María Dolores by Edgar Núñez

15 Destination-Worthy Restaurants in the Mexican Caribbean | Eater

"Édgar Núñez, Mexican celebrity chef and creator of Mexico City’s Sud 777 (a mainstay on the 50 Best Restaurants in Latin America list) opened Michelin-recommended María Dolores as one of his most personal undertakings. The restaurant is unapologetically, classically opulent, with a violin player stationed on a balcony overlooking the dining room, pendant lights illuminating each table, and black and white portraits of Núñez’ family on the walls. The menu — both a la carte and a 10-course tasting — highlights contemporary flavors with ancestral recipes, with dishes inspired by Núñez’ mother’s signature dishes as well as pre-Hispanic ingredients cultivated and prepared by Mexican agriculture workers. Núñez tells Mexico’s history through his dishes. The fideo seco, a variation of Spanish fideuá, is made with Mexican brandy, dried chiles, and pulque, and covered with fresh cheese and avocado, while his light, fresh take on Aztec-originated pozole is made with hominy, mango, and cucumber, and poured tableside. A majority of the wine list is from Mexico, and the signature cocktails are all made with Mexican spirits." - Lee Musho