Guest Blogger Post: Alexis Howell on Bottega Louie

Guest Blogger
 Alexis Howell Post:

On August 28th, I woke up thinking, “Today, I want to be bad. I want to be gluttonous. I want Bottega Louie.” Coming off a 3-week long bout of first-time dining experiences in the city of Los Angeles that could only be described as “meh” or, at best, average, I needed to escape to a restaurant of familiarity, one where I knew I would feeling stuffed to the brim because I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving a drop of food left on my plate. I am no stranger to the rich Italian cuisine and decadent pastry bar that leave Angelenos scrambling for a spot on the wait list (they don’t do reservations), as I have eaten at this establishment numerous times over the last few months. However, I was looking forward to actually writing about my dining experience, looking at the restaurant with fresh eyes and tuning into the savory nuances of their exquisite pizzas, small plates, entrees, and desserts.

Established in Downtown LA in 2009, this grand, all- white space with dramatically high ceilings, marble floors, and a Euro flair feeds 800 hungry mouths a night. Bottega Louie seats around 150 guests in the main dining room and houses a fully- stocked bar, open kitchen, and bakery. While extravagant in décor, the food is moderately priced, with small plates starting at $9 and the majority of entrees around $20.  

Kaitlyn and I were seated after about an hour, though we were told it would be a 15-20 minute wait. In the interim, we sampled a to-die-for chocolate hazlenut benet and Kaitlyn picked up a few macaroons for the road. Since we had to re-approach the hostess and ask about our wait- time, it appeared as a small hiccup in the professionalism of the establishment.  

We ordered a half pour of the 2008 Sangiovese Monsanto Monrosso Chianti, which complimented the perfectly al dente lasagna, layered with a Bolognese beef ragu, béchamel, mozzarella, and Grana parmesan. Despite how full I was after only a few of the heavily- breaded Parmesan portabella fries, this dish had me sneaking bites long after I vowed stopping. My love for the lasagna is strong… I made audible signs of approval after nearly every bite. Needless to say, a food coma ensued in the hours following our meal! We also shared a 14-inch fennel sausage pizza, which was flavorful but forgettable. Despite our wait, our service during the meal was prompt, although be warned, the atmosphere in noisy and feels chaotic during weekend brunch and dinner times.

Overall, I would recommend checking out Bottega Louie if you’re in the mood for a well- priced, savory Italian meal in the up-and-coming Downtown Los Angeles neighborhood. The food is well worth the wait.

Your Guest Foodie,

Alexis Howell

Bottega Louie
Los Angeles
700 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 802-1470