- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Ciudad - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Latin American Nightlife Bars Lounges Latin American, Lounges [Edit]
445 S Figueroa StSuite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Neighborhood: Downtown
(213) 486-5171
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Validated, Valet
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sun
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
398 reviews for Ciudad
Review Highlights
"all while providing a fun environment for happy hour."
(in 139 reviews)
"The flavors in the Peruvian ceviche were fabulous."
(in 31 reviews)
"Personally I enjoyed the goat cheese fritters the most."
(in 9 reviews)
Loading...
398 reviews in English
-
Review from Myrna J.
Los Angeles, CA
4/1/2011
I can't believe this place closed. I went twice and both times I enjoyed their delicious sangrias for happy hour. It's located on a busy intersection but you definitely get a taste of downtown and it's rush.
I haven't tried Border Grill but I might just swing by one of these days. -
Review from Maggie C.
9/13/2010 4 photos
I am so sad Ciudad will be replaced by Border Grill soon. I tried Border Grill Stop and personally like Ciudd better. September 10th wil be the last day of Ciudad.
My favorite dish from Ciudad is pollo ciudad. It's very delicious!! The other dishes I tried before were: ceviche, fish with 2 different sauces, chicken milanesa, tacos (yummy crispy potato rajas) and their $10 quick lunches.
I went back earlier with fellow yelpers Juliet R and Marilou C before Border Grill take over the place. We got $10 gift card that can be used towards future Border Grill purchase. We were disappointed with our brownies dessert though =(
Hopefully Border Grill is better than Border Grill stop.
4 stars!! You will be missed!!
Ciudad is yummylicious!!Listed in: Downtown LA Restaurants, My love for Latin foods
-
Review from C L.
Valencia, CA
Updated - 9/23/2010
LAST UPDATE for Ciudad. Good news and bad news.
Bad news is they are closing. Good news is that it's only temporary. Word is they are closing on Oct 2 and opening 5 days later as Border Grill.
A little touch up is in order, looking forward to trying the reincarnated space!2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
8/6/2010
I've been back a couple of times for empanadas and tacos. The fish tacos are very good and the duo… Read more »
-
-
Review from The J's H.
West Hollywood, CA
7/20/2010
Happy Hour Review
I've been to Ciudad's sister restaurant, Border Grill in Santa Monica, and I'm starting to think I cheated myself out of some good food deals as I saved myself for a sandwich at Copa d'Oro. That sandwich wasn't anything to write home about, but the food at Ciudad (and Border Grill, I'm sure, in turn) definitely was. Lucky for me, I was able to save on some postage as my dear Mum from Illinois was in town visiting.
I had just picked her up from Union Station and had plotted the next stop in Downtown Happy Hour domination, Ciudad! We arrived around 6:30 pm and the joint was hopping. I'd venture to guess there were at least 30 young professionals in the bar area where happy hour is served (also served on patio, but it was chilly), sipping $4.50 margaritas and snacking on $3 tacos. Mom & I may not have fit that that bill, but we were happy to start our long-time catch up, sitting on bar stools (though the backless stool eventually got the better of Ma) and the same food & drink deals.
We tried a couple of Shishito Fajitas Tacos (shishisto peppers, onions, mushrooms, guacamole, and oaxacan string cheese) and the Crispy Potato Rajas Tacos (roasted potatoes and peppers corn relish, guacamole, and chipotle crema); both were awesome. The margarita was killer, though Mom had a $4.50 glass of white wine before sampling my margarita and making the switch. We also tried the $5 guacamole, but I gotta be honest, readers, it really wasn't very good and it reminded me of the mass-produced guacamole you might get in a plastic tub. This surprised me given the restaurant's foodie pedigree, but the rest of the nibbles surely made up for this.
Ciudad also suffers from the happy hour unhappiness that many downtown bars suffer from - no Saturday and Sunday happy hour! I hope this is remedied sometime soon as downtown picks up as a fun urban destination! UPDATE: Ciudad apparently has an all-night Sunday happy hour, hooray, rejoice, etc!!
Nevertheless, if you are free on a weeknight and are looking for a cool bar in an urban setting with young professionals, good drinks, and tasty bites, stop by Ciudad! And bring your mom (so you don't have to make the effort to write home)!Listed in: We love Happy Hour!, Downtown Happy Hours!
-
Review from taryn b.
Culver City, CA
7/10/2010 1 Check-in Here
This review is bases solely on their happy hour. The drinks are $4.50 and very very strong. I had the margarita which was a standard marg, my husband had the Caipirinha which neither of us have ever drank before, so there is nothing to compare it with. It was really good though. I was excited to try their $3 tacos, and while they are extremely delicious, I think they should cost only $1 or they should give you two. It is seriously one tiny taco, yes full of flavor and unlike anything I've ever had before, but come on, people need more than that.
I went with the crispy potato rajas, which I can safely say is the tastiest, most unique flavored taco I have ever had. It contains potatoes and red pepper, is folded and fried until crispy, then topped with corn relish and guac and placed upon a smear of chipotle crema. Yums.
My husband had the cilantro chicken taco and the carne asada. He was not impressed with the cilantro chicken, saying that it was nothing impressive or tasty. However, he ended up ordering another carne asada, praising it's unique melding of flavors and overall yumminess.
Would I come here again? Probably because it is just a few blocks from my office and I can see going here for happy hour with co-workers for something different. And the drinks are reasonable and strong... -
Review from Raymond F.
Pasadena, CA
5/10/2010
Prices for lunch are fair
Service was a little slow
Location is loud
Really good Mojitos -
Review from mary b.
