El Destilado

For the price paid, it was good but did not meet expectations. The space was a regular interior design, though we had a whole (small) room to ourselves since the restaurant was empty. We had both heard good things so we’re looking forward to a great experience. The chef took into account our food restrictions. We had the 9 course tasting plus pairing. Per person it was 3200 pesos before tip; $178. This included the pairing plus 2 bottles of water. For the money, Pitiona was a better food, better service and better view/design. At El Destilado, the tastings were all very small which was fine. The 8 pairing of alcohol was also too much including cocktail, sparkling wine, beer, white wine, sake, red wine, cocktail. Phew. Next time I would just order wine by the glass. The service did not feel different than any other restaurant, and for the price paid I would expect more. My favorite courses were the bite of fish (trout); the mushrooms, and the delicious ice cream dessert.

One of our best meals in Oaxaca. Extremely intricate dishes. This is a tiny place and the meal took forever, several hours, but it was very good and worthit. It was honestly better than our michelin meals in town at Los Danzantes and others. Every single dish was good. Sauce flavors were incredible. They were also very accommodating of our restrictions. The pictures don’t do this justice but if you’re a food you need to go here

Beautiful restaurant. Loved the decor and atmosphere. Our servers were great and answered all of our questions. The food was immaculate and we actually came back a second time. Highly recommend this restaurant and also ask about their 6 course dining experience if you’re feeling fancy. The a la carte is limited to mainly tacos. We would have loved to try the dining experience if we knew about it. Other than that, great experience.

Just an incredible meal— each course was absolutely divine! And they all flowed so well together, each item paired harmoniously with what came before it. Simply put, one of my most favorite dining experiences. The staff was super attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. The food was amazing and well-executed. Thank you for an absolutely amazing dinner experience!

Probably one of the best tasting menu experiences I’ve ever had. Let alone that the food is simply delicious, the staff goes above and beyond to make you feel welcomed. We were there to celebrate our honeymoon and the staff did so much extra to make us feel special. Set with a minimalist decor, the restaurant truly focuses on its food. We opted for the 6 course meal without drink pairing as we preferred ordering a wine bottle. Each course was thoughtfully curated and of course esthetically pleasing. Will say that after the 6th meal we felt satisfied. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for a culinary adventure in Oaxaca.

My friend and I decided to conclude our trip in Oaxaca by dining at the best restaurant, El Destilado according to reviews. We were so excited but the whole experience was underwhelming and disappointing. We were seated on the rooftop. The ambiance doesn't tell you that we were paying $6000 about $350US for a dinner for 2. We thought we'll maybe the food will redeem the experience. The 9 course tasting menu along with the drinks came and went , for the amount of money, we were expecting to be wowed. But NO! There were a lot of times where we neither have food nor drinks. The service was mediocre at best. The missing crowd on a Saturday night should have hinted us.

It felt like we ate 9 canapés as each portion was so small it was hard to get the full flavour. The mushroom dish apparently had loads of ingredients but it was over in the blink of an eye. The one larger dish - beef - was grisly and so not much you wanted to eat. Overall, nothing wowed us, sorry.

Truly outstanding! We did some plates and drinks at the bar, but will plan to eventually do the tasting menu. Broadly speaking, the food here features deeply complex flavors mixed with an exciting variety of textures. This is food you can appreciate slowly and thoughtfully and experience new aspects with each bite. The cocktails were fantastic and feature tasteful molecular gastronomy. I had a vibrant orange juice based cocktail with Oaxacan gin. It featured a turmeric foam that gushed with each sip.

I was interested in getting a little pre-dinner drink somewhere and El Destilado came highly recommended to me. Upon arriving I asked to be seated on the rooftop which they obliged with no issue. The upstairs ambiance is upscale without being stuffy. They played contemporary music but it wasn't too loud. The drinks menu is interesting and there are a lot of creative options for cocktails. I ordered a drink called the GOAT margaritas and it was STRONG but balanced. Cocktails run around $180-230 pesos. The main menus are 6 and 9 course tastings but they also have somewhat reasonably priced a la carte bar snacks. I debated ordering something but didn't want to spoil my appetite which was already happening as they brought out complimentary chips and (excellent) salsa with my drink. Service was a tad on the slow side but I wasn't in a hurry. Would absolutely return!

