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    Xelas

    4.6 (40 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

    Xelas Photos

    XELAS ATMOSPHERE

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    Tara G.

    This was my first time trying Mayan cuisine and I'm now in love. My sister and I went for dinner and shared an app and two dishes and it was plenty of food. Queso Fondue: Poblano cheese fondue with sautéed mushrooms, served with sourdough bread and tostadas Tamal de Bison: Tamal filled with bison meat, topped with recado negro made from chrimol and bison broth and fresh herbs Tlacoyo de Chicarron: Oval-shaped masa cake filled with chicharron prensado, seasoned with ranchera salsa and topped with crema, avocado salsa, and fresh herbs My favorite was the Tlacoya de Chicarron which is a corn cake with pressed pork belly. But the tamale and queso were also delicious. I do wish the queso fondue had 1-2 more tostados, but I'm sure if we would have asked we could have gotten more to finish up the dip. Hours are a little different so I suggest checking ahead of time or making a reservation. Inside was an upscale casual vibe.

    Camarones! Shrimp.
    Curio D.

    I was glad to see a spin on the usual Latin American cuisine. There was sweet Plantains, Mole sauce on the chicken and delicious Tomatios in a soup. I was grateful to eat high class Latin food! It was incredibly delicious:)

    Papaya dessert
    Casey S.

    Xelas was popping on a Saturday night. Luckily, my sister-in-law got us reservations. We were seated in a corner booth which gave us a great view of the restaurant. Our server was very friendly and welcoming. I do think they're a little understaffed as I only saw one bartender for about 80 seats. Even if the drinks were slow they were really good. I got a Sik Pak, which is a Mayan riff on a Mai tai. I really liked it. My husband got the NA tamarind mocktail and loved it. It was tangy and not too sweet. The food was delicious and well priced for the quality. I think my favorite dish of the night was the mole negro. A sweet plantain smothered in a rich and complex mole sauce. I would come back just for that. Everybody in our group really liked their entrees. The pollo my husband got was moist and flavorful. My pescado pachay was a delicate sea bass steamed in a banana leaf. The flavors were perfectly balanced and whatever puree came with it was delicious and complimented the fish. My brother-in-law got the cochinita pibil, which was a huge portion and could easily be split between two people if you got a couple smaller plates. My sister-in-law really liked her hilachas. The meat was tender and the sauce was deep and tangy. The only disappointment was the desserts. We got one of each and none of them were worth ordering again. They were very bland. If anything, I would save the mole negro for dessert. Our entire dinner for 4 people came to $265, which is crazy when you consider that included 4 alcoholic beverages, several small plates, 4 entrees, and 3 desserts.

    Pescado prior to the reveal!
    Joyce E.

    Guatemalan & Mayan cuisine YES PLEASE!! Delicious! I was fortunate to enjoy a fantastic meal at this new restaurant. We did not have a reservation & we were tight on time but we settled into seats at the bar and were able to savor every bite! Aesthetically the space is uncluttered and neutral with a few vibrant murals showcasing Quetzals The lead bartender Daniel is both knowledgeable & personable he gave great recommendations for cocktails. Wine & food. The owners visited with us and remembered my husband had been in on another evening. They have successfully created a warm & welcoming experience. Beverages: water was kept full which is important to me. The Ole Verde was unique & delicious and the wine a perfect pairing for my husband's entree. Food: Mole Negro, Tlacayo(mushroom & masa dish) Pescado Hilachas Guineo & Cacao A solid five star experience! Looking forward to returning soon to enjoy additional creations!

    The dry, dense and crumbly tres leche cake. It was nothing like it, unfortunately. The only 'bad' thing while dining here.
    Paj Nyiag H.

    We enjoyed our time dining here - each dish was delicious and flavorful and the cocktails were amazing! Our server was great and very attentive as well. Additionally, the bartender was just amazing in mixing up a special birthday cocktail for the birthday girl and even personally brought it over to her. She enjoyed it so much she ordered a second one! Why the 4 stars?: The only complaint was the tres leche cake. It was as though a dense and dry cake was baked and dipped into a milky mix to try and moisten it, however, it was NOT it. It crumbled upon forking out a bite and it lacked flavor, moisture, and that creamy, dreamy texture in which a tree leche cake is supposed to have.

    Sak ik
    Maria L.

    Xelas provides a unique perspective on Mexican cuisine compared to other restaurants in the two cities. The highlights for us were the mole negro and pescado pachay - both were complex and beautifully flavored. The cocktail menu was also interesting and both of our drinks we very well done. We were a bit disappointed by the tlayuda from the masa section of the menu - well the flavor was good, the texture of the masa made it nearly impossible to chew. The restaurant itself is in an unassuming building off of a frontage road, but the murals and bar transform the interior into an interesting and vibrant space. It was busy on a Friday night and a bit challenging to hear each other - the space is pretty open so sounds seem to get amplified. Service was a bit slow, but friendly.

