Damian

The Best Dishes Eater Editors Ate This Week: November 10 | Eater LA

"During a weekend Contramar collaboration dinner at Enrique Olvera’s Damian, I enjoyed seafood plates like briny caviar sopes, an octopus taco made more formidable with charred sweet potato puree, and branzino a la brasa served alongside silky black bean dip and heirloom corn tortillas to marry them. What struck me most, though, were the classic Olvera-coded meringue desserts that I had never experienced until now. While Damian has long had a hibiscus meringue on its menu, the cornhusk meringue, which has been served at Olvera’s restaurant Cosme in New York, made an appearance, as well as a coconut-lime rendition. Cosme’s cornhusk version is wonderfully subtle with blue-corn-tinged meringue that gets broken into halves and piped with burnt vanilla cream and corn mousse. It’s a mic-drop finish no matter where you have it." - Eater Staff

The LA Link & Dine Restaurants - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"Run by the chef behindCosmein NYC and Mexico City'sPujol, Damian is a fine dining spot in the Arts District that gives traditional Mexican ingredients a chic makeover: there's lobster al pastor with tart pineapple butter, a charred-until-crispy pescado a la brasa, and tostadas topped with caesar salad and uni. The food is stunning, but the back patio might be the most impressive part of your meal. Moody concrete walls and jungle-like plant arrangements frame the industrial space, which feels like a less stressful, non-dystopian version of Maze Runner." - Team Infatuation

The 18 Best Restaurants In Downtown Los Angeles - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"Although Damian has a few famous siblings (the chef also runs Pujol in Mexico City and Cosme in NYC), this upscale Mexican restaurant is a star in its own right. It’s located in a pristine half-jungle, half-futuristic concrete slab in the Arts District where you’ll down uni tostadas, quesadillas filled with Swiss cheese, and the creamiest guacamole we’ve ever had. Damian is the perfect place to come with a couple of friends, sip cocktails infused with dill and absinthe, and celebrate something over rockfish ceviche." - brant cox, sylvio martins, cathy park

"Housed within a repurposed warehouse with polished concrete, exposed brick and pendant lighting, Damian has that industrial chic look down pat, but add plush leather-covered chairs and loads of leafy green plants, plus an ever-popular terrace, and this Arts District denizen is a notch above.The menu speaks to a kitchen that is rooted in the nuances of Mexican cooking. While there may not be a right way to start a meal here, a delicious tamal de elote paired with a thirst-quenching cocktail is always a good idea. The uni tostada with a blue corn base topped with a generous pile of uni petals and a "Caesar salad" represents the kitchen's modern, subtle layering technique. Even the ever-traditional fish taco punches above its weight with precision and surprise." - Michelin Inspector

The Best Desserts in Los Angeles | Eater LA

"This local version of chef Enrique Olvera’s cornhusk meringue dessert gives a nod to the city’s love of jamaica. The popular hibiscus drink is found at Mexican restaurants and taco stands all over town. Damian’s meringue tastes properly tart while a fruity puree provides a sweet lift. It’s best enjoyed during the warm weather months on the covered patio in the Arts District." - Eater Staff