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Categories: Tapas Bars, Latin American, Lounges [Edit]
Neighborhood: DowntownFor the month of December -
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Mon-Tue. 11:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Wed-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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Enjoyed Ciudad. The free Limo to Disney Concert Hall was a great touch. The Fish Crudo and Ceviche appetizers we're quite nice, although the fried plantains that came with the ceviche we're quite bitter and inedible.. The drinks we're terrific but on the small size and quite pricey. The watermelon salad was just terrific. A great counterbalance to the appetizers...it was served extremely cold, which I really appreciated. Who knew watermelon could be so good? The entrees we're hit and miss. The black cod was absolutely wonderful. Perfectly cooked, buttery flesh on a bed of perfectly seasoned beans. The pancetta crumble added a delightful crunch. The arctic char, however was terribly overcooked and the garbonzo mash was bland. They really wasted a beautiful piece of fish.
The restaurtaunt is not very cozy...hard wood chairs, sharp angled cement walls with Joan Miro like stenciling. Pastel greens and yellows that look rather bland and uninspired under the dark lighting. Definitely not a romantic spot. If I were them, I'd also insist that people actually wear appropriate attire. I was sitting next to a guy in an old track suit and sneakers with two kids in hoodies......I swear. Not exactly what you'd expect at a fine dining establishment. I realize this is LA, but come on.....
Soften the decor, institute the barest of dress codes: no sweat pants, sneakers and shorts, even up the execution and you might increase the dinner business. As it is now, I'll be looking elsewhere for a high-end experience.
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.
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.
Minty lime cooler. Check.
Good but pricey food. Check.
Service. Fairly good. Check.
Two hot tamales in…
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I haven't tried their food here but feel compelled to comment on the happy hour. The bartender/waiters are sooo very nice and personable. I had my friend order me a mojito before happy hour ended (@7) and got there 15 min after it arrived.
The mojito was yums. Good amount of rum and juice and was still delicious as ever. I just wish I was there during happy hour so I could continue to be happy.
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!
If you have a coupon from Whole Foods, I'd say Ciudad is worth checking out. However, I feel that the regular prices are not worth what you get. It mainly feels like you are paying for the atmosphere. Nothing I ate here really stood out or was memorable, but nothing was bad either.
We came here for my friend's birthday. We had parked downstairs knowing we'd be eating and walking to The Standard afterward. It was between this place or Johnny Rockets (she loves their burgers). We were all dressed up, so we came here instead. And good thing...
It was on a Saturday night and there wasn't too many people there. We were seated right away. They still had the Dine LA menu, so we all tried ordered from it.
I had the Peruvian Ceviche, it's mahi mahi, avocado, lime, ginger, aji amarillo chile. It was pretty delicious...though the mahi mahi was a bit tough. I got over that quickly cause it really is refreshing. Also, the plating was very simply and elegantly done.
Then as the main course I ordered the Pollo CiUDAD, which is
marinated grilled chicken, cilantro sauce, pickled tomatoes, cuban rice, grilled scallions. First, the portion was not small at all...pretty generous. The chicken was grilled perfectly, so moist with the cilantro sauce and pickled tomatoes was so good.
For dessert, I got the Barcelona Chocolate Cake. The cake wasn't super sweet, it wasn't the best i've ever eaten. But it was still good.
Also, I always drink a lot of water while I eat. Our waitress always refilled my water and was super nice. Our table finished off all our plates clean...like there was nothing left on the plate and barely any sauce either.
Overall, this restaurant was great. I'd definitely come back here again. It might be a bit pricey at over $40 per person. But once in a while, it's not bad.
Finally made it to Ciudad on Halloween night. It's not crowded at all on weekends. That's the time to go. You can enjoy a really good Mojito by the bar and they have a very good cheese plate.
However I would not define the food as Spanish Tapas. Its far more international than that, that's the kind of restaurant Los Angeles deserves a place that has great food from everywhere.
Friday happy hour is wack. Dead, barely any patrons. Weak drinks. It's unfortunately when you have to ask for a strong Sangria, and it comes out tasting like how a Sangria should taste like. The normal Sangria they serve tastes like Hi-C. The guy with the mustache was the best bartender. When I asked for a stronger drink, he delivered. Always trust the guy with the mustache, because if you have enough confidence to have a mustache, then you're worth trusting.
I didn't have any of their tacos, mainly because they are $3 and look the same as the $1 mini tacos you can get at other places. Why give them 300% more?
