The Palm - Los Angeles Downtown is located one block east of the Staples Center and housed in the historic Toy Center on the southeast corner of Flower and 11th Streets. The Palm provides seating for approximately 400 patrons and occupies 13,500 square feet. The Palm is renowned for prime beef, jumbo lobsters and authentic Italian fare and is open seven nights a week for dinner and weekdays for lunch.
Your Hosts
Aaron Kirkman, General Manager >
Kyung Ho Lee (Kay Lee), Executive Chef
Laura Sumpter, Sales Manager
Aaron Kirkman, General Manager
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Kyung Ho Lee (Kay Lee), Executive Chef
Downtown Palm Executive Chef Kay Lee came to the United States 27 years ago from his native Korea with a suitcase full of books, the clothes on his back, and a dream. Lee, whose father owned three highly-regarded restaurants in Seoul, wanted to become a chef in America. A quick study, Lee found himself accepted into the country"s most prestigious cooking school, The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), in Hyde Park, NY. He sailed through his courses, and upon graduating in 1983, opted to augment his cooking degree with a B.A. in Restaurant Management from Florida International University. By the time he earned his bachelor's degree in 1986, he had a job waiting for him at Legal Seafood in Boston, a popular seafood restaurant with seven locations throughout Massachusetts. He was both Chef and Kitchen Manager there for more than six years. In 1992, the West Coast beckoned, and Lee answered its siren's call, moving his wife and two children to Los Angeles to become Executive Chef at the legendary Palm restaurant in West Hollywood. Lee thrived in his position, thrilled to be working alongside one of The Palm's most beloved and colorful GMs, Gigi Delmaestro, whom he likened to a second father. Lee remained at the West Hollywood Palm for 13 years, where he was no stranger to the restaurant's clientele entertainment giants -- who would regularly pop their heads into the kitchen with smiles, and then set about cajoling Lee to make them one of his specialties (with Lee's as-good-as-you'll-find Osso Bucco being at the top of the list). Recognized for his calm-under-fire leadership skills, Lee was tapped to take up the reins of another Palm Kitchen in 2005, the company's new Downtown location across from the Staples Center, where he remains today. Talented and easygoing, Lee is as enthusiastic about his job as he was 15 years ago. He credits the Palm's management style for engendering such loyalty by always having his back, adding, "Owners Wally (Ganzi) and Bruce (Bozzi) take care of people first, and the numbers second. This is a company with a heart."
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Laura Sumpter, Sales Manager
Lunch served Monday - Friday, 11:30 AM-3:00 PM
Dinner Served Monday - Thursday, 3:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Friday, 3:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Saturday, 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Sunday, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM
1100 S. Flower Street Los Angeles, CA 90015
Phone: 213-763-4600
Fax: 213-763-4601
