Bottega Louie
700 S. Grand Avenue.  213-802-1470.  www.bottegalouie.com.
This bakery/market/restaurant definitely has people talking.  You’ll find a ritzy vibe, tasty tapas, and plenty of beautiful people.

Blu LA Café
126 E. 6th Street.  213-488-2088.  www.blu.la.
We’ve heard folks raving about the featured burger here.  Plus, it’s a sweet spot to check out for breakfast (opens during the week at 7am) and late night snacks and beer (closes at 2am on weekends).

Church and State
1850 Industrial Street.  213-405-1434.  www.churchandstatebistro.com.
If you’re in the mood for a French bistro, check out this hidden gem.  The steaks here are cooked in decadent lard – which we realize isn’t for everyone.  But we are positive that some of you are now physically drooling on this page.

The Farm of Beverly Hills
800 W. Olympic Blvd.  213-747-4555.  www.thefarmofbeverlyhills.com.
There are countless choices for grabbing a bite over at LA Live, but this is one of our favorites.  A nice combo of traditional and new American cooking, with a heavy focus on organic and local food sources.

JJ’s Sandwich Shop
119 E. 6th Street.  213-625-2363.
Downtown?  Hungry?  This is about as casual and perfect as it gets.  Go for any of their breakfast and lunch sandwiches, sushi, and fresh fruit.  It’s a real mom-and-pop place, and the husband and wife team running it will seriously melt your heart.

Nickel Diner
524 S. Main Street.  213-623-8301.  www.5cdiner.com.
Bacon doughnuts.  Need we say more?  Okay okay – you’ll also find burgers, old-school soda pop, and real buttermilk pancakes.

Pete’s Café and Bar
400 S. Main Street.  213-617-1000.  www.petescafe.com.
Craving new American dishes?  This is great spot for everything from Sunday brunch to late-night bar hopping.  Don’t miss out on their blue cheese fries (like, whoa).

Want to know more?  Click here to check out Varius Batty's blog about his delicious dining experience at Pete's.  Let him be your local tour guide.

Pitfire Pizza Co.
108 W. 2nd Street.  213-808-1200.  www.pitfirepizza.com.
We dig restaurants with swell mottos like this one: “The crust you can trust.”  And you really can.  The pizza creations here range from simple to superb.  The beer on tap is always good.  Plus, they stock Auntie Em’s giant homemade cupcakes (our faves are the red velvet and chocolate-chocolate varieties).

Rivera
1050 S. Flower Street.  213-749-1460.  www.riverarestaurant.com.
We love this place for a bevy of reasons, the biggest being the simple deliciousness of their tortillas florales, pressed with pansies and sage, and accompanied with “Indian butter” (guacamole heaven, basically). And that’s just a starter.

Shojin
333 S. Alameda Street, #310.  213-617-0305.  www.theshojin.com.
Japanese.  Vegan.  Absolutely divine.  Honestly, the restaurant’s motto: "Pure food is good medicine.  Inside beauty starts with healthy life."  For a longer review, check out The Nightowl’s blog on in our Ask-A-Local section.

Want to know more?  Click here and follow The Nightowl and her main squeeze as they eat their way thru Shojin.  Let them be your local tour guides.