What a remarkable mix of excellence and pathetic. Lovely staff. Very good cooking. Now the god awful aspects that drive me to chew up the owners. You presented a basic environment, added a few cute bits and pieces, and charged $150 per person for the most uncomfortable dining environment in a city absolutely full of beautiful, comfortable settings. Things as basic as the chairs and tables are horrendous. The choices are either a stark downstairs clanging from kitchen activities or a wind tunnel upstairs getting your head par boiled by propane heaters while jammed into low tables and sitting on torturous seats. Shame on these owners for setting up your staff to face such an underinvested setting. Step up for god's sake and get some comfortable chairs and tables at the base minimum. Hard not to throw f-bombs here when we have been to thirty restaurants in Mexico that are proof that this is a joke. Don't even bother replying, Owners, because you have no excuse. We came from a sublime day to feel ripped-off and abused. Shame shame shame. Fly your asses down to Oaxaca and do the right thing for these fine people working here and respect your patrons. Damn. read more

Amazing experience! The food was delicious and the service was incredible. It appeared that each person dining here was a tourist. The price reflected that- an incredible meal, but for a couple on a budget, we realize we could have eaten at other nice restaurants for a fraction of the price. read more

The restaurant has two menus; one downstairs and one upstairs. We stayed downstairs because we wanted more of a variety of options and we can't be more glad that we did. We both ordered the Pescado Asado and it was AMAZING! The fish is well seasoned and the skin made it even more wonderful. The fish is placed over a green rice that was just as delicious! Have the fish, you won't regret! read more

As food-lovers were really excited for our dinner at El Destilado and signed up for the 9-course tasting menu with drink pairings. Overall, while the food was very tasty and the drinks were interesting, the price was much higher than other (in our opinion, superior) fine-dining experiences in Oaxaca city. We went to a few of the city's most renowned restaurants and El Destilado did not offer the value we found elsewhere to justify its much higher price point. The staff were very attentive, the space is attractive, and the food is, without a doubt, quite good. Whether it is high real estate costs or being San Fran expats, we left feeling underwhelmed and oversold. If this is a must-stop for you, I would recommend ordering a la carte rather than the tasting menu so you can hopefully get better value for your money. read more

I'm sure they have amazing food and cocktails, my review is simply for the first impression I received from one of the members of staff, he wasn't exactly very professional. We walked in and there wasn't any other people waiting besides us, he offered the bar first, I know there weren't many tables available but when we asked how long the wait was gonna be he simply replied "there are no tables available ". Again it's a Tuesday night with no other people in line and a few other free tables that perhaps were reserved for bigger groups that I understand but hey even if it's an hour wait, which I honestly doubt you still have to have the decency to communicate or give an explanation other than "there are no tables available ". I work in restaurants, and that's simply unprofessional read more

Sorry, not impressed. Only craft beer so if you want a basic Mexican beer you are out of luck. Wine list is pretty slim so plan on a coctail. Dinner menu is only half a page so if you didn't reserve one of the tastings its slim pickings. Looks and feels like a cool place but feel like we wasted our time and leaving with just a few crafts and an appetizer.. read more

French Laundry, Alinea, Pujol... El Distilado is right up there. One of the most creative and well executed experiences I have had. They deserve a Michillin Star read more

Such professional staff, and knowledgeable about the food and drinks. We did the 6 course meal with drink pairings, and was amazed at the expertise and caring of the food. The meals were small but still fulfilling, in a way. The ambiance is beautiful, with modern but vintage furniture, paintings of different mezcal plants. Def go here if you want to learn about mezcal. read more

Good food but drinks overpriced. Staff friendly consider other places for better value.

