IXTA Cocina Mexicana + Mezcal Bar — Restaurant in New York

New large restaurant that likely won’t last long. “Creative director” came up to talk to us and it was clear he had an inflated opinion of himself and the restaurant. We thought he came up to our table to apologize since our waitress got our simple drinks wrong twice (margarita and skinny mezcal marg) but he was actually trying to weirdly chat us up. He thinks that this is a “Mexican Tao” but that is clearly not the case as the drinks are bad and watered down and customer service left much to be desired. An insult to the Tao group.

Also an “authentic” Mexican restaurant would not mix up tequila and mezcal. The waitress’ excuse was that she doesn’t drink - but I’m not sure what drinking has to do with telling the bartender the right drink to make (she was also taking notes so not sure how she got it wrong twice). In fact, two managers came to our table to talk to us and both failed to address the issue. The creative director offered us a round of shots but never followed through. When we reminded him, he sheepishly deflected and asked “when is the next time you guys will be here?” - likely never.

After this, he had the audacity to be extremely inappropriate to my friend and asked her “are you married?…do you want to be?”. I’m not sure what type of customer service this is but this is not a good way to treat your customers.

Additionally, the ambiance was off and tables are arranged quite strangely. It feels like a fancy version of a Cheesecake Factory. Booths are too large and fit about 8 people but they give you a booth if you have 4 people and you can barely hear anyone because it’s so loud and you end up being far away since the table is so large. Don’t really think the dining room is a good date spot either for the same reasons - the tables are too large and music is too loud.

The food was actually pretty good though but overshadowed by the experience as a whole. The stars of the meal was the guacamole and the vegan mole dish. Come here if you would like to waste your...

Best Mexican restaurant I have been to in Manhattan and many other cities in the USA. Let's start with the service, the guys do their job to the extent that during my dining experience, for moments I felt that I was in Mexico City, the city where I am from. Needless to say, don't expect to be greeted with salsa and chips, great touch, Handmade tostadas are very crispy and the tortillas are perfect. We started with a fresh and delicious ceviche and patatas bravas, My husband ordered "Enchiladas divorciadas" each enchilada covered with one type mole, the black mole is without a doubt the best mole I've eaten in a long time. it has been two weeks since our experience and until today I still remember the perfect combination of spices, dry peppers and chocolate that gives the special and unit flavor. I ordered the pumpkin flower tacos, which on a scale of 1 to 10 I give them a 9 and only because traditionally in Mexico we associate pumpkin flower with epazote and I would it liked the punch of such a distinctive earthy herb. The tequila, mezcal, destilados and sotol menu is without a doubt very impressive. Portions are small, but enough if you had previously eating lunch, but since we slept the meal that day, we ordered some esquites, here I will suggest to reduce the amount of cheese or change it to a different cheese, again esquites is a very difficult dish to cook with our the proper ingredients so, if you have to use yellow corn, NO epazote and lots of parmigiana cheese just change the name... not a big deal, was still very good. we had a flight to start with only one good mezcal the other two were not for me and Mexican wine Casa Jipi 2020 great selection. We closed the experience with great desserts, espresso coffee and Nonino amaro. I hate no to remember the dessert but I know it was delicious it just that my mind was blowed away with the mole flavors. Over all great experience, expensive...

So, here’s a story. My girlfriend and I were out and about, just soaking in the city's vibes, when we happened upon Ixta Covina. We decided to give it a go, and honestly, it turned out to be one of the highlights of our day.

First off, the cocktails. We tried a good variety, and each one had its unique twist. The Santo Remedio was this fantastic blend of smoky mezcal and fresh basil – super refreshing and unlike anything we’d had before. The Oaxacan Mai Tai had a delightful mix of sweet and tangy – almost like a vacation in a glass. And for someone like me who loves a little spice, the El Jardinero was a winner. It had Jalapeño Tequila that gave it just the right kick, balanced perfectly with cucumber. Last but not least, the Oaxacan Negroni was a brilliant take on the classic. The smoky touch from the mezcal made it a memorable drink.

Now, let’s talk tacos. We had a trio of them. The Carne Asada was pure magic – think super tender steak with creamy avocado mousse—perfect flavors and textures in every bite. The Al Pastor had this awesome combo of juicy pork belly and sweet roasted pineapple – seriously, a match made in heaven. And then there was the Flor De Calabaza, a veggie taco that stole the show. It had squash blossom, a touch of creamy requeson, and this crispy Jamaica tempura that added a fun crunch.

To wrap it up, Ixta Covina is more than just a place to grab a bite and drink. It feels like a little oasis in the city where you can relax, chat, and enjoy top-notch food and drinks. So, if you’re wandering like we were, do yourself a favor and drop by. It’s a 5-star experience...