03/09/09

lovely experience

by marrrio

Had dinner at Maya last month and had a lovely experience. The food was delicious and my wait staff was so friendly. I felt at ease, welcome and had a great dinner. I Highly Recomment It.

• Pros: food,staff

11/27/08

tasty food but small portions

by enick

Came here for a friend's birthday. It was damn tasty ... had the seven course meal ... although the portions looked small I still was stuffed (which I wasn't expecting from a place like this)

The decor and ambiance here were damn good. Probably won't come here again any time soon (a bit cost prohibitive) ... but will definitely keep in mind for a special occasion.

• Pros: food
• Cons: small portions,pricey

11/11/08

mexican in a different way

by vzones

we tried this restaurant because we had beedn to zengo in dc, and we liked it a lot. first aand foremost try to make reservations before you go. when you get there try the plato maya, not bad to get a sampling of three. The picadillo de atun is very good and plenty. the ostiones sandoval are excellent. my friend raved about the carnitas maya, if you like pork. the pescado ala veracruzana is excellent and well portioned. the pato ahumado will make you like duck, if you never tried it before. the langosta y camarones was an excellent dish for lobster lovers but may be a little skimpy on the lobster. the chocolate flan and cholocate mousse are excellent. try the chocolate expresso, you can't go wrong. the restaurant is loud but the food is good. stay away from the sangria, it is very weak. the prices are a little high if you indulge in liqour. if you have a good meal and one bottle wine or a couple drinks for two people with a desert expect to pay about 60 to 75 per person, considering the high quality of food and attentiveness of the staff, and of course the fusion style of the food. this place should be on your angenda but not too often.

• Pros: excellent food, service, unique
• Cons: loud, prices, small tables

10/21/08

Overpriced and bland, but friendly service

by dotdashdot

I had been to Maya a few times over the years and remembered the food was good and the restaurant was very busy. In fact, I always wondered why Rosa Mexicano has expanded to several locations when Maya serves comparable food. My dining partner and I ordered a pitcher of Sangria for $38. Although the sangria was quite nice at first taste, the after taste was bitter. Plus, the small pitcher (approaching carafe size) was filled with large chunks of ice and fruit. It seemed as though half of the beverage was not even liquid. We ordered the guacamole and chips. Again, rather expensive for $13, and a bit heavy on the onions. One bright spot in the dinner was the attentive and friendly staff, eager to refill our water glasses and bring more chips. For the main course I had the lamb shank. It was smothered in a gravy-like sauce with minimal flavor. I could probably purchase more flavorful sauce in a can at Food Emporium. Plus the sauce was a flat gray which made the presentation look grim. The accompanying vegetables were unremarkable, either stiff or soggy. While eating this meal I began to feel nauseous, as if the ice in the sangria or water was not clean, or the sauce had an unintended "ingredient".

As I felt myself getting ill, we skipped desert. The bill was over $120, not including tip. I will not be going back. For less money, one could enjoy a perfectly fine dinner at Rosa Mexicano or Mi Cucina. Although given the popularity of Maya, I doubt that my experience will be considered typical.

• Pros: Attentive, friendly service, nice decor
• Cons: Overpriced, bland food

09/04/08

Go inside, you might be surprised...

by lex142

I've always avoided this place because of the crowded bar tables you see from the outside, but last night we decided to venture inside because we really felt like some Mexican spices. I was so happy to see a beautiful, relaxing room. There were calm friendly people there to see to our needs and make sure we were happy. That's so unusual in Manhattan.

The margarita was mediocre. The guacamole was very good and the chips were great. My lobster entree wasn't good. There was one tiny peice of lobster in the whole dish. The flavors were good, but I think they should leave it off the menu if they're not going to put some lobster in it. My friend's seafood medley was good, good, good. Loads of seafood and a delicious sauce.

Nice bathrooms.

So, I guess I'm saying I'd like to go back but I won't get the lobster. I'm happy to have discovered this place finally.

• Pros: professional staff and beautiful dining room
• Cons: where the heck is the lobster???

07/09/08

Solid Mexican food

by jackryan

The food is although expensive is very tastey and has some kick to it. The guac is a bit disappoints (this Dos Camino's has better) but the entries are away containing new items and flavors. The service was quick and the place was busy. My only complaint is that it was very loud in there and it was tough to hear people next to you. In the summer they open the bay windows but cut the AC as a result so if you are in the back it may get a little warm.

03/26/08

High-end Mexican that ranks among the city's best.

by Contributor

The Scene
Pastel walls decorated with folk art and glass shelves lined with silverware create a tastefully festive atmosphere. The dining room feels intimate but is actually quite large--nooks and crannies are dotted about everywhere. Service is variable: sometimes excellent, sometimes merely adequate.

The Food
Richard Sandoval creates haute takes on familiar standbys, and invents a few of his own creamy confections, too. In the former category, quesadillas stuffed with cheese and zucchini blossom are soft and crunchy, while mole poblano features unusually complex sauce and boneless chicken tenders spiralled around plantains. In the latter, baked oysters swamped with goat cheese, habaneros and crispy bacon are a gooey treat and perfectly seared scallops chime with halibut, lemon, chiptole, avocado and cilantro blend to create a wonderfully tangy effect. Off notes--like tuna seviche overwhelmed by a citrus juice--are few and far between.

03/09/08

Thought it would be better

by badra_nyc

I came here last night with my husband after I read the reviews. In all honesty it was overrated and overpriced. I oredered the Tampiquena entree which was "filet mignon". I know my beef and that was a good cut of skirt steak. $29.00 for that. The guace and chips were not a good size. The waiter recommeded the chicken breast for my husband and prmised him it was not dry. It wasnt dry- it was extremely dry! The food is not authentic , if you want authentic mexican you have to go to those mexican dives in an urban neighborhood. I was so dissapointed I did not want dessert , I just wanted to go home all the way to Rockand County. It was not worth the trip.

• Pros: cute restaruant, attentive busboy
• Cons: overpriced, not that authentic

03/03/08

Great overall experience

by arb84

I went to Maya for the second time last Saturday night. The ambiance is great (there wasn't an empty seat in the house). We had a reservation and were seated right away. The food is excellent. I highly recommend the pescado a la veracruzano (red snapper) or the tampiquena (filet). Well worth the price.

• Pros: Great food, warm atmosphere
• Cons: a bit loud

12/12/07

Innovative Mexican Cooking

by mhazen

I stopped by Maya last Friday night and am thrilled to have discovered this neighborhood spot. I have never had such innovative Mexican cooking - the food was creative and delicious. We also had top notch margaritas. Our server was friendly but very professional - he worked well in the energetic space - I will definitely go back.

• Pros: warm, welcoming atmosphere