Luna Maya — Restaurant in Norfolk

The highlight was the spicy guacamole, chips & salsa. The tamales were a bit too greasy & seemed rushed. The food I can forgive, but the service is what really affected my first experience here. Last week, two of us arrived around 8:50p (they close at 10) for a quick birthday bite before going to another spot open later. A few servers flew by the host stand, gave me & my friend the "once over" in passing and I guess prayed to themselves that we didn't end up in their sections. After a few more moments of that, a server with an arm full of plates came from outside seeming a bit flustered, looked at us (no greeting), then scoured the floor map to find a table. I politely mentioned there was a clean two top beyond a few people near the back wall. She scoffed that the area was no longer being seated. A moment later the very cheerful hostess arrived & found us a seat not far from where I pointed out as the waitress seemed to influence her decision (it's not a large dining area, but the tables were less than 10ft apart). 20 minutes into our visit, I glance over & see two people sitting at the exact table I spoke of earlier. I asked our waiter what the deal was. He said the waitresses switched & one was willing to stay later in order to serve her sister. I asked "So as long as you're family you can bend the rules?" He lamented that it's just the circumstance that allowed the couple to sit there. Now all of this isn't just me crying over a table. I'm a cancer patient & currently have a PCA pump connected to my arm that was malfunctioning, I wanted to sit in the corner away from others while I tried to fix it. Away from stares (as I needed to pull out a few tools), away from people assuming I'm some sickly person they don't want near their food, as well as limiting my interactions with open air coughs etc. while my IV was exposed. Please don't assume going to the bathroom would have been better when poop particles are constantly floating around & my mobility (walking/standing for extended periods) is substantially limited. It's painful to take more than 10+ steps, but I try not to let it affect my social life. Once I informed my server on my issue and revealed the tubes concealed by my hoodie & clothing, he began to apologize. I told him it's not his fault. He offered to let me speak to the manager, I refused. What's the point in forcing someone who doesn't want anything to do with you to serve you? Or to admonish her in the moment? It's not going to change how she felt about us. We're just a tip she can make up in due time. A few bucks she was clearly willing to sacrifice to supplement her ego. Funnily enough I'm pretty sure she also didn't want to deal with us bc of the way we were dressed. Not to make it a race thing, but maybe she thought we wouldn't be able to tip her appropriately. Hmm, idk, ask the server if we tipped him appropriately or not. Am I willing to give this place a second chance? Most definitely. Will I be as docile as I was the first time if I'm treated the same way?...

Worth the Wait! After years of being aware of this place, the opportunity to visit finally came. It was worth the wait! Beyond any shadow of doubt, it is one of the jewels in the crown of Ghent eateries, adding serious weight to the words unique and authentic. As you walk in, the main dining area is a wide open, welcoming space with a very tall ceiling. Right off I felt relaxed and ready to dig into some good food.

As always, drinks are first. I tend to look for local brews on tap. I like it fresh and they had something right up my alley. The theme was kept in line with a choice tequila. Next were the chips and salsa. Both were extraordinary. The chips were thicker than usual with a deep corn taste. The salsa had a chipotle mixed in which gave it that signature smoky taste but without the heat. We also added some fresh guacamole. It had the typical ingredients but it was the tastiest we've had in the area.

For the main course, we had the vegetarian tamale and the mushroom quesadilla with a side of jalapeno cornbread. They both came with a hefty serving of rice and black beans. You haven't had tamales like this anywhere in Hampton Roads. If you're familiar with the taste of fresh, sweet corn straight off the stalk, this will take you there. As a bonus, niblets of corn were speckled throughout. I could go on, but you go there instead. If you've had mushroom quesadilla before, you have an idea of what to expect. However, the mushrooms got a proper treatment of a marinade that just made the taste like no other. They were nice and thick and full of texture as well. The jalapeno cornbread was simply a treat. It was very succulent. It came in two slabs cut and presented fancifully on a saucer. It was as moist as a cake but savory and sweet at the same time. For those who can't stand too much heat, the jalapenos did not register. They offered flavor without the sting.

Last but not least, the service was commendable. Our server was patient and accommodating. One thing for sure, it will not be years again...

I LOVE Luna Maya's food. I crave it, I think about it, I keep the restaurant on my short-list for visiting friends and family and romantic date nights with my boyfriend. The food is amazing. But a few recent trips have me feeling less and less excited to claw my way through that 200 pound door.

The problem with Luna Maya is its hostess staff. In the past they've refused to sit four people (of a party of six) until the entire group arrived. While frustrating, I've been more than willing to wait it out with the lovely bartenders over a few mojitos. Then at the end of summer the hostess refused to seat my boyfriend outside because she was "saving" two-person tables for parties of four (another reviewer mentions this below).

During my last visit, the hostess told my party of 8 that our names were on the list and we would have about 45 minutes to wait. We order a few rounds of drinks, queso and quac and immediately close out so we can be ready to sit as soon as a table becomes available. About an hour in, we ask the hostess about the status of our table and she pops off: "Uhm. The table is ready whenever YOU decide to close your tabs. We've been waiting on YOU." Uhm - okay? We tell her the entire party has closed out and are led to a hastily thrown together table in the backroom.

I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to walk into this establishment (excited for friendly waitstaff service, fantastic bartenders and delicious food) only to be totally thrown off every time by such an unfriendly hostess station.

Luna Maya, please reevaluate the hostess area; you're so close...