Esquina Común

History

Esquina Común was founded in late 2021 by Ana Dolores González and Carlos Pérez-Puelles. González had previously worked at Expendio de Maíz in Mexico City and in Peru. The restaurant initially operated in the living room of a leased department in the Roma neighborhood, seating up to 14 customers, with González's mother assisting in the kitchen.

It gained notoriety after a New York Times review. Between 2022 and 2023, the landlord tripled the rent upon discovering the business, prompting a relocation to Fernando Montes de Oca Street in Condesa. The couple invested most of their savings to remodel the new location, described as a half-clandestine restaurant on a terrace of a coworking space.

Description

Esquina Común serves Mexican and Spanish cuisines with seasonal menus replaced every two months. The seven-course menu is akin to a tasting menu, and the restaurant seats 30 people.

Reservations are made via Instagram, with the location disclosed after confirmation. The restaurant is open only on weekends. Menu items have included stewed short rib sope, cobia ceviche, mole, fried chicken, fish pâté with squash blossom pesto, plantain croquettes stuffed with quesillo, beef in plum juice with jocoque, chorizo croquettes, and vermicelli with wild-mushroom.

Reception

Ignacio Medina gave the ceviche a thumbs-up in his Siete Caníbales review, though he found the chicken breast lacking. Coco Marett of Tatler Asia called the plates pure magic, a blend of Mexican and Mediterranean influences. Michele Lagalla of Cocina y Vino noted the space feels surreptitious, with plates that are austere, detailed, and flavorful. Travel + Leisure En Español’s editorial team described Esquina Común as a restaurant that embodies modern Mexican cuisine, highlighting the atmosphere, service, tasting menu options, catch of the day, and wine selection.

When the Michelin Guide debuted in Mexico in 2024, it gave Esquina Común one star, signifying high-quality cooking worth a stop. The guide praised the covered rooftop setting, enhanced by abundant greenery and a relaxed vibe, and noted dishes are styled like a tasting menu and portioned for two. Along with six other Michelin-starred Mexico City restaurants, Esquina Común was honored by city head Martí Batres, who presented the chefs with an onyx statuette inspired by the pre-Hispanic sculpture The Young Woman of Amajac, recognizing indigenous women’s contributions to gastronomy.

Did You Know?

• Esquina Común was originally founded in the living room of a leased department in the Roma neighborhood in late 2021, seating up to 14 customers.
• The restaurant gained notoriety after a New York Times review titled 'A Homey Restaurant Tucked Inside a Mexico City Apartment' by Michael Snyder.