Best meal. 12 courses with beverage pairing. Staff was so friendly and knowledgeable. Our waiter Carlos and chef Julio taught us about each course and paid attention to every detail. Not only great food, but a great experience thanks to their friendly & unpretentious service. This restaurant will be on the world's top 50! read more

My group of six had the 9 course tasting menu paired with beverages. The food is simply amazing. This is the best restaurant in Oaxaca and a must go for all visitors. If this were a Michelin rated restaurant we would pay hundreds of dollars for this quality of food and excellent service. Noisy when busy but so what! Get here while you can this place is special. My fear is that the talent that makes this place something special will move on to a bigger marketplace. read more

Moments of brilliance! On a recent vacation to Oaxaca, I booked two upscale dinners. Destilado was reserved for our last night, so I had a week to anticipate this concept of a modern Mexican/fusion tasting menu. Our party of 3 chose the 6pm sitting. When we arrived, I expected a buzzing atmosphere and was surprised that we seemed to be the only guests (at least in our small area near the kitchen). We were attended to by a team of waitstaff. Initially we were asked to confirm our option of 2 people doing the 6 course tasting. We chose to forgo the beverage pairings and instead ordered two mezcal margaritas (they have a following and we see why) and one artisanal beer to start. During the meal we decided to go with glasses of delicious dry Mexican red wine. Our third party member chose to order from the à la carte bar menu. He thoroughly enjoyed his shrimp with mushroom prepared in a comal. Our server introduced himself (Adrian) and we began with a refreshing welcome cocktail featuring a blend of 3 vermouths. Off we went on our gastronomical trip! Six courses, some amazing and others that didn't quite blow our minds. First up, a delightful amuse bouche trio (masa) - a mini tamal, a tetela de frijol, and a fish tostada- each of them delectable. A great beginning! The second course consisted of a taco huitlacoche, with house cheese, salsa morita, & sun dried tomatoes on an elote leaf. Divine. Next up, a chile relleno - a delicious sweet and salty party in the mouth. The fish course followed- a miso glazed morsel with corn, squash blossoms topped with a dashi infused broth. Very nice. Our main course was a chicken dish, salsa verde con ajo, white beans and pozole style corn with a green mole. This should have been the most memorable one as the main course, but it was not on par with the preceding courses. Dessert was a deconstructed cheese cake of queso crema & calabaza tamala. Light and not too sweet which is my favorite type of dessert. Very good, but not mind blowing. These last two courses were, in my opinion, the weakest links in an otherwise memorable tasting. Chocolate and a few other sweets were placed on the table to conclude the tasting and the house sent us home with small gift bags of mini mezcal and condiments. Nice touches. We enjoyed that one of the cooks came out from the back of house to present a few of the courses to us. Our main server Adrian was efficient, yet somewhat lacking in warmth and not that interested in interacting with us. Too bad he wasn't engaged- it would have made our evening more enjoyable. Overall, Destilado is a great place to experience some delicious & creative innovative Mexican cuisine with Asian fusion elements. The visual appeal of the plating was lovely, showing care and thought. The initial 4 courses were the highlights for me, with the featured main and dessert being somewhat anticlimactic. We felt the experience was fairly priced (compared to a tasting of this caliber elsewhere) and a great place to cap off a wonderful week in Oaxaca. Recommend you try it. read more

Extraordinary. One of the best meals I have ever had. The service, food and complexity of flavor from simple fresh ingredients make this place not only the best in Oaxaca- but would easily stand up to the best in NYC or Paris. Couldn't be more impressed. read more

Wow! We did the full tasting menu with drink pairings and I loved it. The drinks were unique and varied which was a nice change of pace after all the mezcal. And the food was delicious and beautiful. As was the service! Loved it! read more

This is an amazing find! It is so cute and hard to miss since the interior is a bit dark but seductive. The Mezcal is exemplary and the staff is so friendly and knowledgeable. Not a lot of hype just genuine lovers of food and Mezcal. I spent my 60th birthday there and it was amazing. We all enjoyed the nine course meal paired with yummy adult beverages. New tastes for all of us. They even prepared a special birthday treat! I highly recommend this place for fantastic food, ambiance and late night cocktails. read more

