Location: 1191
Cuisine: Contemporary Mexican
Items: 8 cocktails, 10 small plates
Cost: $82 with 20% gratuity
Best Dish: With so many amazing options it was really hard to choose a favorite, but the Maya Dog can not be missed!
Overall: Relaxed atmosphere with chic surroundings.
Brunch is the perfect weekend treat. It gives you all your favorite breakfast options with a hearty lunch time spin, best of all you don’t have to skip sleeping in to enjoy it. We took a trip to the upper east side this past weekend and had a grand Brunch at Richard Sandoval’s Maya. The top-notch eatery on 64th street boasts elevated Mexican cuisine. The beautiful dining area is decorated in neutral tones with an assortment of plants providing bits of color and life throughout. We began with a round of refreshing Margaritas. Maya has several different flavored margaritas that range from tropical pineapple to sweet tamarind. The drinks were a great start and gave us time to pore over the menu. Though the number of options isnt overwhelming it is hard to choose just 1 item. Luckily the Brunch menu is an all you can eat paradise of small plates.
We began the tasting with the Brisket taco and Maya dog. The Smoked Brisket Tacos are served with creamy chile slaw, guacamole and pickled onion. The tacos come in miniature soft shell form.
The Maya dog combines 2 meat lovers favorites, it is a juicy beef hot dog wrapped in smoky bacon. It is served on soft warm bread with chipotle rouille and pickled chiles, adding a french twist to an all American classic. The dog is also topped with shredded cabbage with a Mexican spin on sauerkraut. The combination of flavors is intense and instantly satisfying. The warm soft bread the firm meat and crunchy cabbage work well together in creating layers of texture. The brisket taco combines tasty morsels of braised brisket, chile slaw and avocado. This tasty little snack revved up our appetites for the next course.
Foraging ahead we tried the Mayan Benedict, a mexican rendition of a brunch staple. For Sandovals adaptation of traditional Eggs Benedict, the chef uses masa sope instead of the English muffin, Pork carnitas and a tasty green chile hollandaise sauce.
The Chicken Enchiladas were divine. This gourmet adaptation featured tomatillo salsa, gouda cheese,crema fresca and pickled chile.
Next up was the Chilaquiles Divorciados, also known as Divorced Eggs. In this flavorful dish two poached eggs are served separated by black beans ad tortillas. One egg is covered in Green sauce and the other in red sauce
Sandoval gives basic ceviche a boost in his Ketsi version. The octopus, shrimp and scallops mixed with cucumber and onion are paired with a cool and refreshing Bloody Mary sorbet.
We simply had to try the flat breads. Maya serves three distinct versions, and we had to have the Filet Mignon served with manchego cheese and chile toreado.
After all these deliciously rich dishes we decided to got for something a little lighter. The Mahi Mahi “A La Talla” was a perfect choice. The pan seared fish was amazing and the cabbage and tomato salad was a light palate pleasing treat.
We capped off our amazing brunch with a bit of “dessert”. The Pan Dulce is a lightly sweet Mexican French toast served with Chipotle cajeta, slices of fresh ripe banana and nutella for a dash of chocolate.
No brunch is complete without a delicious Margarita.
Just before the arrival of our final dish we were surprised to be greeted by Chef Sandoval. We happened to choose a great day to visit as the world-class Chef is often traveling. He spoke with us briefly about his travels and the importance of integrity. Many of the dishes he serves are comfort foods from his native Mexico and he worked hard on the menu to create a new experience while also paying homage to the foods he grew up with. His warm welcome and friendly approach extends to the staff at Maya, who were as delightful as the meals they serve.
With a great deal there comes a set of rules and restrictions. There is a 2-hour limit for all brunchers. The fact is if you could sit there all day, trust us you would. The atmosphere is comfortable and relaxed like visiting a good friend or close family member. All parties at the table must partake in the brunch, so bring sure to bring friends who enjoy a good meal or a quality cocktail there really is something for everyone at Maya. For only $35 per person you get he opportunity to sample as many dishes as your heart desires with unlimited cocktails to wash them down. In New York such value usually forces you to sacrifice taste and quality, Maya is the exception to the rule and more than worth a visit, or two. As with all things exclusive and grand you may need a reservation so make sure you call today!
Please visit www.richardsandoval.com for more information.