Urgent! Need good restaurant advice - Southern California near USC
 

Hi, We'll be checking out USC Grad School this weekend and want to have a GOOD restaurant (doesn't have to be a terrifically expensive, foofoo place) to do a minor celebration, which is also occurring this weekend.

We'll eat just about anything, so long as it's healthy and not smothered in cream sauce.

I'm looking into hotels and will probably be at the Bonaventura - used to go there many a time in years past for meetings and conferences. Curious to see what it's like now.

Any suggestions will be mucho appreciated! TIA! :)

One of our favorite places downtown, with American food, is Engine Co. #28. It's in a restored 1912 Firehouse, and has a fun atmosphere. There is a banquet section for small parties, also.

http://www.engineco.com/

Virtually across Figueroa Street in the Union Bank Plaza courtyard is Ciudad, which is pan-Latin, by the "Two Hot Tamales" chefs. Fun decor.

Engine Co 28 is more comfort food, not especially of the healthy type.

I second Ciudad for South American cuisine. The food and drinks (especially the mojitos) are great. Really good walking distance restaurants include Café Pinot, 700 W. 5th Street, located about 1½ blocks from the Bonaventure next to the Central Library. Nice outdoor dining area and good food. Or you can do McCormick & Schmidt (voted the best seafood in downtown L.A.) located at 633 West Fifth Street, 4th Floor.

Roy’s Restaurant (a few blocks west of your hotel) located at 800 S Figueroa Street, is a relatively new Hawaiian “fusion” restaurant.

Thanks all for your wonderful suggestions!

They all sound like what we are looking for.

We've tried Roy's at Spanish Bay in Carmel and really liked the food.

And we've also tried the McCormick and... restaurants and found them good also.

I'll check out the others as well and narrow things down!

Thanks a bunch again! :)

Check the student newspaper -- I only looked briefly but there is a little dining guide.
http://media.www.dailytrojan.com

The staff at the grad school office should have some good ideas of where to eat.

We were just at USC for my son's lacrosse game...it happened to be my hubbies bday so the 6 of us went to a Moroccan place in L.A. called Dar Maghreb. Belly dancers...sit on the floor and eat with your hands. Food was good and we all had a good time. Check it out at www.darmaghrebrestaurant.com . You'll need a reservation.