With successful restaurants like The Mission and the revamped La Hacienda at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Modern Mexican cuisine is all the rage. Recently, Taberna Mexicana opened at Scottsdale Seville (where Roy’s used to reside) and dishes up equally tasty Modern Mexican fare. First of all, Taberna Mexicana is uberstylish, with its large courtyard for outdoor seating and beautifully decorated doors that act as partitions between dining areas. Even if you’re not in the mood for a full-on meal, the bar is a cool place to hang out, watch the game and enjoy Taberna’s top-notch cocktails (more on those in a bit).
For starters, the tres picaditas are divine. The dish consists of three masa boats with braised pork carnitas, cheese, onion and avocado. The picaditas are the perfect way to get your taste buds amped for a flavorful feast. The meatball soup was a table favorite featuring a spicy broth loaded with chicken meatballs, tomatillos and jalapenos. The warming soup is perfect during the chilly winter and satisfying enough to act as a main entree, possibly paired with a starter or salad. The fish tacos are another delicious menu selection. However, consisting of beer-battered fish and cabbage slaw, the dish wasn’t terribly unique.
For more hearty entrees, the carne asada with mole rub and chili-garlic butter was an absolute winner. The tender meat was flavored perfectly and was wonderfully juicy. The Yucatan pork stew is another memorable dish. The satisfying stew, rounded out with tender pork, was sided with fried plantains, crema and pickled red onions–great ways to cool off the palate. Another to try is the chile relleno–a dish that is filling and flavorful while being meat-free. A spin on the traditional dish, the relleno featured zucchini, spinach, mushrooms, oaxacan cheese and tomato sauce.
The meal shouldn’t end without a slice of tres leches cake and flan. The tres leches cake is uniquely topped with a marshmallow spread though manages not to be overly sweet. The cream cheese-flavored flan is served with Kahlua, caramel sauce and whipped cream and is utterly velvety–one of the best flan dishes we’ve ever tasted. We also hear Taberna Mexicana’s gelatos are worth a try.
To wash it all down, Taberna Mexican doles out some incredible margaritas, with the table favorite being the Jalisco Attitude. The spicy cocktail features tequila, lime, cilantro and jalapeno and makes you forget about any fruity drink you may have favored in the past. http://tabernamexicana.com/.
New Mexican Restaurant in Scottsdale
