Good but not so great it's going to make my regular rotation. Corn is the beloved focus this restaurant--I say beloved because they go out of their way to extend it each dish and have a clear respect for it. That must be a main reason the restaurant got the attention it has because the rest is good, not great. Service is very competent, everyone knows the menu. The hospitality aspect feels forced, it's not welcoming so much as they are doing you a favor by having the restaurant. Dining area isn't particularly notable, there's a cute neon sign with a slogan from farmers in Mexico: "Sin maiz no hay paiz" (without corn, there is no country) that often comes up when NAFTA agreements threaten to have US corn enter Mexico. The food is very good but not so great that I think it sits in the top tier of Twin Cities restaurants. I grew up in a heavily Latino city, I know good Mexican food aimed at Mexicans. I've been all over Mexico including eating a lot in Oaxaca and CDMX. The food here is chef-driven interpretations of classic dishes that are thought out well. Every dish has a process and inspirations, and staff can explain it well. The presentation is excellent. Then you eat it...Good not great. The soft shell crab taco (Cangrejo) looked intense with the squid tempura (it's not burnt), but it didn't taste all that interesting, even with the saffron mayo. The restaurant is proud of their 4 year old mole (like sourdough starter) that they use on the Enmoladas de Pato--the server said the complex flavor simply could not be described. I agree, it was savory but it didn't blow me away. The dish was worth trying. The quesabirria was a fun one to try because I'm used to the very competitive scene in SoCal. Minnesota lacks many good options. Again: good not great (my leaders in MN remain La Bodega in Hopkins and Arizona Taco Co. in New Hope). This one looks the prettiest! The Mole dessert was a good example of the dishes at the restaurant: an intellectually intriguing idea of deconstructing mole sauce into a dessert, artistically done in an aesthetically pleasing manner, but then unremarkable taste (give it a pass). Cocktails were the highlight. Whoever they have at the bar knows what they're doing. It was fun to have a cocktail that used a more forward corn flavor (El Cantarito), but I was more impressed by the Sin Cara that had a pleasant, refreshing flavor using rum. I would recommend trying this place. I gave it 4* over 3* because it's still better than most restaurants and isn't so expensive that I'm upset at what I got. I would try it again, but I'm not going to rush back -- that's just an attestation to how good the food scene is in the Twin Cities. I think it still prefer Colita & Macanda in this class of upscale Mexican restaurants. It's close, though. You can decide for yourself!
L G
Food is a bit pricey and not the best. Great atmosphere, super friendly staff. The highlight for me was the "no mames" habanero salsa. I would not come back a second time. I had the black aguachile. Didn't like that. The mushroom ceviche was decent. Carnita tacos were super greasy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Valeria Garcia
I made a reservation maybe more than a month in advance and was so looking to going with my partner, especially since I grew up in Mexico and good Mexican food is hard to come by in MN. Our server was very kind and did a great job of explaining the menu, etc. however the food was sadly really not good (except the tlayuda). I had a “tinga” taco that was best described as chunks of randomly chopped chicken with a rubbery consistency mixed in canned tomato sauce -it was so bad I didn’t take more than one bite of it. I probably won’t go back and wish I could get my money back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 5
Savannah Kiffmeyer
Incredible! This is my new favorite spot in Minneapolis. The atmosphere and ambiance felt very authentic and unique. The food and drinks were amazing! The enmoladas de pato stood out. All the tacos we tried were fabulous (carnitas, lengua, and pescado). Great vegetarian and gluten free options as well. Our server was top notch, and I can’t say enough about our experience. We will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lauren Christianson
Incredible food! So excited to see them getting well-deserved recognition. If you’re reading this, just make a reservation :)
What an amazing place!! From the moment we walked in the staff were so kind and helpful! Everyone there truly seemed happy and to enjoy what they do. The food was out of the word! It had amazing flavors along with not being overly greasy. You could tell the quality and effort they put into every dish! A place that is booked out it never felt over crowned or rushed. It also wad decorated beautifully! There was a mix up with the computer and apparently the guac wasn't excepted into the system, we didn't even noticed that it was a little behind (maybe 2 minutes we waited), they completely comped the guac for us. It was so kind of them! I wouldn't even have noticed it was behind but you could tell they truly cared about your entire experience. You can tell the love and compassion they have put into this place. I will be coming back many more times!!