Pasadena, CA
4/2/2010
Ciudad is one of my favorite dress up spots. This place does red meat well and drinks even better.
I love the lentil soup, the fresh fruit mojitos, the seasonal desserts that come with homemade marshmallows and whatever this beautiful woman in the kitchen is willing to throw at me.
The menu is seasonal and the summertime comes with fresh watermelon juice. The empanadas are top notch, the soup is comforting, the parking is a little stressful but the live music on the weekends makes up for it.
I took the ex here in a weak moment of rethinking the ex part. The room is very sexy and the music can send your soul into overdrive. Combine all of this with lick the plate good food, mint sugar and rum and what have you got? That's right.
Take a date here if you want to get frisky in the car on the way home.
To my new friend, fellow Dem, my comrade in heavy heart and fellow freedom fighter: Let this review be an invitation to dinner, my treat. -
Review from Anthony N.
Playa del Rey, CA
Updated - 3/11/2010 1 Check-in Here
Ciudad is on Figueroa--several blocks north of Staples Center. I went to Ciudad a long time ago before an event at the Convention Center and the food was pleasant but not great. When a 30% BlackboardEats coupon came up, I was eager to go back.
Ciudad has a pretty boisterous atmosphere. There is an outside dining area, a lively bar and a pretty decent sized indoor dining area. For lunch, the main dining area is pretty far from the front so it gets quite dark in there. The seating is comfortable and the decor is simple but nice and uncluttered. For a weekday lunch, they were very busy with many guests (both in the dining areas as well as at the bar). They also seemed to have reasonably priced to-go options (so some of the people milling around may have been ordering food to-go).
The complimentary flatbread crisps were okay. There was a sesame crisp and a spicier/tangier chili and lime crisp. Some hummus and olive tapenade were provided as well.
I started with the Peruvian ceviche. Even though it was a starter, the portion size was very large. The ceviche consisted of mahi mahi, avocado, lime, onions, and chili. Crispy fried plantains also came with the plate. I think there was some mango too. I have not had ceviche very much so I do not know what constitutes a good ceviche. The dish was not for me though. All of the ingredients were quite fresh, but it was just very acidic. I know they use the citric acid to kind of cook the fish, but it seemed way too much and it really overpowered the dish.
I thought the dinner entrees sounded a lot better than the entrees offered at lunch. I had a hard time picking a main course. I settled on the BBQ pork sandwich. The BBQ pork sandwich was huge. It came with some decent kettle chips and a field greens salad. For $13, it was a pretty good deal.
The sandwich was served on a torta sandwich roll and came with carnitas (sauced with BBQ). There was also some cheese (Monterey Jack), shredded cabbage, picked onions, and some kind of aioli. The pork was very tender and moist. While the sandwich tasted fine, it was a little too saucy. It kind of reminded me of some of those Asian fusion places where they go overboard with the sauces--making it too sweet and overpowering. I could only eat half of it because it was so big. I should ask my future brother-in-law if he liked it since I gave him the rest (update: he really liked it).
There was just so much food that there was no room for dessert (I hardly ever skip dessert when dining at a nice place). Ciudad was very reasonably priced with a lot of lunch options under $15. The BlackboardEats discount provided a good savings, but this is a place (at least for lunch) where you do not really need a coupon.
Service was friendly and good even though it was quite busy in there. It was also loud. Considering the busy dining room and the many large parties, the waitress did a very good job.
I would say Ciudad is 2.5 stars. It was not bad, but it could have been better. If I would have ordered differently, I may have had a much better experience. The potential is definitely there. Since I've only been to Ciudad for lunch, I think I still may consider trying them for dinner or happy hour.
For lunch, parking is available at the adjacent parking structure. It is $3 with validation.Listed in: Ranking Restaurants In The 09…, Ranking The 75 Best…, Ranking Jonathan Gold's 99…, Ranking LA Magazine's 57 Lunch…, Ranking Downtown LA Lunch…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
4/12/2009
This downtown restaurant (a few blocks north of Staples Center) is very lively with a nice interior.… Read more »
-
-
Review from Nick H.
Updated - 3/4/2010
Fun, Intimate, Romance and a Taco!
Happy Hour with a Date!
Yummy Tacos and Quesadillas for 3 Bucks and delicious pomegranate lemonade! My date ordered one simple quesadilla and I ordered a taco. Yup..plenty of refills on the yummy pomegranate lemonade! What was especially unique?? Once again the coolness of the staff had me leaving with a special memory. My date wrote sweet notes passed in intimacy with crayons provided by the host. Unbelievable the fun and silliness that two can have at this place.
Take a step away from the drowning noises of the city. Step down into another world and lose yourself with your companion. This place makes for the perfect intimate spot with just about any type of companion... all while providing a fun environment for happy hour.
I would come here as often as possible..if only I had more opportunity to be in the area. Without a doubt, one of my favorite spots in the CBD! Nothing but love in the air here!
La Ciudad, another reason I would leave the OC to eat.Listed in: Central Business District…, Erotic and Romantic Eats!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
2/1/2010
Pomegranate Lemonade!
Wow, if one menu item could embody this place, it must be the pomegranate… Read more »
-
-
Review from nina s.
Los Angeles, CA
4/19/2010
I have come to Ciudad twice for dinner: once I had the Peruvian ceviche: mahi mahi, avocado, lime, ginger, and aji amarillo chile, as an appetizer, and for my entree I had the Niman Ranch Pork Carnitas: white cheddar corn grits, kale, and yuca... I fell in love with the ceviche... SOOOO DELISH!!!! And as for my entree, It was enjoyable, but I did not fall haed over heels in love.... I did like the fact that it was a generous portion, so I even had leftovers =)!
