We have a long history with this restaurant, having been blown away by Stephanie Izard's flagship…read moreChicago location back in 2011. Naturally, we were thrilled when the Los Angeles location opened a few years back in the Arts District, but our first few visits left us disappointed. While the food was always good, the service felt kind of arrogant and snooty. GATG subsequently fell off our dining radar. However, a recent invitation to a private group event completely turned things around. From the moment we walked in, the hospitality was flawless--starting with a warm welcome at the hostess stand and continuing with the incredibly attentive, friendly servers assigned to our room. Because it was a set menu for our party of 12, we ended up trying several dishes we wouldn't normally order on our own, and every single one was spectacular. The creative cocktails were equally impressive. While the location is, for us anyway, still a bit off the beaten path, the space itself is beautiful, featuring a gorgeous blend of indoor and outdoor seating. Our private dining room was lovely and comfortably hosted our group, though it could probably fit a few more. If you are looking to host a small group event with great vibes, stellar food, and top-tier service, I highly recommend giving them a look.

We came by Girl & The Goat early Friday evening and our only option was to sit at the bar, even…read morethough a full section of the restaurant was empty. The bar was crowded but had a fun atmosphere, as everyone was drinking and talking to each other. They felt a bit understaffed as it took quite a while to get our drinks ordered. We tried their "taking care of bee's knees" which was a gin and honey cocktail, and their seasonal special strawberry margarita. Bee's knees was tasty, it's slightly sweet with a curry after taste which was very interesting. I didn't like the strawberry margarita, it was just way too sweet for me. The glass was heavily salted and it tasted like boozy strawberry syrup, I wish it had more nuanced flavours or something to balance the sweetness. We ordered a few appetizers to split amongst us. Almost all of the food were incredible! Their dishes tend to have a great balance of salt, acid, fat and sweet. Chick pea fritters - This dish had amazing textures and flavour, and was very well balanced. The fried chick pea bites and noodles gave it a great crunch, the pomegranate seeds cut through the fat nicely with a pop of sweetness and the yogurt tied everything together perfectly. Sautéed green beans - This was my least favourite dish of the night. The flavour of the sauce was interesting and paired well with the green beans, but everything was just too greasy. You could see the layer of oil coating the green beans, then to add more cashews on top just made it really heavy. Wish there was some acid to cut through the grease. Naan & dips - I LOVE the carrot hummus. Their dips are incredibly tasty, not only are they super creamy and tasted great. They also add pomegranate seeds, fried quinoa and other toppings that gave it texture and depth of flavor. The naan itself was alright, it was pretty thin unlike traditional naan and didn't have a chewy texture. The fried garlic and green onion bits on top did make it better. Roasted Oysters - Highly recommend this dish! I am not normally a cooked oyster person, but this changed my mind. The oysters were super plump and umami since it was covered in bacon butter. It paired perfectly with the sauce, and the denser biscuit created a great vessel to soak up the fat. The bar top was definitely not enough room for all of our dishes so I would recommend making a reservation if you want a good dining experience.

The Bottom Line 3.5 stars: Good option when in the area, with some concerns as noted below…read more Location 3 stars: Downtown Los Angeles Arts District, northeast corner of Matteo Street and Whittier Blvd, across the Matteo complex. Coming from the San Fernando Valley, nearest Freeways are the 101 (Exit 2A - Alameda Street/Union Station) and the 5 (Exit 135A - 4th Street). There is limited street parking. We self-parked in a paid ($10 after 6 PM) structure attached to the complex. Venue 4 stars: Huge venue with indoor seating, a large bar area, and a nice rustic and relaxing patio area. Service 3.5 stars: Friendly and helpful but not very attentive. Food 3 stars: We stopped by for lunch on a weekday. They were serving their Brunch menu at that time. It featured a large assortment of offerings including soups, salads, specialty items such as Avocvado Toast and Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, burgers, sandwiches and egg dishes such as Eggs Benedict, omelets, wraps and sandwiches and chillaquiles. We had the Zinc Benedict (Salmon), the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and the Avocado Toast. All were just OK but unfortunately lacked in plating/presentation and taste and were rather small for the price. Also their "poached" eggs are not really poached... they were steamed in molds, giving them more of a rubbery texture compared to a true poached egg. Drinks 3.5 stars: Full bar, specialty cocktails and mocktails, specialty coffee/tea/matcha and juices. I had the Iced White Mocha, which was ok.