    Beautiful bar area
    Tippy P.

    This restaurant is so pretty, they have the white walls and wood fans, made it feel like I was back in Mexico resort. The food was delicious too, fancy and placed neatly. Our server was very helpful in helping out to decide what to order on the menu. He gave us a choice of desserts since we were there to celebrate our birthdays. Right off highway 36, definitely recommend if you're in the area.

    Easter Brunch
    Teresa L.

    My husband and I went here for Easter Brunch. The food was delicious. The food was flavorful and delicious. It did not disappoint. The meats were juicy. For their Easter Brunch, they had a variety of food available. At the time, they were quite busy, but the staff is nice and checked in. It is a casual dining experience. I would definitely come back for a non-buffet dinner.

    Guacamol w chicharron
    Lindsay F.

    I will start out with a negative. This place is very expensive. My sister and I came here and we got three appetizers and one drink a piece. The final bill was over $80. Well the portion sizes are not small, and the flavors are great, with a price point, makes it less accessible and more of a special occasion type of location. Which is, unfortunate, since the dishes in the food are really exquisite. Unique presentation, unique flavors, and menu items that you would not see in other restaurants in Minneapolis St. Paul. Or very infrequently even nationally!

    "Old Fashioned" with aged rum
    Tim S.

    My only fear for this great new place is that the next time I want to go, I might not be able to get in! They really transformed this location. Murals, good background music, great bar setup. We started with some of the cocktails off of the menu. I'd had their remake of the Old Fashioned which uses some aged rum... so good. My wife had the mojito which was fantastic. For starters we had the Mexican sausage and the Sikil Pac (a dip). Both were so good! I had the Cochinita Pibil (braised pork shank) as my main course ... amazing. My wife had the Sopr de Pato (duck confit on a thick corn shell) and my mouth is watering again just writing this. Fabulous. Daniel, our bartender and server was awesome. Really helped us understand the drinks and the food menu. This place is so good. Can't wait to go back. Tomorrow? So fun to have such a good new place open up.

    Rachael M.

    They do have parking which is great! The inside is absolutely beautiful and I love the vibes overall. Staff are extremely friendly and helpful. The chef makes some amazing dishes using traditions from Guatemalan & Mexican heritage. Everything was FANTASTIC! The drinks were definitely a hit. I enjoyed some of the best n/a beverages I've ever had while dining here. This is a must visit spot in Stillwater! Looking forward to visiting again!

    Ashlyn A.

    Wow! Wow! Opening night at Xelas was absolutely amazing. I am thrilled that I was able to chat with Karen and the team about each dish that was brought to our table and welcome them to Stillwater. The chefs, bartenders, and servers were all so kind and happy to be there. Each dish is carefully crafted and beautifully plated, I almost don't even want to eat! But trying the food is the next best thing about it! Every bite is full of flavor and happiness. I am so excited to visit them now that I have a location minutes from my home. Please go try their delicious menu. You will not be disappointed!

    Complimentary Sangria - Opening Night!
    Luke G.

    My was the Guatemalan Sausage! SOOOO GOOD! Staff was very friendly and helpful! The food was very good, but I felt it was over priced. I really enjoyed my meal, but I was less enthused when I compared what I paid here versus other restaurants of similar $$$. Also, I'm unfamiliar with Mayan cuisine as it relates to Mexican... but I expected a lot more spice. There wasn't any spice for any of my dishes. Otherwise, the salsa and guacamole were very good. We paid $42/person with zero drinks (20% tip included). If it was $25-$30/person, I'd be back here often.

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    9 months ago

    The food is AMAZING! I loved all the flavor combinations! And the cocktails were fabulous!

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    7 months ago

    The food and service were fantastic. 1st time customer. Definitely plan to return. Best mole!

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    11 months ago

    Great service, wonderful cocktails, and amazing food. we can't wait to go back and try more dishes. the Guatemalan sausage was fantastic!

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    1 year ago

    Beautiful food - great service! We are so lucky to have this new restaurant in our community

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    The Velveteen Speakeasy - Speakeasy Views

    The Velveteen Speakeasy

    4.1(114 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$$

    On a beautiful day, we decided to make a stop for cocktails at The Velveteen. Upon arriving, we…read moreentered the door and descended dimly lit stairs, then passed through a stone hallway to reach the entrance. The wait at the table was longer than we anticipated but luckily for us, there were some bar seats available. The bartender at the moment was Cameron. He gave us the rundown on the food and drinks and made several recommendations. We started off the evening with the Don Corlone. It was very tasty and also an Andorran Martini. Both drinks were delightful and were semi-sweet but not too sweet. The mixture of the Don Corlione had a perfect blend of citrus and sweetness. We then ordered the pastry puff poppers and they were amazing. The sauce complemented the pastry puffs and the filling left you wanting more. To finish the night we ordered tiramisu, cheesecake, and some bubbles. Thank you Cameron for the amazing service and experience we hope to be back again soon.

