Izote

Still at the top of the city's superb dining scene, this signature venue of celebrated chef Patricia Quintana pays homage to the best of classic Mexican cooking. There are only 19 tables, and the atmosphere is simple, but what's on your plate will more than compensate. Located on the most upscale street in all of Mexico, it remains one of the capital's most popular restaurants, so reservations are essential, even at lunch. The menu is a compilation of modern versions of pre-Hispanic dishes and draws heavily on indigenous ingredients such as yucca flower, cactus, and masa (corn flour). Each dish is a delight. Try traditional Oaxacan mole, or lamb barbecued in a banana leaf. Endings are especially sweet here -- save room for Tarta Zaachila, a chocolate pastry filled with nuts, accompanied by the traditional café de olla, coffee flavored with cinnamon and brown sugar. If you're curious, izote is the beautiful white flower that adorns the yucca plant.

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