Engine Co. No. 28

What do you do with an old Fire station? Of course, turn it into a restaurant! Not the first time I've been to such converted places, but the first in this city. Regardless, my friend remarked that the calamari here was the best he's ever tasted. Honestly, I can't complain. For what we were given, everything tasted great! The main course of Salmon was really good! Plus, the pita and hummus I got was great! So glad we could get an extra plate of pita too, because as much as good as that pita was, I needed a vessel to get that hummus into my stomach, because liking the plate isn't socially acceptable. Food aside, Desiree was the one who took care of us, and she was awesome! Me and my friend were celebrating our birthdays, and she came around with a co-worker, sang us a song, and added a candle to our cakes. That was really sweet of her! Ambience is wonderful! The repurposing of old fire fighting equipment, and parts of pipes for the artwork and the lights was really unique! It shows the owners have a vision and a dream for this place!

Went in on a weekday around 1, and we were the only ones there. The atmosphere had some charm to it. They had sports playing on a couple of tvs at the bar. Food and drinks were really good, and our server took care of us nicely.

The atmosphere is top notch the food is really good. We we're here for Dine LA week and all of the service called out/off and unfortunately, our service was lacking. We were 6 of 8 guests followed by another party of 6. Our server took our order first, brought our salads. While at the other party they got their drinks and bread basket. By this time, two other staff showed up and our main meal was served. I asked for our drinks and our bread basket. Will I/we be back...maybe???

This place has stepped up their game and has really delicious food and stunning service. I highly recommend to take a break and enjoy this city stop for lunch. Covid safe outdoor eating is available and everyone wears masks which I really appreciate. Best of it all, they are affordable too. Check them out!

DineLa lunch was great! I had the chicken Parm on linguine and a salad and my friend had impossible burger. But the class of the lunch was a mushroom bisque that was absolutely delicious and I think about it time and time again. The service was excellent and the old decor was very good Indeed and a nice tin roof

Have you experienced dining in a fire station? If not, follow me! Highlights of the menu: 1. Brussels sprout & bacon 2. French fries 3. BBQ short ribs & cole slaw 4. Creme brulee strawberry I have never been in a fire station before, not to mention this is dining in a historical fire station in downtown of LA. Very interesting set up!

What I liked: The food was tasty.. everything was cooked just right. Live music is a nice touch and creates a fun atmosphere, even on a Sunday afternoon in DTLA. A lot of historic charm here, solid wood, high ceilings, etc. What I disliked: Our server(s) kept forgetting about us, even though we one of only three tables filled at the time. They were friendly and seemed apologetic after forgetting to bring us water, then forgetting about the drinks we ordered, but it still took away from the experience. I think I’ll try this place again, since it was probably just a bad day.

A unique experience. This is a real fire station, built in 1912. There are remnants of its past here: A poll, the original windows & front entrance. There are some photos on the walls and an info sheet at the bar. There is also a donated firefighters jacket and helmets that you're welcome to pick up and look at. Food was great. They have New York steak, linquini with shrimp, meatloaf, ribs, even gumbo. I had the gumbo and it was excellent. I also had some sort of spicy magarita which was small but excellent! I should have had another. For dessert we had creme brulee and lemon merangue lie. Both were sooo good! Service was pleasant. Atmosphere was very cool. Good diverse selection of customers too. Oh and the ceiling is beautifully restored. :-)

Trying to avoid traffic, my hubby and I looked for a place to have dinner. We saw valet parking with no wait- so we thought we would try this place- and what a SCORE! Honestly- when we walked in and it was almost empty on a Friday night, we thought maybe we made a mistake- but we already valeted so we decided to try it anyway. Host/doorman was friendly, asked if we had reservations- I looked around and asked...."umm...do we need them..." and he said "no- do you want a booth or a table". We opted for for the booth, which was the perfect size for two Maribel, our waitress was also super friendly. We ordered: Caesar salad: $19 a large portion, and excellent with the most delicious croutons Scallops: $42. Served over creamy mashed potatoes and perfectly cooked asparagus. It was a small entree portion (especially for the price ) of only three large scallops- but holy cow these -were unbelievably delicious. They were accented by black garlic pieces. Also served with squash cubes that were uniquely infused with garlic. I really can't adequately describe how delicious this entire dish was. Devil shrimp risotto: $32 A nice portion of yummy risotto, but with only 4 large shrimp (another disappointing amount for an entree) - this was also a delicious meal. We also asked if the had House bread and an incredibly delicious plate of warmly toasted/oiled bread with seasoned butter was delivered to the table. They also serve the table water chilled with fresh lemon juice squeezed in. Bottom line, although it was a little pricey, service was great, and the food was exceptional. It's unbelievable that this place was not packed on a Friday night.