The second time I had dinner here I wasn't the hungry beast I normally am, and we were rushing to get to a concert at Nokia, so I only had the Peruvian Ceviche and a side order of the Peruvian corn (sooooooooooooooooooooo good.... A MUST TRY)!!!
I have been here multiple times for their happy hour... sangrias, margaritas, and mojitos for less than 5$... I'M THERE! They are all tasty, too... Not watered down and nasty like a lot of other happy hours will try to do you!!! Plus, they give you unlimited chips and salsa (their red salsa is addicting... come to think of it, maybe I should ask for their recipe!)... I remember baaaaaaaaaack in the day (like '08) their tacos were only 2$... now they are 3$ (boooo!) but still as delightful! I've had their chicken, carne asada, carnitas, and their chorizo... Historically, the chorizo has been my favorite, but the last time I was there, it was a little saltier than usual! Their guacamole is only 5$ during happy hour and well-worth it.. Not as good as my dad's... but still tasty (I am very picky on guac)!
They tend to have a more mature "business professional" type crowd... So don't come here expecting to meet other people, or expecting a festival...You have to bring the party to Ciudad (just don't get too rowdy---it's not that kinda place!)...
The reason I docked one star despite all the wonderful things I had to say: after a while their barstools become kind of uncomfy (I only experienced this discomfort at the bar last Friday I was there). Normally when I come to happy hour here, I sit at one of the tables up front, but this time, they were all occupied... The stools are the same, but I think it's the fact that you can rest your elbows on the table (I know... I'm ill-mannered for that.. OH WELL!), whereas, you can't rest your elbows on the bar (maybe I'm just too short?)... O whatever! And the other reason is that parking is 5$!!!!!!!!!! UGH.... My gripe!!!! But considering happy hour here is sooo great, it's worth the 5$ I GUESS! Maybe if they gave you the first 2 hours free and 2$ every hour after that???? i don't know... I 'm just sayin'... -
Review from Sean B.
3/11/2010 1 Check-in Here
This place did some things exceptionally well, some things were only 'good' but not amazing, and other things fell short a bit.
We made a reservation for 8:30pm but showed up VERY early just because our plans changed. We were told that we could be seated in 10-15 minutes if we wanted to have a seat at the bar. The odd thing was; half the tables were empty in the dining room. I have no idea why we were waiting when there were no less than a dozen empty tables available, but we sat and chilled and were given one of them ten minutes later.
The decorations were interesting. They used fun colors but the walls looked like a child's scribble drawing. I get what they were going for, but they didn't quite make it. Not sure what was lacking, but it just didn't really click as a design. The chairs were wood and hard and while they attempted to pull together the Latin-themed style, the uncomfortable seat wasn't fun after about ten minutes of seating.
We ordered two mojitos, as they were well-received on other Yelp reviews. Obviously these folks haven't been to Fiesta Cantina to compare. The mojitos at Ciudad were tiny, REALLY filled with ice, and the mint was muddled so small that it was getting caught up in the straw. I felt that for $12 I only got a few sips before I was looking at a glass full of ice cubes.
The ceviche WAS everything is was cracked up to be. The flavors, the temperature, the presentation. Everything was just spot on. Thoroughly enjoyed this dish. The empenadas were also quite flavorful, though they were a bit small and it seemed like two bites and they were gone.
The entrees were both quite delicious. My friend got the Ciudad chicken and liked it, though he said it was missing something; perhaps some white pepper. My carnitas were fantastic, amongst the best I've had.
So the food was very hit or miss, the aesthetic so-so, the seating awful, the service mediocre, the prices a bit high, the drinks very small, and the overall experience quite average as a whole. I'd go back, but not tomorrow... know what I mean? -
Review from Carol L.
3/16/2010
I came here for a private event. There were probably twice the number of people appropriate for the set-up. So those who couldn't fit into the main dining area stayed by the bar. Their loud conversations were distracting to the rest of us who strained to hear the presenters and the evening's honorees. Still, it was cool to finally come here. Plus, Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger came out to say a few words!
We started off with some passed appetizers. Thanks to one of my friends we figured out where the platters were making their way out of the kitchen and positioned ourselves to get first dibs! My favorite were the Peruvian Ceviche Tostaditas (marinated fish, lime, ginger and aji amarillo chile on crispy plantain rounds). I also loved the Stuffed Piquillo Peppers. They look like breaded and deep fried meatballs, but are actually filled with mashed avocado, herb marinated goat cheese, lemon and cracked pepper. The third appetizer were the Mini Spinach Empanadas with pinenuts, raisins, manchego cheese and salsa verde crema on the side. They were pretty good, but spinach is bad party food. It always gets stuck in your teeth!
Dinner was buffet style and I think it was good considering. There were three salads. A spinach salad with a citrus dressing that was too tangy for me, a quinoa salad and my favorite, the Spicy Caesar Salad (romaine hearts, fire roasted peppers and corn, tortilla croutons and argentine parmesan). For mains, there were Green Corn Tamales (way too mushy), the Pollo Ciudad topped with a cilantro sauce (fantastic!) and the Chile Rubbed Mahi Mahi (only okay). Plus rice and beans of course!
Oh and one of the event sponsors provided free tequila for the evening...Listed in: Jonathan Gold's 99 Essential…
-
Review from Julia K.
4/29/2010
CiUDAD was our last minute dinner stop on Saturday night and it was very forgettable. To start, my friend had the empanadas...which came out barely warm. I ordered the ceviche which was not bad but not great. For our main course, my friend had the pollo ciudad and I had the mahi mahi. Again...nothing great and sorta blech. If I had to choose, I'd say the pollo ciudad was good. But that's if I have to choose. To end, we had the bread pudding which might have been good had it been warm. But it was not.
