Water Grill - Los Angeles - calendarlive.com

Water Grill

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544 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles
213-891-0900

Hours: Mon.-Tue., 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Wed.-Fri., 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sat., 5-9:45 p.m.; Sun., 4:30-8:45 p.m.

Critic's rating:

Read the complete review by S. Irene Virbila

Readers' rating:

Reader reviews: Write a review | Read other reviews

Chef David LeFevre, a Charlie Trotter protégé, is deep into slow-cooked fish, and uses several techniques. His "slow-steamed" halibut, for example, has an almost custardy texture. The technique, instead of drying out the fish, preserves its delicacy. Setting its white snowy flesh against artichokes scented with coriander and a kalamata olive puree highlights the halibut's purity. It's a beautiful dish.

Water Grill spends big on bringing in top-notch seafood from not only this country, but also around the world. The current menu, though, seems more limited than it was in the past. The choice of dishes and the range of seafood are smaller, making me wonder how much say the new chef really has in the menu at this point.

-- S. Irene Virbila
Times Restaurant Critic
July 20, 2005

Cross street: 5th Street

Reader Reviews

May 15, 2007

John Johnson Pasadena, CA

Took my partner for his B-day. I try to go there once a year , first of all they had 3 different pricing for the menu of the same thing for example the seafood platter. i waited at the bar and saw the price at $27 per person then at the sit down menu with a printed Happy B-day to my partner there was another price of $30 and then online menu is $25. Anyway to make a long story short the service was ok and the food was luke warm and we had to wait for each course for about 45 min.

July 28, 2005

Reginald Los Angeles, CA

Though the seafood quality is impeccable and the new chef highly skilled, it's not as exciting as it used to be. Added to that we had catastrophic service, 20 minutes for the sommelier to show up, then an hour before our first course which was oyster and clams on the half shell. Not a word of apology. Amateurish at a place of this level and reputation.

July 22, 2005

gideon long beach, ca

After reading this week review I decided to try the Water Grill again. My experience was nothing if it was not excellent. We sampled a selection of oysters that was first rate. We also tried the crab cake. As good as the times writer said it was. Entrees were Halibut and Sea Bass. Server was professional and knowlegable.

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Venue Details

Cuisine	California , Seafood
Rating
Ambience	Downtown seafood house in the grand historic Pacific Center with a raw bar at the front and a stolid dining room with plush royal blue booths along the wall.
Best dishes	Fruits of the sea platter, Dungeness and blue crab cake, olive oil poached salmon, striped bass with lemon-scented potato purée, slow-poached loup de mer, crème brûlée, chocolate brioche pudding.
Best table	One of the booths along the wall.
Desserts	Vanilla crème fraîche cheesecake, strawberry napoleon
Of Note	A haven for convention-goers and people who work downtown, it can be virtually empty one night, impossible to get a reservation the next.
Prices	Dinner first courses, $13 to $27 (for fruits of the sea platter); oysters on the half shell, $14 to $19.50 per half a dozen; main courses, $28 to $49; desserts, $9 to $10; chef's tasting menu, $85 per person.
Service	Attentive and professional, with excellent teamwork.
Wine list	Although not what it once was, it's still wide-ranging for downtown. Good selection of half bottles and wines by the glass, including reserve wines. Corkage, $20.

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