Istmo Oaxacan Cuisine — Restaurant in Lake View Township

Very aesthetically pleasing decor makes you feel like you’re in a restaurant in Oaxaca for sure. The tables are a little too close together but I get the idea of trying to maximize space. The staff is very friendly and they all attend to you with a smile. We visited this restaurant on opening week on a Friday around 1pm and there weren’t many people.

Our waitress took our drink order and came back with them very quickly. My wife had the cafe de olla and I had the horchata chai tea. Both drinks were alright I personally wouldn’t get the chai again it just wasn’t for me it’s a lot of spices. Our food however took a VERY long time to get to us we easily waited 35 minutes. My wife had the chilaquiles rojos with chorizo verde and I had the entomatadas with steak. Even after we received our dishes I still had to wait another 10 mins for my small piece of steak which should have been medium but ended up more on the medium rare side. The blue corn pancake was just the right amount of sweet we both enjoyed it very much.

The chilaquiles weren’t the most flavorful and they were more on the dry side. The chorizo was also on the not so flavorful side. The entomatadas were actually pretty good and were well sauced and flavorful. The portion size was a little on the small side. The food does get pretty cold rather quickly and one other guests mentioned that her food came out cold. One thing I have to mention is that because of the extra wait time for the steak I was offered a free drink which I thought was very nice of them to do. I had the istmo paloma and I gotta say that’s a very refreshing and delicious drink 10/10.

One big issue I think should be handled is the plates they have chosen for the meals. The chilaquiles come in a bowl which makes cutting anything so difficult. The entomatadas as well as other meals that we saw from other guests were served in plates that were too small to contain everything without making a mess. The cups for the teas/coffee are served in a heart shaped cup so it’s a little awkward to drink from it. Don’t get me wrong it fits the aesthetic they are trying to go for but maybe new choices should be considered.

Overall while we did enjoy our meal to an extent it took too long to get our food. We paid close to $100 for everything which we feel was a little too much for what we had which didn’t include anything alcoholic which usually is what drives up the bill. We do understand that it’s opening week and they have to figure out what works and what doesn’t so I hope this review sheds some light on things. I would love for this restaurant to thrive and continue to share Oaxaca’s culinary traditions. Thanks to the staff for keeping a positive attitude while things were out of their control you did...

Given the climate of the world today I’m just glad there is place that still speaks to giving individuals a space to congregate under the magnificent reason of community! The restaurant, ISTMO, makes no mistake at making you feel welcomed. At times it could have the environment that requires and all hands on deck mindset. These individuals operated on a level of efficiency and joy; the feeling was freaking amazing!!

The head chef was kind enough to meet with me! He was very friendly, open, & easy to approach. He takes great pride in making sure that he engages with his community of people that walk through the door with culture, family, & certainly FOOD adventures!!

I read a lot of comments, and want to make clear everyone is entitled to their opinion, mine is as follows. Those of us who have the privilege to have come from a Hispanic background love our preferences. I too have my own abuela who is very particular about her tortillas🙂‍↕️however; tastebuds and preferences shouldn’t be the only reason a review is left. To see an authentic menu be successfully fused with traditional native culture and atmosphere is astounding! Chef Muñoz and his crew exude what it means to be a welcoming! This alone can make you an honorary Hispanic person in such terms. Honor is a cool thing to have; compassion & empathy is the greatest present you can receive spiritually from food! So I bring it back to the COMIDA!!!!! If you’re looking for a downtown feel close to home and community then this is your brunch spot!!COME HERE!!! Shout to out to a special crew member, INAY O.

To end my review compliments to Executive Chef & Owner: Carlos Lopez Muñoz!!!🙂‍↕️🤌🏽

To the Heart Of House; you guys handle the flow amazingly!!

Ps. If you’re a guest that may prefer to be seated right away, I suggest an early reservation. The accommodation efforts are well established. Number update system!

Bar seating is full service!

Pictured: Memela Papas Bravas Chilaquiles Rojos w/steak Cafe con...

Incredible new brunch spot in Lakeview! Top line: if you enjoy Mexican breakfast cuisine, or brunch at all, this place is a MUST. First, the staff is incredibly friendly and kind, Stephania was my server and could not be more gracious. The environment was full of beautiful details. I started with Cafe de la Olla, what a wonderfully complex and perfectly sweet cinnamon coffee. Not only was it delicious, it was served in the cutest cups! I had the Chorizo con Huevo, I love chorizo and papas bravas, so easy hit for me. Now I've had some really good papas bravas from some highly awarded restaurants and these were top tier. The eggs done over medium as I asked, and my only complaint was that the whole chorizo was a little tough to get into, and the small,wobbly plate added a challenge. That said, eating potatoes and chorizo and eggs on the included tortillas brought me back to the Sunday morning when my dad would make breakfast, it was a really heart-warming. (It helped that everything at Itsmo is awesome) With that memory of my father in mind, when the chef brought out the Nicoalote and told me this story about how he was inspired by his father's favorite dessert that he would always order two of, one to eat and one to take home, it hit close to home. We got to share, at least for me, this connection to our fathers though food. The Nicoalote was also fabulous. The crisp fried corn dough on top was gorgeous and stayed crispy even in the coconut milk custard with strawberries and blueberries. It was sweet and creamy and crispy and tart, all the elements of an excellent dessert put together with precision. I did also get a sample of the chicken tinga recently added to the menu, that will be at the top of my list for next time, and there will be...