cielo bistro mexico [closed]

Screen Shot 2019-08-18 at 9.02.01 AM.png

Although Far West is not part of the Allandale neighborhood, it is “across the street” and therefore part of the Allandale stomach-hood. And thank goodness, because there’s a trove of good places to eat over yonder on the Balcones Escarpment.

Recently opened and earning raves on the local listservs is Cielo Bistro Mexico at 7032 Woodhollow in the former location of El Arroyo. Chef Charles Mayes of Cafe Josie has artfully created a menu of Mexican cuisine from northern Baja (seafood!) and northwestern Mexico with a focus on natural and fresh ingredients. Even the housemade corn tortillas are made with houseground corn from the Aztec homeland.

The decor is rather austere (a la Bonhomie [RIP]) with oodles of reflective surfaces, which means Cielo is one tipsy extrovert away from inducing migraines (this is not a whisper-sweet-nothings-to-your-sweetheart kinda place), but the food heartily confirms the listserv reviews. The appetizers (called “Primero” on the menu) include calamari, Gulf shrimp, redfish, oysters, pork stew, and popcorn pozole; you could definitely tapas a meal out of the Primeros. We’ve tried the Salsa Flight (Salsa Pasilla, Salsa Taqueria, Salsa Escabeche; $7) with the housemade tortillas (which are, indeed, something special) and the Calamares Fritos (crispy calamari with chipotle aioli; $12), both good.

The mains really had us ooo-ing and ahh-ing. The Enchiladas de Pato con Mole Poblano (braised duck confit, mole poblano, crema, toasted sesame seeds with sofrito rice and black beans; $20) was everything I hoped for: A symphony of deep and savory flavor. The Enchiladas de Pollo y Rajas (braised chicken and poblanos, quesos Oaxaca and asadero, chile tomatillo, crema, and pickled red onions with sofrito rice and black beans; $16) was similarly delicious–and probably the best tomatillo chicken enchiladas we’ve had (and that’s saying something!). The margaritas (~$10) were also the best we’ve had in many years (which we define as not sweet with space to taste the nuance of the tequila). Be forewarned: they are Uber-requiring strong.

So far, we’ve enjoyed the basics (you gotta test the basics) and look forward to sampling other menu items such as the Ostiones Fritos (crispy Gulf oysters, mesquite honey chipotle, Meyer lemon aioli, and totopos), Sikil P’ak (Oaxacan pumpkin seed salsa), Sopes de Chicharrón (blue corn masa cake, pork belly, manchego mojo picado, and crema), and the Pescado Crujiente con Pepitas (pepita crusted redfish, mango habanero butter, and chiles tomatillo and guajillo), among many others. Cielo has happy hour specials, a lunch menu, a solid wine list, and, rumor has it, a coming-soon weekend brunch. We’ll see you there!

I wrote this review for the Allandale Neighbor

April 12, 2019 update: Back to dig deeper into the menu! Tried the mushroom sopes (good with a spicy red salsa), the pepita-crusted redfish (perfectly prepared and delicious; highly recommended), the carnitas (didn’t blow the fork out of my hand, but bonus points for chicharrons on top), and a gentle scoop of housemade Mexican vanilla ice cream (easily the best we’ve ever had). The margaritas remain stupendous.

web&where: interwebs; 7032 woodhollow drive, menus
what’s the deal? Baja-style Mexican; table service
overall: *** (food***; drink***; atmosphere**; service***; instagrammability***)
cost: $$$
does it scramble? Yes.

our scale:
– meh [think twice]
* OK [it’ll get the job done]
** good [solid neighborhood joint]
*** damn good [we’ll definitely be back]
**** yippity-yikes that was amazeballs [fantastic; one of the best]
***** holy sh!t [transcendental; best of the best]

each $ = $10; cost is based on a typical dinner entrée and appetizer (no drinks)