Everything was excellent. Oysters, tostada, birria dumplings all hit great. Drink selection and menu is excellent. Was a great dinner spot before the theater next door. Definitely recommend reservations! read more

Espiritu - Seafood Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

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What.... Huh.... What did you say??? Yeah, this place they play the music LOUD! So hard to keep up a conversation. For apps we had the birria dumplings that were a bit sweet but was good. For the main the whole fried pescado was very good! The specialty drinks were quite tasty and I like the variety they offered. Food, drinks and layout I would come back , BUT i don't think i will because i usually like to eat, drink and talk. Talking here is definitely a challenge. I would recommend to others but definitely warn them on how loud it is. read more

WOW. Espiritu in downtown Mesa is a hidden gem that deserves ALL the hype! From the moment we walked in, the vibe was electric--but let's talk about the food and drinks because that's where this place really shines. We kicked things off with the queso fundido, potato tacos, and yellowtail ceviche. The ceviche was absolutely impeccable--fresh, zesty, and beautifully balanced. The potato tacos were crave-worthy, and while my husband raved about the queso fundido, it wasn't my personal fave--but still solid. Now let's talk drinks: I went with their "choose your own adventure" cocktail and asked for something spicy, sour, low sugar, with mezcal. They NAILED it. Honestly one of the best drinks I've ever had--smoky, tangy, and just the right amount of heat. I'm still dreaming about it! For mains, I got the skirt steak and it was tender, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. My husband ordered the fried snapper and couldn't stop talking about how delicious it was. The service? Exceptional. Friendly, attentive, and super knowledgeable. We'll absolutely be back. If you haven't tried Espiritu yet--do yourself a favor and GO! read more

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Espíritu was amazing. 10/10 service, food and ambiance. Cici provided excellent service and made our anniversary feel so special. We ordered the Queso Fundido, Birria Dumplings, and the Meat of the Day. I would 100% come back! read more

Espiritu - Queso Fundido & Birria Dumplings - Seafood Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

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We stopped by on a Saturday evening with a 7:30pm reservation. Despite having a reservation we were seated at the bar instead of a table which was interesting. For drinks, we ordered two cocktails - the Phoenix and cheechenitza, which were both delicious. We also ordered the birria dumplings and queso fundido to split. There were four dumplings in the order and it had a very delicious flavor, although very salty. The queso fundido came on a large plate with a green salsa and shoestring potato on top. We weren't entirely sure how to eat it, as it was basically a large plate of melted cheese without a vessel to eat it with. It should be communicated that you should order this to go along with something (or even include!) to go with it, like tortillas. The queso was also even more salty than the birria dumplings making the entire meal a little bit difficult to get through. The vibes and atmosphere were excellent, but service was a bit lacking. We waited a long time to get refills despite being sat at the bar. I would go back for drinks however I'm not sure I would order those food items again. read more

So happy I finally got around to trying Espiritu! Enjoyed everything about our dining experience here. I liked that this is a smaller restaurant and more intimate; The wait staff was very nice and attentive but not over-bearing. The drinks were great. I did two "choose your own" type drinks and both hit the spot. For my second one, I asked for tequila, boozey, sour and with egg white; my boyfriend and I both agreed that that drink was made for me! Very fun drink experience. The food was delicious. We loved the sauce on the baked oysters (ordered 2x), and although the wagyu birrira dumplings weren't my favorite flavor profile personally, it was a good appetizer serving size, the wrappers were good and they were cooked well. I liked the chimichurri on the tuna crudo but probably could've done without this dish (the tuna wasn't anything special but they were decent sized slices and still glad we tried it). The fried fish was the way to go for the entree! It seemed almost every table around us got this throughout the night too. We shared between the two of us; with all our apps, it was too much, but otherwise it's definitely a good shareable meal. The crispy skin was perfect and the fish meat was flaky but not dried out. I really liked the veggies/marinade and homemade tortillas on the side too... overall made for some really tasty fish tacos! Would definitely come again for drinks and to try some other items on the menu. read more

