Restaurant Eloise has positioned itself after many years as one of the best restaurants in the south of Mexico City. A small and exclusive establishment where guests get to enjoy excellent dishes based on French cuisine. Loretta Chic Bistrot is new Mediterranean cuisine proposal in Mexico City, from partners Abel Hernandez, Eduardo Morali, and Laura Santander, who despite all three having graduated from Centro de Estudios Superiores de San Ángel (CESSA), had never met until they circumstantially coincided at a job interview a few years later.
Santander told us that after much planning, she and her partners chose to also open this new establishment in the south, on Revolución Avenue. She says this area of the city is more noble, there is less traffic, and they already had a captive customer base from their first project. Oddly, she mentions Loretta was originally designed to be in Polanco, but failed to open that location due to licensing issues.
Regarding the idea, Laura told us they chose Mediterranean food because there was space for this kind of proposal in the south, more relaxed than what they offer at Eloise. They chose Loretta as its name as it was the name Abel had preferred for when he had a daughter. That daughter never came, only sons, so he thought it was a good idea to give that name to this restaurant.
Muro Rojo oversaw the architectural project, rebuilding the venue where the former La Tecla restaurant had been located. The interior design, modern in all white, has brick walls and reliefs painted in white, copper color lamps, and a steel grid on the ceiling with hanging plants. On the first floor, guests get a view of the semi-open kitchen, while those who choose to sit upstairs can enjoy its outdoor terrace, one of the few options of its kind for those who wish to have a drink and share the meal with friends.
On the menu, you’ll find a variety of Middle Eastern dishes, from countries such as Turkey, Israel and Greece. Even though most ingredients are well-known, chef Morali creates unique combinations with ingredients and flavors, creating highly innovative dishes. I suggest ordering a variety of dips and appetizers to start, marinated olives, hummus, charbroiled eggplant, and jocoque. This is served with the delicious freshly baked homemade bread served warm, ready to eat! On to the main course, don’t miss the raw tuna, incredibly fresh fish with cucumber broth and lemon, and the burnt orange tapenade; their version of the popular avocado toast with arugula, yellow lemon, and parmesan; or the falafel with jocoque and beef tartare, an interesting mix of flavors that works really well.
The menu offers a vast variety of vegetables for those who would rather not eat meat, in this section you will find charbroiled beets, roasted sweet potato and baked cauliflower, among other delicacies. The pastas truly surprised me, you’ll find appealing combinations, such as sweet potato and jocoque in the agnolotti, ricotta and lemon in the ravioli, and wild boar ragu. For the main course, my favorites were the catch of the day in green mojo, the organic chicken breast with artichoke and spinach gratin, and the petite lamb moussaka.
For dessert lovers, at Loretta you will get to enjoy traditional baklava in a cheesecake shape, with layers of phyllo pastry alternating with ricotta cheese, all accompanied by the orange blossom ice cream. If you prefer chocolates, there is a delicious warm chocolate pie with olive oil ice cream.
Indubitably, despite having just opened last month, Loretta will not only become one of the favorites in the south, just as Eloise, but also a destination restaurant for foodies from other parts of town. If you are planning to soon visit Loretta, don’t forget to make reservations to secure your table.
