Ciudad's New Chef Plans to Expand Its Meaty Menu

Chef Nick Coffey has ended his run with Georgetown’s Ciudad, which opened in June as a partnership between Marcus Lalario (Li'l Woody's, Fat's Chicken and Waffles) and Matt Dillion (Sitka and Spruce, the Corson Building, and more).

Coffey told Eater he doesn't have a new job lined up yet, but he's enjoying some much-needed time off. He was the opening chef for the grilled-meat-centric restaurant, which Seattle Weekly's critic called "seriously unique and delicious"; prior to Ciudad, Coffey was at Cafe Barjot on Capitol Hill.

General manager Jonathan Fleming praised Coffey's work helping Dillon create opening menus and set up kitchen processes. "Nick Coffey has done a great job helping us with the opening of Ciudad," Fleming said.

Coffey will be replaced by chef Aaron Willis, who previously cooked at Pioneer Square’s Delicatus. With additional kitchen experience in Indonesia, Berlin, and San Diego, "Aaron has a great background for our goal to grill food with influence around the world," said Fleming. Willis and Dillon will work together to expand the current menu with "more grilled selections as well as complementing small plates and sides."

Expect the menu update sometime in late January. Willis will also oversee the rotisserie chicken selection for the adjacent Bar Ciudad when it opens again in February.