Xixa — Restaurant in New York

Food was not worth what we ended up paying at all. Mediocre and not that great for this higher price range. Plus they add gratuity automatically which I think is illegal now but regardless the service was good but wasn’t worth 20% of almost $300.

First off, I was celebrating my birthday and I came in to do the prefix menu with my family. I was told by the server that because I have a dairy allergy I would only be able to do seven out of the eight courses and still had to pay full price. Which didn’t make any sense to us at all because if there’s one course that I couldn’t participate in they could’ve easily replaced it with something else. Everyone at the table was even willing to switch that whole course for something else even if it meant skipping out on their queso dip. Why should I have to pay full price for a tasting menu and be left out of a course? I’ve done many tasting menus in other restaurants, this has never been an issue like this before. The chefs were unwilling to do anything besides say no.

In the end there was no resolution offered at all, even though we pleaded with them. Just no.

Anyway, we ordered off the regular menu instead. First we had the octopus appetizer and asked for it to be well done but when it got to the table it was so chewy and over cooked I could not believe it. It came with risotto that was actually delicious but so salty no one could enjoy it.

We also ordered the salmon crudo that had no salt or balance in the dish at all. It consisted of thinly sliced salmon, jalapeño, radish and I think apples. This dish was bland and basic. Nothing special or outstanding flavor or thought wise.

We ordered the guacamole with grapefruit which is actually just grapefruit chunks on top of regular guacamole. We did love the chip selection that came with this appetizer. Nice addition, a mix of chips and crackers that was thoughtful and actually good.

For main courses, we ordered the salmon and scallop entree. The sauce was good but the scallops had no sear at all. Boiled is def not my fav way of eating scallops. No one loved this dish. They came with the blue tortillas which saved the whole dinner. I believe all of the entrées are served with tortillas and a condiment arrangement. This is a very nice touch. The tortillas are very delicious and you can tell that they are super fresh and handmade.

We also got the short rib entree which was actually delicious. It was nicely cooked, had a beautiful presentation and also came with those yummy tortillas. This dish we loved and is probably responsible for one of the stars given with this review.

For dessert we ordered one of each, and only one out of the three was actually decent.

The churros were fried so dark that they look burnt but no one said anything. They were still delivered to the table So we just figured that’s the way they are supposed to be served. Not any good reguardless. Also, The chai tea tres leche was not great either. The cake was super thick almost like a carrot cake that looked like it was made with whole wheat flour with wholes punched in it. It was very tough and thick very unlike classic Tres leches cake. That was a miss for everyone at the table in the end. I think the only dessert that they enjoyed it was the flan. It looks beautiful because it has that nice green color and the nuts on top are a great addition. Decent.

Over all our bill was almost $300 for 4 drinks, 3 apps, 2 main courses, 3 desserts and a juice. Totally not worth it for the level of execution we...

When you have over 20 people in a group and when the end of the meal finally comes, everyone leaves satisfied, thats when you know you chose the right place! Wow, is the 1st thing out of my mouth. Everyone's mouth said wow and yum. We officially did not know what was coming out of the kitchen since we went with the tasting menu. Maybe theu should rename it to the menu full of taste?

We had Alex and Casey as our servers, Alex was doing the brunt of the service and Casey was his silent partner. They were also taking care of other tables as well. They must have put 100,000 steps during the time we spent. You imagine as you are carrying 6 drinks on a tray and while you are serving them, others un your group are tugging on your clothes because they need drinks or because their delicious drinks are done, they are looking for more. Both Alex and Casey performed like pros in this manner.

We started with with some chios, unlike any chip yoh are used to, with an avocado type dip. The chio felt like a cross between potato and vegetable and the avocado had a seasoning better than regular guac. Next came the bone marrow and the homemade soft fluffy tortillas with additional flavors to add on the side. When the butter shrimp came out, they had me by the horns. The shrimp comes with these flavorful button mushrooms that melts in your mouth. The flavors that come out from the butter shrimp is amazing. When you think you are impressed, something new comes out and impresses you even more. That was the fish tacos simply put. They are named Snapper tempura fish tacos with kimchee cabbage and habanero jam. I really recommend to look at the menu because there are so many fantastic choices. Then the roasted leek quesadilla came out. By this time your stomach is starting to stay STOP, but your olfactory system says MORE. The octopus with chirizo came after that and omg were so delicious. Unlike octopus anywhere else. The whole time you are eating, they are also serving their signature drinks which are numerous for this place. You can choose sangria, some delish beers and wines, but i recommend the deconstructed drinks consisting of an "old fashioned" flavored cube made of bitters, spices and citrus and add one of the huge selection of unheard of smooth mezcals and tequilas they offer. They also have softer versions of other drinks as well. You will have a lot of choices. Finally, vanilla flan and the fresh made churros with chocolate and passionfruit dips to finish it off and send...

It's difficult to review Xixa without comparing it to its sister restaurant, Traif. Similar to its sibling, Xixa offers a difficult-to-categorize cuisine, but one that pulls inspiration from Mexican techniques and ingredients. In addition to having an intriguing drink and food menu, Xixa offers a tasting menu at $40 for parties of four or more, a dining option that should definitely be taken advantage of. The dishes rotate regularly, but from the meal we had here, the standout dishes were: Skirt Steak: Cooked to a perfect medium rare and served with a side of red onions and corn, it was the romesco sauce that really brought out the flavor of this dish. Brussel Sprouts: These are quite possibly the most delicious brussel sprouts I have yet to taste in NYC. They're doused in a spicy-sweet vin, lightly fried, and mixed with strawberries, currants, and sunflower seeds. They're crisp but not too crunchy, covering the spectrum of spicy to salty to sweet, and disappeared within seconds from our table. Foie Gras Al Pastor: This was the first time I tried foie gras paired with fruit, and it was a combination that worked startlingly well. The foie gras is perfectly seared and tender, and the sweetness from the pineapple and torrejas (a Mexican version of the traditional French Toast) adds even more richness and dimension to each bite. Churros: Served as the dessert at the end of our meal, they're warm, crisp on the outside, yet still somewhat doughy in the center. The best part was digging into the raspberry sorbet it came with and realizing that it had been made with a healthy dose of chilies in the mix as well.

Call in advance for reservations and make sure to come with at least three others to take advantage of the...