Overall, I wouldn't go back. Not unless it was dirt cheap and someone drove me from the westside to downtown LA. It's not worth the money or the gas. -
Review from Carrie R.
Los Angeles, CA
4/18/2007 ROTD 6/7/2007
Oh holy hell...this place is an orgasm waiting to happen!
You know when you eat somewhere and every bite finds you going "mmmm" and slowly licking your lips and closing your eyes at the same time while you imagine sex? Ok...maybe not that last part lol. BUT...seriously...every bite will make you want another!!
If you like Paella...try their $29 Paella Tuesdays. They switch up the menu so the Paella will change each time...looked and smelled delish.
We picked our server's brain for what was delightful on the menu (which also changes daily aside of a few steadfast dishes). For a beverage...I HIGHLY recommend the $15 super dooper Mojito. It's pretty big and does the job nicely.
They bring you out two types of flat bread along with an olive spread and a sort of hummus...good stuff.
For apps: the mahi mahi civiche was a delight (my man thought it too lemony which took away from the fish but I think he's on drugs and finished all myself! lol) and the cheese fritters! HOLY MOLY!! Little flash fried balls of goat cheese set atop these crunchy crackery thingys , drizzled with honey and caramelized onions and pears. MMMMM.
For dinner we had the Argentine Steak! Again...HOLY MOLY! Garlic stuffed meat served medium rare (unless specified), side of mashed taters with bacon in them and a salad with grilled corn on top. Will set you back about $30.
Dessert: we ordered the Opera Cake and a Cuban Latte with rum. Our server brought us out some flan as well to try (on her!...well...she paid for it...we didn't eat it ON her per se. lol) The latte came with this maple-y syrup stuff that had all spice and cinnamon in it...you slowly drizzle it into the coffee to your liking. YUM. I happened to drizzle a bit on the flan too. lol Good stuff. And my boyfriend HATES flan and couldn't stop talking about how it was "the best" he'd ever had. He even went home to try and find a recipe! Apparently they use goat's milk to make it creamier. DELISH.
Tidbit: WHOLE FOODS offers a $20 off a lunch or dinner of $50 or more with a receipt. Our meal came to about $130 so it was helpful.
Also...they have a delightful happy hour from about 3-7 on the weekdays.Listed in: Top Restaurants
-
Review from Maria T.
Santa Monica, CA
2/28/2010
GREAT happy hour prices ($4.50 for mojitos, sangria, margaritas--ole!)
Sundays are an all-tapas menu whereas they have a full menu available Monday-Saturday. Tried the deviled eggs and the spinach empanadas. The empanadas had a flaky crust and a really good salsa verde on the side. The eggs were smoky, tangy, and bacon-y.
The modern space is quite large and has many tables so it would be great for a large group. Would definitely come back for happy hour.Listed in: Good for Groups
-
Review from sarah beth S.
Los Angeles, CA
1/30/2008 ROTD 5/1/2008
For Xmas my mother sent my boyfriend a card saying he and I could go for nice dinner and charge it to her. That's why she's the world's bestest mom- his gift was also a gift to me!
Thanks to my soon-to-expire Cosmo Deck (a manipulative little pack of playing card shaped coupons of $15 off $40 to get you into 52 way overpriced scenester restaurants and think you're getting a deal) I chose this place.
I was a bit surprised that the atmosphere wasn't the dark, romantic one that I had been imagining from the pix and reviews. The decor is something like Picasso meets Costco. Bright and almost too colorful and kinda basic looking. The chairs were small and uncomfortable.
We had the $10 house mojito, hoping their "best mojitos in the city" epithet wasn't limited to the $15-20 versions. I felt bad hitting Mom's visa with my high-falutin los angeles yelper lifestyle. They were good but not the best I've had.
We had the baked spanish brie with caramelized onions and roasted pears. So tasty. MMmmmmm. My only gripe is that they serve it with this shintzy little crackers instead of a nice bread. And it could have been warmer. Oops, another gripe, I lied.
For the mains: Boyfriend had the gaucho steak which was filled with garlic and spices. It basically oozed juices and flavor. I felt kind of dumb for not ordering it myself- I was worried about overwhelming garlickyness when I should have been worried about whether my deal to "share" mains with BF would pan out. Sadly, it didn't. I only got a few bites.
I kinda goofed and ordered a braised pork shank that came with a savory bread stuffing and cranberry compote. The problem? We went on the 28th and I was basically eating the pork version of christmas dinner three days after having had the real deal. Oops. It was exploding with taste, but not in a way that every person would appreciate. You have to have a high salt tolerance for this place. At least judging from these two mains.
Oh you know what was sweet? Discovering a scoop of sauteed swiss chard underneath my stuffing. I hella love chard. Good stuff.
Then we had the goat milk flan. Holy moly, that was good. I knew it would be because of other reviews. They were right. Flan can be on the boring side, but not if its seasonal pumpkin flan at Kaye and Dave's or goat milk flan at Cuidad. This was rich, heavenly stuff that kinda made me wanna adopt a goat.
So my talking points would be 1) TASTY 2) SALTY 3) RICH 4) EXPENSIVE (even with a coupon).
My suggestion? Try the tapas at happy hour and then cough up for the flan.Listed in: The Ego Trip
-
Review from Mike L.
Norwalk, CA
4/24/2007 17 photos
It seemed like everyone reviewed this place for lunch, dinner, and happy hour. My high recommendation is to check out their Tapas Sunday. They have two female chefs preparing the their tapa menu items and Spanish wines by the glass on every Sunday from 5pm~9pm: http://www.ciudad-la.c...
