(213) 891-0900

544 S Grand (Fifth Street)
Los Angeles, CA 90071 34.049535 -118.254529

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Neighborhoods: New Downtown, Downtown, Central LA

watergrill.com

Years in business

Established in 2004

Hours:

Mon-Tue 11:30am-8:30pm

Wed-Fri 11:30am-9:30pm

Sat 5pm-9:30pm

Sun 4:30pm-8:30pm

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 10.14.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Quiet, Lunch Spot, Date Spot, Romantic Dining, Special Occasion Dining, Fine Dining, Notable Chef, Theater District Dining, Business Dining, Online Reservations, Group Dining, Dine At The Bar, Carry Out, Bar Scene, Notable Wine List, Private Parties, Prix Fixe Menu

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Cuisine:

Chowder, New American, Seafood

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Water Grill

Featured Review

Martha Burr

Contributor

The Scene – Warm deco stylings inspire the gleaming luxe raw bar, with intimate booths tucked on one side and a lively, airy dining room on the other accented with auburn wood, marble columns, white tablecloths, cushioned chairs and booths. Theatergoers, investment bankers and downtown-based tourists comprise the lively crowd. – – The Food – Top quality seafood is presented masterfully with subtle French, Asian and Californian touches. Shellfish purists revel in a variety of nightly oyster specials, ranging from Kumamotos to Chedabuctos, and the classic "fruits of the…

