Reyes Mezcaleria — Restaurant in Orlando

I had the lucky chance to have dinner here on Valentine's Day. The restaurant was only open for a select number of guests and me since I'd won the Yelp Orlando X Reyes Mezcaleria giveaway on IG. WOOHOO! They featured a 6-course menu + signature cocktails curated by Chef Wendy. The restaurant was beautiful and spacious. The high ceilings made the space feel expansive. It had a traditional, old-school vibe with vintage decor. We were escorted to our tables in twos and were seated side by side facing the bar/kitchen area, which was different. I've never been seated like this before and I really liked it. This allowed for us to be able to chat and enjoy the view of our drinks being made and a peek into the kitchen.

Shortly after being seated, they brought out the Pan de Casa which was warm, soft, fluffy, and exactly the way bread should be made. It came with whipped sweet honey butter. When I tried this combination I was taken aback and had to use my FULL food focus to NOT eat all the bread before the rest of the dishes came out.

Florida Oyster Asado. Now, this dish was my favorite and absolutely to die for! ::deep sigh:: I really could have eaten 12 of these on my own they were so DAMN GOOD! I tried my luck and shot my shot, by saying, "if there's more back there, bring them on over" with a huge smile on my face. To my surprise WAABAM, here come more oysters for each of us. Now that's what you call VIP treatment. Ask and you shall receive. I'd go back to Reyes just for the oysters. They were cooked to perfection with a sauce that left your mouth begging for more. chefs kiss

Herb-roasted Prime Rib. When this dish arrived the first thing my cousin said was "your food looks so much fun to eat." Indeed it was a blast of fun and packed with flavor. The prime rib was served with 1/2 a pie on the side. That was an interesting blend of flavors but they worked really well together. The prime rib came with herbed butter melting on top adding an extra level of juiciness to it. The pie was crunchy and crispy and everything I needed it to be. Fun Food Fact: I'm obsessed with crusts, they just really do it for me. LOL

Dessert: I really didn't think I was going to have space for the dessert but once it arrived on the table it was so beautiful, I couldn't NOT try it. Thank goodness I did because it was the best way to end this 6-course dinner. I was practically scraping the chocolate off the plate to ensure I didn't leave anything behind.

All in all, I loved Reyes. The experience, ambiance, and service were top-notch.

Special Shout Outs to: Kylie, waiter Nicole, host Wendy, chef + extra...

Short Review: FANTASTIC margaritas, fish tacos, and flautas. The overall feel of this place is vibrant yet calming.

Full Review: My first memory of Reyes Mezcaleria will always be the first time I ever unexpectedly had to babysit someone who was tripping on acid – that, and having the purest and cleanest margarita I've had in a while.

First of all, the decor is stunning and, er, "instagram-y" for you strange breed of millennial folk. As you're waiting for your table to become available, the sitting/waiting area has a plethora of vintage seats and wall decor that make waiting for your table less of a drag and more of an art experience that lasts a solid few minutes. The restaurant as a whole is decently sized with a soothing vibe as provided by the lighting. When I come here, I always feel just really really comfortable.

Of course the most important part of any restaurant is the food. I have not tried a whole bunch here yet, but what I have tried was either incredibly enjoyable and flavorful, or was more of a kind of "shrug." For example, the "Tlayuda," which is braised short rib with beans, crema, and queso fresco on a crispy corn tortilla, was not up to standard for my taste. Was not a particular fan of the flavors mixed with short rib, but perhaps that is because I associate short rib with more Italian or American dishes. The Yellowfin Tuna Tostada had me feeling the same way. BUT their fish tacos are efficient and B.O.M.B. The Flautas? Let's say I was hella' full but somehow managed to finish my friends plate of it. The tenderness of the chicken was perfect, and that mystery magic orange sauce that is probably just mayonnaise brought this dish home for me. Their standard margarita is also supreme – here, this beloved cocktail is crafted with just the right amount of each ingredient, giving you that tequila balance that you probably need in your life.

I absolutely love going out for food and drinks, so if you're looking for Mexican fare in both food and drink form, make sure you check...

Unfortunately I’m pretty disappointed with this restaurant. I came here specifically because this restaurant is part of the Good Salt Group that was nominated for a James Beard Award this year for Best Restauranteurs, so I had higher than normal expectations and I’m basing my review on that.

I was in Orlando for business and I came in around 8 last week on a weekday. I sat at the bar and it was pretty dark inside. The bartender introduced himself and the bar back and the house margarita was the only highlight. No talk from the bartender to me or anyone at the bar the entire night, which is unusual for a nice bar. Not even trying to make some conversation and it didn’t seem that busy in the restaurant when I walked up.

I ordered the beef tacos and the yucca, asking what the yucca was and was told it’s potato. They both came out at the same time. I had to ask for napkins and the presumable barback took a pile of bar napkins next to me on the bar and plopped them down. I could have done that but I suspect either I don’t need a roll up for tacos or he didn’t want to do one more roll up as part of side work. Regardless both tacos fell apart immediately on first bite and I had to again flag a guy down for silverware to eat them. Tortillas super soggy. The opposite for the yucca, very hard and not textured in a good way.

The presumable barback asked if I wanted hot sauce for my tacos with one bite left on the second taco. I didn’t but why ask me then. No one came over to see how everything was either.

Again this is a 3 star review for any other restaurant but this was had a JB nom this year as part of the group so figured their food and service would be on point but I was sorely mistaken.

I...