blu l.a. cafe retools for a more affordable experience
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Following an admittedly hectic opening week, owners Jacob Bowser and Nipith Ongwiseth of Blu LA Cafe have retooled their homestyle menu by lowering prices and adding more affordable options in response to community input.
An $8.50 cheeseburger was added to the menu recently, matching the price point of new neighborhood hits the Nickel Diner and Ma Petit. And braised pork, shredded barbecue-style atop homemade mac & cheese, is a savory, mouth-watering option.
Blu LA is still finding its niche in the Historic Core, but it’s on the right track with an all-day breakfast menu of scrambles, omelets, breakfast sandwiches and French toast, from $6.00-$8.00 a plate.
Multi-year residents of Downtown LA, the team started from scratch with what was a forgotten extension of the century-old Cole’s PE Buffet next door in the basement of the Pacific Electric Lofts building.
Alvin Oei of Randall-Baylon Architects, which led the complete redesign along with Dena Foster, likened the original interior as a dust-filled crawlspace.
In fact, it was in such a deteriorated state at that time, said Bowser, “There was no way I would have eaten in there.” Nine months of build-out and clean-up involved adding new kitchen, bathroom and sidewalk seating facilities; tearing down partitions; and “lots and lots of bleach.”
With late-night hours every day of the week, this gritty corner of Downtown is now a little better because of it.
Images via Blu LA Cafe on flickr.
Blu LA Cafe
126 E 6th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014
213-488-2088
blu.la
Current Hours
Monday - Thursday: 7am - 11pm
Friday & Saturday: 7am - 2am
Sunday: 8am - Midnight
26 comments
Beautiful job. I give these owners a lot of credit. Very well done. Food is really good too. Don’t give up.. It’s a matter of 3-6 more months before a few more sb buildings open up around the corner, Coles opening next week, Versus, the Accossiation, and another few nice lounges, restaurants, and shops opening along the 6th st corridor.
We just have to find a way to connect this beatuful Main and Spring St area of 6th st to the Olive/Grand area of 6th st.
From Broadway to Olive, it’s starts to get a little scary to walk. Not so much because of any danger, but more of a very it just being s very unpleasant block to be on during the day.
Why do the homless love & blend in so well on Broadway?
I think it’s because it’s like a jungle down there, and they can do as they please.
(It will be very touch mixing new downtown style shops and restaurants with the old swap meet style broadway. I think in the end, it will be one or the other. They don’t really mix well)
Yes, Lacy. Isn’t it horrible that the homeless are ruining all of our fun. Obviously, you don’t walk much past Main on your way down to Blu La. Those lovable scamps are also mucking up from Los Angeles east.
It’s nearly like they moved into YOUR neighborhood just to spite you.
Lower prices is a good move. Any chance they will fix the horrible service?
doubtful. Horrible service is a city-wide epidemic.
they just opened, gotta cut them a bit of slack and have patience too. I also welcome this proactive and forthcoming move regarding menu items and pricing.
See they realize that it is an ever evolving and adjusting way to get it just right eventually :) .
They got rid of the really good fries/things that they had when they first opened. The peanut butter and jelly sandwich is also incredibly tiny.
I don’t know what the people meant by service, they were nice and accommodating to me.
oh! I didn’t see the Reuban on the menu anymore! (I waited too long to get over there I guess!)
You all complain about wanting downtown LA to be a better place and then when someone comes in to make it better, you complain. Get a life!
Think of them as suggestions… obviously Blu took note.
Bravo to Blu L.A.’s owners for being pro-active. I think they had a rough opening, but it looks like things are shaping up. It’s a great space, and the food is good. And their deserts are great!
The price drop was key. I’m glad people are taking imput. We all want these places to work out. Nobody wants a new place to go under.
I think a key to making the area more walkable at night is more lighting. Boardway is well lit at night. Why can’t spring and main be too. 7th and spring heading south feels like a mugging waiting to happen at night. With all thats happening around the area you would hope the city would put a little money into making it feel more safe. Light won’t stop a criminal, but it helps keep them hanging out on other streets.
Oooh Nightmare Before Christmas was the inspiration? I have to check this place out, I loooove Tim Burton. Those sketches are so cool
I had the braised pork, shredded barbecue-style atop homemade mac & cheese, last night after reading the above, and it was really good. $19.00 + tip for one dinner with drink doesn’t look like a price cut, but it was that good, and worth it!
I went there the first week they were open. The food was good, and the service also, though I was ignored for a good ten minutes. The biggest problem they had was the pricing, which they seem to have taken some steps to correct. I will give them another try.
I went to Blu Cafe for the 1st time this weekend for brunch and was highly disappointed. The lower prices and friendly were a good sign but our moods changed when we were charged $3 for substituting egg whites in a $8 omlette. Then after 30 minutes our waitress informs us that the cook forgot to substitute with egg whites. We waited another 15 for the meal and everything but the eggwhite omlette was cold. We told them we had to run and asked for to go boxes for our order and still waited another 15 before I walked up to the counter to pay. The waitress then has the nerve to ask if we had time to enjoy our meal. After a firm no, we abruptly left… if perhaps they had gave us a small percentage off our bill for the inconvenience, I might have come back… but there is no way I’m going back now.
Some people say Blu has GREAT service, then some people say they have HORRIBLE service. its hard to give credibility to these opinions anymore because everything is so extreme which is funny. Think Ill stop by for dinner tonight and judge for myself.
