Darlings! This was the best meal we have had in 2024. You have to go! The Chile En Nogada is to die for. I literally licked my plate. It is sooooo good! We did the tasting menu, and every dish was stellar! Luis, our host was a delight, and their talented chef put love and her honed in craft on a plate. It shines through. Soraya the owner is a joy, so warm and hospitable. We will be back again and again. Thank you!! read more

Chilam Balam - The Chile En Nogada - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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UPDATE: I'm not sure what the restaurant's response is about, I'm assuming it's made up like the rest of her replies on here. The only commotion was when the waiter told us he was "done being nice" and that we didn't order enough food to continue drinking our BYOB (6 entrees + a $19 mixer were ordered) . We were surprised when this happened as nothing triggered it, but followed his demand. We never got an explanation of what rules we had broken. According to the response, you're not allowed to drink White Claws. That's fine, the waiter could have told us that like human beings instead of raising his voice in a crowded restaurant. It was incredibly uncomfortable to experience. The owner came to take our payment, which we were thankful not be confronted by the waiter again. She doubled down on the waiter's behavior though without explaining what had happened. Just kept repeating "the rules are in the email." She didn't seem to have the full story, and even I don't know what set him off. Just a bizarre experience. Nevertheless, I certainly won't be returning and I strongly recommend avoiding. --------------------------------- Would give 0 stars if it was an option. Food is good. Horrible staff, so rude. Even the owner actually argued with us lol. Wants you to order more food than you can eat to even open your byob (so much food waste). I agree with all the 1 star reviews read more

My husband and I have been going here for years (and are due for a visit soon). We are Mexican and enjoy the fresh new take on some of our traditional dishes. We have never not liked any of the dishes we have gotten. The staff is also very friendly and personable. Definitely recommend! read more

My favorite restaurant in Chicago! I'm always asking for chefs selection which ensures I get the best dish of the night! Everyone is so friendly and the vibes are emaculate, whether you r in a big or small group :) read more

I ignored the reviews and thought there was no way rude staff would impact my experience. I was wrong. I took my dad here while he was visiting and was embarrassed by the time we left. I never write reviews, but honestly the experience was such a buzz kill that I feel people should know before spending time or taking visitors here. Below are the major encounters that affected the experience. 1. BYOB Rules (?) - waiter would not open our bottle of wine until we ordered (so couldn't have a drink while reviewing the menu). Odd, but whatever. Then, we ordered two entrees to share. The waiter said he would not open our bottle unless we ordered 4 entrees. We explained we had apps down the street while waiting for a table and weren't hungry enough for 4. We had to negotiate and ended up ordering 3 entrees (which he got approval from a manager to do so.. a bit dramatic). 2. Rude about my allergy - I'm allergic to shrimp. I read the menu carefully and checked yelp pics to avoid items containing shrimp . One dish, that had no mention of shrimp on the menu, came out with several shrimp on top. I told the waiter I was allergic and asked if we could just simply have the avo top removed. He acted like it was a huge deal and said "it's your responsibility to tell your waiter if you have an allergy". Fine, I should have mentioned it. But having a waiter blame me was new. He also had to get manager approval to remake the dish without shrimp. The manager came out to our table and say to me "so what else are you allergic to in addition to shrimp" as if I was being difficult. He then made me go through the menu with him so he could say what did/did not have shrimp (in case it wasn't mentioned). He continued to make rude remarks as we went through the menu 3. When we got to the restaurant, the waiter made a point to say everything had to be ordered at once so they could "pace out the food" for an experience. After Byob and shrimp-gate, all three (3) items we ordered were delivered to our table at once - there was hardly room for anything. They also delivered the check with our meal. So basically saying they wanted us out ASAP. This was my second time here, and I will say the first time was fine - no issues. However, both times the food has been pretty mid. There's tons of cool spots on broadway, would recommend you spend your money elsewhere. read more

This is such a cool spot! My girlfriend took me here on a surprise date and I truly had never heard of it or known where it was, but man was I loving it! It's on a main drag but definitely hidden, and it gives the best cozy atmosphere. The staff were all so friendly and welcoming. We LOVED the Brussels sprouts and sweet corn empanadas. The other dishes were good but not our favorite. We really loved the decor and atmosphere and can't wait to go back! read more

