Though it definitely has a more refined atmosphere and menu than your standard cafe, Mate Bistro…read moreboth impressed and disappointed. What is interesting and exciting about this restaurant is the menu, which has a mix of traditional fare (with a modern twist) and more American style breakfast items (with Mexican influences). You'll find huevos rancheros, waffles, chilaquiles, omelets, and French toast, plus other interesting and unique offerings. Unfortunately, for us, the experience felt like it could have been better--meaning there were a lot of great ideas, but not great execution.
Located in the middle of a neighborhood, it wasn't the easiest place to find or get to, but I would actually recommend that people make the effort if they're interested in trying something different. The interior itself is modern and stylish, with warm colors, brick, leather, and plenty of light; and, perhaps because it isn't a very large restaurant, it has a very cozy and intimate feel. The food, while good, could have been better--part of that, of course, is just personal preference, but some of the food was lukewarm or room temperature--but the coffee drinks were terrible. The americano was weak, and had a strange taste I couldn't quite put my finger on, and I couldn't even taste the espresso in the cappuccino, which was basically all milk. The first thing we did after we left here was get a coffee.
Of the three things we ordered, the Criolla crepe was definitely the best, stuffed with a flavorful filling of chicken, corn, peppers, and cilantro, and topped with a delicious cheese sauce. There was, however, only one crepe, which is a pretty stingy serving. I also had to say that the refried beans here were probably the best beans we had during our trip, they truly were delicious--they would have been better, though, if they had been warm. The crepe, it should be said, was the only thing that came out hot.
The Bacon Omelette, which also had spinach and mushrooms, was also very good, and went perfectly with the simple salad served with it. Along with the lukewarm beans it was a satisfying meal, but a larger omelette would have been nice.
The Huevos a la Florentina is similar to something like an Eggs Benedict, with poached eggs served on slices of toast and covered with that delicious cheese sauce. It was good, though, but was served with only a small serving of turkey ham for the entire dish and a serving of delicious (but cold) beans.
Overall I really feel that, despite the bad drinks and underwhelming portions, I could have gone with four stars, but when you add the average, unspectacular service, and the fact that a lot of the food wasn't hot, it's hard to justify four stars. I would say, though, that I would absolutely like to go back and explore the menu some more, and hope for a better experience. As unique and interesting as this place is, it really is worth giving it a shot, just maybe have your coffee and a light snack somewhere else first.
