Pitiona — Restaurant in Oaxaca

AMAZING FLAVORS, OUTSTANDING HOMOPHOBIA, & ABYSMAL COSTUMER SERVICE…

Initially, upon our arrival, the ambiance suggested potential, though the initial seating placement felt... great. A swift, polite request for a superior vantage point—a balcony edge, naturally, for optimal sunset appreciation—was met with the grace of a server who clearly understood the assignment. However, this moment of refined satisfaction was quickly undercut.

Enter Staff Captain (or manager) Axel Juarez, a figure whose demeanor suggested a profound misunderstanding of hospitality's nuances. His initial approach, an almost aggressive inquiry about our drink order, smacked of impatience, a trait unbecoming of a purveyor of fine dining. His subsequent, shall we say, tepid reaction to our request for a moment to peruse the menu spoke volumes. Important to mention that it was clear that he was not very fond of my flamboyant fabulous look. I love to serve a look and clearly his lack of appreciation showed, perhaps it was homophobia, who knows.

Then, the pièce de résistance: the relocation debacle. We were informed, with an air of manufactured urgency, that our coveted balcony-edge table was reserved for a 7:30 marriage proposal. So we could stay there 40 min or move back. A noble cause, one might think, were it not for the conspicuous absence of any reservation signage and, more importantly, the utter lack of said reservation materializing. The "they're running late" excuse, delivered with the conviction of a third-rate dramatist, was, frankly, insulting to our intelligence. While we are paragons of understanding and champions of love, the blatant fabrication and subsequent preferential treatment of other patrons—specifically, the offering of a larger, previously denied table to 3 straight gentlemen did not escape our notice. Because here is the thing, the captain could have easily offered us that one table for 6, for just the 2 of us, but that would have been good costumer service, and that’s not something I believe he knows about. This, coupled with the manager's initial frosty reception, painted a rather clear picture.

Now, let's be clear: the food? Exquisite. The six-course tasting menu was a symphony of flavors, a testament to the kitchen's artistry. The cocktails? Impeccably crafted. The side of homophobia by the manager, next level too!

The most divine cuisine cannot fully compensate for a side of thinly veiled prejudice served by a manager who seems to have confused his role with that of a gatekeeper of social norms.

We, being the resilient denizens of Manhattan that we are, chose to indulge in dessert and further libations, turning this unfortunate display into a source of amusement. We are, after all, connoisseurs of the absurd.

In conclusion, while the culinary experience was a resounding success, the service, or rather, the manager's performance, was a masterclass in how to alienate discerning clientele.

Perhaps this establishment should consider investing in sensitivity training, or at the very least, a more convincing script for their fabricated reservations. The food is worth the trip, but be prepared for a side bad costumer service from the manager.

It’s 9:30 pm, no has sat at that one table yet. We could have easily had a great experience and the restaurant could have had a great review, but...

Perhaps it was a bad night for Pitiona, but for me, this was hands down WORST tasing food and service in Oaxaca. We sampled at least 20 different culinary establishments in the area. Market vendors, street food stands, dine-in restaurants, and this was notably the worse and by FAR the most expensive. Most of the dishes were served cold. You couldn't immediately tell by looking at it, but the charring/carbonization of the black mole (which we normally love) and half of the duck that we ordered was so intese that they were bitter and tasted burnt. We ate the unburnt half of duck, but it came with a cold (refrigerated), pureed apple-criolla concoction that paired poorly with the duck. The servers treated us as if we were somehow wrong for not being satisfied. Our next course was a tuetano (bone marrow) and beef roll dish that were not as off-putting as the first but still not appropriate to serve at a restaurant of this caliber. The tuetano was drastically overwhelmed by the chilis so much that nothing else could be tasted. The beef roll was tough and gray in appearance. I am certain it was just thrown in the oven. We even tried to blur it out of our photos because it was so visually unappealing. Additionally, when we came in we were seated in an outdoor area with brown tarps hanging behind us and a camera crew in front of us recording with us in the background. We asked to move to one of the tables with a better view and away from the cameras. The request was denied because the restaurant could pull the tables there together if a group of more than 4 came in. Neither of the tables where used for the entire duration of our dining disaster. It was frustrating, but we tried to make light of the situation by getting the best photos we could with our lovely...

Upon arriving at the restaurant for lunch, I was immediately struck by the grandeur and beauty of the place. The decorations and overall design were simply stunning, creating a very upscale ambiance. We opted to head up to the rooftop, and the view was absolutely breathtaking.

When it came to the food, I have to say I was left feeling a bit disappointed. The cheese soup was rather average, but the carnitas tacos were a standout and I really enjoyed them. However, the fish dish we ordered was a letdown, as the fish was overcooked and tough, and the potato was overly salty.

On the drinks front, the colibrí was a real winner – it was incredibly flavorful and beautifully presented. I ended up having three of them, while my companion ordered a Negroni, which took quite a long time to arrive. We also tried another drink, the name of which escapes me. In terms of a misstep, we initially requested tap water but were served and charged for bottled water. Upon receiving the bill, we realized that we had been charged for the bottled water twice. It's definitely worth double-checking the items on the bill.

The service started off well, but unfortunately, it became inattentive and slow as the meal progressed. Towards the end, it felt like the servers or bussers were rushing us, and even as we were finishing up dessert, a staff member was already asking if they could take the payment, without giving us a chance to decide whether we wanted to use a card or cash.

Overall, the experience was decent, but I couldn't shake the feeling that the prices were quite steep, and it seemed as though we were paying more for the restaurant's name and the picturesque view. I might consider returning for drinks only...