Going into this place, I was very impressed by the high class deco decor this place set up to be. It's elegant affair with a tad of high class touch. Although I would suggest wearing something fancy, but I did seen a slouch wearing two tees and a jean to get into this place. (he's the only one who felt everyone else is out of their elements). They have a very chic and sleek looking bar that you can enjoyed while waiting for your table.
I do highly suggest you make a reservation for this place on Tapas Sunday as it seemed everyone booked a reservation before 6pm and filled the place by 5:30pm.
There are so many interesting choices we can make on our selections for these Latin American savory little dishes. I started off by going big by ordering a huge glass of Suprema Sangria: http://www.yelp.com/bi... . Everyone at my table poked fun of me by suggesting I'm a recovering alcoholic. It's huge, but fruity delicious with this wine.
The tapa dishes we ordered are:
*Grilled Morcilla Sausage on Mini Toasts with Caramelized Onions http://www.yelp.com/bi...
*Salt Cod Fritters with Orange, Fava, and Fresh Mint Salsa http://www.yelp.com/bi...
*Lamb Meatballs with Minted Chimichurri and Onion Yogurt http://www.yelp.com/bi...
*Boneless Baby Back Ribs slow roasted in Chile, Spices, and Sweet Mistela http://www.yelp.com/bi...
*Manchego Cheese Buuelos with Serrano Ham, Arugula, and Red Pickled Onions http://www.yelp.com/bi...
*Spinach Empanadas http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Obviously my favorite dishes were the lamb meatballs and the sausages. The palatin chips are a must get to start off the meal. The only thing that was not recommended by several regulars who joined us at our table was the Paella, which is a little surprising.
We also ordered some veggie tapas and desserts to go along with all these wonderful items. The service was excellent throughout the night and our water was refilled plenty of times.
Interesting the manager of the place hopped by every table to check on everyone to see how the evening went and to check if everyone was enjoying their meal.
We enjoyed ourselves with these delightful and delicious little tapas dishes.The place also has a good vibes to set up a great mood through the dinner.
Since many have reviewed and recommended dinner, lunch, and happy hour. I highly recommend anyone to check out their tapas dinner on Sunday. It will be a great treat. -
Review from Helena H.
Los Angeles, CA
6/2/2010
I'm not going to write much, because everyone's review sounds about right...and I don't want to sound repetitive.
Mojito =Yum
Sangria = Gooood
P. Ceviche = Looove
Spinach Empanadas = Good
Chille Relleno = Interesting (Sweet, not a fan of goat cheese)
Tortilla soup = Awesooome (wished they added corn)
Mahi Mahi = Tasty (not too fishy)
Chicken Ciudad = Mouth watering
Service was excellent. I like how our server was wearing a nose ring and her sleeves tatted up. Super hawt (not in a lesbian way). It just shows that the restaurant is a casual fine dining place. Anyone can come in and enjoy the food, not worry about their appearance. Granted, you should look presentable for dining.
Enjoy! -
Review from Sarah D.
Van Nuys, CA
3/18/2008
I've been here twice, and had the same experience both times...so I feel comfortable yelping, even though I will not be raving (as many others have).
The food is adequate, but not awesome. The decor is nice, but not stunning. The service is acceptable, but overly prompt. The atmosphere is simple, but the place is noisy.
This seems to be a staple for business lunches or pre-theater dinners. Personally, I'd much rather meet up at The Daily Grill. At least they ask me if I'm finished eating before whisking my plate away (which has happened to me both times I've been to Ciudad).
I'm over it. -
Review from Cindy B.
Updated - 3/9/2010 1 Check-in Here
How could you go wrong here for lunch? Seriously, it's good eating.
I came here with a few coworkers yesterday for lunch. I had the Peruvian ceviche. Honestly, I think it's the best thing on the menu. It was amazing! I love ceviche and this place does it right.
Service was great. Got seated right away and were attended to in a timely manner.
It does get busy at lunch but there were still some open tables.
Always a delight: good food, friendly staff, very nice ambiance.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/20/2010
Good food, chill environment, and great happy hour.
I have been here a couple of times enough to say… Read more »
-
-
Review from Jackie D.
11/19/2009
Its been a long time coming Ciudad since you and I became friends three years ago. This restaurant is pretty much a staple within the working Downtown LA community. If you want cuban food, you come here. In the beginning things were a hit or miss. Lately in the last year, they have really gotten their act together and I cannot believe I havent written about them yet.
What I love the most is:
1) Large outdoor patio
2) Friendly staff who offer the good neighbor discount program ( 15% off the bill) if you are a regular. I love being a regular at restaurants I like :)
3) Wonderful bar for your happy hour enjoyment with GREAT mojitos and Sangria.
4) Quick Fixe lunches around $10 or less.
From the menu:
1) LOVE the free crackers they give with the olive tampenade and bean dip.
2) BAJA FISH TACOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE BEST EVER GET EM. So filling eventhough its three, with a side of rice. The cabbage slaw on top is worth every morsel.
3) El cubano Sandwhich is very good. I get it without the extra spread of mayo, but if you like mayo, handle it!
I would recommend this place for a quick lunch, happy hour, business meeting, friendly environment during the busy lunch hour and just a good go -to place for a cuban craving. -
Review from Liz Y.
San Francisco, CA
11/4/2007
The worst feeling at a restaurant, besides severe food poisoning or seeing a roach/mice/something revolting, is paying more than you ever do for food for something that wasn't even good. If you're in LA and want to try a delicious snazzy spot, I don't know what to tell you except NOT to go to Ciudad.
