so mum was in town and dinner was requested... Honestly at first we had to scratch our heads, because one of the requirements was that it was outside... It never really hit me how many choices we have to dine al fresco around here, and how many i actually havent been to!! So D recommended that we try our luck at Maya, which is at the royal meridien in Marina. Maya restaurant is part of the wave of modern mexican lead by the chef Richard Sandoval who apparently has a big empire stretching across the US. This restaurant in specific supposedly has the blessing of one of the three tenors Placido Domingo, and its New York and Frisco counterparts are particularly successful. So off we went! Honestly i have to confess that i didnt exactly know where le royal meridien was, so for those who are sad sould like me its the one next to habtoor. After a bit of a walk, we arrived and i was pleasantly surprised. The balcony/patio etc was delightful with beautiful views on the garden. The decor was pretty authentic in a classy rather than chilli's kind of way, and each of the waiters and waitresses were "authentically dressed." In the corner stood/ sat a two member band one on harp one on guitar adding to the ambience of the mexican nature and was extremely agreeable. Service was, on a whole impeccable. Considering that it was pretty full that night, the service was attentive, and on the whole they took their time to take you through any questions/problems etc the drinks menu was extensive, and after debating between a passionfruit margherita or a mango mojito i settled for the former. It was light, fruity and absolutely brilliant! i cant say i sould really taste the alcohol but i certainly felt the buzz after i finished it...and i ordered a second without a moments hesitation. D ordered a mojito and seemed a little disappointed. After a sip, i have to say, so was i. It was a little weak and not exactly brilliant, but ca va.
Onto the food..
the menu is pretty extensive, but of course entirely mexican. After debating several options, which were lovingly marked low fat, containing alcohol, vegetarian etc we decided on the ceviche tasting for starter and pescado a la talla, which is basically a marinated hallibut.
the ceviche was dissapointing, honestly i feel it lacked the kick, the citrus mix with the fresh fish, and most of them had a overpowering taste of onion which ruined it for me. not that was unpleasant...but lets just say i probably wouldnt order it again.
my main meal was a fiasco. The hallibut came as promised on red cabbage, but contrary to what was mentioned on the menu ( i went for the light option, i am on a diet after all) it was covered in what appeared to be mayo! i ate a bit of the fish after having scraped off as much of the chilli mayo but wasnt satisfied at all. Thank god they had put tortillas and dip before (which were excellent btw)
D's red snapper was light and delicate, not wow either but ok, and mum's duck with foie gras seemed delightful ( i enforced willpower and did not succumb to the fat dish) she said it was fabulous.
So, while it did start on a good note, it ended on a rather bland note. I wuld love to go back and try something a little more mexican with tortillas or something, and if that does not prevail, at least i would have had a gorgeous passionfruit margerita.
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