Wow, what a great place! My wife and I visited Louisville, and on the recommendation of a local, popped into Mayan Cafe and were completely impressed! The hostess and waitress were extremely nice and even though we came toward the end of the night were very welcoming and never hurried us along. The margarita with mezcal I ordered was perfect, and the dark, romantic room was fun and had a good, buzzy energy. We ordered the sikil pak and both agreed it was the best we've had - great depth of flavor and silky texture, it is a must-try! The scallop ceviche was also great - the scallops were marinated to the perfect texture, the flavors were fresh and bright, and the serving size was generous. My wife ordered the tuna tacos and loved them, raved about them. I ordered the duck with black mole and it was really great - succulent dark duck, confited and served shredded, tasted almost like deeply roasted, juicy pot roast - awesome flavor, but the mole was the star - great compliment to the duck. We split the cochinita pibil and both loved it - the achiote sauce was beautiful to look at and tasted earthy and complex, and the fried plaintains it was served with were nicely tourneed - a cool little touch that added to the fancy vibes of the meal. Even though it is certainly gourmet-level and very interesting food and a great way to experience a different kind of "Mexican" cuisine, and the dishes are crafted with love and look great on the plate, the prices were very fair and not too expensive. We loved Louisville, plan to visit more often, and will definitely be back to Mayan Cafe (to hopefully try the rabbit next time!). Highly recommended.
We had a wonderful dinner at Mayan Cafe last Saturday night. There had been a festival on the street that day and all of the restaurants were full. We were visiting from out of town - playing at a bridge tournament at the Galt House - and we weren't sure when we would be done, so we didn't make reservations anywhere. We ended up at the Mayan Cafe after being turned away from several other restaurants. It was 8 PM and their dining room was full, but they made an effort to accommodate us. We were a party of 3 and they found a small table to seat us at. We were so happy to have a table. Everyone on the staff who served or assisted us was just wonderful. And the food was excellent! We started with an appetizer of chips and a salsa made with pumpkin seeds and tomatoes - the salsa was so flavorful - yum! We also shared a plate of scallop ceviche which was also very delicious. For entrees, we had the duck, the rabbit, and the roasted cauliflower - all three entrees were really delicious. The sauces and flavors are very different than other restaurants that I have been to - I wish I was a local so I could return and try more of the items on the menu. We shared a lavender flan for dessert and that was also really delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone, but make a reservation if you can:)Vegetarian options: There were several vegetarian options. My husband got the roasted cauliflower plate which came with quinoa and other veggies - he was very happy with this meal
Absolutely LOVED this place! Great find! Great food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lavender Flan, Yucatec Salbutes of the Day
Neil Silverman
Excellent gourmet Mexican food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Veracruz Duck Mole
Austin Abreu
Lovely restaurant that offers a high-end experience with unique cuisine in a casual setting.I came in late in the evening but they seated me without issue. My pour of tempranillo was extremely generous (they don't pour wine like that in California!) and delicious.I had the rabbit main course, which was beautifully oven roasted. I adored the caramelized plantains that accompanied it. My only criticism would be the plating; the elements of the dish were presented together in a bowl, and the sauces and oils mixed together but didn't necessarily work when combined.The manager and waitstaff were very kind and attentive. I loved my experience and I hope you'll check it out.Dietary restrictions: Various gluten free options and the ability to make many dishes dairy free.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rabbit
Libby L
Everything was so sooooooo fresh and delicious- omg- loved the burger and the salad and the cocktails. Very knowledgeable about gluten free as well. Would highly recommend!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nicholas Burnett
This is becoming a guaranteed stop each time I come to Louisville. Service has been top notch! The food is amazing! Can't go wrong here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cochinita Pibil, Rabbit
Julie M.
I hadn't been to Mayan Cafe in many years and I was so pleased to have been able to come again. I remember the interior as having been very displeasing though, some kind of weird color combination that didn't fit with the theme of the place, but I was happy to see it now was redone in a soothing, warm palate of brown, black and bronze. I sampled two apps, one was the Ahi Tuna Ceviche (guajillo-coconut sauce | mango | pickled onions | cilantro oil | malanga chips). This was absolutely delicious and I had to fight my tablemates for it. The Sikil-pak (pumpkin seeds | roasted tomatoes | cilantro | corn tortilla chips) was a sumptuous, rich hummus and that did not last long either My entree was the Salmon (Verlasso salmon | cuitlacoche sauce | tok-sel lima beans). This was good, the beans and the sauce complemented the fish well, but it did pale in comparison to the apps. Two of my friends had dishes with two kinds of mole, and I think this is where the strengths are. If I come back I will definitely go this route. Service was attentive but not annoying, I really enjoyed my time there, thanks Mayan!
