Mexico City restaurant guide.

BUSINESS MEXICO brings you an ongoing list of some of Mexico City's top restaurants, rated by cost, service; decor and cuisine. A new restaurant is rotated onto the list every month, and we welcome your comments, recommendations and criticisms of the restaurants you've visited in order to compile

Email us at busmex@amcham.com.mx or write to BUSINESS MEXICO, Lucerna 78, Colonia Juarez, Mexico D.F., C.P. 06600.

Restaurant                          f     d    s     c

El Samurai                           6    6.5   6    $30
5523-1469
Nueva York 85 (near World Trade
Center), Col. Napoles
Los Almendros                        9    8     7    $25
5531-6646
Campos Eliseos 164
Col. Polanco
Tezka                               10    6     9.5  $50
5228-9918, ext. 5067
Amberes 78 (inside Royal Zona Rosa
Hotel), Zona Rosa, Col. Juarez
Mughal Oriental Bistro               9    8     9    $35
5616-2768
Av. San Jeronimo 263
(in the Escenaria mall)
The Dubliner                         7.5  8     7.5  $30
5250-8105
Mariano Escobedo 434
Col. Anzures
La Pigua                             8    9     9    $40
5281-2437/5281-1302
Alejandro Dumas 16
Col. Polanco
Bros                                 9    8     9    $35
5250-1325
Lope de Vega 266
Col. Chapultepec Morales
Le Cirque                            9    9    10    $70
5263-8881
Mariano Escobedo 700
Col. Nueva Anzures
Mazurka                              8    7     7    $30
5523-8811/5543-4509
Nueva York 150
Col. Napoles
Aguila y Sol                         8    9     9    $40
5281-8354
Moliere 42
Col. Polanco
Tierra D'Vinos                      10    8     8    $35
5208-5133/5207-9716
Durango 197
Col. Roma
Salute                               7    8     8    $25
5540-3303
Prado Norte 125
Col. Lomas de Chapultepec

