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The Palm - Downtown

The Downtown Los Angeles location of the esteemed Palm empire of restaurants offers fine steaks, seafood, and Italian specialties in a posh setting. Located at 1100 Flower Street in an enormous space, formerly a Packard car dealership, the Palm Downtown is the largest in the country. Since 2002 The Palm Downtown has managed to execute the same stellar food that original owners Pio Bozzi and John Ganzi started serving three generations ago in New York City. Today, The Palm Restaurants are still a family business run by the original owners’ great-great-grandsons.

The Palm Restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles

 

Set in a massive space at 1100 Flower Street, in downtown Los Angeles, is one of the most recent installments of the nationwide Palm family of restaurants. Opened in 2005, Palm Downtown continues to live up to the outlet's reputation for serving outstanding steak, lobster, and Italian specialties in a unique setting. The original Palm location was opened in 1926, on New York City's 2nd Avenue, by Pio Bozzi and John Ganzi. At the time, the two set out to open a neighborhood Italian restaurant with great food and good service. Steaks and chops were not part of the original menu, but guests demanded them and Bozzi and Ganzi delivered, creating the menu concept of today. The restaurant was originally meant to be called "Parma" after the city in Italy where the two partners grew up, but a mispronunciation of the word became "Palm," and the name stuck. Today, it is often referred to as "The Palm."

The Palm is widely recognized for establishing a loyal clientele who enjoy all that the restaurant has to offer. In every Palm, the walls tell a story of these loyal guests who have each earned a special place in the restaurant in the form of hand-painted caricatures. In fact, it is not uncommon for some supporters to have their likeness painted in more than one Palm location. The honor is also given to celebrities and other notable patrons who dine at The Palm. Regular guests are usually members of the "837 Club," which awards points for every dollar spent on food and drink in the establishment. The program's awards are incentive to join and range from complimentary appetizers to a three night stay in a French chateau. Once members receive a certain number of points, they get their very own caricature.

The Palm's Downtown Los Angeles location is notable as it was formerly a Packard car dealership, and is the largest of all Palm restaurants throughout the country. There are vaulted ceilings, two separate kitchens, and five private dining rooms in a space that holds up to 500 people. When the house is full of guests the energy is vibrant and noisy, and one manager likens the vibe to Times Square. While the atmosphere may be high energy, the over-sized leather and linen clad booths are cozy. If you like a seat in the middle of the action, a table on the main floor is the way to go. High-top seating and booths are also available in the sizable bar area. A semi-circular "family" area adjacent to the bar is also a perfect place to watch an event on the big screen. As for the decor, it is sleek and clean, and the lighting is dimmed just so. There is definitely an upscale feel throughout the restaurant. 

Service at The Palm remains as outstanding as the food, and this location is no exception. Hostesses, bartenders, and even the valet are all very attentive. The entire wait staff is uniformed in crisp chef's whites and is extremely knowledgeable about the food and extensive wine and beverage selections. You feel as though the service is above and beyond what is expected.

The Palm's wine list offers varied selections both by the bottle and by the glass. While California varietals are heavily represented, the list also offers a nice sampling of French, Italian, Australian, Spanish, and South American wines. The Palm has received Wine Spectator's coveted "Award of Excellence" four years in a row. Palm also mixes up signature cocktails such as "Riviera Rum Punch" and "A Gentleman's Julep," as well as classic cocktails such as "The Upper East Sidecar" and the "Classic Charmer Manhattan." 

Having the privilege of being hosted by the manager and executive chef, a selection of the Palm's notable signature dishes were chosen specifically for us. We began with an appetizer duo called the "Slater Special,” which was named after a former employee who claimed that tasting both items together was the best way. The duo is made up of the colossal Crab Cake made with jumbo lump crab meat, and Shrimp "Bruno.” The Crab Cake is different from most served in restaurants in that it is baked, not fried. There is little else to it other than seasonings and the hearty pieces of crab meat and the simplicity of ingredients allows the delicate flavor and texture of the crab to come through. The shrimp is prepared Françoise style in a light batter of flour and egg, and is pan fried in olive oil.  The delicately crusted shrimp is then tossed in a tangy Dijon mustard sauce. The two different styles of preparation for the crab and the shrimp in this appetizer are a lovely complement to each other, and really showcase the quality of the ingredients.

Our salad course followed, accompanied by a glass of Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, from New Zealand. Offering more than just the traditional Caesar or mixed greens, the Palm signature salads are truly unique and memorable. Most notable is the "Monday Night" chop salad made with romaine, iceberg, tomato, onion, roasted pepper, radish, scallion, and anchovy. The addition of anchovies makes the dish truly distinct. The salad is dubbed the "Monday Night" because it can be easily eaten while watching Monday night football on the big screen.

