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Damian
Master Critic Reviews (15 Lists)
Damian
8.8
A Michelin-recognized Arts District dining room from chef Enrique Olvera that leans modern without losing the thread of Mexican tradition. The kitchen excels at precise seafood and live-fire proteins, with polished service and an urban, greenhouse-like space that feels special for nights out. Reservations can be tough, but the payoff is a tightly executed, destination-level meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Duck carnitas tacos, Rockfish ceviche, Banana leaf flan
Scores:
Value: 7.6
Service: 8.6
Consistency: 8.7
Food Quality: 9.2
Atmosphere: 8.8
Cultural Relevance: 8.4
What makes it special: Olvera’s refined, California-seasonal take on contemporary Mexican cooking.
Who should go: Food-driven couples and celebrators.
When to visit: Weeknights for easier reservations.
What to order: Duck carnitas, rockfish ceviche, banana leaf flan.
Insider tip: Walk-ins at the bar late can still snag standout bites.
Damian
8.4
Contemporary Mexican cooking in an industrial-chic room softened by leather banquettes and greenery. The menu balances precision with comfort—tlayudas, tostadas, and charcoal-kissed proteins—built for a paced, cocktails-first evening. It’s polished but not stiff, ideal for a romantic dinner that still feels like downtown.
Must-Try Dishes:
Blue shrimp aguachile, Banana leaf flan, Sope with seasonal vegetables
Scores:
Value: 7.1
Service: 8.5
Consistency: 8.2
Food Quality: 8.9
Atmosphere: 8.6
Cultural Relevance: 8
What makes it special: Refined Mexican flavors with a terrace-ready Arts District glow.
Who should go: Food-forward couples and anniversary dinners.
When to visit: Golden hour into night for patio-to-bar flow.
What to order: Aguachile, sope, banana leaf flan.
Insider tip: Start with a mezcal cocktail at the bar before sitting.
Damian
8.4
Enrique Olvera’s Arts District restaurant delivers contemporary Mexican cooking with a fine-dining polish in a lush, industrial space. The plates lean precise and produce-driven—think elegant masa dishes, seafood, and slow-cooked meats backed by a serious agave program.
Must-Try Dishes:
Duck carnitas, Sope with English peas and artichoke, Banana leaf flan
Scores:
Value: 7.9
Service: 8.5
Consistency: 8.7
Food Quality: 8.9
Atmosphere: 8.6
Cultural Relevance: 8.2
What makes it special: Olvera’s refined Mexican lens in a warehouse-garden setting.
Who should go: Couples and visitors wanting modern Mexican as a splurge.
When to visit: Golden hour patio seats for peak ambiance.
What to order: Duck carnitas, a masa-forward starter, seasonal ceviche.
Insider tip: Ask for off-menu agave pours—staff will guide you.
Damian
8.6
Enrique Olvera’s modern Mexican dining room brings refined masa work, seafood, and grill-driven plates into an industrial-chic space with a leafy patio. The cooking balances familiar flavors with contemporary polish, landing squarely in ‘impressing someone’ territory. Great for celebratory dinners that want a bit of buzz.
Must-Try Dishes:
Salmon tostada, Duck carnitas, Tamal de ricotta
Scores:
Value: 7.7
Service: 8.3
Consistency: 8.6
Food Quality: 8.9
Atmosphere: 8.8
Cultural Relevance: 8.2
What makes it special: A high-volume modern Mexican destination with patio swagger.
Who should go: Couples and friends celebrating something special.
When to visit: Golden hour into dinner on the patio.
What to order: Salmon tostada, duck carnitas, tamal.
Insider tip: Ask for the patio if you want the full vibe.
Damian
8.6
Chef Enrique Olvera’s Arts District spot delivers a seafood-forward, California-seasonal take on Mexican fine dining with a leafy outdoor terrace. Dishes feel delicate but savory, especially the tostadas, aguachiles, and live-fire proteins. The patio softens the sleek warehouse interior into a relaxed special-occasion hang.
Must-Try Dishes:
Aguachile with market citrus, Blue shrimp gordita, Pollito al pastor
Scores:
Value: 7.4
Service: 8.6
Consistency: 8.3
Food Quality: 8.9
Atmosphere: 8.1
Cultural Relevance: 8.2
What makes it special: Refined, Pacific-coast Mexican cooking with one of the area’s best terraces.
Who should go: Anniversary diners and design-forward food lovers.
When to visit: Sunset dinner for peak patio atmosphere.
What to order: Aguachile; shrimp gordita; pastor chicken.