El Destilado experience was an awesome culinary journey. We got the reservation for tasting dinner with accompaniment of alkohol. We chose the upstairs outside seating as the weather was gorgeous. Our menu consisted of six moments and six different alkohol , I also got a nice surprise small cake foe my birthday occasion which was nice . All the dishes very very interesting, giving us an insight of Oaxacan culinary tradition. Tacos de oreja de Leon were absolutely spectacular. Rib Eye steak with mole sauce was also super delicious. The service was great and the whole dinner lasted about 2 hours. We would definitely come back.

We ate our last dinner in Oaxaca at El Destilado, and I'm glad we did. It was a great way to end our trip. El Destilado offers a few options: a 6-course meal and a 9-course meal. (They also offer a bar menu with snacks and drinks on their rooftop if you're not up for a whole tasting menu situation.) We did the nine-course menu, and we couldn't resist adding on the drink pairing. I can usually pass on a drink pairing, since they can be really expensive and I feel pressure to keep up. But El Destilado's drink pairing was too varied and unique to pass up! Each of our nine courses came with very different beverages - two cocktails, two glasses of wine (the wines were great natural wines, but I kind of wished they offered Mexican wines; I think there are some really incredible natural Mexican wines being made now!), one craft beer (brewed in Mexico), one sake (brewed in Mexico, the first Mexican sake company), one pulque (made in house; it was fantastic), and one port (with dessert). (I think I'm missing one! I believe there were 9 - one for each course. Maybe the last one is the little bottles of mezcal they gave us with the little dessert snacks as our last course?!) I often worry that the portions of a tasting menu will be too large, and I won't be able to enjoy the meal. But I really enjoyed El Destilado's portion sizes and progression. Our first course was a plate of three small snacks (tiny versions of Oaxacan dishes), and many other courses were very light (a tomato/vegetarian dish, a single ravioli in a bowl, a raw fish course, a cooked fish course, a shared main)... It was a smart way to serve a lot of great dishes without your guests filling up too fast! I think my favorites were the quail main, the foie course, the seafood courses, and the snack course! Overall, the food was all really good - modern takes on Oaxacan dishes and flavors. Fun and beautiful without losing focus on the flavor. The service was top notch (felt so welcome and comfortable and our server went out of her way to explain every course and beverage pairing) to us while still giving us time to enjoy. They can do service in Spanish or in English. The restaurant is beautiful and yet still understated for a tasting menu restaurant. It's on the pricey side. But it was my favorite of the pricey side meals we had. It was interesting and delicious and exciting, and I'd absolutely return to eat there again.

We love this place. Everything has been delicious so far and we love trying all the mezcals. They generally have a tasting menu with many dishes, but we've only just sat at the bar and had small plates. The bartenders have been so knowledgeable and the vibe is super cool. One day we'll try the hole menu.

The food was unique and tasty. The service was superior. The price was very expensive. Although we enjoyed the experience, there are so many places in Oaxaca that are just as good for literally half the price.

Got the 9 course tasting menu with the drink pairing and my total came to about $100 USD. The food here is incredible but not super traditional/local. It's not authentic Oaxaca's cuisine as much as just a really cool space to eat yummy upscale food. They use all locally sourced drinks and most of the food as well. I took pictures of mostly everyone we had. Would recommend and the bartender Mike upstairs was really really great. So was the rest of the staff but I didn't catch their names. I would recommend this place for sure. The food was great, and the staff took the time and the care to ensure a high quality experience. The atmosphere was really rad too.

We were only here for drinks and snacks. The drinks and service were good. The guacamole and chicharrones were heavy on my palate. I learned that some in Mexico believe that no lime juice is necessary in guacamole. I disagree, particularly if you are serving guacamole with something heavy like chicarrones. All that said, we had a good visit and it is worth a visit.

Best meal and service we had during our 5 days in Oaxaca. If you are looking for more upscale, experimental Oaxacan food in an intimate setting this is the place to go. We are vegetarian and they were very accommodating. Would also recommend the beverage pairing (alcoholic/non alcoholic options). The 6 course was plenty for us.