Restaurant                          Remarks

El Samurai                          One of the oldest Japanese
5523-1469                           establishments in town, serving
Nueva York 85 (near World Trade     everything from sushi to teppanyaki
Center), Col. Napoles               to shabu-shabu ("the noise which
                                    fine strips of meat and vegetables
                                    make when being submerged in
                                    seasoned stock"). But with average
                                    food and sullen wait staff it needs
                                    to update its act a little.
Los Almendros                       Warm, cozy ambience and attentive
5531-6646                           service staff complement a splendid
Campos Eliseos 164                  Yucatecan menu. Panuchos or papadzul
Col. Polanco                        are great starters. The sopa de lima
                                    and black bean soup are excellent
                                    and the ensalada de puerto is highly
                                    recommended. Fowl and fish
                                    selections are plentiful and
                                    pechiguitas de pollo Los Almendros
                                    is excellent.
Tezka                               Self-described Spanish Basque
5228-9918, ext. 5067                cuisine offers a rare taste
Amberes 78 (inside Royal Zona Rasa  sensation you won't forget in a
Hotel), Zona Rosa, Col. Juarez      hurry. Though the decor is dull, the
                                    dishes and presentation are
                                    exquisite. Among recommended items
                                    are sweet potato empanadas (filled
                                    with lobster), the pescado bruja,
                                    veal and the lamb with cafe cortado.
Mughal Oriental Bistro              Elegant and attentive service
5616-2768                           combined with exquisitely prepared
Av. San Jeronimo 263                dishes make this experience well
(in the Escenaria mall)             worth the dent in the wallet. Egg
                                    rolls and chicken brochettes are
                                    great starters. The main courses are
                                    divided into fowl, meat, fish and
                                    noodles, with rice and vegetable
                                    sides. Serving sizes are generous
                                    and sublimely prepared.
The Dubliner                        The menu is a mix of traditional
5250-8105                           Irish dishes and concessions to the
Mariano Escobedo 434                Mexican palate. A mixed starter
Col. Anzures                        plate offers potato cakes, crab
                                    cakes, Irish sausages, chicken wings
                                    and french fries. Fish and chips are
                                    available as is a reasonable salad
                                    selection. The potato soup or lamb
                                    soup could suffice as a meal. Main
                                    courses feature classics such as
                                    corned beef, shepherd's pie, steak
                                    and vegetable pie and a wide variety
                                    of steaks.
La Pigua                            High-class restaurant featuring
5281-2437/5281-1302                 delicious seafood from Campeche.
Alejandro Dumas 16                  Menu reflects regional specialties
Col. Polanco                        by using Maya food names so don't be
                                    afraid to ask for translations.
                                    Chiles rellenos, cream of seafood
                                    soup and crabmeat (concha de jaiba)
                                    are recommended appetizers. Filet of
                                    huachinango, shrimp in ajillo sauce
                                    and pampano fish highlight the main
                                    courses.
Bros                                Wonderful for a meal or drink, Bros
5250-1325                           is a fine restaurant and pub
Lope de Vega 266                    combined into one. Bright wooden
Col. Chapultepec Morales            floors and a big bar in the middle
                                    provide a classic Irish pub feel,
                                    while great seafood highlights the
                                    menu (which is actually written on a
                                    chalkboard on the wall). The
                                    appetizers are real treats as well
                                    as the main courses but beware of
                                    the rack of lamb. It's good but very
                                    expensive.
Le Cirque                           A perfect dining option for the rich
5263-8881                           and famous or those who want to
Mariano Escobedo 700                pretend like they are Located in the
Col. Nueva Anzures                  Camino Real Hotel, there are no
                                    windows, which allows for an
                                    intimate dining experience or a
                                    private business lunch. Very
                                    expensive food and drinks highlight
                                    the menu, so come psychologically
                                    and financially prepared.
                                    Recommendations include the rack of
                                    lamb or a seafood dish. Gentlemen
                                    are required to wear a jacket.
Mazurka                             An old mansion converted into a
5523-8811/5543-4509                 restaurant offers a pleasant
Nueva York 150                      setting. No Mexican offerings here,
Col. Napoles                        as the food is authentically Polish.
                                    For platters, we highly recommend
                                    the kaczka, roasted duck, golobki,
                                    cabbage stuffed with ground beef and
                                    the nalesnick, a cheese-stuffed
                                    crepe with blueberries, for dessert.
Aguila y Sol                        A very chic and modern Mexican
5281-8354                           restaurant that leaves behind the
Moliere 42                          colonial area and ushers hungry
Col. Polanco                        patrons into the new age of local
                                    cuisine and architecture, while
                                    conserving its "Mexicaness." The
                                    restaurant's modernized versions of
                                    traditional Mexican appetizers and
                                    entrees are quite tasty and the
                                    impeccably dressed waitstaff gave
                                    top-notch service.
Tierra D'Vinos                      Wine lovers beware: over 1,000
5208-5133/5207-9716                 bottles of wine from Bulgaria to New
Durango 197                         Zealand spur so much excitement you
Col. Roma                           might hyperventilate. However, the
                                    outrageous 90-peso cork fee is an
                                    impediment, both psychological and
                                    economic, to ordering more than one
                                    bottle. The short menu is replete
                                    with delicious Spanish entrees and
                                    platters.
Salute                              A bright atmosphere and good
5540-3303                           international food make Salute a
Prado Norte 125                     winner for those looking to have a
Col. Lomas de Chapultepec           friendly lunch or dinner, Located in
                                    the banking district just beyond the
                                    Periferico, the sunken nature of the
                                    restaurant blocks out the street
                                    noise, while ivy-covered walls
                                    please the eyes.

f food
d decor
s service
c cost (in U.S. Dollars per person)
1-3 dreadful to poor
4-6 mediocre to fair
7-8 good to very good
9 excellent
10 extraordinary