This place wasn't even on my radar. My husband made a reservation for our anniversary and surprised me with this wonderful farm-to-table, Yucatán-inspired, James Beard nominated restaurant. Bri was our server and she was, hands-down, amazing! It's clear that she doesn't just care about providing good service, but she's passionate about the food as well. I love when you can just ask a server what they think about different options on the menu, they come back with a few questions, and they know exactly where to direct you. Bri's knowledge of the menu was impressive. We decided on several small plates in order to really explore what the chef wanted to share from his childhood home. Upon seating, we were offered a small bowl of Sikil Pak: a pepita-tomato-herb dip with house-made chips. We licked the bowl. (A larger portion can be purchased off the menu if you have better manners than us.) From there, Bri paced our dishes based on temperature, flavors, and our eating tempo; all just highlighting how well run this restaurant is and how much they care about both the taste and experience of the food. The Ceviche de Tomate was a red-snapper ceviche that was tasty and really highlighted by the smoked tomato water (my favorite part). The Cayo de Hacha en Mole Blanco was a dish my husband ordered and the one I was least excited about. But...it ended up being my favorite dish of the night. The scallops were perfectly cooked and the white chocolate mole was like nothing I've ever eaten. I would go back just for this dish! Next was the Tacos de Castiacan. The flavor of the pork belly was amazing, but my husband didn't prefer the extra crispness of the skin. It tasted great, though. Finally, we ended with Sope de Nopal Y Tomate which is a cactus dish served over a corn masa pillow. It was hearty and tasted like what I imagine the De Oca brothers' childhood must have tasted like; bright yet comforting. We also ordered a couple of cocktails which worked well worth the menu. I ordered the La Palabra Final which is a mezcal-based cocktail highlighted with notes of cherry and anise - a noteworthy flavor combination. My husband ordered the Margarita Del Diablo which has a chile-infused tequila and a smoked jalapeño liqueur it was smokey and spicy in all the right ways. I will say, the aesthetic of the decor is a bit on the simplistic side, however it doesn't deter from the food experience which is one of the top experiences we've had in the Lou to date. read more

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Came in for an early dinner on Saturday night with our 8 month old - I'll lead with this is definitely more of a leave your kids at home establishment then bring along, so I give them props for not even batting an eye at our less than refined dining companion and having a very nice and clean high chair. Waitstaff could not have been nicer to him and graciously accommodated our request for avocado slices. The flavors here are BOLD. Some dishes worked great, others less so. The two antojitos we ordered were delish: sope de nopal y tomate and the elotes ahogados. We (and our 8 month old) also appreciated the complementary sikil pak & chips they bring you when you are seated. Our second course - the platillos fish dish (a red grouper) & and the kaaxil sikil we felt were a bit off; fish itself was quite salty while sauce was bland, and the dumplings were quite sour/acidic. I loved both my cocktails - piscosito (has some surprise heat) and the margarita del diablo. The patio is lovely and they've done their best to make you forget your sitting on Kingshighway. All in all, we'd return, sans baby, but not in a huge rush. read more

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First time trying El Molino and I'm so grateful it's so close to home. We had heard incredible things but finally decided to pop-in for a Friday night date. The space is beautiful and you can opt to sit inside or outdoors. We made a reservation and we were glad we did because it was busy. The service was great we checked-in and were sat immediately, We ordered cocktails - Picosito and the Margarita del Mayab. Both were delicious and strong. For food we decided and a few small plates, tacos and dessert. For the small plates we picked the tuna aguachile and Tamal colado. They brought out their chips and salsa (Sikil pak) as a starter. The aguachile was delicious, fresh, vibrant and spicy. The addition of the watermelon was so good and it soaked up the aguachile. The tamal was flavorful and the cochinita pibil inside was to die for. I needed ten of them and will dream of the tamal for days. For tacos we ordered the Castacan, suadero, and camaron de coco. Two come with each order. They were all divided but the Suadero was our favorite. Overall we had a wonderful evening, the music and the staff were great. We will be back! read more

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I think El Molino restaurant has unique and authentic Mexican food and is my new favorite for Mexican food in the St. Louis area. After some complimentary very thick blue tortilla chips and a dip I then had an appetizer of a pork tamale atop a banana leaf and for a main entree I ordered the Chuleta de Castacan plate that is a encrusted pork belly chop in a dish with lima beans that had very complex flavors that were very gourmand tasting food. Prices were high but the quality was high too. The two cocktails I tried were wonderful included the Margarita del Mayeb and Sangria Tropical that were crafted perfectly. Service was excellent and attentive and the restaurant has a modern but understated vibe to give it the atmosphere of being in a top notch restaurant without over embellishment. read more

