Decent spot for Italian in the heart of LA. I read some of the reviews to see what the hate is…read moreabout and I didn't see that on my visit. We came for a company event. Food was good but not spectacular. Service was good. Plenty of seating. I particularly liked the pizza and various appetizers.

Food: it's okay, I've tried a variety dishes and the only one I've enjoyed was the chef special;…read morechicken Parmesan. Most pastas are bland, the bread leaves lots to be desired, plates like the burrata appetizer could you be better with simple touch ups. The pizza was really bad, sauce straight from the can, excessive amounts of cheese, we had to return it, low quality ingredients. They could benefit from a better dough recipe and perhaps less intensity from the oven fire, it turns the dough into a cookie like texture. Drink: good selection of wines. The martinis are great, no complaints Desserts: all store bought, nothing memorable.

GREAT LOCATION! 4.0…read more Savoca is located inside the JW Marriott in downtown Los Angeles. If you're entering from the front of the hotel, it can be a bit difficult to find since it is situated at the rear of the hotel. Approaching from the back, near L.A. Live and the Peacock Theater, offers a much more inviting first impression, as you'll immediately see both the indoor and outdoor dining areas. The indoor dining room has an open, airy feel thanks to its soaring ceilings. During our visit, however, it was quite noisy due to renovations taking place at the adjacent bar inside the JW Marriott. Once the bar is completed, it will make for a great one-stop eat and drink option. We experienced Savoca in two ways: through in-room breakfast service and by dining in the restaurant for lunch. We stayed next door at The Ritz-Carlton, where room service breakfast is provided by Savoca. The Ritz-Carlton and the JW Marriott share several amenities, and Savoca is one of them. Our room service breakfast was delicious, and the coffee was exceptional. We later discovered they proudly serve Illy coffee, which also has a small café on the lobby level of the JW Marriott, just steps from Savoca. Our dine-in lunch was equally enjoyable. We shared the mushroom, fontina, roasted garlic, and honey pizza, and it was very delicious. It was lighter than most pizzas, without the heaviness or excess oil, making it feel like a healthier option without sacrificing flavor. If you're in the area, Savoca is a great place to enjoy a meal before heading to one of the many nearby sports or entertainment venues.

for the service. The gentleman who helped me out was very…read morecourteous and professional. But as for the food; The California Branzino was definitely not me. I took a few bites and just asked for a take out box. I then proceeded to order the burger, That one was actually decent and enjoyable. I was satisfied with it. It was served with chips which is a nice touch. Located inside the JW Marriott hotel so ambiance could be a bit loud since there's a lot of people inside chatting.

Smeraldi's restaurant is located inside the 'Millennium Biltmore Hotel,' Downtown Los Angeles, CA…read more I was either in need of some munchies when I arrived or was looking for a place to support this Historic Landmark. However, I was directed to wait around for their take out Side Cafe, 'Rendezvous Cafe,' to re-open because the staff there had gone to lunch. I decided doing so till about half day, noon-ish. Finally the 'Rendezvous Cafe,' opened up again for any take out orders except they didn't have enough choices. I decided to go for a coffee drink and some pastries. Since the cashier found out I stuck around for them to re-open, he was super nice that he gave me an extra piece of their butter croissant for the price of one. Thank you, super friendly cashier/barista!!!! You made my day. I ordered their Cappuccino to go as well. I'm glad I stuck around 'Smeraldi's,' here because it was so relaxing with Biltmore Hotel's live jazz radio going off the entire time on top of the running fountain water sounds in the background. I'll be back again for another take out experience but not during a long weekend. Cya next time, 'Smeraldi's,' Downtown Los Angeles, CA.

Smeraldi's felt a bit like we stepped into an old-world scene; its striking fresco of a…read moreMediterranean coastal town dominated the space and beams stretched across the ceiling complemented the rich, wooden panels lining the walls. It's undeniably beautiful, and call me weird, but we expected breakfast to match that same level of elegance and refinement. However, the food didn't live up to the setting and it was pretty disappointing. Side Note: The restaurant is located past the hotel lobby elevators, go down the stairs into the Rendezvous Court, walk all the way to the end and make a left. THE FOOD. - Breakfast was buffet-style and offered the usual suspects: scrambled egg varieties, bacon, chicken sausage, potatoes, breads, yogurt, cheese, fruit, and other basics. For the most part, the food was underwhelming... the chicken sausage was really tough and dry to bite into... scrambled eggs had a rubbery consistency... the bacon was more chewy than crispy. Off to the side (sitting on a cart) was a pot of congee with toppings to mix in right next to it. Although it seemed a little out of place to see that as part of the breakfast line-up, I tried it anyway and realized it was not my cup of tea. THE DRINKS. - Coffee. Medium blend; warm, smooth, and the highlight of this meal. - Orange Juice. Mildly sweet with some pulp. THE PARKING. If you're popping in just for the restaurant, self-parking runs $15 with validation, while valet is available at $35 with validation. As always, check the hotel's site for the most up-to-date rates. THE VERDICT. Not a fan of their breakfast buffet and wasn't happy about the price point either. However, the staff were all very attentive and friendly. So, I feel mixed about this place, but in the end, I'd rather go to another breakfast spot. Smeraldi's felt a bit like we stepped into an old-world scene; its striking fresco of a Mediterranean coastal town dominated the space and beams stretched across the ceiling complemented the rich, wooden panels lining the walls. It's undeniably beautiful, and call me weird, but we expected breakfast to match that same level of elegance and refinement. However, the food didn't live up to the setting and it was pretty disappointing. THE FOOD. - Breakfast was buffet-style and offered the usual suspects: scrambled egg varieties, bacon, chicken sausage, potatoes, breads, yogurt, cheese, fruit, and other basics. For the most part, the food was underwhelming... the chicken sausage was really tough and dry to bite into... scrambled eggs had a rubbery consistency... the bacon was more chewy than crispy. Off to the side (sitting on a cart) was a pot of congee with toppings to mix in right next to it. Although it seemed a little out of place to see that as part of the breakfast line-up, I tried it anyway and realized it was not my cup of tea. THE DRINKS. - Coffee. Medium blend; warm, smooth, and the highlight of this meal. - Orange Juice. Mildly sweet with some pulp. THE PARKING. If you're popping in just for the restaurant, self-parking runs $15 with validation, while valet is available at $35 with validation. As always, check the hotel's site for the most up-to-date rates. THE VERDICT. Not a fan of their breakfast buffet and wasn't happy about the price point either. However, the staff were all very attentive and friendly. So, I feel mixed about this place, but in the end, I'd rather go to another breakfast spot.

