Checkers? More like "Check... yourself before booking." We stayed at Checkers Hotel in LA, part of the Hilton fam, and while it has a nice exterior and polite staff, the experience was a bit of a mixed bag. First off... there are no checkers in sight. Not on the floor, not in the lobby, not even a free game set. Missed branding opportunity, for sure! We booked a double room "suite" on the corner of the 4th floor. Clean? Yes. Spacious? Not really. There's no desk, which was rough since my husband was here for work. We assumed "suite" meant more room to stretch, but it felt more like a renamed standard room with a decent view of... buildings. Room had a musky, cigarette-y smell, even though it was clearly non-smoking. Not terrible, but not exactly fresh linen vibes either. The beds were decent, not luxury-level but comfy enough. Biggest issue? No hot water. Showers were warm at best, and that's a hard pass for me....especially at this price point. Breakfast was a joke. $28 for a tiny steak and eggs that looked like it gave up halfway through. I get it, it's LA, but unless the cow was massaged daily and raised on affirmations, that price is wild. Add a $30 destination fee, and $50/night valet parking (or park next door for half if you don't mind the walk), and it starts to feel like a budget hotel playing dress-up. To be fair, the staff was lovely, and valet folks were helpful. But overall, this isn't a "relax and enjoy the hotel" kind of spot. It's a place to sleep, shower (barely), and bounce. Would I stay again? Only if the price drops or the water heats up. Preferably both. read more

Really nice property. Great location downtown. Very professional staff. Loved our room! read more

Checkers Downtown - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Checkers was a great place. The location was ideal in the area in downtown LA where I needed to be. There were plenty of wonderful restaurants near that enabled a quick wonderful meal only steps away. read more

Great location to host a holiday party. We just had our holiday party here and it was great! We had an issue with the seating and Sandra and her team were on top of it. They also opened the bar an hour early because our people were ready to drink after the holiday party was over. We will definitely be using this location for more events in the future! read more

The hotel building has a historic look. Although it is in downtown, the homeless problems are less impactful on this hotel. The hotel crews are nice and helpful. The hotel room is small but the bathroom is spacious. The breakfast at the hotel is under delivered for its price. The destination fee can't be used in a meaningful way read more

Another spot where I wonder about the low rating. This is located in a central part of DTLA, walking distance to many options, yet the bar/restaurant inside the Hilton Checkers makes a strong case for a work dinner. While it's nice going out and trying a new sport for one night when staying in DTLA, it's also nice relaxing at the bar and ordering food and drinks if you have some work to do. I saw a couple other folks like myself doing the same. The food is on the pricier side sure, but it's a hotel! That's hardly ever not the case. The food was solid and the drink choices plentiful enough. There are multiple TVs with sports and highlights on, cozy lower tables, a fireplace and service is friendly. Pros: Cozy, not overly crowded, friendly service, TVs and solid food and drinks Cons: Pricey I guess but nothing more than I usually see at hotels of this level read more

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How can you be a elegant, upscale hotel and not have one microwave for guest use on the ENTIRE property. The carpet in my room was old and frayed, the view was looking at an entire concrete building. Super disappointed in the quality of this hotel and lack of general expected accommodations. read more

Checkers Downtown - View from the window. - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

A lot has changed since I last wrote a review for CHECKERS DOWNTOWN. I stopped coming here during lunch time because it always take them forever to prepare the food. Like come on... not everyone can have two hour lunches! Received close to no service during our most recent visit. The host/hostess was missing and we were just standing at the doorway wondering if the restaurant is open or close. I wanted to have a light lunch and ordered the Tiger Shrimp Cocktail. My friend (the birthday girl) also ordered the same as appetizer and a steak for her entree. Now... If you are planning to bring my grilled shrimp with her entree, you should not have grilled my shrimp with her order. I am beyond upset that I paid $15 for 5 shrimps, and it is apparent that it has been sitting out for more than 15-20 minutes while they prepare her steak! To be honest, I should have sent it back and get some fresh ones, but after waiting for 45 minutes, I didn't really have time for them to make me another order and I didn't want to spoil my friend's birthday luncheon by making a scene about this. Conclusion: No more Checkers Downtown for this point forward. I will take my money elsewhere. read more

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The service here is impeccable. I ate here for dinner and for brunch the next morning, and both experiences were wonderful. I didn't really want anything on the breakfast menu, so I asked if I could just have sides of different things and they were more than willing to accommodate my request. ***Whatever you do, don't have the French toast. It was soggy, it was bland - it wasn't any good. The shortcake dessert I had for dinner is delicious. I highly recommend saving room for it when considering dinner menu options. I had soup and a salad for dinner and both were to par, as I expected. I'm not sure what it was, but the dinner rolls were amazing, haha I think we had two baskets because of how good it was. With a Hilton dining experience, one shouldn't expect anything less than satisfactory, and my dining experiences here certainly proved that. read more

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Excellent service/staff that remains attentive and professional even when they get a sudden crowd. Fairly robust cocktail menu for a hotel bar. The dinner/late night menu has something for everyone. I had the ahi tuna melt with crispy fries. The tuna melt was good but the star attraction of the meal was the crispy fries. The overall atmosphere and cleanliness of the bar was also good. read more