Maybe it was dead because it was Friday and Halloween weekend. Who knows. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
Ciudad, why did it take me so long to visit your symphonic Latin flavors! Mary Sue and Susan, those 'two hot tamales', hit all the right notes with their perennial classic restaurant.
We started with the Peruvian Ceviche and were amazed at its flavor and freshness. One in our party explained it as, "the most delicious food taste ever experienced"! Truly a 'moment' experienced!
Each entree was shared amongst the group to symphonic 'oohs' and 'aahs'...and bravos! My carnitas was crispy and moist and served over the creamiest corn grits. Another highlight was savoring the perfectly charred grill taste of the gaucho beef rib eye.
As have been all my experiences over the years with this talented duo, their creations are perfectly and richly spiced. Which explains the absence of salt and pepper on the table--they are indeed not needed! Everything is perfectly in tune.
The space itself, albeit aged, still remains gorgeous and freshly stylized.
The only sour note would be the high priced drinks served with packed ice in tiny glassware. I found the self-proclaimed famous mojitos good but not worth the ticket price. I guess if I want to drink, I should come for the happy hour.
I truly enjoyed the skillfully conducted concert that is Ciudad.
Having heard from the concerned and gracious Manager of Ciudad, Marc, we shall return for a second chance and hopefully up this rating.
The food was excellent. However, the Maitre'd paid no attention to my prior request for an excellent… Read more »
I came with my friend for LA Restaurant Week. The restaurant was a very Pablo Picasso theme with scattered and oddly shaped blobs and cubes. I noticed all the silverware were set up with the forks on the left side and knifes on the right side. I am wondering if they did that intentionally to say their food should be eaten left handed?
The waitress suggested to try the Mojito Ocho. I am not a big mojito fan, but this was one did not have too much mint and was blended perfectly. I had the three course meal. I started off with a delicious Cerviche Mahi Mahi appetizer. It was basically chopped up fresh Mahi Mahi with this superb lime salsa. Next up was the Pollo Ciudad. I had the most tender chicken I have ever had and it was complimented with rice and beans garnished with a tangy sauce. Lastly, I had a caramel flan, which was okay. My friends got cookies and chocolate cake and both enjoyed their desserts.
if you're downtown for a show, ciudad is a great option for good latin food, and they offer a free shuttle from the restaurant to the various popular entertainment venues in downtown LA. you don't have to worry about driving after a few glasses of wine or cocktails.
we went for the dineLA menu and found that many of the options were from their regular menu. they brought a plate of flatbreads, some dusted with chile and some with poppy, sesame and flat seeds along with a hummus dip and a tapenade made from various kinds of olives. i favored the tapenade. for starters, their tasty PERUVIAN CEVICHE (photo: http://www.flickr.com/... ) is made with mahi mahi, avocado, lime, ginger, and aji amarillo chile. the fish was tender, and the lime was a nice balance to the fish without being overly tart. there was a slight kick to the spicyness, and i liked the marinated red onion strings.
we also shared the SPICY CEASAR SALAD (photo: http://www.flickr.com/... ) consisting of fire roasted peppers and corn, tortilla croutons, argentine parmesan. it really wasn't that spicy. of the appetizers, i preferred the ceviche which had more flavor. also, the salad sounded like it would be a lot more interesting based on the ingredients, but they kind of skimped on the corn.
they offer wine "flights" meaning you can get three different wines at smaller pours instead of a single glass. you can also get smaller pours of their wines by the glass. we tried the spanish trio and the south american trio. all the wines ranged from ok to good. none really stood out, but i thought they were pretty good for the price.
the entrees looked amazing. no small portions here. the bf got the CHILE RUBBED MAHI MAHI (http://www.flickr.com/... ) with saffron salt cod mashed potatoes, roasted pepper and preserved lemon relish, cilantro sauce. the pepper relish was a nice accent to the fish, which was prepared adequately. the mashed potatoes were really good. the little flecks of chili oil added a little spiciness. though i enjoyed the fish, i found the other entree, the POBLANO RELLENO (photo: http://www.flickr.com/... ), to be much more interesting and flavorful. consisting of a large roasted poblano pepper stuffed with potato rajas, cotija cheese, quinoa salad. on one side is a tangy tomato sauce with a light kick, and the other side is a salsa verde.
although the first two courses were pretty good, i didn't care as much for dessert. the BARCELONA CHOCOLATE CAKE, a rich, dark chocolate cake with sweet crema and chocolate sauce would appeal to chocolate lovers, but i found it a little too sweet for my palate. we also had the cookie box, which i don't recommend. some items in the box were good, but some were lackluster and a little dry.
one of the the things i really enjoyed about ciudad was the ambiance. the plates had these fun vintage 50s patterns, and there were miro-esque illustrations decorating the walls. the lighting was soft but not too dark.
the hostess was very nice, but our waiter was kind of clueless. we barely made it through the meal with enough water, which was never refilled. although i doubt that he was stoned, he seemed a bit slow.