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The food here is AMAZING!!! Was a little wary because of some of the other reviews, but I took my parents here for my dad's birthday and we had a wonderful time. Super cute little restaurant with a great vibe. Our server was friendly and helpful. We had absolutely no issues!! It was a little more food than we normally eat, but we had read the rules that were emailed to us so we were prepared for that! Plus the food is so so good you'll want to eat a lot and bring the leftovers home!! If you're on the fence about trying out Chilam Balam, I say go for it, you'll be happy you did! read more

Food was absolutely delicious, full of flavor. Service was very personable and gave us great recommends. The 1000 layer potato was one of the best things I have ever had. read more

Everything at Chilam Balam was incredible. The service, the food, the ambiance, the attention to detail, all of it. We did the Chef's Choice for dinner and it was absolutely the right way to go. They brought us a beautiful selection of items and all of us were amazed. The pork Milanese was an absolute standout, as were the roasted Brussels sprouts. The coconut passionfruit mousse was an incredible finish. Make plans to go to this special spot! read more

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Chilam Balam is a hidden gym in Lakeview East. Don't let the peculiar ambience deter you- the food here is delicious! We had the watermelon salad, sweet corn empanadas, plato placero, milanesa con queso, and the chef special dessert which was a chocolate mousee in a marshmallow sauce. Everything was delicious but for me the sauces and salsas truly stood out for their powerful flavor. The restaurant is BYOB but I believe they only allow beer, wine, and margaritas. The restaurant only accepts cash or Venmo for payment so plan accordingly. Service is friendly and good quality but it is a smaller venue with limited staff (2 people working when we visited). The ambience is peculiar as in it's located in the garden unit of an older building and has various Mexican chachkies decorating the restaurant. read more

I have been coming here for 8 years straight. It is the only restaurant in my life that I have been to over 100 times. When I lived closer, it would become a weekly staple for me, which is saying a lot because normally I am a frugal person. But the Oaxacan-Mexican style food is delicious. The ingredients are pure, and they are cooked with precision. Service is welcoming and attentive. One of the most high quality and consistent food experiences you can get in Chicago. read more

Delish as always!!! Had a lovely dinner last night out on Broadway while the street was closed. Appreciated the outdoor seating to the indoor to have more space and enjoy the live music next door. All good was great but the winner by far from our table was the ricotta tamale which was a special for the night. Wow!!!! Sooo incredible. It's warm ricotta with a verde salsa and fresh tortillas. Doesn't get much better than that until you eat it. Everything else was great!!! Keep up the great work and great service! read more

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A constant evolving magical culinary journey that delivers a vegan and gluten free inspirational twist on Mexican classics. Chilam Bilam is one of Chicago's best kept secrets. Nestled on the busy street of Broadway, tucked away in a lower level, the atmosphere is vibrant and full of life with foodies from all walks of life enjoying authentic dishes made with the freshest ingredients. You can feel the love and passion the owners have for their food as they bring unique experiences from their culture and travels into their menu. Rich with classics like ceviche, and flautas; be prepared to enjoy an array of steak, fish, and other creative preparations. The staff is genuinely attentive and treasures the pure enjoyment their food brings to their patrons. Such a precious gem!!! read more

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This place deserves to have a way higher rating. Maybe those who know don't want you to know about this spot lol. Try anything that includes their salsas, they are so good. We were just in San Francisco aka lots of good Mexican food. Even so, chilam balam easily wows. They showcase a different style of Mexican food and flavor (earthy, rich, balanced.) The Plato Placero this season was the brisket with salsas (I would live in that salsa macha if I could), Oaxaca cheese, plantains, avocado, tomatoes, tostadas, and lettuces. We didn't have a reservation but got some spots on the patio. The staff were attentive even though we were outside. Most places may check in and refill waters just once, not here. read more

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The service was amazing. The food was amazing. The prices are almost too low for the quality. I definitely recommend this place!