TLDR: VERY SLOW dining experience. I recommend a visit only if you have TWO hours to sit down. The…read morefood is also fairly salty. At this price point, there are better restaurants with faster service to visit nearby. - - - - - - Zinc, what an element - pun intended. I've been wanting to visit for a while, not knowing what the interior or exterior looked like, with knowledge only that it was a popular spot. The entrance was difficult to find and may be heavy with that metal gate. I tried relentlessly to find a hostess this Friday night with success finally after five minutes. I ended up sitting outdoors by the calm, rectangular fountain. After about 10 minutes, a server checked in with me for ordering, but they never handed me a menu - awkward! Menu in hand, I ended up ordering their Truffle Fries and their Chicken Pesto Orecchiette. My server ended up bringing out water and generously a cup of ice (it was triple digit heat on this day). Finally after about 30 minutes, I had my Truffle Fries appetizer, and it was good with their dips. They were thin and crisp, though very heavily salted. Around quite literally 30 minutes later, the Chicken Pesto Orecchiette was ready and served. By this time, I was not so hungry anymore, but I still took a few bites. The chicken had potential, but it was super dry, perhaps overcooked. Though I enjoy a chewy pasta, the Orecchiette was pretty hard and not too al dente. My favorite part of this dish was probably the pesto and pine nuts. The sundried tomatoes were nice, though maybe a bit too sweet for this dish. Paying took about 15 minutes to flag down my server, and around another 15 minutes to get a takeout box. I'm not sure what it was that evening, but it was very slow. During my visit, I even saw a table get up and leave because of slow service - sad! I feel this is no fault of the server but rather the lack of staffing OR the large space. Perhaps having a smaller dining area for slower times may improve the dining experience.

If you've ever wondered what would happen if a chill LA patio and a New Orleans street parade had a…read morebaby, The Rising Sun is exactly that child, and it's thriving. The outdoor patio feels like you accidentally wandered into a breezy corner of the French Quarter. Warm lights, casual seating, and that "kick back and stay awhile" energy. Ordering through the app and picking up at the window makes you feel like you're part of a secret club, the kind where the password is "extra napkins, please." * Chicken Po' Boy, WOW...This thing is stacked. Crispy chicken, tangy sauce, and bread that holds everything together like it's doing core workouts. It's messy in the best way, the kind of sandwich that demands respect and maybe a bib. * Fully Loaded Cajun Tots, These tots don't play around. They show up dressed to impress, cheese, toppings, flavor, the whole squad. It's basically a tiny potato block party, and you're invited. * Beignets, very delicious, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and dusted with enough powdered sugar to make you question your laundry choices. One bite and suddenly you're hearing jazz horns in the distance. Their coffee game....Dangerously good. My boogie coffee drink - latter came out smooth, sweet, and caffeinated enough to make me consider running around the block a few times. It's the kind of drink that makes you shimmy in your seat and say, "Yeah... life is good." This place nails the New Orleans vibe without trying too hard. Great food, fun energy, and a patio that makes you forget you're in LA traffic territory. Come hungry, come curious, and definitely come ready for powdered sugar on your shirt. Miguel C.

The rising sun is an interesting spot! It has a cool gothic vibe so if you want to fit in…read moredefinitely come dressed in black. It's a small self served restaurant with a limited menu that changes, since not everything we saw on yelp was available. When we visited the options were crispy chicken/hot link sliders, different variations of tots and beignets. We went with the crispy chicken sliders and loaded Cajun tots and they were both very flavourful and delicious. The chicken was well seasoned and crispy paired with tangy pickled vegetables and a tasty pretzel bun. The combination of flavours packed a punch but we did wish for a thicker slice of chicken. The tater tots were very well seasoned too and the sauces were yummy, something acidic would be a nice addition to cut through the fatty goodness. When we asked for utensils they didn't have any forks so they gave us one spoon and one knife. We made it work. Definitely want to come back to try other things on their menu whenever they rotate it.

