K J.
Yelp
We were looking for a private, quiet, yet atmospheric place for a 20-person group dinner in DTLA when we discovered The Art Room in our neighborhood. We rented the gallery portion, which fits around 30 people per section, and chose the back section for more privacy. Previously, I had only had coffee and tacos here, but the wait staff were great, and we liked that they featured and supported local artists in a naturally well-lit gallery.
Joshua, the manager, was extremely easy to work with and meticulously accommodated all our requests regarding setup, menu choices, and drink selections well in advance. Robert, the chef, was also very accommodating of different dietary restrictions and communicated quickly and effectively with us.
We secured an incredible deal on a three-course menu. The starters included a salad, salsa & chips, and biscuits. The biscuits were a hit--soft yet crisp, super buttery, and everyone loved them. For mains, we were offered a specially catered menu for our guests alongside the regular menu, which featured a wide range of choices such as steaks, salmon, Cajun shrimp & grits, Japanese sandos, and burgers. Guests loved the food! Our only feedback is that the mains came out a bit later than we would have liked despite ordering all the menu items in advance, and some steaks were cooked a bit too much for some guests' liking. Dessert was a flavorful lemon or mango sorbet with berries.
The wait staff were incredibly attentive, and Joshua himself checked in on us multiple times to ensure everything was going smoothly. The cocktails were nice and strong, and Joshua even provided a few complimentary red wine bottles for our guests.
We were also given a separate Bluetooth tower speaker to play our own music in the gallery and not have the main restaurant music piped in, which definitely added a personal touch to the evening. Guests enjoyed walking around and looking at the artwork displayed around the gallery.
Although we initially rented the space from 7-10 PM, Joshua graciously allowed us to stay until midnight, the closing time, which allowed our guests continue to socialize.
Overall, we are very happy we chose The Art Room for our group dinner thanks to their great food, wonderful atmosphere, and outstanding service! :)