I loved the feel of this restaurant. Quaint, small, friendly. My son was known to the owner from prior visits, so when we sat down, we never looked at a menu, we just mentioned some dietary preferences and allowed the owner to create our meal. The meal was fantastic. Each dish was carefully prepared and beautifully presented. The sequence of service was perfect. This is a byob restaurant. We brought tequila and they provided a pitcher of margarita mix. Perfect. I noticed that some others brought wine. We just loved the entire experience. Cost including tax about $60 per person, plus tip. Definitely plan to go back. read more

Okay, soooooooo...wanted to love this place but some strange things happened. There were four of us and we had three bottles of wine. We were immediately told we can't have three bottles for four people. That was one bottle too many. Alright. Then we ordered about 5 menu items with the idea that we would hang on to the menu because we would probably want to order more. We were then told we didn't order enough food and could only open one bottle of wine. I'm sorry, WHAT. So I asked the server if this information was on the website (I wanted to know if I missed it, we would have planned differently or gone somewhere else, wasn't trying to be difficult) and he responded..."I'M NOT HERE TO ARGUE WITH YOU, YOU CAN SPEAK TO THE OWNER." He repeated similar a few times. It was awkward. Food was tasty but it did not compensate for the weird interaction with the server. Decor was also pretty rough, haphazard with single lightbulbs just hanging out and the chairs were pretty uncomfortable. read more

The food was good, however the restaurant has far too many rules to really be enjoyable. You MUST order 2 dishes per person in order to have BYOB. This was not listed on the website, and would've been good to know since we were doing a progressive dinner and didn't want 8 dishes, but it was mandated. Dessert also doesn't count towards your total, and some entrees count as 2 towards your total. I would also say the food is overpriced, especially when forced to order more than we wanted. Sadly won't be returning. read more

I appreciate that the owner replied promptly to the posting of this review. I am unaware as to what was said to my son, as he posted the $50 deposit, and did not share any of the vital information that I may have been disappointed in. That being said, I want to clarify that it was a five star experience as far as food. I still maintain that the demeanor and communication skills of the staff needs to improve . A customer in the restaurant should never be made to feel like they are privileged to have been invited in. The staff needs to make the customer feel welcome. If this is against the philosophy of the owner, so be it. Unfortunately, yelp does not allow me to raise a star by only 1/2. My real rating would be 3 1/2 stars now, but three stars before the reply from the owner. My original review to which the order applied is below this statement. My son decided that he wanted to celebrate his birthday dinner at Chilean Bilam. My wife and I, being huge fans of Top Chef, we're looking forward to the opportunity to enjoy chef Chuy's vision. We know that he's been gone for quite a while from the restaurant, but his sous chef is now in charge, and from what I've read, has style or quality of food have retained their top notch reputation. Our experience last night, however, cannot be described as positive. Admittedly, my son not planning on how hard it is to park in the area, causing him to be 30 minutes late for the reservation was part of the issue understandably we were informed that we could lose our Reservation. But the terse, borderline rude way in the way the hostess speaks with the customers is unacceptable. Because of the size of the restaurant, diners are limited in 90 minutes. We were informed that since we seated a half hour after our reservation, we only had 60 minutes, but that the food is worth it. Our server was a matter of fact as well. Basically telling us that we needed to order more food in order to be able to drink our BYOB products. There were five of us and two were not very big eaters. We ordered five dishes and he said that's not enough to even open our tequila to make the margaritas with her House made, laughably small portion of homemade limeade. It came in a pitcher not much larger than an imperial half liter mug, and at $19 for approximately 14 ounces of liquid, and 12 ounces of ice, was ridiculous. We Eventually ordered three appetizers/side, size plates and five main dish plates. The food was top-notch, nice example of high-end Mexican cuisine. I won't go into detail because we have no intention of returning to the restaurant. This is almost a cult following type of place, where one must know all the unwritten rules, and follow them without fail to have a good time. Perhaps the management might run this post on their "About Us" page as to "How to Dine at Chilam Bilam" 1. Do not expect to bring jackets gifts or shopping bags to your table. If you do, you will not be allowed to bring them in and must fit them into our tiny doorway closet entrance. 2. Do not expect to be seated in the restaurant unless all members of your party are in attendance. The restaurant only has 10 tables and there is no waiting area. 3. Please be on time for your reservation. You stand a chance of losing your table to people on the waiting list if you are more than 15 minutes late. (Understandable, but learn how to speak to people nicely- a very sorry is your party here yet, we have a lot of people waiting for tables and unfortunately may have to give it away if they're not here by next time I'm sorry) 4. Our restaurant is BYOB. You may bring in one 750 mL bottle of wine or tequila, or six pack of beer per two people. You must also order two plates per person to be able to drink at our restaurant. (One of two things that currently exist on the website is what you can bring BYOB wise-but not the order enough or you can't drink policy). 5. You are required to place a $50 Venmo deposit for your reservation. 6. We are a cash only establishment. You may pay in actual currency our Venmo. Your deposit is not deducted from the bill, that is your responsibility to do the math if you don't, thank you for the extra $50 tip. Frankly, the food is good enough that if these rules were super clear ahead of time, our experience may have been different. Our son would've thought ahead and reserved a parking space, we would've spent some time doing homework, preparing what we were planning on ordering before we got to the restaurant, I am sure the super fans of this restaurant will find this review outlandish, but regular consistent Restauraunt goers will be able to use this information to give it a try and enjoy a good meal with all the stipulations and rules in place, or decide that they would prefer to go to a Mexican restaurant where the staff treats you like you are as important as the food is, like Frontera Grill or Topolobampo. read more