Came for a lovely pop-up concert they had--which was an amazing event, however the basic qualities of a restaurant fell astronomically short. Firstly, their menu was extremely limited. Whether it was because of the specific event, or that's just what the menu was normally like--made it hard to find food options that were suitable for everyone. They had mushroom fries, and when we asked if they had regular fries--they said no. Then they came back later and said they could accommodate regular fries. Then, they got one of our drink orders wrong, and when we asked if they were sure it was the right drink (despite looking nothing like the drink we ordered) he responded yes. A whole 20 mins later, he ended up bringing the right drink. Finally, when settling the bill--they charged our card to another party's bill. We had to speak to 2-3 different servers about it, until someone fixed it for us--though out of the 3 interactions we had, none of them issued an apology once. Not something to make a major stink about, but felt like common decency after all that trouble. Generally, would have rated this a 2--but bumped it to the 3 if not for that great pop-up concert and the servers at least attempting to rectify their errors after the fact. Great at events, bad at the most basic functions of a restaurant.

Went here on valentines with a group from work. They happened to have a DJ that just really knew how to set the mood. I don't know how often that happens there but book that guy again. So the menu was set since it was that day. Starter was a charcuterie board with meats, cheeses and grapes. Pretty large and absolutely delicious. Then I got the tuna tartar which came in little taco shells with a dash of wasabi. They were my favorite part. I could've eaten them all night. Then I got the truffle ravioli. So good! For dessert I chose the chocolate cake. The cake was too sweet for me but the huge white chocolate dipped strawberry was a beautiful addition. The decor was really cool. I love the old firehouse look. Ceiling was beautiful and there were so many little accents on walls and windows.

Chrissy was awesome (super sweet and attentive + great recommendations). Came in for a birthday lunch with a colleague and we were very impressed. We work so close by but had never been here until today. It's cute - they turned a fire station into a restaurant. Clean & plenty of booths. The menu has pretty much everything to cater to what you're craving. We tried the ravioli and the filet mignon. So yummy! We had the tiramisu for dessert - it didn't taste entirely like tiramisu but was okay. Definitely will return

Came to this restaurant looking for a nice dinner date around DTLA. What I didn't realize was that it's a converted fire station. So cool! They even have the original ceiling and some of the fireman's poles inside the restaurant. The menu is pretty eclectic with a mix of surf & turf. We started with the "Black Iron Shrimp" - jumbo shrimp with garlic & crostini appetizer. The shrimps were perfectly cooked with a garlicky tomatoey sauce and came with 2 crispy crostini and jalapeños. It was fun to eat and pile the shrimp onto the crostini. The next thing that caught my eye was the charred Romain hearts salad which came with shitake mushrooms, artichoke hearts, grilled chicken, and a balsamic glaze. Love the idea of grilling the salad, it added a nice charred flavor. All of the different ingredients really blended well together and made for a great, hearty salad. For our main course we shared the sea bass which was a whole fish ladled with a nice caper cream sauce. Came with roasted potato, asparagus, and yellow squash. The fish was fork tender and tasted very fresh. The cream sauce was Lucious and tangy and brought the whole dish together. Overall, it was a great dinner. Service was quick and efficient and the wait staff were really good with clearing our plates and refilling our drinks. I was surprised they weren't more crowded, this place is a gem!

Surprised as to why the place doesn't get better reviews. The food was exceptional. The service was good and the environment is very unique. It was good 20 years ago and it's still good today. Even the cesar salad was to perfection.

Food was amazing and our waitress was great! She told us what she would recommend on the menu and it didn't disappoint. She had the head chef put a little spin on our fries and they were amazing. Will be back again!

I went again but this time remembered to bring my phone to take photos of the delicious entrees and desserts! Service was excellent again!

The Place- Looks very cool from the outside as it used to be a firehouse. The inside is upscale with nice leather booths. Parking- Could be an issue at this is downtown Los Angeles so I am assuming a fair amount of customers come from the surrounding office buildings. The Service- Friendly and attentive. The Food- Firehouse Chili- Very good and recommended. Firehouse Classic Burger- Good and recommended. Classic Meatloaf- Good and recommended.

