01 May City Tavern DTLA

Looking for a causal gastropub for some good old comfort food?  If so, City Tavern is a great option and you have the choice of the original Culver City location or the new Downtown LA location. While the menus vary a bit, one thing the Downtown LA location has that Culver City doesn’t, is a cocktail program developed by Brent Falco and Cari Hah. City Tavern Downtown LA is located on the lower level of a mall (FIGAT7TH center) at 7th + Figueroa. But, once you enter the large space with the exposed brick walls, reclaimed wood floors & walls, and wood tables and chairs, you will forget you are in a mall. With names like “bitter me happy,” “kilting me softly,” “grown ass milkshake” and other creative names, it was fun to run thru the drink menu. As citrus, tart drinks are my favorite, here are some to try if you like the same. Queen of Hearts (Leblon cachaca, Giffard fraises des bois (strawberry) liqueur, lime) and with a bit of sweet and a bit of tart, it was the perfect drink to wake up the palate. Rose’ All Day (rose’ sparkling champagne, beefeater gin, leopold’s sour cherry liqueur, maurin cherry liqueur & lemon juice Tavern Swizzle (bacardi 8 rum, luxardo apricot liqueur, mint, lime juice, angostura & proprietary miracle mile bitters, a touch of sweet & crushed ice) Grape Expectations (white grapes, grey goose vodka, agave syrup & lemon juice) From the SHARE section of the menu: Market Vegetable Slate – a mixture of vegetables (brussels sprouts, fennel, broccolini, cauliflower) served roasted, grilled and pickled. I especially loved the curried cauliflower! Meatballs – a blend of veal, pork and beef, they are best with the sweet and spicy sauce . From the CHILLED section of the menu: Poke-style Albacore with red onions, seaweed salad, cucumbers, chili sauce Crudo – thinly-sliced cobia, hearts of palm, avocado, jalapeño, pickled ginger vinaigrette has a little kick From the APPETIZERS section of the menu: Shrimp and Grits with smoked bacon, chives, stout reduction sauce – although this dish is found under appetizers, it is a hearty dish. The tangy barbecue sauce was perfect against the creamy grits and this was one of my favorite dishes. Mac and Cheese – sharp cheddar and crispy bread crumbs that add a lot of crunch to this comfort food From the SIDES section of the menu: The Best Green Beans Ever – with a name like that, expectations were high. Made with shallots, lemon and walnuts, they tangy and crunchy. While they may not be the BEST green beens I have ever had, they come quite close. From the PLATES section of the menu: Flat Iron Steak Frites with herb fries, peppercorn demi – the steak was tasty but the herb fries were the standout. Pork Pot Roast with gratin potatoes, braised vegetables, jus Chocolate Pudding – creamy but light dark chocolate pudding adds just the right amount of sweetness to end the meal City Tavern Downtown LA may be tucked into a shopping mall, but it’s the perfect place for a casual, hearty, comfort dinner. City Tavern DTLA 735 S Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90017 (213) 239-5654