Dinnertime, the 13, Feb, just before Valentine's day 2021. Had tried to make a Fri evening…read morepre-date, e-message reservation at one restaurant, rejected. Two phone calls & having it suggested that we present ourselves & register, then expect a wait.
My choice was one of the Argentinean restaurant on Blvd Ag Caliente, wife wanted to dine at a a place in Plaza Chapultepec. We left our names @ the Chapu resaurant and were told a table may be available in approx 40+ min, or longer.
Wife suggested we walk up Ave Sonora & we strolled over to the Argentine restaurant in that direction. Wife asked if we wanted a drink. We made our way to Word Bar, which was empty. After a frisk & bag review, complete w/ a punk, tough-guy stairdown we were in & out of est. & left.
Crossed the street to a 2nd, empty bar. There I asked for a Glenfiddich neat w/ bartender. He tells me to ask the waiter/security/doorman. Given copies of a plain, no-frills menu while I waited, I asked for a Scotch only to be told food needed to be ordered! Really?? We were looking for a special Valentine's meal & were being insisted to order food @ an empty, no-anything special bar?? Again we declined, walked away.
Walked to the back of the lot to the restaurant Tabule, thinking only of reviewing a menu & returning to see about our standby status. At Tabule hostess shared that everything was booked & no tables were available; led into the lower branch which had approx 10 tables w/ partners or small groups of diners as the young lady went for the scan page for us to input & review the menu.
Menu was intriguing, seemed even to have great possibilities. As we walked out, I said to the young lady that there seemed to be room in the dining room. She said again, all tables were reserved but that she could ask. A few min later the hostess returned and shared there was 1 table available on the 2nd floor. We enter the 2nd fl & there is a- six peeps table, 3 couples @ tables, & 5 or 6 empty tables! Really??
In Tabule, food was delicious, sufficient ++, relaxed & timed service were all impeccable. Patrons are guided through a mostly ala carte menu (until the meat dish) ranging fr appetizers, salads, pastas to the meats/ seafood/ fowl.
Pictures of plates & portions are below. Dishes of note: both appetizers-- bbq baby back ribs & mango & in special chef's chile/bar-b-que sauce (salsa) & the grilled on oak shrimp & baby octopus in butter... ummm!! Next we shared a cesar salad, which was creamy but overly salted.
The wife ordered grilled marinated, salmon w/ fresh, handmade pasta & I had baked raviolli stuffed w/ veal & portabello. Both dishes had excellent & subtle seasonings w/ portions large enough for us to bring home leftovers, along w/ two ribs.
We were asked about ordering dessert & took the challenge, sharing the date/ nut tart w/ chocolate sauce bathed in ice cream!! It had an absolutely delicate & mild flavorings, along with the mild sweetness of the ice cream.
Our pre-Valentine's Day dinner had great, fresh, & tasty flavors/ subtle spiciness and portions were fantastic! Add to this the pleasant setting w/ moderated popular music & our server Hector who had a professional, knowledgeable & great/ funny/ playful disposition & we left totally content & satisfied. We'd had a delightful & special dinner. Another blessing was that for our meal that included a large glass of wine, a Glenlivet scotch, neat, a beer, water & tip and still only totaled under $110.
Recommendations: none for menu, but do consider making advance reservations.
