Had dinner here earlier this evening. I would give it six stars if possible. Great ambience,…read moreextremely well trained staff and friendly servers that made good recommendations. I had a local tequila and a local beer that were both excellent. The fish soup appetizer was a meal, as noted/advised by my server. But I also had grilled shrimp which were perfectly grilled and delicious, as were the side order of mashed potatoes that came with it. Latte was tasty but needed to be hotter, and I just wasn't up for asking my server to take it back and heat it more. Overall, a fantastic dining experience at a reasonable price in my opinion.

The most polished service I have received in Mexico not just Mérida. When our waiter addressed us…read moremy name throughout the experience, you have won me over. This is a cozy warm Mexican gem. Pan Mexican flavors with great music and vintage Mexican movies silently entertaining on the walls. It's busy and we had to wait for a table so reservations are a good idea. That being said, we were recommended to enjoy a cocktail kitty corner at their sister restaurante Bartolomé. Check my review for that space (fabulous).

Great service! Food was delicious and hot. Cute setting and ambiance. Eduardo our server was super…read morefriendly and helpful! This will be my go to spot next time I am in town.

CHILA-KILLING IT - These folks freaking kill chilaquiles. We came twice, the service is fast and…read morefriendly, and the prices are supremely fair. And while small, it seats quite a few and is very well decorated inside. All my life I thought maybe you needed egg for the perfect chilaquiles but truth be told we got theirs with and without egg and the way these folks melt the cheese, it gives it this amazing texture not unlike a perfectly runny omelette. The egg is not in fact required. The flavors are rich, the chips are perfectly crunchy and crispy yet still drenched in salsa, and the meats and toppings just sing. Definitely by far the best chilaquiles we've ever had, and it's not even close. If you don't try Chilakiller's, don't bother ordering chilaquiles anywhere ever again because if you cared about chilaquiles, you'd have them here. Eat here, you won't regret it! Happy eating! -John Seeto

I like there shrimp dish. I had shrimp crevice and it was a lot better and less expensive than…read moremarket in the city. Come with a lot of homemade condiments which I really liked. One thing, being a foreigner, I really don't know open hours for restaurant. I research before hand on yelp for opening hours. When yelp says they are closed, I go there and they are open. ( made me very happy) If you speak Spanish, it's maybe better to call before you head out.

Great. I arrived expecting nothing and it was a good S fresh experience. The fish and the octopus…read moreare great.

This restaurant was one of the highlights during our recent trip to Mérida. We sat outside in the…read morecourtyard area for dinner where the tables were well shaded with trees and umbrellas. We enjoyed several cocktails and ordered a variety of items from the menu, all of which were excellent.

Went here around 5 pm on a Monday between Christmas and New Year's. Fortunately I was by myself and…read moregot a seat at the bar right away because there was a one-hour wait for a table already. I ordered papadzules with longaniza, sopa de lima, and chaya con piña. I enjoyed everything, especially the soup. I wish I could have eaten more and tried more items, but I was so full just from those. The ambiance was cozy and pretty romantic during dinner time. There was only one server taking orders at the bar. He spoke English well. My orders didn't take too long to come out. The prices are on the higher end, though.

I love Apoala, and not just because it's one of the first time I've eaten crickets! The food is…read moreOaxaca's rather than Yucatecan, so it's a good way to explore other Mexican cuisines in Mérida. The drinks are well-made as well. We always have a great time eating here and sitting outside to look out on the square--very romantic!

My husband and I had dinner at Apoala last night - our last dinner in Merida! We really enjoyed…read moreourselves! The menu spans Yucatecan and Oaxacan dishes - which was great since we love both! We shared: the ceviche de camarón, maíz y calabaza asada; the pesca del dia (that came with Mexican herb gnocchi and a tartar sauce); the memelitas; and a dessert (panna cotta with passionfruit sauce). We also had a few cocktails each (all of them were great). No complaints about the menu, food, or drinks! The location is wonderful! The restaurant is one of several that overlook the Parque de Santa Lucia. Great outdoor/al fresco dining. There was live music while we enjoyed our meal, and it just had a great ambiance overall! The service was also great - very friendly and helpful! Definitely a great place for dinner out in Merida! I'd be happy to repeat it!

