Oyamel

Great friends and good atmosphere can really make a place special and Oyamel can help make that happen. This high end, modern Mexican restaurant is openly inviting when you enter, well let and very lively. The people are happy and really enjoying themselves, so it sets the tone for a great time.

This is not the place for a romantic diner out, but for a gathering of friends to get together and share a bunch of small plates. This is tapas style Mexican at its finest. I definitely recommend trying this place out. I will be back myself, and with so many restaurants to try, that can be a rare feeling in this city!

An assortment of drinks made with quality Tequilla and topped with flavored 'air'

If you don't like Tequilla, you're probably in trouble. Nearly all the drinks have some form of it in it. My margarita was tasty, but didn't blow me away. I found the salt 'air' foam gimmicky, and didn't really satisfy me in the way a nice salt rimmed glass always has. There are a few other interesting choices that don't involve tequilla, but you'll have to give them a go yourself and let me know what you think. At our table, the Sagrado corazon was just a mild hit while the gin and tonic got more praise. Prices seem rather high to me, drinks small, but the food made it all worth it!

Guacamole 

made right before your eyes, with green tomatillo, serrano chile, crumbled queso fresco cheese and a basket of fresh tortilla chips

The guacamole was delicious, but what really took the cake for me was the salsa! Fresh, rich, smokey chipotles had to of been used in this salsa and I couldn't get enough of it! I wanted to take home bottles of it!

Machuco relleno de frijól con salsa negra
Plantain fritters stuffed with black beans and a chipotle chile and piloncillo sugar sauce

Ceviche de atún Pacífico
Tuna with Maggi-lime marinade,
scallions, avocado, toasted pecans,
jalapenos and crispy amaranth

 This was one of our favorites. Super fresh tuna, in an interesting and very delicious setting.

Queso fundido con tequila
Melted Chihuahua cheese flambéed
with tequila and served with
fresh hand-made tortillas

What's not to love about loads of cheese and chorizo? Delicious, but rich!

Chile en Nogada
Poblano pepper stuffed with ground pork,
pineapple and tomato, served in a creamy sauce
of walnuts and ‘double cream’ cheese,
topped with fresh pomegranate seeds

This very traditional dish was delicious and unique, it might not hit a home run with everyone.

Camarones al mojo de ajo negro

Shrimp sautéed with shallots,
arbol chile, poblano pepper, lime and
sweet aged black garlic

Tamal Tipo Rancheros Veracruzanos
Fresh corn tamal filled with pork braised in an ancho
and chipotle chile sauce and hoja santa

Carnitas con salsa de tomatillo
Confit of baby pig with green tomatillo
sauce, pork rinds, onions and cilantro

The list goes on and on, there were so many things to try and share with your friends. We enjoyed nearly everything, with some things more then others, but that's the fun of it. Give Oyamel a try and find the small plates that you love the most.. then share them with your friends.

Oyamel

www.oyamel.com

401 7th St NW 

Washington, District of Columbia 20004