Maya Restaurant

07/15/06

delicious food!

by acura1993integra

although this restaurant is a little out of the way (it's on second street, about four blocks south of market, which can be a little bit sketchy late at night), it was worth the hike. the chili relleno was excellent. i've never had anything like it before... and that was the vegetarian version of it (it typically comes with seafood). my friend had a vegetarian portobello and crispy eggplant dish, which was, as he says, "friggin awesome." i had the lobster and shrimp dish. the lobster was a little bit chewy, but the shrimp was very good, and overall the dish was unique and flavorful. the serving sizes were on the smaller side, but, at the end of the meal (with one entree and a shared appetizer), we were too full to even consider dessert. i would definitely like to try some of the other entrees offered at maya. the only drawback was that the service was a little less than friendly, but he was not rude by any means.

• Pros: appetizers, entrees
• Cons: service, location

04/18/08

A spicy celebration of Latin American cuisine hits its stride with the basics, helping to make SOMA an after-work destination.

by Contributor

In Short
New York-based chef and owner Richard Sandoval has garnered a San Francisco following with the openin of his elegant West coast Mexican restaurant. Although honored for its traditional execution of classic dishes such as tomales and mole, Maya really touches the hearts of foodies and critics with innovative touches such as manchego and huitacoche dumplings. Prix-fixe menus, inspired food, and elegant yet relaxed decor will keep this Mexican spot on the map.

03/10/07

Fresh & delicious

by f8d

I am not a huge mexican food fan but I enjoy this restaurant & have dined there a few times. Tip: The $20 prix fixe lunch is a great deal which includes appetizer, entree, sorbet & non-alcoholic beverage. In fact, 2 of the prix fixe lunches may be shared among 3 diners if they are not large eaters. Tamal al chipotle - yummy. Quesadillas surtidas - ok. Ensalada de espinaca - ok, nothing special. Pepito (torta) - delicious, skirt steak was tender. Quesadilla abierta de camarones - ok, lots of cheese & only 3 shrimp. Mole poblano - tasty. The sorbets were fresh & fruity. Recommend the agua fresca beverage. Downside - noisy due to 2 large groups & the music.

• Pros: prix fixe $20 lunch
• Cons: noisy, weekday parking challenge

11/11/06

Go for the top-shelf margarita, but the concept and execution of the food was way off

by warrensf

I went to Maya on a Friday night. There were 8 of us, so I had a good overview of the food selection. There was a lamb sirloin dish on the menu, which was unusual for a Mexican restaurant. So I took the plunge and ordered it. I don't recommend at all. The meat was gamey and tough. The balsamic-infused portabello mushroom garnish was a nice idea, but was heavy-handed. My friend had the carnitas (roast pork) dish. That was the only good dish on the menu. The desserts weren't that special. I recommend Maya only for the high-end tequilas.

10/12/06

Best Snapper and Margaritas Ever!

by rakeshtondon

This ain't no burrito joint - ain't no taqueria. It's where you want to go for grand mexican food. We went there expecting a lot, and were pleasantly surprised to get more than we expected. The guac was fresh, spicy and just perfect. The Chilli Rellenos were the best I've ever had, and the red snapper was the freshest I've ever had in San Francisco. Even the variety of drinks impressed my fiance, and added to the excellent meal we were already enjoying. Two thumbs up big!!! I highly recommend it. Please make reservations to avoid a wait. The service is so-so, but overall makes for a great evening.

• Pros: Excellent food - fresh and tasty
• Cons: Service is kamsi-kamsa

09/04/06

Horrible service - Extremely Overpriced

by ehansenchc

No ambiance - run down decor. Drinks and Food sound much better on the menu than in real life. The food is way overpriced and seems made by prep cooks.

The server was never available and the resturant was more than half empty on a Saturday night.

This is a "has been" restuarant that is not taken care of nor are the servers professional.

If I'm going to pay $100 for dinner I expect good service, good food and a nice environment - Maya has none of these.

02/16/06

Maya, probably not for "me-a"

by mhb1954

We first had bar service and ordered a high-end margie. It was terrible. It took a while to get the waiters attention, and we asked him to remake them, but he seemed perplexed at our discontent: the drinks had no sweet and sour taste; they were like tequila with water. The chips we ordered finally arrived after we were half done with martinis that replaced the margies. Dinner was so so. A calamari appetizer was somewhat dry, perhaps over fried. The sea bass was ok, and the chicken mole was somewhat tough: both were far too bland. My summation was that I'd rather spend such money at Puerto Allegre in the Mission. Maya is ok, but it doesn't merit a return visit by me.

• Pros: Ambience, Friendly staff
• Cons: Bad margies, Bland cuisine, Scenic, not substance

12/30/05

Know before you go

by kateyes

Whatever specials they claim to have listed on websites - they don't. Be prepared to pay full price for everything. That said, the food is excellent. Chili Relleno is unbelievable. They have a few vegetarian options that are really good. It's expensive, but at least somewhat worth it.

• Pros: delicious, ambiance
• Cons: misleading info

06/15/05

gooooood

by food4thought27

This is an upscale restaurant with gourmet food prepared by talented and skilled chefs, don't get it wrong because it is listed with all the burrito joints. Have been here 3 times, the food is superd, you will treasure every bite of it. The furniture is kind of conservative, but it probably appeals to people around 50-60. Would probably be good for business dinners as the tables have some space between them and the multiple of fabric muffles the overall noise. Bring lots of money or a credit card!

• Pros: delicious food

12/03/04

Overpriced Mexican Food!

by bover

We, a party of 6, came to this restaurant based on the recommendation through CitySearch, which we're an avid use of.

Unfortunately, the rating did not live up to the billing.

Overpriced Mexican food. Service Lousy.

Guacamole - lacked both salt and lime, keys to good guacamole.

The Sangria did not have fruit and cost $28 per pitcher.

Entrees portions small.

Service--What service. The waiter forgot to bring several items to our table. Moreover, the waiter had no personality and no opinion on items on a menu.

Overall, this restaurant has a nice atmosphere; however, the food at El Torito Grill is more authentic and tasty.

• Pros: ambience
• Cons: , small portions