My family was down to visit my cousins for a week in Oaxaca, and they insisted that we stop by El…read moreMilenario on our way back from the Tlacolula Market. Mind you, El Milenario was my first time officially trying Oaxacan food (it was our first day in the city) so the bar was pretty high.
After an extended back and forth with our waiter over what we were ordering (my Spanish wasn't as good as I thought, I'm afraid) we got our order in, and sat down to await the our first taste of Oaxacan gastronomy. We each got the black molé and a tlayuda to share, and thoroughly enjoyed each of them. My cousins say that El Milenario has some of the best black molé Oaxaca state, and while I only tried one other black molé during my visit, I'd venture to agree.
Aesthetically the restaurant was charming, and definitely reminiscent of a more traditional Mexican establishment. I found that most higher end Oaxacan restaurants in the city pursue something of a minimal-modern look, coupled with traditional Mexican colors and an extensive use of local flora. It's a beautiful aesthetic, but El Milenario has retained a more traditional, older Mexican style. Lots of rough tile, wood, and (in a charming way) walls that definitely could use a coat of paint.
