Love this place, the decor and vibes, the food, the service, everything! I ordered the steak and it was huge, no way a person can finish it The dessert was this cute chocolate mixed in a cute cacao shell made of white chocolate... yum! The churros with the hot chocolate dip were great! It was a team dinner and we had a great time. read more

I absolutely loved this spot! It is the perfect blend of authenticity and sophistication, and it is also owned by Chef Hugo, if that means anything to you. It was recommended to me, so I decided to give it a try for lunch. I split the barbacoa de res rolled steak and the calabacita side with my partner, and it was enough to feed two. We could have been fine with just the steak. Portions are large. The steak was deliciously tender and came served with potatoes, carrots, and a mole sauce beneath it. Although I am not a huge fan of mole, I thought it paired well with the steak. There were also balls of masa with a tomatillo sauce over them that great. We were also given corn tortillas on the side, which were a great addition to make tacos. The dish was plated beautifully, and all the flavors worked well together. 10/10, I would order it again. The calabacita side was recommended to us by the server, as the most popular side dish, so we gave it a try. Although I am not a huge fan of squash, it was cooked perfectly. It also came with a mushrooms, queso fresco, and a tomatillo type sauce. It was such a large portion for a side, and I enjoyed it very much. 9/10, I would order it again as well. The interior of the restaurant is nice. It is bright inside with lots of windows, and the seating is comfortable. Ambiance is on the quieter side, which I appreciate. Service is fast and consistent. Our server made great recommendations and checked up on us repeatedly. Food came out fast. There is no free parking. The restaurant itself has valet, and there is downtown street parking if you can find for cheap. Overall, I'd give the spot a 9.5/10. I thoroughly enjoyed everything, and I will be back to try more of their menu. I would highly recommend for a date night. read more

Xochi - Barbacoa de Res de Zaachila - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Loved this place! Unique flavors, lovely plating and great atmosphere (we came on day of the dead). My favorite dish was actually the appetizer--Molotes de Xoxocotlan. Be warned that it comes with grasshopper garnish (we got it without the insects as our waiter warned us). We also tried the Costilla de Res en Mole Negro (short rib) which had the most delicious mole as well as the Tlayuda de Hongos (vegetarian tortilla) which was quite unique and my boyfriend was a huge fan of. Would love to come back and try more of their dishes and flavors of mole. read more

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This might be one of the best restaurants I have ever been to, just wow. Food: I ordered the steak with ant mole and purple potatoes and I devoured the whole plate (which came with a very reasonable portion size). I also got an appetizer the Queso de Rancho (no notes incredible) and a dessert the Cacao, it was also incredible and offered a great bit of variation for a singular dessert. I also tried my sister's cocktail she ordered (I am unsure of which one it was) and it was so tasty. I am writing this review a few years after I went and I still can not stop thinking about it. I would also say the portions are fair for the price. Service and atmosphere: This place can get a bit busy, and the food took a little bit of time to come out, however I think it is worth the wait. I remember the waiters being nice and the whole vibe of the restaurant also being nice too. Overall, if you want a nice dinner and are comfortable spending a bit of money go here!! read more

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We had a delicious dinner here. They specialize in mole. Service was very efficient. Great spot for date night or with a group. Loved their cocktails! read more

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Too Good not to visit! The ambiance, the service and the food are all in sync. Great brunch experience for all types of palettes. The portions are small but packed with flavor and so you can try all of the great dishes with room for sweets. read more

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I'm on a quest to visit every single Hugo restaurant and so XOCHI was in the list. We came to the brunch buffet on a Sunday, sorry I couldn't take any picture of the actual buffet area but I was so excited to try everything I forgot. They have real Mexican authentic food and even though is a buffet they still make it flavorful and they have lots of options. The mimosas I think is my favorite part we grabbed the grapefruit one and it was surprisingly good (as I don't really like grapefruit). Buffet ends at 3pm and we got a reservation for 2:15 so some of the dishes looked a bit empty but I understand that they didn't want to refill it but that could've been better that's why I only gave them 4 stars. I still need to come back for happy hour!! read more