I came here for the dineLA Restaurant Week. I really enjoyed the ambiance as well as the food.
I had the Spicy Caesar Salad, which was excellent. The Pollo Ciudad was also very tasty--very juicy and flavorful. The dessert is NOT the star in my opinion. I got the chocolate cake and it was just too sweet and the texture was not quite right.
The service left much to be desired.
They have a very interesting drink list. Do try the White Sangria; it's Delish!
I would definitely return. I'd love to do the quick $10 lunch or happy hour one of these days.
On an average work day, the happy hour mojitos @ $4.50 a glass become a working girl's BFF... as a matter of fact, Gabriel (aka Bigote - as in mustache, not to be confused with 'bigot') the friendly bartender, ALSO becomes your BFF when he offers you a glass of water without having been asked... this comes after he observes that you and your friend have downed 5 mojitos without coming up for air. Hi Norma!
Then came Dine LA week. The coolest waiter - Steve - entertained us while we stuffed our bellies with the most scrumptious Latin fusion cuisine. EVERYTHING was to die for! We ordered:
2 Peruvian Ceviches
2 Spicy Caesar Salads (given to us *free*)
1 Poblano Relleno
1 Pollo Ciudad
2 Goat Milk Cajeta Flans
The Pollo Ciudad comes with life-altering Cuban rice, drenched perfectly with lime/cilantro sauce - which LITERALLY made me whimper with delight upon taking my first bite. Two friends joined us later, who ordered mahi mahi, and who were also delightfully pleased with how awesome everything tasted. EVERYTHING was SO good, and trust me, I'm not hyperbolizing.
If you're a party of 2+, I highly suggest trying both the ceviche and the spicy caesar salad. Both have such a unique and mouth watering flavor - so much so that if you leave this place without trying both, you will be depriving your palate of so many good things in this world.
PS - Try the Brazilian Xingu beer. A dark beer that goes down light.
Loved the ceviche and my steak dinner. Empanadas weren't anything to write home about. Drinks were tasty and strong.
They were just about to close around 9p, but accommodated us anyway.
My friend and I patroned Ciudad during LA restaurant week and I was very pleased with our choice. My taste buds were truly tantalized! Ciudad has found a way to mesh unique ingredients with classic comforting favorites.
The bread they bring you out to start is delicious and is served with a Mediterranean hummus and olive dip. I would definitely recommend the meals we had :
mahi mahi ceviche, spicy Cesar salad, chicken Ciudad (the green sauce was to die for) and the mahi mahi with mashed potatoes.
The mojito was just right and the service was right on point. It is nestled downtown and has a nice outdoor eating area. I can't wait to go back.
Damn, the sangria gets me every time!
Delicious food, 4 stars, very flavorful dishes, walking distance from the office, super, great little place.
Argentina/So. American Tapas, not your typical Spanish tapas....Sangria is really good. Place is a bit pricey but I still manage to visit once a month.
The lunch is delicious and the dinner is ehhh! I took my boyfriend there for dinner one night and we were both really disappointed.
It's a little overpriced and the staff is really rude too.
I loved this place. LOVED IT. We went there before seeing a play at the Ahmanson Theatre. Dinner was better than the play. I would return downtown just to eat at CIUDAD again.
Started with the Yellowtail Crudo (red jalapeño, lucques olives, seared garlic, meyer lemon, smoked paprika). OMG. This was heavenly. Great balance of hot, savory, and tart flavor. Also, this small plate seemed light and heavy at the same time. Hard to explain because I'm not a food critic but this was a very nice start!
I chose Herb Crusted Black Cod with Crispy Serrano Ham
(caribbean shrimp, peas, and peruano beans with saffron, green tomato gazpacho sauce) as my entree. It was fantastic. Fish was cooked perfectly. Each peruano bean was to be savored...again, cooked perfectly and very tasty. The sauces were great and the shrimp were perfectly seasoned and flavorful. A great entree.