Salads led to what was perhaps the largest lobster I have ever eaten. Astoundingly, this three pounder from Nova Scotia is actually the smallest lobster the Palm offers. It is prepared by being soaked in half and half, split open, and broiled at an extremely high temperature for two-to-three minutes to give it richness. Then it is finished off in the oven. At the tableside, our server skillfully removed the lobster meat from the claws, which is not an easy task for a lobster of that size. The flavor of the lobster was fresh and succulent, and the texture was tender. Dipped in clarified butter, it was absolutely luscious. Our server recommended all of our wines and paired the lobster with Coppola's Director's Cut Pinot Noir, from Sonoma, which pleasantly complemented it. I will definitely gravitate toward a pinot noir when ordering lobster in the future.

For our steak, Chef Lee prepared for us the Bone-In Rib Eye served his favorite way: blackened and medium rare. Size-wise, the 24 oz steak carried out the impressive theme of the above mentioned lobster. The flavorful crispy crust of the steak gave way to the delicate juicy meat. There was so much flavor that no sauce was necessary. Although the Palm offers several sauces with all its steaks and chops, these sauces are more commonly served with filet mignon: sauce complements filet gracefully, whereas the rib eye stands alone nicely.

Palm's a la carte menu lists many side dishes to accompany entrées, and every side is served family style. We chose the Creamed Spinach and Asparagus Fritti, but the choice was difficult among so many tempting options like the Three Cheese Potatoes, Wild Mushrooms, and the "Half & Half" of Cottage Fries and Fried Onions. The spinach was sautéed and seasoned, then dressed in plenty of cheese.  It was very decadent, and a great match to the blackened steak. The asparagus was lightly breaded and fried, rendering the spears tender and juicy.

For the finishing touch to our pleasing meal, we opted for the New York style cheesecake, another Palm signature. With a sweet and crunchy crust and a creamy filling, the cheesecake was a great way to end a wonderful dinner at The Palm. Based on this dining experience it is obvious why Palm has such a loyal following of customers throughout its many restaurants. The food and service are exactly what Bozzi and Ganzi promised all those years ago: outstanding.

 

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Restaurant Info

  • Address: 1100 South Flower Street, Los Angeles CA 90015
  • Cross Street: W 11th St.
  • Location: Central / Downtown LA | Downtown LA
  • Cuisine: Seafood | Steak |
  • Cost: $$$ | Moderate | $50 - $75
  • Category: Fine Dining
  • Star Rating:
  • Reservations: Recommended
  • Dress Code: Business Casual
  • Meals Served: Lunch | Dinner |
  • Parking: Street | Valet Parking |
  • Payment Options: VISA | Amex | MasterCard | Discover | Diners Club |
  • Corkage Fee: N/A
  • Phone: (213) 763-4600

Business Hours

Monday
| Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
| Dinner 3 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Tuesday
| Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
| Dinner 3 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Wednesday
| Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
| Dinner 3 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Thursday
| Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
| Dinner 3 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday
| Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
| Dinner 3 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Saturday
| Dinner 5 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Sunday
| Dinner 5 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Features

  • Full Bar
  • Private Room
  • Prix Fixe Menu
  • Takeout Available
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Valet Parking

Occasion

  • Dining Alone
  • Business Dining
  • Meet for a Drink
  • People Watching
  • Quiet Conversation
  • Special Occasion
  • Celebrity Spotting

 


F.A.Q. - Frequently Asked Questions

The Palm runs its own meat wholesale company so the restaurant can ensure the quality of its steaks.
The Palm is less than a mile from the Nokia Theater in Downtown Los Angeles. There is a parking garage at LA Live near the theater as well as several pay to park public lots.

Menus

Business Lunch Menu ($25.95)

First Course

Second Course

Third Course

Dinner Menu

Appetizers

Salads

Steak & Chops

Seafood

Classic Italian

Vegetables & Potatoes

Lunch Menu

Soups & Starters

Palm Salads & Sandwiches

Luncheon Specialties

Palm Steak Burgers

Steak & Chops

House Specialty

Vegetables & Potatoes


Map

Restaurant Address: 1100 South Flower Street, Los Angeles CA 90015

User Reviews

fantastic food!  

my husband and i ate at the Palm downtown before seeing a show at the disney concert hall. our food was fantastic, our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable and the service was outstanding. i would recommend this restaurant to anyone.

Wonderful Dinner  

It was the dinner before a bachelor party weekend. It lived up to most expectations and exceeded the rest. I couldn't have asked for a better waitress or nicer manager. It definitely set the tone for the weekend.

