Chef Mayra Arenas creates beautiful, delicious food and developed a perfect space to host it in Saltillo.
The restaurant is spacious with tall ceilings with lots of clean white walls and bright blue accents, including some built in displays that elevate the space and draw attention to the action at the bar. It has an indoor-outdoor section that seems darker and a more traditional indoor area that is bright and full of light.
Tables were set with three salsas, but the food we were served was so rich and delicious that none of us touched them!
We started off with coffee that was delicious and served in lovely ceramic ware. They have a full coffee menu with americanos, traditional Mexican cafe de olla, and European-style coffee drinks (cappuccinos and lattes). They also have seasonal fresh juices.
The menu is full of fairly traditional Mexican food. Given the brown sauces and cooking styles, often it looks messy, delicious but messy. Not here. Everything, even chilaquiles, looked beautiful as it was delivered to the table. Color combinations and presentation of toppings was thoughtful.
And though the food looked great, it tasted better! We were there for brunch, and there were perfectly cooked sunny side up eggs on top of green chilaquiles with a salsa that was fresh and pungent, but not overwhelming. The same eggs topped two perfect blue corn tortillas that had been coated in a deep brown mole. The mole was flavorful with hints of its ingredients without being too sweet or carrying too much of any specific spice. Both dishes came with a side of frijoles that couldn't have been better. They weren't over cooked or too salty, and they held their own or added to our respective dishes.
This is the best combination of creativity with traditional Mexican dishes that I've tasted in Northern Mexico. It rivals or may be better than some of the well-known Mexican restaurants in Mexico City, Guadalajara, or Oaxaca, places where this style and level of quality are more common. read more