My wife had tortilla soup and Pollo Ciudad (marinated grilled chicken, cilantro sauce, pickled tomatoes, cuban rice, grilled scallions). She loved both the soup and entree.
Ciudad is a super place to experience wonderful quality food with rich, original, unusual Latin American flavors. Great place. We will definitely return.
I did a progessive dining event downtown in which a few restauarants introduce a single course of what to expect for DineLA Restaurant Week. We were served Yellowtail Crudo with red jalapeno, lucques olives, seared garlic, Meyer lemon and smoked paprika. It was awesome and so refreshing in this hot weather. I will be visitng this place for Dinela week, I can't wait.
I came to Ciudad for several reasons a few weeks ago: 1. to take advantage of the dineLA dinner special 2. its close proximity to the Taper theater ( saw "Parade" which was amazing BTW) 3. and for the obvious deliciousness that Mary Sue and Susan always bring to the table. Ciudad did not disappoint! The ceviche, the fish special, the beet salad, and the watermelon salad were all hits. The paella was a little disappointing as were the desserts, but the overall service, ambiance, and solid entrees made it worthy of 4 stars. I might not be back for their full price menu, but before a show downtown, I might come in for happy hour and their free shuttle service to the theaters.
yummy tasty food, thirst quenching white sangria, great atmosphere, tastefully decorated with really good lighting and my date was hot too. Maybe that's why everything seemed so good.
id go back anytime on a hot date - though the server pushing the goat cheese flan to the point of just giving it away kinda freaked me out a little.
I first came to Ciudad when I was in college but now that I'm grown [or not], I am still impressed with the fun[ky] experience I have at one of Downtown's hottest upscale Latin restaurants.
Ciudad's interior is filled with hip artistic murals that feature gorgeous modern updates to interesting retro aesthetics. Their happy hour features very inexpensive tacos with a variety of different flavors, but the cilantro chicken with carmelized red onion + serrano chiles was the best.
Their Paella Tuesdays + Tapas Sundays sound like a lot of fun. I also love that Ciudad has a commitment ot the environment, hosting a cadre of Downtown environment heads for LA Green Drinks Downtown every fourth Wednesday of the month. Ciudad not only provides delicious food, but provides a place to care. Love mixing food + politics!
I came today to visit my bf in LA today and he took me to Ciudad. I have to say I really enjoyed the atmosphere since after dealing with LA traffic, the friendly bartender and decor all put me in a much better mood. The happy hour was from 4-7. The house mojito, margarita, sangria, select beer and wines are all 4.50!! Great deal! Maybe because I'm a cheep drunk, but one mojito got me all tipsy - it was a tad lime-y for my taste. I definitely would like to come back and try the sangria since it looked good.
I wasn't actually that impressed with the food on the happy hour menu, so we just went ahead and ordered the ceviche which was quite good - loved the thin fried plantains!
Hopefully i'll be able to come one Sunday night to try their tapas night.
(will update if I have more comments from future visits)
Great Accomodating Service, Above Average Food.
I came here with a group after being downtown for an event on a Wednesday night. The dinner at 8pm was originally set up for 8 people and turned into a dinner for 11. The menu was prepared by the chef, so it was great that they could accomodate.
I really liked the effort put into each dish, though the execution was not always there. I can say the clear gazpacho was a big loser, but maybe the only one amongst several different bites of other stuff.
The Ribeye Steak was delicious and prepared medium rare over potatoes, but the portions were small. Soft-shell crab was good with a great trio of sauces including a sweet and spicy red pepper sauce (awesome). The other like a spicy aioli were not to my liking. The flan for dessert came out really well and would highly recommend that.
I did not see the bill, but I'm sure it was tough to look at. I would eat here again, but probably be not be something that I recommend on my own. It is a convenient location for downtown for some of the nearby buildings and hotels.
Went there on Sunday for tapas. Very small plates of food. We had to order about 10 of them for just 2 people. Deviled egg, you get just 1 for $5. 1 empanada for $8. The bill was far too high. Food was just okay. This is a rip off restaurant. Only worse restaurant is Patina. Will not be going back.
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
Loved the interior!
If you like a cool, chic, calm atmosphere than this is the place.
We ordered 2 drinks: pomegrante mojito and a white sangria.
i really liked the white sangria, its a good change from the red and gave you a slight head change.
food: chicken ciudad (main dish around $20-30), empanadas ($10-20 small dish), hierloom salad (small dish)
I am a very "family style" type of eater so ordering 1 big + 2 small dishes was just enough different tastes and amount to keep me very satisfied.
the whole combination of those were amazing.
