The location drew the attention of Rose Dosti of the Los Angeles Times and Rudi Gernreich, both of whom praised the restaurant's aesthetics[3] and "hip, graphic design" food presentation: Curry House, on the top floor of Downtown's Weller Court, is probably the first of its type in Los Angeles, but likely a prototype of clones to come, if instant success is any measure.

According to Max Jacobson of the Los Angeles Times, the location was "by far the most attractive" of the entire chain: Like Japanese curry itself, the ambience is an amalgam of elements that might not seem to belong together: frosted glass, a Japanese flower arrangement offset by a lacquered wooden backdrop, cobalt-blue Diva lights, cool jazz on the sound system, and a team of waitresses who take care of you with disarming sincerity.

[6]In 1998, Jonathan Gold reviewed the location for the LA Weekly, calling it a "slick, highly designed restaurant [...], a soaring space with acres of blond wood and bright paintings on the wall.

[18] The new owners immediately fired most of its personnel, including 90% of its kitchen workers, forcing the chain to temporarily close while it hired and trained new staff.

The plaintiff in that case alleged that the defendants siphoned $12 million to themselves in order to purchase "exotic cars, boats, homes, and foreign travel.

The former stated in a press release that the "misrepresentation of the legal status of many [Curry House] employees" and the resultant "confusion" caused by the need to temporarily shut down the restaurants in order to train new staff were factors in their decision.