This location is a gem! We always use this as a starting point to get our day started if we will be…read morein the LA area.The inside is really nice and there is a lot of seating. It may be difficult to find seating on a weekday in the morning, there are a lot of people here working/studying or just enjoying coffee and a breakfast. Parking is scarce, you may get lucky and find street parking but if that fails, there is an automated ticketed parking structure right next to Verve that is easy to access. For the food and drinks: - Their seasonal drinks are always fun. I had the pumpkin pie matcha and it was very flavorful and creamy. Although it was more a fun dessert drink, the matcha gave me energy that I needed throughout the day. - Breakfast burrito: Consistently good. I like how they put pinto beans unlike most breakfast burritos. - Classic Avocado Toast: Great! I like their avo toast because its not too large or they dont pile it on huge with a lot of toppings which makes it hard to bite into. The pickled radishes and shallots add a great tangy zing to the toast.

OAT MILK LATTE ICED:…read more -- nice balance of creaminess and boldness, maybe just a tad bolder than I like but very good -- quality java, nearly bought a sack -- very smooth -- not sour, nor bitter RATING = A Great interior design inside. So very modern LA. Street parking is vague and leaves you wondering if you will earn a ticket. There is a reference to "permit", but nothing was crystal clear as I recall.

Food, service, and ambience are all 5/5 stars! The only thing that sucked was the parking. This…read morepart of LA just sucks to park at in general. We had to park around the corner in a really disgusting area that was full of trash, dog poop and smelled really terribly of urine and sewage. That being saidddd! The Shepard's Pie was sooo good, it is my new favorite. Served in a skillet, it was a big, piping hot portion that's enough for 2 whole meals! It paired absolutely beautifully with a pint of their Bike Shed Brew. I felt like I was in London, spot on! The only thing I would add is some HP Sauce and/or Tabasco. I waited 10 years to finally check this place out and it was absolutely worth it! I'd love to bring people, my girlfriend even said it would be an amazing wedding venue, we just wish they had a better parking situation.

I went there for a friend's birthday party. The food was pretty decent. The decor was great, and…read morethey had an in-house barbershop. I ordered the Steak Nachos for $32. $22 (Nachos) + $10 (Steak). It was a generous portion. I checked the bill, and it was straight up. I gave our waitress a generous cash tip. The waiters and waitresses were great. What irked me was that, when I looked at my credit card statement, they overcharged me. It was probably because I clicked NO TIP, yet I tipped the waitress. Wow! That's disappointing. I'm never gonna take my friends here. Parking sucked, but not impossible. But you gotta walk the ladies on the darker areas of the street.

Amazing experience. My wife and I decided to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary at Sampa. Peter…read moreand his staff were super gracious and friendly hosts for the evening. The food was incredible too. The duck and crab rice blew us away. They take a lot of pride in their craft cocktails which also stole the show. Ube clarified drink was 1 of a kind. 10/10 must try!

The food here was very good; highlights included the kare kare tamales, Filipino bucatini, and rib…read moreeye! Drinks were strong and fun with the variety of clarification. I think it would be helpful to add a sign where the hostess is, since we saw many groups (including us) get confused as to where to wait since the restaurant is in the back past the bar. Unfortunately, there were obvious signs of termites and we found a bug on the table. We did notice they had a C Health rating. Not that great to see when you're at an upscale restaurant (or really, any place that sells food). Our waiter was great! The food timing was a bit off though, as our crab fried rice came around 10-15 minutes after our last dish (which was the ribeye). I think overall, there are some obvious kinks to work out when providing an "upscale" experience. But this was a great try for a cuisine you don't normally see.

Very good place to sit in DTLA Good food and employees are…read morekind and welcoming Lots of options and choice for drinks and they are very good

8oz hot drinks are charged the same as 12oz hot drinks (there's not a price differentiation)…read more Ordered avocado toast and it was abysmal for the price I was charged. If you want amazing avocado toast and breakfast options, go to Dre's a few blocks away! Throwing sliced avocados on a plain piece of sourdough is disappointing considering competitor coffee shops are making more effort with not only their food options, but also the EXECUTION and flavours of the food.

