Cleo G.
Yelp
Pretty much everything was good, and that is saying a lot considering we ordered almost the whole menu. This is a super new Mexican spot on 12th south with a tapas-style menu as well as enchiladas and taco boards. Our server was super sweet, and even told us about new menu items that had been in the works. The tapas came out as they were ready (this is what we asked for), and we shared amongst the table.
Here is what we tried:
-Chips & Guac in Molcajete: 8/10 - The guac was deliciously flavored, pretty smooth, and super fresh. It came in a Molcajete which was the first sign of how good it would be. It also had jalapeños and tomato pieces in it. The chips were freshly fried to perfection, and they were EXQUISITE. They were flaky and wonderful.
-Queso: 9/10 - This is a nearly flawless queso. It was warm, smooth, cheesy, and rich. No notes.
-Grasshoppers: 6/10 - These are super fun. You have to wrap your head around what you're eating, but it truly is just like biting into some sort of crispy, citrusy chip. The flavor is very limey, and they flake/crunch in your mouth. I enjoyed the few I had, but wouldn't be able to eat more than that.
-Cactus Salad: 8.5/10 - This was delectable. It was so fresh, and the flavor of the salad was so vibrant. The cactus itself had such a unique texture (sort of chewy or slimy, but not in a bad way), and it was all served in lettuce wraps which we thought was perfect.
-Burrata with Black Beans: 8/10 - This was a beautiful plate, visually. I love burrata, but what I really adored was the addition of the sesame seeds on the outside of the cheese. The added crunch and nuttiness was genius! The bean dip was really smooth, and the whole ensemble comes with bread to dip into the burrata and the beans.
-Tuna Tostada: 6.5/10 - The tuna was good, and as was the flavor, but the one qualm we had was that the tostada was too soggy/chewy.
-Octopus Tostada: 7.5/10 - The soggy problem was less pertinent here, though it still could have been crispier. The octopus was divine, however.
-Crab Empanadas: 11/10 - WOW! Awesome, awesome dish. The empanadas had a crispy exterior, and the inside was almost like the smooth, warm, gooey filling of a crab rangoon. So rich, so heavenly. What brought it over the top was the mango salsa that came with them. Topping the empanadas with the mango salsa added a sweetness that was GENIUS.
-Wagyu Ribeye with Mole: 9/10 - I'm not normally the biggest fan of mole but this one was more on the nutty side rather than the sweet side, which I highly enjoyed. The mushrooms were also super umami and comforting to eat. The meat was well cooked (still pink), though this is definitely a small portion. Getting a bite with all 3 elements was outstanding.
-Chicken Enchiladas: 10/10 - Someone at our table ordered these for themselves but after trying, we all decided they were the BEST enchiladas we've ever had. SO creamy yet still with crunch, beyond flavorful, and wonderfully cheesy. Absolutely incredible, and a must get if you want a classic meal done impeccably.
-Halibut Shakshuka: 5/10 - I don't remember the name of the dish but the portion of halibut was very small, and there was nearly no depth of flavor to the dish at all. It was overwhelmingly tomatoey, and not the best.
-Beef Birria Tacos: 7.5/10 - I love Birria tacos, and these were good but a bit too cheesy. A perfect birria taco should have more meat than cheese, and this was not true here. The consommé was classic and flavorful, however.
-Ice Cream Brownie Sundae: 5/10 - The vanilla ice cream was average, the chocolate ice cream was surprisingly good, and the praline on top was sweet and slightly crunchy. However, the Mexican hot chocolate brownie was a MISS. I love the combination of chocolate, cinnamon, and heat when done well, but here, it resulted in a super super chalky brownie. It was like having a spoonful of straight cinnamon in your mouth (not flavor-wise, but texture-wise). We were told there was another dessert so maybe that one would have been better, but this one was a skip.
In terms of drinks, I'll also highly recommend the strawberry colada as a sweet mocktail that is also both fresh and zingy.