Micaela Mar & Leña — Restaurant in Mérida

We went to Micaela on a close friends recommendation. First impression, great vibes, decor, music. Friendliest hostess I’ve encountered in Mérida! So welcoming and vibrant!

Once sat, our server came out and asked if we both spoke Spanish, I do not, so she was kind enough to bring English menus for us. Servers name was Diana for the record, super sweet, super knowledgeable, super hospitable!

We started with our drinks, we were going to a cocktail party afterwords so we didn’t want to get alcohol just yet, I ordered a limonada natural and it was the most balanced limeade I’ve ever consumed! Husband ordered horchata and it was light and refreshing without being over sweetened. We were brought samples of their Sopa de Camaron and it was delightfully delicious, then we started with a dozen oyster naturales which were extremely clean and just perfect with all of the accompaniment supplied for them.

We also ordered the Duck Tamal en Mole Negro as a second appetizer to split because I wanted to try it- this dish was savory and sweet in all the right places, the mushrooms in it were a beautifully satisfying pairing as well, but that corn tamal is what the focal piece was. I highly recommend trying this dish, even if you aren’t a fan of duck, this duck is different and works well with everything they served!

While in between dishes the service remained phenomenal stopping to take our picture for us and clear the table of any trash, and just being so friendly even if they were just checking on us.

For my entree I had the Shrimp Tacos and the hubby had the Tuna Tacos- Shrimp tacos were amazing! Perfect crisp on the shrimp and the right balance of acidity spice and texture in EVERY SINGLE BITE. The Tuna tacos were so juicy and had a great little kick with the right garnishing to balance the tastes and textures once again creating a great bite in every bite.

10/10 we will definitely recommend this to our friends and family and we will FOR SURE...

Micaela doesn´t just deserve a 5-star review, but undoubtedly also a MICHELIN STAR! Plus, if you like storytelling, the history behind the recipes of this A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Merida restaurant is as fantastic as its food. Micaela is named after a beloved nanny of afroamerican roots whose father miraculously escaped slavery from a New Orleans plantation to migrate to Mexico. In the small town of Comal de Pineda, Micaela cooked for a wealthy and powerful family and when the youngest daughter of the family taught her how to write, she started to record her now legendary diary. “Mi little girl taught me how to write, and asked me to tell my life story–how to describe the smell of the sea? The texture of firewood? How can I write about my passion without writing about the kitchen? I should write my recipes, my memories, memories of a seafood and wood-fired kitchen" (october 2, 1897) More than one century later, the tattered and eaten-by-moths diary was discovered by a chef in a second-hand bookstore in the neighborhood of la Condesa of Mexico City. It became the culinary inspiration for Micaela Mar & Leña restaurant in Mérida, Yucatán. So after you´re done licking your fingers from the delicious food and desserts, ask your waiter to bring to your table the photo of... ¡Micaela! And if you ask me what I recommend from their menu, order the "chiles cuaresmeños", "arroz mulato", "camarones a la parrilla" "aguachile" and the "cocoa" and "lima y mango" cakes, and don´t forget their mezcales. If it´s your birthday, you´ll also get a chocolate filled piñata. Todo muy sabroso!...

HIGHLY RECOMMEDED: This restaurant is one of the best I have been to in all of Mexico. Food, service, and ambience all get top marks.

Ambience: this is a gorgeous space. Warm and inviting, yet sleek and refined. The open kitchen is discreet yet very visible.

Service: Everything from the hostess interactions to waiter service was perfection on our visit. It was the kind of service I expect from a top level establishments in New York City and was very happy to see at Micaela. Our waiter was seemingly always available while not being over attentive. He was warm and engaging, patient and expedient. Food came quickly, with children's orders coming first (owners have kids and it shows). Our daughter had a bug bite from the previous day that was causing her significant discomfort, which the hostess noticed and brought treatment for.

Food: this was the consensus pick for favorite restaurant in Merida by our whole group. Not a single dish missed the mark. Some places try too hard to be creative, but the food at Micaela is pure genius. It fits in the category of high end gastropub/chefs table for me, with elevated comfort food and imaginative plates of deliciousness. The seafood stuffed peppers were surreal and the black rice left an impression on my son that will not soon be forgotten.

My wife complimented the hostess on the whole experience - she replied graciously and said we are trying to be the best at every part of the restaurant. Trust...