Beautiful view. Check. Great food. Check. Famous chef. Check. We are of course referring to WP24, Wolfgang Puck’s new eatery on the 24th floor of the Ritz-Carlton in the downtown L.A. Live area.

The Asian fusion theme, which Puck executes so well, is reason enough to visit, but throw in the panoramic view and dinner becomes an event. Reservations are hard to come by in the main dining room, but The Lounge at WP24 offers a more casual dining experience, and the menu highlights the signature tastes offered on the main menu.

The new “Tastes of 24″ menu is also a steal. The daily three-course menu features the tastes from the main dining room at a fraction of the price, just $24 per person (excluding alcohol, tax and gratuity).

Start with a cocktail, perhaps a Raspberry Martini (Chambord vodka, Raspberry, and Lemon) and a first course of Szechuan Chicken “Dan Dan” dumplings or BBQ Pork Belly Bao Buns. Both are excellent, spiced exquisitely. For the main course you have the choice of the crispy “General Tso” style quail, or “Hong Kong Style” Reed Tai Snapper. The quail is by far the better choice. A lovely desert, called the Marjolasian, which is layers of white espresso mousse and dark chocolate, is the perfect end to such a tasty meal.

Asked about the new menu, the always energetic chef said: “”The informality of our lounge at WP24 is the perfect place to sample our small plates of wonderful modern Chinese food served with artisanal cocktails or great wines.  Combine that with a breathtaking view of L.A. and it’s the beginning of a great night out on the town.”

Available Monday-Saturday, 5 – 7 p.m. WP24 at the Ritz-Carlton . 900 W Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, California 90015