Checkers Downtown - Tuna Melt w/ Crispy Fries - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I came to this restaurant for the first time this weekend. I ordered one of their steaks , I forgot what it's called, obviously not the filet Mignon it was the other one 20oz (they only have 2 steak options). Anyway, I thought this steak was huge! I ordered it medium cooked and it was a little too dry, which is why I gave it 4 stars. 3/4 into the steak, my jaw was tired from chewing. I thought the price was decent for the amount of food you get. It was $45 for the steak, and it came with delicious stacked potatoes, and veggies. What I absolutely fell in love with was the cheesecake! Make sure you get it! All of their desserts are $10. I don't usually order dessert, but I am so glad I did! I don't love cheesecake, but I did love THIS cheesecake! I was told that parking is free for the first 3 hours if you eat here. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

Checkers Downtown - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

What a great happy hour! I came here last night with 2 of my girlfriends, and we ate and drank to our hearts content. Everyone was really friendly and accommodating, from the doormen to the waiter. We even got free valet parking! It's usually $6. Checkers has a happy hour called FOUR, from 4-8 pm, featuring 4 food and drink items, each only $4. Pretty clever eh? The menu changes weekly, so if you are a lush like me, you can go every Thursday and try new drinks. We ordered all 4 food items and 3 of the drink specials. LIMONCELLO BRAMBLE - A martini of Vox Vodka, Limoncello, blackberry puree, and fresh lemon juice. From the mind of our own bartender. This was sweet, but not very strong. The waiter brings it in a martini shaker and serves it to you in a martini glass at the table. MOSCOW MULE - Vox Vodka, fresh lime juice, fresh ginger juice, and ginger beer. "Moscow" for the vodka; "Mule" for the kick of ginger! My favorite drink of the evening. Crispy, refreshing taste with a small kick to wake you up. I had 3 of these. VESPER MARTINI - James Bond's change-of-pace: Tanqueray Gin, Vox Vodka, Golden Lillet, and a twist of lemon. This was the strongest drink. One of the cleanest martinis I've had ever. One of these will get you buzzed and happy. VICHYSSOISE with house-made taro chips. This is a chilled soup with cream. I didn't much care for it, since I'm not a fan of cold soup. OLIVE OIL POACHED AHI, with cannelloni bean and basil pesto ragout, and red onion pickles. Hmm.. not really a fan of this dish either. The ahi was dry and it was covered with too much foilage. SHORTRIB GRILLED CHEESE with sautéed onion, baby arugula, and a stone-ground mustard sauce. My friends loved this dish, but I was just okay with it. It's too heavy for my taste, and I'm not a fan of cheese. Yeah yeah, shoot me. CONFIT OF ARTICHOKE HEARTS, with lemon zest and shaved mizithra cheese. This was a winner! I love artichokes. The tanginess of the lemon combined with the sharpness of the cheese really brought out the natural flavor of the artichokes. Since we wanted to try more food, we ordered a side of garlic fries and the hummus. OMFG. If you like hummus, you will LOVE their hummus. It has roasted garlic in it and it was seriously, the BEST hummus I've ever had. Came with warm flatbread for your dipping pleasure. Garlic fries were a bit salty, but I didn't mind so much since I had my Vesper martini to wash it down with. I would totally come back here! Great deal, great service, and great food. That's what a happy hour is all about. I may make this a weekly event. PIX- http://pandaliciousforme.blogspot.com/2010/02/happy-hour-checkers-downtown.html read more

From now on, I will follow a strict Thursday schedule: 6:30 am - lurch out of bed (grumble) 7:15 am - leave for work (yawn) 8:00 am - work (meh) 3:00 pm - leave work (yay) 4:00 pm - arrive at Checkers and pig out (moan) 8:00 pm - stumble to car to drive home (hiccup) 10:00 pm - Porn (moan) 1:00 am - Sleep (zzz) That's right people, I have adjusted my world, my entire being for the 4 for 4 menu at Checkers. I had heard of this infamous happy hour but scoffed at my friends who insisted I try it. I'm busy yo, I gots shit to do. But with the advent of summer, my schedule allowed for a quick stop before July's ArtWalk, so I figured I could sacrifice my time for yet another trendy spot. When I saw how packed the tiny room was, I realized there may be something here. When I noticed not one, not two but a half dozen fellow yelpers, a lightbulb went off. Shit, I'm totally out of the loop. I ordered 3 of the 4 plates. The Soft Shell crab was great. The scallop atop hand made pasta in a lemon butter sauce was fantastic. The Elvis Foie Gras, which consisted of peanut butter, grape gastric, bananas and a perfectly seared piece of foie altered my universe so severely that I have currently on my blackberry 4pm to 8pm blocked out for Checkers. Stop by this week, I'll be the red head with the glasses climaxing with the 4 plates in front of me. read more

