a special year: 2008, the year of the restaurant
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The year 2008 may just be known as the year the world took notice of our little burg — or at least reluctant Angelenos who otherwise may not have ventured Downtown that often.
Sometimes it just takes facts and figures to really quantify what’s happening, even if you see it day in and day out.
So despite the underpinnings of a flailing economy that began last December, over 67 restaurant and nightlife projects in the pipeline have been seen through to a grand opening. Those business owners took a risk and deserve our recognition for making it happen.
On the flip side, nine notable closures remind us that it’s tough work to keep a restaurant afloat.
In that vein, angelenic presents 2008, The Year of the Restaurant, the guide to the restaurants and drinking establishments that have opened — and closed — this year in Downtown (organized by neighborhood). Bon appetit!
What’s your favorite new restaurant of 2008? Let us know in the comments!
Arts District/Industrial District
-Church & State Bistro
-Urth Caffe
-Wurstküche
*-Sixth Street Bar & Grill (Closed)
Bunker Hill
-Cantaloop Frozen Yogurt
-High Point Coffee
-Johnnie’s New York Pizzeria
-Pastagina
Chinatown/El Pueblo
-Doomie’s Home Cookin’
-Master Chef
City West
-Herminie’s Grill
-Mitaki Sushi
-Starbucks
-Subway Sandwiches
-Wien Bakery
Fashion District
Financial District
-BBQ King
-Drago Centro
-Famima!! at 505 Flower
-Johnny Rockets
-Library Bar (Now serving food)
-Maria’s Italian Kitchen
-Provecho and the Remedy Lounge
-Saffron India
-Seven Restaurant & Bar
-Showbiz Ribs
-Suede Bar & Lounge
-Union Bagel
-Wokcano
*-The Toaster (Closed)
Historic Core/Jewelry District/Broadway
-8th & Hill Cafe & Bakery
-The Association
-Blu LA Cafe
-Cole’s, Originators of the French Dip
-Falafel Express
-Hoagies & Wings
-Kelly’s Coffee & Fudge Factory
-Lot 44 Coffee
-Main Street Fish & Noodle Stand
-Ma Petit Bakery & Cafe
-Marty Cafe
-The Nickel Diner
-Origami Bistro & Bar
-Safari Sam’s at the Regent Theatre
-SipTea
*-Cafe Royal (Closed)
*-Charlie O’s Bar (Closed for renovations)
*-Lime Cafe (Closed)
*-Trifecta Sports Lounge (Closed)
*-Versus LA Nightclub (Closed)
Little Tokyo
-Chado Tea Room
-Shojin Restaurant
-Spitz
-Tapas and Wine Bar ‘C’
-Tofu Village
-Yogurtland
*-Naru Organic Tofu House (Closed)
South Park
-California Kabob Kitchen
-Caliyogurt
-Club Nokia at LA Live
-Cold Stone Creamery
-The Conga Room at LA Live
-ESPN Zone at LA Live
-Fashion Cafe
-Fleming’s Steakhouse at LA Live
-Maui Wowi Hawaiian
-O Bar & Kitchen
-Panini Cafe
-Pastagina
-Quiznos Subs
-Robeks Juice
-Starbucks at LA Live
-SugaCane Lounge
-Tranquility Base
*-Mode Restaurant (Closed)
Coming up next: Under-construction venues, 2008 retail happenings, and what could have been!
34 comments
I’m particularly fond of Shojin — tasty vegan that has meaty dishes but doesn’t attempt to imitate meat ~ I go gaga over their mushroom-avocado-brown rice sushi with vegan mayo. Nickel diner is a close runner-up with it’s actual meat dishes (Spicy BBQ pork hash = YUM!) and I can’t wait to check out their recently-started dinner service. Also have high hopes for Drago Centro, heard they have an awesome menu and cocktail list!
Also have checked out Mode in that one month of opening before things went waffly — it was good, but yea, lots of issues there.
i might be late but when and why did Versus close down?
Versus shut down after Thanksgiving “due to weather.” Word on the street is there’s lengthy city inspection issues that may or may not be fixable.
Wurstkuche barely slid in before the end of the year, but it’s my favorite new place for 2008. Nothing like a good sausage and a Moxie Cream Soda. Nickel Diner is coming in a close second, I do agree that the BBQ pork hash is excellent.
Drago Centro gets my vote for best new restaurant for 2008 in downtown. It is not a everyday restaurant due to price, in that catagory, i’d vote for Tofu House in Weller Court (Little Tokyo).
theres no denying that Historic Core, Fidi and South Park both made or are making THE MOST SUCCESSFUL COMEBACKS OF 2008. I think more focus will be on Historic Core and South Park in 2009. those seem to be the culinary hotspots among others. Hopefully Versus’ inspections issues will be resolved soon so when i goto LA i can go check it out as well as some of the eateries affirmentioned above.
Impressive list!
