We stopped in here for an early dinner after getting settled into our room. The Doctor is in town…read moreattending an IEEE conference, and Masa & Agave is the restaurant located inside the hotel. I had read a few reviews beforehand mentioning that the lighting and atmosphere were supposedly too dark, but honestly, that wasn't our experience at all. I don't know if they may have adjusted the lighting since some of those reviews were posted, but we found the ambiance comfortable, warm, and fitting for a relaxed dinner after traveling. It felt more upscale and intimate than overly dim, and we had no trouble reading the menu or enjoying the atmosphere.
We decided to sit at the bar since we usually enjoy the atmosphere there when seats are available. As we were walking into Masa & Agave, a gentleman named Anthony introduced himself after noticing me stopping to take a photo of the restaurant. He had stepped out from the kitchen area to see if we needed anything, which was a very welcoming touch right from the start.
We explained that we were just looking around to get an idea of the restaurant's size since there would likely be quite a few engineers in town attending the IEEE conference and dining there throughout the week. Anthony asked if we wanted a table, and when we mentioned that we planned to sit at the bar, he let us know he would be right there because he was actually the bartender.
Anthony was extremely pleasant, personable, and attentive throughout our visit while taking our drink and food orders. There was also another gentleman working behind the bar with longer hair, and he was equally friendly and attentive. Together, they created a very welcoming and relaxed atmosphere that made us feel comfortable immediately.
When our food arrived, we were both very happy with our selections. I started with the Tuna Ceviche at Masa & Agave, which included chile de árbol, red onion, cilantro, and corn tortilla chips. This was an excellent starter and easily one of the highlights of the meal for me.
The tuna was prepared beautifully and tasted incredibly fresh, with a bright citrus flavor that really stood out without overpowering the dish. The corn tortilla chips had just the right amount of salt, which paired perfectly with the ceviche. I also loved that the tuna was served on top of a bed of guacamole, which added a smooth and creamy balance to the acidity of the citrus. Everything worked together very nicely and made for a flavorful and refreshing appetizer.
For my entrée, I ordered the Tampiqueña at Masa & Agave. The dish featured a 10 oz. guajillo-marinated skirt steak served with black beans, achiote rice, poblano rajas, and a queso ranchero enchilada. I thoroughly enjoyed this meal, and the portion size was generous enough that I was able to eat half for dinner and save the rest for lunch the next day.
Anthony mentioned that the chef could prepare the steak to my preferred temperature, but he recommended ordering it medium, which I did--and it turned out absolutely delicious. The steak was flavorful, tender, and cooked perfectly.
I'm also a much bigger fan of whole beans than refried beans, so I was really happy to see black beans included with the dish. They were excellent and paired very well with the rice, which was also very flavorful. Honestly, my only complaint about the entire plate was that the queso ranchero enchilada was too small because it was that good. I definitely could have eaten a much larger portion of it.
The Doctor ordered the Beef Birria, which featured chile pasilla-braised short rib, beef consommé, queso Chihuahua, pico de gallo, and crema. I tried a small bite of it myself, and while it was definitely flavorful and well prepared, for me it simply couldn't compete with how much I enjoyed that skirt steak.
That being said, The Doctor clearly loved his meal because he cleaned his plate completely. The rich flavors and tender beef were obviously a hit for him.
Since we'll be staying here through the end of the week for the IEEE conference, I'll most likely end up having several more meals here simply because of the convenience alone--it's literally just an elevator ride down from our room. Thankfully, based on this first experience, that sounds like a pretty easy decision to make.