I've come on many occasions to Checkers for a drink with friends. Its only when I discovered Checkers' 4 for Thursday that I fell in love with it. Its one of the underrated happy hours in Downtown. I'm surprised its not busier on Thursdays -- and I like it that way. Where else do you find a happy hour for 4 hours for good prices with quality drinks and food? Tyler, the manager explained to me the concept came from the Chef wanting to create special dishes with the quality ingredients from his kitchen that wouldn't produce full dinner courses. Instead he uses those ingredients to make tapas style dishes that lean towards the more creative whims. I had one of the best sashimi plates I have ever had -- ANYWHERE. I couldn't believe it was only $4. I wound having 5 plates, barely refraining from a 6th plate of Yellowtail and Mango Sahimi with ponzu. Routinely the Thursday features a distillery or winery with specialty drinks that are offered for $4. I will skip the laundry list of offerings, instead singling out the one drink I've enjoyed many times. Isabella, one of the bartenders, presents the Secret Garden. A very sexy and delicious drink of Makers Mark, muddled strawberries and basil. Eventhough its called a Secret Garden, I always call out and ask specifically for 'an Isabella' -- that always gets a smile and wink. :) Please dismiss all I have written. I want to keep this place on the down low. Ignore all I said. read more

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BAR ONLY: I LOVE the cocktails here. The specialty cocktail list has a WONDERFUL selection of unique flavors and old forgotten classic cocktails lime The Aviation which uses violet liqueur. You just can't find that at bars anymore! I ask constantly. I think about The Aviation cocktail often until I can get back to Checkers to satisfy my desire. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/VI8FM3Jhtwn0XsmVJAD-Tg?select=kxBiMLPEYtKHoAZ4Esx7FQ They make all their drinks fresh and from scratch. You won't find any silly mixers here with the gross, sweet aftertaste that makes my tastebuds run and hide and my face pucker up with displeasure. The Black Checker is so unusual. If your tastebuds are bored, try this to occupy them. It has cachaca and jalepeno. The jalepeno doesn't burn, but you get the flavor. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/VI8FM3Jhtwn0XsmVJAD-Tg?select=55h3GgyOSoLywGNX_CkCng I prefer my blackberry mint mojito with salt on the rim. Fresh berries and mint and agave for sweetener. No mixers here. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/VI8FM3Jhtwn0XsmVJAD-Tg?select=W1hxA1QHmsDZyS-nd6asog The Red Checker is the most requested of their specialties, but I find it boring and basic. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/VI8FM3Jhtwn0XsmVJAD-Tg?select=MvFu1jg7JK97v_dch11vWQ. Luis the bartender knows his stuff. He overheard me telling my friend I thought this was pretty boring except for the St. Germaine in it after all the other cool stuff they have. He snatched that boring drink away and said he would make me something with St. Germaine more to my liking. I trusted him. And he gave me The Pear Tree. Not on othe menu. Best Pear Martini I have had. It was nice and dry with the pear flavor. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/VI8FM3Jhtwn0XsmVJAD-Tg?select=ar7Of5ZLLGjwXmH27pM15A Something I always suggest to friends that I take in for the first time (and sometimes to strangers sitting near me) is the Dark and Stormy. Simple but everyone LOVES it. Just Rum, ginger beer, adn lime. So refreshing. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/VI8FM3Jhtwn0XsmVJAD-Tg?select=QLB4u9g8C9bB5Yy_m1NuTg This is in the lobby of the Checkers Hilton hotel. It's never "happening" when I go in. Sometimes we are the only ones there, but the drinks are so good, I always have to stop in for a couple before or after hitting other spots when I am in the area. So don't just get a boring screwdriver here, take advantage of the wonderful artisan drinks here read more

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I cut my filet mignon with a fucking butter knife. It straight up melted in my mouth. Shrimp and saffron risotto was absolutely divine and creamy. Creme brulee was off the chain and the rock hard carmelized sugary top tickled my fancy. I had a pretty awesome time especially with the travelzoo voucher. It turned out to be around $60 total, $39 for the voucher and around $20 for the tip. Well worth it in my eyes since each plate was supposed to be $30, two appetizers at $14 each, and desserts at $9 each. To park in the parking lot next door, its $10 and when we left the restaurant, nothing but russians and asians were parking to go drink a shit ton of vodka at the standard. read more

Checkers Downtown - Filet mignon - cut it with a butter knife so tender! - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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$4 top shelf cocktails + $4 small plates = amazing! that's what you can get at checkers every thursday from 4-8 pm during their FOUR happy hour. they feature a different spirit every week, and this week ketel one was in the spotlight. i enjoyed a perfectly balanced cosmopolitan. the next drink i ordered, a ketel one gimlet (also $4), turned out to be slightly too tart and resulted in interestingly puckered facial expressions after every sip. as for the food, it was decent. nothing amazing, but for $4 a plate, who's complaining! this week's menu consisted of the following: * MAINE LOBSTER BEIGNETS with house-made citrus aioli (kind of like mini crab cake balls made of lobster) * ROMAINE AND NECTARINE SALAD red romaine lettuce, topped with white nectarines, cracked black pepper, goat cheese, and candied pearl onions (pretty good) * BRAISED APPLEWOOD SMOKED BACON with a white bean puree and green garlic (a little too salty for my taste) * RICE PUDDING with warm house-made butterscotch and toasted almonds (yum!) i'm already planning to go back next week w/my BFF. :D valet parking is $6 with validation, or you can luck out and get free unmetered parking like we did on the street just before you get to the valet area. read more

