Cafe Pinot

Café Pinot is a high-quality, French restaurant located in Downtown Los Angeles. It is a great restaurant to visit if you are looking for a quiet and classy environment. The service is great, filled with enthusiastic and friendly servers.

The line for this restaurant was a bit long. After speaking with the manager, Gary, he said that making a reservation in advance would be the best idea to be seated more quickly. Gary also stated that most of the people who visit Café Pinot are middle-aged, businessmen who come after a long day of work in Los Angeles.

The menu items are a little bit more expensive than what you would usually find at a restaurant. However, the prices are completely worth it. The food comes out in a beautiful arrangement and tastes uniquely spectacular. This French cuisine will have your taste buds roaring and you will see why yelp rated this restaurant with four stars.

After speaking with a server named Michael, he stated that he doesn’t doubt the quality and authenticity of the food at Café Pinot. He is also a regular customer there. After dining at Café Pinot you will definitely want to go back for their delicious food, beautiful outdoor scenery, and wonderful service.
*My overall rating: 10

dining in the patio area. surrounded by trees and a great view of beautiful Downtown Los Angeles. photo by: Christine Kim

scallops on creamed cheese with caviar on top, topped with breaded almonds. price: around $17.00. photo by: me(Katherine Kim)

special, one-of-a-kind drink made by the bartender. not found on the menu. price: around $13.00. photo by: me(Katherine Kim)

smoked salmon topped with a special vinaigrette sauce with assorted, steamed vegetables on the side. price: around $19.00. photo by: me(Katherine Kim)

Oiwake Karaoke Bar

drinks at Oiwake, Downtown Los Angeles. photo by: me(Katherine Kim)

Oiwake Karaoke Bar has a lot to offer for such a small place! The first thing that you notice when you walk in is the karaoke stage on the left where people can sing and have a great time. Further down the entrance is a small bar where you can order drinks and food. Most of the items on the menu include Japanese cuisine.

            Oiwake Bar is located in the heart of Little Tokyo in Downtown Los Angeles. It is a great place to stop by with friends after sightseeing in Japan Town. The servers are friendly and welcoming to all the customers.

            Most people would think that karaoke bars might be an irritating place to go, filled with bad singers and a bad environment. Yet, this particular bar was quite relaxing and fun. The atmosphere was not too chaotic and, since this space is not too big, it was a cozy spot. One of the people that I spoke to, Jordin Hernandez, is a regular at that bar and he gave it great ratings. Jordin stated that he usually goes there for the delicious food and drinks.
*my overall rating: 8

 My friends jessica, Michelle, and Jessie. photo by: Jordin Hernandez

Standard Rooftop Bar

taking a quick picture inside the restrooms at the standard bar and hotel with two of my friends. even the bathrooms had fancy sinks and a sleek red interior! photo by:me(katherine kim)

'gummy bear' drinks thanks to our new, generous friend Mark! photo by:me(katherine kim) 

Saturday, March 23, 2013 was a night of fun at the standard bar. Many residents in Los Angeles know about this rooftop bar at the standard hotel. Famous for offering a fun and hip atmosphere, this bar definitely delivered. Standard bar was filled with a younger crowd, mainly in their twenties. The people there were all friendly and seemed to be having a great time. One man by the name of Mark Laros stated, “I don’t usually come out to bars in la because there aren’t a lot of places that offer friendly people, good drinks and a nice environment but I love the standard for proving me wrong!” As you walk around there is a wide range of places to sit and view the city. There were fireplaces (since it is a rooftop bar and people might get cold), waterbeds, a pool, a separate quieter outdoor area, and a small dance floor. Most importantly, there was an amazing view of Los Angeles with optional public binoculars that you can use to view the city. The standard is a great place to go with a lot of your friends if you’re looking for a fun night out in the town.
*my overall rating: 9

Library Bar

the first drink i chose was a classic mojito. good, standard size for that drink and tasted decent as well. *picture taken by my friend who went with me that night, Ashley Kang. we arrived around 10:00 P.M. so we luckily found seats right before the large crowds of people arrived. Photo by:Ashley Kang

second and last drink of the night was the 'clockwork orange'. this drink was very delicious and surprisingly sweet. some main ingredients included citrus vodka and orange creme. yum! photo by: Ashley Kang

My friend's drink, a cucumber and tonic mix. Interestingly refreshing and delicious! Photo by: me(Katherine Kim)

On Thursday, March 21, 2013, the library bar in downtown Los Angeles was particularly crowded. Most bars or lounges in Los Angeles run their businesses by the reputations they create. Therefore, it is incredibly important for bars to have a special appeal to the people of LA. Library bar seemed to succeed in that goal. The crowd was people in their late twenties/early thirties, most likely coming to have a drink after a busy day at work in LA. The atmosphere was a little dark and loud. Also, the small space made it difficult to find a place to sit down. However, the interior design was creative and fun. There were bookshelves filled with famous texts and drinks named after “The Odyssey” and “A Clockwork Orange”. Most people would expect a boring bar just from the title, “library bar”. Yet, this bar seemed to be filled with excitement from a large, social crowd. It is definitely not a place to go to if you’re looking for a quiet place to wine and dine with a friend or two. However, if you’re looking to meet new people and enjoy unique drinks and food, this is the place to visit.
*My overall rating: 8