-the empanadas order included 1 mushroom empanada and a spinach both surrounded by a green and white sauce that was amazingly good.
-the salad didnt look like a typical salad on a plate, there were two fat yellow tomatoe slices with small salad on top of it with other random garnishes that tasted very good with the chicken ciudad.
-and u really cant go wrong with chicken. this ciudad dish had rice, some unique green sauce, and cherry tomatoes (my fav!)
i would definately go here again, maybe for a small special occasion. saw a lot of couples, 2-3 group of close friends.. it was a very nice intimate setting that didnt feel too dark and mysterious - more light hearted esp with the whole place painted in a faint yellow.
btw, i am getting so addicted to reviewing on yelp!
Enjoyed a delicious 3-course lunch during DineLA. The flavors in the Peruvian ceviche were fabulous. The chile relleno was warm, yummy Mexican comfort food. Fell in love with the goats' milk flan. The service was top-notch, to boot! Can't wait to return.
Solid Caiprinhias (though a little lite on the alcohol).
Entrees are pricey but I've been here with coworkers and friends---never have I heard that a plate dissapoints.
The mahi mahi is tender and fresh. The Argentine steak is hearty and the bacon mashed potatoes are a nice accompianment. I've eaten 5-6 of the entrees and each has been great.
Easy parking situation down in the garage. Great place to go after a function at the Bonaventure or just for a drink out on their patio.
Service can be slow if you get one of the particular waiters who likes to gab with customers. But nothing much to complain about
Solid Caiprinhias (though a little lite on the alcohol).
Entrees are pricey but I've been here with…
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This restaurant is huge and always crowded. The prices aren't cheap, but the food is good and the atmosphere is awesome. They have a large dining room, huge bar, and great patio. I recommend going right before noon to miss the huge lunch crowd.
It appeared that only 1 waitress was working today although there were tons of bus boys. Service was fast until the end of our meal when the crowds started coming. It took a long time to get our check. If you're not in a rush to get back to the office, this is a nice spot to get away on a special occasion when you're in the mood to spend some bucks on lunch.
They serve two types of complimentary flat bread crackers (flax/seeds and spicy) with olive tapenade. A carafe of filtered water or sparkling water is $0.50! BARGAIN for all you water connoisseurs. Regular water is free. We ordered the pomegranate lemonade ($3.50 each) which was refreshing and tasted natural. So good! I had the water melon gazpacho-- sweet and savory--which was probably the best gazpacho I've ever had. The sweetness of the watermelon really cut down on the tomato acid. I also had the Marinated Grilled Portobello Mushroom entree (vegetable samfaina, quinoa, wild arugula, black bean puree, and salsa chile dulce) which was delicioso!
The menu has an icon next to items that are "Good for the Planet, Good for You (at least 80% plant based ingredients).
We can make almost any dish with less meat and/or dairy upon request." This doesn't mean they can make it veg*n, it just means they can put LESS. Vegans have limited options here, although vegetarians have a few more things to choose from.
Tip: Get a $20 off coupon from Whole Foods if they are offering it. They tend to offer coupons once per year. Without the coupon, it's not worth it.
Very disappointed in the "Paella Tuesdays". For the price ($29) I would expect a bit more than 1/2 cup of over-cooked (and burnt) rice with 2 nickel-sized pieces of Spanish chorizo and 4 clams for what is considered Marisco (Seafood) Paella. Also, not sure why, but the Paella was covered in a Hollandaise Sauce/Garlic Aioli... probably added to mask the burnt rice taste. The appetizer that accompanied the dish was pretty good at least.
The Happy Hour tapas and drinks were very good. The Carnitas Sliders were my favorite. My wife enjoyed the potato tacos. The wait staff is very friendly.
Overall, go to Ciudad for the Happy Hour and stay away from the Paella.
**Shuttle (Limo) service is great if you have a show to attend to after a few drinks**
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)
GREAT WAITER! KITCHEN GOT MY ORDER WRONG1 food was WAY OVER RATED!
This is more of a cocktail review, as I've only eaten here once. The food was delicious-a little pricey and smaller portions. Typical of upscale dining. The menu is very creative but definitely not newfangled.
The cocktails are GREAT! Some of the best I've had. This is a Latin restaurant so the cocktails are generally Latin-inspired. Their caipirinhas are delicious. So are their micheladas. And margaritas. They use high quality alcohol and fresh juices and ingredients-no margarita mix here! I love cachaca, which hasn't quite made it as a bar "must-have", so I really appreciate that not only does Ciudad have it, they know how to use it! The basic caipirinha is perfect, and they have a specialty cocktail, a caipitetra, that has citrus, mint, and honey, and that's delicious too.