R P.
Great ambiance very small and quaint. I had the duck and the portion was generous with great flavor. I also had the limas and the flavor was very unique. I would recommend for a great date night. I was in town visiting and it was a nice break from all the BBQ lol.
Alyssa, waywardblog
What a delightful dining experience in Louisville! Every dish was perfection (I'm still dreaming about this meal!), so don't hesitate to make a reservation.
Pretty disappointed in this place given the price point. We ordered two appetizers. The ricotta balls were a complete miss. Very dry, breading was bland, ricotta was bland, sauce was bland. Swing and a miss. The hummus appetizer was very good. Nothing groundbreaking but well flavored and I really liked the bread that was served with it. We got the sea paella and it a mixed bag. The scallops were some of the best I've ever had. The shrimp looked impressive but were very overcooked and tasted pretty bad. Little neck clams were very nice. Overall the dish wasn't worth the cost. Our other entree was the Sunday gravy and it was also a miss for me. My wife liked it more than I did, but still nothing special. I think the best part of our meal was the wine. Service was just okay and our table was very small and very cramped. We won't be back and can't recommend to others. Lots of great choices in Louisville, this isn't one of them.
The WCL
The Mayan Cafe catered my daughter’s wedding. The food was fabulous and we received many complements about how the food being delicious! Their presentation was beautiful and they were extremely easy to work with. I would highly recommend them to cater your event!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
SamanthaM
The setting here is so great, a perfect place to celebrate Valentine's Day. The food is top notch, with everything we ordered perfectly cooked. We can't recommend this restaurant enough.
Jill Hertzog
Delicious food! Everyone in my group loved their dishes. Was loud in the restaurant but the food and service were fantastic! Would definitely visit again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
RobA
Great new-ish restaurant. Food was fantastic. Old fashioned was ok. Tables a little close together but not a big deal, just don't expect intimacy. Cant wait to go over the summer and sit in their outdoor seating.
Wow, what a great place! My wife and I visited Louisville, and on the recommendation of a local, popped into Mayan Cafe and were completely impressed! The hostess and waitress were extremely nice and even though we came toward the end of the night were very welcoming and never hurried us along. The margarita with mezcal I ordered was perfect, and the dark, romantic room was fun and had a good, buzzy energy. We ordered the sikil pak and both agreed it was the best we've had - great depth of flavor and silky texture, it is a must-try! The scallop ceviche was also great - the scallops were marinated to the perfect texture, the flavors were fresh and bright, and the serving size was generous. My wife ordered the tuna tacos and loved them, raved about them. I ordered the duck with black mole and it was really great - succulent dark duck, confited and served shredded, tasted almost like deeply roasted, juicy pot roast - awesome flavor, but the mole was the star - great compliment to the duck. We split the cochinita pibil and both loved it - the achiote sauce was beautiful to look at and tasted earthy and complex, and the fried plaintains it was served with were nicely tourneed - a cool little touch that added to the fancy vibes of the meal. Even though it is certainly gourmet-level and very interesting food and a great way to experience a different kind of "Mexican" cuisine, and the dishes are crafted with love and look great on the plate, the prices were very fair and not too expensive. We loved Louisville, plan to visit more often, and will definitely be back to Mayan Cafe (to hopefully try the rabbit next time!). Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Scallop Ceviche, Cochinita Pibil, Tuna Tacos, Veracruz Duck Mole
We had a wonderful dinner at Mayan Cafe last Saturday night. There had been a festival on the street that day and all of the restaurants were full. We were visiting from out of town - playing at a bridge tournament at the Galt House - and we weren't sure when we would be done, so we didn't make reservations anywhere. We ended up at the Mayan Cafe after being turned away from several other restaurants. It was 8 PM and their dining room was full, but they made an effort to accommodate us. We were a party of 3 and they found a small table to seat us at. We were so happy to have a table. Everyone on the staff who served or assisted us was just wonderful. And the food was excellent! We started with an appetizer of chips and a salsa made with pumpkin seeds and tomatoes - the salsa was so flavorful - yum! We also shared a plate of scallop ceviche which was also very delicious. For entrees, we had the duck, the rabbit, and the roasted cauliflower - all three entrees were really delicious. The sauces and flavors are very different than other restaurants that I have been to - I wish I was a local so I could return and try more of the items on the menu. We shared a lavender flan for dessert and that was also really delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone, but make a reservation if you can:)Vegetarian options: There were several vegetarian options. My husband got the roasted cauliflower plate which came with quinoa and other veggies - he was very happy with this meal
