THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Palenque

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Palenque Restaurant Review:

To anyone who doubts that complexity does exist in Mexican cooking, this tiny corner operation will dispel that notion. Making real-roots Mexican fare as opposed to Tex-Mex food, rich, chocolatey mole is the star here. Named for an ancient Maya city in Southern Mexico, the food here is reflective of Oaxacan fare with carnitas, chopped pork served in a dish of orange-flavored mole. The puerco en adobo ($15) is likewise delicious, as is the chicken mole in an even better dense, chocolate-tinged sauce with some backdoor chili heat. Palenque attracts aging baby boomers, a few Latinos from nearby East Somerville and students. While Somerville has cracked down on brown-bagging, by now this always in-flux category may have been settled-so call ahead to see if the place has obtained a coveted license or will allow you to bring in beer. In short, this place is a real gem.