Insider tip: Order a few vegetable sides—the kitchen shines there.
Damian
8.7
Chef Enrique Olvera’s Arts District dining room delivers refined Mexican cooking with California seasonality. The menu shifts through smoky masa, bright ceviches, and deeply sauced proteins, and the terrace offers a polished outdoor perch for dogs and humans alike.
Must-Try Dishes:
Blue shrimp gordita, Aguachile with seasonal citrus, Banana leaf flan
Scores:
Value: 7
Service: 8.7
Consistency: 8.6
Food Quality: 9.1
Atmosphere: 8.4
Cultural Relevance: 8.5
What makes it special: High-precision Mexican fine dining from one of the genre’s modern leaders.
Who should go: Celebrations, culinary travelers, mezcal-and-masa devotees.
When to visit: Golden hour into dinner for terrace vibes.
What to order: Gordita, a ceviche/aguachile, one charcoal-grilled main.
Insider tip: Sit outside and start with the lighter raw dishes before richer mains.
Damian
8.8
Chef Enrique Olvera’s Arts District flagship delivers contemporary Mexican cooking with discipline and creativity. Expect refined masa work, bright seafood, and smoky open-fire flavors in a stylish warehouse dining room with a strong patio scene. It’s polished without losing the soul of the ingredients.
Must-Try Dishes:
Blue shrimp gordita, Fish tartare tostada, Banana leaf flan
Scores:
Value: 7.7
Service: 8.4
Consistency: 8.2
Food Quality: 9
Atmosphere: 8.7
Cultural Relevance: 8.6
What makes it special: High-craft Mexican from one of the genre’s defining chefs.
Who should go: Couples and groups who want upscale Mexican.
When to visit: Golden hour into dinner for patio energy.
What to order: Gorditas, tostadas, flan.
Insider tip: Ask about off-menu mezcal pours—staff know their stuff.
Damian
8.5
Enrique Olvera’s Arts District restaurant channels the depth of regional Mexican cooking into a sleek, warehouse-chic setting. Dishes highlight live-fire technique, refined sauces, and seasonal produce, balancing elegance with the soul of street-level flavors.
Must-Try Dishes:
Aguachile negro, Dry-aged branzino with talla verde, Duck carnitas with house tortillas
Scores:
Value: 7.6
Service: 8.3
Consistency: 8.6
Food Quality: 8.9
Atmosphere: 8.1
Cultural Relevance: 8.2
What makes it special: Olvera’s refined Mexican cooking with real live-fire depth.
Who should go: Modern Mexican fans and special-occasion diners.
When to visit: Golden hour for patio energy and full menu focus.
What to order: Aguachile, branzino, duck carnitas.
Insider tip: Ask for daily off-menu tacos—often the sleeper hit.
Damian
8.6
Enrique Olvera’s warehouse dining room channels Mexico City polish into seasonal LA produce, with bright coastal flavors and live-fire depth running through the menu. Dishes are refined but still grounded in street and market traditions, and the patio makes it a go-to for special evenings. It’s one of the neighborhood’s most reliable ‘splurge but worth it’ tables.
Must-Try Dishes:
Blue shrimp gordita, Fish tartare tostada, Banana leaf flan
Scores:
Value: 7.2
Service: 8.5
Consistency: 8.7
Food Quality: 8.9
Atmosphere: 8.8
Cultural Relevance: 8.3
What makes it special: Olvera’s modern Mexican cooking in an Arts District warehouse.
Who should go: Couples and out-of-towners on a planned night out.
When to visit: Golden hour for patio seating.
What to order: Gordita, tostada, flan.
Insider tip: Sit at the bar for easier walk-ins and cocktails.
Damian
8.6
Sleek, minimalist Arts District Mexican from Enrique Olvera’s team, built around meticulous masa work and bright seafood-forward plates. The cooking stays refined without losing warmth—especially on shareable mains like duck carnitas. Private dining options make it a strong pick for design-minded business dinners or celebratory groups.
Must-Try Dishes:
Duck carnitas, Tamal de elote (or seasonal tamal), Salmon tostada
Scores:
Value: 7.4
Service: 8.4
Consistency: 8.6
Food Quality: 9
Atmosphere: 8.3
Cultural Relevance: 8.3
What makes it special: High-precision modern Mexican in a calm warehouse setting.
Who should go: Teams or couples wanting an elevated night out.
When to visit: Early dinner for best pacing.
What to order: Tamal, tostada, duck carnitas.
Insider tip: Let the staff guide a mezcal pairing for groups.