From Chicago, first time at Oliva today. Here are my thoughts:…read more -We had a bigger party of 8 people and made reservations ahead of time. They gave us a perfect private room! -We ordered the bruschetta for an appetizer, and it was excellent! The tomatoes were really, really good. -I got the cacio y pepe for my entree and it was easily the best I've ever had outside of Italy : ) Very tender pasta, in a peppery white sauce. -I tried the ravioli and it was delicious, nice spices and sauce. -Service was excellent! This place is on the fancier side. We got in with shorts, but more formal waiters, etc. -If I could only go back to one restaurant in Merida, this would be it. Highly recommended!

GREAT PLACE, RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED - We've been here three times, twice inside and once outside…read more Inside it is very nice, attentive staff, and charming. Outside it was still pleasant but you sit on plastic chairs and most the diners outside, like us, waited about 30 minutes at our tables until our order was taken. Definitely the walk ons who eat outside seem to have less attention granted to them, but to sit inside you need a reservation when it is busy, so reservations are recommended. All that said once we placed our order the food was promptly served on all occassions. It was always rich and delicious, with all ingredients tasting super fresh. The flavors were bold but not overpowering, and the portion sizes were modest but fair. The prices were a bit high relative to other places you could find around here but generally speaking you pay for quality at this place. It's an excellent option for some homemade pasta and fantastic salads, but that also makes it super popular, so just be patient as you may need to wait at times. Still the wait is worth it, give it a chance you won't be disappointed. Happy eating! -John Seeto

Food was great! Service and ambiance were also outstanding. The homemade tortillas were also a…read morereally great compliment to the meal. Arrived for late brunch and easily found a table although it was during a weekday. Definitely recommend.

The food was OK. I think it's more hyped up than it needs to be. The restaurant is beautiful but…read morethe food was better at the local taqueria That being said, there were many large groups so I think it's good for that. They have a very large selection of food so there's something for everyone. Prices are OK, what you'd expect for a touristy spot. Recommend having a reservation for dinner as there was a wait.

From Chicago, first time at SOCO today. Here are some thoughts:…read more -We came in on a Sunday mid morning for brunch. There was a steady stream of internationals for the hour we were there, must be located near a larger hotel. -We ordered a chocolate croissant for an appetizer. It was good. -I ordered the chilaquiles with green salsa and chicken. I really enjoyed the chicken, but overall not great. -My wife ordered eggs and toast, not great. And they charged us extra for butter and jelly. -She had an Americano, I ordered a latte. Both were good. They forgot to bring hers out. With all the great cafes in Merida, I cannot recommend SOCO : (

First time here didn't know what to expect but it was good very nice place & the service wasread more

This has got to be one of the most amazing dining experiences I've ever had. From start to finish,…read moreall the food was a spectacle to behold and an interesting take on modern Yucatecan cuisine. The ambiance was warm, rich, and sophisticated, with a very grand entrance. Service was impeccable and even included a tour of the kitchen afterwards. This is not to be missed!

K'u'uk is a fascinating restaurant and probably the most foodie experience you can have in Merida…read more They are committed to preserving Yucatecan cuisine and Mayan traditions, but the food itself is also incredibly modern and makes use of many molecular gastronomy techniques. And to top it off, it's located inside a gorgeous colonial-style house at the end of Paseo de Montejo (by the monument). All of this adds up to a pretty spectacular meal. At a place like K'u'uk, I have a hard time resisting the tasting menu, so we did that! They also offer an a la carte menu if tasting menus aren't your thing. The tasting menu provides a name for each of the 12 courses, but they explain the course in detail when they serve it. Of our courses, I most enjoyed the coconut, shrimp, sea tostada, Mayan octopus, tamale, and meringue courses. There was one I really didn't enjoy - the venison in pipian - which I found texturally quite difficult to enjoy, but the rest I liked or loved (the tamale was my favorite in flavor, but the Mayan octopus and shrimp courses were the most "what am I eating?!"). They also offer a great beverage program, which includes anything and everything. I started with a glass of wine - a Gewurtztraminer from San Luis Potosi, which I really enjoyed. Then I moved onto a cocktail (my husband had selected a great one, so I copied him), which I loved as well. The service was great throughout, but they did something at the end of the meal which was totally different and wonderful: they offered us a quick tour of the house and the test kitchen. The test kitchen in particular was amazing to see. We saw equipment they use, idea boards for inspiration, former projects, and more. This was a really special addition to the evening. Overall, the meal was very good (other than the one dish I did not enjoy, my only complaint is that 12 courses is quite a lot, and I ate more than I would have preferred to), but the experience is one I will remember. Every moment of our dinner was evidence of how much the restaurant and every member of its staff cares about its mission to share and preserve Mayan and Yucatecan cuisine and food culture. A special meal and place in Merida.