THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Cafe Azul

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Cafe Azul Restaurant Review:

The Archibald sisters apprenticed in Oaxaca, and returned with a passionate interest in authentic, slow-cooked Mexican dishes, sometimes blending local ingredients with spices, herbs, and techniques from southern Mexico. Some of their stews combine as many as 28 ingredients and simmer on the stove for hours, afterwards revealing tastes we’ve hardly experienced in this underrated cuisine. Tacos feature handmade tortillas wrapped around such delicacies as pork roasted in banana leaves with Seville orange and achiote. An unusual dish is tlycoyos, nearly as exotic as the name itself: two masa dough snacks filled with crisped pork and doused with a green sauce and white cheese. The moles are stunning---amalgams of nuts, seeds, dried chilies, tomatillos, fruit and chocolate, full of vibrant, memorable flavors. The deep, rich, and layered tastes will linger for a long while. Desserts will take you to new levels: think of prune tequila ice cream, or lemon flan with espresso. The setting is quite simple, but you feel at home here amidst tones of terra cotta and brick tones. The room is enclosed with brick walls, and a handsome bar sits at the far end, near the open kitchen. Service is smart, engaging, and festive.