LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0 - Page 449

ConstructDTLA · #**8961** Posted **Jul 23, 2013, 5:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StethJeff

Both Figaro and LABC worry me because of their size. I don't know how either expects to keep that amount of space filled with patrons. At least Figaro has good customer service and friendly staff. LABC somehow manages to survive despite employing several unhappy douchebag bartenders.

LABC is crap and hopefully will be replaced soon with something much better.

Figaro has little to no chance of surviving. The location really isn't the issue (people brave the shit that is Broadway to go to Macheronni Republic every night). That being said - if either of the nearby theaters opened up Figaro would by default be packed every night. Broadway & the theaters are many years from happening though.

StethJeff · #**8962** Posted **Jul 23, 2013, 6:07 AM**

Figaro seems to be a cyclical topic on this forum every month or so. I'll say this, DTLA has too many French-inspired restaurants. Figaro is a great place. It's large, nice decor, open floor plan, decent food, side bakery, nice staff, etc. There's just too much competition for this sort of thing though. Church & State is higher end, Perch has the amazing view, Bottega has the location and the bushels of miniskirts, Coco similarly has a good location. Figaro just gets lost in the mix.

Broadway doesn't necessarily hurt it, but it sure as hell doesn't help.

brudy · #**8963** Posted **Jul 23, 2013, 6:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StethJeff

Both Figaro and LABC worry me because of their size. I don't know how either expects to keep that amount of space filled with patrons. At least Figaro has good customer service and friendly staff. LABC somehow manages to survive despite employing several unhappy douchebag bartenders.

Perhaps they should go ask Bottega Louie, who seem to have no trouble filling seats. Both those places have issues. Figaro with atmosphere vs price. My biggest problem with LABC are the other customers the few times I've been in there.

ConstructDTLA · #**8964** Posted **Jul 23, 2013, 6:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StethJeff

Figaro seems to be a cyclical topic on this forum every month or so. I'll say this, DTLA has too many French-inspired restaurants. Figaro is a great place. It's large, nice decor, open floor plan, decent food, side bakery, nice staff, etc. There's just too much competition for this sort of thing though. Church & State is higher end, Perch has the amazing view, Bottega has the location and the bushels of miniskirts, Coco similarly has a good location. Figaro just gets lost in the mix.

Broadway doesn't necessarily hurt it, but it sure as hell doesn't help.

Very well said. Theres nothing necessarily bad about it (except for their manager who replies nastily to negative Yelp reviews), it's just there are other options which always seem to pull me in. I look at it positively though - at least they've built out the kitchen. Now with a kitchen in that space it'll be easy for the next place that opens up once the Los Angeles & The Palace are running (10 years?).

StethJeff · #**8965** Posted **Jul 23, 2013, 6:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by brudy

Perhaps they should go ask Bottega Louie, who seem to have no trouble filling seats. Both those places have issues. Figaro with atmosphere vs price. My biggest problem with LABC are the other customers the few times I've been in there.

LABC is one of my bigger annoyances in the neighborhood. Like you said, a lot of the patrons are cavemen. The bartenders don't get along with each other and hate management. They have no idea what they're doing with the decor in there. That place has an identity crisis because its supposedly a sports bar but it looks like it should be hosting an Armenian wedding reception. I'd hate to ruin an elegant space in an old DTLA building, but they'd have to give that place a major overhaul if they want it to feel like a sports bar.

If done correctly, especially in that area of Broadway and in that space, something amazing could eventually replace LABC.

pwright1 · #**8966** Posted **Jul 23, 2013, 6:31 AM**

I love Figaro's. I've eaten there at least 10 times and never have I ever been disappointed. Love the food, drinks, desserts and the atmosphere.

brudy · #**8967** Posted **Jul 23, 2013, 2:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StethJeff

LABC is one of my bigger annoyances in the neighborhood. Like you said, a lot of the patrons are cavemen.

You said it!

LAofAnaheim · #**8968** Posted **Jul 23, 2013, 5:35 PM**

What is "LABC"?

inSaeculaSaeculorum · #**8969** Posted **Jul 23, 2013, 8:13 PM**

Los Angeles Brewing Company I think.

brudy · #**8970** Posted **Jul 23, 2013, 8:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HunterK

LABC is crap and hopefully will be replaced soon with something much better.

Figaro has little to no chance of surviving. The location really isn't the issue (people brave the shit that is Broadway to go to Macheronni Republic every night). That being said - if either of the nearby theaters opened up Figaro would by default be packed every night. Broadway & the theaters are many years from happening though.

You're right about the theater situation. It's funny that there's a theater-ready restaurant and no theaters while up on Bunker Hill there the Music Center and Walt Disney Concert hall but basically no restaurants. If the Related Tower got something like Terroni or Bottega, it would make a killing. This is what consistently ticks me off about the Gehry space across the street from WDCH - it's ready made for medium to high end restaurants and some retail maybe. Instead we're stuck with that derelict garage for the next several years.

colemonkee · #**8971** Posted **Jul 24, 2013, 2:54 PM**

^ I wouldn't say there's no restaurants up by Disney Hall/Music Center. Patina, widely recognized as one of the best restaurants in the city, is literally inside Disney Hall, Kendall's Brasserie & Bar (also pretty highly regarded and part of the Patina dining group) is literally inside the Music Center complex fronting Grand Avenue, and 1st & Hope is one block away. All three do a fair amount of business.

brudy · #**8972** Posted **Jul 24, 2013, 4:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by colemonkee

^ I wouldn't say there's no restaurants up by Disney Hall/Music Center. Patina, widely recognized as one of the best restaurants in the city, is literally inside Disney Hall, Kendall's Brasserie & Bar (also pretty highly regarded and part of the Patina dining group) is literally inside the Music Center complex fronting Grand Avenue, and 1st & Hope is one block away. All three do a fair amount of business.