The 9 course tasting menu was among the best meals and most fun experiences we've ever had. Every course was incredible, the wait staff was incredible, and the ambiance was perfect. If you're opting for the drink pairing: pace yourself: we were all quite drunk (but incredibly giddy) when we left. If you have one fancy meal on your trip to Oaxaca, choose El Destilado!

We were here for the 9 course meal with beverage pairing. Loved the whole experience. Interesting modern take with Oaxaca ingredients. Loved the mole, aguachile, foie gras pre-dessert and tomato soup/salad. Great service and really enjoyed ourselves.

This was a great find. The food tasted great and the presentation was on point. We tried the mushroom tacos, pork belly tacos and yellow aguachiles. Everything was delicious. We also tried a couple of drinks and those were great as well. I tried pa las rodillas and it was the prettiest drink ever

Perfect dinner on the upstairs terrace fish tacos and fish pasdor and guac. Great service. Highly recommend!

Spectacular -one of the top 5 eating experiences of my life! I'd go back to Oaxaca just to eat here again. It reminded us of Restaurant Andre in Singapore Food: a culinary tour through Oaxaca elementals - prepared, explained, and served with so much love. Definitely get the beverage pairing if you go! Ambience: gorgeous rooftop dining that was at one causal but gave the aura of magic. Service: spectacular - they walked us through each dish and it's meaning in Oaxaca. E.g. we didn't realize how important corn was, but we learned about the ways in which it contributes to society and culture. Met the chef at the end too.

The food and service were great. Beautiful atmosphere. Great craft beer. We observed that mostly foreigners were there. Highly recommended!

It does not get better than this ! The food here is authentic with a twist it is served as tastings and paired with a drink. If you are open to a new experience and just love food then this is your place

Went with a group of 6 and did the group tasting menu. The ambiance, staff, and food (obviously) were all top notch!! Our party had a back area all to ourselves. The table was really unique and the spot was decorated so well - it was festive without being too fancy or stuffy. We did the tasting menu/family style feast (I believe it's offered for groups of 6-9). We didn't add the alcohol accompaniment but it did come with a welcome cocktail that was strong and delicious. Some courses were shared family style dishes and others were served to each person. All were incredible: unique combinations of local ingredients and flavors that were all so delicious! For example, one course was a "leaf" taco - instead of a tortilla, the taco was wrapped in a native leaf. The texture complimented the filling of chicharron, chapulines and other stuff perfectly. We also had a course of mezcal ice cream as a palate cleanser before the final entree. Loved that! I was also so impressed by how they accommodated the vegetarian and the peanut allergy in our group. This is harder when you add family style to the mix but they did it perfectly and neither felt like they were missing out on the experience. All of the vegetarian dishes, for example, were similar to our meat dishes but wish veggies subbed for the meat. We also ordered the corn fungus - not because the tasting menu left us hungry, but because we'd heard it was to die for. We weren't disappointed! It was plate-lick worthy! The staff made the evening extra special. Carlos, our waiter, was so much fun, so informative and so helpful for ordering drinks. He let us try a few different mezcals to ensure we ordered the ones we liked best. He also suggested some street food and bars to check out during our stay in Oaxaca! Great guy. The dinner was worth every penny. Highly recommend for a special evening to anyone visiting Oaxaca, particularly for a group.

While the food was decent, it was overshadowed by the rude service and overpriced menu. They seem to justify high prices by making everything sound "fancy", but the quality of food and service didn't hold up to the air they put on. We ordered guacamole which was great, but only came with about 5 chips to eat it with. Then we got Mahi Mahi tacos which looked pretty but were basically a pile of cabbage atop a mostly batter bit of fish. The waitress who brought the food announced the platter as though it were gold. I don't mind spending money if the food holds up, but I'd rather spend less at a hole in the wall where food is good and skip the fancy presentation.

