Molkagtez Mexican Cuisine Port Credit — Restaurant in Mississauga

We went last night for the first time. The atmosphere is nice, it's a really pretty place. Our first server was very sweet and personable! About 30 mins in, our server was moved to a different section and we were connected with someone new. When our food arrived, immediately I noticed my carnitas looked unseasoned/bland, but our OG server recommended them so I figured they would taste better than they looked. No, they were extremely underwhelming. Zero flavor. I still ate 2 of the 3 (after adding some of my friends coleslaw and chipotle sauce to them) because whatever, I was hungry. Lol When our (new) server came around to ask how the food was, I was honest and said mine was "ok, just expected more flavor! But it's ok!" She offered to get the menu to tell me what it was marinated in, she came back and told me it was marinated in a light seasoning, and the dish was more known for the meat lol I was pretty much like "all good, I just find it lacks flavor but nbd" the server almost seem to take it personally? Shortly after, another employee comes to the table to follow up about my tacos, I gave him the same explanation. He then asks me "have you ever had carnitas before?" Lol huh?..yes..many times 😆 he then asks "where??" Sir, in Mexico, among other places! Then he sort of laughed it off. Again, it's not personal, I just thought it would have more flavor. No hard feelings. Lol After that, we stopped another server and asked for belinis, we asked if they were frozen-- we were told yes. When our server brought the drinks they weren't frozen, so we explained that we asked, and were told otherwise. She brings us back our old drinks that had clearly been thrown back in the blender with ice to make them more slushy, but we ended up with flavorless new Belinis. Our OG server walked by and asked us how our food was, we said good but my tacos were a bit disappointing. Her response was exactly what I would have expected "oh, no im so sorry to hear that! Can I grab you anything else?" I declined, but clearly, she did not take it personally that I didnt love them. Loved that! The guy that came by to follow up on my tacos and question my knowledge of carnitas (lol) stopped over at our table to offer an 'olive branch' via 3 shots of something tasty, which was a nice gesture. Overall this was an ok-ish experience, with a mixture of different customer service styles. I'm not sure I'll be back as I don't go to port credit often, but if I do, I may stop in...

Was excited to try this restaurant, but I might need to try again and choose different items. I've eaten at several Mexican restaurants over my lifetime, and this wasn't my favourite, but not a write-off. The salsa platter wasn't worth the cost. Some flavourless (not exaggerating), some with flavour but not good. The pico and brown salsa were the best. I've seen photos of full salsa dishes, and ours was half full. I enjoy heat, but the habanero salsa wasn't a nice heat. It's the kind of mouth burn that leaves you not able to eat for a few minutes. Not the kind of burn that leaves you wanting more. The guacamole was incredible. The tortilla chips served with the guacamole are not enough. With the huge serving of guac, double the chips should be given. The tortilla chips are also perfect. They're crunchy, deliciously salty, and fresh. The Tostada Ceviche De Camaron was perfection and the winner of all the items we ordered. So fresh, and the flavours mingled perfectly. The quesobirria consomé had no flavour. This is comparing to several I've had from various Mexican restaurants around the region. It really lacked any flavour. The birria beef is so lovely and tender, though. The birria beef was had on the sopes, too. The sopes beds are bland, rised corn tortillas, and too tough to eat with a knife and fork. Maybe this is to be eaten by hand? I am unsure, but I just ate the remaining filling from 2 of 3 sopes. The sopes should each have a fresh lime wedge served with them. I had one extra from a drink and used it on the sopes. The fish tacos were basic. I felt that for the cost of any of the taco plates, the tacos should be accompanied by something, like rice or salad. One day I'll visit again and go for other foods. The tostadas might be the star on this menu, though. Don't sleep on these. I'm adding to this based on the restaurant's reply to me. I lived in the US for over 10 years and consistently, at least twice a week, i had authentic Mexican food, and not authentic known as "tex mex". As well, had very good Mexican friends cooking for me regularly, including food I've tried at Molkagtez. I've never quite had any authentic Mexican food as Molkagtez serves it. That is my individual experience. As I said, don't sleep on their food. It is good, just not my number one location preference for Mexican food as I desire a different flavour. Their tostada, however, is A+...

This restaurant opened early this summer, I believe in June. I noticed in one of my frequent walks in the neighborhood, but the thing that caught my attention then was the name "Molkagtez".. What language was that? On closer look, it said Mexican cuisine, but the word did not sound Spanish.... More on the name further down.

But hey, I'm game for trying another Mexican restaurant. But that had to wait for an occasion. Some weeks ago, a friend told me she went there, and that it was excellent. That was a good recommendation that I couldn't pass.

A few days ago on a warm evening, a friend dropped by after work and eager for dinner. So that was the occasion. We went there, late evening, and got a table in the patio. The inside of the restaurant was noisy, and so was the area of the patio near the entrance. But we found a table away from the noise.

Looking at the menu, I ordered the Tortilla Soup and three (assorted) tacos. My friend ordered the Mexican Skillet pining for steak. Everything we ordered was excellent, though I expected the soup to be more spicy than it was. [ Well restaurants have there own variations]. And my friend loved her steak, of which I had a bite and it was indeed excellent. The servers Raquel helped us pick items from the menu, and was indeed very friendly. Later Dina (sp..??) took over and was equally helpful, especially explaining to us the meaning of "Molkagtez".

So full circle back to the name of the restaurant which first drew my attention and curiosity. Raquel said it was a dish, later Dina said it referred to the "mortar and pestle" used in mexican cooking. To satisfy my curiosity, I looked for clues on the restaurant website, and then asked ChatGPT. The restaurant's website 'about' page, refers to it as a dish, next to 'ceviches, and tacos'. The menu page was more helpful, describing it thus: MOLKAGTEZ Molcajetes – A traditional Mexican dish served bubbling hot in a volcanic stone bowl."

What does ChaptGPT add? that "molcajete is from Spanish, borrowed from the Nahuatl language (pre-Hispanic Mexican) and that "“Molkagtez” might be a stylized spelling or a play on molcajete, intentionally altered to stand out...