Yeah, you're right technically. But it's like eating at the museum restaurant or cafeteria and it's not exactly an urban, walkable experience. It feels pre-packaged. And those places all feel extremely staid.

ConstructDTLA · #**8973** Posted **Jul 24, 2013, 4:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by brudy

Yeah, you're right technically. But it's like eating at the museum restaurant or cafeteria and it's not exactly an urban, walkable experience. It feels pre-packaged. And those places all feel extremely staid.

Completely correct. Besides - it's not that great a place.. Generally Patina restaurants are terrible. Thats the kindest word I could think of for them. Blue Cow is up there on Bunker Hill and is exceptional. Though they are hidden away under a tower in DTLA fortress style.

Kendalls Yelp reviews:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/kendalls-brasserie-los-angeles

For a larger list of restaurants to stay away from:
http://www.patinagroup.com/restaurants.php

brudy · #**8974** Posted **Jul 24, 2013, 4:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HunterK

Completely correct. Besides - it's not that great a place.. Generally Patina restaurants are terrible. Thats the kindest word I could think of for them. Blue Cow is up there on Bunker Hill and is exceptional. Though they are hidden away under a tower in DTLA fortress style.

Kendalls Yelp reviews:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/kendalls-brasserie-los-angeles

For a larger list of restaurants to stay away from:
http://www.patinagroup.com/restaurants.php

That's generally my feeling on Patina as well. Kind of corporate meeting food.

DTLA87 · #**8975** Posted **Jul 24, 2013, 7:33 PM**

Seems a little too ambitious but we'll have to see. LADN says Barry Shy is going forward with four new buildings. He expects to break ground in about a year.

http://www.ladowntownnews.com/news/barry...958ecba-f2ea-11e2-ab6e-001a4bcf887a.html

Wilcal · #**8976** Posted **Jul 24, 2013, 8:57 PM**

I've read the comments from others in this forum, and the man seems to be a bit smarmy. If he is sincere--bravo! But if he is not, he is nothing more than a "media whore." I have more respect for Geoff Palmer, even though I think he has very bad taste concerning his properties.

brudy · #**8977** Posted **Jul 24, 2013, 9:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilcal

I've read the comments from others in this forum, and the man seems to be a bit smarmy. If he is sincere--bravo! But if he is not, he is nothing more than a "media whore." I have more respect for Geoff Palmer, even though I think he has very bad taste concerning his properties.

Palmer creates anti-walkable structures and has been quoted as saying he doesn't care about retail or commercial space in his buildings. His taste alone should disqualify him. His buildings are often crime-ridden and problematic (read various reviews around on the net) and are basically inner-facing resorts for students. He also doesn't have a positive history of tenant-landlord interactions. Shy might be a bad landlord but you can't really fault him for his buildings from an external perspective. At least he's making an effort in heart of the historic core instead of constructing Tuscany-by-the-110.

LosAngelesSportsFan · #**8978** Posted **Jul 24, 2013, 10:34 PM**

Went to the LA Chamber Park 101 meeting this morning and a few tidbits

LA Planning reps and Park 101 group were there and discussed all the zoning, community plans and development changes coming to the city and its basically EVERYTHING we have been talking about on this site for years. A couple of the more important points...they are looking at ways to set project minimums so that we wont have these squat 5 - 7 story projects in prime, entitled areas; they are looking to implement design standards (this should be out sooner than later) so that, for example, we wont have stucco boxes; and phase 1 of Park 101 is going to be the immediate area around Union station, with a small cap and rerouted on / off ramps that will free up areas for development. Next couple months will be huge for Park 101 as they are now at the EIR stage and should be getting gov funding hopefully. More here at park101.org

it was very very encouraging to see everything we have talked about being implemented in one way or another.

Illithid Dude · #**8979** Posted **Jul 24, 2013, 11:21 PM**

It's actually happening? Whoa.

brudy · #**8980** Posted **Jul 24, 2013, 11:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

Went to the LA Chamber Park 101 meeting this morning and a few tidbits

LA Planning reps and Park 101 group were there and discussed all the zoning, community plans and development changes coming to the city and its basically EVERYTHING we have been talking about on this site for years. A couple of the more important points...they are looking at ways to set project minimums so that we wont have these squat 5 - 7 story projects in prime, entitled areas; they are looking to implement design standards (this should be out sooner than later) so that, for example, we wont have stucco boxes; and phase 1 of Park 101 is going to be the immediate area around Union station, with a small cap and rerouted on / off ramps that will free up areas for development. Next couple months will be huge for Park 101 as they are now at the EIR stage and should be getting gov funding hopefully. More here at park101.org

it was very very encouraging to see everything we have talked about being implemented in one way or another.

That's all very promising! I hope it all happens sooner than later, especially the design standards. It seems there's enough of an impetus in downtown now to tighten things up.

And that's very interesting news around the 101 cap. Kind of an odd place to start though...