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
When making reservations let them know if it's a birthday or anniversary, and they will print a personalized commemorative evening's menu to take home.
Where to Sit:
The bar is an ideal place to sample regional oysters, share appetizers, or order off the dinner menu. It's also good for walk-ins.
Look Good:
The maitre d' can hook up diners with a free shuttle to the Music Center and Disney Hall--and the kitchen will time your dinner accordingly.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “The food is truly special, no complaints there but IMHO, good atmosphere is a critical component of a fine dining experience and here is where Water Grill misses the mark.”
  2. “With impeccable service, fanciful art nouveau decor and the most memorable menu in memory, this delightful haven is consistently one of L.A.'s best.”
  3. “This restaurant brings it all together, great service, food and ambiance.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “best crab cakes Ive had!”
  2. “The desert menu is unrelenting as well with at least ten incredible options.”
  3. “The blue and dungenese crab cake was fresh, deliscious and not processed.”
  4. “Waiter was wonderful and the dessert!”
  5. “We enjoyed our entrees as well as dessert.”
  6. “The crab cake appetizer, gorgonzola salad and red velvet putting were the most amazing food experiences I have ever had.”
drinks
75.0% positive
  1. “corkage/bottle. The only bad value in the restaurant is the wine list with wine prices exceeding 300% of retail in many instances.”
  2. “Very friendly and very bright on the subject of wines for all price ranges.”
  3. “Great wine list.”
  4. “From the minute we walked in we were treated fabulously- excellent cocktails, attentive (but not annoying) waitstaff, black napkins for those of us with dark pants (you know- the little things), lovely wine suggestions, and so forth.”
food quality
88.9799976348877% positive
  1. “HATE when service is too quick, and your entree arrives when you are still eating your salad--so rude.”
  2. “have attended many dinners and lunches here and the food never fails to impress.”
  3. “Anyway, food and service were again outstanding.”
  4. “don't like cooked fish and would never order it.”
  5. “Still the best seafood in town”
  6. “and water grill is the BEST seafood restaurant i have ever been to, hands down.”
  7. “The food was acceptable, but overshadowed by poor service.”
  8. “However, the food and the service are both incredible.”
  9. “This is my favorite seafood restaurant.”
  10. “the chicken entree was good.”
  11. “The Water Grill is absolutely the best seafood restaurant in LA.”
  12. “The food was delicious.”
  13. “Their food is just so good.”
  14. “Best seafood”
  15. “Chilled heirloom tomato soup with Maine lobster is also great.”
  16. “But, seriously, the main dishes were so good it was RIDICULOUS- all of the fish was fantastic.”
  17. “amazing seafood, the tuna tartare is a classic and the clam chowder is incredible”
  18. “I've heard nothing but amazing things about the Water Grill; it's supposed to have the best seafood in L.A. I grew up on the east coast, so I tend to be very picky about my seafood, and this just doesn't measure up to 'the best' of anything.”
  19. “In one or two instances the fish was not quite as fresh as it could be, but I'm chalking that up to it being a Monday.”
  20. “All the fish dishes are great.”
  21. “The Water grill has the best seafood in Los Angeles”
  22. “The servers were friendly, attentive, unobtrusive and highly knowledgeable about each dish.”
  23. “Go there for a delicious seafood meal if you're in the area for a show but don't go out of your way to come here for a special occasion.”
  24. “Not only do they have the absolute best clam chowder in town.”
  25. “The Chef is so talented he can amaze you with combs of food you never thought of.”
  26. “The shellfish platter for the appeitzer was great and the quantity of shrimp, oysters, crablegs and clams.”
  27. “Not only was it an amazing evening, but it was the best seafood food I've ever had!”
  28. “He recommended every dish I had since I was torn between two for each serving.”
  29. “Maybe if I hadn't come from an amazing meal at Blair's two days earlier I might have felt differently.”
  30. “am impressed, finaly found the best seafood in LA.”
  31. “The crab cake appetizer, gorgonzola salad and red velvet putting were the most amazing food experiences I have ever had.”
  32. “am not a big seafood fan and I found the food amazing (I have Creole shrimp in a hot gumbo sauce).”
  33. “My friends and I enjoyed the food as well as the service.”
  34. “It's a beautiful restaurant - all old fashioned and clubby - the food is good, the service friendly - I love the downtown scene in general,”
  35. “The food was wonderful, however the portions are very, very small.”
  36. “Water Grill's standards for fresh product and complete service are greatly appreciated by this dining critic.”
  37. “best seafood”
  38. “Clam chowder was tasty but watery thin.”
  39. “Althought it's not on the "hottest locations" but becaue the food is so great, people flock to them!”
  40. “It's not even that the food was bad, it just wasn't great.”
  41. “This restaurant brings it all together, great service, food and ambiance.”
  42. “Great fish.”
  43. “As I said before, it's not that the meal was bad, it's just that based on the hype it certainly should've been better.”
  44. “We started with the fruits of the sea platter-- all cooked perfectly with yummy sauces for the side.”
  45. “Even the red meat is excellent.”
  46. “You must experience this place if you love seafood of the highest order.”
  47. “All four of us definately did not enjoy the meal!”
  48. “best crab cakes Ive had!”
  49. “The scallop entree was good, if small portioned, it made me rather glad I'd eaten a salad a few hours earlier.”
  50. “Probably one of the best fish restaurants in the US.”
  51. “had the 5 course menu and everything was spectacularly delicious.”
