boxes for the baked goods and the gold cups that the cupcakes are in. Seriously, everything is just down to the detail.

Enjoy!!!!