Masa

D'Amico's Mexican restaurant Masa opened to the kind of reviews that kept using words like upscale and high design; words that made most people assume: expensive. Not so! Masa is really just an everyday Mexican restaurant, albeit one in a nicely polished room with some splashy cocktails. At lunch you can get $2 tacos that look just like the little round ones they serve in the most authentic mercados, except here they come on white china and the al pastor one contains chunks of fresh-grilled pineapple. At dinner, expect to find basic Mexican food done with fresh, premium ingredients: The sea bass ceviche is so bright and crisp it tastes moments old; the huaraches are exactly what they should be--cornmeal comforts offset with a bit of spice. The cocktails are the most surprising part of Masa; their delicious Margaritas contain various top-shelf silver tequilas. Some contain a liqueur made with honey from the xtabentun flower, which, again, sounds so exotic that it should be unaffordable. Not so! Have another beside hot churros with chocolate dipping sauce, and discuss amongst yourselves whether Masa feels more like a museum cafeteria, or the drinks area near an upscale resort's pool, or the fresh, everyday Mexican restaurant downtown direly needed.

• Cuisine(s): Mexican, Wine Bar

  Price: $$, $$$

• Features: Patio/Sidewalk Dining, Takeout, Business Dining

  Reservations: Accepted

• Parking: Valet