Checking back on Kukiaio (in Xalapa, Veracruz)

As Kukiaio(in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico) was being thought out I had the opportunity to hear how its owner was thinking about how his project would be different. The owner has some very specific ideas about how a restaurant should function. When I visited the restaurant soon after it opened I was excited about the menu and concerned about the size of the place. But you go to a restaurant for the food and the service - so a small place can be quite good. And as we found (and the New York Times also found) the food was very good and an interesting mix of flavors.

Kukiaio has moved to a new location down the street. From my view, I think the size is about doubled. The new location is much more spacious but with the same attention to detail and ambience that was in the original place. The first floor is now a lounge with a quaint bar that highlights the owner's grandmother - who was a grand lady. The second floor becomes a larger dining space (although you can also eat on the first floor). What is most interesting in the new location is the third level which is a covered terrace. On Wednesday I had a wonderful lunch on that level - it was a bit breezy and very comfortable.

What is different about the new Kukiaio is the space - it has a much more roomy feel to it. What is not different is the innovative cuisine. Were Kukiaio in any other city in the world you would seek it out. On that premise, when you are in the region near Xalapa you should seek it out. You will not be disappointed.