Romantic Dinners at La Ciudad
By Minna A in Food on Dec 10, 2010 8:00PM
A simple checklist can indicate whether or not a restaurant is a great spot for a dinner date. BYOB? Check. Cozy and welcoming interior? Check. Soft, romantic candle lit setting? Check. Great food for cheap prices? Check and Check. La Ciudad of Uptown is a neighborhood favorite that has it all.
Deceptively plain between a pawn shop and a laundromat, La Cuidad is the gem of the strip mall. While it may be at the heart of a sketchy stretch of Sheridan Rd., being located in the strip mall has its benefits: La Ciudad has a free parking lot. In stark contrast to the exterior, La Ciudad totes a modern and sleek interior with bright red walls and a menu boasting some great flavors at even greater prices.
Offering Uptown’s classiest Mexican fare, La Ciudad offers a comprehensive menu of both familiar and lesser-known Mexican dishes. La Ciudad, meaning "The City" in Spanish, offers a menu inspired by the thriving metropolis of Mexico City, birthplace of the owner, Hugo DelaRosa. A large dry erase board showcases restaurant specials, but ordering off the menu doesn’t disappoint.
Patrons are offered hearty portions of spicy rojo and sweeter verde salsas after being seated. Without hesitating, we ordered their fresh guacamole, the ultimate appetizer trio of tasty spices to start our meal. An appetizer fan? The appetizer sampler offers a filling combination of guacamole, sopes and flautas.
Especially noteworthy is their mole sauce, a complex mixture of sweet spices and bitter flavors that enhances almost any dish. We paired ours with the chicken enchiladas, but hear it’s a favorite sauce amongst most regular customers, who order it with anything and everything.
Don’t fill up too quickly, as their dessert menu isn’t one to miss. A shared slice of tres leches cake or a flirtation over flan, the desserts are the final cherry on top that makes La Ciudad a great place for a romantic date.
La Ciudad is located at 4515 N. Sheridan Rd.