Came here for dessert, as we're staying in the Hotel that Florence is attached to. I'm glad we did,…read moreas these were two of the most amazing desserts I have ever had! The chocolate bomb truly was, the bomb. A sphere of heavenly chocolate cream that was not too sweet but not bitter at all. The base of the smooth, creamy sphere was surrounded by a ring of crunchy dark chocolate. Every bite sent me to the good place. The pistachio cheesecake was equally spectacular in its own way. Take a look at the picture, and you can see the cheesecake surrounded by a supporting cast of cream, strawberries, and blueberries. The cheesecake itself was again, super smooth, creamy, not too sweet, and a perfect taste of pistachio. Oh, and the ambiance of the place is really delightful as well. It's pretty intimate, not too loud, and overlooks the pool area of the hotel, which is quite elegant but not stuffy. Service was excellent even though it was a comped dessert from the hotel. I hope we end up trying their regular menu. They had some great looking pizzas. I suspect they interpret the Margherita pizza as well as they did these desserts.

Very cool restaurant located at the back of Hotel Figueroa with a relaxing view of the pool. A…read moresanctuary in the middle of DTLA. Italian menu, including pizza and a very delicious Branzino. Bar seating, tables and semi-circle booths. Friendly service. The crowd is a mix of hotel guests and local business people. I was there for a business dinner. Highly recommend.

When you first see the restaurant you might not stop. But I assure you it is worth it! The food is…read morefresh and prepared wonderfully. They have specials every night. I had lobster ravioli and it was delicious. We had salad, can't remember the name, it had beets and cheese-fabulous. Service was on point.

Purposely serving moldy food to African American customers. Will threaten to only take…read moreaccountability and remove items off bill if you don't post about it.

This was my first time having Lebanese food, and I tend to like Mediterranean food so I figured I…read morewould give this place a try. This was some of the best food I've ever had. It was so flavorful. The meat was tender. The hummus was citrusy and creamy, and we saw them make the pita bread in an oven as we waited for our food. It was such a wonderful experience and service was great. It felt like a mom and pop in the middle of downtown Los Angeles. I can't wait to be back in the area to have it again because it was delicious.

What an amazing experience! Every single thing we ordered was delicious…read more The Lebano Cheese Rolls were incredible--crispy on the outside with perfectly melted cheese inside, and the fresh parsley gave them such a refreshing flavor. The Baba Ghannouj was one of the biggest surprises. It was smoky, creamy, and so flavorful. My wife usually isn't a fan of trying new foods, but she absolutely loved it--and I was pretty proud of her for stepping out of her comfort zone. For our main dish, we had the Clay Pot Shawarma, and wow... the meat was unbelievably tender. The toppings, fresh vegetables, and tahini tied everything together perfectly. Every bite was packed with flavor. It felt like the restaurant was run by a husband-and-wife team, and they were both incredibly warm and attentive. They took the time to answer our questions, explained the dishes, and even suggested what paired well together, which made the experience feel very personal. The décor was warm, cozy, and inviting--one of those places where you immediately feel comfortable. Between the amazing food, genuine hospitality, and welcoming atmosphere, we'll definitely be back. Highly recommend!

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

Checkers? More like "Check... yourself before booking."…read more 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.

good view. nice food. very great service…read more duck was amazing. the rib eye was juicy. the drinks were refreshing. good view of disney hlal. i recommend thisp lace

Pre-opera Sunday brunch! It was a lovely day and the restaurant's menu, layout and location was a…read moregreat start to the day. We enjoyed the prixe fixe menu. It's a great option to try a little of everything on the menu. The pace of the meal was relaxing and we were able to enjoy an unhurried brunch. My favorite: Hitamasa crudo Grilled lubina Café bombon Enjoy!