If you want Mexican food downtown that goes past the usual combination plate, Mezcal Spirit of Oaxaca at 302 Centre Street builds much of its menu around mole and slow-cooked regional dishes. The restaurant describes its approach as traditional Mexican recipes served with a fine-dining touch. The entradas show what that means: duck mole enchiladas with mole oaxaca, carne con mole, lamb barbacoa, huitlacoche quesadillas (the menu calls huitlacoche Mexican truffle), and a chile colorado credited to Grandma's guajillo recipe.
Starters include corn ribs with lime chipotle mayo and cotija, a poblano fundido, a ceviche of the day, and mussels cooked in mezcal amber beer with chorizo. Street tacos come in fish, al pastor, asada and birria, which arrives with a cup of beef broth. Fajitas run from chicken to ribeye to mixed seafood. A section titled Favoritos de Amelia Island keeps chimichangas, enchiladas and chile rellenos on hand if someone at the table wants something familiar. Tostadas and salsa come out on the house, and dessert is flan, churros or tres leches cake.
A few practical details from the restaurant's site:
- It's closed Mondays.
- Tuesday through Sunday, lunch runs 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and dinner reopens at 4:30 p.m. and goes until 10.
- Parties larger than six get an automatic 20 percent gratuity.
- Private dining is available for milestones and corporate groups.
Mezcal is on the river end of Centre Street, a short walk from the marina. If your group would rather have sizzling fajitas, a deep tequila list and a kitchen that stays open straight through the afternoon, Pepper's Cocina Mexicana is two blocks up the street. For a birthday dinner or a group in the private room, reservations and bookings can make the calls and confirm the details for you.