Emily S.
Yelp
It's rare that high end Mexican restaurants actually live up to their hype, but this place does. While expensive, it was worth every penny.
Making a reservation here was a breeze, as they use a modern reservation system that lets you add the reservation to your calendar and sends you reminders. The hosts were gracious and welcoming upon arrival. Our server was equally lovely and a manager came by our table to check on us and make chitchat, and all the bussers and helpers who came by were equally pleasant.
The vibe here can only be described as sexy Spanish mission. Imagine the decor and ambiance equivalent of peak hotness Antonio Banderas whispering you to sleep.
The menu wasn't massive, which allowed them to focus on preparing dishes well. My shrimp fajitas were flavorful and ample, with large, perfectly charred shrimp, house-made corn tortillas, and a heaping of creamy, fresh guacamole that was probably the best I've had in years, likely due to avocado quality. The boyfriend liked his tacos, and my black currant margarita was well executed.
The showstopper of the evening, however, was what I will refer to simply as Fire Coffee. It was a $20 coffee. Again, worth every penny. A server rolled out a cart upon which she placed a ceramic mug, into which she drizzled rum, which she then lit on fire. She then repeatedly and rhythmically heaped spoonfuls of sugar and cinnamon into the flames so that they burned, sending flames upward into the air and also pouring out of the mug as they fell to the surface of the cart. I took video, but I wish I could have captured the smell. It was mesmerizing and looked like something out of Harry Potter. After finally extinguishing the flames, she poured Frangelico and Irish cream into the cup and topped it with house-made whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
My boyfriend, who is not normally a coffee drinker, tried it and said it was the best coffee he'd ever had. I must agree. I want to have this again every night for the rest of my life.
Perhaps my only nitpick is that, since this restaurant is nestled into the Fairmont hotel/resort, we were made to valet our car. The valet was free with restaurant validation, but we weren't given the option to self-park. We generally avoid valeting, particularly in a rental car (we were on vacation), because of the potential for scratches or other damage. As this restaurant is in a hotel, we can't be the only ones who were uneasy about valeting a rental. Additionally, my boyfriend and I both completely stopped carrying cash years ago and, not realizing we would be valeting, had no money on us with which to tip, but there was no conspicuous explanation as to how we could tip via card or Venmo, and no non-awkward opportunity to ask.