This is one of my favorite spots to meet up with friends for a casual get together when in the…read moreDowntown LA area! It's conveniently located to the LA Convention Center, Crytpo.com arena, and LA Live which makes it a must visit before or after an event! I am obsessed with their happy hour, which offers healthy items at discounted prices with generous portions! I have been here so many times throughout the years but most recently found myself here during a busy World Cup match! Regardless, the service and quality of food was not sacrificed! I was greeted as soon as I got there and the bartenders were overwhelmed but still friendly and helpful. I was so tempted to get a margarita, since theirs are amazing, but decided to keep it dry and just get their vegan nachos. I was able to score a table outside on their lovely patio, which felt secluded enough from the main street. My food was brought out quicker than I thought and I was delighted, as I was famished! The vegan nachos here are fantastic and the happy price is only $10, which is a steal for what you get! They are costed in the most magical concoction of a bean puree, cashew cheese sauce, and guacamole which all have the most creamy, luscious and savory flavors. It's so hearty and well seasoned and not only filling, but you feel great after. Parking is pretty easy, as there are usually ample meters available nearby. I cannot wait to return again soon the next time I'm in Downtown LA! I am hoping to try more of their vegan options and next time I will for sure get a drink to go along with their delicious food!

Prank has a fun atmosphere and a great location in DTLA, but my experience was a bit mixed. The…read morecocktails didn't quite live up to expectations. I ordered the Espresso Martini, and it tasted pretty watered down and lacked the bold coffee flavor I was hoping for. On the bright side, the food was definitely the highlight. The mussels were flavorful, the calamari was crispy and cooked well, and the fries were delicious. Those dishes really saved the experience . Overall, I'd come back for the food, but I'd probably steer clear from cocktails and order a real drink. Prank is a convenient place for dtla residents in surrounding apartments to come get some quick bites and drinks and catch a live game

Distrito Catorce is a gem in Boyle Heights that delivers on all fronts. The food was outstanding!…read moreFresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Every dish felt thoughtfully prepared, with authentic flavors and quality ingredients that stood out from the first bite to the last. The ambiance was welcoming and the art was tasteful. What truly elevated the experience was the service. The staff were attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable, making us feel genuinely welcomed throughout the meal. They were quick to offer recommendations and ensured everything was perfect without being intrusive. We ordered the tostaditas de atún agua chile negro, beet salad, carne asada taco and Al pastor taco and watched the World Cup game. Distrito Catorce combines exceptional food, a great atmosphere, and top-notch service. It's the kind of place that leaves you planning your next visit before you've even finished your meal. Definitely plan on coming back to watch more World Cup games.

I knew heading into Distrito Catorce that I wanted to see three things . The closing art exhibit,…read morehear the live band, and finally try Chef Jonathan's menu. It was basically a grand slam. To be honest, I was already biased because his Smorgasburg pop-ups were consistently good. But Distrito Catorce is different , it's like art. My favorite dish was the tacos de papa with salsa macha. The crunch of the potato taco riding into the salsa macha and crema felt like home, but with some extra pop. His salsa game is on point. The scallion salsa on the ribeye taco was also gas. Lastly, I really dug the tostadita de atún. It hit perfectly on these hot summer days. Low-key, I still want to try the El Rey de Noche. Tacos de beef trompo are starting to hit LA, and dude was ahead of the curve making picanha-brisket tacos de trompo. Service is smooth too. The servers are helpful, and solid at the bar. Overall, it's a cool spot with a menu that feels unique to LA.

Manuela is one of the finest restaurants I've been to in a while. Everything was exquisite from the…read moremoment my group arrived. We were a party of 6 for dinner. We started with two recommended "must haves" - biscuits and cornbread. For 6 people, you only need two servings of each. Beautifully displayed. The evenly, golden brown cornbread, topped with a healthy dollop of soft creamy butter, melted in your mouth. The biscuits were light and flaky - you can see the gently layers as if it were a French croissant. Since we all wanted either chicken, pork chop and steak, we ordered one of each which was plenty for the 6 of us to share. The half chicken was so tender and popped with juice. Same with the pork chop which is hard to cook without being dry and tough. I cannot speak for the steak but those that devoured it said it was cooked to perfection. We ordered an assortment of vegetable side dishes to share - a chef that can turn vegetables into something so delectable that would make every taste bud in your mouth jump for joy, is heaven sent. Service was equally top-notch. The ambiance, with smooth music in the background and the perfect volume level where you all can have a comfortable conversation without trying to talk over loud noise. Lovely indoor or semi-outdoor dining seating. It was a memorable evening with fine cuisine & friends. Cheers to the chef and staff that made it magical.

I live right around the corner to Manuela and I would have to say it's my go to spot…read more You can just walk in and get a seat at the bar. The bartenders are chills and super accommodating. The ambiance is refreshing to see in Arts District. The food is great but you HAVE to get their biscuits and/or their cornbread.