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A resounding yes! There is so much to love about Espiritu. The ambiance is everything here. The bright turquoise walls and colorful flowers and candles, there is definitely a Dia de los Muertos feel. Super cool. There is also a patio outside. There's a great cocktail menu, and I've tried to get something different every time I've been here. Every cocktail I've had has been absolutely delicious with a Great presentation. The focus here is seafood, although you can get a burger. I have had shrimp tacos, which was a daily special, ceviche mixtos, and a giant fish (red snapper, I think) that is breaded and fried surfed with salsa and tortillas that serves two people (at least!!). Everything has been delicious! I will continue to come here over and over again. Tip--Make sure to have reservations on the weekend because this place is pretty small. read more

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This place is a neighborhood gem. Cool vibe and feel, service from Jenni was excellent along with the food and drinks. My friend and I planned some business in Mesa on a Friday afternoon. I had made 5:15 reservations well in advance to dine before we headed home. Upon arrival, we were greeted and seated inside. The place is small, but the bar is fairly large and they have additional patio seating as well. Jenni our server was very nice, I asked her what the catch, cut and chef cevichi of the day was along with all the market prices, she was very informative. The drink menu is a book in itself, loved it! We started out with Margaritas while looking over the menu. Keep in mind all dishes can be shared especially entrees, big enough for 2. My eyes were bigger than my stomach and I wanted to try everything LOL. We started off with the Cevichi Mixto and Birria Dumplings. I wanted the catch of the day to be Snapper but it was Mackerel which I'm not a fan of. We ordered the Mesquite Charcoal Skirt Steak and Pollo Parrilla (which Jenni said was new to the menu) All the dishes came out tasting excellent along with presentation. The flavor combinations were fabulous. Tortillas, beans and potatoes came with the entree dishes on the side. A few things to note before you go: you will need a reservation as shortly as we arrived for our 5:15 reservation the bar and all the inside tables were soon filled. Dishes entrees again are easily shared for 2. The menu items change, so don't assume the catch and cut of the day are always the same. Lastly this place is not cheap but I will say what we ordered was well worth it. Atmosphere: cool vibe, small. Service: excellent. Food: excellent. read more

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Fantastic food - HUGE selection of Tequilas. Service was good for us but I think its hit and miss sometimes because they are very popular now. read more

First time here. Walked in and was greeted by Rudy ! He introduced himself as the bartender that night. So nice. Told us to feel free to ask any questions! Given water and then Merlyn our server introduced the menu to us. It is incredible! The bar menu is Vast. Broken down into 5 chapters. It is such a delight to read!! I chose Lady in the Bronx. ( a gin based cocktail). My friend had Rudy make up something for her. They were both delivered by Rudy and he explained them. OMG. Epic ! He is truly an expert! Onto food. Merlyn said the Torta of the day was Carne Asada . She recommended that with potato's. Sign me up. My friend did the Burger with veggies. Honestly... the portions are huge. The taste.... Fabulous. I can't wait to return. I will try the dumplings. Thank you both Rudy and Merlyn . It was an absolute pleasure! read more

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Was visiting Scottsdale and tried this for dinner. Probably the best ceviche I've ever had--last night was salmon and was plentiful and wonderfully flavored with corn tortillas to munch on and balance out the acidity. Also shared the charcoal skirt steak. Very flavorful but didn't expect it in saucy bean dish. However was also very good. Overall enjoyed my meal; ambiance is very casual and on a local street with bars and restaurants but not as uppity as Scottsdale. Parking in the back. read more

We had such a fantastic dinner experience here. The restaurant ambiance was a vibe. Dark and moody with candles on the table, but classy. There is parking behind restaurant. The staff were all friendly, making us feel welcome and unrushed. The food and drinks were so good - especially the birria dumplings. To die for!! They made this preggo lady a yummy alcohol free margarita that had great flavor. read more