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lavender Flan, Scallop Ceviche, Rabbit, Fried Plantains, Veracruz Duck Mole
Absolutely LOVED this place! Great find! Great food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lavender Flan, Yucatec Salbutes of the Day
Excellent gourmet Mexican food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Veracruz Duck Mole
Lovely restaurant that offers a high-end experience with unique cuisine in a casual setting.I came in late in the evening but they seated me without issue. My pour of tempranillo was extremely generous (they don't pour wine like that in California!) and delicious.I had the rabbit main course, which was beautifully oven roasted. I adored the caramelized plantains that accompanied it. My only criticism would be the plating; the elements of the dish were presented together in a bowl, and the sauces and oils mixed together but didn't necessarily work when combined.The manager and waitstaff were very kind and attentive. I loved my experience and I hope you'll check it out.Dietary restrictions: Various gluten free options and the ability to make many dishes dairy free.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rabbit
Everything was so sooooooo fresh and delicious- omg- loved the burger and the salad and the cocktails. Very knowledgeable about gluten free as well. Would highly recommend!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is becoming a guaranteed stop each time I come to Louisville. Service has been top notch! The food is amazing! Can't go wrong here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cochinita Pibil, Rabbit
I hadn't been to Mayan Cafe in many years and I was so pleased to have been able to come again. I remember the interior as having been very displeasing though, some kind of weird color combination that didn't fit with the theme of the place, but I was happy to see it now was redone in a soothing, warm palate of brown, black and bronze. I sampled two apps, one was the Ahi Tuna Ceviche (guajillo-coconut sauce | mango | pickled onions | cilantro oil | malanga chips). This was absolutely delicious and I had to fight my tablemates for it. The Sikil-pak (pumpkin seeds | roasted tomatoes | cilantro | corn tortilla chips) was a sumptuous, rich hummus and that did not last long either My entree was the Salmon (Verlasso salmon | cuitlacoche sauce | tok-sel lima beans). This was good, the beans and the sauce complemented the fish well, but it did pale in comparison to the apps. Two of my friends had dishes with two kinds of mole, and I think this is where the strengths are. If I come back I will definitely go this route. Service was attentive but not annoying, I really enjoyed my time there, thanks Mayan!
Great ambiance very small and quaint. I had the duck and the portion was generous with great flavor. I also had the limas and the flavor was very unique. I would recommend for a great date night. I was in town visiting and it was a nice break from all the BBQ lol.
What a delightful dining experience in Louisville! Every dish was perfection (I'm still dreaming about this meal!), so don't hesitate to make a reservation.
Restaurantji Recommends
Pretty disappointed in this place given the price point. We ordered two appetizers. The ricotta balls were a complete miss. Very dry, breading was bland, ricotta was bland, sauce was bland. Swing and a miss. The hummus appetizer was very good. Nothing groundbreaking but well flavored and I really liked the bread that was served with it. We got the sea paella and it a mixed bag. The scallops were some of the best I've ever had. The shrimp looked impressive but were very overcooked and tasted pretty bad. Little neck clams were very nice. Overall the dish wasn't worth the cost. Our other entree was the Sunday gravy and it was also a miss for me. My wife liked it more than I did, but still nothing special. I think the best part of our meal was the wine. Service was just okay and our table was very small and very cramped. We won't be back and can't recommend to others. Lots of great choices in Louisville, this isn't one of them.
The Mayan Cafe catered my daughter’s wedding. The food was fabulous and we received many complements about how the food being delicious! Their presentation was beautiful and they were extremely easy to work with. I would highly recommend them to cater your event!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The setting here is so great, a perfect place to celebrate Valentine's Day. The food is top notch, with everything we ordered perfectly cooked. We can't recommend this restaurant enough.
Delicious food! Everyone in my group loved their dishes. Was loud in the restaurant but the food and service were fantastic! Would definitely visit again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great new-ish restaurant. Food was fantastic. Old fashioned was ok. Tables a little close together but not a big deal, just don't expect intimacy. Cant wait to go over the summer and sit in their outdoor seating.