    Went the day before valentines day. Had a reservation for 9pm. The environment was great, but…read morethey ran out of over half the food items and closed the kitchen early (like 5 minutes after we got there) didn't get to order beefed to try something. Considering we wanted earlier and we took the reservation time they gave us, it was disappointing to not get to eat. The drinks were really fun (bartender was killin' it) and dessert was included in the kitchen so not available but did manage to finagle one of the 4 options and we got the strawberry cheesecake (friends not a strawberry fan but we were hungry) because they wouldn't serve the others or they were out. Really poor planning for such a busy 'date night' weekend. I loved the speakeasy feel and will go back for that. Hopefully we'll get to eat there the next time. Experience a plus. Food a minus Staff, doing their best Bartender - was a mover and a Shaker was definitly on their A game.

    Photos
    The Velveteen Speakeasy - Incredible Bruschetta \

    Incredible Bruschetta \

    The Velveteen Speakeasy - $13 Smokey Robinson

    $13 Smokey Robinson

    The Velveteen Speakeasy - $14 Whispering Ashes- smoky, liquor forward, perfect

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    $14 Whispering Ashes- smoky, liquor forward, perfect

    The Wild Hare - Shrimp & watermelon ceviche

    The Wild Hare

    3.8(105 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    Dion the bartender was awesome and the food was perfect and I love the pinball game it was very coolread more

    Stopped in for a quick lunch and sat at the bar which, should support the quick lunch goal -…read morehowever, service was surprisingly slow. It wasn't all that busy, roughly three staff members in and out behind the bar inclusive of an employee who was working on a sangria mix? Pre made cocktail mix? Not sure but he was putting something together the majority of the time I was in. I digress. It wasn't just myself and guest who experienced the slow service, there was another group at the end of the bar that had to ask multiple times for their tab to multiple employees. On to the food: -I went with the Royale Smash Burger, which was quite tasty and honestly, the seasoning of the burger and the cheese stood so strong on their own I wish I didn't have the tomato and pickles in hindsight. Really great burger! -the side fries were solid and seasoned perfectly! -the onion rings we split was surprisingly the opposite. No real taste to the batter, came out not super hot, and really soggy. The exact opposite of the side fries and honestly, wish we'd skipped on them. Overall, the service kind of killed the experience, the burger was solid, and I'd skip the onion rings. There's some decent spots in Stillwater and this place always seems super busy this was the first chance I had to stop in and... not sure with the other options I'd jump to go back. Perhaps it was just an off service/off afternoon?

    Photos
    The Wild Hare - Back of the restaurant.

    Back of the restaurant.

    The Wild Hare - Cheese curds

    Cheese curds

    The Wild Hare - Champagne Supernova

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    Champagne Supernova

    Marma - Bang bang shrimp appetizer - stunning!

    Marma

    4.2(46 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    Marma is a wonderful local restaurant with a welcoming atmosphere and delicious food!…read more I met a friend a week or so before Christmas and we chose to sit at the bar. We had excellent service, recommendations, food & drink. The restaurant is busy and as is the case with many local owner operated small to mid size spots in the area they do have a time limit on tables on evenings when they are booked with reservations. I can respect that and they are clear about it. Bar seating is on a first come first served basis. My husband & son are regulars at Marma. It never disappoints!

    Tried Marma in Lake Elmo for the first time and overall - there is a lot to love here, with a…read morecouple things to be aware of. First, parking is very limited - plan ahead! Now the good: the food was absolutely incredible. Easily a 10/10. Our group of five had a variety of dishes; the Marma burger, Rosa fettuccine, pesto penne, walleye, and Bang Bang shrimp - and every single one was excellent. The whipped feta and Brussels sprouts were standouts and a must-order. The atmosphere is beautiful and inviting, and our service was fantastic; attentive, friendly, and seamless. That said, the 90-minute table limit made the experience feel rushed. With five people ordering drinks, appetizers, and entrées, it's just not realistic to have a relaxed dinner in that timeframe. We didn't even have time for dessert before being asked to wrap up. What made it more frustrating was that tables of four across from us were seated before we arrived and were still comfortably enjoying their meals while we were being rushed out. Bottom line: amazing food and great service, but if you're looking for a leisurely, relaxing dinner - especially with a group - this may not be the best fit. Go for the food, just be prepared for the pace.

    Photos
    Marma - A nice cozy atmosphere.  Kind of tricky to just walk in and get a table, though.

    A nice cozy atmosphere. Kind of tricky to just walk in and get a table, though.

    Marma - Fabulous crostini appetizer!

    Fabulous crostini appetizer!

    Marma - Bars

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    Bars

    Xelas - latin - Updated May 2026

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