El Valle

"This high-end Mexican restaurant in Midtown by chef Luis Damian (Casa Balam, Oaxaca) has the best Mexican wine options. Pair their birria taco, made with guajillo braised beef, with a glass of Viñedos de la Reina Sangiovese from Valle de San Vicente, Mexico. The happy hour menu offers tacos (try the fried shrimp), taquitos, and other small bites from $6 to $8 each. Pick one or multiple and trust the staff to pair the wine. Brunch on Sundays." - Eater Staff, Toni Williams

"The menu at El Valle showcases Mexican cuisine in a fine dining environment. Begin with halibut ceviche topped with xoconostle (sour fruit from a cactus), jalapenos, and avocado or soft shell crab served atop polenta. Next, order the octopus quesadilla or pork belly sopes, followed by a whole branzino with capers wrapped in hoja santa leaf (Mexican pepper leaf). For dessert, there’s horchata panna cotta. The wine list at El Valle features a great selection of Mexican wines alongside Latin American and Spanish wines by the glass and bottle. Cocktails lean heavily toward tequila and smokey mezcals, incorporating ingredients like tomato honey cordial, poblano pepper, and pineapple. Reservations encouraged." - Eater Staff, Henna Bakshi

"El Valle bills itself as “fine Mexican gastronomy” and that sums up what they do here pretty damn well. Since it’s Midtown, the bar tends to draw a lively pre-dinner crowd, sipping on Mexican wines and fun, mezcal-heavy cocktails. But eating a full meal in the candle-lit dining oasis is non-negotiable. You’ll have the cover of darkness to hold hands under the table without being that couple. But then you’ll also want to free both hands to spoon and fork up every last morsel of the tender wagyu in the mole de ajo negro. And the star of the show comes at the end of the meal with fireside s’mores, complete with housemade marshmallows and a satiny chocolate mousse." - jacinta howard, juli horsford, nina reeder

"This Mexican restaurant in Midtown dials up the gloss with emerald chairs and a black-and-white star-patterned floor and dims down the lights for a romantic evening. Toss back a Bonita y Mentirosa, a crisp and fresh tequila cocktail, as you decide between the light but flavorful risotto with scallops or the Mole de Ajo Negro, which reminds us of one of those generations-perfected family pot roast recipes. If a big entree seems too heavy to start off your week, their tacos are excellent substitutes. " - jacinta howard, juli horsford

"Finding a sleek and stylish restaurant in Midtown isn’t really a surprise, but there’s something particularly charming about El Valle. From the intricate black and white star-patterned floor to the emerald chairs, the Mexican restaurant dials up the gloss and dims down the lights. Toss back a Bonita y Mentirosa, a crisp and fresh tequila cocktail. Then decide between the light but flavorful risotto with scallops or the Mole de Ajo Negro, which reminds us of one of those generations-perfected family pot roast recipes. If an entree seems too heavy before you sit through a two-hour production at the Fox Theatre, their tacos are excellent substitutes. And since they're open late, roll in for another cocktail after the show, too." - nina reeder, demarco williams, juli horsford, jacinta howard