Ricky C.
Google
Title: Tons of Potential
My wife and I had a 7:30 p.m. Saturday reservation and were excited to try Mayahuel, given our experiences dining in Mexico City and at modern Mexican restaurants in Houston. We arrived on time and chose valet due to the cold, but were oddly redirected to a garage valet around the corner. I dropped my wife at the door and walked back in the cold, which set an awkward tone from the start.
At the host stand, my wife was told our table wasn’t ready, so we waited at the bar. We ordered a mezcal flight, which was excellent. Each mezcal was distinct, with the Illegal Reposado standing out as light and smooth. The bar area was beautiful, from the textured cactus-like wall to a bouquet of dried corn. What we expected to be a brief wait turned into 30 minutes past our reservation time, though the drinks softened the frustration.
We were finally seated at 8:00 p.m. and carried our own drinks to the table. After sitting for another 5–10 minutes, our waiter greeted us. I noticed immediately that the tabletop was uneven and damaged. We were served small masa-based dumpling-like bites, which we initially thought were a gesture for the delay, but soon saw they were standard for all tables.
The waiter explained they take the full order at once. Based on his recommendation, my wife ordered the Short Rib Barbacoa—described as “so moist you can eat it with a spoon”—and I chose the Cod. For starters, we ordered the Avocado & Sikil P’aak and shrimp tacos. The dip improved once mixed and was nicely presented with tortilla chips standing upright in uncooked beans. The shrimp tacos had good flavor but the shrimp were overcooked and lacked texture.
My wife ordered an Ocelotl cocktail, which took about 15 minutes to arrive after a reminder to another server. It was pleasant but masked the mezcal, tasting more like gin. When our entrees arrived, they looked stunning. Unfortunately, the Cod was overcooked and the rice undercooked. The flavors were good, but the textures missed the mark. The Short Rib Barbacoa also fell short of expectations. It does require a knife to be cut, but the sweet potato purée was outstanding.
Late into the meal, the waiter realized I had never been offered water. I had ordered an Acahual cocktail in anticipation of delays; when it arrived, it tasted diluted and lacked depth.
Dessert was the highlight. Despite some confusion that required us to reorder it, the Cacao dessert was excellent; balanced, textured, and memorable.
Our bill exceeded $300, and we again walked to the off-site valet in the cold. While the mezcal flight, sweet potato purée, and dessert stood out, the evening was marked by long waits, inconsistent service, overcooked food, and logistical hiccups. Mayahuel is still new, and there is clearly tons of potential, enough that we might consider giving it another chance.