Had an unexpected New York-esque experience tonight, mere blocks from work no less! It all started this morning, when my boss forwarded me an email from Checkers promoting FOUR: a special happy hour event which occurs every Thursday where the kitchen creates 4 small dishes for $4 each and 4 mixed cocktails, also for $4 from 4-8p. This week featured champagne, foie gras and caviar--an irresistible combination--so right after work, we make a trek to Grand and 6th street. Housed in the subdued gray Hilton Hotel in downtown, Checkers is a elegant dining room with a long and narrow layout, reminiscent of spaces in Manhattan. Shortly after finding seats, our server presented us with the FOUR menu. Since we were there for the whole experience--no dish were to be left behind. We first started out with a champagne each, mine being the Axle Kiss--a Spanish Cava blended with Disaronno and creme de cassis. My boss went the classic route and ordered the Fellini: a sparkling wine paired with a trio of citrus from Limoncello, orange liqueur and Mandarin orange juice. Both were delicious. 1. Kurobuta Pork Belly with white bean cassoulet The first dish, although a solid preparation of the classical French dish, was a bit disjointed. It was a bit like witnessing a couple on their first date. Upon the first taste, it appeared the pork was grilled and roasted on its own while the beans were stewed separately. The two parties seemed hesitant on mingling as they are just starting to get to know each other. It would be highly beneficial to the overall dish if the two components were cooked together for a little while--let them get comfortable so to say... maybe with a glass of bubbly? 2. Monkfish with roasted brussel sprouts and caviar buerre blanc The monkfish on the other hand was like a power couple--truly a thing to behold. Crab-like in taste, the monkfish fillet was expertly cooked to perfection and drizzled with a luscious buerre blanc that suspended small briny beads of caviar. The slightly bitter roasted brussels sprouts were key in keeping the dish from getting too heavy and made it interesting. I went through two orders of this as it was just so good. 3. Foie gras "snow" with lychee and champagne gelee and pine nut brittle I cringed immediately upon reading this on the menu as it was copied word-by-word from David Chang's signature dish at Momofuku Ko with the exception of the use of champagne instead of riesling in the gelee. (Yes, being the food nerd that I am, I have his cookbook and had read it from cover to cover.) Still, I was curious so I placed an order and inquired if Chef Todd Allison had worked with Chang. Within minutes, the chef came out and introduced himself. Turns out the culprit was his sous chef as Allison had no idea of who Chang was. We had a pleasant conversation about comfort food (his was roasted chicken--brined of course) and I realized the dish was nothing to get worked up about. After all, this was an opportunity to try Chang's dish without flying cross country. And for only $4 no less. The dish was a wonder to taste. The foie melted immediately upon making contact with my tongue, very much like actual snow flakes, albeit much more opulent. The brittle provided an unique counterbalance in sweetness and crunch--although the pieces could be much smaller. The gelee, with a strong presence of champagne vinegar was instrumental in keeping the dish from being too rich. This aptly-made copy fueled my curiosity of Ko... looks like a trip to New York is in order! 4. Pudding Chomeur: maple caramel bread pudding Described as the "unemployed man's pudding," it was anything but poor. A generous layer of teeth-sticking maple caramel was soaked in a bread pudding that tasted as if it was made of muffins. Tasty, but oh so rich--a dish that is best shared. Even with the designer knock-off foie, all the dishes tonight were solid and the drinks quite enjoyable. Added to the New York atmosphere and unbelievable prices, you can be sure I'll be back for more. read more

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Onion rings. BOMB. It's served with the ribeye. Super crunchy yet soft on the inside. The ribeye was good too. Don't come here if you want to people watch. We were the only customers here on a Saturday night at 8:30. read more

Checkers Downtown - Angus ribeye with super delicious onion rings!! - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Came here with the travelzoo deal (which was one of the most stellar deals out there.. $39 for a 3 course dinner for two!) Some things I really dig about this place, and some things I did not: + Rock shrimp & saffron risotto: majorly delicious. big pieces of shrimp, good texture on the risotto, and flavor was really good overall + Duck breast on duck confit risotto: yes, risotto part duex. I really liked the duck on duck play, and the duck breast was cooked well too. - $35 corkage fee... way high! - Parking: pain in the butt in for the area and the valet was a little bit expensive for just dinner * Food overall is 'good' but not really worth that retail value they charge. At the price we got it for though, that was a wonderful meal at that price. Can't beat that. read more

Checkers Downtown - Seared duck breast on duck confit risotto - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I ate breakfast here just because I was staying overnight for an interview and could indulge in some overpriced yogurt and granola at someone else's expense. By golly, this was THE BEST yogurt and granola I have ever had. It came with fresh berries and the granola was chewy and delicious in a way that I didn't even know granola knew how to be. I would even venture to say it wasn't overpriced. Granted, I wasn't paying. The place was empty when I was there (I think it was a Thursday morning after 9), and I asked the waiter if he could get me out of there in 20 minutes. He said it was no problem and service was prompt. The dining space is lovely and relaxing, a sweet, bright place that just demands a leisurely tea. I would love to go back for lunch or dinner some time, and definitely would hit it up again for that granola! read more

