great experience

I went to Oyamel for my father's birthday brunch and we all loved it. The food was delicious and the flavors were very authentic. The server was on point with drinks, suggestions and clearing plates. Other reviewers here have complained about space but we had a group of 8 not-small people and there was no problem. The only dish I didn't like was the tres leches dessert but the tacos, chimichangas, braised beef, fish, passion fruit ice cream, really everything else, were great.

Food, yes; service, no

Creative cuisine, interesting flavors, textures and appearance. BUT dreadful service. A good waiter can watch a table and ideally find the moment after one phase is over and the diner has relaxed and is ready for a next phase. Our waiter even suggested starting with a few dishes and ordering more if we wanted. Which would have been good advice IF he had returned to take another order, ... or to deliver a second ordered round of drinks, ... or to take a dessert order after leaving the menu, ... or to deliver the check, ... or to pick up the credit card. Bottom line: Penn Quarter has many other chefs and managers who understand a restaurant needs good food AND good service. Go to them instead.

Overpriced, under spiced--Avoid!

Strike one: Chain restaurant-style service. The waitress started upselling us right from the moment she arrived at the table on the guacamole and the $11 margaritas. Strike two: Mediocre margaritas. We got the $9 margaritas which for that price should have been made with fresh-squeezed juice, but were not (also, the bracing edge that comes from tequila was nowhere to be found). Strike 3: The food itself. Bland, boring, nothing special. This place wouldn't last 5 minutes if it were a taco truck in Los Angeles, let alone if it were in actual Mexico.

dull and overpriced

The ideas exceed the execution at Oyamel. Items that sound great on the menu turn out to be disappointing. The meatballs in chipotle sauce that I'd heard so much about were overcooked, rubbery, and flavorless. The cocktails were watery and lacked the exotic flavors promised by their ingredients. Every dish we ordered missed the mark, and the small portion sizes only make things worse. Unfortunately, I have to agree with most of the reviewers here - Oyamel is overpriced and underwhelming. Jose Andres has great ideas, but it seems he's too busy becoming a TV personality to see that they are executed properly.

Excellent authentic Mexican food

So glad that Oyamel moved from the suburbs to where it belongs. This is authentic Mexican food with great service and atmosphere. Kid-friendly is all about the service: Who says kids can only eat chicken nuggets? Bring on the duck tacos!

High Priced Food/ Poor Service

Have gone several times, service was atrocious, food was good but expensive. Not sure why the post is listing this place as "kid friendly". Based on the crowded feel and ecelectic menu, my 5 & 8 yr. olds would likely only eat the chips (hey kids, how about some duck tacos?) I enjoy the food, but recommend Austin Grill for kids, price and service.