Driving through The Wynwood Arts District, you can’t help but notice an impressive, delightful looking, new restaurant, Bakan at 2801 NW 2nd Avenue. It is a contemporary, stylized and attractive new spot that opened in December 2018. It serves traditional Mexican cuisine with some modern twists, offering choices from several different regions of Mexico. Plus there is a HUGE Mezcal and Tequila program that offers over 500 choices. My Margarita was excellenté.

You can choose to eat indoors or outdoors, the space is large at almost 7,000 square feet. The restaurant can seat up to 180 people. I recommend requesting an outdoor table on a warm night. The focal point is a large bar in the middle, framed by hanging baskets lanterns. You are surrounded by cacti and a wooden canopy. The place becomes lively as the night progresses and has a fun vibe. Inside is also beautiful, with another bar, an open kitchen, where you can watch them making handmade tortillas, and a wall lined with a lot of tequila and mezcal offerings.

I ordered a Margarita, which was one of the best I have ever had, a La Ambiosa, made with Grand Marnier, freshly squeezed lemon juice, homemade simple syrup and fresh lemon verbena.

They even educate you to different quality mezcal and how to appreciate them and how to pair them with your food.

The menu is large and a little intimidating. I started with some guacamole that were served with some large organic blue corn tortilla chips that were toasted in a wood fire. The guacamole was a little bland. Although it was accompanied with two very hot sauces. The menu includes ceviches, tostadas, los queso (cheese plates), mole, quesadillas, los sopos, salads and items from the wood-burning grill. There are a lot of choices for vegetarians as well.
The restaurant flies in ancient corn from the Mexican Highlands and is ground in house for their tacos and tortillas.
I loved my flan for dessert.

A word of warning, there is a club next door that blasts music on the weekends and makes it intolerable to sit outside. Request an indoor table on weekend evenings!

The food wasn’t memorable or refined but it was palate pleasing. I think it is an excellent place to go with friends, so you can have some creative, delicious cocktails, and share a variety of dishes in a beautiful space.

Happy dining,
Shanea

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