Guaca Mole Cocina Mexicana

[Robin Garr]

YUM!!!

My birthday is in May. This looks like the birthday dinner destination.

Not that I might not go sooner.

I'm going tonight at 6:30; anyone else going to be there?
( I'll be with the rowdy group of women drinking Pink Senoritas )

Deb

I went tonight! Deb, I don't know you, but based on your post, I think we sat near your group - about 7 or 8 ladies? We got there at 8 and were finishing up around 9.

This was easily one of the best meals I've had in Louisville in quite a while. Neither of us was even particularly hungry tonight - we were just so eager to try Guaca Mole! We started with the chips and salsa: a basket of thick, crunchy corn chips and a trio of salsas as visually appealing as they were delicious. The salsas tonight were a roasted red pepper and onion; a tomatillo; and a spicy guajillo-based salsa. Each was delicious. The tomatillo was thick and tangy, the guajillo was smoky with just the right amount of heat, and the red pepper and onion was ever so slightly sweet and mild without being at all bland.

Next, we split the pepita and goat cheese salad. It was much bigger than I expected - a bed of arugula topped with golden raisins, halved cherry tomatoes, a light vinaigrette, and two pepita-encrusted goat cheese medallions. This wasn't a new combination of flavors, but the execution was excellent.

I wasn't sure how things could get any better when my vegetable tamales arrived. Leah, I knew that's what I wanted to order before I even arrived after reading your review! Holy. Guacamole. The presentation was flawless - an unrolled corn tamale husk, topped with masa, potato, mushrooms, and perfectly cooked asparagus, then drizzled with a light sauce and cotijo cheese. Three sweet plantains finished the meal. The flavors were incredible - nothing dominated, but everything seemed to blend into one mind-blowingly good tamale.

My other half ordered the fish tacos: three tacos, each served in a pair of housemade corn tortillas, topped with crema and pickled red onions. Again, the serving size surprised me here; I was expecting very small portions, but each taco held a good-sized piece of fish. The only possible negative I could find - and then even just a matter of opinion - is that the fish is fried; I prefer grilled. (In fairness, since I wasn't the one ordering, I didn't ask if grilled was an option - it well could be & I will ask next time I'm in.)

Finally, no review would be complete without a mention of the beverage program. After just glancing at the drink menu, my immediate thought was that I really need to return on a night when I could spend some quality time at the bar. A few highlights: a mango-chile margarita; a michelada made with tomato sauce; their spin on the Bloody Mary; and a tamarind-flavored margarita - which what I ended up ordering. It came in an old-fashioned glass with a chile rim and a sugar cane spear, reminding me of Martinez's connection to Havana Rumba/Mojito's. Delicious. They also have Negra Modelo, a personal favorite, on draft.

All I can say after returning home is that I wish I would've been hungrier. I'm excited to see how things unfold over the next few weeks. I could envision this place becoming a new hotspot, but the location is odd - for comparison, Limestone is right down the road, serves excellent food, and yet always seems to be half-empty when I'm there. I'm torn between shouting Guaca's praises to everyone I know and attempting to keep this secret for myself a few weeks longer. Anyways, all this rambling to say - it's excellent! Go! =)

We went and enjoyed everything. Definitely a "first cousin" to Mojito's in terms of food and style and I say that in a positive way. Easily the best Mexican food we've had in Louisville.

Thank you Guys for all the nice comments about Guaca-Mole. We worked really hard to do something different and it's nice to hear when people enjoy what you do with so much passion and love.

We are now open for business, dinner only to start from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm, lunch and dinner in two weeks. To see our menu go to.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guaca-Mol ... 2251081528

I carefully worked my way through this thread to make sure that I wasn't duplicating any other comments... so... here goes:

Hubby and I also attended a friends & family night, and were thrilled to catch up with so many forumites including Deb H & Brian, Linda & Mark Bayens, and a few others...

The "rapture in a serving vessel" that are the Guac and Queso apps have been well documented already, so I'll skip forward to something that I hadn't seen posted as of yet - the Mole's.... Christina talked me into the Mole Poblano, which was a half-chicken cooked sous vide and set atop what has got to be the most perfect mole I have ever tasted! No kidding, folks, it was the perfect blend of smoky, dusky, savory cocoa and spice and the kick of a little heat on the end. Christina said "you've got to try a glass of the rose' with it" and while I never thought I'd quote Charlie
Sheen I gotta say...WINNING! Seriously, I'd had the guac appetizer before, and I wish I hadn't because I wanted to have room to have all the chicken....and then lick the plate clean.

We also finished with a trio of ice creams, although the night we were there it was pistachio, pina colada and banana. I think I might have inhaled the pina colada ice cream...sorry Comfy Cow, but it's my new favorite ice cream from anywhere... there are chunks of roasted pineapple in there that made it wonderfully flavorful but not really sweet. I love not-too-sweet desserts, so this was perfect. The pistachio ice cream also hit that "not-too-sweet" spot - it was as if someone had taken roasted pistachios, processed them into pistachio butter, then added just a little cream. It was such a pure, strong pistachio flavor that it would have been perfect with a port or deep red wine. I am just in love with those ice creams! (Not a banana fan, so hubby had that one, and I assume since he finished it in 3 bites, it was OK with him

Hubby and I will certainly be regulars - I love that it's so close to our house! Haven't been so excited about a restaurant opening since Anthony had his second, now closed, Seviche outpost. Welcome home Fernando and Christina!

Monday the 16th Guaca-Mole will be open for Lunch and Dinner monday thru Saturday for now, then open on Sundays with regular lunch menu and an small Mexican Brunch menu with items like:

- Huevos rancheros(Tostada, black beans, ranchero sauce,Guacamole)Papas enmoladas.
- Huevos strellados with home made chorizo, Oaxaca cheese, caramelized onions and rajas(Mexican scrambled eggs)Corn tortillas, Papas enmoladas.
- Montecristo Breakfast sandwish, platanos machos.
Etc.

I went yesterday and everything was fantastic... the only thing I have to add to the thread is that as I was entering, a man was storming out... FURIOUS.

Apparently they don't have sweet tea... in a huff, the gentleman looked at us and said "They don't have sweet tea, so if you want that, you should LEAVE NOW"... fortunatley, we did not go there for the sweet tea... The hostess was taken aback by the guy, but took it with great humor.

We had a delightful meal, and the drinks were outstanding... service was excellent as well.

Well, it is less than a month until Derby, so this is the "South" you know.... How could a restaurant possibly not serve Sweet Tea- regardless of whether it has anything to do with their stated ethnic cuisine???.

Cristina, Congrats to your staff for handling it well.
Deb

We went last night with the 6 year old and husband. Excellent all-around. We felt comfortable in our *very* casual attire and our waiter was helpful. The 6 year old ended up liking the tomatillo salsa the best and ate 1/2 of my husband's carne asada, even though she ordered and liked the chicken.

I could go back tonight for the chips and salsa alone. So glad to have this treasure just a few miles from home.

I went yesterday and everything was fantastic... the only thing I have to add to the thread is that as I was entering, a man was storming out... FURIOUS.

Apparently they don't have sweet tea... in a huff, the gentleman looked at us and said "They don't have sweet tea, so if you want that, you should LEAVE NOW"

Someone should have explained how you actually make sweet tea sweet.....

while peppering him with sugar packets as he walked back to his car.

I went yesterday and everything was fantastic... the only thing I have to add to the thread is that as I was entering, a man was storming out... FURIOUS.

Apparently they don't have sweet tea... in a huff, the gentleman looked at us and said "They don't have sweet tea, so if you want that, you should LEAVE NOW"... fortunatley, we did not go there for the sweet tea... The hostess was taken aback by the guy, but took it with great humor.

We had a delightful meal, and the drinks were outstanding... service was excellent as well.

Personally, I would like to thank this gentleman for leaving a seat open for me

Went back again Tuesday night with hubby....and "forced" myself to try a few new things....Duck Flautas were incredible (YUM), and tried the ceviche with Salmon...which was delish! Funny thing, I knew it had horseradish in it (which I love), but while I could smell the horseradish, it was only a "backnote" in the dish - such great skill to not have a single flavor overpower.

Next time I have to have the blackberry & chile margarita....

I went Thursday with a friend. Greeted at the door and seated by a friendly young lady. Service was provided by a waited and was attentive.

Started with a Margarita (7) and chips and avocado dip (7). The dip was excellent and served in a large pestle. We had the salmon (16) and a lamb shank mole (16). Both excellent even though the salmon was served way to cool.

The place was very attractive. Having been to Havana Rumba a number of times, I was not surprised at the quality and attention to detail of the restaurant.

This is not the standard "Mexican" restaurant with combos 1 to 26 and heavy drink specials. This is a VERY good restaurant with reasonable prices. For $47 plus $10 tip we had a meal that was as good as any place in the city at a significantly lower price with very competent service and attractive surroundings.

Went today for lunch and the place was packed. Food was great, guac was awesome. Chips come with three different sauces. Had the pork carnitas and fish tacos. Highly recommend.

PS- They have sweet tea now...