Xochi - Brunch buffet baked goods - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

This is a great place to come for dinner or drinks before events downtown including concerts or games at the Toyota Center. Food, drinks, and presentation are always stellar, and the service is fast enough that you won't worry about getting to where you're going on time. read more

Xochi is an upscale Mexican restaurant situated in downtown Houston. It boasts "the flavors of Oaxaca." This creative endeavor of award-winning Chef Hugo Ortega focuses on freshness in a restaurant where everything is made from scratch! The ambiance is such that you are invited to sit back and relax in dimmed lighting with the noise of other patrons, busy wait staff, and music filling the air. Each table is adorned with a small, brightly colored cactus flower in a glass jar. The sturdy menu is beautifully printed and describes all of the unique offerings of Xochi. As an appetizer we tried the Aguachile de Naranja Roja - spicy yellow fin tuna, blood orange, and lime. It was delicious. The tuna seemed to just melt in your mouth; however, with a price tag of $20 I would have expected a little more substance. For my main course, I ordered the Pato Crujiente - crispy duck, salsa albañil, adobo Oaxaqueño, chicharron, and refritos. I highly recommend this dish. The duck was cooked to perfection with crispy skin and juicy meat all while sitting atop a bed of refritos. My friend ordered the Cachetes de Res en Mole Pasilla, and he was very pleased! They even have a mole tasting menu for those who can't just choose one. For dessert, we tried the Helado de Elote - corn custard ice cream, blue corn atole, corn cookie, and Texas blue corn whiskey-infused ice cream. This was a very unique dessert; a small serving size but with mighty flavor! I would definitely order this again and again! I highly recommend Xochi for a night out or special occasion. Note: Parking in downtown can be difficult, especially during dinner time. Take this into account if planning a trip to Xochi. read more

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We had a friend recommend eating at Xochi while in Houston, and I'm so glad we went! This restaurant is right in the heart of downtown and was easy to find. Even on a Tuesday, it was pretty busy with a lively crowd. We were able to be seated right away and the waitstaff was very welcoming, friendly, and attentive. What really earned Xochi this five-star review is the exceptional food. The flavors were unusual or unexpected but they worked together to form delicious meals! I loved the octopus but perhaps my favorite menu item was the side of cauliflower. The sauce it came with was to die for!! We had to sample desserts knowing that the chef took such a unique approach to plate creation. The flourless chocolate cake was some of the best I've ever had. I look forward to next time I'm in downtown Houston to go back! read more

Xochi - Dessert - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I had a early reservation for New Year's Eve, it was very busy, but the staff was killing it there was no moment our waters were less than half way empty and the food was brought out very quickly. The menu was limited due to it being a prefixe menu, but every options was perfect Me and my fiancé ordered different options so we could try everything, and The drinks were balanced perfectly. The only downside I should have booked my reservation earlier so I could have spent New Year's Day at Xochi and made the mistake of going to Makiin. I would definitely return to try more menu options. Food- 10/10 Drinks- 10/10 Service- 11/10 read more

We came to Xochi to celebrate my husband's birthday and I made reservations. We were seated promptly and there was a happy birthday card signed by the owners. I really nice touch. We ordered some cocktails made with Mezcal and a moly tasting platter. Everything was delicious. Our waiter Carlos was very friendly and gave some good suggestions for food. We ordered beef, short rib, pork, shank, and scallops for main course. We also ordered some Calabazas and cauliflower sides. Every single dish was delicious and paired perfectly with a Molay sauce. We ordered a second round of drinks. Another great cocktails experience. Smoky Mezcal was fared perfectly with different fruits and citrus. We really enjoyed them. Although we were very full, we had to get dessert because we were celebrating. We ordered Cacao and a pumpkin mousse dessert. The pumpkin mousse was beautiful and amazing fall flavor. But the Cacao was out of this world. We couldn't tell that the shell was edible white chocolate filled with all kinds of chocolate goodies inside what a treat. From valet parking to delicious cocktails, appetizers, main course, and dessert and service with a smile from Carlos. Overall, a perfect dinner experience. read more

