I don’t frequent downtown LA all that often, but I’m beginning to think I need to get myself out there more. Thanks to a good friend, and the Knicks vs. Clippers game, I found myself at Bottega Louie for the first time. In the heart of downtown LA, Bottega Louie is one of the finest, gourmet restaurant and markets I’ve ever been to in Los Angeles.
From the moment I saw this place I instantly fell in love. The pearl white exterior and interior, combined with the massive dining room with high ceilings makes this restaurant like no other. Gorgeously dressed patrons filled up the room and made me frequently look at my attire and wish I had dressed more for the occasion. Unfortunately this restaurant doesn’t take reservations, but they have a huge bar and seat yourself tables for those not wanting to wait the approximated 45 minutes.
There were so many great things about this place, but the pizza was my favorite part. In fact, I’d venture to say that this pizza was one of the best I’ve eaten in a very long time. This Napoleon style pizza was made from a wood stone oven and had the perfect ratio of fresh mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce. Their Napoli pizza (red onions, mushrooms, olives) is perfect for sharing with another person and complemented well with an Italian salad (chopped lettuce, garbanzo beans, tomatoes, black olives, pepperocini, provolone, pepperoni, onions, cucumbers and red wine vinaigrette). For those of you who are intrigued by how they make their food, you can watch all the food being prepared at two of the open kitchens, one in the front and the pizza station in the back.
Aside from a sit down meal, Bottega offers some of the best looking pastries in town. Brightly colored and elegantly wrapped, you can choose sweets for any occasion. Individually packaged candy bags are filled to the top of glass vases, which are rested on their beautiful glass counters and pastry windows. I didn’t get a chance to try any this time around, but the deliciously gourmet desserts left me wishing I had saved more room.
Bottega Louie is open from 6:30am to 11:00pm and no matter what the occasion is, you will leave with a one of a kind experience that will make you feel as if you were just at a quintessential Italian café.
Bottega Louie and Gourmet Market
700 S Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90017
(Napoli pizza - photo taken by Natalie Shabtai)
nice natoosh!!
ReplyDeleteyum, now i have to try it!!!
ReplyDelete