Max B.
Yelp
In December 2012 in the Chef's notes of the incredible Chef's Menu to celebrate the turning of the largest Mayan Empire calendar cycle, which popular media has greatly latched into as well, Chef Ucán reminded those of us reading his menu that the Mayan Empire never fell, large parts of it were conquered, but that pockets and enclaves and outposts exist to this very day.
I think of this story often when I dine at the Mayan Cafe. To me, it never stops being an important and delicious embassy to the peak of a once great and so I'm told Living Empire. The Cafe's cuisine is singular. I can think of no other restaurant in any city I've visited where the top suggestion is to be sure to try the Tok Sel Lima Beans, whether they come as part of your entree or you order them as a side, I find that your dinner is somehow only complete with them. I also think a Cuitlacoche sauce is rare to see in just about any sort of restaurant, so the Salmon dish, which remains a menu staple, is delicious and worth a try just for the novelty, as it is a favorite of mine and quickly a favorite of many I've introduced it to. (Cuitlacoche, I've learned, is a mushroom relative that loves growing on corn and picks up the sweetness of corn in an earthy, fascinating way.)
In recent years I've found myself moving from "saving" trips to Mayan Cafe for special occasions and excuses to finding myself somewhat regular. I've grown a fondness for intimate dining inside in the coldest weather and the expanded back patio, especially its welcoming bar in good weather. (It is well covered and has good heaters and makes a great spot for much of the weather in between those extremes, too!) The somewhat regularity of the trips have only given me a deeper appreciation for the seasonal variety and fresh ingredients the Mayan Cafe plates with equal gusto.
Even when I think I know what I'm in the mood for when I arrive, I always want to know what the daily specials are. I've yet to be disappointed by any Salbutes (a taco relative, presumably an ancestor) of the Day, Wild-caught Fish of the Day, or Mole of the Day that I have tried. I've been delightedly surprised by some of the fresh and extremely seasonal ones I've had.
I feel privileged to have this Embassy in my neighborhood. It's a glimpse into some other world, it's a getaway trip to some other Empire, at least for my taste buds and my love of stories, as Chef Ucán can deliver wild stories in every plate even without pairing notes in the menu alongside them.