Esquina Común

{{Infobox restaurant

| logo = Esquina Común (logo).png

| logo_width = 150

| logo_alt = Graphic logo of a three-dimensional letter 'E'

| image = Esquina Común (2025) 2.jpg

| image_width =

| image_alt = Photograph of the exterior of a building complex

| image_caption = The restaurant is located on the rooftop terrace

| established = 2021

| closed =

| current-owner = {{Flatlist|

Ana Dolores González
Carlos Pérez-Puelles

}}

| previous-owner =

| manager = Carlos Pérez-Puelles

| head-chef =

| chef = Ana Dolores González

| pastry-chef =

| food-type = {{Flatlist|

}}

| dress-code =

| seating-capacity = 30

| reservations = Yes

| rating = {{michelinstar|1}} (Michelin Guide, 2024)

| street-address = Fernando Montes de Oca 86, Condesa, Cuauhtémoc

| city = Mexico City

| postcode = 06140

| country = Mexico

| coordinates = {{coord|19|24|50|N|99|10|36|W|display=inline,title}}

| mapframe = yes

| mapframe-zoom = 13

| website = {{Instagram|esquinacomun}}

}}

Esquina Común{{efn|{{trans|"Common corner"}}}} is a restaurant in Colonia Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City. It is co-owned by chef Ana Dolores González and her partner, Carlos Pérez-Puelles. It was first founded in their leased department in the Roma neighborhood in 2021. After being reviewed by The New York Times, the restaurant became popular.

They relocated between 2022 and 2023 to the Condesa neighborhood after their landlord attempted to raise their rent upon discovering they ran a business. Described by reviewers as a clandestine terrace, Esquina Común serves Mexican and Spanish cuisines. In 2024, Esquina Común was awarded one Michelin star in the first Michelin Guide covering restaurants in Mexico.

Description

Esquina Común is a Mexican and Spanish restaurant that serves seasonal menus.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com.mx/forbes-life/gourmet-donde-comer-en-la-ciudad-de-mexico-nuevas-aperturas-restaurantes/|title=Recientes aperturas gastronómicas imperdibles en la Ciudad de México|trans-title=Recent must-visit gastronomic openings in Mexico City|date=29 November 2021|language=es|work=Forbes|access-date=26 May 2024|first=Ángel|last=García|archive-date=27 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527001135/https://www.forbes.com.mx/forbes-life/gourmet-donde-comer-en-la-ciudad-de-mexico-nuevas-aperturas-restaurantes/|url-status=live}} It is replaced every two months and offers a seven-course menu akin to tasting menus. The restaurant's seating capacity has space for 30 people, and diners are required to make reservations via Instagram. After their reservation is confirmed, they are informed of the location formally. Esquina Común is only open on weekends.{{cite web|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/best-mexico-city-restaurants/|title=How to Eat Your Way Across Mexico City|first=José R|last=Ralat|date=January 2023|work=Texas Monthly|access-date=27 May 2024|archive-date=27 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527204046/https://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/best-mexico-city-restaurants/|url-status=live}} In an interview with Mariana Camacho, González said that the menu included a stewed short rib {{lang|es|sope}}, cobia ceviche, mole, and fried chicken. María José Ferrant named other options like fish pâté with squash blossom pesto, plantain croquettes stuffed with quesillo, and beef in plum juice with jocoque. José R. Ralat noted that the restaurant served {{lang|es|chorizo}} croquettes and vermicelli with wild-mushroom.

