Food was delicious and fresh. Good drinks and service as well. Menu had a lot of options, more of sharing plates vibe which is nice to try everything. A great addition to the STL food scene! read more

Very cool laid-back ambience. The food is authentic and very delicious. Lots of big bold flavors and good size portions. It seemed like Everybody in this restaurant on this staff works together and has a similar end goal. Great open kitchen so you can watch the chefs prepare your food. Highly recommend going in on a weekday evening when the place isn't going wild. For a restaurant and food of this quality, the price point is very reasonable. It's obvious the kitchen is very detail oriented and FOH seems to be as well. Altogether a great experience. read more

Food and drinks were delicious! Server was knowledgeable and water was always full. Can't wait to go back to try different menu items.

I rarely give bad reviews to a restaurant because I know what it means to them. We were excited to check out this new spot in stl since their menu featured moles, which is some of my favorite food. We had a party of 8 and the food started out good... but VERY SLOW SERVICE. Our server kept telling us they are "coursing" our meal, which felt like eternity our reservation was at 7:30pm and we didn't get our last plate of food until 9:45pm... it's not like the restaurant was packed or anything. At some point we thought she just forgot to put the dishes in. When the food came, the mackerel fish and the scallop dish was raw. I would have been ok with it if the manager didn't come over and told me it was how it's supposed to be served.. we had some good dishes but most of the dishes were actually underwhelming. I definitely won't be back nor would I recommend this place. read more

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The service was excellent, the food was absolutely delicious -- we had a great experience!! This place is run by two brothers, it is clearly a labor of love! The food was truly other worldly! We are vegans and this restaurant had ample, traditionally vegan options that truly blew our mind. The flavors, spices, and herb garnishes make this restaurant stand out from a lot of other restaurants in the city serving "elevated fare." This place is a must-go if you are vegan, or looking for a unique culinary experience. I see a lot of reviews complaining about "slow service" and price -- you have to realize they are making these masterpieces as you order. This is a culinary excursion. We were shocked that this was so affordable given the high quality of the food and the portion sizes. If you want cheap American food served quickly, go to McDonald's or Taco Bell or put some toasted ravioli in the air fryer lol. This is a traditional food experience with the freshest of fresh ingredients. We arrived around 7pm and we were still eating at 8:30. There was a constant stream of food, but it was served course by course with some spaces in between. It was absolutely perfect! Do not change a thing! read more

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Sincerely one of the best meals I have ever had. We went with a group and tried a ton of things. The squash blossom tacos, pepita dumplings, scallops, crab tostada and whole roasted fish were some of the standouts, but everything we tried was fresh, interesting and beautifully plated. Some diners said it's pricy, but it's all scratch cooked and the staff is amazing. Chef Alex even made us some special things to try. Definitely worth a try if you want something different! read more

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

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Excellent food. Artfully prepared and plated. Looking at pictures on Instagram I felt unsure of whether or not I would enjoy the dishes, but each one we sampled was packed with flavor. The passionfruit cocktail with tamarind-chile syrup in it packed more heat than I expected but was still refreshing and well-balanced. The tostada with blue crab was a favorite at our table! read more

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Cactus quesadillas were amazing. Ordered 3 dishes to share and all were so interesting and delicious.

The food was very unique and aligned with traditional food items. This is not an Mexican American restaurant and I was so glad it wasn't. Many places claiming traditional or authentic cuisine serve Americanized nonsense. This food provided an experience. All of the dishes were delicious and I tried 5 different items and a dessert. Everyone was very friendly and gave a lot of the story behind the food and the restaurant. I would definitely recommend this place for people looking to step outside of the box and experience real Mexican/Mayan cuisine. read more