Great food ... worth the price  

Although you will spend more at The Palm - Downtown than some steak / seafood houses, I think you'll find it well worth it. The atmosphere is not fancy, retro with a slant toward sports. (The walls are covered with caricatures of local VIPs and good customers.) The service was excellent. The food as the headline ... truly outstanding ... among the best "simple" fare I've ever enjoyed (and I'm old and fat so I've enjoyed more than my share of meals). I had the small (9 oz) beef tenderloin fillet medium rare with garlic mashed potatoes. The beef was simply incredible. The potatoes were very good (if a little too fluffy, if that's possible). My dining companion, a very particular diner, really loved the Alaskan king crab. The wine selection was good, the expresso and dessert (key lime pie, if I remember) was also good ... but by that time I was stuffed. Better to skip dessert to better savor the meal. Highly recommended for business meals and special occasions. If you go to The Staples Center (down the street) once a year ... go to the Palm before. If you go to Staples regularly, wait until you have a guest you want to impress. As for me ... I hope to return soon and often.

Best Chilean Sea Bass  

Hip, great atmosphere, excellent service, cool location.

What a surprise :)  

My best friend and I went here after watching the People's Choice Award on January 6, 2010. The waiter was very sweet. I surprised my best friend with a birthday dessert with candle and the waiter started singing (He's Italian) =) Love their steaks! :)

Worth every dime!  

If your looking for a fabolous dining experience tis is the spot very upscale and good location if you are going to staple center or the Nokia center perfect.

The Palm - An Ultimate Dining Experience  

The service at The Palm is unmatched. The restaurant is founded on making you feel at home, and we were instantly made to feel like regulars. Our server greeted us like family and from the getgo was entertaining, humurous and very attentive. The staff are fluent in the menu and answered our many questions. The table was well tended, always neatly cleared and water glasses kept full, but the servers were unobtrusive and friendly. The Palm offers everything a good steakhouse should: deliciously tender cuts of meat, filling sides, wonderful, fresh salads and dressings, and desserts that are meals in themselves (the chocolate layer cake probably weighs about two pounds). One dessert easily serves four! The cheesecake served for dessert is flown in from a bakery in Brooklyn each day, authentic New York cheesecake and an absolute must have! While the food and service at The Palm is four-star quality, the atmosphere is laid-back. Appropriate dress ranges from suit and ties to LA casual. Overall, The Palm offers fabulous food, exemplary service, terrific ambience, and a reasonable corkage fee so you can bring your favorite wine from your own wine cellar. We highly recommend The Palm Downtown LA. Bon appetit!

Amazing  

Delicious, the Filet Mingnon was amazing

Restaurant cute, quality for price questionable.  

The Palm - Downtown was fun once we got inside, but prices were definitely too high for typical LA food. I wish some of my other favorites had been open on Labor day weekend, but we ended up here because they were the only one I could find within a reasonable radius from the Mark Taper Forum. At least they were open!

Gerat food, friendly service.  

Friendly service, good food.

The Palms Great For Lunch  

I work in East Los Angeles and am always looking for special lunch venues. The Palms is only 15 minutes away, great food and atmosphere and reasonable for the value. Highly recommend, especially anything lobster!

Enjoyed the Experience  

Casual, upscale dining. Really nice atmosphere, attentive service.

satisfied  

A good place to eat if you don't mind spending a couple bucks...

Anniversary Special  

We really enjoyed your Anniversary special dinner! Thanks so much for the offering.

Good experience  

Generally a nice experience. The rib-eye steaks were excellant. We thought their was too much green pepper use in the fish dishes however. Soda's were served in bottles which we thought was a bit our of character with the restaurant.

Good experience  

Generally a nice experience. The rib-eye steaks were excellant. We thought their was too much green pepper use in the fish dishes however. Soda's were served in bottles which we thought was a bit our of character with the restaurant.

Good but, not one I would come back to  

you've got to be kidding!  

I can't believe someone said this was a fantastic restaurant with excellant food and service. This was definitely not what our party of four experineced the other night. I'll admit that the ribeye steak was very good, but at $49.00 it should be. The salmon was just okay and actually a little salty. The veal scaloppini was only so-so. The lobster bisque was pretty good, as were the mashed potatoes and creamed spinach sides. The place was pracically empty and we were seated right next to another party. I'm sorry, but for a final bill including the tip of over $400.00 (and we didn't order the expensive wine that was suggested)we were just a little dissapointed with the whole experience. One of the best restaurants in LA? Not in my view...sorry...

no big deal  

Was expecting more....dissapointing overall...probably won't go back or recommend to friends....good steak...average salmon and veal....good lobster bisque...overpriced...

Expected More  

I had heard good things about this restaurant before our arrival into LA. We were hosting dinner for a special guest and while the meal was good it was not great!

lacking atmosphere  

a fairly pricey restaurant which is appointed in a cheap way....service was pushy and overall experience was negative for a $200+ dinner for 2

???  

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