There is something cool about eating in an old Firehouse, and they've done a great job at preserving the feel while still being a comfortable dining experience. This is a great weekday lunch spot. We came with a large group last week and everyone enjoyed their food. Our server was attentive and we didn't wait long for our meals.

I was in LA/Hollywood, on a work assignment, for Thanksgiving. My tour manager treated me and 3 other co-workers to dinner and picked out this place. Definitely a lot of history here with it being an old fire house. They were offering their regular menu and a Thanksgiving option for $75. 3 out of the 4 of us went with the turkey day option. It started with a choice of squash soup or a caesar salad. I went with the caesar. And let me tell you, this was one of the best caesars I have ever had. I don't know if it was because I was really hungry or if it was just that good. It was loaded with dressing, which I like and it included a small anchovy. I knew that's how a traditional is made, I had just never had it. The anchovy added that extra flavor. Next was the main course. They offered turkey breast or thigh along with stuffing and veggies. The other option was salmon. But what was odd to us, was that all of these included a sweet potato puree. To me, that shouldn't be an option lol. We inquired about this, and asked if they were able to change it to mashed potatoes. And they were able. So, I went with the breast. The portions were fairly large. One would definitely not go hungry. The turkey was fairly moist. Stuffing had great flavor and was hot. The potatoes and veggies just made it a great overall meal. And dessert was a choice between chocolate cake or carrot cake. We all went with carrot. The cake put the cherry on top to this meal. Moist with a lot of icing. Im glad I went with this option. I appreciate the server working on a holiday. Although she was pleasant, it was a little slow, even though it wasnt busy. Im thinking she was the only one working the floor. But, we were all thankful.

Treated my friend fir her birthday and everything was super yummy. Before i mention hiw everything was perfect, why ine star less you say??? Parking!!!!! I drove around DTLA looking for parking until I called. Girl was super friendly & helpful and in no time, found a spot in an alley that is vallet parking. Make sure you bring cash bec you pay upfront. Back to food... ordered soup, wedge salad, & brussel sprouts as appetizer and it was all bomb. Bisque was flavorful yet not as heavy. Wedge salad had bleu cheese dressing which was really good too; not overwhelming. The brussel sprouts did not look appetizing but it was very very delish. Had surf & turf as a main course and the serving was perfectly portioned. love the flavor of the mashed potato, it had a hint of spiciness. Tried their chocolate cake & cheesecake for dessert snd it was ok. it wasn't as heavy which was good but it wasn't what i'm used to is all. Overall had a great evening despite the parking fiasco, lesson learned to research on it before trying out a new pkace in downtown.

Food was good. The Brussels Sprouts were bomb! Service was okay ... we felt rushed and not a lot of real answers to any questions about the menu. Also the menu on here is not what is true at the restaurant so that was disappointing. Drink was a little expensive but was delish. There was a nice place, and I would come back again. Note .. it has a nice ambience and seems upscale but the paper napkins with sticky roll and icing sugar in the cheesecake seems a little cheap.

Have you experienced dining in a fire station? If not, follow me! Highlights of the menu: 1. Brussels sprout & bacon 2. French fries 3. BBQ short ribs & cole slaw 4. Creme brulee strawberry I have never been in a fire station before, not to mention this is dining in a historical fire station in downtown of LA. Very interesting set up!

Very cool and quirky spot. Have driven by many times before, but never stopped in until this weekend. That's partially because there's no parking around here unless you get really lucky, but regardless glad I stopped by. We came early and had the whole restaurant to ourselves. We sat way in the back, toward the old fire pole. The dark lighting and the deep red walls makes it feel like an old Hollywood steak house. We came for happy hour, but found out they only did it at the bar. We were pretty much the only people there at the time though so they let us order from the HH menu anyway which was very nice. My margarita was okay- a little tart and a lot of salt. Husband was very happy with the wine list though. I ordered the regular burger from the regular menu because I wanted fries as well. I'm so glad I did because the fries were arguably the best part of the meal. They tasted fresh and homemade, with a perfect crisp. The burger itself was good, but it consisted of a few small slider patties instead of one big burger patty. Made it a little awkward to eat I've heard the Brussels sprouts are delicious, I'll make sure to try those next time I come

Great happy hour menu Excellent food and drinks Five star service Clean and inviting

Food and service are above average for DTLA standards. Recommend for a business lunch.

