"French techniques" give an "innovative" lift to the modern Mexican cooking at chef Julieta Ballesteros' "tucked-away" Chelsea "sleeper"; it's a "relaxed" enclave for "elevated" eating and "energetic" service, and "affordable" enough for fanáticos to "go back again and again."
Crema Restaurante Restaurant Review:
Chef Julieta Ballesteros (formerly of Mexicana Mama) redefines Mexican food with her stylishly sophisticated eatery in Chelsea that combines south-of-the-border specialties with the culinary passion of la belle France. The front of the restaurant offers soft lounge seating and a long polished bar that lines half of the rectangular space. Earthy hues and paintings by Ballesteros’s mother, del...
Airy, colorful eatery offering up the other end of the fajitas and frozen margaritas Mexican spectrum. Top-rated Mexican chef Julieta Ballesteros shows New Yorkers how their sophisticated Mexico City counterparts roll; nary a sombrero or blanket in sight. Rich blends of authentic Mexican flavors—classics and innovations—served amidst paintings done by the chef's notable artist madre. Attentive...
From its reasonably priced prix-fixe lunch menu to its rather pricey dinner menu with creative entrees, chef/owner Julieta Ballesteros serves forth traditional Mexican cuisine with a formal French presentation, fusing her Monterrey roots with her mastery of French culinary techniques.