Espiritu - Seafood Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

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We made a reservation a couple of weeks ahead of time because we have been hearing great things about this new place. We arrived and were seated right away, there were a few open tables but they were very busy. It's a small place with seating indoors, outside and at the bar. Were we told we would have 90 minutes at our table, interesting- I've never had anyone be that specific about how long you were allowed to stay. Nevertheless we were able to order a drink, an appetizer and our meals and not feel rushed at all. Our server was dressed in a T-shirt and trucker hat, super casual, but was very attuned to the menu, and our preferences and the quality of service he gave us would rival any server at a fine dining establishment. Two in my group tried some unique drinks, and I tried the orange wine, kind of new and trendy and it was served ice cold -very nice! Check out my picture for the old-fashioned with the block ice cube with the Espiritu logo on it. Very cool! Our appetizer was Queso Fundido, it was served with fresh soft corn tortillas and topped with fried potato sticks. Unique, rich and delicious. I ordered the roasted mushroom quesadillas, I mentioned I was vegetarian and they subbed the beans, and I'm happy to report that as previous reviewers have said, soupy and delicious! It was perfect. My dining partners had the Cheviche and Skirt steak and were very pleased. The diners at the next table got the red snapper that was so beautiful, I had to take a photo. They said they shared it and it was epic. read more

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Fantastic food and service. Even better drinks. Tiana's drink was one of the better gin drinks I've had in a long time. Everyone loved the margarita too. read more

I heard the restaurant was small and cozy but they had recently expanded. We were pleasantly greeted and were immersed in dark moody walls, greenery and soft candlelight. Wes was our server and treated us as if we were regulars. Our drinks were on point as we shared grilled oysters, tuna crudo, papas tacos (which were unique and so full a flavor) and the sticky pork belly. So many exciting flavors. We will return! read more

I'm not a huge seafood fan, but everything we had was delicious and delectable!!!! The drinks were Exciting, service impeccable and atmosphere inviting! My friend and I enjoyed a girls night out! We shared the crab and shrimp wontons and long rib entree. Sauces were incredible! I loved the drinks but the pina colada on the rocks was top notch! I will be back! read more

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Great food, service and atmosphere. We went here to celebrate a couple of birthdays and we enjoyed every minute. The mocktails and the ribeye stole the show. read more

Espiritu - Large Red Snapper, shared it with my daughters. - Seafood Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

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I have been here on 3 different occasions and the food and cocktails are top notch. I highly recommend coming with others so that you can try a few different things as this place is best done family style. If they have the fried fish you can get the 2lb one and it's great to share between 4 people. The ceviche is excellent and the wagyu dumplings are amazing. On our last visit the ceviche lacked some acid and we asked for some limes. Instead they replaced the ceviche and it was outstanding. Top notch service! read more

Espiritu - Whole Fried fish - Seafood Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

Espiritu is located next to Tacos Chiwas on Main and MacDonald in Downtown Mesa. We had about a 10-15 minute wait on a Friday evening around 10PM. The hostess was able to send us a text when our table was ready. Ambiance is dark, teal, and picturesque; v aesthetic, as are the majority of their drinks. The playlist was liiiit but it was also very loud and hard to hear my bestie sitting across the table from me. As we'd come from dinner, we opted for cocktails. My bestie had 2 margs. While there are abundant options on the menu, I'm a vodka girl and the drinks were mostly rum/tequila (to be expected for a Spanish restaurant). Ask for a pina colada and you shall receive! It was a good, strong pina (~$16). Definitely worth a visit! read more

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Located in downtown Mesa! They have parking in the front and back. Nicely decorated restaurant for a casual hangout or a fancy night out. The seafood was really good!! I got the Del Mar Ceviche Mixto and lots of big pieces of seafood. This dish was filling and can be easily shared. The burger was a big portion. If you are hungry, this will be a great choice! The potatoes were seasoned very well. The burger was juicy and cheesy!! The Lichi Lychee Lee-Chee drink was great!! Very refreshing drink. There are lots of options for drinks and they have seasonal drinks too. Customer service was awesome!! The staff was very friendly. I would recommend. There was a seasonal menu for a octopus tostados so hopefully that's there next time so that I can try it! The only thing is that it is on the pricer side for the food and drinks. read more

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Excellent food. We loooved the queso and ceviche. Dumplings were ok but a bit salty with the amount of birriria. Want to try the brunch so we'll be back! read more

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Our first time here and we will be back! Great service, cocktails and food. Loved the ceviche, potato tacos and our entree, red snapper. Dessert was delicious as well- perfect dinner out! read more

Espiritu - The Phoenix & Old Fashion - Seafood Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

