Breeze Restaurant at Century City’s Hyatt Regency Century Plaza is doing something a little different—a little unique. Every six months the eatery will unveil a chic new pop-up, the first of which is Viento, a Pan-Latin inspired restaurant featuring mid-century modern design and an inventive selection of farm-to-table tapas and fresh cocktails from Executive Chef Felix Nappoly’s culinary team.
The thoughtfully prepared menu is comprised of “botanas”—small plates—like the amazingly flavorful Al Pastor Shrimp with sauteed pineapple, lime emulsion and micro cilantro with ancho threads as well as juicy Pork Belly Torta Sliders with Crispy Pork Belly, Curtido, Ciruela Jam and Fresno Chiles.
“Del Campo”—from the fields—offers salads such as the vegan and gluten-free Aztec Amaranth Salad with roasted poblanos, cucumbers, tomatoes and red onions tossed in a cumin-lime vinaigrette, as well as the delightfully prickly Cactus Salad with queso fresco in a prickly pear vinaigrette.
Standouts among the “Platillos,” or large plates include our favorite dish, the Chicken Mole Green Mole, which is served with a rice cake, roasted baby corn, chayote and fried garbanzos, as well as the Achiote Salmon, which is prepared in a guava vinaigrette with fried lentils, chorizo and comes with a kale lollipop.
Achiote Salmon
Who can forget “Postres?” We certainly can’t, as dessert is often our favorite part of the menu! Here, standout options include the beautifully presented Rompope Panna Cotta—a Mexican eggnog custard with coconut chocolate bark, rum soaked currants and candied walnuts—and Cinnamon Apple Chayote Pie with horchata ice cream, red plum and fried sage.
Last but not least, let’s discuss the cocktails. The libations menu consists of modern Pan-Latin inspired creations with ingredients that specifically include tequilas, mezcal and, of course, rum. We’re partial to the Serrano Cucumber Margarita of El Jimador Blanco, cucumber, serrano chile, agave nectar and fresh lime juice.
Bottom line, if you love Pan-Latin fare, you’ll love the thoughtful menu at Viento.