Welp...got to the spot to have dinner with family. Noise level including music was low enough to allow for normal volume across the table. 3 of the 4 of us ordered alcoholic drinks. I don't drink alcohol and I do love me some diet cola. So..."ma'am can I have a Diet Coke?" "Nope, our soda machine had been down for a month and we don't have any tea either"... got it, so sounds like I'll be drinking this water. Looked at the menu for a while which all seemed like it was trying too hard to be more than it needed to be but I'm new here, the places is recommended, let's give it a whirl. Wait a minute, if you're fancy enough for $28 mole and mushroom plates, somebody could've ran to the nearest Schnucks and grabbed a case of soda to put behind the bar and sold them to me at three dollars a hit, I would've at least bought a couple. But no, I'll just drink my water. My sister ordered some Chicharróns and then we all looked at the menu a bit longer to order some more food. When coming to take the rest of our order, our server noted, the food won't be brought out the way you order it. It'll be brought out in the timing and order we think it should be served. , No ma'am if I order my tacos, bring me my tacos. If I order some of the other weird stuff on this menu, just bring it all to me. This ain't really a degustation menu so please quite trying to be that pretentious. My family ordered the blue crab tostada, that Molay and mushroom plate and some small scallop dish. Family said with food was good but who's paying these high prices for food that is just "good". My wife said her drink tasted like freezer burn. Why my wife knows what freezer burn tastes like I have no idea, but it did tell me that her drink was not particularly yummy. Service was OK. They did fix the wobbly table when I first mentioned it as we first sat down. As a table, we decided we could finish this little bit of food and then go somewhere else for dinner which we did. I can absolutely appreciate a chef with a fusion idea and I absolutely want them to be able to make as much money as they can, especially in the food industry, you just can't make it off food that is just OK. I looked at the rest of the clientele and I will tell you that they're just a different client than my family. All the best, we just won't be back...least until that month long broken soda machine gets fixed ‍ read more

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Food was excellent. It was unexpected and delicious . Food from the Yucatán peninsula includes turkey and venison along with the more familiar chicken / pork /fish . The menu also includes the owners grandmothers recipes lovingly recreated . We ate a lot of food. First the two types of pork fritters . Then the delicious beet salad , after that the scallops in white chocolate mole ( delicious but less savory than expected) and a grilled whole mackerel with salsa matcha . Then came the venison dish and the pork and turkey dish . For dessert we had the flan con queso and pastelitos with sweet potatoes . Drinks were great . Out of the many drinks is we tried we loved the mezcal old fashioned the best of all . The others were pretty solid as well . The tortillas kept coming and our water glasses were always full. The service was fantastic . That evening one of the owners was working due to staffing issues and his presence helped shape our food and drink choices . The ambience is cozy and I love the yellow hues on the wall as well as the decor . The whole experience was pricey but for the delicious food , drinks and culinary education , I would do it again ! Sorry I didn't take any pics . We were too busy eating . read more

Best New Mexico restaurant ever!! White chocolate scallops mole will blow your mind It is not your typical Mexican food you find everywhere in south city It is truly the TONY's Of Mexico cuisine Not to be missed read more

Amazing food from the Yucatan region in Mexico. Exceptional service and outstanding cocktails and ambiance!

The food was tasty, and much more interesting than the usual types of Mexican-ish food available in this region. Portions were on the small side, even for shared small plates. I had a daiquiri, which was very good. There are no attractive non-alcoholic options, which is disappointing. I don't know if they have coffee--it was not offered with dessert. Service was pretentious, yet slow and inattentive. However, the owner seemed very nice! The space is just plain confusing. Given that they're going for a somewhat upscale experience, the oilcloth covered tables, harsh lighting, lack of sound dampening, and plainly visible bug zapper seem at odds with the menu and pricing. read more

I see what they're going for. And I can see segments of STL supporting a Mexican inspired tapas restaurant. We ordered several plates and cocktails tonight. High points include the beverages and the pepita soup. The mole under the scallops was also good but the scallops were undercooked. The dishes are VERY small - even for tapas. On the downside was the ambiance with incredibly uncomfortable seating and sticky plastic table coverings. The music was so loud that we couldn't hear each other and it's very dark toward the front where we were seated. Flashlights out! Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and made good suggestions. Our bill for 5, which included only two entrees, was $300 including the tip. Not my vibe but cheers to the owner and chef for doing something different in this city of boring food. read more