I really want to like Blu LA. Its right in my neighborhood and the food is great. The new pricing and menu items are fine improvements but the service is truely bad and it seems like they’ve had time enough to work out those kinks. When I was there the other day there were 7 other patrons in the dining room yet it took them 25 minutes to serve my sandwich and though Jacob was there he never issued an apology. Again, I really want to like it there but considerate service is such an important aspect to me.
Ate there this past weekend and agree about the service issues. The food was pretty good and the cafe itself is very nice, however we waited almost 30 minutes for our meal and we were the only ones there at one point. I only ordered a breakfast sandwich, which consisted of eggs and canadian bacon on a croissant. They seemed to get more into the groove as other parties arrived with meals being served to those parties afer about 10 minutes.
I ordered a muffin for dessert which the owner gave us on the house. Again the food is pretty good and the place has a ton of potential. I didn’t find the prices to be too bad either - however they have got to get the service issues worked out if it’s to succeed.
I agree with alot of these comments, I love the food and design and its great that u lowered your prices but to the owners Jacob and Nipith…in terms of service, you really need to listen to what this community is saying, and its not asking for much. A simple one-hour meeting with your employees can fix this.
I have come in for wine a few times and sat at the bar. The attitude of the owners of this place are not becoming of a business. I have never seen owners lounge around so much with blank stares.They leave their employees hanging for hours to figure things out on their own. I saw people leave because a girl had no idea how to work the computer! I am a business owner, and you have to be dedicated. You can’t open a business and then just leave it to your employees to figure out while you sit in the corner drinking wine working on other creative ideas. It causes one problem after the other. Jacob in particular, you have to tone down that ego. You are really self absorbed and not paying attention to customers or their experience. I have seen the way you talk down to customers like they are idiots when they ask simple questions. And the way you treat your employees, you need to realize they are there to make you look good but you can’t put everything on their shoulders. I only say this because as a business owner, you have to leave your ego at the door and be of service if you want to make money. And when someone asks you “How is business?” don’t say it’s not good, say it’s wonderful! This is not just me, but when I bring up blu l.a. to people in the area more often than not I hear “that guy is full of himself and rude to his employees.” not a good impression you want to leave on people. Good looks won’t get you by forever. Nipith, I like the way you handle people. At least you can communicate without be hostile.
Oh, your sampler with the wine should be more like a cheese and bread plate with olives or something. Although the fried chicken is VERY good!
I love when your Sommlier is there! He actually was helping serve people. Your servers are all very kind, they just need more solid training and they will be excellent! And next time you are full, and you guy’s are sitting at a table perhaps get up and allow a customer to sit there. Money?
I’m thrilled it’s open. Downtown is still food-challenged so the more the merrier. Sad to see Blossom got a C. C for Sick.
LA remains a city to allow the stupidest names for restaurants bars and cafes. “Blu LA” screams 1991. Is the “LA” there in case I fall down the stairs, strike my head on a numbskull smoking outside the Douchociation and forget what city I’m in?
I also hate french press coffee. It never tastes or feels brewed. But the espresso is decent. Caffe Trieste or Blue Bottle would be better choices. (San Francisco, naturally, but LA isn’t known to strive for greatness when it comes to such details.) But I appreciate the good food, the good pastries and I have always had kind, warm service there, when I’m alone or with friends.
Now if they’d only fix that name.
From Blossom Restaurant re: “C”
For Customers Concerned About the C Rating
Below is a breakdown of the inspection report:
Consumption of food by staff in food prep area - 6 points
All containers to be labeled in English
Cloth instead of plastic lid used to cover container
Food preparation in customer area - 12 points
Utensils stored in flour container and next to stove
Use of domestic appliance
Food thawed in an area not approved for thawing
Repair floor and wall section
Hood ventilation 6 inches out
Paper hand towels not restocked
Door to men’s bathroom not automatically closing - 9 points
We have taken swift action to rectify the above. Blossom Management and staff are disappointed in the rating however, we feel this does not reflect our high standard of hygiene or quality of food.
If you have any concerns or wish to see the inspection report please speak to one of our waitstaff.
In the meantime we will continue to strive towards restaurant excellence!
Yours sincerely
Blossom Management
D. Town Eye is more like D. Town A>>. Jacob I hear is the head behind Blu, so when you walk in his shoes and pay $500,000 to redevelop Skid Row and not mistaken ego for confidence, then you talk. It seems like all you do is gossip and hide behind a fake name. Why don’t you go out and start a business to help redevelop downtown and employee people instead of gossiping.
Criticism is a necessary part of establishing and adjusting standards.
I, too, have witnessed the aforementioned embarrassingly unprofessional treatment of employees by one of the owners of Blu LA. It is quite unfortunate and though I want to support all downtown restaurants, I will not return to a business whose unprofessional employers treat their employees with such disrespect in front of their guests.
In response to Susan:
You write this as if you think you know who I am? A? Who is this? I’m not sure what you are getting at. And you are sadly mistaken, but he is not responsible for the whole redeveloping of skid row. It’s to bad he has friends backing up his behavior. “It seems like all you do is gossip? Are you stalking my anonymous name or something? Thank you Charles. I myself have nothing against this place, I would just hope it would help a blossoming business owner to be more aware of their actions.