Xochi

Xochi Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant and décor: Chef Hugo Ortega (Hugo's, Caracol, Backstreet Cafe) draws inspiration from Mexico's state of Oaxaca at downtown spot Xochi, named after Xóchitl (the Nahuatl word for "flower"). Located in the Marriott Marquis Houston, the restaurant mixes sleek, modern décor with colorful folk art from Mexico and a glass wall overlooking Discovery Green park.

About the food: Take your time browsing the menu of multiple moles, masa cakes and 100-plus agave-based liquors. Start with roasted oysters from the wood-burning oven, finished with a mole amarillo sauce. Also from the oven comes octopus flavored with pepper sauce and toasted pumpkin seeds. A must-try is the mole tasting plate with four classic Oaxacan sauces with handmade tortillas for dipping. The chef's partner, and brother, Ruben Ortega is the pastry chef and here he has created savory endings such as "helado de elote," comprising corn ice cream, Texas Blue Corn Whiskey infused ice cream, corn cookie and blue corn atole cream, as well as sweeter finales such as "cremoso de chocolate," presenting dense soft chocolate pudding, air sponge cake, peanut powder and strawberry.

About the drinks: Savor a fine sipping mescal or one of the many Mexican wines from the bar. The focus is on wineries that commit to sustainability and organic/biodynamic farming.