Neeti Narayan
I had been looking forward to come to this restaurant, and finally got a dinner reservation. The ambiance is snug, complemented by great service. The appetizers stole the show with their flavors, though I found some dishes in the main course lacking my preferred tastes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Julie Plante
lovely spot, we shared several things and it was a combo of hits and misses. the jefe negroni was perfect, as was the tinga de pollo taco and the vegetarian cauliflower one. the brussels would have been balanced better if they have been served with a tortilla, as the presentation was fairly saucy and salty, and the asparagus quesadilla was a bit disappointing, lacking in flavor although the accompaniments brought a little brightness to the plate. the real star was the mole desert, the experience of eating it was truly magical. all in all i would go back, although i would go in a group bigger than 2, as the smaller tables are in awkward places.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Stacy Risch
Not only was the staff professional, attentive and thorough, but the food was sensational. Absolutely recommend the brussel sprouts (we ordered a second order & I could have gotten 2 more orders for take out & the sweet potato!) Having so many food allergies I didn't have to worry about anything and will be back as often as we can get in. It was well worth the 25 mile drive. We didn't take photos as too busy eating!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Melissa Odden
The service and the meal were both exquisite! My friend (who had traveled to probably 30 countries) said this is one the best restaurants she has been to.We tried a lot of the dishes and liked all of them.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tamal De Jabali, Mushroom Ceviche
Easily one of my favorite dinners experiences anywhere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tortillas, Esquites, Mole
Tim Holtgrewe
Great experience for those looking to expand on their conceptions around Mexican dishes. Being bold in your ordering as the chefs dishes are in execution.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Olivia McKenzie
The food was delicious and unique, perfectly balanced. The restaurant was beautiful and lively and PACKED.The service was not good . We made a reservation *months* in advance for my mother’s birthday only to have to wait an extra 30 minutes for our table because they let a certain local celebrity chef take our table. Literally, he and his guest just walked past us and sat down in a booth made for 4 people, while we sat and watched other smaller parties get seated, until a large enough table opened for us.Our server was flighty and rarely came by the table, even once the crowd died down a bit. They seemed to be more focused on a larger group in the back. We were helped by another server multiple times towards the end of our meal (they suggested an amazing dessert and brought our check out before our original server came back to see we had already been taken care of).I’ll also mention the whole service charge plus tip line thing — just do one or the other. If the service is that exceptional beyond what the service charge covers, we’ll leave more of a tip.Great food, but I probably won’t come back for dinner. The bar looked cool though.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 2
Sean Ryan
Wonderful menu with great balanced flavors. Everyone loved each dish!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tortillas, Flan De Mamey, Mole
Adam Grazzini
you’re gonna wanna go here if you like authentic mexican
Good but not so great it's going to make my regular rotation. Corn is the beloved focus this restaurant--I say beloved because they go out of their way to extend it each dish and have a clear respect for it. That must be a main reason the restaurant got the attention it has because the rest is good, not great. Service is very competent, everyone knows the menu. The hospitality aspect feels forced, it's not welcoming so much as they are doing you a favor by having the restaurant. Dining area isn't particularly notable, there's a cute neon sign with a slogan from farmers in Mexico: "Sin maiz no hay paiz" (without corn, there is no country) that often comes up when NAFTA agreements threaten to have US corn enter Mexico. The food is very good but not so great that I think it sits in the top tier of Twin Cities restaurants. I grew up in a heavily Latino city, I know good Mexican food aimed at Mexicans. I've been all over Mexico including eating a lot in Oaxaca and CDMX. The food here is chef-driven interpretations of classic dishes that are thought out well. Every dish has a process and inspirations, and staff can explain it well. The presentation is excellent. Then you eat it...Good not great. The soft shell crab taco (Cangrejo) looked intense with the squid tempura (it's not burnt), but it didn't taste all that interesting, even with the saffron mayo. The restaurant is proud of their 4 year old mole (like sourdough starter) that they use on the Enmoladas de Pato--the server said the complex flavor simply could not be described. I agree, it was savory but it didn't blow me away. The dish was worth trying. The quesabirria was a fun one to try because I'm used to the very competitive scene in SoCal. Minnesota lacks many good options. Again: good not great (my leaders in MN remain La Bodega in Hopkins and Arizona Taco Co. in New Hope). This one looks the prettiest! The Mole dessert was a good example of the dishes at the restaurant: an intellectually intriguing idea of deconstructing mole sauce into a dessert, artistically done in an aesthetically pleasing manner, but then unremarkable taste (give it a pass). Cocktails were the highlight. Whoever they have at the bar knows what they're doing. It was fun to have a cocktail that used a more forward corn flavor (El Cantarito), but I was more impressed by the Sin Cara that had a pleasant, refreshing flavor using rum. I would recommend trying this place. I gave it 4* over 3* because it's still better than most restaurants and isn't so expensive that I'm upset at what I got. I would try it again, but I'm not going to rush back -- that's just an attestation to how good the food scene is in the Twin Cities. I think it still prefer Colita & Macanda in this class of upscale Mexican restaurants. It's close, though. You can decide for yourself!