100% the best meal we had in Oaxaca (and one of the best meals we've had this year)! We ventured here after a recommendation from fellow yelper Lou he is quite the Oaxaca connoisseur and had terrific suggestions​ for everything you'd want to do in Oaxaca. So after careful consideration between El Destilado and another restaurant we decided to have the Chef's tasting menu here. Best decision ever. Some high-end​ restaurants leave you overspent​ and wanting more. Others offer fantastic service, but the food is meh. El Destilado was terrific from​ top to bottom. Service- As​ aforementioned, we had the Chef's Tasting Menu on the bar adjacent​ to the kitchen. That kitchen was immaculate; clean, quiet, and seemed to work just like a symphony. It's as though I was watching a Chef's Table episode (and ​Chef's Table worthy chef). Slow motion, bright kitchen, beautiful​ plates, and great conversation by the chef. Food- ​Everything is local (farm​ to table if you will), seasonal, and menus seem to be created (or fine-tuned) daily. The dishes were similar and yet all very​ different. The two standouts​ were the mole and the chef's Baja dish. You have to try their mole even if you don't do the Chef's tasting. Honestly, besides my mom's mole, and yes, Pujol's mole, this mole is impressive. It was creamy, full of dimension​, spicy, sweet, and luscious. Everything you'd want your mole to be. The Baja​ dish was terrific! Think sea, sea to table. Is that a thing? It was just as delicious as the seafood​ dishes I had in Baja. The thing about this dish that made it stand out was that it included everything from the seaweed to fish.​ Drinks- You can choose a pairing menu with the chef's table menu that includes wine, alcoholic beverages, and non-alcoholic​​ beverages​. It was a great option, but we decided to order from the menu​. Our drinks were amazing. Hands down a must go to in Oaxaca.

We loved our late night taco and guacamole meal at El Distilado. We just popped in, and climbed the stairs to find a perfect terraza for a nice night! After we had eaten, I remembered that a friend had suggested going there- what a fun coincidence. It is a great spot for food and drinks!

Perhaps one of the best culinary experiences ever. From presentation to service everything was flawless. A true foodies paradise. The happy staff is like none other. We opted for the 9 course meal with wine pairings. The plates are small but ample, with 9 courses you won't leave hungry. The pairings are not only generous but unique, from beer to Saki to wine and everything in between. Consider yourself fortunate to dine here as there are very limited seats. Truly exceptional.

We stumbled here after arriving on a delayed flight from DF and Just followed the recommendations. It was going to be the first meal in Oaxaca so we looked for the the closest best rated restaurant from where we were staying. The kitchen was closing but the staff was accommodating and after a round of amazing cocktails in the roof terracewe had the best ribeye and barbecue tacos ever and tamales de hoja santa. Cant wait to return.

A highlight meal on our trip to Oaxaca. We turned up at 9:30 on a Saturday night without a reservation but all tables were occupied (there's 5, maybe 6 tables in this tiny boutique eatery). We were offered a seat at the bar but stated we'd rather eat at a table. The gentleman at the door wrote my name down and asked that we return in an hour, which we did, and were seated promptly with a great view of the entire place. Small it may be, but it is well appointed with a variety of artwork focused around a mezcal theme. We started by ordering a coconut ale off the Mexican beer menu which was refreshing and different and our waiter asked about my prefered style of mezcal and brought over 2 bottles for me sample. Nice touch. The food menu appeared limited in comparison to the multipage beverage menu, but we ordered up since everything is served family style. Here's a rundown on our eats: Guacamole-fresh and creamy, sprinkled with peanuts that provided a surprisingly complimentary texture and served with peppery pork rind chips. My description doesn't due this dish justice....try it yourself. Tomato tart-still not sure what all was on this, but the onion-based tart shell holds up well with to the fresh, heirloom cherry tomatoes I believe were blanched and peeled and the balsamic drizzle on the spicy baby arugula made this dish pop. Pumpkin raviolo-presented in a medium-sized bowl, this is one large pasta pillow filled with a sweet pumpkin puree, topped with peas, carrots, and kale....this was a great pairing with my tongue tingling mezcal. Seriously, these 3 dishes would have been more than enough to satisfy 2 hungry travelers, but we also ordered the short ribs which is a HUGE dish. The meat was fall-off-the-bone, melt in your mouth tender and topped with freshly fried onion rings and presented with a bowl of frijoles and mini corn tortillas, which tasted great with some of our leftover guacamole. We were too full to try dessert. Our whole meal, including til, cost approximately $50 U.S. and was well-worth the splurge and our service was personal, prompt, and professional. We may just have to return for another coconut ale and an order of guac before we leave Oaxaca...it was that good!