I must admit that I wouldn't normally go to a restaurant like this. In fact if it were different circumstances, I would have missed this place. However, we were staying at the hotel and there was a mixup, so our meal at the restaurant was comped. The prices are a bit high, but the food quality and technique is amazing. I had the pork chop. Probably the best seasoned, juiciest most tender chop I've ever had. Unfortunately licking of a plate is frowned upon by our culture, so I stopped and what the fork would pick up. My wife had the fluke with lobster and mushrooms. Out of this world flavor and texture. Every part of the dish just shined. Even the shrimp cocktail had shrimp cooked to perfection, which so rarely happens. Bottom line, is that this is a little pricey, but it will make any occasion very special. If I had the means and was in the neighborhood. I would definitely return. read more

My favorite place to stay in LA. The staff are wonderful and rooms have been recently upgraded.

Last night a few of us [9 to be exact] from the office ventured over to the Checker's Hilton Hotel for what they have every Thursday, called "Four at Checkers Downtown." Upon arrival, the doorman opens the door and greets you, when we walked into the quaint arena for cocktails & tapas we were immediately tended to. A good variety of holiday music was playing while we sat and enjoyed the great service of our bartender/waitress who was doing both jobs very well. She didn't need to write anything down, I like a smart waitress / waiter who can do that, I was impressed. I had to sample what they were announcing on the menu, so I had (1) Checkers' Holiday Mulled Wine, which is red wine spiced with cinnamon, allspice, cardamom, peppercorns, and fennel; (2) then I had two Chocolate Candy Cane Martini, which consisted of white chocolate liqueur, vanilla vodka, peppermint schnapps, and half-and-half. To eat, (3) I had an order of Bay Scallops served with roasted butternut squash and (4) my second choice to sample was a Confit of Chicken served with creamy orzo. I must say my taste buds were having a party of their own . . . Now I know it sounds like a lot of food, but trust me, not even a midget could get full on the lil portions, or shall I say samples that are served, after all they're "tapas." If what I wrote sounds of interest, check out what's in store for the following Thursdays: www.checkersdowntown.com. Maybe one Thursday we'll run across each other. Cheers!!! read more

Checkers Downtown - Lovely place for a drink after working a long day at the office. - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Was excited to visit Checkers with the travelzoo deal,left feeling disappointed. Good deal with the travelzoo incentive as they did have an amazing berry shortcake dessert, but I wouldn't come here full price as there are many other restaurants with much more consistent food. ROCK SHRIMP & SAFFRON RISOTTO - Awesome, creamy, good chunks of shrimp. Winner. SEARED SCALLOPS - Very much a miss. The scallops were rubbery and tasted fishy. Odd combo with the barley. RACK OF LAMB - Yummy polenta. Delicious herb crust. Pretty darn good. HALIBUT - Um, it wasn't cooked all the way through, had to send it back since my filet wouldn't flake. Slightly bland. The lemongrass sauce was waaaaaaaay to creamy and heavy, ruined the root vegetables. CREME BRULEE - way too much sugar caramelized on top. You had to take a hammer and chisel to that thing to crack it. Underneath, the vanilla custard was divine. BERRIES AND SHORTCAKE - For sure my favorite part of the meal. Delicious whipped cream with a generous serving of berries stacked between 2 shortcake "cookies". Delicious! read more

Nice bar atmosphere and the flatbread is delicious. But $10.50 for a glass of Chardonnay means I won't be a regular here! read more

Checkers Downtown - Artichoke Flatbread - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Like many others, I tried out Checkers due to travelzoo, and I found the menu very hit-or-miss, and at these prices totally not worth the risk. ROCK SHRIMP & SAFFRON RISOTTO -- delicious, creamy, super cheesy SEARED SCALLOPS -- scallops were great but the barley/grapefruit side was really odd and out of place... RACK OF LAMB -- good but unremarkable PAN ROASTED DUCK BREAST -- duck was amazing but again the side of quinoa/pomegranate or whatever was weird and not in a good way CHOCOLATE CAKE -- I didn't think it was good but bf loved it CREME BRULEE -- sugar was too burnt and the custard tasted.. undercooked? The place was pretty much empty, making me feel silly for calling ahead to tell them we were running late.. no chance of you NOT getting a table here. Service was very courteous. Parking is a bitch as always downtown. read more

I was staying in the hotel and tried the restaurant 3 times during my 4 night stay: one breakfast (didn't go back), one cocktail (was never waited on), and once for an afternoon iced tea (took 10 minutes and a visit to the front desk to get waited on). Clearly in my experience, their hosting needs some work. Granted, I went at an odd hour for iced tea, but it's not as if the restaurant was completely empty, so, where was anybody to help me? The cocktail was ridiculous because the bar was crowded, I was seated, and still, no one came to take my order. I finally just stood up and left. As a tea drinker, I will say that the way they serve their iced tea is fantastic, though the quality of the tea itself is low. This is just a standard Hilton restaurant, imho. Not what they're known for. read more