The michelada is no ordinary michelada...like everything else here, it's the upscale inspired version! Which might be the complete antithesis of the concept of a michelada, but it's sooo good here.
They seem to have great happy hour food and drink specials, and special food theme nights. I can't wait to attend some of those and have myself some delicious cocktails while I'm at it!
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.
This downtown restaurant (a few blocks north of Staples Center) is very lively with a nice interior. The noise level is noticeable but more exuberant than just plain loud. The service is also friendly and efficient.
The food is a mix of different South American regions as well as Spain and Portugal. The food was quite vibrant and fresh. Not anything fantastic, but I would definitely go back to give other menu items a shot. The frozen watermelon drink was quite good and refreshing. They may have even given us free refills.
Finally, the prices were very reasonable given the quality of the food served. Ciudad is definitely worth a try if you are downtown at L.A. Live, Staples Center, Nokia Theater, etc. It is lower priced than some of the other downtown restaurants such as The Water Grill. Ciudad is not at that quality, but it was voted one of the top 75 restaurants in Los Angeles by Los Angeles Magazine.
There is a parking structure nearby.
The décor is crisp and fresh with white being in abundance. Despite this the restaurant does not look stark or plain and this is due to the excellent lighting, enough to let you see what you are eating with just the slight amount of dimness, just enough to make you feel like you're someplace special. The design has been thought down to the flatware and glasses which all feature kitschy mid-century reminiscent designs. Ciudad also offers some of the only, and best, outdoor dining in downtown. The outdoor area has great views of the neighboring office towers and is walled off so you're not out on the sidewalk with people walking by.
They have an extensive wine list if that's your thing, but as for me . . . well you know. I had the Brazilian Margarita which featured brazilin liquor called cachaca which is made of fermented sugar cane juice. It was different but tasty, light and refreshing. Cocktails start at $9.50 and go up to $15 for the premium liquors, not too bad.
Onto the food: I've been here numerous times and I am never disappointed by the fish. The menu changes seasonally so it's hard for me to recommend something that isn't on the menu anymore or won't be for much longer but it's a good bet that whatever fish is offered is going to be great. Last night I had the chile rubbed Mahi Mahi which comes with cilantro sauce and saffron mashed potatoes. It was fresh and cooked perfectly with just the slightest amount of spice, delicious. I started the meal off with the spinach empanadas which are filled with well, spinach, and manchego cheese. You would think this is standard fare but the empanada is set off with the inclusion of pine nuts and raisons. I was surprisingly pleased and was left wanting more.
I had the chocolate cake for dessert and although it wasn't bad I can't recommend it, it just wasn't that flavorful or special. Next time I'm going to try the torta de tres leches.
Good to know:
Don't expect to come here for a cheap or "reasonably priced" meal. The dinner entrees start at $26 and go up from there. The restaurant has recently started offering a Prix Fixe menu for $38 with 3 courses and 3 choices for each. Considering most entrees were around $28 this was an excellent deal. I shared one and it was fine for a later meal, though you'll probably need to get one each if you're really hungry since portions are on the smaller side. Ciudad also offers reduced prices for lunch with prices around $20 and "small plates" throughout the day for cheaper. Ciudad also has one of the best happy hours in downtown with a tapas menu and bar specials.
Bathrooms are of course clean and well stocked. Valet parking is available on Figueroa and the restaurant does offer validated parking in the adjacent lot for $5 during happy hour and dinner. I just wanted to say though, that even though it's only $5 I feel like I'm being screwed by paying it, there is NO businesses open at that time and the lot is virtually empty. If it wasn't for the restaurant there would be no one parked at all. Unfortunately there is no street parking nearby, oh well.
I've been there a few times and it never disappointed me when I went. My boss took me there for the first time and introduced me to this restaurant and I remember I ordered the beef tacos and they were juicy and delicious as can be. Then I went back a couple of times with my boyfriends and we've tried a lot of different things on the menu, and they were always really good.
One thing I think everybody should order -- pomegranate mojito. now, I must say that I don't drink much, if at all. But this thing was delicious, refreshing, flavorful, and not too sweet as most chick drinks tend to be. Try it, and you'll see what I mean.
Essex now has Happy Hour…
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Late Night Happy Hour
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: French
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