Damian

Damian! Damian! Damian! What an absolute masterpiece of a restaurant. From the food to the service to the ambiance, everything here is truly exceptional!After my friend's well-deserved promotion, I wanted to celebrate in style and treat her to the best Mexican restaurant in Downtown LA. Damian did not disappoint! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm hospitality, and the attention to detail in both the food and service was evident throughout our meal.We kicked off our dining experience with some refreshing cocktails--expertly crafted and perfectly balanced. To start, we had the guacamole and ceviche, both of which were incredibly fresh and bursting with flavor. The ceviche, in particular, was a standout, with bright citrus notes that complemented the delicate seafood beautifully.For the main course, we opted for the branzino, which was cooked to absolute perfection. The fish was flaky, tender, and infused with incredible flavors, making every bite a delight. And just when we thought the night couldn't get any better, we ended on a high note with a decadent dessert. Every dish was not only beautifully plated but also packed with layers of flavor that showcased the chefs' creativity and expertise.The ambiance at Damian is elegant yet inviting, making it the perfect spot for a special occasion or just a night out to indulge in world-class Mexican cuisine. I can't wait to come back and explore more of the menu--this place is truly a gem!

Recently had a business dinner here and enjoyed the food and service a lot. It is very pricy but upscale Mexican. The servers were very nice and they are efficient - constantly cleaning up and bringing new plates/silverware. I have several allergies which they were able to accommodate. I was able to enjoy the prawns, guac, carne asada and chicken. My table also enjoyed the ceviche (I just don't eat but could have) and artichokes. Valet parking is $13. Everything was very good.

I always get a bit nervous when trying Mexican restaurants that try to reinvent the cuisine, but Damian nailed it. The SALMON TOSTADA, CEVICHE, TAMAL DE RICOTTA, and DUCK CARNITAS were all amazing. Such creative dishes, and I loved every single one. Definitely going back. ENJOY! PS: Valet parking only. It's $13, save yourself the headache.

We went to Damian for a date night and had a great time. The ambience is beautiful--modern, chic, and very LA. The service was excellent, with super attentive staff who made sure we had a great experience.To start with, they gave us guacamole and other dipping sauces for their homemade chips. Everything was fresh and flavorful, and the guacamole was nice and bright. Then we shared a few dishes, including the ceviche, prawns, and al pastor (which was actually chicken). But the real standout? The pineapple butter!!! I cousins had an entire tub! Absolutely delicious!Just a few notes: Food is on the pricier side, so just something to keep in mind. We didn't have alcohol, but the meal itself was solid. Parking is valet, though you can find street parking if you don't mind walking a bit.Overall, a trendy, upscale spot that's perfect for date night!

The duck carnitas are amazing. We were very well accommodated by the manager. He turned down the music at our request. Very fun and welcoming atmosphere.

My company recently bought our Damian for a holiday party at the venue we rented. The jungle vibe was fantastic, and the spacious setting really added to the festive atmosphere. Plus, valet parking made it convenient for everyone ($13)However, I have to be honest about the food experience. While the servers were knowledgeable and quick, I was disappointed with the menu offerings. It's hard to say if it was a custom menu or their regular one, but unfortunately, I'd rate the food a big fat zero. Never had i felt so let down by the food. I usually find something i like....Starting with the tortillas--they had an overpowering baking soda taste that was hard to ignore. And don't get me started on the flan; it was inedible! Not even sweet ..several co workers said its almost fishy. The raspberry meringue was way too sour. Overall, flavors were just off.The pineapple butter meant for the pastor lacked any pineapple flavor and felt bland. Even though everything was cooked well, it seemed like they missed the mark on seasoning. The kimchi fried rice? It didn't even resemble kimchi or fried rice! Fusion doesnt mean completely removing the basic ground of kimchi. More like sauerkraut...On a positive note, the duck confit stood out as a highlight, but other dishes like the ribeye lacked flavor despite being well-prepared. Sadly, I can't recommend this venue based on my experience and won't be returning.Recommend getting tasters before sending the food. If they do have them..then how can you send out food like this? Some left to get street tacos, others like myselr ended up just taking a bite and not eating the rest

First timer!! We went to celebrate our best friend's birthday. Had reservations and the table we were going to be seated at was still occupied. The staff / manager Carlos were on it. Superb service and hospitality. offered us drinks and an amazing appetizer of chips and salsa trios / guac for the wait. The wait to be seated wasn't long at all and sitting bar side was perfect. Drinks we ordered tasted well mixed and good flavors. The place is uniquely designed. Even the restrooms were so aesthetic. Food is served / ordered as a la cart, tapas style. Everything we ordered was amazing. Decadent flavors, spiced to a perfect heat to enjoy your food and still have a kick. The servers as well as the manager were very helpful to recommend some dishes. There was 3 of us and we got a total of 4 dishes. Perfect size. Which was also all amazing. Definitely coming back to dine in. Wonderful experience and compliments to the chef

This was on my son's list of restaurants he wanted to try for his birthday. Very strange part of the DTLA Arts District on an alley that contains Bestia, Yangban and Kodo (beautiful restaurants that I wandered into since I was early) around the corner and across from the giant Warner Music Corp headquarters in a very industrial part off of 7th Street. A little further away is the worst, disgusting, horrifying Blade Runner sad, nightmarish 3 blocks on 7th Street in all of Los Angeles.The restaurant is near the end of an alley/street. We shared 2 cocktails, 2 mains, a starter and 2 desserts. I was very full. Food was very delicious. We started with the ceviche with ginger turnip relish and green tomato, the mains: Pollito Al Pastor- twice charred chicken, pineapple, pineapple butter and scallion oil and Prime flat iron carne asada. The ceviche was soothing and the carne asada was beautifully cooked. Making tacos with the charred chicken and pineapple butter in the corn tortillas were incredibly juicy and delicious. I told the server that they should limit the choices more as a joke, but everything on this small menu sounded really good. The desserts: flan and a tamale dessert were excellent. The Pollito was incredible. When we left I told him next time I would order the chicken as a starter, main and for dessert. Well done, Damian.

4.5 / 5 the food at damian was nothing short of stunning. we ordered two "appetizers," two small plates, and one entree based on our server's recommendation. it was a healthy amount of food, but didn't feel like too much. the ceviche, calamar / chorizo dish, and the duck carnitas were some of the best bites of mexican food i've ever had. we saved our guac from earlier in the meal to add to our duck tacos, and paired with the salsas, i was in heaven! the only downside to our meal was the pacing. the first two courses took a while to come from the kitchen; it was a tad long but i appreciated the time to slow down and spend time with my partner. the third course, however, took nearly an hour to hit our table and by that point, we felt a bit forgotten about. i had an empty drink for most of that time and was never offered another. for dessert, we ordered espressos and a chocolate tart. the tart came out well before the coffee, and by that point, we didn't really want them anymore. all in all, would definitely recommend for the food and the ambiance.

Food is pretty good. However, it feels "family style" rather than being able to order individual dishes. If you want a bit of everything (meat, rice, beans) you have to order separate stuff. We had to order beans on the side. It was a bit strange but whatevs. Don't expect it to be like a regular Mexican restaurant menu. Also, server felt very pushy! It was 8 of us and he was recommending an insane amount of food. Glad we didn't listen because even with the seemingly endless amount we felt we ordered (yes, the huge tab reflected this lol), we still had leftovers.