The staff are all really great, but when it comes to happy hour they really need to step it up. The drinks were terrible and the appetizer menu left enough to be desired. Couldn't understand why on a Friday night that has one of the only happy hours that ends at 7:00 wasn't packed, now I know why! Come on peeps you should be buzzing with business on a Friday for Happy Hour!'

We came here before a Clippers game last night as we've both eaten here before and trying to eat at L.A. Live before a basketball game means a long, long wait, even in the rain. We were surprised that there were literally only 8 tables taken as when here before events at Staples Center (Crypto,com) it was much busier. Our server was Justice L., who appeared to be the only server in the restaurant. She was friendly, helpful and has a good sense of humor. Overall the food (turkey and meat burgers) were good and the fries well done as requested. We'll come back here before games, but wonder why the restaurant wasn't busier and why there was apparently only one server.

Save yourself and go somewhere else. We came in on a Saturday night as a party of 8 with a reservation. The restaurant was about 3/4 full no wait. We literally watched everyone order after us and get fed before us. It took 1:20 minutes to get our cauliflower bites and Buffalo bites (just a piece of chicken fried almost like a nugget) to our table. About 5 minutes after receiving our first round of appetizers we ordered our entrees out, then about 5 minutes after receiving our entrees we got the rest of our appetizers. Our $120 Tomahawk steak was ordered medium rare and it came well done, the second one came rare and they went back to cook it a little more and it still came meh but we are to nice to say anything again. As much as they claim you don't need A1 the steak really lacked flavor. The Buffalo bites and cauliflower bites were not anything to write home about. Our water was served in plastic cups and we had paper napkins, I had to ask for sat and pepper three times. Just a mediocre place not worth the cost of that steak. We had to keep asking for refills as well. If I had a table of 8 ordering three tomahawk steaks and other items I would assume it's a priority to make sure they and the food is perfect. This restaurant needs a lot of help on its service. I would give zero stars if I could and I'm not that picky! Sorry!

Sometimes you just want to go to a "tourist-y, historical-landmark-turned-restaurant" which you've heard -- from the many years of living in the L.A. area -- is purportedly one of the best eats in downtown. Well, Engine Company No. 28 is just that. It's a beautifully, understated place, yet true to the essence of its former self. Engine Co. No. 28 was one of the last functioning, small firehouses of the early 1900s(??) and now it's an IN place to go and eat. I guess, it's ALWAYS been a hip-and-happenin' place to eat, I was just not aware. . . My husband and I made reservations at Engine Co., knowing we had to make a show at the Ahmanson Theatre later that night. Upon walking into this place, we were in awe of how cool this restaurant was in the inside judging already from the outside. We ordered the Brussels sprouts as an appetizer. It was fan-tas-tic. Because I had eaten a big lunch, I ordered the tuna tatake salad, and it was pleasantly wonderful. The salad's portion was perfect, not too filling but not too light. My husband ordered the FAMOUS MEATLOAF, and I had a nice bite of it to taste. All I can tell you is: NO WONDER Engine Co. is known for its meatloaf, 'cause you cannot beat it!!! I wish that I could write more about Engine Co.'s ambiance, and the VERY friendly and attentive staff (on a rainy night, I might add), but what I DO regret most -- about this gastronomical experience -- is not getting here earlier because we certainly would have lingered for hours. We'll be back to Engine Co. No. 28, with more family and friends, guaranteed.

Great happy hour, friendly staff. Been coming here for 10+ years. Love their $10 old fashions.

After going to a car show in downtown la in the fall, we stopped by to grab a few drinks but never thought to have stumbled upon a delicious meal. Small, ( healthy) portions but so very good! The service amazing as well and their dark lot dining room put me at ease.

Service was great! Atmosphere was nice. Staff was very friendly. I had the Hot Chix. It was a good sandwich. Not a great beer selection at all but all in all it was a good time and good meal!!

Came here for LA Dine week. Everything on the menu when purchased a la carte was cheaper than the set price. The French onion dip tasted like the dip you buy in a jar. The rest was not memorable.

Four of us had lunch on a Saturday. The place was mostly empty and had only one other group. The food was still terrific. We had a couple beers, and a cocktail and shared the cauliflower and fries to start, then shared the Cobb salad, the meatloaf and Brussels sprouts. We had the cheese cake and chocolate flourless cake for dessert. The waitress was friendly and funny. The only downside was that they advertised valet parking but there was none and parking downtown in a public lot was a terrible and expensive ($25).

