Tamayo
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (720) 946-1433
06/07/2008 Posted by hanswulf
Just got back from Tamayo where we had a party of 8 for my wife's birthday. The location could not be better. The interior's neatly decoed, but tight & noisy when busy. Great views from the patio lounge and bar. The service was gracious and friendly if not a bit informal for a 5 star restaurant. Now, as to the food, I've traveled throughout many parts of central and coastal Mexico including Puebla - the home of Mole Poblano, so for a guerro/havacho/gringo - I've eaten my share of authentic Mexican food. The food at Tamayo shows that a lot of thought has gone into the unique creations like the corn and huitlacoche dumpling soup to twists on old favorites like a shrimp and scallop stuffed relleno. That being said, this restaurant's food shows it's East-Coast roots with it's lack of salt and spicy punchiness. The guacamole has no garlic while the spicy version isn't very spicy. The mole sauce could use more salt and please, NO cream. The mole's flavor was actually close to what I remember eating with the Reyes family I stayed with in Puebla Mexico in 1984, but was lost in the heavy cream they plashed over it. My wife's chicken Yucateco was actually very tasty, but nothing I couldn't re-create on my backyard grill with some orange/ancho chilli marinade. The two types of ceviches were OK, but a little salsa-esque ... they didn't come close to the snapper ceviche we shared on South Padre Island for a fraction of the price. If you have a special occasion, hot date, or just want to hang in the patio with some friends while slamming $40 Tequila shots - Tamayo is a must. However if all you're looking for is some salty, spicy, greasy, authentic Mexican food - try a road-side Mexican catering truck instead - what with a $4 plate of al pastor, $2 taquitos al carbon or bistec ranchero with a habanerro salsa, trucks are hard to beat INDEED - especially when considering the prices you will pay at Tamayo for albeit unique and artful dishes but with no exclamation point....
Pros: Unique Dishes in an airy atmosphere. Great views from upstairs lounge.
Cons: Tight quarters ... food could use more flavor ... pricy
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