Ladino
Restaurant · North River District ·
Mediterranean grill house with wood-fired pita & regional dishes
Mediterranean grill house with wood-fired pita & regional dishes
"In the Pearl District, Ladino is a cozy Mediterranean date-night spot where hot sourdough pitas from a wood-burning oven come out fresh to drag through vibrant dips, and malabi rose water milk pudding makes an elegant dessert." - David Shortell
"If the family of restaurants at The Pearl were related, then Ladino would be the rad older sister: Self-assured, elegant, and great at hosting parties. Where you sit is less important than the high school cafeteria, but given the choice, the booths downstairs are great for groups, and seats at the upstairs bar are more intimate for date night. There’s no wrong answer on this Jewish-Balkan restaurant’s menu, and the $60-per-person tasting gets you a crash course. If you’re going a la carte, these are the musts: feta dip (surprisingly spicy from Fresno peppers) and fire-roasted corn. The lamb and beef dumplings are coated with rich yogurt sauce, and the saffron chicken on a bed of pickled red cabbage nails the best of Mediterranean flavors." - Kris Seavers
"One of the newer downtown restaurants credited with helping refresh and elevate the city's Tex‑Mex and dining scene as part of a wave of ambitious eateries." - Brandon Watson
"Rooted in Middle Eastern flavors and cooked over an open flame, this eatery hums with spice and smoke; large archways frame a clear view into the open kitchen where chefs methodically prepare fire‑roasted carrots, turmeric‑marinated snapper, lamb kofta, and ember‑cooked eggplant, while warm, freshly baked pita arrives to tear and serve alongside hummus and baba ganoush; housed in a historic Pearl district building, the open kitchen and wood‑fired grill create a lively, kinetic atmosphere." - Lee Escobedo
"In a sea of nebulous new American concepts, this stunner from the Austin-based Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group is laser-focused on a singular point of view. Chef Berty Richter zeroes in on Judeo-Spanish foodways, making the case that what is ancient can be strikingly contemporary. While most of this Bib Gourmand’s menu is a la carte, the $60 chef-curated mezas de alegria highlights some of the tastiest plates. The pocket patio is ideal for enjoying a botanical cocktail or skin-contact wine." - Brandon Watson