Temazcal, Boston

Liberty Wharf has proven to be a popular Boston night spot, despite its location somewhat outside of the buzz of downtown. So far, I have eaten at Legal Harborside and Del Frisco’s, and I have been dying to check out Temazcal ever since I spied their tasty looking margaritas and prime waterfront patio space. When the hubby’s birthday rolled around, we thought Temazcal would be the perfect location for a little celebratory dinner.

What did we think?

Let’s start with our arrival at the hostess stand, shall we? The restaurant was obviously crowded with a few couples waiting in front of us to put their names on the list. Temazcal does not take reservations, so expect a wait, especially after work or on weekends.

We received a less than warm welcome from a staff member slumped against a wall. Her body language and tone said “What do you want?”. Nevertheless, we knew views and margaritas were waiting, so we put our names in for the 90 minute wait.

We squeezed our way toward the bar, which was beyond crowded. It was at the point of being extremely uncomfortable, not buzzing. While we waited, I checked out Temazcal’s large stash of tequila, hanging above the bar.

Hubby ordered the Primo, Patron Reposado, lime juice, agave, and a Grand Marnier float.

Cheers! I can’t remember what my drink was called, but it contained jalapeno infused tequila, and while it was spicy, even for me, I loved it.

We finished our drinks and waited a bit before going for another, both of us feeling hungry and a little tipsy after our strong drinks. I finally decided to go up to the bar to place another order, and after waiting 20 minutes to get a bartender’s attention, just asked to close my tab. Luckily, time passed quickly, and just as we were about to leave, it was our turn to be seated.

We scooted into a very comfy booth, which I was incredibly grateful for. With the crowds and people milling around, I feel like a regular table might get bumped way too often. I enjoy the luxurious extra space of a booth. Menus are on iPads, and while I love technology, I also really hope that all restaurants don’t go down this path. I like paper.

Along with our menus came a trip of salsas and fresh, hot chips. A salsa verde, house salsa, and warm black bean salsa were all gobbled up within minutes. Each was unique and flavorful, but the black bean was smooth, smoky, and inviting. It was an unexpected addition to the complimentary salsas, and it is a great one.

Temazcal’s menu is chock full of things I wanted to try, so we decided on a few things to share.

Antojitos Mexicanos: crab flautas ‡ chicken tamales ‡ shrimp culiacan ‡ carnitas taco’s ‡ salsa la casita

This platter was filling! I enjoyed bites of tender, zingy carnitas, and sweet shrimp wrapped in smoky bacon. The rest? We ended up bringing it home!

Flautas de Pollo:

crispy corn tortilla ‡ roast chicken ‡ poblano ‡ queso fresco ‡ salsa verde ‡ crema fresca

Would you believe we also brought some of these home?The outer layer of these flautas was flaky, crunchy, and light, wrapped around shredded chicken, topped with a salty cheese. Dunked in some fresh salsa, these had a nice contrast of flavors and were not at all greasy, as I sort of expected them to be.

Tacos de Camaron:

roasted prawns ‡ pickled cabbage ‡ watercress ‡ lime ‡ chipotle crema ‡ cascabel

I was most excited about the shrimp tacos, and with crunchy pickled cabbage, perfectly cooked shrimp, and a the creamy chipotle accent, they did not disappoint. The tortillas were a little thick and chewy for my tastes, so I just left them aside.

We really enjoyed our food, and there are a lot more items I need to try at Temazcal including their guacamole with lobster and both their black bean and tortilla soups. That said, I will probably avoid the place for the rest of the summer. The throngs of people weren’t just uncomfortable, the clientele is just kind of awful in general. I feel like the majority of the people thought they were in South Beach instead of South Boston. Hopefully the hysteria will die down, and Temazcal will be more comfortable for after work drinks and dining.

Until then, we decided all future summer dates will take place on our boat. Maybe docked at Liberty Wharf.

What’s your favorite Mexican dish?