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Wonderful food. I had the Chilean sea bass (off-menu) for my main. I split the Aguachile de Maracuya, Pulpo, and Cacao. All of the food had great flavor. The sea bass and aguachile were delicate yet packed with flavor, the grilled octopus tender and juicy, and the dessert luxurious. For the dessert, I loved the different combinations of textures and the contrast of the tart passionfruit with the chocolate. I had a hard time deciding what to get, I might have to come back again to try some of the dishes I didn't have! One qualm I did have was that the service felt a bit rushed at times. Our waitstaff was kind and it was a busy night, so it wasn't a huge fuss. read more

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Absolutely a 5-star first time dining experience. Definitely one of the best restaurants in Houston. My friend and I sat at the bar which is full service. The bartender was the best and the cocktails and food were exceptional. read more

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Location: I went to Xochi for the first time with two associates last night. One I met in a professional environment a couple of years ago. I didn't live in Houston at the time but we have keep in contact since then so this was our first time out together. We, and another one of her friends, went to celebrate her birthday. Our reservation was during the start of a concert so valet was full but they were helpful in pointing out parking nearby. I was able to find free parking close by within a few minutes. Service: The waitress was attentive and friendly. However, I arrived first and asked for a recommendation on a shareable appetizer for the table and she recommended the lobster tacos. Except, when it came out it was only one taco and not shareable. When we placed our order, I discreetly asked her to put the entree of the one celebrating her birthday on my tab and she agreed. However at the end of the night I was told that they don't split tickets. I added my items, a drink, the two appetizers I ordered before the other two had arrived, mine and the other entree, one of the drinks from the birthday girl, and my after dinner drink, 10% tax and 25% tip and asked her to charge that full balance to my card. I had gone over what I was paying for with the friend of my associate as well so she could account for the remaining items and add her tax and tip appropriately since my balance would drop the remaining balance significantly. So when the waitress brought my recipe I wrote in a 0 for tip because my balance already including it. The waitress came over three different times to tell me I didn't leave a tip and I had to explain that I had multiple times. The last time I pointed out each thing I was responsible for, added it up, explained the 10% tax and 25% tip and did a final add to show her that what I paid was my full portion and that I was not responsible for the remaining balance after that. She was not rude about it but I was also trying not to make the one celebrating her birthday uncomfortable by talking numbers and prices and she came over three different times which was unnecessary. I didn't see what the other person left and wasn't going to turn the attention on her because that would have been as inappropriate as the waitress coming over three times to ask me about my balance. Food: Good but overpriced. It tastes good and is plated beautifully but the prices are not on par with food of this caliber. Also, I ordered a glass of a dessert wine at the end of the night which I received half full in a champagne flute. Champagne flutes are normally filled about 2/3 for a standard pour which is about an ounce less than the standard pour for wine. So a half full champagne flute is about half the standard pour of wine. Not sure if this is standard practice or if the bartender is not aware of the differences in the glasses and their purpose. But it's means the wine was either overpriced for the portion or they don't know what they are doing. Overall would not recommend. read more

Xochi - Barbacoa de Res de Zaachila - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

So for another episode of my endless search for the "Perfect Brunch Buffet" Houston. We decided to visit this place, located downtown on the first floor of the Marriott Marquis. The valet for the restaurant is separate from the valet at the hotel, so make sure to go around the corner and you will see the sign near the appropriate valet. When you walk in the buffet is front and center, there was also a live band for Sunday Brunch. We were promptly greeted by our waiter for drinks. There is an area for both cold and hot savory food and the sweets are separated along the bar area. Included on the savory side of the buffet is; fresh guacamole, salsa versa, corn tostadas, tamales, roasted potatoes, fresh soup, salad, arepas, roasted root veggies, stuffed poblano, corn on the cob, chilaquiles and multiple braised beef and chicken options, to name a few. Dessert options include, but are not limited to; cheesecake, chocolate tart, chocolate ginger cookie, alfajores, fresh fruit, and Mexican hot chocolate. My best bite was the chocolate cookie dipped in the hot cocoa. I was disappointed that there weren't more seafood options, like Caracol brunch. Also, because the food is so similar & it's more convenient for us to travel to the galleria, than downtown, we will just stick with the other for our Latin Brunch fix. Definitely a must try if you are downtown looking for brunch. Tip: make sure to get your parking validated inside as the charge increases from 11-100 dollars if you use them, but aren't eating at the restaurant. read more