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This farm-to-table Mexican neighborhood gem is truly something to savor and cherish. The flavors are bold, creative, and made me want to try everything on the menu. It's definitely a tapa-style, shareable dining experience.We sat at the bar and loved watching each dish being prepared -- it really added to the experience. The service was fantastic: friendly, attentive, and welcoming from start to finish. We started with the Kaaxil sikil, which is kind of like a dumpling but not traditional at all -- more like a mashed ball served in an incredible garlic broth. Next were the diver scallops (my favorite dish of the night!) with white chocolate mole, pepita, fennel, and fresh herbs. Absolutely outstanding.I had a non-alcoholic mocktail that was ginger- and citrus-forward and super refreshing. For our main course, we shared tacos: smoked turkey, pork belly, and wagyu. Every single one was delicious and unlike anything I've tasted before.Highly recommend checking this place out. I can't wait to come back and try their entrées next time! read more

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The food is so special, unique and well thought out. The ingredients are locally sourced, items are hand made, lots of love go into every dish--and the service reflects this! Everyone was knowledgeable, caring and passionate about the food and your experience. The lighting is low, creating a warm, cozy vibe. Drinks complement the whole experience! This is one of my new favorite spots! read more

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This was some of the most unique and passionate food I've eaten this entire year. Crazy that this is right near home. Fantastic food and explanation of dishes and how the food is made. I spoke with one of the owners and he was super personable and passionate about the food his brother was cooking up and it shows. This place deserves all of the publicity and then some because restaurants like this in STL are not common. The quality of the food here is next level. Definitely come and try multiple dishes. Guaranteed you will leave saying you've never had anything like that before. read more

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Everything we ordered was AMAZING even the chips and dip. The food tasted fresh and home-made prepared by a gifted chef. Wow, I am still dreamin' about the meal. Our server was well trained and very hospitable. I will be going back and highly recommend. read more

Tour de Taco rolled into El Molino del Sureste, and wow -- this spot is something else. The Montes de Oca brothers are bringing Yucatán roots and serious culinary chops to STL, and you can taste the heart they put into every dish. Their secret weapon? A 10-horsepower wet mill grinding house-nixtamalized masa daily. That masa shows up in tortillas, tamales, and more -- and you can taste the difference. We kicked things off with cocktails, and the Perra Salada stole the show -- tangy grapefruit, sotol, lime, and a tajín rim that just begged for another sip. The chips and dips weren't your average starter either: sikil pak (pumpkin seed dip) that was earthy and nutty, plus smooth black beans with queso fresco. The mains brought the wow factor: Chile en Nogada -- poblano stuffed with beef + pork picadillo, bathed in walnut sauce and dotted with pomegranate seeds. Stunning and rich. Tamal Colado -- banana-leaf wrapped masa filled with cochinita pibil. Comfort food with flair. Cochinita Pibil Taco -- citrusy pork topped with bright pink pickled onions. Simple, bold, and perfect. El Molino isn't "just another Mexican restaurant." It's a place where tradition meets creativity, and the result is unforgettable. STL foodies, you need to check this one out. And while you're at it -- follow me here on Yelp, plus over on Facebook and Instagram, to keep up with all my foodie finds, cocktails, and sassy adventures. #TourDeTaco #STLFoodie #ElMolinoSTL #TheLouAndBeyond read more

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Inspired by Mexico's Yucatán, El Molino is a one-of-a-kind restaurant in the St. Louis area. The service was great--everyone we encountered was personable and attentive. The interior is warm and intimate, with Yucatán-inspired décor. The food was top-notch. However, the best item we had was the tlacoyo de camote, a stuffed corn masa cake with salsa macha and goat cheese. These were WONDERFUL and easily the best dish I've eaten in St. Louis in quite some time. We also got the achiote-citrus pork taco and the Wagyu taco. Both were packed with flavor, and the meats were moist. For an entrée, we ordered the chuleta de castacán con ibes. This large plate features a fried pork belly "chop" in a lima bean broth. The pork belly was unlike anything I have ever eaten--the outside was crispy, almost like a pork rind, while the center was tender. A 10/10 dish, but very rich! I will definitely be returning to El Molino. read more