I had high hopes based on the place- its beautifully designed and feels pretty sexy. The sky high prices are based on location and atmosphere alone- as the giant westin hotel is across the street, the unknowing innocent flock here in herds- aka me. I had to send back my raw eggplant rilenos to actually be cooked and even after it was cooked, it was still mediocre. $25 is asking a lot of an eggplant to begin with obviously. We were tired and exhausted and not willing to go far. If you're in such a situation, my suggestion? get one of their saucy drinks- pecos sour or a pomegranate margarita and eat elsewhere, even if subway or a greasy slice across the street is your only alternative. Seriously. -
Review from Min T.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 11/18/2009
Ciudad has a new happy hour menu that I tried out last week. I ordered 5 of the 6 tacos; chicken, carne asada, carnitas, chorizo and potato. I didn't order the shishito peppers because it sounded a little weird but now I wish I had tried it.
Chicken- good, but it's chicken, si?
carne asada- interesting with roasted corn kernels
carnitas- my fave, it's a little different from the carnitas they used to have. This one seemed more meaty
chorizo- made with Neiman Ranch pork, this is high-end. Good, very light chorizo spicing though
Potato- rolled almost like a taquito, the thing came with a crema underneath and was quite tasty. Possibly because it was deep fried.
Tacos are $3 each.
They have revved up the cocktails for Happy Hour. I used to always get the white sangria but now I noticed they had caprinhinas. I might almost be willing to try their mojitos too if they've changed them. I got a vodka drink they called "Black gold" which was basically a gold vodka with fresh black pepper in it. It was quite good.
Cocktails are $4.50 each.
They also have some other items on the HH menu and of course, you can order from the regular menu (at full price) for dessert!
Service was fantastic. I was really surprised. Service, especially during happy hour, had always been hit or miss, mostly miss. I thought our server was doing a great job keeping us 6 ladies full of drink and food.
Then while we were there, a rep from Milagro Tequila was doing a complimentary tasting. Total score! I liked all three I tried; silver, reposado and anejo but they were different from each other. I suppose it depends on what you like.
I'm actually excited to come back for Happy Hour now. I used to make faces whenever someone mentioned it but considering this new menu and great drinks, I'm putting it back into my Happy Hour rotation.Listed in: Downtown LA, Real LA Dates, Downtown Bars, High End Latin
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
12/22/2008
Minty lime cooler. Check.
Good but pricey food. Check.
Service. Fairly good. Check.
Two hot tamales in… Read more »
-
-
Review from Suzanne L.
San Gabriel, CA
8/8/2008
Walked over here after happy hour at McCormick's. Just missed Ciudad's HH which ended at 7pm. Aww!
Had a few drinks in the bar area at the front of the restaurant. The bar had stainless steel counter tops which to me, gave it a cafeteria feel. I thought it didn't really match well, but maybe it was just me. The sit down area of the restaurant in the back looked nice tho. It was really dim back there.
Since I missed HH, I didn't want to try anything too fancy off the cocktail menu. I got a glass of White Sangria (it was so-so), followed by a glass of Chardonnay. They're about $7 each.
They have an interesting "sipping rum" section on the drink menu, and we ordered something called the Lemon Hart 151. Do NOT try this unless you want to burn your face off. Whooo~~ Omg. If you think Bacardi 151 is bad, it's got nuthin on this stuff. -
Review from Craig R.
2/15/2010
3.5 stars
As much as I love Ciudad it's somewhat overrated. I have indulge here quite a few times since 2000 and it can be a hit or miss experience!! For some reason, things rarely go smoothly at Ciudad. There can be a wait for a table, then the drinks can come slowly, then a dish may be served lukewarm. When all is right, the food can be quite imaginative, though, and the patio and music can be delightful. I have had lovely meals here as well as frustrating ones.
Amid colorful pastel walls and abstract designs, exuberant crowds gather to revel in a menu that brings together cuisines from the world's great Latin urban centers: Havana, Rio de Janeiro, Barcelona, and so on. Standout dishes include the tortilla soup, Argentine empanadas, Swiss chard with tomatillo sauce, citrus-roasted Cuban-style chicken (served with Puerto Rican rice and fried plantains), and a Brazilian moqueca-- shrimp, mussels, and other seafood in a coconut-lime broth over coconut rice.
Daytime is for office workers; at night, you will find aging hipsters.
Between 4 and 9pm on Sundays, Ciudad presents happy hour tapas served at the bar; it's easy to make a meal of several, choosing from carnitas tacos, goat cheese fritters with sherry-soaked cherries, lamb meatballs with chimichurri, and more. Desserts are worth saving room for and are large enough to share.
Tip: Tuesday through Saturday Ciudad provides free shuttle service to the Music Center, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and select STAPLES Center events. -
Review from Katie K.
Los Angeles, CA
6/20/2007
Like everyone else said, this place is expensive, but worth it once in a while. I always have the paella, because it's my favorite, and Matt tends to have a steak, and they're both good. One adventurous evening, we ordered an apetizer of goat cheese covered with honey and served with cherries. While that sounds like an odd combination, it might possibly have been the best appetizer I've ever had!
There patio is the ONLY place to sit... although the dining room is beautiful, it has a more fancy, dressy feel to it, and the patio is comfortably casual. There is also live music which makes any meal that much better. -
Review from Sean P.
San Francisco, CA
10/24/2006
Rolled in here for some tag team yelping with Mitzi (http://www.yelp.com/us...) after work tonight. We meet up at the 7th/Metro Red Line station and strolled over by foot.