History

File:Café en uotan.mx (2025).jpg

Esquina Común was founded by Mexican chef Ana Dolores González and her Spanish partner, Carlos Pérez-Puelles, in late 2021.{{cite web|url=https://foodandpleasure.com/esquina-comun-una-terracita-clandestina-y-muy-encantadora-de-cocina-mexicana-e-internacional/|title=Esquina Común: una terracita clandestina (y muy encantadora) de cocina mexicana e internacional|language=es|work=Food & Pleasure|first=María José|last=Ferrant|date=20 December 2022|access-date=26 May 2024|trans-title=Esquina Común: a clandestine (and very charming) little terrace serving Mexican and international cuisines|archive-date=27 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527001135/https://foodandpleasure.com/esquina-comun-una-terracita-clandestina-y-muy-encantadora-de-cocina-mexicana-e-internacional/|url-status=live}} González previously worked at Expendio de Maíz, a restaurant in Mexico City, and in Peru. The restaurant could serve up to 14 customers and it was established in the living room of a leased department in the Roma neighborhood before the terrace was furnished.{{Cite news |last=Snyder |first=Michael |date=10 May 2022 |title=A Homey Restaurant Tucked Inside a Mexico City Apartment |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/10/t-magazine/esquina-comun-mexico-city.html |access-date=20 May 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=20 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520135953/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/10/t-magazine/esquina-comun-mexico-city.html |url-status=live }} González's mother assisted her in the kitchen. The restaurant gained notoriety after a New York Times review titled "A Homey Restaurant Tucked Inside a Mexico City Apartment" by Michael Snyder.{{cite web|url=https://www.7canibales.com/restaurantes/esquina-comun-moldes/|title=Esquina Común, una cocina fuera de los moldes|trans-title=Esquina Común, a kitchen out of the mold|date=6 December 2023|first=Mariana|last=Camacho|work=Siete Canívales|access-date=27 May 2024|language=es|archive-date=27 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527203751/https://www.7canibales.com/restaurantes/esquina-comun-moldes/|url-status=live}}

Between 2022 and 2023, their landlord discovered that they were running a business and tripled the rent. González and Pérez-Puelles relocated to the Condesa neighborhood,{{Cite news |last1=Dunn |first1=Deborah |last2=Alonso |first2=Cristina |last3=Althaus |first3=Dudley |last4=Camacho |first4=Mariana |last5=Carey |first5=Lydia |last6=Sorzano |first6=Liliana López |last7=Snyder |first7=Michael |last8=Tillman |first8=Laura |last9=Valencia |first9=Jorge |date=14 November 2023 |title=The 25 Essential Dishes to Eat in Mexico City |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/14/t-magazine/mexico-city-restaurants-food.html |access-date=20 May 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=19 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519185147/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/14/t-magazine/mexico-city-restaurants-food.html |url-status=live }} to Fernando Montes de Oca Street.{{cite web|url=https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2024/05/15/donde-esta-la-terraza-clandestina-en-cdmx-que-obtuvo-una-estrella-michelin-y-que-comida-ofrece/|title=Dónde está la terraza clandestina en CDMX que obtuvo una Estrella Michelin y qué comida ofrece|trans-title=Where is the clandestine terrace in Mexico City that got a Michelin Star and what food does it serve?|work=Infobae|first=Zurisaddai|last=González|date=15 May 2024|access-date=26 May 2024|archive-date=27 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527005815/https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2024/05/15/donde-esta-la-terraza-clandestina-en-cdmx-que-obtuvo-una-estrella-michelin-y-que-comida-ofrece/|url-status=live}} Both invested most of their savings to remodel the new location. Ignacio Medina described it as a "half-clandestine restaurant on the terrace of a coworking space at a crossroads in Condesa [with a] covered third floor that looks out onto the canopy of trees that shade the street".{{cite web|url=https://www.7canibales.com/opinion/tres-miradas-ciudad-mexico/|title=Tres miradas a la cocina de Ciudad de México|trans-title=Three glimpses of Mexico City's cuisine|language=es|first=Ignacio|last=Medina|work=Siete Caníbales|date=11 September 2022|access-date=26 May 2024|archive-date=27 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527005021/https://www.7canibales.com/opinion/tres-miradas-ciudad-mexico/|url-status=live}}

