Jessica Koslow

Some people say it’s old news, while others are just noticing. DTLA is experiencing a much-needed revitalization as Los Angeles prepares for the NBA All-Star 2026, FIFA World Cup 2026, Super Bowl LXI, and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games—and the thousands of visitors who will be arriving in this city ready to taste all its culinary treasures.

Below is a list of eateries that are top-notch at prepping product, perfecting flavor, and plumping bellies.

Bottega Louie is more than a restaurant; it is a gourmet market, patisserie and café. Known for its open kitchen and lively atmosphere, the eatery is Yelp’s most reviewed restaurant. After browsing the pizza, pasta, salads, small plates, and entrees options on the menu, stroll over to the patisserie to salivate over mouth-watering fruit tarts and beautifully packaged macaron boxes. . . .

Read the entire article at LA Downtown News.

Tima Bell was born in New York City and raised part-time in Venice Beach. Growing up, the Venice locals referred to the last block of Washington Boulevard, which has always been a lively area peppered with restaurants and shops, as Washington Square. About two years ago, when the space on the block between Doobi’s Smoke Shop and Fat Sal’s Deli became vacant, Bell began hatching a plan to bring New York-style pizza to his beloved beach community. 

“You can’t get a good New York-style slice of pizza anywhere on the Westside, so that was part of the driver and also something we’re very passionate about,” said Bell’s partner, Alessandro Nicolaci of Playbook Advisors, about opening this new venture, Washington Square Pizza, at the beach. 

“We thought, what can we do that is family friendly and helps us build the community of Washington Boulevard, aka Washington Square, back up.” Nicolaci and Playbook Advisors will handle the operations of Washington Square Pizza, which will open to the public on June 26.  . . .

Read the entire article at The Argonaut.

Lady Gaga loves the book, and so does Jennifer Aniston and Chris Pine. Author Deborah Davis’ three rescue dogs, Bellissima (Bella), Bootsie and Daisy, really love the book. “The Art of Canine Cuisine” is a vet-approved cookbook for foodies and their furry friends. It is 100-plus pages of recipes, food and dog photography, stories of rescued dogs, and histories of dog breeds. Plus, a portion of the proceeds from sales are donated to dog rescue and support charities.

Davis dedicated the book to her dad, a world traveler with a passion for food and dogs. An early retiree in his 30s, her father led the family on global adventures across Europe and South America, where Davis was exposed to different cultures and their creative meals. Her entire family loved to cook, and during her formative years Davis grew to love and learn about cooking by watching them.

When Davis settled in the United States to launch her career in the entertainment industry — she now lives in Santa Monica — she began to foster dogs. Davis can count at least 20 rescue dogs for whom she has found homes, including her own home.  . . .

Read the entire article at The Argonaut.

After spending just one minute with Tony Palermo and Danny Ringwood, the owners of Tony P’s Dockside Grill on the marina waterfront, it is obvious that what the two best friends (since they were 18) will miss most about retiring is seeing each other each day.

Sunday, June 29 will be the last day Tony P’s will be open for business. After serving 300,000 mai tais and 350,000 orders of fish and chips (its No.1-selling menu item) over the last 28 years, the largest sports bar on the Westside is packing up its prized collection of 3,500 tap handles and calling it quits.

Palermo and Ringwood met each other in 1975 at their first restaurant job at Alfred’s in the Somerset Mall in Troy, Michigan. Ringwood’s father worked for the railroad business, and he was transferred from New York during Ringwood’s senior year in high school. Palermo was born and raised in Detroit. . . .

Read the entire article at The Argonaut.