  52. “The food is truly special, no complaints there but IMHO, good atmosphere is a critical component of a fine dining experience and here is where Water Grill misses the mark.”
  53. “Wonderful steaks and seafood.”
  54. “The fish dishes were very good too, however, the salmon was a little salty for my taste.”
  55. “There was a big time gap between the salad course and the main course.”
  56. “Enjoyed the service, as well as the dining room, but the food left a bit to be desired, especially at these prices.”
  57. “The interior was nice, the service good and the food excellent.”
  58. “Verry diisapointed in the service and the food was not as good as expected for a restaurant which has just received a Michelin star.”
  59. “The blue and dungenese crab cake was fresh, deliscious and not processed.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “The host was wonderful and they were sweet enough to print my name and "Happy Birthday" on my menu.”
  2. “With impeccable service, fanciful art nouveau decor and the most memorable menu in memory, this delightful haven is consistently one of L.A.'s best.”
  3. “will have to try the 7 course tasters menu, and they have the best oyster i've ever had :)”
  4. “had the 5 course menu and everything was spectacularly delicious.”
  5. “The desert menu is unrelenting as well with at least ten incredible options.”
  6. “Main courses are interesting, mostly for their choices of rarities from the ocean.”
  7. “Our waiter (great service) let us know they will be serving $44 Dine LA menu all February!”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “best restaurant in LA”
  2. “The Water Grill is absolutely the best seafood restaurant in LA.”
  3. “This is my favorite seafood restaurant.”
  4. “If you want good oysters in LA, you've got to visit this place.”
service
84.84999656677246% positive
  1. “The wait staff was attentive and brought out all the courses with enough time in between so we didn't feel rushed.”
  2. “The servers were friendly, attentive, unobtrusive and highly knowledgeable about each dish.”
  3. “The server, on the other hand, was very bad.”
  4. “Our waiter was attentive to our needs.”
  5. “The service was good but not what I expected for one of the 18 (only) restaurants in all of Los Angeles to receive a Michelin star.”
  6. “Water Grill's standards for fresh product and complete service are greatly appreciated by this dining critic.”
  7. “The service is outstanding.”
  8. “We had a great time and had great service, but we left feeling like there wasn't any one thing that was exceptional.”
  9. “With impeccable service, fanciful art nouveau decor and the most memorable menu in memory, this delightful haven is consistently one of L.A.'s best.”
  10. “The food was acceptable, but overshadowed by poor service.”
  11. “Very friendly and very bright on the subject of wines for all price ranges.”
  12. “My friends and I enjoyed the food as well as the service.”
  13. “The interior was nice, the service good and the food excellent.”
  14. “They were very accommodating, seated us immediately and in my opinion, sent the best waiter over.”
  15. “This restaurant brings it all together, great service, food and ambiance.”
  16. “lot of people in L.A. think only of West LA, Hollywood or Beverly Hills for fine dining, but downtown LA is a hidden gem.”
  17. “Anyway, food and service were again outstanding.”
  18. “However, the food and the service are both incredible.”
  19. “The service was both professional and friendly.”
  20. “Enjoyed the service, as well as the dining room, but the food left a bit to be desired, especially at these prices.”
  21. “Oh by the way, I don't understand what these other negative reviews are about, the service was impeccable.”
  22. “From the minute we walked in we were treated fabulously- excellent cocktails, attentive (but not annoying) waitstaff, black napkins for those of us with dark pants (you know- the little things), lovely wine suggestions, and so forth.”
  23. “Verry diisapointed in the service and the food was not as good as expected for a restaurant which has just received a Michelin star.”
  24. “Desserts are flawless, service elegant.”
  25. “HATE when service is too quick, and your entree arrives when you are still eating your salad--so rude.”
  26. “It's a beautiful restaurant - all old fashioned and clubby - the food is good, the service friendly - I love the downtown scene in general,”
  27. “Service attentive and helpful.”
  28. “everything at water grill was perfectly timed, and the server was very helpful in recommending the perfect reisling.”
  29. “The "scene" is more subdued than Hollywood -- people who go out are more concerned with a great dining experience than with being seen.”
  30. “The meals are exquisite and the service is excellent.”
  31. “It is a beautiful restaurant, as well, with great service.”
  32. “Althought it's not on the "hottest locations" but becaue the food is so great, people flock to them!”
  33. “Our waiter (great service) let us know they will be serving $44 Dine LA menu all February!”
value
64.28999900817871% positive
  1. “The overpriced lobster entree was only fair.”
  2. “It is expensive but worth the price for special occassions.”
  3. “Enjoyed the service, as well as the dining room, but the food left a bit to be desired, especially at these prices.”
  4. “corkage/bottle. The only bad value in the restaurant is the wine list with wine prices exceeding 300% of retail in many instances.”
  5. “I'm not asking for huge portions either, but I mean, one appetizer is about 2 bites.”
  6. “Very friendly and very bright on the subject of wines for all price ranges.”
  7. “The food was wonderful, however the portions are very, very small.”
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. “From the minute we walked in we were treated fabulously- excellent cocktails, attentive (but not annoying) waitstaff, black napkins for those of us with dark pants (you know- the little things), lovely wine suggestions, and so forth.”
  2. “HATE when service is too quick, and your entree arrives when you are still eating your salad--so rude.”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/04/10

