Lingua Franca

Inconsistent execution and unjustifiably high prices prevent this long-awaited Frogtown eatery from the Wax Paper team from being a truly great dining destination. Still, the menu delivers a welcome dose of creative ambition and a few culinary highlights—and artsy locals are already flocking to the place like bumblebees to a field of flowers. Sitting along the L.A. River, the waterfront restaurant is buzzing most nights of the week despite the fact most dishes are just okay. If we're being honest, you can find much better fare at the same price point elsewhere, and for what you end up receiving, you're likely to come away disappointed. Dishes are intermittently over- or undersalted; all in all, Lingua Franca's bill of fare might sound tasty and inventive on paper, but it definitely falls flat in real life.