Food is a bit pricey and not the best. Great atmosphere, super friendly staff. The highlight for me was the "no mames" habanero salsa. I would not come back a second time. I had the black aguachile. Didn't like that. The mushroom ceviche was decent. Carnita tacos were super greasy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
I made a reservation maybe more than a month in advance and was so looking to going with my partner, especially since I grew up in Mexico and good Mexican food is hard to come by in MN. Our server was very kind and did a great job of explaining the menu, etc. however the food was sadly really not good (except the tlayuda). I had a “tinga” taco that was best described as chunks of randomly chopped chicken with a rubbery consistency mixed in canned tomato sauce -it was so bad I didn’t take more than one bite of it. I probably won’t go back and wish I could get my money back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 5
Incredible! This is my new favorite spot in Minneapolis. The atmosphere and ambiance felt very authentic and unique. The food and drinks were amazing! The enmoladas de pato stood out. All the tacos we tried were fabulous (carnitas, lengua, and pescado). Great vegetarian and gluten free options as well. Our server was top notch, and I can’t say enough about our experience. We will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Incredible food! So excited to see them getting well-deserved recognition. If you’re reading this, just make a reservation :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mahi Mahi Tacos, Carnitas Taco, Barbacoa Tacos, Mole
What an amazing place!! From the moment we walked in the staff were so kind and helpful! Everyone there truly seemed happy and to enjoy what they do. The food was out of the word! It had amazing flavors along with not being overly greasy. You could tell the quality and effort they put into every dish! A place that is booked out it never felt over crowned or rushed. It also wad decorated beautifully! There was a mix up with the computer and apparently the guac wasn't excepted into the system, we didn't even noticed that it was a little behind (maybe 2 minutes we waited), they completely comped the guac for us. It was so kind of them! I wouldn't even have noticed it was behind but you could tell they truly cared about your entire experience. You can tell the love and compassion they have put into this place. I will be coming back many more times!!
I had been looking forward to come to this restaurant, and finally got a dinner reservation. The ambiance is snug, complemented by great service. The appetizers stole the show with their flavors, though I found some dishes in the main course lacking my preferred tastes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
lovely spot, we shared several things and it was a combo of hits and misses. the jefe negroni was perfect, as was the tinga de pollo taco and the vegetarian cauliflower one. the brussels would have been balanced better if they have been served with a tortilla, as the presentation was fairly saucy and salty, and the asparagus quesadilla was a bit disappointing, lacking in flavor although the accompaniments brought a little brightness to the plate. the real star was the mole desert, the experience of eating it was truly magical. all in all i would go back, although i would go in a group bigger than 2, as the smaller tables are in awkward places.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Not only was the staff professional, attentive and thorough, but the food was sensational. Absolutely recommend the brussel sprouts (we ordered a second order & I could have gotten 2 more orders for take out & the sweet potato!) Having so many food allergies I didn't have to worry about anything and will be back as often as we can get in. It was well worth the 25 mile drive. We didn't take photos as too busy eating!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The service and the meal were both exquisite! My friend (who had traveled to probably 30 countries) said this is one the best restaurants she has been to.We tried a lot of the dishes and liked all of them.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tamal De Jabali, Mushroom Ceviche
Restaurantji Recommends
Easily one of my favorite dinners experiences anywhere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tortillas, Esquites, Mole
Great experience for those looking to expand on their conceptions around Mexican dishes. Being bold in your ordering as the chefs dishes are in execution.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food was delicious and unique, perfectly balanced. The restaurant was beautiful and lively and PACKED.The service was not good . We made a reservation *months* in advance for my mother’s birthday only to have to wait an extra 30 minutes for our table because they let a certain local celebrity chef take our table. Literally, he and his guest just walked past us and sat down in a booth made for 4 people, while we sat and watched other smaller parties get seated, until a large enough table opened for us.Our server was flighty and rarely came by the table, even once the crowd died down a bit. They seemed to be more focused on a larger group in the back. We were helped by another server multiple times towards the end of our meal (they suggested an amazing dessert and brought our check out before our original server came back to see we had already been taken care of).I’ll also mention the whole service charge plus tip line thing — just do one or the other. If the service is that exceptional beyond what the service charge covers, we’ll leave more of a tip.Great food, but I probably won’t come back for dinner. The bar looked cool though.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 2
Wonderful menu with great balanced flavors. Everyone loved each dish!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tortillas, Flan De Mamey, Mole
you’re gonna wanna go here if you like authentic mexican
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3