Bottega Louie - Downtown LA

One of the many new and great places to adorn the dining scene in downtown Los Angeles is Bottega Louie. Simple Italian... pizzas, pasta, salads but with a sophisticated flare. The good news is that this restaurant is close to my office, so I eat here probably once a week. Everything I have had on the menu has been great and my favorite part is that walking in you feel like you've been immediately transported to NYC. Busy, loud (maybe the only negative) and full of energy. Great for lunch, great for dinner and a fun bar with casual seating in the front of the restaurant. Best to go with a group of people so you can order family style and try several things off the menu (must try the portobello fries and the meatball pizza!). And here's the best kept secret... in the front of the restaurant is a Dean & Deluca-esque deli and bakery... get a loaf of the chocolate chip bread and a loaf of the white chocolate chip bread. Slice and toast the bread the next morning for breakfast with a little cream cheese... you can thank me later.