Rebecca M.
Yelp
Carmela y Sal was definitely a highlight of our trip to Mexico City. We went here with non-vegan family, trying to find a nice place that had options for both omni and vegan diners.
The space is beautiful, with tasteful decor. It seemed like a lot of business people go here for dinner and drinks after work, so it had a professional vibe. The menu is like a book, an artful story of the chef's inspiration for all of the dishes they make.
We started off with cocktails, which were incredible. I had the hoja santa, a refreshing concoction of tequila, white wine & hibiscus. My boyfriend and his dad both had (more than one) of the ahumado, which was made with mezcal, black tea, and almond & hazelnut liquors. It was served in a smoking bell jar, complementing the smokiness of the mezcal.
Their vegan options were all delicious. Our server was knowledgeable about what veganism entails and helped me decipher some items that were unclear & avoid ordering something that I wouldn't eat. We had to try the liar tostadas, of course, which may have been the best thing I ate on the entire trip. How they make the coconut taste like that is beyond me, but I want to know who I can bribe to teach me!
A close second was the carrot salad - I can't remember what they called it exactly but something along the lines of "the ugly carrot." On the menu, it said it was one of the chef's favorite dishes, despite seeming unappealing in text. We loved it. The carrots are sliced in ribbons and cooked lightly so that they're soft like noodles, but still have some bite. It's served in some sort of sauce made with their almond cheese and served with sliced almonds and arugula.
Finally, we tried one of their specials - coconut chicharron tacos. The filling was very similar to the liar tostada topping here, but it was topped with some greens and avocado.
We finished off the meal with the mango coconut dessert, a decadent and fresh treat that I wish I could have a thousand more times. This place is well worth splurge, but still such a steal if you're used to the US dollar! Can't wait to come back.