Tlalli — Restaurant in Ashland

The good, the bad, and the ugly. On the recommendation of a friend who had been here once before, made reservations for 4 at opening at 5pm. Was good to see other customers waiting for the doors to open. Once the doors opened, we entered a small, quaint colorful entry way that led into the restaurant and out to their dining patio. We were greeted very warmly and seated indoors. After being seated we were given ample time to chat and catch up before having our food and drink order taken. 15 minutes. No worries, no hurries. Our cocktails came out 10 minutes later. (25 minutes into being seated and now able to enjoy their refreshing Flor Y Canto (qty of 2), glass of wine, and one beer. Enjoying our drinks and each others company, dinner arrived 15 minutes later. Still no hurries since we were enjoying our time together and we had only been there now for a total of 40 minutes. Our food orders were 1 Cochinita Pibil (pork shoulder), 1 Tapado De Coco (Caribbean seafood soup), and 2 orders Tacos de Carnitas (seasoned pork tacos). Although seasoned well, the pork shoulder was dry. The salsa served with it added moisture but this dish lacked the "braise" described on the menu. The soup was described as "good" by my friend, and although my husband and I enjoyed the pork tacos, the price point of approximately $20 for three soft tacos gave us pause. They were delicious but not anything we would crave in the future. As dinner finished, our tab was promptly delivered. It was now 6:05 pm and our stomachs were satisfied. 25 minutes to eat dinner was ample time; now digestion and finishing our cocktails were all that was left to complete the experience or so we thought. As my husband was filling out and signing the tab, the hostess, as politely and warmly as could be spoken said, "Im not trying to rush you but we have another party waiting for this table." Wow! That was the nail in the coffin and the boot in our bottoms to leave this restaurant. Cocktails still in glasses but onward and upward seems the motto for this restaurant. I'd love to say that warm greetings would be enough to bring me back but the overall experience, including the cuisine does not warrant further exploration. Too many other gems in Ashland...

We had a lovely dinner at Tlalli! They advertise to be a Latin American restaurant with emphasis on Indigenous ingredients and Afro-Caribbean influences. We started with a few excellent, flavorful cocktails. The rum in the punch took me straight to the Caribbean, with notes of coconut, pineapple, and hibiscus. My favorite cocktail was the Milpa Sour, with use of ancestral corn whiskey where unique lines of corn are cultivated, soaked in an alkaline solution, unlocking deeper flavors. It tasted smoky and strong.

For the starters, the tostadas and salsa provided a unique experience, coming with 9 different house salsas. It was fun to try each and try to understand what made them different. The ahi tostada was also fresh and delicious.

Out of the mains, the oxtail tacos were the star of the show. If you want the best of their entrees, that might be the one for you. We also got the braised pork shoulder, which came with beans, rice, and tortillas, but overall it lacked the depth of flavor that the oxtail had. Overall I wish we had more tostadas and tortillas to take on the salsas, guac, and pork shoulder. Seemed we were always running out.

It’s clear the restaurant has put a lot of thought into the food it wants to serve and has a strong sense of identity. I think that’s a big strength, making the experience special. I would say if you’re local it’s worth a visit. Revisiting the restaurant will probably be more for the social experience, and less for the food, as it’s tough envisioning landing a reservation for few good cocktails and tacos when it’s just you...

So bummed to have to leave a bad review, but the service was so bad that I couldn’t not leave a review. I booked this reservation two weeks beforehand for me and family during our one-night trip in Ashland while passing through. It was 100° degrees outside and they sat us outside on the patio with no fans or misters or any sort of concession for the heat. They then took another 30 mins to bring us lukewarm water with no ice. I ordered 2 Agua de Jamaica’s for my 2 kids and they brought us 2 cups 3/4 full- why not a full glass? Another half hour later they finally took our order, and brought the apps out about 40 mins after that, and then finally brought my cocktail (after food was served). They then took another 45 minutes to bring our 2 entrees that were so spicy our kids couldn’t eat- mind you, they were starving by this time. At no point on the menu did it say “spicy” nor did the server mention this to us. Throughout this experience there was never an explanation for the slow service nor a “free app” or anything given to excuse anything. The food was ok- but not worth the $133 price tag. The efforts in decoration and ambience with fancy plates are felt, however, the inexperience in customer service and inefficiency ruin the entire experience. This restaurant would be better off taking less clients and doing their best to better serve them (ie close the damn patio in 100° heat) than trying to manage rapid growth- that they are clearly...