I love Pujol. I love Alinea. But -- really and truly -- my favorite restaurant is El Destilado. Three dinners (and one brunch) in, this place continues to impress. So ... I'm probably at 25 meals now. This place continues to get better and more engaging. As I'm writing this from Chicago, we're in the thick of the pandemic. And of course I'm worried about the financial and physical health of my friends and family. But I'm also thinking about this incredible restaurant--about the dedicated staff who have made so many great memories for my wife and me. And I'm wondering when I'll be able to return. When those doors reopen, I want to be first in line.

Amazing food. Broccoli with smoked eggplant purée and fish tacos were highlights. Tables were all booked, but when I called they said they'd save us seats at the bar.

This was easily the best dining experience I've had so far. The attention to detail was superb. Staff was knowledgeable about all ingredients and drinks and extremely pleasant.

Hands down best meal in Oaxaca. I ordered the 6 course vegetarian tasting 1: cucumber drink 2: sope with guacamole and blue corn - squash flowers Mushroom sope 3: tortilla leaf tomato stew, rice chicharrón 4: blue corn ferment tomato filled with giant black bean 5: beet mole tart with puma queso and flowers 6: wheat from the maintains, tomatoes, Parmesan Oaxaca from Chi pías , fermented chayote 7: avocado leaf ice cream

Make sure to make reservations ahead of time because we made the mistake of trying to book a few hours ahead on a Friday night. Luckily we got called 30 minutes before dinner time bc we joined the waiting list. We had the 9 course meal and were sat in the back of the restaurant near the kitchen and side table (where you sit for the 12 course). The back had a home like feel which was cool. The service was GREAT, the servers spoke English too which was a plus for us. The food was INCREDIBLE and that's about all I can say..... We enjoy tasting upscale food all around the world and boy was this an experience for the books! I would DEFINITELY recommend this place. It is pricey (for Oaxaca) but 100% worth the money. We will be back!!! Thank you!!

Wow. After coming here a year ago when they didn't have their liquor license and enjoying the best fish tacos this side of the moon, we ventured back during our return trip to Oaxaca and enjoyed even better tacos, along with amazing cocktails , amazing ensalada, amazing tres leche postre and of course the friendly and helpful staff( the Cocineros come to meet you as well ) I can't wait to come back. I wish they were open for Almuerzo !

Did the 6 course meal option with the alcohol pairings and It was all better than I envisioned it to be. The atmosphere was on point as we sat in the upstairs patio area. Our server was very attentive, knowledgeable and answered all question.

We had the 9 course meal paired with drinks. Unbelievable meal. Fantastic service! Very knowledgeable server and the food was amazing. We asked for vegetarian meal options, and each bite was phenomenal. So happy to have found this charming place and it will forever be the most memorable meal in Oaxaca we have had!

Worth a seat at the chefs table..... Great place located in the heart of historic Oaxaca. An intimate setting that allows you to see into the kitchen where Chef Julio & team create the best food we've had in Mexico. Highly recommend the Sandia Salad, quesadillas and ask about the tasting menu. Best place in Oaxaca to eat good and late at night Open till Midnight

One of the best dinner experiences I've ever had! This is not a hyperbole, we were absolutely amazed by the food quality, presentation and service. We went on head first for there 9 course tasting menu and drink pairing. I won't go the through ever dish here but I will say that (for me) everything was fantastic! Great flavors and very thoughtful plate executions. Highly recommend!

This insanely fabulous restaurant deserves a Michelin star. Every step was fabulous. The food, drinks, this service. We have eaten at so many restaurants around the world and this stands among one of the best.

Like numerous others have said, eating here was one of the best culinary experiences ever. Four of us had our own little room that opened to the rest of the restaurant that was delightful and where we could easily talk. Loved everything about our 6-course tasting menu - the portions, timing and the food were all perfect. There were some lovely surprises too! Can't wait to eat here on my next trip to Oaxaca.

