Ánima — Restaurant in Mérida

The food here was truly amazing. We started with the grilled broccoli which had various sauces and was extremely umami (in the best of ways). Next, we had the brisket tacos which melted in our mouth. The meat was so soft and tender. This was my favorite dish. For a main we had the smoked lamb which was so tender and the chimichurri with it was perfect! The tortillas are good but not the best I’ve had in town. The edges aren’t clean so someone is lacking on some technique ;)

For cocktails we drank a margarita (great!) and the oro y cobre which was probably my least fav thing overall. It didn’t really taste like passion fruit, it was too sweet and had too much ice and very little drink. We didn’t get a chance to try other drinks but looks like they have a good selection.

We ended with the rice pudding. Neither of us were sold on it despite being big rice pudding fans. The guava was a bit under ripe and it lacked some balance. Very sticky. It was still tasty but as the only dessert option it was underwhelming.

The service was also the best I’ve had in all of merida. So quick, polite, and helpful. The food came quickly as well.

The ambiance is lovely! Great for a date night or out with friends. The lighting is nice and soft.

We will definitely be returning to try some...

The place is nice and a unique experience. When you first walk in you do not expect much as it creates a sense of mystery and like you found a hidden gem. As you walk in further the restaurant opens up and leads to a nice courtyard and outdoor space. Small menu but that is not always a bad thing as if you're going to do something right you might as well focus on those things. We ordered the brisket and ribs. Both were very good but lacked side dishes, garnish or just that little something extra to make it perfect. The portions are not big but they are not meant to stuff yourself, it was just the right size. The price is a little high for what you receive but hey, its in the gastronomical district so that is expected. I did feel their martini glasses are too small and do not quite align with the price that you pay for them. Over all I would recommend as the food is solid, the staff is very kind and attentive, the atmosphere is great so you won't be disappointed. Also, tell you a little secret, there is a Speakeasy bar in there too, but don't...

Great concept, but very poor execution. Definitely not worth a visit.

List is long, but here are a few things that could enhance the experience:

1. Staff is not trained, they have no idea about the menu. Furthermore, some staff recommended us a drink, while another one told us it wasn’t available.
2. Drinks ordered at first actually came 20 minutes… after receiving the food.
3. No food was on the grill, felt like our plates were just put in the microwave to warm it up.
4. The concept about Anima is great, but create a story about it, and then train the staff to tell the story. Food is sold at a premium price, but missing the premium experience.
5. Train staff to keep an eye at the table, in a “premium experience”, one shouldn’t run out of water all the time, IDEM for tortillas.
6. Review drink recipes, we were 3, all 3 drinks were overpowered in terms of alcohol, very weak on the rest of the ingredients.

For the record, the place was almost empty, it’s not as if the restaurant had its...