Engine Co. No. 28 — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Picked this place by looking at a few other reviews and needing a place our family from Boston would enjoy for a good lunch along with my children (14 to 22 years old). We wanted to go to a nice place not something outside and quick. It started out rough as parking is difficult, so we just decided to valet the car ($12 all day, but when I drove and my son did too it cost me almost $30 to park I wasn't expecting that and not being used to that part of the city it hit me... I have a handicap and don't pay for parking at meters but there are none for a few blocks but oh well lets talk food).You walk in and if you didn't catch on to the Engine Co. No. 28 like I did (oops it was cold lol) there is a firepole in the middle, jackets hanging on hooks, beautiful brick walls, and tasteful firehouse decor (I do believe this was possibly an old firehouse) YET this is still an elegant and beautiful resteraunt lit just a little more than dim (it was lunch still) so you could still see and there was a nice warm comfortable ambiance. I can picture a dinner date being romantic there! The menu isn't huge but it's mouthwatering. Mostly what is called "American " cuisine, almost having an east coast twist to me. My kids and I went for the hamburgers and they were huge, juicy, cooked to order and the buns were brioche and fresh (I am gluten free so no bun for me but the burger was so big... and they wrapped an extra bun togo for me that was a first). The fries were big, fresh and plentiful (I substituted mashed potatoes since gluten free and yummy). My kids said this was the best hamburger they have ever had out. Kids were full and very happy. The others with us both ordered I believe crabcakes sandwiches (the East Coast twist I mentioned since both are from back east and this made them think of there) and they really enjoyed it. They only 2 that finished their meals were my 22 and 14 year old sons (growing boys can eat). The portions are plentiful and well worth their price. The lunch prices are not cheap but not expensive and dinner prices are right on target for a nice place. Dinner for 2 with drinks for $60 (Valet at night is only $10, those of you who are younger can walk 3 blocks can park cheaper). The service was great, everyone in the place was great. I plan on going back to try a few more menu items (being gluten free I am limited and I still have several I want to try!). This is a great place for all ages, dinnertime you might leave babies and toddlers home though (it might ruin the romantic vibe going on for many there). Also a great place for...

From looking at the happy hour schedule, this place is in happy hour literally all the time. The only question that came to mind was when this place wasn't serving happy hour specials. I don't care if it's a ploy or not, I just like the idea of happy hour all the time. Walking about 2 blocks from home, I wasn't too worried about the parking situation here but this is downtown, so it already sucks. For those wondering, yes they still have the fireman pole, but the top is blocked off, so there ain't gonna be sliding down for a fast exit. Once the pizzazz wears out about dining in a former fire station, you may start to wonder where your food is. It take a bit long, and your server might be out there taking orders or even behind the bar mixing drinks. Our server was still super kool though, but the slow service and food prep makes a hungry stomach growl.

-=-Happy Hour Food-=- So we sampled a bit from the HH menu. Pulled Pork Silders and Mac + Cheese were our picks. I probably wouldn't get the Mac and cheese unless you were feeding your 10 year old. It didn't bring anything special at all to the table despite the added bacon and blue cheese. Edible yes, but don't expect miracles. Pulled pork sliders, I could recommend atleast for being not dry. I would have sampled more, but decided to also get a burger from the dinner menu.

-=-Dead Hippy Burger-=- The highlights here are bacon, avocado and poached egg. Everything good, and literally no way to mess this up. I dug it, but with the other dining options literally around the corner, I probably wouldn't head to Engine Co No 28 for the burgers alone. Other tempting menu items started dabbing into the $$$ range, but if the burger doesn't exactly fit, then I'll leave that territory to the other explorers.

Verdict: Come and sample off the Happy Hour menu, but don't...

The last time I was at ECo28 was over 10 years ago and at that time, this was a place to power lunch or have a nice dinner after work. Fast forward 10 years and this is what you get when the financial and accounting firms leave DTLA - a business struggling to find its new identity in the new DTLA.

What brought me in their door was their $35 pre-fix DineLA dinner. On paper, the offerings seemed pretty good. But, as my dishes started to come out, I came to the realization that there was no thought on their execution. It was like someone said - let's throw all of these things together, if they are good separately, then together they will be great.

An example of this is their short-rib appetizer, which I chose. I thought I was going to get an adequate portion commensurate to my entree that was to follow. Instead, I got a full plate of short ribs enough to have satisfied me for the night. I am not complaining about the portion, gosh no; I just wish they had not lathered them with your run of the mill BBQ sauce, and it was cold at that. Had they just braised them, and served them with their homemade cold slaw - that would have been perfect.

My entree, the fillet mignon with shrimp was overkill (see picture). The meat alone was OK as were the shrimp; but I'm no sure both potatoes and vegetables were necessary (one or the other would have been fine). Yet, the overkill was all of this yumminess sat in a pool of a balsamic reduction. A couple of balsamic reduction lines at the bottom of the plate would have been perfect. Seriously, I ordered the surf n' turf not soup.

All in all, ECo28 is outdated, both the interior and its menu need a makeover. I hope they do get it together, its a beautiful building and a...