Who wouldn't love a Smoky Old Fashioned made out of local mezcal and house whiskey crafted from ancient black corn? Who wouldn't love traditional techniques and ingredients lovingly crafted into new meals? This is one of those restaurants where you can taste the love and care that went into choosing and using each ingredient. It's not stuffy, services is great, and food was top 5 for our 10-day trip. Plus, our waitress, a cordon bleu trained pastry chef, recommended specific meals we must try at other restaurants in the city.

What a remarkable mix of excellence and pathetic. Lovely staff. Very good cooking. Now the god awful aspects that drive me to chew up the owners. You presented a basic environment, added a few cute bits and pieces, and charged $150 per person for the most uncomfortable dining environment in a city absolutely full of beautiful, comfortable settings. Things as basic as the chairs and tables are horrendous. The choices are either a stark downstairs clanging from kitchen activities or a wind tunnel upstairs getting your head par boiled by propane heaters while jammed into low tables and sitting on torturous seats. Shame on these owners for setting up your staff to face such an underinvested setting. Step up for god's sake and get some comfortable chairs and tables at the base minimum. Hard not to throw f-bombs here when we have been to thirty restaurants in Mexico that are proof that this is a joke. Don't even bother replying, Owners, because you have no excuse. We came from a sublime day to feel ripped-off and abused. Shame shame shame. Fly your asses down to Oaxaca and do the right thing for these fine people working here and respect your patrons. Damn.

The worst ever, went there for the 9 course pairing. No menu of courses (a clue). Absolutely rubbish food, only one wine in the pairing of poor quality, others of God knows what. One was a bottle of local beer to share. Truly awful, everything seemed like kitchen left overs. We have been to 60 Countries over 25 years, this was up there with the worst restaurants. Oh, the bill. $265 US, This in a city of fabulous food at amazingly low prices. They had a charge of $100 for the pairing in that bill. This was as close as I ever got to wrestling with a restaurant manager ( He told me the waiter should have told us the pairing was extra and offered a free dessert or drink. Yep, let's blame the poor young waiter). In the end one pairing was deducted so $200 for absolute garbage. Will the owner read this ? I hope so, shame on you pal.

This is a long-overdue review from when we went to Oaxaca last year, but we just couldn't let the owners and staff down after the best dinner experience of OUR LIVES. This is the BEST restaurant in Oaxaca, if not Mexico in general - and this is from someone who's been to Pujol and goes to Michelin starred restaurants all over the world. We loved the tasting menu (which is as fantastic as everyone says) but the best part of the experience was talking to the owners and the chef for hours after the restaurant closed down. They care so much about the food and mezcal served there, it's incredible the amount of artistry that goes into every they do. Can't recommend this place enough, it's a MUST visit if you come to Oaxaca!

Nice rooftop bar. Thought the food was just alright. Their alcohol selection was toward the sweet side.

chef compIeteIy overshadowed by the (manager's) terrible service We were so mortified and disgusted with this experience, that I truIy have a hard time remembering the food. If you go here, make sure you're a coupIe or smaII group - they can't handIe more. As a food enthusiast & return cIient, I booked a tabIe for 10 of the best dinner companions I couId find - chefs, industry peopIe, traveI industry food critics, etc. I was anxious to support smaIIer taIented chefs, newer on the scene, as the most famous restaurants in Oaxaca tend to get aII the attention (Casa Oaxaca, Ios Danzantes)... What a terribIe mistake. I booked more than 2 months in advance - Iess than a week before, someone wrote me requesting a 50% pre-payment to hoId the reservation - requiring each person to book the 9-course tasting menu (which is around 90 USD per person). I kindIy decIined and said we wouId be there and expected to DINE - not to worry. He did not get back to me. Our tabIe was not ready when we arrived (fine). When it was, no one came over fo rthe first 15 minutes we were seated. FinaIIy, the manager came over and asked us to commit to the 9-course tasting menu. He did NOT BRING MENUS. He DID NOT OFFER DRINkS. HE DID NOT say, "weIcome". HE DID NOT EXPLAIN ANYTHING ABOUT THE FOOD, the CHEF, the CONCEPT - but DID MANAGE TO DEMAND MONEY. WOW. As the organizing host, I gentIy suggested he perhaps Iet us know what was avaiIabIe before shaking us down for cash. He sent someone for menus, and asked us if we wanted seperate biIIs and how (stiII no menus, no drinks...) Most of us had the 9-course tasting menu. THEY SUBSTITUTED at Ieast 3 dishes with cheaper options... the most offensive of which was the PORK BELLY main which is basicaIIy the star of the show and the Iargest dish - we recieved basic pork Ioin... I imagine thinking we wouIdn't know the difference. NeedIess to say, sometimes we were missing a dish, the dishes were not weII expIained (with the exception of the 2 times the chef came out himseIf), the service ettiquette was atrocious, and we often needed to get out of our seats to get drinks at the bar. At the end, regardIess of the manager's intense questioning at the beginning, we recieved ONE BIG biII, which we aII painstakingIy worked through with cards and cash. Then they miscaIcuIated, didn't know what was missing, started a huge fuss, found some of the money, and then said again a few drinks needed to be paid (Mass Confusion). When I paid wth my card at the end, FOR the most atrocious service I have ever recieved at this price point, he had the nerve to ask for a tip. I aIways Ieave a tip, even if there are questionabIe moments. Here 0%. WOW. I feeI Iike anyone off the street couId have waIked into this restaurant myseIf, with zero experience, and served our tabIe of 10 better than the manager did............. At Ieast they wouId IikeIy being with, "heIIo". WOW.