It was our group's first DineLA get together since Covid. While we prefer outdoor dining, I did not want to be eating street side in Downtown. Luckily we were able to be accommodated as I requested one of the more isolated tables in the restaurant and it wasn't busy on a Monday evening. Justice L. was our hostess/waitress. Her service was great and we were drinking so much water. She also had wine and cocktail recommendations that paired well with our food. We each ordered something different on the DineLA menu. I had the calamari, Scottish salmon, and cheesecake. The calamari was nice and light, salmon was cooked perfectly to a nice flakey texture and crispy skin. The cheesecake did have a strange flakey texture to me. I'm a little critical because I've made a lot of cheesecakes for friends and family and so I was expecting it to be a creamier consistency. It might have been a lack of eggs or something was off. My friends had the short rib (very good), chicken Parmesan, lemon pepper wings, and cauliflower buffalo wings, and double chocolate cake. They all looked good. The double chocolate cake was very decadent especially with the chocolate ganache.

Food and service was excellent. I had their signature dish, meat loaf, very good and had a nice source, it is a converted fire house, which is neat.

The mac & cheese with the blue cheese is phenomenal here the service is amazing in the ambience is very old-school red vibes. Chrissi was my bartender and she was so great!!!

This American restaurant is a true hidden treasure. The vintage décor, attentive service, and mouthwatering dishes combine to create an exceptional dining adventure. I left with a satisfied heart and a craving to return soon. Let's talk about the food - absolute perfection! The chef's commitment to authentic American flavors shines through in every bite. From the juicy, perfectly cooked steaks to the crispy, golden-fried chicken, each dish is a culinary masterpiece that tells a story of American culinary heritage. The attention to detail in this restaurant's service is commendable. My glass was never empty, and the waitstaff were discreet yet always there when I needed them. Their friendly demeanor added an extra layer of comfort to my dining experience.

Had a great time celebrating a birthday. The food was so good and the ambiance was moody, and dark, but really chill. I will be returning for sure.

My boyfriend has fond memories of this place from pre-pandemic, and has long wanted to take me here and he finally got the chance! We had an early dinner, before a show downtown. We had the restaurant to ourselves, so the service was fast, and gracious. The dark interior furnishings contract with the bright overhead lighting and tin ceiling. This is a former (1912) fire station - and they have a remaining pole way in the back -- I wish they could add more firehouse aesthetic to the dining room; and possibly some noticeable signage outside. It would do them a world of good I think! They have a great wine list - including Unshackled from Prisoner Winery, one of my favorites. I could see enjoying many nights at the bar, if it were full of interesting people visiting LA, and locals, manned by 2 or 3 bartenders slinging drinks as quickly as they're ordered. But, like I said, we had the restaurant to ourselves. We tried the buffalo cauliflower. It was REALLY good. It's not drowned in buffalo sauce - instead, the heat is deep-fried in somehow, and just a drizzle of a ranch cream sauce tops the deep fried cauliflower. It was so good! I had the short ribs; the veggies were not cooked long enough for my liking, but I liked the variety of veggies. The short ribs were comforting and filling, and perfectly fell apart under a deep savory sauce. My date had their famous meatloaf. The serving was smaller than I expected; and the sauce was deep brown, instead of red like I expected, too. But the flavor: you're either going to love it, or hate it. It's not an overly-spiced loaf of meat like you might get elsewhere or make at home. There's a different herb or seasoning that they use...is it thyme? Is it sage? Whatever it is, it's strong. And if you love that, this is for you! We got to chat with the staff a bit too, about the history of the building, and the history of the ownership -- this restaurant has been around for decades! I love seeing that history isn't eradicated from DTLA.

Solid and chill spot to come out in DTLA for food and drinks. I've had a few of their items and I've enjoyed everything. Their sandwiches are cool, the burger is good as well and the drinks do pack a punch. I rolled in here the day the Rams were playing in the NFC championship and enjoyed having the bar to myself. Literally there was no one there when I came in through the third quarter, but I'm sure that's going to change when the super bowl comes around. There's outside dining here as well if you want too. You're kind of on your own for parking, there's a nearby parking lot on Figueroa next to the Target to walk over, but I recommend keeping this spot in mind if you don't want to deal with the hustle and hassle of venturing deeper into downtown.

