Bottle Rock

Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

1050 S Flower St
Ste 167
Los Angeles, California, 90015-5102
United States

// CLOSED //
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.67
Reviews:
6
Ratings:
6
pDev:
17.44%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews.
Photo of DoctorZombies
Reviewed by DoctorZombies from Florida

3.45/5  rDev -6%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
Good beer menu, both on tap and in bottle. Sandwiches were very good. Lunch service on a slow Monday was spotty at best. Update 8/15/22-service is still slow, but the beer menu is worth the effort. And the food is good.
Jun 16, 2015
Photo of MrTopher
Reviewed by MrTopher from California

3.78/5  rDev +3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3
I need to give BRDTLA an update because they have gone up and down in the last year +. But they're getting better, they have a decent mix of craft and Belgian, there seems to never be the same beers on tap (with the exception of Old Raspy, 10-50, and a Chouffe of some kind). They have bottles as well, but don't look through the menu to see what is available because they have 3-4x as many listed in the mini fridge.
If you want the best service possible attempt to get Brian as a server, he's really cool and has a respect for beer, but more so wine. There are a few other servers, but a few of them are a little creepy.
Since they finally settled with a newer set menu the food has gotten better, they constantly had been changing the menu but it's gotten a lot better. The chicken and steak options are great; the onion tart is good also.
This place isn't a Blue Palms, Surly Goat, or Tony's; they are more wine centric, but they have some great stuff from time to time and its always fresh. If you don't want to deal with the chaos that is Yardhouse or any other LA Live restaurant and want a drink before an event consideration should be taken for Bottle Rock.
IMO they still have the best options for craft beer in DTLA, I have yet to try the new Public School 612, but reviewing the menu online I'm still not impressed.

Review from Sept '09:
My girlfriend and I local Bottle Rock about once a week, because we both enjoy the food, atmosphere and most of all the selection. And a selection they have is phenomenal, thanks to Alex; the 12 tap selection is always something to see along with the bottle selection. I typically enjoy a few drafts and will purchase some bottles to enjoy at home at my leisure.

The draft selection is always good, there seems to always be a few American Craft Breweries (Port, Stone, Firestone, Alesmith, Allagash, Craftsman, etc.) and some good Imports which are primarily Belgian. But these 12 tap selections always seem to rotate, they don't seem to have a staple. And if you're looking for Mass Production Domestic Garbage do yourself a favor and skip Bottle Rock and go to the Yardhouse over at LA Live cause Bottle Rock isn't your cup of tea.

The bottle selection is very majestic; they have beers from almost every corner of the globe. And they have some really good selections, my girlfriend keeps me in check otherwise I'd buy one of everything. Check the back of the drink menu (beer & wine) where the bottled beer selection is, it seems to update weekly.

The food at Bottle Rock is also really good, we typically enjoy a 3 cheese plate (soft, firm, blue) which is served with some bread. $11 for 3 cheeses is decent. And we usually keep to 2 entrees; roast young chicken and the top sirloin, both are exceptional. And the deserts are also really good, they have a cup cake of the day (lately it's been red velvet, which is amazing) and an ice cream sandwich (which is typically warm), both are worth trying. The lunch selection I have yet to try, but they have some attractive sandwiches.

The atmosphere at Bottle Rock is kind of urban feeling with the high tables & chairs, and the couple flat screen position not to overwhelm the atmosphere and are typically muted. They always have some good music playing, and the lighting works along with the interesting wooden slates coming from the ceiling.

If you have questions about anything be sure and ask Alex, he is the brains behind what is carried at Bottle Rock and has tried it all!



Cheers,
Mar 20, 2011
Photo of nightwing002
Reviewed by nightwing002 from California

2.79/5  rDev -24%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 2
bottle rock is basically just a wine bar with beer there. the beer selection was not that great. just one frig with a small selection of bottled beer. nothing that you wouldn't find at any other craft bar. they also had a small but decent selection on tap.

the wine selection on the other hand seemed impressive, but then again that is their target audience.

the decor and atmosphere seemed nice.

i didn't get a chance to try the food.

overall, i probably wouldn't come back to this place to drink craft beers. i guess they used to have a good beer selection awhile ago. they need to improve their selection of beer to attract me to go back there.
Mar 12, 2011
Photo of errantnight
Reviewed by errantnight from District of Columbia

3.1/5  rDev -15.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 3.5
Sadly, this once great place is now... well, nothing special. I suppose if you're nearby, or in the neighborhood, give it a go. But it's no longer a destination.

First of all, the beer buyer (Alex) is gone and the selection is a ghost of what it used to be. The tap selection still had some nice beers on it, but it wasn't fully utilized (roughly a third were empty). The bottle list is decimated, what used to be a thorough and well manicured list is now spotty, insubstantial. It seemed picked over.

Second, the cooks who opened the restaurant are gone. Dishes lack finesse, refinement and during our recent visit, seasoning (by which I mean salt). Gone are the house-made charcuterie, the marrow, the risotto. The playful and inventive dishes of yore replaced with appetizing sounding but more familiar and less artful. Which would be fine if the food were properly seasoned, but dish after dish came out tasting flat, and that's just not acceptable.