UPDATE: 0/5 Stars I'm surprised that a restaurant with such a condescending and rude attitude towards its patrons (as noted in other reviews) is still in business. My review did not mention drinking for free. It seems the owner either misinterpreted my comments or is simply being extremely rude, which is no way to sustain a business. I'm pleased to hear you're knowledgeable about allergies (as mentioned in my original review). However, the issue was with the server, who was incredibly condescending (similar to the owner) and tried to educate me about my own allergies. My experience during my last visit stuck with me, and I was disappointed that I wouldn't be returning. This response from the owner was the nail in the coffin. Good riddance, I will not be back and will be sharing my experience elsewhere. --------------------------------- I've always loved the food and service here, which is why we bring so many out-of-town guests. However, tonight was different. Our server said we needed to order two meals per guest to open our bottle of tequila, despite this policy not being posted anywhere. When we politely questioned it, the response was passive-aggressive and rude, and we were told our bottle had to be kept behind the counter if we weren't going to order their minimum number of plates. If this policy exists, it should be clear on the menu and website, which it is not. When we pointed this out, the server got upset and defensive and suggested we talk to the owner. We declined, but he sent the owner over anyway. After speaking with the owner, she mentioned they need to make enough money, hence the minimum number of plates. To me, charging a higher corking fee would make more sense if they're concerned about revenue. We don't need that much food. Additionally, I'm celiac and our guest had a severe nut allergy. The server questioned our allergies and tried to downplay their severity, making the experience uncomfortable. While I love the food, I'd only recommend going if you're starving and willing to order the two plates per person if you intend on drinking. Otherwise, I suggest finding another place. It's sad as we love to support local, but we won't tolerate poor service especially related to allergies and rude service. Their policy to earn more money has turned away frequent customers. read more

Such an amazing night with my wife celebrating our anniversary, delicious food, and the service was above and beyond. The owner even came out and personally congratulated us, great neighborhood restaurant feel read more

Surprisingly good, with an understated location (below street level) had some good Mexican dishes. Larger that spanish tapas plates. So order 1.5 dishes per person. It's Byob but they will limit number of wine bottles you bring. Also, they don't accept CC, only cash or Venmo. Glad we came prepared. read more

Such a good spot!! So flavorful, so authentic. 10/10 dining experience. Great local spot! Never disappoints and staff is lovely!