This places does the whole opentable thing, which is the jam. I got myself 100 open table points for the res. Someday I might get a $20.00 whatever they give out.
They have a huge bar in the front which looks pretty inviting, if i worked in downtown I could see trying to frequent it. They have a pretty nice selection of fancy cocktails. I tried out the Primero Mojito, and it was the best Mojito I have ever had, though... Yeah the difference between the best and worse Mojito I have ever had isn't that big. Booze with sugar and mint, is simple and good.
The food was good, maybe a bit pricey, but not much to fret about. The atmosphere was modern, or post-modern.. or wait I mean 1960's modern? I dunno.. It was tasteful, and not over done, and didn't seem cheap and thrown together like uhmmm yeah a room at the standard.
One downfall, the bathroom was less then pleasant. For the prices and compared to the rest of the restaurant I would have expected better. It wasn't dive bar or gas station bad but it wasn't good either.
Would I go back? Sure... I had a good time, and the food was good. Though I was kind of pissed off that when I asked for a cucumber cocktail that steph mentioned in her review ... They didn't have it! Who's the lier here?
Metro Info: This place is a couple blocks away from the 7th/Metro Red Line Station... A good way to travel and a nice walk amongst big buildings on the way.Listed in: Booze Near LA Metro Red Line…
-
Review from Amy T.
6/3/2010
Me and a few friends and I hosted a graduation dinner here. The service was great. I had a few problems scheduling, but they sorted themselves out right away. We set a dinner menu and decided how to deal with drinks. Given that we had three parties and three bills, things could have been complicated, but they weren't.
Service at the dinner was great. Our guests were comfortable and enjoyed visiting with everyone. The food came out on time and looked beautiful. The chef even came out to talk to people in the restaurant.
The food was good, but not spectacular. The only memorable part of the meal was the mojito I ordered. Mmmmm -
Review from Diana I.
12/30/2009 8 photos
3.5 stars.
I came here with my friends for the M-F 4-7 PM HAPPY HOUR! $3 tacos, $5 guacamole & chips, $5 sangria, half-price mojitos and margaritas, and more!
The tacos are really small but I wasn't very hungry so I only had 2. I tried the carnitas taco which was okay, and the carne asada taco which I actually really didn't like. There was something about the cheese or sauce that really didn't match my palate. The quesadilla was also a little too salty. But the guacamole and chips were good! And the ceviche was delicious as well.
I looooved the ambience of the place! The artwork, the glowing red and green lights... I loved the clean modern feel! Sadly, you can enjoy this more if you're seated at the regular dining area of the restaurant, and not so much at the bar area where the Happy Hour is!
Don't forget to get your parking garage ticket validated on the way out!Listed in: Downtown LA, Happy Hour!!
-
Review from Mitzi Y.
Los Angeles, CA
10/24/2006
Now, is rabbit a common meat in Latin American dishes? (edit: They most likely called it "hare" and not "rabbit" like I am doing.) I'd never had rabbit before tonight, and never would have thought of it from a latin inspired restaurant. I know you're probably wondering how I could eat a cute wittle bunny wabbit well, it's actually not hard when they're so delicious. I'm sorry to all my vegan/vegetarian friends but rest assured that if I tasted that good I would let the rabbits eat me. It's only fair.
I've got to say that the whole dinner was quite delicious from the tangy ceviche and the rabbit/ham "platos equenos" (aka appetizers) to the wild samon with artichoke salsa entree I had. Although it was a little overpriced I think I would probably still go back, if not for the yummy bunny then for the rich chocolate cake topped with a bit of strawberries. -
Review from Caroline Y.
Los Angeles, CA
7/1/2007
Eat the fruit in the sangria~! Do it~! You'll get a nice little buzz off those suckers. Heh heh.
After making and drinking some homemade sangria and driving all the way to Hawthorne from Downtown L.A. in crazy traffic hour to pick up RAIN concert tickets and missing the RAIN concert cuz it got cancelled and missing Ondal 2 with cool yelpers because of the RAIN concert that got cancelled and then being totally bummed that I couldn't see cute little RAIN and missed Ondal 2...we made our way to Ciudad to have some more sangria...
The place is pretty nice. We sat on the patio, ordered a round of sangrias...they don't do pitchers...I dunno why. Stoopiid. We also ordered empanadas and ceviche. That was it. That was dinner for four of us. But I guess we were already intoxicated so we didn't care too much for food. We wanted more alkeehol...kekeke. I got one bite of the empanadas. Yeah. One bite. It was good. I had a few bites of the ceviche. It was yummy. I got a few bites only cuz one of my friends doesn't like cilantro so I ate her share. The service was friendly and ambiance was nice.
I need to go back for Paella Tuesdays...Listed in: Palate pleasers
-
Review from Stephanie S.
San Francisco, CA
5/1/2009
Two Thursday nights ago at Ciudad brought me in contact with five dollar mojitos and a night with the friends I can't say no to, doing the things I wish I said no to...
The food was okay. Fried plantains were great, but a little dry, I recommend a dollop of ice cream (that they will charge you an extra 3.50 for), but it makes the dish so much better. Spinach empanadas and a couple moments with a tres leche cake were also not bad, but at the end of the day, this place is kind of ho hum. It might be more hoppin' on a Friday night or Sunday night when all the tapas are available (I was bummed because I went for the tapas -- potato tacos! )
Again five dollar mojitos makes a girl give up some things. In my case, the confession that I was a cheerleader in middle school accompanied by a barefoot hurkey (see http://tinyurl.com/c7yjs4) -
Review from Wil C.
