Maya

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1191 1st Avenue (at Between 64th Street and 65th Street)
New York, NY 10021

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(212) 585-1818
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Maya - New York, NY
Maya - New York, NY
Maya - New York, NY
Reviews
( 20 )
( 31 )
( 8 )
( 4 )
( 2 )

Best

I went to Maya for the second time last Saturday night. The ambiance is great (there wasn't an empty seat in the house). We had a reservation and were seated right away. The fo...

Worst

The food was bad, the service was bad. The only thing that was good was the Margaritas.

good mexican food (and lots of it) 7/23/2006

i came here friday for restaurant week dinner ($35pp). the place is very loud and the tables are really close together. the atmosphere is more boisterous than romantic. service is good considering the busyness of the restaurant. Pros: guacamole, service, steak Cons: really loud, cramped seating, expensive more
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Very good food...if you can hear yourself think. 6/27/2006

I went on a weeknight around 10pm. Ok, you could say this place is cozy with tables around corners and nooks but it is also exceptionally loud. Don't go there on a first date and expect to have a meaningful conversation! That said, the food is very nicely prepared. Portions are large and (too) satisfying. My server was very good. She asked if we wanted some guacamole - mild, medium or hot, to start. Sure, & hot. A large portion arrived and it didn't seem at all hot so I asked for some hot sauce. Their homemade hot sauce is excellent! I usually like to ask what they recommend or what the house signatures are. After gorging on the homemade guacamole and chips and this being my first visit, I opted to try the appetizer sampler (seafood poblano, veggie quesadilla & cornmeal covered chicken). It was really delicious and filling. Almost a perfect meal. Unfortunately, all of this good food and noise doesn't happen cheaply. Be prepared to spend, especially if you drink. I would certainly go back, but sparingly. more
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BEST UPSCALE MEXICAN! 5/26/2006

If you a looking for a cozy mexican place to have a date or family night Maya is where you got to go. They also have a great bar to get some drinks - the fresh fruit margaritas and mojitos are amazing! Pros: great tasty food, cozy, good service more
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The Best Mexican in NY 5/24/2006

If you are looking for a good Mexican in the UES this is the place to go. The food is not pretentious, if you have been to Mexico, you will know what I'm talking about. It is full of flavor, chiles are used in many different ways and there is a variety of choices on the menu, from pork, lobster and shrimp to vegetarian entrees. The margaritas are awsome ( easily addictive ) , the tequila selection is one of the best in the city. The space ( I was told ) was just redesigned, it is simple, cozy and has a great mexican feeling. I don't recommend you go with kids, but I recommend it for an after work drink. Pros: great drinks, great ambiance, excelent music Cons: not good for kids more
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Small bite for you, big bite to your wallet 5/20/2006

I've walked past this little place many times, and finally went after work for a drink or town with friends. While the drinks were delicious, they were definitely over-priced. For an appetizer, he recommended a "sampler platter" that wasn't listed on the menu - but he said it included three appetizers that he pointed out for me. I ordered, I ate, I choked when I saw that this plato pequeno cost a whopping $38 - which is a lot for a girl on a budget! I have never in my life paid that much for an appetizer, I can't imagine what it is like to have a full meal there. All in all, I think this restaurant is trying to milk its hype as an "authentic Mexican" restaurant - while you can get a much better meal at one of the other hundreds of places in the city. Pros: Good drinks Cons: Expensive and beyond, Cramped bar more
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So many Tequilas.... 3/1/2006

I had passed by Maya a thousand times, being that I live in the area. I met some friends for drinks. I found Maya had an amazing selection of Tequilas. The margaritas are top notch. We had some appetizers at the bar. I highly reccomend the seared tuna and the Chile relleno. Ive been back to the bar a couple of times since then, cant wait to sit down and dine.. Pros: Home made margaritas, Lively atmosphere, knowledgable staff Cons: Waking the next morni more
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Drinks are more exciting than the food... 1/24/2006

Since having a drink at Maya a few years ago I had always wanted to eat here and so I made a reservation through this website. This is definitely recommended for a Friday night as the place was hopping at 8.15pm and we started on a drink at the bar before our table was ready. Service was fine and the food delivered in reasonable time given the crowd, but for the price I was disappointed. The food was good, but nothing exceptional. The drinks were the high point, a strawberry margharita was delish and the tequila I ordered came with a spicy tomato juice chaser which was intriguing. Pros: People watching, Drinks Cons: High Price more
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Just plain disrespectful 11/21/2005

When I arrived with my friend, we were told we'd have to wait 10-20 minutes. An hour later, we were still standing (or, rather, getting bulldozed by customers and waiters in the "waiting area") while EVERYONE we'd arrived with had been seated already. The hostesses LIED multiple times when we inquired about the wait, promising "you're next" only to call multiple parties before us. They were rude, condescending, and unapologetic - never once did we receive even an insincere "sorry for your wait". Pros: who can remember? Cons: rude hostesses, unbelievably loud, EXPENSIVE more
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Modern Mexican 7/18/2005

Richard Sandoval's cuisine is outstanding! Excellent ceviche + quesadillas. Al seafood dishes are exceptional, with lots of "kick." Pros: Space age Mexican Cons: Noisy more
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Everything is just prefect 6/1/2005

Maya has a great choice of drinks and unforgeable food. The best thing for the apps is the chili relleno. Other than that, the ceviche and the quesadillas is very good!!!!!!!!!! Lobster and shrimp is my favorite dish and I hope they will bring back the pipian de puerco. Pros: romantic, great food, great wine selection Cons: table sizes, heavy spanish pronoun, unfriendly busser more
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You pay for excellence 2/18/2005

