Food: ☆☆☆

Service: ☆☆☆ ½

Ambiance: ☆☆☆

Cost: $$$

Fit for: Groups, Vibrant bar scene, Spicy food.

Dishes not to miss: Tostadas de Atun, Mole Poblano, Calamar Maya

Special notes: Happy Hour at the Tequila Lounge is Monday to Sunday 5 – 8 PM with special bar bites priced at $3 each.

Richard Sandoval, the chef and owner of Maya, hails from a long and successful restaurant career. His roots are in Acapulco where his family owns successful high-end restaurants. Leaving that behind, Sandoval heralded the very successful Savann and Savann Est. in New York City.

Sandoval now has a vast culinary empire with several Latin inflected restaurants all across the United States.

Maya might be the crown jewels in his kingdom.

Maya is a wonderful nod to Sandoval’s rich culinary heritage. The dishes served here acknowledge familiar Mexican flavors but bring in a new dimension of culinary innovation. The flavors at Maya are really fresh and new and yet so comforting. All of it just tastes really good.

Somehow in a city that’s offers the very best of all cuisines, it is still quite hard to find really good Mexican food.

Maya changes all of that.

Here is some of what we ate: