So let me tell you a story of how I found Trece Lunas...(skip to the page break below for the restaurant review)
I had checked out of my hotel earlier in the day and my colleagues had all left. I'm by myself in Monterrey and I am getting really hungry. I look up another vegan restaurant (that I have now forgotten the name of) and take an Uber there. Upon arrival, the restaurant was permanently closed! (It must've been recent bc their sign was still up).
Hungry, lonely, and with a really slow data connection, I frustratingly try to find another restaurant to go to. It's difficult because I can't understand Spanish, Google Maps/Yelp isn't always up to date in Mexico, I just spent money on an Uber and will now have to take another one, and my frustration and hunger is making me impatient.
As I'm hopelessly looking for another place to eat, I see a man and woman walking towards me. They notice all my luggage and the man comes up to me and asks me a question in Spanish. I awkwardly look back at him and say in my most Californian accent to date "Um...No habla Espanol.." *cringe*
He looks back at me, chuckles, and then responds in perfect English "Oh! Of course, sorry. I asked if you needed help finding something?"
I breathe a HUGE sigh of relief and drop my shoulders "Yes, I was hoping to eat at this vegan restaurant, but it is closed and I don't know where to go."
After a little banter back and forth, he tells me about Trece Lunas and how they make delicious vegan food and how I would just LOVE it. But before he says goodbye, he turns to me and goes "Actually, my girlfriend and I were looking for a place to eat too, would you like to join us?"
And that, my Yelp friends, is how I got into the car of a complete stranger and put my trust in him not to kidnap me simply because he was a vegan food connoisseur and spoke fluent English.
Long story short, we became friends for the weekend and I met all his other friends too. They took me out partying and showed me how to live like a true local. I'm still alive. Don't do what I did kids.
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Ok anyway, so my new friend that is normal and not a serial killer took me to Trece Lunas and as soon as you walked in, you knew this was a unique restaurant that cannot be imitated anywhere.
It is room after room of tables with a different theme/graffiti/decor in each one. Look to your right, left, up, down, because there is art in every square inch of this space. I got whisked to the back which is the best room because it is the biggest and you can really take in everything.
The menu is HUGE, about 8 pages. It is handwritten in colorful colors, so it might take some time to look through. Starting with the drinks, there is every non-alcoholic drink here imaginable. Fresh juices, coffee/espressos, smoothies, milkshakes, sodas, etc. And there's a bazillion flavors for each category. I finally landed on an all-fruit smoothie (There are dairy & non-dairy smoothies in separate categories. It's a lot.) that was the perfect way to cool down.
For the food selection, there is everything you would want. From crepes (which is one of their specialties, to classic Mexican dishes, to salads, pizzas, and sandwiches. At least half of it is vegetarian and about 25% of it is vegan. The vegan dishes are labeled, but if you ask your server, they can point out other items that can be veganized.
For my meal, I had the vegan empanada and enchiladas. Both entrees come with a side salad. The empanada was flaky and savory and the perfect appetizer. The enchilada had vegan cheese on top, which was more for texture rather than taste. The green sauce was mild, so I dumped their house hot sauce on top which gave it a kick. This was a filling meal and I was super stuffed by the end of it.
Great meal in a unique restaurant in the heart of the old district. Sometimes the best adventures start with taking a risk. read more