Xochi - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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An incredible birthday dinner last night. You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. Our tops are pictured! If we could only pick one thing on the menu, it'd be the pork shank or the wood fired oysters. Service was quick/spot on for the first half of the meal, and deteriorated a bit, but I assume/hope that means the service folks got to take breaks. Make sure you get extra tortillas - they are insanely good! read more

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Xochi, "flower", is a lovely Oaxacan-inspired Mexican restaurant downtown in the Marriott Marquis Houston. It is owned by Chef Hugo Ortega and the H-Town Restaurant Group, known for its masas and moles. When you are downtown, parking is limited. There's only valet ($11) and metered street parking. You can make a reservation on Seven-Rooms or call them. It was about 70% full for early dinner when we visited, and I made my reservation the day before the planned day. There are plenty of dining tables, including high-top seats at the bar. There are three options for the HRW 2023 (clasico, mezcal, and vegetarian). We chose the first two options and shared them. FOOD: -- HRW 2023 Clasico: 1. Tiradito de Robalo (sliced bass ceviche, hoja santa, jalapeño, olive oil, and lime, 5/5): This was our favorite of the night. Frankly, the average quality of the sliced bass pieces, alone, is disappointing. However, when the 4-5 pieces of sliced bass are combined with the other ingredients in this dish, it's absolutely divine. The flavors meshed very well, especially the sauce consisting of hoja santa, jalapeno, and olive oil. 2. Memelita (blue corn masa pancake, chicken, refritos, salsa verde, queso fresco, crema, 3/5): It is similar to fresh corn tortillas but thicker like a "pancake". The ingredients all worked together, but I think it needed another kind of sauce, preferably a spice. 3. Cachetes de Res (braised beef cheeks, mole pasilla, quelites, creamy corn rice, 3/5): It needed something else. I didn't enjoy this type of mole with this dish. The beef cheeks were cooked nicely and perfectly proportioned with rich flavor. 4. Cremoso de Chocolate (chocolate mousse, air sponge cake, peanut powder, and strawberry, 4/5): The air sponge cake was fluffy, but it was too light. Otherwise, chocolate mousse was deliciously whipped. -- HRW 2023 Mezcal: 1. Aguachile de Maracuya (spicy yellowfin tuna, passion fruit, plantain tostada, and lime, 4/5): This was delicious. I loved all the flavors, as it complemented one another. It was a bit more passion fruit heavy. The plantain tostada was a very thin-like chip that added a crunch with the tuna and passion fruit. This was our second favorite dish. 2. Taquitos Dorados (chicken picadillo, mole coloradito, crema, queso fresco, 4/5): This was so delicious, especially the mole!!! I ate every drop of the mole. There are three taquitos in this dish. This was our third favorite of all the dishes. 3. Pato con Mole Negro (duck leg, mole negro, rice, refritos, 3/5): It needed something else. I didn't enjoy this type of mole with this dish. It is like your rice, beans, and chicken dish (except it's duck). The duck was cooked nicely and tender. It tasted like chicken. 4. Tarta de Manzana (apple tart, toffee sauce, whipped ganache, spiced oat crumbles, vanilla/mezcal ice cream, 4/5): I am not a fan of apples, but this was great! You have to take a bite of everything from the top tart to the bottom spiced oat crumble, then add a bit of the vanilla/mezcal ice cream on top. The only thing is that the tart was not warm. It would have been a game changer if it was warm, especially when combined with ice cream. The service was excellent, and our drinks never touched the bottom of the glass. Other servers will come by and assist. Our meals came out surprisingly quickly but with perfect timing between each course. Would I come back? I enjoyed my HRW experience here. Yes. read more