Gluten-free tacos. 9/10 on the salsa. Beans could b softer but still good food. The server was nice read more

It's been a while since I wrote a yelp review and El Molino is the restaurant to break that streak. My friend and I sat outside on their well decorated patio, albeit by a busy street, it was never an issue as the food, the drinks, and the service was superb. The presentation of each dish shows the care and attention from the chef. The drinks were unique, with several N/A options. The service has excellent, our server was extremely attentive, kind, made very good recommendations. Their menu changes with products they acquire for the store so we will be back often! read more

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The food was outstanding and the staff was quick and attentive. If you're looking for a sexy little upscale Mexican restaurant, this is the one for you. read more

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I really enjoyed El Molino. It reminded me of authentic Merida/Yucatan food and was really unique to other Mexican restaurants around. The service was fantastic as well. Tried: sea scallops, corn masa dumplings with mushrooms and mole, pork and pork belly tacos, masa fritter, and goat cheese flan Loved: the sea scallops and masa fritter were highlights for me in addition to the goat cheese flan. The sea scallops were well cooked and the white chocolate mole was unique but very tasty. The masa fritter was crispy and had a lot of meat in it. Lastly, the flan was a light goat cheese flavor, not too much but unique and very good flavor. Disliked: parking is a little annoying with parallel parking in addition to the construction currently happening, but it's free which is nice. Also for as nice as a restaurant and food as it is, the ambiance is a little more casual than I would expect. read more

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Did not expect to like it so much after reading some polarizing reviews. This place is the real deal and their recent James Beard nom solidifies it. Was never a huge scallop guy, but theirs served alongside a white chocolate mole proved to be the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and spicy. The braised octopus was another interesting pick but the dish that really set things off was the pork belly chop. This was one of the most flavorful pork belly dishes I've ever had. Their goat cheese flan was also a hit; an S-tier desert and top 5 in the city, however, you really need to like goat cheese for it to hit the same. All in all, this place rocked. Authentic and delicious. I just hope to God they're able to relocate to a more accessible location than where they're currently at. Favorite dishes: Scallops, pork belly chop, goat cheese flan read more

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El Molino was absolutely the perfect choice for Valentine's Day! They had a specialized 4 course menu, and each bite was absolutely delicious. The turkey mole rosa dish was so flavorful, I could've sworn it was pork tenderloin. The ability of the chefs to bring out such incredible flavors in their ingredients is worth the price tag. Of course the super friendly service was a lovely cherry on top! A bit pricey for everyday dining, but will definitely keep El Molino bookmarked for special occasions read more

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This was a fantastic meal! The restaurant is super cute (make a reservation). Our server, Armani, was amazing. Great recommendations and very good at checking in. The blue crab toasts great delicious, but the whole chocolate mole sea scallops were amazing. Loved the tacos too. Great restaurant, very excited to go back! read more

El Molino - Shrimp tacos and a guava mezcal drink - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

My son took me here for my birthday dinner in October. It was a unique Mexican restaurant because their items are authentically made. Overall I liked it. We ordered three appetizers, two main courses, I enjoyed the appetizers more than my main entree. My main entree was very very very salty. I could not eat it. People are very nice so we did not complain at all. My son's main course was OK but with the price the quantity was very small. The overall dinner was pretty costly. They gave me a free dessert which we appreciated but it was way over sweet and man oh man we only had three bites and had to leave it there. I do not think we will go back. read more

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Family of 5 liked it a lot. Sat outside it was nice. Waiter said our order was light but we were good read more

El Molino - Pibil Cochinita Pibil - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Everything we ordered was uniquely flavored and very high quality. The menu was somewhat overwhelming at first, but our excellent waitress walked us through it with enthusiasm and patience! We started with the tamale, pork belly taco and coconut shrimp taco. All 3 were excellent but my favorite was the coconut shrimp which had a tamarind sauce. We shared the fresh fish dish and the Wagyu beef rib. Both were delicious large enough to share. Overall, the flavors were unique and spot on. We will be back! read more