I knew it was going be good as soon as we walked up to the door and got a whiff of the great smells! We had to wait a few minutes for a table, so we stood by the kitchen and got a good preview of all the different dishes. Everything was excellent! Highly recommend you visit. It is BYOB or you can bring your own tequila to use with their margarita mix. We brought tequila but but there was more mix than we cared to drink for two people. read more

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Such a hidden gem in Chicago. I love Chilam Bilam with a group of friends before a night out. We came here and did the chef's menu and we got so many delicious items. From the guac, to the taco board, to the ceviche, the place is awesome and the staff is great too. It is BYOB so bring your own tequila and you can mix in anything that you'd like! Would recommend doing this and then going to the laugh factory for a show down the street. read more

Cozy place to grab authentic Mexican fare. Very casual and byob. It's loud and be sure to plan ahead as there is usually a wait! read more

Chilam Balam - Lamb, coffee mole, kale, carrot - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Honestly some of the best food in the city of Chicago . The flavors are incredible! The staff makes you feel welcome as if you are almost apart of their family. I recommend this place to everyone! read more

We prepared for the quirks of this restaurant - cash or venmo only, $40 minimum per person, if BYOB 2 plates per person etc. the food is really really good though. I recommend. read more

Chilam Balam - Pork Milanese - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The dishes were very creative and so so so good!! Had a late night date here and the atmosphere was perfect. The staff was super friendly and very knowledgeable on their plates! Also had the guacamole and memelas and both were very fresh and tasty. Will be back soon! read more

Chilam Balam - Roasted Brussel Sprouts - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food is really great. Excellent. But that's it. As soon as we crossed the doorstep of the restaurant, we felt unwelcome. We had reservations and were 4 minutes early, sent back to the street for the others to arrive. I get it, it's a small space, totally understand. But the way the scowling hostess asked us our name and shooed us out like we were stray cats was unwarranted. The rules at this restaurant are offensive. Again, I understand it is a small space and people as well as alcohol need to be monitored. However this could be done in a welcoming, friendly, positive way. We most certainly didn't feel like guests. I feel like a fool to have spent so much money there and to be treated like a problem from the moment we entered- from being seated, opening our byob to paying our bill. Yuck. read more

The average score for this establishment is accurate. This is the average of having good food, poor service and shady practices. This establishment is advertised as BYOB however is the staff will not 'allow' you to open your alcohol until you have ordered food. It doesn't stop there...not only do you need to order food immediately, they insist that you need to order ALL of your food at once. Yes, this includes desert. But it doesn't stop there...you are then informed that you need to order AT LEAST 7 dishes in order to open your alcohol. If you are a party of 4, that means not 4, not 5, not 6, but 7 dishes. We ended up with an overwhelming and unnecessary amount of food. Not used to eating in an establishment where you are Constantly being informed of 'new rules' as you order and your meal goes on? Me neither, yet the star rating of this establishment suggests ours is not an isolated event. As you guessed it, it doesn't stop there...the 'rules' just keep on coming as your meal progresses, all of which benefit the financial cause of the establishment and none of which respect the consumer's wishes. Sound shady yet? if you order dessert at the beginning of the meal, you will also be surprised to learn that this course does not count towards the seven meals required to open your alcohol. When we prompted the server about these never ending rules, all of which pointed to borderline bullying practices to pressure customers into consuming, he told us it was because 'they almost didn't survive COVID' While we all sympathize with the hardships of the pandemic, it's 2023, the line is out the door and we just don't buy it. When we challenged that assertion, he then spun his response to state that it's to offset the fact they do not make any $ off of the alcohol (FYI get a liquor license or charge a cork fee like a legitimate business) which again makes absolutely no sense as this is BYOB meaning you can choose not to consume drinks and a table can in fact order 4 dishes and consume no alcohol, netting the same profit. And you guessed it again... it doesn't stop there :) when you receive your bill, you are also informed that this is a cash only business or venmo. Share your experience with the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, they'd love to learn more about this establishment read more

A divine, five-star evening. Every dish is impeccable, the service was extraordinary, and the environment perfect. The whitefish, short rib and chile en nogada are among the best dishes I've ever consumed. The textures, flavors and presentation were exquisite. Treat yourself and support this sustainable neighborhood BYOB restaurant. read more

Chilam Balam - Beef Short Rib, Butternut Squash Mole, Apple Salad - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It was an amazing experience!! They have traditional Mexican dishes, but with an elegant and creative twist. You can't go wrong with the food here. The attention and service is very good, Luis, the waiter who attended us, was very attentive to us. I love the BYOB option! Highly recommended. read more

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Food was probably some of the best I've had in Chicago. Every single thing was phenomenal. We had the Mahi Mahi Ceviche, Pork Belly, Tacos de Canasta, and Steak. The vibe and decor inside the restaurant is amazing, as well as being paired with excellence service. Everything was amazing and I can't wait to come back and try more! read more