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I was impressed. I came here with two coworkers, and we enjoyed dinner outside. The waiter was super informative. I'll definitely be back to explore more from the menu. read more

Excellent food. Service was a little slow because they were busy. Braised short ribs with mole negro was my favorite! read more

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Wow wow wow! What a treat! Wanted to find a restaurant for an intimate retirement dinner, and this was the perfect spot. The indoors section was more upscale and the outdoors seemed more casual. The food was absolutely incredible. For appetizers, we got ceviche, tostadas, and empanadas. All delicious. And for the meals, I got enchiladas but I really wish I would've gotten the Cachetes! All of the flavors and the mole flavors were incredible. Very authentic food. The service was also incredible and the wait staff was very knowledgeable. Prices weren't as bad as anticipated. Will be back! read more

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Mexican food is known to be simple and inexpensive so I was initially hesitant to visit. My partner suggested that we celebrate my birthday here and was happy that I gave it a chance. I appreciated the attention to detail, the consistency of the food, and how all the flavors were perfectly picked so that every bite was an amazing one. The only thing keeping this from being a 5/5 was that the food was not very hot when it came out. Parking in downtown can be hectic but they offer valet. The inside of the restaurant was very clean and the decorations were nice, including the very real nopales on table (pls don't touch them, learned the hard way). Overall, we had a great time here and are excited for our next visit. read more

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What a gem of a restaurant! I was visiting Houston and found this restaurant, on Yelp of course. The ratings do not lie, service, ambiance, and food was all 100%! For food, the oysters are a great starter. Amazingly, they were enormous and the sauces they had complemented the sweet oysters. I also ordered their corn mezcal drink - did not have much corn flavor, but the drink was so beautifully presented especially with the corn in the toothpick. The braised pork was a tower, and it did not need a knife to cut through. It literally melted off the bone. The vegetarian mole had a great variety of mushrooms and the flavor was captivating. The biggest surprise was the dessert and it was also presented beautifully and the flavors are meshed so well together. Loved this place and service was amazing! The food came out way quicker than I thought and all in all, just a great place to have dinner in downtown Houston. read more

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Food was fantastic, service was great...my issue is with the valet. We parked our car with Xochi Valet. Had dinner, then went to Biggios in the Marriott Marquis (which is attached to Xochi). We go out to get our car at 11:55pm, and valet is gone. So we go talk to Marriott valet. They tell us that they have to email the GM, Manuel Ponce, and that he could respond in 15 minutes or the next day. Apparently he is the only one that can give permission to release our vehicle, so we were basically held hostage. We were not told that Xochi valet would be unavailable after a certain time, there is nothing on the ticket, so we were blindsided. Based on this alone, we will not be eating at Xochi or any of its affiliate restaurants for the foreseeable future. read more

Xochi - Nothing says there is a time limit on when we can collect our vehicle - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Xochi is an experience I finally tried their Sunday buffet which is $45/person. The buffet has an array of high quality food with plenty of veg options for those that do not eat meat. Each portion of food was delicately put together. I'm recommending this Sunday buffet to all my friends. read more

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Our waiter was phenomenal. He was a consummate professional. His recommendations were on point and the food was beyond delicious. I am a fan of molé now! Great vibe and easy to hear conversation at our table. Looking forward to my next visit. read more

Authentic Mexican Oaxaca food that cannot be missed especially if you are staying or near downtown. They offer so many great options and the servers are so nice and funny. A must go to restaurant for an authentic experience ! read more

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Stopped by Xochi (pronounced so-chee) while on lunch at a conference, and so glad I did. I sat at the bar, service was great (I believe his name was Jake), and the food was exceptional from beginning to end. Modern take on Oaxacan flavors, and did not miss. From the woodfired oysters to the enchiladas even to the Cafe de Olla for dessert...everything was amazing. read more

