Great Restaurants

Ciudad
This restaurant, which specializes in nuevo Latino food, is a downtown gem in the crown shared by Too Hot Tamales celebrity chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken. Between lunch and dinner, the bar serves up tasty tapas and rum drinks. The menu changes daily, reflecting what’s in season, and the atmosphere is casual-elegant. Special tapas-only menu on Sunday evenings, and Tuesday night is Paella on the Patio night. Free shuttle offered to the Music Center and Disney Concert Hall Tuesday-Saturday evenings. Monday-Friday for lunch, daily for dinner. $$-$$$. Most major credit cards. Union Bank Plaza, 445 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. Phone 213-486-5171. http://www.ciudad-la.com.

Versailles
This Cuban eatery, serving flavorful dishes with huge portions and inexpensive prices, is the perfect place for a fast meal that isn’t fast food. Versailles offers traditional Cuban cuisine such as chicken with saffron rice and fresh peas, and garlic shrimp with rice and black beans. With five locations in L.A., you are never far from Versailles. Daily for lunch and dinner. $-$$. Most major credit cards. 10319 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles. Phone 310-558-3168. http://www.versaillescuban.com.