Breathing some much-needed life into downtown L.A., colorful Ciudad packs in business-types by day and trendsetters and theatergoers by night. Ciudad is the latest venture of Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, the Food Network's "Too Hot Tamales," formerly of City Restaurant and currently of Border Grill. Whereas Border Grill specializes in upscale, modern Mexican cuisine, Ciudad canvasses the entire spectrum of Latin dining, from Chile and Bolivia to Portugal and Spain. Before embarking on such a global culinary adventure, you'd better calm the nerves with a refreshing caipirinha (the national cocktail of Brazil), or a piscorita, a margarita variation made with pisco (a South American brandy) in lieu of tequila. Then, indulge in scintillating starters such as fried Spanish Brie, Peruvian ceviche and Argentine empanadas with a tomatillo sauce. Entrées include Bolivian tamales served with peach mole, or Brazilian seafood moqueca, a seafood stew of mussels, clams and shrimp in a coconut-lime broth. A tapas menu is served each Sunday night, while every Tuesday brings Paella on the Patio, featuring two regional paellas. Live music. Full bar. Serving lunch Mon–Fri, dinner nightly. Late-night Fri–Sat.
Where the Locals Eat rating
Best Latin/South American
Top 100 Restaurant, Los Angeles
"The latest L.A. venture of celebrity chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken is this intriguing restaurant in the heart of Downtown. ... Here, amid juicy sherbet pastel walls and Miro-esque abstract designs, exuberant crowds gather to revel in a menu that brings together cuisines from the world's great Latin urban centers."
—Frommer's
"Feniger and Milliken are true visionaries – and Ciudad shows us the rich diversity of Los Angeles at the turn of the twentieth century. I, for one, like what I see."
—Gourmet magazine
"The tortilla soup, the Argen-tine empanadas, the Swiss chard with tomatillo sauce, and the paella Valenciana are all testament to the authenticity of Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger's Latin American shrine."
—Los Angeles magazine
"Every bite of the paella is so laden with flavor that I could pass up the shrimp, calamari, chicken, chorizo and shellfish for the rice alone."
– S. Irene Virbila, Los Angeles Times
How others rate Ciudad
Zagat 2009
21 food rating (very good to excellent)
Los Angeles Times
*1/2 (good to very good)
Frommer's
** (very highly recommended)
Los Angeles magazine
No. 37 on 75 Best Restaurants list, 2008
** (distinctive and assured)