Reception

In his review for Siete Caníbales, Medina approved the ceviche but criticized the chicken breast. Coco Marett of Tatler Asia described that {{nowrap|"[the]}} plates are pure magic, a mash-up of influences from Mexican to Mediterranean".{{cite web|url=https://www.tatlerasia.com/lifestyle/travel/travel-guide-mexico-city-yasmin-dj|title=The Local Edit: Yasmin's Guide to Mexico City|first=Coco|last=Marett|date=27 April 2022|work=Tatler Asia|access-date=27 May 2024|archive-date=27 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527194100/https://www.tatlerasia.com/lifestyle/travel/travel-guide-mexico-city-yasmin-dj|url-status=live}} Michele Lagalla of Cocina y Vino commented that the space is surreptitious and the plates are austere, detailed, and flavorful.{{cite web|url=https://www.cocinayvino.com/mundo-gourmet/restaurantes/esquina-comun-buen-secreto-mexicano/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925201346/https://www.cocinayvino.com/mundo-gourmet/restaurantes/esquina-comun-buen-secreto-mexicano/|archive-date=25 September 2022|url-status=dead|first=Michele|last=Lagalla|date=30 August 2022|work=Cocina y Vino|access-date=27 May 2024|language=es|title=Esquina Común, un buen secreto mexicano|trans-title=Esquina Común, a good Mexican secret}} Esquina Común was defined by the Travel + Leisure En Español editorial team as a restaurant that embodies modern Mexican cuisine, praising the atmosphere, the service, the tasting menu options, the catch of the day, and the wine selection.{{cite web|url=https://travelandleisure-es.com/la-preciosa-terraza-de-la-cdmx-que-es-un-restaurante-con-una-estrella-michelin-a-pasos-de-la-avenida-mazatlan/|language=es|title=La preciosa terraza de la CDMX que es un restaurante con una estrella Michelin a pasos de la Avenida Mazatlán|trans-title=The beautiful Mexico City terrace that is a Michelin-starred restaurant just steps away from Mazatlan Avenue|date=16 June 2024|access-date=22 June 2024|work=Travel + Leisure En Español|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240623045549/https://travelandleisure-es.com/la-preciosa-terraza-de-la-cdmx-que-es-un-restaurante-con-una-estrella-michelin-a-pasos-de-la-avenida-mazatlan/|archive-date=23 June 2024|url-status=live}}

When the Michelin Guide debuted in Mexico in 2024, it awarded eighteen restaurants with Michelin stars.{{cite web|url=https://www.afar.com/magazine/michelin-guide-mexico-debuts-with-stars-for-these-restaurants|title=Mexico’s First Michelin Guide Debuts With 18 Starred Restaurants—Including a Taco Stand|work=Afar|first=Katherine Alex|last=Beaven|date=7 June 2024|access-date=2 July 2024|archive-date=3 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240703030353/https://www.afar.com/magazine/michelin-guide-mexico-debuts-with-stars-for-these-restaurants|url-status=live}} Esquina Común received one star, meaning "high-quality cooking, worth a stop". The guide added: {{nowrap|"[t]he}} covered rooftop setting is enhanced with bountiful greenery and a lovely, relaxed vibe" and was {{nowrap|"[s]tyled}} like a tasting menu and portioned for two," adding that "[the] dishes [were] impressive".{{Cite web|title=Esquina Común|url=https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/ciudad-de-mexico/cuauhtemoc_1995126/restaurant/esquina-comun|work=Michelin Guide|access-date=20 May 2024|archive-date=20 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520135954/https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/ciudad-de-mexico/cuauhtemoc_1995126/restaurant/esquina-comun|url-status=live}}

Esquina Común, along with six other Michelin-starred restaurants in Mexico City, was honored by Martí Batres, the head of the Mexico City government. He presented the chefs with an onyx statuette as a token of appreciation for their role in promoting tourism in the city. The statuette's design is inspired by the pre-Hispanic sculpture The Young Woman of Amajac, in recognition of the significant contributions of indigenous women to national and international gastronomy.{{cite web|url=https://www.milenio.com/politica/comunidad/batres-entrega-reconocimientos-restaurantes-estrella-michelin|title=Batres entrega reconocimiento a restaurantes de Cdmx con Estrella Michelin|language=Es|date=15 August 2024|access-date=15 August 2024|first=Azucena|last=Rangel|work=Milenio|trans-title=Batres rewards Michelin-starred restaurants in Mexico City|url-access=registration}}