The wine list and wine business seemed to be burgeoning, so it's probably still fine for that, but if you were coming for food or beer, it's unfortunately no longer a place I can recommend.

Original Review from 11.2.09:

Easily one of my favorite places to go in LA now... the bar scene hasn't really taken off yet (and may never, just by nature of the place), but it has a fantastic, well-chosen selection that includes some of the harder-to-find special/limited releases (a testament to Alex's relationships with distributors, his attention to the scene, and a bit sadly... because this place is still a bit off the map, locally) with hands down the best food you can get a beer bar (even though it's more of a wine bar) in Los Angeles.

The restaurant is a casual, modern interior, bright pastel green and metal with walls lined with bottles (primarily wine) and largely elevated tables (there's a lounge section as well) and a long open bar facing the taps and the kitchen. This makes sitting at the bar a mixed experience... it's a bit bright, and sometimes there's stacks of glasses just on the other side of the bar from you, but the friendly and engaging staff is just there, and you can peak over at what's being cooked and chat with the chefs when they wander down. It's where I usually plunk myself.

The quality of the selection is superb... there's not a beer to be skipped on the menu. Literally without filler (partially a product of the somewhat limited space... which frankly seems to work for this place in the positive... sure you may not find some particularly obscure offerings, or everything that say, Stone or Rogue offers, but you'll get their new limited releases and one or two others, and from a broad selection of breweries both international and domestic). It doubles as one of the better to-go beer stores in LA, as they'll lop 40% off the price of any beer purchased to take home... bringing their prices right in line if not slightly better than what you'll find at most local package stores.

I've always enjoyed fine service here, and the majority of the time with staff that is new to me (and I them) so it's not just a matter of building good relationships... they're friendly, helpful, and enthusiastic. They seem, in general, to be wine knowledgeable, not beer knowledgeable, but it seems like they're not clueless either, and there's always at least one "beer guy" on hand to answer questions for the more demanding customer. They're incorporating beer into the food menu and doing beer tastings as well so I would only anticipate improvement going forward.

Speaking of the food... it's ridiculously wonderful. If this place had no beer to speak of I would come here for that alone. Outstanding house made charcuterie (ranging from pates and fresh sausages to rillettes and cured sausages), well chosen cheese, chocolate and ice cream (the latter two from local, artisanal providers) and a fine selection of luxurious appetizers and entrees... pillowy and melting gnocchi, unctuous pork belly risotto, tender and juicy roast chicken with perfectly crisp skin, an ephemeral loup de mere in a fennel broth... this is fine dining quality food in a casual atmosphere at an insanely reasonable price. But know what to expect... these are smaller plates meant to complement and pair with your drink, and are totally plentiful for your meal... but there is no piling mountains of food here... you're not taking home enough leftovers for you and your brother to have for lunch tomorrow.

Alex & co. here are doing a spectacular job, and I hope you give this place a shot. It's a place I'd go for a quick beer if I lived or worked nearby, before or after an event (close to the Staples Center etc.), go for an indulgent dinner, or a tasty bite at lunch (which I didn't even discuss... but the quality of food you'll get for $8 at lunch is astonishing)... a place where I'd recommend to beer geeks and those who just like good food. An instant favorite here in LA.
Jul 07, 2010
Photo of SShelly
Reviewed by SShelly from Oregon

4.63/5  rDev +26.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Finally made it down to the downtown location, have been meaning to stop by for a while.

Alex the great beer guy whom I knew from red carpet liquor greeted us at the door.

Great atmosphere, as pointed out before this is more of a wine bar with a great beer selection. Tap list is all solid with a pretty deep bottle list (had papier that night).

The food was delicious, brazed short ribs kicked butt, not the biggest portions but the waiter let us know that before hand.

All of the staff did really well by us, will definetly be going back, the wife really liked being able to get any wine on the list by the glass.
Dec 16, 2009
Photo of getkrunkhoe
Reviewed by getkrunkhoe from California

4.28/5  rDev +16.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Went right before closing on a Friday night.

I went to Bottle Rock not knowing what to expect. this place was "different" compared to most "beer bars/beer shops". Wooden stools and tables fill the room, wine decor, very contemporary style. looks FUN.

Alex who is in charge of bringing great beer to this place was there, and was very friendly and hospitable.The beer menu consisted of Old Rasp., Ommegang Rouge, Oaked Arr Bast.,PRima Pils, St. Bernardus 12, just to name a few. Alex was generous enough to let me try a few samples,so that I could decide on a beer.

Altough this is a "Beer place" review; This place is mainly a wine bar, but of course the Wonderful Alex is making it a beer geek destination. I must say that the pricing for beer was great/adequate the pricing for wine is a bit pricey/overpriced.

I wasn't fortunate to try any of the dishes as for the Kitchen was closed, but I was told the food is GREEEAAT.( but can be pricey if you are not"expecting it")

George the Owner is a nice guy,and very friendly and welcoming.

Best part is BEER TO GO!

(THANX ALEX)
Jun 14, 2009
Bottle Rock in Los Angeles, CA
Place rating: 3.67 out of 5 with 6 ratings