El Molino - Fresh fish - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Wow 10/10! Some of the best food I've ever had & I have had a lot of authentic Mexican cuisine! The service was incredible and you can tell they are passionate and knowledgeable about the food and experience they create! The ambiance is relaxing with great music! I had so many amazing dishes and we cleared every plate, our favorites were the Suadero taco and the blue crab tostada! I can't even believe there are reviews that are not 5 stars! You can't beat that quality or flavors! We will definitely be back and be regulars! What's great is even if you don't want to spend a lot you can always just go grab a couple tacos! Our server Armani was so attentive and kind! read more

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Super authentic. It's a fancy upscale place - not your typical Mexican restaurant. It's pricey and good for impressing your date. Food was good and filling. Great service. read more

I really wanted to love this place, because the employees were so nice and I really liked the owner. However, the cost for the food was not worth what you got and, overall, a decent amount of the stuff we got didn't have an awesome taste. By that I mean, the taste of the dessert we got was so bad that we couldn't consume more than one bite and were so disappointed by the experience - it felt like gastronomy gone SO wrong. Additionally, we waited forever for everything to come out and for service in general. The place was cute and the owner was a really cool dude, but I can't recommend to come here when we waited forever, had food that didn't taste great, and paid a lot. Hopefully they get some kinks worked out and things get better in the future. read more

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This restaurant is overrated, menu was short yet confusing, atmosphere is nothing special as you literally sit outside on the street overlooking S.Kingshighway, prices are ridiculously high for what you get, it was one time visit for me, read more

Expensive, and trying to hard to innovate Mexican food. Love all kinds of authentic food, this missed the mark.

Be prepared to spend money, OK! One of my cocktails was almost $20! It's a farm-to-table Mexican restaurant serving authentic Yucatán cuisine with small plates and shareable options, most of which have a kick (spice) to them! I loved my blue crab tostada and everything tasted fresh. The food had unique flavors I've never had before and it was delish. The only downfall was that there was only one server and he had a difficult time with our bill and service was slow. read more

El Molino - a glass of alcohol and a glass of lemonade - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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El Molino "the mill" del Sureste is a unique take on Mexican cuisine offering traditional Yucatán bites. The Blue Crab Tostada, Squash Blossom Tostada, and Octopus Ceviche were delicious choices... It is #stlouispescatarianapproved The Seafood Rice Dish is a flavorful and satisfying choice for a main course. It's a lil' spicy though. The fact that this spot is 100% gluten-free means it's a great option for those with dietary restrictions. Mayan patterns and the bright yellow aesthetic creates a visually appealing and culturally rich atmosphere. Oh, and one of every dessert please! Creative & unique! Loved it! read more

Amazing food. Owners are wonderful and friendly. Almost everything is gluten free. But you don't have to have an allergy to find this place delicious. Tacos are my faves and some dishes and ingredients change with the seasons. They are true to their heritage and their grandmother's cooking. Should for sure give this place a try. read more

What a gem. And 10% off on Thursdays for Southampton residents. Food was fresh. The tostadas were made from blue corn and you could taste it. Very nice. The seafood was fresh and tender and the combo of flavors and textures was very nice. The carnitas were pork feet but we are morons and didn't realize that's what trotters meant. If we had to have them anywhere this was it because they were pretty good honestly. We were wondering why it was a little tough to chew at times. Whoops. read more

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I have been to six times in the past three months... yes, an indulgence, but when you find something so special and so impeccable... you make it happen. I never thought I would write a review about a salad... but the beet salad is perhaps the most delicious thing I've ever had in my life?? Truly mind blowing flavors with the beets, the blistered pickled green beans, the grilled chunks of cheese, and the over the top in a very good way herby and citrusy dressing. The time and care and thought that goes into each component of each dish boggles my mind. I love spicy food so it's no issue to be but if you have an issue with heat ask before you order! Some things are a little sneaky. Give El Molino a try and you'll be so happy you did. It will be the most unique meal you have in a long time! read more

The food here was excellent. We ordered multiple items, most of them seafood offerings. The scallops were perfect, the aguachile was as well. The octopus "braised in its own ink" was the best octopus dish I have ever had. Our server seemed new, but the rest of the team helped her out and made up for a few minor transgressions My main complaint and reason for 4 stars was the ambiance. It was veryyyy dark. The vibe didn't match the food being served. The decor was off and somewhat dated. And the open kitchen felt cluttered rather than cultivated. I hope that this place does well so they can invest in some updates to their space. read more