BBQ King is just a relocation, right? Same place that was on Sunset? I’m not sure how they fit all those barrel smokers in that little space…
I would also like to point out that Nickel Diner has robbed my world-famous (according to my mom) Spicy BBQ Brisket Hash and sub’d Pork in a thinly-veiled attempt to hide the evidence.
BTW, if anyone is wondering, Nickel will extending their hours into the night starting after xmas. I hope they serve breakfast all day.
Anthony: Yeah, you’re right; BBQ King was just a relocation.
By the way, they smoke their meats at their South LA location. Their 7th Street storefront is wayyyy too small to handle all that.
The BBQ King maintains its smokers at their main location on Vermont & 54th Street. The BBQ is then taken over to the 7th Street storefront for sale to downtowners. The guys behind the counter said the King is looking to expand into an adjacent space in the future so as to be able to set up a kitchen facility on site.
mmm all this is making me hungry…just in time for lunch
mmm the possibilities!
wow, a lot of restaurants closed.
i almost forgot about MODE…all that invested money and nada.
I’m sure we will see more closures in the coming year. Remember that the restaurant mortality rate is something like 90% after three years - and that’s in a non-recession year! It’s a tough business.
I know that it isn’t a restaurant, but whatever happened to that Mercury Liquors place that was supposed to be located on 6th near Spring? Is it actually there?
Well that’s a blast from the past. Last I heard it was canceled… I’ll look into it and see what I can find out.
I’m bummed about 6th St. Bar and Grill closing. The food was great and the service wicked friendly. Also they had alot of good specials for locals. I guess the location was pretty tough though. But Gram and Papa’s is WONDERFUL. Again, very friendly and accomodating. Hopefully they extend their hours soon.
Thanks for putting together this list. I didnt know there was a Mitaki in the Vero building with dinner/weekend hours, I cant wait to check it out.
I’m still bitter about BBQ King being shutdown by the Orsini developers, I live around the corner and was literally walking to get dinner when I saw it was LEVELED. The 7th st. location is by my office but they dont serve fries there… Good news is that because of the closure, I discovered SpringStreet and their fries are AMAZING! Also bummed about 6th st. grill too..
On my Xmas wish list… a decent sports bar… trifecta was an interesting concept but not practical and too expensive. The ESPN Zone was a zoo last Sunday, the food was blah and the staff was not very sports friendly… where is the neighborhood sports bar with NFL Sunday ticket???
Speaking of bars on Spring, anyone know how the Crocker Club is coming along?
^ Look for an update here soon!
Also, I would like to see a California Chicken Cafe http://www.californiachickencafe.com/
Fresh, fast, casual and affordable chicken, salads and wraps… Like Johnnie’s Pizzeria, another westide mini-chain.
And charlie o’s ??? opening soon?
Trying to confirm info on that, DBA - but it’s not looking good. I hope it does return!
I would add Ralph’s to the list. There’s always a line for lunch?
Claude: While Ralphs is definitely a heavy-hitter, it opened in 2007. I guess 2007 was the Year of the Market?
The time & effort that went into this list is really appreciated Rich. This is why Angelenic is such a quality news service. ALWAYS excellent coverage.
Thanks Rich et al. - this really helps.
Christian Martinez
I’ve only tried about half so far and although Cole’s is delightful, the Nickel’s treats are delicious, and the Association is indeed a great new space, it is actually Wurstküche that was my absolute favorite.
Drago Centro gets my vote.
Wurstküche for sure, all the new spots around 6th and Main, Weenez makes a pretty authentic Chicago dog. All great stuff.
Thanks Rich for great coverage!!
Correction for my above post. For an everyday restaurant, Tofu Village, not Tofu House (this place closed a few months back).
For a sports bar, try Redwood Bar and Grill, at least for watching football on Sundays. They’re promoting that particular activity.
Yay! Thanks for the list, Rich! What would we do without you?
I vote for the Panini Cafe — the kabobs are dabombs!
As a resident of the PE Loft Building, I’m sad to say the worst of the worst is Blu LA Cafe. I was expecting so much from this place, but the worst part of it is the owner, Jacob. They basically had a built-in customer base with the residents and he’s gone up and out of his way to be rude and uppity to everyone. It might not even be so bad if it sounded like he knew what he was talking about, but the grammar is just too much to handle. “We be doin” and “Me n Nipith” and my favorite, “I be the queen of this place.” By now most residents are familiar with Jacob running to The Association to get drunk only come ranting and raving back about how “Nipith is loaded” “If I need money, I get it wired from Thailand” and “I’m finally living the lifestyle I deserve.”. If Jacob is the “head” behind Blu Cafe, then poor Nipith is the purse. I hope the well doesn’t run dry!
Someone open up a Soup Plantation please! (soup freak)
oh, and whats the story with the Johnny Rockets in Little Tokyo? thats been ^opening soon^ for close to 2yrs ……Louie