My boss took us here for our holiday luncheon. I didn't pay for it, but the menu prices looked reasonable for lunch. We split the artichoke and margherita flatbreads, which were both delicious! I ordered the open-faced "BLT" which I fell in love with. I'm still pining for another one to this day. A plate-sized, thick slice of fresh bread topped with pesto, arugula, prosciutto, and burratta, with sliced cherry tomatoes encircling it. It was incredible. I love burratta and would have been excited to eat a bowl of it alone, but this dish was fantastic and perfectly executed. Service was excellent! It's a nicer, upscale hotel restaurant, with classic, clean décor, and a small enclosed courtyard. Would be good for a business lunch or something a little classier than most other DTLA happy hour spots. read more

My rating is solely for their Happy Hour on Thursdays. Happy Hour is 4 hours long; 4:00-8:00pm. 4 tapas style dishes to choose from for 4 measly dollars! 4-5 cocktails to pick from for 4 Washingtons! The menu changes weekly so it's pointless to dissect what I ate and drank. I will, however, post pics of what I had so you have an idea of what to expect. By the way, the menu for Checker's Downtown Happy Hour on Thursdays is posted every Wednesday here. http://www.facebook.com/board.php?uid=165583976176 The day I went, the theme spirit was 42 Below Vodka. Last week, the theme spirit was Cachaca. Anyhow, for our 1st round we ordered a Honey Sour and Kiwi Caipiroska (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/VI8FM3Jhtwn0XsmVJAD-Tg?select=7IUMyHAVA5tvzA3mWqrptQ). Round 2 came in the form of a Moscow Mule and an Aqueduct Cocktail (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/VI8FM3Jhtwn0XsmVJAD-Tg?select=s2E5ov4q8EjRfC05jyeXjA). The drinks were probably a 4.5 but considering the price... 5 stars!! The tapas available that evening were, Roasted Fennel Soup Garnished with Charred Salmon Belly, Chives & Sea Salt (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/VI8FM3Jhtwn0XsmVJAD-Tg?select=Xx0yVH3LPUAYuPo9OlCleg), Grilled Yellowtail in a Bitter Lemon and White Bean Cassoulet (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/VI8FM3Jhtwn0XsmVJAD-Tg?select=KX-mHz8bVBSqozBfOJKOEw), Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/VI8FM3Jhtwn0XsmVJAD-Tg?select=-UCzlFf1U1QYxIlAI_aIHw) & a Crepe Du Maison served with Roasted La Belle Farms Foie Gras & Stuffed with a Blueberry Compote (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/VI8FM3Jhtwn0XsmVJAD-Tg?select=zoahkOmIAPTS48xejMN7fw). Each dish was beyond typical happy hour fare. Needless to say, I was more than pleased with my meal. 5 stars!! I love the concept and the price simply cannot be beat. I plan on returning at least once a month. I highly recommend it. read more

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I orginally bookmarked this place for their Thursday $4 happy hour but when I came here 2 months ago to use my travelzoo voucher ($36 for a 4 course meal for 2), the host informed me they discontinued the happy hour deal. The food was okay. I liked the braised short ribs but the ahi tuna did not taste that fresh. I personally don't think it's worth it to come back to pay the full price for it. Parking is valet only. I think it was $8 with validation from the restaurant. read more

Checkers Downtown - pan seared diver scallops - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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We had dinner at the restaurant as part of a Travelzoo promotion. We had the following: -Rock Shrimp & Saffron Risotto -Maine Diver Sea Scallops -Herb Crusted Hawaiian Ono -Roasted Duck Risotto -Creme Brulee -Strawberry Shortcake: Appetizers were the best part of our meal. The entrees were overcooked and dry. The duck was really tough and chewy. The creme brulee was okay. We didn't really like the strawberry shortcake because the bottom was soaked in syrup so it was soggy and too sweet. We don't know which part of the meal was the root of the problem but we got sick after eating at Checkers. Service for OUR table was fair but the server was extremely friendly and helpful to the other older patrons at tables around us. For example, she was more attentive to the other patrons and helped package their leftovers. For us, she simply brought us the boxes so that we could package our own leftovers. read more

It's ok... The first time I was there two years ago, and I thought it was amazing! First of all the design was totally reminded me Barbara Barry, which of course got my attention right away. Everything was great from there...the food and service. Fast forward a year...the service and food quality when down significantly. It was a group of 3 for breakfast and the waiter somehow did not remember what we eat ordered and gave each person a different plate and drink. Then he would check up on us once every 20 min so overall just once. We had to ask another waiter for what we needed. Oh yes...the chorizo in the huevos rancheros was old! That's def a no no! If the service and food quality would improve I would def give them more stars. Essentially I was only going to give 2 but I decided to give 3 for their bar. Their bar has a good variety, nice lounge seating, and wonderful bartenders! read more

Checkers Downtown - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I tried this place for my pre-birthday..the appetizers were great, such great flavors..my salmon was awesome so no complaints. my date rib eye was dried, even for medium rare and onion rings look like a heart attack about to happen..lol..but dessert was good also, overall, good menu, but the place was pretty dead for a friday night. service was excellent though..we went to the rooftop for the view of dt, was good! appetizers: seared pear scallop shrimp and saffron risotto entrees: rib eye with fried onion rings grill salmon with grilled veggies like asparagus dessert: vanilla bean cream brulee read more