Came in for dinner. Got seated quickly. The servers were friendly. I ordered the rib eye steak, and It was delicious and cooked perfectly. I will come back.

Great standby restaurant. Have been going there for many years. Food is consistently good and staff is friendly and helpful

Food and service are very underwhelming. Came in with a large group of 20 people and the place was dead on a Saturday night. It took 1.5 hours to get our food and about an hour for the main course to even get ordered!! The food portions are quite small. For the price, not worth it.

Came here after taking the grandkids to the Symphony for kids. Parking has always been a challenge for this place. A tip - park at the shopping mall FigAt7th. Go into a store and get validation as you are coming back to retrieve the car after eating. We were parked in total for like 2.5 hours and it cost us $2.50. Awesome, and it's just 2 blocks away. The restaurant was largely empty when we arrived. Not entirely sure why they even both opening for lunch. Saturday afternoon and no one in that huge place. You would think they would realize a restaurant built in an old converted firehouse with that as a theme will greatly attract kids, yet they still don't have a kids menu. We ended up ordering just plain pasta with butter for the kids. I had a burger, which was tasty, and the wife had an omelet (they serve brunch until 3), which was also very good. Still a nice atmosphere with a better than average menu. Just need to add that kids menu now!

We were staying across the street and, once we found out this was an actual restaurant and not a fire station, decided to try this unique place. The inside is gorgeous and very peaceful. It's cool to see the redone firehouse while you wait on your food. Menu was diverse but not too wild so there's super fancy stuff all the way down to a burger and fries. We got the hummus for an app - best we've ever had - along with lamb chops and truffle ravioli. Finished with bread pudding and some wine. Total bill was extremely affordable for LA. I would highly recommend this to anyone in the area looking for a good date night spot or a peaceful area to get a nice meal in.

Beautiful ambience great food has been there for ever love. The history of it used to be a fire station still has the Firemans pole beautifully decorated for the holidays.

We had a birthday dinner there for 10 and the food was delicious, the bartender, made the drinks to perfection. The service and time togetherness was fantastic! Great time! I highly recommend this place. History lesson, this place happens to be an old fire station, hence the name, built in 1912.

I made reservations for the evening of Saturday, July 15th to celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary. We were seated right away but not once were we asked if this was for a special occasion. I used to come here when I was a suite dwebe and worked in Downtown LA 30 years ago. Loved the ambiance and seeing fire engine garb and even the pole found at fire departments. I remembered we used to eat in the upstairs part of the restaurant so it was a stroll down memory lane. My wife ordered the a chicken plate and I ordered the meat loaf. The meat loaf was delicious, moist and paired well with the mashed potatoes. I had a taste of my wifes chicken dish and it was delicious. We were going to order desert but the portions looked rather small for $15, so we passed and had something sweet at our hotel. My wife and I agreed that although it was a nice memory to relive, we would not come back unless MAYBE for Dine LA (or something like that). Food was good, but not out of the ordinary.

This place is truly a hidden a gem . My supervisor took me to lunch here to celebrate . The atmosphere of the place was so nice . The food excellent I had the shrimp risotto kisses to the chef. Will definitely be back again

I've lived in LA for about 3 years now. In that time, I've had some interesting experiences with Engine that are atypical for my experiences in LA. Its right around the corner from my house and in prime real estate on the corner of 7th and Figueroa so perhaps my expectations are the issue here, but I'm happy to get into it. The Good: Location and atmosphere. Junkies aside, this is a pretty venue with easy access from the central shopping/business district of downtown Los Angeles. The interior seems fit for an upscale dining experience (despite the notable lack of diners) and the staff seem friendly and professional. The Bad: The food is just 'aight'. Honestly, I believe that's the biggest thing holding this venue back outside of the positively gross junkie hangout right outside. I've had multiple items on the menu at this point, and despite having all of the right words on the menu, the food is aggressively mediocre at every turn. The drawback really isn't the taste of the food, but the combination of that factor combined with the price being charged. While an impossibly greasy burger may be worth a trip to Wendy's, its not what one expects from a $35 menu item supposedly cooked to order. The Business: I've unsuccessfully tried to eat at this venue several times while I've been in this city, usually in the evenings. A question about when they close will be met with a vague answer, and its happened that I've came for dinner well before close, only to find that the kitchen had closed early. There is far too much discretion surrounding the hours of operation and online reviews seem to indicate that its a pattern. I think that this venue would thrive with the right management, but its perpetual emptiness tells a story that's hard to ignore. Also, the black guy who 'works the door/sits and drinks' should either be given a proper posting (and outfit) or not employed at all. Dressed like someone off of the street in a hat and hoodie, he clashed so completely with the atmosphere that its unclear whether or not he's working there, which makes his clearly untrained interactions with customers more awkward than they have a right to be in an otherwise empty restaurant. Yelper-In-Chief