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I've been wanting to come here for forever and finally visited over the weekend! First off, the bar is GORGEOUS. I love the green walls, melted candles, and eclectic framed mirrors. We got a couple of drinks here and liked them all. This is a small, but cool place in downtown Mesa to get drinks and I will definitely be bringing other people here to try it out! read more

Espiritu - Seafood Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

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First time at Espiritu and it completely exceeded our expectations! We had a 7pm reservation on a Saturday, and I'm so glad we did, the place was packed. Morgan, our server, was wonderful and offered great recommendations. We started with the birria dumplings and shared the skirt steak for our meal, which was cooked perfectly. both my husband and I were really impressed. The atmosphere had a cool, dark vibe with loud music, but the food and service were outstanding. Morgan made our anniversary celebration extra special. Thank you, Morgan, we will be back! read more

Tucked away between two shops in downtown Mesa, Espiritu is a great little gem with scrumptious food and cocktails that will knock your socks off. I took my future hubby to be to celebrate his birthday. Reservations suggested since seating is limited and it does get pretty full. (We went on a Thursday night) The ambiance is intimate and service was swift and kind. Our server suggested types of cocktails and wine to pair with our meal. So speaking of our meal. We had the market special of 20 oz bone-in rib eye and 20 oz bone-in pork chop. Both had a nice sear and char on the outside and cooked to perfection on the inside. At first I didn't think I would finish since it is a lot of food, but it was too good not to stop! It also came with a side of bean soup and grilled flour tortillas and salsa. I highly recommend checking this place out if you haven't already. The chef is a James Beard award nominee and won on Chopped! You can tell his creativity and his love for cooking in his food. read more

Espiritu - Grilled bone-in rib eye and pork. - Seafood Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

I like this restaurant, but I have some suggestions (in good spirit). The new side lacks the lovely ambiance of the "old" side. It felt unfinished and wasn't as romantic. The menu: soooooo many items noted as market price. I get it, the food is brought in fresh, so printing a price on the menu may not be possible. But, having to ask the server the price of so many items made ordering awkward. We can afford it, but maybe $125 for a 14oz filet just wasn't what we had in mind (including that the smallest size was 14 oz). Our server was lovely, patient, and very accommodating. Food: 4 stars; Service: 5 stars; Ambiance: 2 stars; Menu experience: 2 Stars. read more

Modern Mexican cuisine, cocktail dreams, and good vibes. Some classic, some unique main courses, all great. Apps to set you up, desserts to make your day. An intimate dining experience or more casual bar or patio seating for whatever company you keep. 10/10 recommend. Get a reservation at peak times. read more

The food here is complex and absolutely some of the best I have ever had. The short ribs were amazing with very complex flavors and textures. Surprise yourself a your mouth and get the potato tacos. Yes, you read that right. Most unique taco I have ever tasted. Cocktail bar is impressive in appearance. read more

TLDR: limited (but tasty) menu, limited seating, expensive (but strong and creative) cocktails, good ambiance, great staff. Came in for an early dinner. Made reservations in advance. And good thing because the place was full. We were seated and promptly ordered the cocktails specials for the day -- the sokoloco and a mezcal old fashioned. The food menu doesn't have many vegetarian options to choose from. We were able to order the guac with chips instead of pig skins. And we ordered the potato tacos, which were great. We also chose to flex and get the shrimp aguachile, which was delicious. Overall, this is a great place and we will be back for happy hour again. read more

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We arrived here right as they were opening (5pm ish) and grabbed seats at the bar. Unfortunately, we didn't get to try any of the food because we had just eaten prior to that. I ordered the Or Chata Clarified Milk Punch and he ordered the Morning Is In cocktail. The Or Chata was pretty sweet. More than I was expecting but I shoulda known better cuz it had horchata. It wasn't bad but just a tad too sweet for me. His drink was also a bit sweet. He didn't finish his drink and ended up ordering a second drink which was a tequila soda w/ a lime (his usual). I'm sure he enjoyed his usual more than the first. He thought that place was okay overall. I liked the place because it gives off a speakeasy vibe. Even more so because we entered through the back entrance. For Mesa, i felt this was a cool spot! read more

Espiritu - Seafood Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

Vibe approved! Bar = A+, food = stellar. Reserve, limited seats! Every bite's a hit, and drinks? Impressive menu. Cheers! read more

