Nixta — Restaurant in St. Louis

This is a brand new restaurant that my wife and I visited a couple of days ago. They were incredibly busy, but the glory of Saint Louis is that reservations are easy to come by and the wait is not very long. With reservations, we were able to walk in and get a seat...and we were 15 minutes early. Strong work guys :). In general, I would rank this as a Mexican/Latino fusion with a touch of European/Mediterranean mix with it. Now I wouldn't call this authentic Mexican food...but that does not detract from the food itself. The food is served in Tapa fashion and I would advise 1.5 plates per person. My wife and I had 3 plates altogether and I was quite satiated. The presentation of the food is excellent and you can tell the chef took great care to make sure the food came out artfully crafted. Of the dishes we had, the Empanadas had the best presentation with local greens and flower petals scattered around and about the main course with splashes of mole and cucumber like sauce (I think) around it. The flavor of the food was solid. We had a ceviche tostada which was OK...I didn't get the flavor of the shrimp as it was loaded with shredded lettuce, but I did get a strong meat flavor with the sauce. It was an interesting dish and surprised me from its appearance...which I think adds to the playfulness of the experience. The tostada was thin and I thought it was going to crumble...but it held up incredibly well. The Empanadas were not only the best presented dish, but I thoroughly enjoyed the flavor with the sauce and the touch of veggie flavor on the side. Well done and I enjoyed that dish the best. Their mixology was okay and you can't go wrong here. There was nothing outstanding about it and I would give it an average ranking. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my drinks, but its nothing to wow or rave about at this time. The service was great as well. As I said before, it was a busy day, Nixta just received positive reviews in the local papers and they were packed. Despite the waiter's busy list, he was still attentive, got our orders right, and consistently checked in on us. I think its popularity will only grow. Overall I would return here to try other dishes on the menu. Compliments to the chef and owners who are creating a...

Ah, Nixta. A place that defies conventional expectations, Nixta in Tower Grove, St. Louis, is a culinary masterpiece hidden in plain sight. The unassuming exterior might not catch your eye, but step inside and you'll find a quaint, colorful, and beautifully adorned space that promises a memorable experience.

The decor is charming in its simplicity, yet immensely pleasing to the eye. It's not your typical fine-dining establishment, but that's where its charm lies. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, allowing you to focus on the real star of the show - the food.

And what a gastronomic fiesta it is! Every dish is a revelation of flavors and textures, from the Guacamole and Escabeche, a vibrant medley of pickled vegetables, to the main plates that are nothing short of artworks. The Roasted Cauliflower, a rustic delight paired with Mexican squash and shishito pepper, redefines what vegetarian cuisine can be​.

Don't miss the Crab Empanada, where the richness of crab meets the crunch of a perfectly baked pastry. The Japanese Sweet Potato, while not on the online menu, is an unexpected yet delicious twist. Then there's the Chicken Tinga, a traditional dish bursting with flavor, and the Crispy Octopus, which is bathed in salsa macha and served with a refreshing broccolini salad and frijoles gigantes​.

Nixta presents Mexican cuisine as it should be - vibrant, fresh, and packed with flavor. It's not about oversized portions drowned in oil, but rather a thoughtful and beautifully curated family-style dining experience where each dish has its own identity and story. This isn't your regular Tex-Mex joint; this is a deep dive into authentic Mexican culinary arts.

Everything about Nixta exudes passion and meticulous attention to detail, from the presentation of the dishes to the quality of the ingredients. If there's one place that serves authentic Mexican cuisine in St. Louis, it is undoubtedly here.

Nixta, you've won our hearts (and stomachs). If there were a way to award six stars, we would not hesitate. Until then, a perfect five will have to do. Thank you for a truly unforgettable...

Went to Nixta for my girlfriend's birthday and it was definitely a mixed bag. The interior and atmosphere was just alright, nothing grand or even beautiful, maybe even borderline shabby.

The waiter was knowledgeable on the menu and was very friendly, but once I started looking at the menu I can't say I was not disappointed. It was relatively limited and very expensive. It would be hard to get an app and 2 entrees without approaching $80 unless you're not drinking. With 4 drinks, 3 apps and 2 entrees it was $130. Not outrageous, but considering 2 of the 3 appetizers were pretty lame it wasn't my favorite use of my paycheck.

The salsa and chips were very good, as was the guacamole. The pumpkin seed hummus appetizer was pretty gross, and the encho-something appetizer was basically carrots in vinegar, and was pretty lackluster. The 2 entrees, tacos al pastor and charred octopus were also mixed bags. The tacos themselves were good and the al pastor was absolutely amazing, but I want to say it was about $15 for 2 tacos. Not a good value. The octopus was a little dry, and while the sauce/seasoning on the potatoes was delicious, it did not feel like $36 well spent.

After hearing this restaurant was critically acclaimed by Food & Wine magazine (a few years ago now I believe) I have wanted to try it, but I refuse to believe this was the same experience they had.

If money isn't an issue and you want to try something out of the box, this might be worth trying, but for 2 people to spend over $130 on a meal I cannot say I found it worth it. I personally will never be back. I think I could spend half as much for a better experience at many other Mexican...