Masa

1070 Nicollet Ave
Minneapolis, MN
612-338-6272
http://www.masa-restaurant.com/

Category: Mexican (Contemporary)

Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 8
Service: 8
Ambience: 9

Recommendation: Very Good. The idea of a contemporary Mexican restaurant may not appeal to all, but Masa takes this concept to the next level – be prepared to have your taste buds dance at the hands of fine ingredients and clever preparations.

In the heart of Nicollet Mall lies this chic, contemporary space. It’s modern and gives off a vibe you would expect to find in the trendy neighborhoods in New York City. Rows of large windows fill the space, only to be disturbed by the lone accent wall decorated with murals of dancers and mosaics of vibrant colored glass tiles. We love the décor – you know you’ve stepped into a place that takes ambience seriously. Some might call it pretentious…regardless of whether you believe it or not, dress to impress. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a table outside, especially great for people watching.

The drinks menu has a nice selection of non-alcoholic drinks as well as some pretty whimsical concoctions. We liked the La Vampira, essentially a non-alcoholic Bloody Mary. The La Paloma is a good alcoholic option with a Tequila base and tangy grapefruit juice. You’re served complimentary Chips and Salsa (a duo consisting of Tomatillo Salsa and Chiptole Salsa, which can also be supplemented by a third, more spicy, Habanero Salsa, which we liked). For appetizers we got the Queso Frito and the Coctel de Camaron con Salsa Guajilo. The first is fried cheese served with tomatillo salsa – the preparation is very similar to Paneer (an Indian cheese curd, minus the salsa). The latter is a cold shrimp cocktail where the accompaniments add a nice fresh flavor; although we thought that the small shrimp were more of an afterthought on this dish. There were some great selections for the main course and the two we ordered were super. The Puerco Veracruzana (Pork shoulder marinated in lime, garlic, and ancho chili, cooked in a banana leaf and served with broiled pineapple) was tender and juicy, and although it lacked a sauce, that problem was remedied by the salsa trio sitting in front of us (oh, and we adore the broiled pineapple idea). We would highly recommend the Costillas de Carne de Res en Barbacoa (Beef Shortribs served with Black Bean Tamales) – the tender ribs were presented with sautéed chunky onions and the flavors were dark, deep, and complex. For dessert, the Tres Leches was good, although non-traditional in keeping with the theme of the restaurant. It had a lime crème on top and was served with mango and grapefruit reductions. Service was quick, attentive, and friendly, even after taking into account the packed restaurant, late on a Friday night.

$$$. Most entrees range from $15-$25. Our dinner for two was $100.