Damian
8.7
Modern Mexican fine dining from Enrique Olvera’s team, where bright salsas, pristine seafood, and live-fire cooking meet a sleek Arts District room. Happy hour at the bar is the move for a tighter list of tacos, snacks, and mezcal-forward cocktails.
Must-Try Dishes:
Duck carnitas taco, Artichoke sope, Guacamole with handmade tortillas
Scores:
Value: 7
Service: 8.7
Consistency: 8.8
Food Quality: 9.1
Atmosphere: 8.4
Cultural Relevance: 8.3
What makes it special: Polished Mexican cooking with a serious mezcal-cocktail program.
Who should go: Celebratory dinners and cocktail lovers chasing chef-driven Mexican.
When to visit: Happy hour at the bar before the main rush.
What to order: Duck taco, sope, mezcal margarita trio.
Insider tip: Walk-ins at the bar are easier than main dining reservations.
Damian
8.6
Enrique Olvera’s Arts District flagship delivers coastal-leaning contemporary Mexican with a fine-dining polish, from immaculate seafood tostadas to smoky grilled meats. The bar program is mezcal-forward and thoughtful, making its tight Thursday happy hour a high-impact pre-dinner move. Expect a warehouse-chic room that feels celebratory without being stuffy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Duck Carnitas Taco, Uni or Salmon Tostada, Carrot Aguachile
Scores:
Value: 7.4
Service: 8.7
Consistency: 8.2
Food Quality: 9.1
Atmosphere: 8.4
Cultural Relevance: 8.6
What makes it special: Casamata’s refined, Mexico-rooted cooking plus a standout mezcal bar in an industrial-chic space.
Who should go: Food-obsessed datenighters and cocktail hunters.
When to visit: Thursday happy hour, then linger for dinner.
What to order: Duck carnitas, a seafood tostada, aguachile.
Insider tip: Arrive early for happy hour seats at the bar terrace.
Damian
8.8
Enrique Olvera’s Arts District flagship pairs polished Mexico City flavors with a sleek, high-energy dining room. The happy hour window is short but worth timing for tacos that land somewhere between street-rooted and fine-dining precise. Cocktails lean agave-forward and play well with the smoky, citrusy taco lineup.
Must-Try Dishes:
Baja-style fish taco with salsa macha, Suadero taco a la plancha, Duck carnitas taco with crispy skin
Scores:
Value: 7.3
Service: 8.7
Consistency: 8.8
Food Quality: 9.1
Atmosphere: 9
Cultural Relevance: 8.6
What makes it special: A top-tier Olvera kitchen delivering refined tacos in a buzzy Arts District setting.
Who should go: Food-first diners celebrating or hosting out-of-towners
When to visit: Thursday happy hour right at open
What to order: Suadero taco, fish taco, seasonal veggie taco
Insider tip: Arrive early—happy hour is brief and fills fast.
Damian
8.4
Chef Enrique Olvera’s Arts District dining room blends modern Mexican technique with California produce. Corn tortillas, crudos, and grill-driven plates make it an easy fit for gluten-free diners with a clearly accommodating team. Refined but not fussy, with standout cocktails and a breezy terrace.
Must-Try Dishes:
Duck carnitas, Seasonal ceviche, Corn tortillas with salsa trio
Scores:
Value: 7.8
Service: 8.3
Consistency: 8.6
Food Quality: 8.8
Atmosphere: 8.2
Cultural Relevance: 8.1
What makes it special: High-polish Mexican cooking that stays naturally GF-friendly.
Who should go: Cocktail lovers and modern Mexican fans
When to visit: Sunset patio dinner
What to order: Ceviche, a taco or tortilla dish, and a grill main
Insider tip: Sit on the terrace if you want a quieter meal.
Damian
8.4
Modern Mexican from Enrique Olvera’s team, balancing live-fire mezze-style plates with refined moles and seafood. The airy patio and polished warehouse setting work well for families looking for a special-occasion meal without stiffness.
Must-Try Dishes:
Aguachile verde, Duck carnitas, Tortillas with smoked hoja santa butter
Scores:
Value: 7.6
Service: 8.2
Consistency: 8.5
Food Quality: 8.7
Atmosphere: 8.6
Cultural Relevance: 8.3
What makes it special: Live-fire Mexican cooking that stays elegant but approachable.
Who should go: Families celebrating or hosting visiting relatives.
When to visit: Sunset on the patio before the late-night crowd.
What to order: Aguachile, tacos al pastor, and a seasonal vegetable side.
Insider tip: Ask for mild salsa pairings if kids are sensitive to heat.