We went with a party of 10, and early in their tenure. So some hiccups are excusable and even expected. However, we did not receive several ordered plates, even after 3 hours of "dining." Several of us left wanting to stop by a late night diner to actually have dinner. One of my highly anticipated dishes, the octopus, was never served, among others. That said, the food we did get was excellent. The service was very friendly and accommodating, apologizing for the missed dishes and handling the billing appropriately. One of the founders also expressed his regret for the missteps. And the cocktails were decent, though a little overpriced. I will definitely give them another chance, perhaps on just a date night. But not with a larger party. And I will modify my rating accordingly. read more

What are we talking about?! The best mexican food in town. Hands down. Food made me tear up. It's not a cheap restaurants, but the quality you get it's unbelievable. Great service, great cocktails, amazing food. I will ve back for sure. read more

My new favorite restaurant in St. Louis. Everything was amazing! The service was outstanding and the food was so tasty. Our table ordered 8 different dishes and they were all fantastic! read more

El Molino is an outstanding culinary experience. The Chef brings his heritage and talent to EVERY dish. I would pay any amount of money for this food because I know the meat is locally sourced and the chef goes out of his way to cultivate the freshest, ingredients. Can't wait to go back! read more

Very cool atmosphere can't wait to return and try something new.food was great server was nice

The scallops in white chocolate mole was one of the best dishes I've ever had. The octopus cooked in its own ink was astounding. Highly, highly recommend. read more

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

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Welcome to the neighborhood El Molino! You had me at homemade tortillas! I have a dairy sensitivity so going out is always a hurdle for me but not here! The server asked about allergies etc and when I mentioned I had an issue she was very accommodating and helped me with the menu. I was able to eat almost everything, but if I wanted the few of the items that had the dairy I couldn't eat they would have made the necessary changes. We started with the blue crab tostada which was dynamite! The ceviche tostada just as good! We also had the whole mackerel, a venison sausage dish and the octopus which all came with the delicious tortillas! The ink sauce on the octopus was so good I'm still thinking of it! The drinks were good and the space is open and inviting with the tortilla maker up front and center. It was busy but we could still have a nice conversation. It was nice to have something different. read more

Uninspired from cocktails to main course. Wondering if the chef is gone? Atmosphere was sedate and dull for a Saturday and it was impossible to order a tequila on its own- just as a horrible margarita. I do not get this place read more

overprice. I feel scammed, ordered queso empanadas that were literally flat mozzarella sticks. flavor was okay for the tacos but also overpriced for small tacos that didn't have enough meat and a bunch of cilantro. waitress recommended the Mezcal with guava drink that tasted like an ash tray. Mezcal has a strong taste as a person that lived in Oaxaca where Mezcal originated from I didn't even taste it. definitely do not recommend. for two tiny tacos and two small "empanadas" and a small drink was $65 btw. place was empty when we walked in now I know why. read more

Wow--had a fantastic meal here, everything really good, great vibe, wonderful staff and charming chef. It's been a little while but I remember the mackerel and the pepita dumpling app especially standing out. Super creative Mexican cuisine, one of the best Latin meals we've had anywhere, and one of the best restaurants in STL. Easily better than the Michelin-starred Latin restaurant we recently tried in NYC (Oxomoco). read more

A little on the pricey side, but the flavors are out of this world. The small plates were fantastic, and the white chocolate mole scallops were unlike any dish I've ever tried. read more

All of the food was absolutely amazing! Our server was very knowledgeable about every plate. We never had empty drink glasses. Everyone was polite. The mole was out of this world. The ambiance was relaxing and it made date night so special. read more

All around excellent dining experience. Delicious tacos and wonderful service. Can't wait to come back!