These are my people. Chef Julio is the man, and our server Carlos was amazing. Both of them knew perfect English as well, which made our experience unforgettable. This was by far the best meal I had in Oaxaca and I went to all of the other restaurants that rank top 10 in the city. Name one....This is better. Get the chefs tasting menu, you will not regret it. Everything was delicious!

Good drinks, good food great personnel, what a great bar experience and the tacos were excellent!

Amazing experience! The food was delicious and the service was incredible. It appeared that each person dining here was a tourist. The price reflected that- an incredible meal, but for a couple on a budget, we realize we could have eaten at other nice restaurants for a fraction of the price.

The restaurant has two menus; one downstairs and one upstairs. We stayed downstairs because we wanted more of a variety of options and we can't be more glad that we did. We both ordered the Pescado Asado and it was AMAZING! The fish is well seasoned and the skin made it even more wonderful. The fish is placed over a green rice that was just as delicious! Have the fish, you won't regret!

I'm sure they have amazing food and cocktails, my review is simply for the first impression I received from one of the members of staff, he wasn't exactly very professional. We walked in and there wasn't any other people waiting besides us, he offered the bar first, I know there weren't many tables available but when we asked how long the wait was gonna be he simply replied "there are no tables available ". Again it's a Tuesday night with no other people in line and a few other free tables that perhaps were reserved for bigger groups that I understand but hey even if it's an hour wait, which I honestly doubt you still have to have the decency to communicate or give an explanation other than "there are no tables available ". I work in restaurants, and that's simply unprofessional

Sorry, not impressed. Only craft beer so if you want a basic Mexican beer you are out of luck. Wine list is pretty slim so plan on a coctail. Dinner menu is only half a page so if you didn't reserve one of the tastings its slim pickings. Looks and feels like a cool place but feel like we wasted our time and leaving with just a few crafts and an appetizer..

As food-lovers were really excited for our dinner at El Destilado and signed up for the 9-course tasting menu with drink pairings. Overall, while the food was very tasty and the drinks were interesting, the price was much higher than other (in our opinion, superior) fine-dining experiences in Oaxaca city. We went to a few of the city's most renowned restaurants and El Destilado did not offer the value we found elsewhere to justify its much higher price point. The staff were very attentive, the space is attractive, and the food is, without a doubt, quite good. Whether it is high real estate costs or being San Fran expats, we left feeling underwhelmed and oversold. If this is a must-stop for you, I would recommend ordering a la carte rather than the tasting menu so you can hopefully get better value for your money.

French Laundry, Alinea, Pujol... El Distilado is right up there. One of the most creative and well executed experiences I have had. They deserve a Michillin Star

Such professional staff, and knowledgeable about the food and drinks. We did the 6 course meal with drink pairings, and was amazed at the expertise and caring of the food. The meals were small but still fulfilling, in a way. The ambiance is beautiful, with modern but vintage furniture, paintings of different mezcal plants. Def go here if you want to learn about mezcal.