Very disappointed in the staff, specially the host that greeted us when we walked in the door. We are a young group of 6 girls in our mid 20's- from the minute we walked in she treated us as if we were 5. She spoke down to us and made rude comments about our party to the table near us. She sat us at the table that I paid a $60 deposit for and immediately asked where our final member of our party was. We told her she was using the restroom. The woman then made us get up out of our seats since our table was "incomplete" and then proceeded to give away our table to another party. Standing flabbergasted at her actions, she proceeded to say "don't come in here acting like you own the place" and made us stand outside. It was beyond rude. We took the time to look nice, bring our own alcohol, pay $60 down payment and be a paying customer. I have not received my money yet or a call back. read more

This was an unpleasant experience. As soon as we asked if we could get light sauce, or a non-spicy sauce, the waiter was unfriendly - after telling us there are no modifications allowed. The food was reasonably good - hence the two stars (though the skirt steak was tough and chewy). Expensive though, for small dishes. When I handed the waiter my credit card to pay, he said they only took cash or Venmo. I told him I had a credit card or could Zelle the restaurant the money. He said "no," after checking with the owner or manager. When I asked why he didn't mention this at the outset of dinner, since most places take credit cards, he told me it was my problem and that it was noted on the door. See the photos of the entry door and window, where it's nowhere to be found. It is noted on an inside door in small letters - along with other things - but it's not likely people read all the posted material before dining. He refused to let me come back tomorrow to pay so I had to walk almost 45 minutes to a place I could get cash and come back, since I did not have an ATM card with me. Over all, it was a pretty miserable experience. read more

Chilam Balam - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We ate here last night. There were five of us. Absolutely remarkable experience. We chose to have Eduardo choose for us and keep bringing us food. It was sublime. We started with the mahi mahi ceviche. So tender, with beautiful flavor. The mushrooms came next. OMG. Tasty, tender. The enchiladas followed, which were built more like empanadas. The enchiladas were flavorful and delicious. The flank steak and lamb with different mole were insanely good. We ended with dessert. The empanadas were amazing; the pumpkin cake was to die for. A few notes: this is byob. Bring tequila and they supply you with the mix. It's amazing. You can also bring wine and beer, but tequila is the only spirit they allow. It's also cash only. The ambience is fine, but you come here to eat remarkable food with outstanding service. Eduardo (or Lalo) took great care of us. Make a reservation. We spent about $60/person, but we drank a lot of margaritas and ate several desserts. It was totally worth it. I would come here again and again. Let me change that: I will keep coming back. This place is a gem. A gift. read more

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Great spot for delicious and creative Mexican food! Everything was packed with flavor and presented beautifully too. We got the guacamole, chicken flautas, and grilled pork ribs. Everything was so tasty with lots of different and interesting flavors. The pork ribs were the best - you must try these! We also got the pumpkin tres leches for dessert and it was delicious and a fun twist on a typical tres leches cake. Also shoutout to our server! He described culture and history behind the food and made our experience more fun. Highly recommend this spot!! read more

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The food is delicious, but don't expect an incredibly friendly environment. We got lucky without a reservation, but it is a small place so I'd recommend making one. Down the stairs off the street, so kind of hard to find. It is also BYOB. Our service was perfectly fine, but it wasn't that busy. It was the most unique style of Mexican food I've ever had, with very fresh ingredients and a really interesting mix of flavors. Everything that came was hot and very tasty. Couldn't say enough good things about the food. Not cheap, but you definitely pay for great quality food. read more

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First visit and we won't be back. Things began on a sour note with a gruff greeting from the hostess coupled with a dismissive, unresponsive attitude. Would that table work? Nope. (Points to different table in mostly empty space.) Mind turning down the music a bit? Shakes head. (Sound continues to blare.) All followed by BYOB rules, payment restrictions etc. That said, the server was very pleasant and the food itself was fine if quite ordinary. Bottom line is it did not compensate for the weird, punitive vibe. PS The place became quite crowded and lively as the evening progressed and there does seem to be a loyal neighborhood following. Good on them - but not for us! read more