Was kind of wandering around looking for a lunch spot near the office and settled on this small joint, which is a remodeled fire station! They have something called a "power lunch," which lets you choose an appetizer and an entree for $25. As the entree still comes with sides, this felt pretty worth it. I got the bread rolls for my appetizer and omg they were SO good! Super crisp on the outside but warm and fluffy on the inside, and it comes with plenty of butter on the side. I would come back for this bread. I also got the fried chicken sandwich with a side salad, which I also thought was phenomenal! The salad was lightly dressed with a lemon vinaigrette, so it was a nice complement to the heaviness of the sandwich and the rolls I got. The fried chicken sandwich came with coleslaw and gochujang, but apparently they might rotate flavors every week. The chicken was nice and juicy and the brioche bun was wonderfully toasty and warm. Would recommend!

Delish! Have been wanting to try this place out for a while and today was the day. When we arrived it was empty but it gave me the opportunity to take in the beauty of the space! Very cool to see the history on display. The meal. Lordddddt! I got their meatloaf and it was the seasoned wonderfully, hearty portions and I had enough for leftovers. Then (pause for effect) their creamed spinach... no words! I tasted a spoonful and soon ordered my own side to go! I wanted to try their chili and while it was good, it was missing something in the seasoning department! All in all, a great experience and awesome service from Jonathan! Definitely would recommend and can't wait to go back!

No.28 Love the food. Service could be more hospitable. But I enjoyed this food. I will come back. Lovely little restaurant you could miss if you didn't look. Lovely lighting and mood.

I have been to this iconic DTLA b'ness lunch place so many times, I should be ashamed that I have not written a review yet. Engine Co has been open since 1989, and occupies an old firehouse built in 1912. They offer classic grille food that is reminiscent of NYC or SF. Its located on Fig near Wilshire. On my most recent visit, I ordered the barramundi w/ mashed potatoes and root vegetables. My b'ness associate had the beyond burger. The combined price was $58, including an iced tea. EC also offers firehouse chili, chicken pot pie, and meatloaf (entree or sandwich). First of all, the barramundi was very good. It was fresh & crispy. Additionally, the sides were generous and filling. My associate liked his burger and the fries were fresh cut. Regarding the ambiance, its old skool here and I like it that way. The bar is a great place to sit if you are having lunch by yourself. The TVs are well placed so you can see them from all the seats. Likewise, the service is warm & friendly. I arrived early and one of the staff gave me an arnold palmer on the house. Our waiter was efficient & attentive. EC is one of my go to b'ness lunch places in DTLA, bc it is consistently good with the food & service. I can't say the same about newcomers like Joey DTLA.

So happy that this restaurant is up and running again given the updated LA ordinance. Indoor dining and street dining is open. Logistics aside, the service here is beyond exceptional. Maria, as we were walking in right at brunch time, had just finished making a fresh-made batch of Bloody Mary mix. Manny, our waiter, was so attentive and kind. Food is delicious and they went S far to make me a salad that wasn't on the menu. Overall, great food and even better humans. We will be back!

Our reservation was canceled and the number is out of service. I'm not sure if they went out of business or not.

DON'T EAT HERE This place really disappointed me. I thought this was going to be my new spot, but on Saturday 1/15/22 my food was horrible and management did nothing! So I ordered the Buffalo chicken bites and a salad. My salad was fine, but my chicken bites, had cauliflower bites mixed in with the chicken and to top it off... the chicken was bad! The chicken had the weirdest after taste and not to long after a couple of bites, I had the worst stomach pain. I ended up throwing it all away. Before writing this review, I decided to give them a call... hoping that management would be interested in fixing the situation. But, oddly enough... there was no manager on duty, (So this explains the cauliflower mixed in with my expired chicken meat.) I even left my number and nobody called me back. So here I am warning everyone that not only will this restaurant give you expired/bad food, but they also don't care.