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Delicious, unexpected, welcoming, and fun! This was our first experience at Espiritu. We casually stumbled across this venue in passing and was met by the chef grilling his meals on the front patio. We were welcomed inside for a seat at the bar and were greeted with open arms, savory eats, and delicious refreshments. Everything was great here! *Recommend reservations, especially on the weekends! read more

Espiritu - Market Special - Seafood Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

The service is amazing, whether it be for just drinks for a full dining experience. We loved the aguachile and dumplings, those are a must get! While I was it was patio season all year long enjoying a drink on the patio in nicer weather is perfect next to the "hustle and bustle" of downtown Mesa. read more

Espiritu - Seafood Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

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Trendy Modern Coastal food located in Downtown Mesa Upon entering the restaurant, you're greeted a friendly bartender. The restaurant is fairly small but allows for fairly large parties. Don't hesitate to reserve your spot as it can get busy. It's open later than some of the other places in the area. They're open till midnight, though the kitchen closes earlier. The burger is quite large and can be split for two people. It comes with a side of sliced potatoes fries. The Del Mar Ceviche is very large as well and contains some sizable chunks of fish, shrimp, & octopus. read more

Espiritu - Burger - Seafood Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

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Amazing hangout place for the weekend in Mesa. Had a date night with the wife, and we ordered a couple of appetizers, drinks, and entries. Came out to less than $200. The service is good, just really busy. The place is small, and the reservation is highly recommended. Many walking were turned away. I ordered kbbq, and it was a great flavor but a bit too salty for me, and the plate was too small for the amount of food. There is no room to cut my ribs. Overall, it was a great experience. read more

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I've been here three times and loved the food, drinks and ambiance. Really cool place. Then I got my bill tonight. Suggested tips was adjusted to 5% over actual. I brought it up to the bartender and got two responses. The first is that must be on the pre tax amount. Sincerely he thought I was stupid. His second response was he can't change it. It's a shame that such a good restaurant would try to openly cheat their customers. I literally recommended this place to everyone. I'll never go back and I hope the staff realizes how bad that is for business. What a shame. read more

The creativeness at Espiritu ricochets off the walls. The forest green painted walls, large waxed waterfall like candles, and gallery hung paintings adjacent to the bar make Espiritu unequivocally one of the coolest restaurants around. The restaurant opens at 5, we got there around 430 and a line of 15 trickled in behind us as the doors opened. Our waiter Ryan was electric. He easily convinced us to order the seasonal ceviche, ribeye and mainstay shrimp Taquitos. If you've ever been to their sister restaurant Bacanora, you know how good the steak is as it's cooked on their mesquite grill. If you haven't been, good luck getting in- try to make a res ASAP. It's so hot right now. Being a vegan, I tried one slice. It was delicious. The ceviche was one of the best I've had. The citrussness mixed with Mexican spices and sauces was a celebratory event for my taste buds. The shrimp Taquitos were delicious although I'd prefer if they were not fried. There is no such thing as perfection but Espiritu is dang close read more

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We found this place on accident but it was a vibe. Absolutely delicious drinks! Happy hour was great, fast & friendly service. read more

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Great cocktails, friendly staff, chill vibe, Mexican food that's good for sharing. The seasonal ceviche was my fave. Disco papas (thick slices of fried potatoes) and the salad were also very good. read more

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I can't talk enough about their birria dumplings enough! First time at Espiritu, and honestly the dumplings were my favorite dish of the night! It was packed full with flavor, the beef was so tender and juicy. We also ordered queso fundido, the Korean pork meal dish. The queso fundido wasn't my favorite, I felt it was a little tart. The Korean pork meal dish was fantastic. Well seasoned, tender although the rice was on the salty side. For the drinks options, they have an entire booklet about their drinks. It can be overwhelming to decide, but i thought it added to the experience. I got the quetzal and the death note. Both were great, the death note was very refreshing. And the quetzal was more up my speed. This restaurant is small, so I recommend people make reservations ahead of time. There is a parking lot behind the restaurant which was convenient because Espiritu is in downtown Mesa. I really liked my dinning experience at Espiritu, I will definitely be back. read more

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