Brea, CA
5/16/2008
Love the live music, the bar, the crowd, the food, the friendly host,
but in the middle of it, when you got flash light above you with the firm
alarm constantly going & not much an explanation why, guess all the plus becomes minus.
so. there you have it.
-make sure you also validate for parking/bring your receipts out, otherwise $5 parking becomes $15. ^^Listed in: on the minus point scale,
-
Review from Steve V.
4/8/2009
This is your quintessential downtown power lunch spot. Lots of suits as you look around. The food pretends to be high end, and you are merely paying for the ambiance that screams "sign the deal!"
I had the bass dish that was flavorless and painful to swallow. The service was average and we felt a little rushed. -
Review from Kim R.
Long Beach, CA
6/9/2009
The first time I tried this place it was for a Business Summer Party and the margaritas were good but I was not a fan of there Mint Mojitos. I don't think I got a really good feel of this place.
The second time my boss took me here for my birthday. And I ordered the Pollo Ciudad and the chicken was very flavorful and very juicy and tender.
Their chocolate cake is a little too rich (surprising, I know) but I really like their Pomegranate Margarita. mmmm -
Review from Lolo M.
Los Angeles, CA
2/5/2009
If fresh, seasonal ingredients and Latin America had a one night stand that turned into a long, happy marriage, Ciudad would be their baby.
some of my favorites:
pomegranite margarita, black beef (r.i.p.), quinoa side salad, mahi mahi w/ tamarind glaze, excellent service.
today I had their butter lettuce salad with skirt steak (cooked perfectly), pomegranites, tiny delicate precious fried onions, honey vinaigrette and bee pollen. The flavors were perfectly balanced. How can a salad be such a textural masterpiece? Fucking bee pollen?! amazing. -
Review from sherri b.
Marina del Rey, CA
7/10/2008
This is one of my faves in all of Los Angeles. I usually come here when i go to the theatre. The food is outstanding. I would call it fru-fru mexican. although I'm sure others would disagree. They do have really really good and interesting latin dishes. empanadas, ceviche and tortilla soup are especially delishioso.
mmmmm
thank you to both Susans :)
you are so creative and fun! -
Review from Julianne L.
West Los Angeles, CA
11/4/2009
I came here for a quick dinner before a show and ordered from their DineLA menu. Food was pretty good all around. The drinks were a little overpriced. My mojito was tiny and mostly consisted of ice and not enough rum. Definitely wouldn't order that again.
For dinner, I had:
- Peruvian Ceviche: Nice and tangy with lots of different kinds of seafood.
- Chile Rubbed Mahi Mahi: The mahi mahi was cooked perfectly. Flakey, buttery, and delicious. It was placed on top of amazing saffron mashed potatoes.
- Barcelona Chocolate Cake: It was basically a brownie with some sauce. Definitely my least favorite of the three dishes.
Random fact: Did you know Ciudad has a shuttle service too?! If you're planning on grabbing dinner here before a show, they offer a complimentary shuttle service to the nearby theaters. We ended up taking it to the Orpheum, which isn't part of their normal route, but they were nice to accommodate us. We walked out expecting a van and found a limo instead! We apparently lucked out that night and the driver decided to bring his limo instead of a van! It was so awesome arriving at the show in style! -
Review from Erik S.
7/17/2007
Managing Director: Hey (Boss), want to come to lunch with us?
Boss: No I have work to do I think it will take over an hour
MD: Are you sure? We're gonna get some plantains
Boss: Hm.. would love to. But I'm going to try to make some money. Somebody's got to
MD: In that case, we're gonna get two orders of plantains!
Plantains were good! But, this civilized monkey prefers fried golden brown to fried just done.
The bi-Fold menu is stupid, with the same menu on both the left and right hand side.
NUTSHELL
Food - Above Average, especially for downtown
Service-Very Average
Watermelon Lemonade-Average
Opener: homemade sheet crackers peppered and cuban spiced.
Meal:
I had the chicken milanesa which was tender but slightly too oily for my taste(breaded)
The mashed potatoes = good
vegetables = good but could use more color
When drizzled with lemon for a little acidity the dish came together
Busy at lunch. Will...be. back to try the other ish. -
Review from Michelle P.
Los Angeles, CA
6/16/2008
One of my all-time favorite spots in downtown. Not only is a site full of excellent personal memories, but the food is terrific!
I have had lunches and dinners here and have never been disappointed. Their ceviche is my favorite in LA so far. Their Flan is so rich and creamy I have to fight to order it. I have also had the brie and honey as an appetizer. I have eaten the sea bass, eggplant, pollo ciudad, all have been phenomenal and well worth the bit of money you have to shell.
But check out the happy hour... $4 sangria, $4 mojitos (not the hand crushed ones but still good) or $4 margaritas. Plus after 4, $4 tacos (your choice of white fish - my favorite and no pun intended-, potato, or beef). They are small but mighty.
I love the attentive staff, on Thursday nights they sometimes have live music on the patio, and it's just a win win for groups or a date.
Addendum: As if I haven't had enough good things to say about this place, my department went here for a farewell lunch today. OH MY FLIPPING LORD!!!!!!!! The Mahi Mahi with mole sauce was impeccable! The spinach empanades were a tangy delight to my taste buds. AND the Tres Leches cake we all shared was the best I had ever had!!! It was the most moist, perfectly accented with a bit of strawberry... and don't take my white-ass word for it, two other co-workers (one Mexican-American and the other Puerto Rican) completely agreed and fought me for the last bite. They won because I'm too freaking giving.
So, not only has this been the site of many a hot lunch or happy hour date for me, but today was a hit with the co-workers. GO TO CIUDAD!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!
