Ciudad   

445 S Figueroa St # 100
Los Angeles, CA 90071
213-486-5171
www.ciudad-la.com

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Ciudad, Spanish for city, is the brainchild of restaurateurs-turned-celebrity-chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken, formerly The Food Network's 'Too Hot Tamales.' Over the years they've holed themselves up in kitchens around the world for a hands-on education in Latin cuisine, and Ciudad is the downtown showroom for the lessons they've learned along the way. A bit more mature than their sister venture, Santa Monica's Border Grill, Ciudad still calls on noted muralists Su Huntley and Donna Muir for their festive retro-modern touches and takes its avant-garde design from Milliken's husband, architect Josh Schweitzer. Step out from a brightly lit and geometric interior to the steely back patio and take in the Los Angeles skyline (yes, there is one), while enjoying a minty light-rum mojito. Inside, tour Rio de Janeiro, Havana and Lisbon, whose tastes fuse together in jazzy melds of poblano chiles, pepitas and plantain fritters. The butternut squash empanadas come with a creamy chipotle and watercress salad, while the Peruvian ceviche sea bass swims in a delectable lime-ginger dressing. Fans of Border Grill find the skirt steak, Vera Cruz halibut and other Milliken-Feniger staples on Ciudad's menu, as well as tapas from simple white almonds to oven-dried tomatoes. Snazzier pickings include the Serrano-ham, goat-cheese and avacado-stuffed piquillos or the bay scallops drizzled with coconut-lime marinade. The gutsy cooking is topped off with smart service and a bright, airy ambience, all of which make Ciudad a popular choice for a pre-game or pre-show feast. If you work downtown, stop in for Ciudad's popular weekday happy hour, which also happens on Sunday, too. Mmmm, mojitos.