The best Mexican food I have ever had. It is unlike anything you have ever had. Amazing service! Everyone is so kind. read more

I would like to start off by stating the service was great, our server was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and did a great job. However, the food was not worth the price. We did enjoy one of the tacos that we ordered (the castican taco) but the smoked tomato braised pork taco was overdone and contained gristle. The octopus was good, as well as the scallops on top of mole (I can't remember the name at the moment). However, the skatewing was unimpressive (this might be my own personal taste) and we had to wait over 40 minutes for this dish. It was an okay experience but I did not feel good about spending $170 there as opposed to other options in St. Louis within a higher end price range. We will not be returning, but there were a few good parts of the meal. read more

Be prepared to spend some money... I realize these are supposed to be shared bites, but having said that , price and quantity does not commensurate, particularly when you're talking about an inexpensive meat like pork. It may just be my opinion, but I think their profit margins are way too high - food was very tasty. Service was attentive, although the restaurant was empty . If you don't mind a high price in the value to quantity ratio, I recommend this place! read more

I was really excited to try this new restaurant in my neighborhood, but am sorry to report that we waited for 10 minutes to receive our drinks and then weren't given an opportunity to order food for the 30 plus minutes we stayed after that. We decided to leave before ordering food, I'm afraid. This restaurant consistently receives rave reviews for the food--so I hope I'll have the opportunity to try it some time. For now, waiting for 45 minutes without being given the chance to order is a disqualifier. read more

This is not my granddad's Mexican restaurant. No chips and salsa. This is a highly creative take on food from the Yucatan Penninsula. The flavors are vibrant and bold. We've enjoyed everything from the whole mackarel to the pepita dumpling soup. Abby is an excellant server with a complete knowledge of the menu. The owner has come out to our table on both our visits and lends to the small and familial feel. This is our new favorite restaurant! - Kent and Tammy read more

Went last Saturday for dinner with my wife. The ambiance is nice. Very dark with about 14 tables and a bar. Looked like it would be a romantic choice for a first date. We ordered the Gordita de Rajas to start. This appetizer was almost inedible. A thick, dense masa with cheese; It was rather flavorless and actually hard to cut. Next, we ordered the Cayo de Hacha (scallops). The taste was good. Interesting blend of mole and spices, but it came with only three small scallops. At $27 it was not worth it and is certainly not enough food for even one person. We also ordered the Chile en Nogado. This took awhile to come out and the poblano pepper was undercooked/ and cold. The lamb picadillo stuffing was basically rare. Needless to say, we were very disappointed with our meal. On the bright side the service was good and the wine was affordable. Another gripe was that they add a 5% service charge to the bill for the kitchen staff. I hate it when restaurants do this as it leads to confusion about how much to tip the server (i.e., only 15%, since there is already a 5% service charge included? 20%? Who knows?). Just increase the food prices by what you need in order to adequately pay the staff instead of confusing (and irritating) your guests with nickel and dime charges. read more

The food and cocktails were so flavorful! Every bite and sip was amazing. The staff is very friendly and helpful. We decided the food was so delicious, we had to make room for dessert. We will definitely be returning soon to try other dishes! read more

We finally found this establishment open for dinner but we had to call first to make sure. Other dinner times we visited the establishment was closed due to a kitchen emergency or just closed without explanation. The menu offerings were unique and boasted Yucatán cuisine. Dinner tacos (one and a la cart) are small and are $8 expensive with not much flavor or anything else on the plate. If you're hungry for a taco, go elsewhere. The ambiance is okay but not comfortable when or if this place is packed. Probably too noisy and the seating is too close to each other for privacy, intimacy, and conversation. Not pleasant, relaxing or enjoyable. The service was so-(so) but for a $100+ meal we would expect much better service than received. Fast food service is what we experienced. One take away was the Goat Cheese Flan worth a mention but noting on the menu are worth a second chance. Overall, save your time, money, palate and enjoy dinner elsewhere. This establishment and menu offering is overpriced for this type of cuisine when the ingredients are local, typical, ordinary and tasteless. Nothing to brag or boast about with this restaurant establishment. read more

Wonderful experience tasting the food from southern Mexico. This restaurant hits the spot with their authentic and delicious dishes, from the venison tacos, to the octopus cooked in its ink. This restaurant does not disappoint and I highly recommend you visit them. Super nice folk and a great atmosphere. read more

Food was ok. However, the service was awful. There are better dining options in St. Louis for much lower prices.