Checkers Downtown - Creme brulee - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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There isn't much $4 can get you now-a-days in the gourmet world, unless of course you're at Checkers in downtown LA on a Thursday night because 4 bucks is all you need to score a delicious dish or a top shelf cocktail. From 4-8pm EVERY Thursday the folks at Checkers serve up some of the best gourmet dishes money can buy. Each week features a different theme and unique menu, which is great if you like a little adventure in your life. This past week featured a little pork belly, maine lobster beignets, a nectarine and goat cheese salad, and a sinfully delicious butterscotch rice pudding, all of which were awesome. Not quite as good as the week before which featured seared foie gras, truffle oil rissotto, tofu curry, and seared albacore, but it definitely got the job done. If you want a some budget gourmet grub in your life then this is the place to be. Most dishes are utterly delightful and at 4 bucks a pop you honestly can't go wrong with anything. I would recommend trying all 4 items on the happy hour menu so that you can get a feel for what you like and of course what you LOVE, and then adding a few items on once you find out what makes you tick. On my first visit to Checkers I fell in love with the foie gras and at 4 bucks a pop you better believe I went to town on these bad boys. It was by far the shining star of the happy hour menu and a very decadent way to end my meal. That week I ended up ordering a total of 10 items (7 apps & 3 drinks) and got away for under 50 bucks after tax and tip. I am officially deeming Checkers the best gourmet happy hour for the price anywhere in the world. The lounge is very accommodating and can make a great place for a date, not to mention the food is quite delightful. They do a great job in creating a unique tasting menu each week and have hooked me as a regular on Thursday nights. My only knock on them is that service can be a bit slow, but you can always head to the bar and place you order there. Whatever because this place is AWESOME.. read more

This review is for FOUR at Checkers on Thursday nights between 4 and 8... "I get so tired listening to one million dollars here, one million dollars there, it's so petty." I'm no Imelda Marcos, but I do envy that woman's panache for spending cash. As I don't have access to a national treasury coffers worth of money to pillage at my disposal, I have been forced to make due with what steals I can find around LA. Nothing says "I am not aware of the extent of my wealth. That's how rich I am" than settling into a restaurant and ordering everything off them menu. I mean, I need to try everything at least once, especially if there will be a different menu tomorrow. Enter FOUR at Checkers. At $4 a plate, I can, and will, order one of everything on the menu. Four cocktails and four plates later, I leave $32 poorer, with the smug feeling of knowing that my dreams have become puny with the reality my life has become. While the LA weather blew cold and furious outside, I breezily sipped on four $4 all-star cocktails: Checkers Classic Margarita - Premium tequila, a hint of orange liqueur, hand-squeezed lime juice, and a touch of natural agave nectar. Sub-lime. Old Cuban Cocktail - From the Pegu Club in NYC: a new classic... Hand-squeezed fresh lime juice, dark rum, and muddled mint, topped with sparkling wine. Oh how proud Marie would have been to spill champagne on the new colonies slave labors' sugar cane rum! Secret Garden - A spectacular combination of Maker's Mark, muddled strawberries and sweet basil, and fresh lemon juice. I'll shyly admit that I'm not a bourbon girl... sorry, it's a Ukrainian thing... but this was Southern Ice Tea meets Oxnard strawberry fields at its finest. Parisian Orchid - A delectable combination of vodka, elderflower liqueur, lemon and pineapple juice. I would never leave Paris if the Fountains poured this from their elegant spigots. And to satiate my appetite: Grilled Local Calamari Salad - with charred edamame, olives, and a garlic aioli. While the sous chef may have been a bit heavy handed with the salt he adorned on the salad greens, I loved to combination of picant nicoise olives, tender calamari, toasted edamame and decadently rich aioli. Roasted Pepper & Tomato Soup - paired with a grilled sourdough and white cheddar cheese sandwich. A classic, with a twist. Not masked by a heavy tomato base, the pepper really shown through. The grilled cheese was amazing. Alaskan Halibut Fish Tacos - with pico de gallo, and a house-made avocado crema. Now, I have to be honest. Two weeks ago FOUR offered a monk fish plate, with the chintziest serving of fish. Someone must have said something, because this week the fish plate came with two tacos, each with a respectable serving of lusciously moist halibut. Braised Beef Shortribs - with a wild ramp and parmesan risotto. My least favorite of the night's offerings, the risotto was heavy and dense, with little ramp to be found. Pity, as I love ramps. The short rib was tender and well seasoned, but overpowered by the risotto. The meal all around is deserving of 5 stars, but the chronically absent service is inexcusable at an establishment of this caliber. I simply shouldn't have to chase down my server while I bask in my extravagance. Loss of one star. And so as our evening wound down, watching the busy masses make their nightly exodus out of Downtown, I sat reminded of a little thing the Steel Butterfly once said... I was no Marie Antoinette. I was not born to nobility, but I had a human right to nobility. Preach on sister. Preach on. read more

