Breakfast

The Standard

I always hear mixed reviews about The Standard, the modern, hip hotel in Downtown LA. In particular, people focus on accommodations and the rooftop bar. I’ve always meant to go, but whenever I think of it, I hear nagging voice in my head accusing me of being a sell-out. I don’t go trendy places just because people say it’s a good place to go. I really do go out based upon how well I think I’m going to eat. A friend invited me to lunch today at the Standard’s restaurant, and I knew she wouldn’t suggest this place if the food wasn’t good, so I caved.

The restaurant has no name of its own. It’s just The Standard Restaurant. It’s easy to find because it is the only real restaurant in the hotel and is open 24 hours a day. Going there is definitely a unique experience. First of all, everything in the restaurant is yellow. Yellow walls, yellow chairs, yellow booth, and if you are sitting outside in the patio, yellow umbrellas… they create a very cheery atmosphere. Some people might think this is overkill on the whole Pollyanna décor, but once I got over the shock, I really liked how bright the restaurant seemed. The ultra-modern chic look that the hotel is known for doesn’t really work for me in this restaurant environment with the funky shaped chairs, but all in all, I have to admit the chairs were fairly comfortable.

As for food… I usually find restaurants in hotels to charge an arm and a limb for their food – be it bad, mediocre, or truly exceptional. I was a bit surprised by how reasonable the prices were for some of the food on the menu. (Of course, there were still a few items that I thought were overpriced, but that’s just my opinion.) My server was kind enough to forewarn me about the pizza I contemplated ordering – the country ham and asparagus with provolone cheese and roasted onions ($11). She said in her opinion the provolone does not come out well at all in this pizza, and if I decided to order it, I should substitute the provolone for mozzarella. This was enough to send me running the other way, and I wound up getting the Thai beef salad ($12). There was no description on the menu for item, but my friend recommended it highly, so I knew this was a safe dish. When served, the bowl of salad doesn’t look like much food, but once you get started, it seems bottomless. The beef was very flavorful and tender. Sliced thinly, it was placed on to a bed of cold Asian noodles mixed with cilantro, tomatoes, avocadoes, and a mild, citrus vinaigrette. On top of the whole thing were a few slices of grapefruit. I enjoyed this salad immensely. Made me wonder about how good the chopped salad was, as our server said that was the favorite salad at the restaurant.

Here are my tips about eating here: if you go at the start or end of any meal shifts, you won’t need reservations, but if you want to go right in the middle of a shift, plan accordingly and make reservations. The restaurant is right in front of the valet parking service – which isn’t really valet. I had to go get my own car and try to pull out of the tight spot myself. The cost of parking there can be a bit steep. My just-over-an-hour lunch cost me $9 for parking alone. If you can, try to park in one of the public lots nearby. You may have to walk a block or two, but if you’re not wearing the high heels I am today, then the walk won’t kill you or your wallet.

The Standard
550 S. Flower (at 6th Street)
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 892-8080

Breakfast 6am-11am
Lunch 11am-5pm
Dinner 5pm-11pm
Overnight 11pm-6am

By Pauline (see more of her posts).

© 2005 la.foodblogging.