Great Seafood -- some problems with sustainability

by gerryjim at Citysearch

Came here for dineLA with my husband and 2 friends. The fish were just excellent with excellent service as well. This was our first time eating here. I had the red fish which is a mild white fish. It was perfectly cooked; not over-cooked like so many restaurants would do. The fish served here for the most part, according to the waiter, is sustainable and caught for the most part without bycatch and pollution to the ocean. They did have wild jumbo shrimp on the menu, which was from Mexico. Bottom trawls used to catch most imported wild shrimp damage habitat and unintentionally kill many unwanted invertebrates fish and sea turtles. But at least they are making some effort to serve sustainable fish that doesn't harm the ocean environment.

Since I wrote the above review based on the waiter's information I have found out that red fish is on Greenpeace's International Red List. Which means it is unsustainable and should be avoided. Redfish are vulnerable to overfishing because they are slow growing, long-lived and, even though they spawn every year, few young survive. Most stocks are now at historical lows and are considered depleted. Redfish are caught using bottom trawls and pelagic trawls.

Bottom trawling damages the seafloor, impacting marine habitats that are important to the survival of groundfish and other species. Many species depend on seafloor structures like coral and sponges for feeding, breeding and hiding from predators. Bottom trawling is also indiscriminate and incidentally catches other fish and marine animals that are dumped overboard as bycatch.

In fairness to Water Grill there is a very limited supply of red fish that is sustainable. Let's hope Water Grill's red fish comes from that source.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/07/10

Strengths and weaknesses

by baristapro at Citysearch

Everything we ordered was excellent. main course portions are very small for the price.The service was both professional and friendly. There was a big time gap between the salad course and the main course.

Overall a pleasant experience. i would return.

  • Pros: nice ambiance
  • Cons: pricey.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/07/09

Best seafood

by Janne F at Citysearch

I am impressed, finaly found the best seafood in LA.

  • Pros: all in the review
1 Star Rating: Poor

10/12/09

Very tiny portions

by orchidchic at Citysearch

Four of us went to Water Grill before the theater. The appetizer of fish was small. But the portions of halibut and swordfish were even more disappointingly small. But the dessert was almost not even there...the tiny carrot cake was like a little igloo... a tiny mound with a white topping. "Where is the dessert????" I asked.

When I spoke to the maitre d', and with a smile he said,"I am sorry to hear that but enjoy the show!"

That was not the comment I wanted to hear! All four of us definately did not enjoy the meal!!!

  • Cons: Too pricy for such small portions
1 Star Rating: Poor

03/06/09

Don't do it!!

Contributor at Citysearch

Tasteless food, not enough on plate, service under par, reputation and quality is below average. Lobster tasted like cardboard, fish tasted too fishy

The Details on Water Grill

Place Categories:

  • great complete service
  • incredible seafood food
  • best seafood
  • best seafood restaurant
  • very bad servers
  • memorable dining experience
  • deliscious crab cake
  • delicious seafood meal
  • beautiful appetizers
  • wonderful oysters
  • incredible clam chowder
  • wonderful waiter
  • fantastic place
  • great everything
  • recommending perfect reisling
  • enjoyed dessert
  • spectacularly delicious course menu
  • great fish dishes
  • pre-packaged champagne
  • delightful haven
  • sweet host
  • not like cooked fish
  • great shellfish platter
  • very friendly price
  • poor service

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