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The service was great; the food was just good. It expensive and we ordered some of the most expensive items on the menu and it didn't wow us but it was ok. Would I be in rush to head back? The answer would be no but if we were invited I would attend. Nothing about the place stood out the food was good the service was very nice but it not a big deal. It is better than. Hugo's but not better than Nifias. I wouldn't recommend because I would likely forget the place but not because it s bad but because for the $300 billion of two people it wasn't memorable. read more

We were pleasantly surprised and we did not go with high expectations. I felt the food was very very good and it appeared to be clean. In other words natural good quality ingredients. i really like the ambiance and the staff we heard from were polite courteous and interested in doing a good job. Great experience overall. read more

The dinner menu at Xochi is truly the best value I've ever experienced for HRW. The food was simply phenomenal. Overall, I found the Clasico Menu to be the clear winner over the Mezcal Menu (and I'm a huge fan of mezcal!), but really, both were incredible (this is for HRW '23). The service was also thoughtful and attentive and the dishes were timed very well for our party of 6. The drink pairings for $32 were also impressive and full servings, not just tastings. The 1st and 4th cocktails on the Mezcal menu were absolutely bomb, the middle 2 weren't balanced. All of the wine pairings were lovely. We can't wait to go back and try their normal menu. read more

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Food excellent. I had the Tamal, Grilled Oysters and something called Memel. All EXCELLENT, highly recommend. Service as expected and the place is beautiful. Head chef passed as we were eating. Best flavors of Mexico!!!! read more

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Happened to be staying at the Marriott Marquis and decided to eat here since it was adjacent to the hotel. It was a great decision. It is always a plus when patio seating is available. The drinks were amazing and the food was on point. Xochi is an authentic Mexican gem! The vibe, food, and drinks are amazing. The ambiance is vibrant, the dishes are bursting with flavor, and the handcrafted cocktails are a must-try. I highly recommend this restaurant while visiting Houston and, of course, even for locals, for an unforgettable Mexican dining. read more

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I took a client to dinner hear this week and they did not disappoint. The appetizers and food came out promptly and we did not feel rushed to eat and leave the table. My client appreciated the authentic taste of the food. read more

I first found out about Xochi a few months ago when having dinner with an ex-co-worker in town who selected this restaurant to try different moles. The food and service were high class that I decided to bring my wife on her birthday. The Australian lamb chops with the tamarind mole is absolutely out-of-this world which brought me back. Also this time we tried the yellow fin tuna which was just as great. The waiters and servers are very welcoming and appreciative of us being there and constantly made sure throughout the dinner that we were being well-served. read more

Coming here had been a long time want. I ended up on a random Sunday after church.... and the buffet was fabulous. Sunday brunch buffets in houston so far have been good, but Xochi takes the cake so far. The salads, main dishes. And sweets are so wonderfully curated they make a Sunday that much more perfect. The service was superb, and the buffet was so good. I truly enjoyed all the healthy options. Xochi is a great place for family or friends to gather. read more

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We went for brunch after the marathon. Everything except the desserts was gluten free and delicious. Great drinks and service as well.

First time visiting Xochi and definitely won't be our last. We decided on going for their Sunday Brunch and it did not disappoint. Food was full of flavor, service was top tier, ambiance was awesome and they even had live music which sounded fantastic. Drinks and food selection was great. They also offer valet which was $11 but very convenient. Would highly recommend going for brunch for a perfect "day date" or a gathering with friends and family. Thank you Xochi! read more

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The good selection was stellar and delicious! I especially enjoyed the memela, shrimp empanadas de camaron and fried calamari! The desserts were a nice surprise as well (pictured)!! read more

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Interesting upscale Mexican food Mole Mole Mole No Pico De Gallo No Tomato salsa Chicken was tasty Steak Mole "flatbread" interesting No ginger ale only ginger beer Nice decor No Tacos LOL Yummy Churros and fresh made cocoa milk read more

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