Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
140
L.A. LIVE
We'd be remiss not to mention all the new eateries at L.A. LIVE, the high-v olt-
age (literally…there are giant LED screens lighting up the c ourtyard), massive
complex that opened near ST APLES Center and the L os Angeles C onvention
Center at the end of 2008. Sure, most of the restaurants are chains, but at least
most are local chains , and, really, we're just glad t o have so man y options f or
lunch and dinner in the ar ea now. The famed Latin music mec ca, the C onga
Room, relocated here, and with it came
Boca
(
&
213/749-0162; w ww.conga
room.com), a pan-Latin dining room that looks into the nightclub and is a great
option for dinner and a sho w.
Rock'N Fish
(
&
213/748-4020; w ww.rocknfish
lalive.com) is a popular st eak and seaf ood restaurant from Manhattan Beach.
Don't miss the Na vy Gr og, a pot ent rum drink .
The Farm of B everly Hills
(
&
213/747-4555; w ww.thefarmofbeverlyhills.com) has c omfort f ood and
lighter fare like salads and sandwiches, all made with seasonal ingredients. The
largest
Katsuya
(
&
213/747-9797; w ww.sbe.com/katsuya) r estaurant in L.A.
opened in spring 2009 and is a st ylish spot for sushi (the baked crab hand r oll
is dynamite) and well-crafted, fresh-fruit cocktails. A new
Trader Vic's
(
&
213/
785-3330; www.tradervicsla.com) opened in 2009, and while it isn 't as tiki-rific
as the original, it's great to have a second location for Scorpion Bowls and pupu
platters.
Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill
(
&
213/748-9700; w ww.wolfgangpuck.
com) showcases the c elebrity chef 's simpler side .
Rosa Mexicano
(www.rosa
mexicano.com) brings M exican cuisine fr om New York. There's also a
Lawry's
Carvery
(
&
213/222-2212; w ww.lawrysonline.com),
New Z ealand Na tural
(
&
213/748-4696; w ww.nznusa.com) ice cream, a huge
ESPN Zone
(
&
213/
765-7070; www.espnzone.com),
Fleming's Steakhouse and Wine Bar
(
&
213/
745-9911; w ww.flemingssteakhouse.com), a
Yard House
(
&
213/745-9273;
www.yardhouse.com) for beer and bar food lovers, and of course a
Starbucks.
6
1050 S. Flower St. (at 11th St.), Los Angeles.
&
213/749-1460.
www.riverarestaurant.com. Reservations
recommended. Main courses dinner $16-$29, lunch $12-$18. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Fri 11:30am-
2pm and 5:30-10:30pm; Sat 5:30-10:30pm; Sun 5:30-10pm. Valet parking $6.
Water Grill
SEAFOOD Widely considered to be the best seafood house in the
city, Water Grill is popular with the suit-and-tie cr owd at lunch and with concer tgoers en
route to the M usic Center at night. The dining room is a stylish and sophisticated fusion
of wood, leather, and brass, but it gets a lighthear ted lift from cavorting papier-mâché fish
that play against an aquamarine ceiling. The restaurant is kno wn for its shellfish; among
the appetizers are a dozen different oysters, Nantucket Bay scallops, and crispy sweetbreads.
Main courses ar e imaginative dishes influenced b y coastal cuisines of H awaii, the P acific
Northwest, New Orleans, and N ew England. Selections from the menu may range fr om
Santa Barbara spot prawns pair ed with fingerling potato salad to line-caught pan-r oasted
Alaskan halibut with Niman Ranch bacon and sw eet pea tendril juice. For dessert, try the
mascarpone with figs and cherries, or the chocolate br ead pudding.