Maya is no hidden gem of value, but if you're looking for a delicious Mexican meal, an attentive but not intrusive waitstaff, and a delightful atmosphere - you'll find it here. more
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Good 6/24/2004

I thought I'd hate this place after reading all of the neg. reviews. The place wasn't bad at all--actually pretty good. I had the restaurant week prix fixe special: hamachi ceviche, some kind of salmon, and flan. Tried someone elses skirt steak--tasty. No major issues with seating party of 5 w/reservations. However, had drink at bar before dinner and they overcharged us. more
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southernborder 4/13/2004

We were looking for good mexican food that wasn't just your run of the mill mexican food. We had heard about a few places but we wanted something that was fun and good quality. After a few friends suggestions, we went to Maya. It was a little crowded at the door, but had great energy and color. We waited about 10 minutesf for a reservation, but it was well worth it. They had this great pineapple flavored margarita, I swear it must be the best one I ever had. I'm not much of a foodie, but my boyfriend is a chef, and he loved all the creative flavors in those dishes. Try the the truffle oil in the tamal. Ask for Claudia, she's the tall one. Pros: fun colors, great food, cute crowd Cons: , reservations, small bar more
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Worth the drive 1/31/2004

Drove down from upstate, Wanting to try an upscale mexican restaurant during restaurant week. It was a choice between Dos caminos and Maya. Maya had a higher Zagatz rating so we opted for Maya. Ended up NOT choosing the fixed price menu. It was way to limited and for a few dollars more, girlfriend and i opted for what we would prefer. Price would have been about the same except we were "conned" into purchasing bottled water. Even though friendly and efficient, we couldn't quite understand the broken English spoken by the waiter. Therefore the $7 bottle of water. Food was tastefully prepared. However, do not come hungry and order the Pork dish. Very skimpy with the serving. Have had just as good food at less expensive Mexican restaurants found in Central Manhattan. If you only have time for one Mexican restaurant in NYC, try another. Pros: Good food, Friendly Cons: , crowded more
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Mango Maven does Maya 11/4/2003

Definitely one of my favorite restaurants, "Maya" has great food, a energetic atmosphere (without being too noisy for conversation). The service is also great. I recommend the tamal al chipotle (a chicken tamale) appetizer, as well as the langosta y camarones (lobster and shrimp) and the costillas de cordero (grilled lamb chops) entrees. And all the margaritas I've had so far have been amazing here! It's a bit on the expensive side, but a great way to splurge for a night in a trendy restaurant without snobby attitude. Pros: food, atmosphere, service Cons: bit pricey more
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TASTY!! 10/20/2003

THis open and spacious restauarant has a long menu of some unique dishes. I had a great pork dish and a chcoclaty dessert. The margharitas were very tasty and overall it was a good experience. more
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ok food, uptown ambience 10/2/2003

tried twice. both times the food was average. certainly no match for Rosa's, and less tasty than Dos Caminos too. let's face it, it's tough finding good mexican in this city. Very good water glass refilling though!! Every time I took a sip, it got refilled. I tried just making motions toward the water glass, and he would react. He's fast!! Pros: water glass filling Cons: food, uptown stuffy more
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Disappointed Mexican 7/6/2003

If you want Mexican food, go to another restaurant. The food was definitely not worthy of being called Mexican food. The tortillas were hard & tasted as they had been frozed & then warmed for serving. The mole was served over chicken that was too dry...and so on. At least, the staff was nice. more
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Bravo! 6/3/2003

Great food, great atmosphere, interesting presentation. The service was very attentive and prompt. We had a great experience there. I would go back! more
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YUM! 5/29/2003

Great mole poblano, great chipotle prawns, fun atmosphere, effective margaritas (not chintzy on the tequila!). Try the Mayapolitan - better than a cosmo for sure. Friendly hostess, efficient service. The Mexican hot chocolate (I think it is called Chocolate de Abuelita or similar) is to die for. I am a Mexican food snob and think the only good Mexican food is made in Mexico or select locations in Southern California and I thought this place was great for high-end stuff. Don't expect down-and-dirty old school Mexican food though. Hostess was extremely accommodating when we arrived an hour early for our reservation. Pros: FOOD yum!, Accommodating more
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Menu for Maya


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High-end Mexican that ranks among the city's best.

Owner Message

  • At Maya, Chef Richard Sandoval combines authentic Mexican flavors and innovative culinary techniques to create the signature dishes for which he has been recognized as Bon Appetit's Restaurateur of the Year, Mexico's Toque D'oro and the Father of Modern Mexican Cuisine. In the dining room and Tequila Bar & Lounge, enjoy hand crafted margaritas or choose from Maya's selection of over 100 fine Tequilas.

    All night, every night -
    $3 Tequila Bar & Lounge Menu -
    Tacos, sopes, ceviches and more...

    Happy Hour daily from 5-7PM -
    $5 Margaritas & Latin Cocktails

Editorial

  • The Scene
    Pastel walls decorated with folk art and glass shelves lined with silverware create a tastefully festive atmosphere. The dining room feels intimate but is actually quite...

  • 3/26/2008 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Sun-Thu 5pm-10pm Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm
  • Payments: American Express, Master Card, Discover, Visa, Diner's Club
  • Neighborhoods: Lenox Hill, Midtown, Upper East Side
Offers Offers
  • Happy Hour Daily: 5-8PM
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