First, congratulations to Mezcal for their cool new digs on Major Taylor Boulevard. The new space is conveniently located across from the DCU center and will certainly draw a crowd but the layout of the high-ceilinged room won’t make you feel cramped an hour before a Phish show or Sharks game.
Now, onto the food. As an appetizer I ordered a gordita which was described as “shredded short rib stuffed masa corn cakes with spicy mole negro sauce and crumbled bleu cheese (specified without the cilantro crema)”. Unfortunately this dish was less “gorda” and more “ita” – the serving size of one gordita was less than I was expecting. It was not only small serving, but the flavor was just mediocre.
My entree choice was much more satisfying as I chose the Chicken and dried cranberry salad with balsamic dressing (and the creamy habanero dressing that it normally comes with on the side). The menu describes this as mixed grilled chicken and cranberry salad on top of lettuce with cashews, cucumber, roasted red pepper. This was a good sized plate and left me full. The flavor was essentially what I hoped – a solid, good tasting chicken salad that filled me up.
Along with my entree I ordered a side order of guacamole which at $4 is sufficient for 2 people. I tried the Thai Rooster which includes dried pineapple, toasted coconut, black beans and fiery sriracha sauce. Honestly, it was a difficult decision as all of the varieties look delicious and are unique blends of ingredients but this was a good choice and the flavors blended well together.
If you’re like me and aren’t the biggest fan of spicy food, know that the kitchen is able to modify the spice level to meet your needs (balsamic dressing instead of habanero, for example). For those who do like spice, hot sauce can be served alongside.
In all, besides my overpriced gordita, Mezcal gets a muy bueno in my book for tasty food, a trendy new location, and friendly, helpful wait staff. Another plus for the dead of winter: the parking garage’s elevator leads opens to the front door of the restaurant.