Just got back from the 9 plate tasting and I think it was the best meal I have ever had in my life. The presentation was gorgeous, the courses were perfecrly balanced, the flavors were true to the spirit of Oaxaca but taken to a new and fantastic level blending other world flavors and the current techniques. The ambiance of the place is also charming and the service is perfect. If you are a food lover and you are going to Oaxaca this place is a must. They are also know for their wonderful bars on the ground level and top floor where you can drink mezcal and enjoy a relaxed and very comfortable vibe. This place is heaven for the foodie in everyone. read more

If I could give these guys 10 stars, I would! Julio and his crew KILLED IT!! We did the 9 course tasting menu and I could not be happier! I keep joking with my kids that they will be returning to the states without me. All I need is to find a way to make enough to eat here every night. Or maybe they can send me an allowance for a change! We have had some excellent food in Oaxaca, but this was by far the best experience of the trip. The service was excellent, the setting was modern with an old-world twist, the music was very complimenatary to the welcoming vibe and the one cocktail I had was an excellent variation of one of my favorite drinks. It was basically an Old Fashioned with a local black corn whiskey and mezcal. Thumbs up to the bar tender on that one. Foodies, do not leave this great city with visiting El Destilado, you will regret it. We have traveled the world in search of great dining experiences and this is definitely in the top 3. Thank you all for an evening that we will not soon forget!! read more

Love this place! Really fresh & tasty food, awesome friendly staff, excellent drinks and interesting art. The grilled calabaza during happy hour was amazing. The Chicano cocktail was Delish. The place is small and cozy with an inviting bar and the numero uno bartender in all of Oaxaca. read more

The most complex meal I've ever had. I did the 9 course with drinks pairing, and it was some of the best plates ever. This place was so incredible I have been thinking about it for days. read more

When in Oaxaca, this is a fantastic place to enjoy unique small (ish) plates, craft beers and artisan mezcals. Our waiter was Pedro and he took great care of us. All other staff we encountered were friendly, knowledgeable and courteous. The prices were downright cheap, considering the quality and ambiance. An overall delightful experience. read more

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Don't review often, but this tapas restaurant deserves serious attention if you are interested in high quality local ingredients prepared with terrific creativity and care. Flavors and textures are beautifully balanced. The dishes respect local traditions while at the same time offering some delicious surprises. The watermelon salad offers the best seasonal fruits and cucumber with a savory mint vinaigrette that had me oooing and aaahing. The grilled broccolini with quest fresco and almonds was a perfect blend of creamy and crunchy, and provided a much needed respite from the heavy protein/carbohydrate emphasis of many traditional restaurants. The wine list is limited but well thought out, and the chocolate pudding with chiluacle chile chile ice cream was a deliciously inventive treat in a town obsessed with chocolate. Service was friendly, relaxed and helpful. We had a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and already plan to recommend this gem to others traveling with us. read more

Great place to try mezcal. They really know it well. Very cool place. We had mainly appetizers and they were excellent.

Fabulous, interesting and sophisticated. Three guys from the US who are Oaxacans now. Great chef. Interesting food. Everything was delicious.Great service. Excellent Mezcal and beer. A must. read more

Had a couple meals at Tacos el Techo, Destilado's roof spot for tacos, tlayudas, and other tasty treats. Quiet retreat from the busy streets on a rooftop that has views of the top of Santo Domingo. They pour tasty drinks and the tacos are amazing. Good prices, laid back vibe, friendly staff, and awesome food. It's confusing why this place isn't always packed. read more

The food was amazing, it was truly a once in a lifetime experience. We got he chefs menu paired with drinks and had a wonderful evening however; we sent an email asking the price before hand so that we could pay for our friends meals and when the check came it was 2,000+ pesos extra because of drink pairing so it was an awkward situation to ask our friend for money that we had said we'd buy for them. Other than that we had them most amazing meal and was totally worth it. Would recommend 100% read more

Came with a lot of hype but the favors are a bit overdone. Definitely one of the most exciting restaurants in Oaxaca, but I wouldn't call it the best. read more