***DISCLAIMER: the following novel---scratch that----REVIEW is very, very, verrrrrrrry lengthy.... you might need to take a break here or there, but gosh darnett I put my heart and soul into this review, and I'll be damned if you don't read it*** I met up with a couple lady friends to catch up on life post-college.... We decided on Checkers FOUR night, as I have been meaning to go for quite some time. Being that this is located in DT and parking is normally a hassle in dt I called in the afternoon of to ask about parking. When I asked the receptionist "Where should I park if I am visiting the restaurant? Do you offer a validation?" she transferred me over to someone else without even first alerting me... SIGN #1: shitty service! Then, the guy who I was transferred to said "Yes we have private parking. And it's 6$ for dinner" me: "so I can park in your lot as long as I want? there is no limit?" him: "yes that is correct." So I figured, "hmmm.. that was easy!" So we arrived on a warm Thursday evening at about 6pm and sat out on the patio. We waited about 20 minutes before anyone came to see us. The finally, when someone did come see us, he asked if we were ready to order drinks. I'm thinking: "uuuhhhh yah... I thought you'd never come!" However, we did not have any menus, so he must have read our minds, or looked at the menu-less table before us, because he said "ooh let me get you a menu." I guess that was SIGN #2 for shitty service! We ordered 1 of each of the tapas: some type of short rib ball-- ONLY 3 balls but soooo delicious! lobster bisque-- creamy and YUMMMMMMY! sea bass-- very fresh, tender, exquisite taste lamb meatballs-- interesting and great-tasting and a mix of different Brazilian drinks caipirinha rio 16 celebration mule ? porto... ? I wish I had paid attention to all the drink names and ingredients because for the most part they were also very delicious, and well-made! I only had 2 but still felt a slight buzz, which was nice.... Problem was that it wasn't until 730PM that anyone walked over to tour table to ask if we wanted to order anything else.... SIGN #3 SHITTY SERVICE! we ordered another round. At about 750PM friend #4 walks in and we tell her "well hopefully they bring our drinks soon, so you can order before happy hour is OVA." At 7:55PM (25min after we place our 2nd drink order), they are brought our drinks over to us, so luckily our friend had just enough time to order 1 drink @ the happy hour price.... She got her drink about 15min later... we sat, and chatted and were ready to go to the next stop... We waited, and waited, and waited, and waited to see someone, anyone, ANYTHING to ask for our bill.... Finally, at 9PM we gave up, got up, walked to the bar and asked for our bill..... SIGN #4 SHITTY SERVICE! We were there from 6PM-9PM and the maitre d only came to see us TWICE in three hours?!!!????? Not to mention, the place was relatively empty... Maybe 3-4 other parties TOPS in the restaurant (and the bar had a few ppl there, too)... that is simply unacceptable... But I was having a good time and did not want to ruin my spirits by complaning to anyone (though normally I would comment to a manager on site about such a situation)... We signed the bill... and were leaving just as I remembered "ahhh my parking ticket!" I went back to get validated, and the "top dog" there (as there was no GM available) informed me "ooo it looks like you parked at the lot. you would have had to valet your car at the front to get the 6$ validation from us." I explained to him I had called that afternoon to inquire about parking and that I was simply told they had private parking and that they validated---no mention of a VALET! He said *with a cold, stale attitude* "well what do you want me to do? I don't know what you want me to do. there is nothing I can do. we have nothing to do with that lot." SIGN #5 SHITTTTY SERVICE!!!! shitty, shitty, shitty, shitty, shitty service! which is a daaaaaaaaaaam shame bc @ 4$ a pop for yummy tapas, and delicious cocktails, this would have been the new go-to Thursday night spot.... and I'm the go-to girl for whenever my friends need recommendations on where to go hang out, have drinks, eat din, get some tapas, etc... so I would have definitely recommended this place to many based on food & drink. but everyone knows a restaurant is NOTHING without GOOD SERVICE! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YOU CHECKERS.... you were like that great potential boyfriend, who just ends up breaking your heart. SCREW YOU! read more

I love to F*** on Thursdays! that's FOUR of course! 4-8PM come here and lounge on their comfy couches surrounded by affluent hotel guests and business men entertaining clients, while sipping on their FOUR happy hour concoctions for $4 each! on this Thursday, bourbon was their theme. since i'm not a bourbon fan, i had the Avenue Cocktail, which was their sweetest on their menu...and indeed it was, sweet with a bit of citrus zest. of course, i couldnt leave without trying something on their food menu, so i went with the lobster bruchetta. and it was OHHH SOOO GOOD. the only downside is that you only get TWO pieces. yup....t-w-o. two little bites of olive-oiled bruchetta topped with pieces of lobster, tomatoes, and cilantro (or some type of green leavey thing). totally worth the FOUR dollars though. this is a small lounge in the hotel lobby so dont bring a huge entourage with you. read more

Talk about an a-FOUR-da-ble happy hour! - Fourth day of the work week - Four signature hand crafted cocktails - Four gourmet tapas plates - Four dollars per drink/plate - Four hour span, running from 4pm to 8pm - Four times a month (ok five times, the other fours month out of the year) - Four visits so far and more to come... Four stars all the way. read more

Amazing Eggs Florentine. The service was unobtrusive and truly didn't care that I sat there writing for hours. They just kept sneaking in and filling both my water and coffee cups. read more