Category Archives: food

Water Grill’s $1.5 Million Renovation Results in Huge Success in Downtown LA

Posted on February 19, 2012 by | 3 Comments

Fresh seafood displayed at the bar counter at the newly renovated Water Grill

It’s been a little over a month since I first posted about Water Grill’s amazing $1.5 million renovation, which sped through construction at lightning speed transforming the restaurant from a dated 90′s era version to the modern classic look it is today. Well, after stopping in on Saturday night this past weekend, I can say with great excitement that the renovation was a huge success as the restaurant was teeming with energy. It was so wonderful to see the place packed with happy diners. Truly a beautiful sight for those who dream of LA becoming a vibrant urban city. We are so much closer than ever before.

Take a look for yourself (below).

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Coffee Lounge, OZERO, Now Open in Little Tokyo in Downtown LA

Posted on February 19, 2012 by | Leave a comment

OZERO Tea and Desserts is now open in Little Tokyo

A new cafe lounge called OZERO by Cofftea is now open in Little Tokyo in Downtown LA on the ground floor of the Hikari Apartments. With its original location in Alhambra in the San Gabriel Valley (an area known to have some of the best Chinese food on this side of the Pacific Ocean), OZERO brings to Little Tokyo coffee, tea, desserts, and boba. The new cafe with a modern design opens up next to Johnny Rockets and Flying Pig and across from Yogurtland and Shin Sen Gumi.

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[Video] Clifton’s Cafeteria Unveiling Event Symbolic of Broadway’s Come Back in Downtown LA

Posted on February 8, 2012 by | 6 Comments


Watch the video of the unveiling of Clifton’s Cafeteria in Downtown LA

For decades, one of the most architecturally beautiful streets in the country has remained derelict and forgotten, left behind for the suburbs to let our city’s most treasured historic buildings sit vacant and uncared-for. Swap meets and check cashing centers dot the landscape where grand department stores and movie palaces once attracted people from far and wide. Nevertheless, Broadway has been waiting patiently for a new generation of Angelenos who care enough and understand the tremendous potential of this amazing part of Los Angeles to become one of the greatest city centers in the country. And the time has come.

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Simply Salad Opening Second Location in Downtown LA’s Old Bank District

Posted on February 8, 2012 by | 9 Comments

The sign for Simply Salad announcing their arrival in the Old Bank District went up this week at the Medallion Apartments

Thanks to Downtown LA resident Joshua Levi for alerting me this week about Simply Salad putting up their “Coming Soon” sign this past Monday at the Medallion apartments ground floor retail space. Owners Cameron Lewis and Bruce Teichman opened up their first and only other Simply Salad in early 2010 at the Ralphs Market Lofts in South Park. According to Simply Salad, the fast casual restaurant “specializes in the freshest custom-built signature salads and wraps with 65+ toppings and 25+ dressings.”

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Silo Vodka Bar Expanding Space and Menu in Downtown LA

Posted on February 7, 2012 by | 6 Comments

Silo Vodka Bar took over Flames Mediterranean Grill next door and is changing it to Silo Slider Bar

Co-owner of 8 month old Silo Vodka Bar, Boris Mayzels, informs me of some exciting changes coming to the nightlife hot spot located at 7th and Broadway in the historic Haas Building. The lounge, which is known for its variety of delicious cocktails (vodka is their forte obviously), will be “moving forward with a gourmet chef driven concept,” Mayzels tells me. “Chef Gustavo Rodriquez, ala Tart and Ford’s Filling Station, is taking over run of the kitchen for Silo starting February 1 and is already tinkering with our existing menu, adding an amazing French onion soup, and improving the rest of the items.”

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Tell Yummy.com Fresh Market You Want Them in Downtown LA

Posted on February 1, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Thanks to readers Alan House and Lauren Phillips for alerting me to Yummy.com Fresh Market’s plan to expand with a new and fourth location in LA. Downtown LA is being considered as a possible expansion location along with Silver Lake/Los Feliz, Westwood/Century City, and the San Fernando Valley. As Downtown LA continues to add more new residents, more grocery options can’t hurt.

Vote 4 Downtown LA: CLICK HERE

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Industriel Restaurant Plans to Open by March 2012 in Downtown LA

Posted on January 27, 2012 by | 3 Comments

Industriel replaces Carl's Jr and is slated to open within the next month or two contingent on passing the city's tough inspection process

It’s been exactly one year since Industriel was announced to replace Carl’s Jr at the corner of 6th and Grand on the ground floor of the historic Milano Lofts building. Then last October, the dark metallic “Industriel signs” were installed over the front door (way before opening) giving us a sneak peek at what was to come. Now, the signs have been lit up at night and new black and white posters have gone up over the front windows.

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Downtown LA’s Water Grill Seafood Restaurant Reopens for Dinner on Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012

Posted on January 21, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The newly remodeled Water Grill reopens for business this Tuesday (Jan 24, 2012) for dinner at 5 pm

It was less than two weeks ago that I got a sneak peek of all the construction going on inside the Water Grill, located in the heart of LA’s financial district. The seafood restaurant’s interior was being transformed from the dated 90′s decor it was well-known for since it first opened in 1991 to an updated classic retro vintage design that pulled from the restaurant’s original art deco elements.

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Fourth Starbucks to Open in Downtown LA’s South Park District

Posted on January 18, 2012 by | 7 Comments

Starbucks has leased about 1,600 SF at 9th and Flower in South Park

Back in August 2011, I reported that Chase Bank was aggressively making inroads into the Downtown LA market by putting, what seemed like, ATMs eveywhere (good for those who bank with Chase avoiding ATM fees). One of the locations that Chase was planning on opening a branch at–the ground floor corner space at the 14-story Skyline Condos at 9th and Flower–fell through. Instead, two sources have confirmed that Starbucks has signed a lease for approximately 1,600 square feet.

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Water Grill Will Reopen End of January with New Look in Downtown LA

Posted on January 11, 2012 by | 2 Comments

A new look and logo, updated menu, and $1.5 million renovation is aimed at keeping Water Grill relevant as Downtown LA continues to rapidly evolve

Yesterday, I got a chance to take a sneak peek inside the work-in-progress and construction that’s actively transforming one of Downtown LA’s most venerated restaurants, Water Grill, from a dated 90′s decor to an updated retro vintage look that successfully manages to pull from the restaurant’s original art deco elements.

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