Honestly not sure how to feel about El Molino. I walked in loving the feel, look of the restaurant, and couldn't wait for patio season there. The server was very nice, the wait wasn't too long for anything either. However, if you go into this restaurant expecting a typical restaurant experience, this is not the place for you. It is styled more as the type of restaurant where you eat something from each section of the menu, if you have had idol wolf before, it's very similar to that! Nothing wrong with this, just throws you off if that's not the style you expected. We started with the tacos, which were very good!!! That wagyu steak taco I still think about! & the shrimp taco is great too, I think if I would've gotten 3 tacos instead of trying to order a dish, I would've been much happier! I decided to go with the ceviche negro (octopus) as my entree after the taco, when it came out I honestly was confused. A small bowl with pico de gallo, what seemed to be shrimp, and chips came out. Now I'm not sure if there was a mix up because I do see they have ceviche de Camaron on their menu.. it wasn't bad it was just like a shareable appetizer almost... and again, chips and pico/shrimp, we were told the menu gets bigger as it goes down, and the seafood was second to last on the menu, I was expecting something much more than a bowl of pico and chips.. I'm still unsure if I was even given the right dish as it did not seem like octopus. I went here for my birthday, I was just not impressed and confused, I think it's probably a great place for people with a better understanding prior to going of how they operate & more of an idea of what the dishes are. I would go back just for the tacos though! I wouldn't say the food tasted bad at all, it was just the confusion of my dish and the portion/ not knowing prior of how this restaurants experience is suppose to be that made me not walk away amazed! For those who love trying many different things on a menu and go to restaurants in this format, I think you will have a great experience! read more

El Molino - Steak taco (top) and shrimp taco (bottom) - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

This is in our neighborhood and we have wanted to try it for months. Finally got to do so Saturday night. It was a wonderful experience. We didn't have a reservation, so we were seated at the bar. The service was friendly and the server made excellent suggestions to we first-timers. I had a Margarita del Mayab. It was fresh and mildly fruity. We shared starters, Tlayaco del Camote, Taco del Pavo en Escabeche (turkey with chiles and citrus) and the octopus entree. All were excellent! We will definitely be back soon! read more

This is an incredible restaurant!! We got the shrimp, ceviche, cactus quesadilla, masa dumplings, and scallops with white mole and were so impressed with each one! The sea scallops were our favorite! The server who was also one of the owners, was so kind and knowledgeable. We will definitely be back! read more

El Molino - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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I highly highly recommend El Molino del Sureste, where I sampled the cochinita pibil taco, the taco de castacan (crispy pork skin), the taco de camarones al coco (coconut-masa fried shrimp, gluten-free!), and the panucho de pavo, a bean-stuffed tortilla with smoked turkey. All were excellent, but that panucho de pavo was SPECTACULAR. Hard to describe how the tortilla is just, like,lightly lined with a layer of silken refried beans? They do all their masa work in-house. Chef's kiss. (NOTE: I live in Los Angeles, and I don't fuck around with tacos.) read more

Unique menu for both food & cocktails. We enjoyed the shareable portions to try more of the menu! The tacos & tostadas are a must! read more

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Food was phenomenal, as expected based on previous visits to Sureste in the Foundry. Impressive service, extremely knowledgeable and made great recommendations. Staff did a great job walking us through the menu, easing any initial intimidation one can feel approaching an unfamiliar regional cuisine. Very exciting stuff. read more

Fabulous. Just delicious. Everything we had was wonderful. We had the grilled mackerel which is an entire fish served with tortillas and it was outstanding. The mushrooms with the little dumplings were incredible. We had the octopus which was great. And these little round stuffed things that were so good we ordered more. We were expecting to spend a lot of money and maybe leave hungry because it is a "small plate" place. But we were absolutely stuffed and thought everything was reasonable. Super nice folks there. We sat at the bar so we could see things being made (and play some games), and enjoyed chatting with folks about g the the food. So glad they opened!! read more

El Molino - The stuffed masa with pork. - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Cute place, family owned. Unique dishes. Friendly staff service. Drinks are great. Shareable plates and large plates. Large plate big enough to split and take home for next day. Will be back. read more

I cannot say enough amazing things about this place. The food was incredible, beautifully presented, unique, and delicious. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable, helpful, and clearly cared about the food and restaurant. My partner and I are both from California and we both think this is maybe the best Mexican/Latin food in Saint Louis. On top of that, everything is gluten-free with the exception of some bottled/canned beer. I can't recommend this place enough! read more