THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED J Restaurant & Lounge

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED J Restaurant & Lounge Restaurant Review:

Capitalizing on the renaissance of Downtown L.A. is this ambitious dining and entertainment space, one of the first restaurants to move into the up-and-coming South Park district, where L.A. Live and hip lofts have replaced what used to be a no-man’s land. The place is built on the former site of the legendary Little J’s nightclub, where the likes of Natalie Cole and Stevie Wonder used to hang. With its cigar lounge, three bars, VIP cabanas and city views from a sprawling 10,000-square-foot patio, J has captured a diverse clientele, from after-game or -concert partiers to deal-making executives. Its sexy dining area features linen-clad tables amidst exposed brick and rich wood. The contemporary, wide-ranging menu offers Dungeness crab cakes with tarragon aïoli, bouillabaisse, salmon in port reduction, rib-eye with horseradish gremolata, and the formidable J Burger. Finish with profiteroles or Italian cheesecake, or drain that bottle of wine --- the list is predominantly Californian but ranges as far as New Zealand and Morocco --- with a cheese plate.