I dreamed of dining at Pujol for 10 years - it became my worst fine dining experience ever
After a decade of anticipation and having dined at Michelin-starred restaurants across Belgium, France, and beyond, I finally made it to Pujol during my trip to Mexico City. What was supposed to be the culinary highlight of our Mexican adventure turned into a crushing disappointment that left me questioning not just the restaurant's two Michelin stars, but the entire evaluation process. Here's my unfiltered account of why spending €500 at Mexico's most famous restaurant was one of my biggest dining regrets.
First red flags: pricing that screams cash grab
The warning signs appeared even before the food arrived, starting with beverage pricing that borders on exploitation.
Wine prices that insult your intelligence
Pujol charges 850 pesos ($38) for a simple glass of cava, with champagne prices reaching even more outrageous levels. Having experienced fine dining across Europe, I understand premium pricing, but this felt like being taken for a ride - the exact opposite of what you seek in starred gastronomy. Even accounting for import taxes, these prices are simply unjustifiable for what's offered.
No wine pairing option: amateur hour
Most shocking was the absence of a proper wine pairing menu. Instead, they offer only individual glasses at exorbitant prices. This immediately put me on guard, creating the uncomfortable feeling that we needed to watch every expense rather than relax into the experience.
The meal that crushed a decade of dreams
What followed was a series of disappointments that systematically dismantled my expectations.
Cocktails and amuse-bouches that missed the mark
My negroni was over-diluted and flavorless - a basic cocktail failure that shouldn't happen anywhere, let alone at this level. The amuse-bouches were equally disappointing: a quarter of fruit (seriously?), three simple potato-corn blinis with sour cream, and their famous baby corn. While the baby corn was indeed delicious, serving a piece of fruit as an amuse-bouche felt like mockery. Just these three mediocre bites before the meal began.
Courses that wouldn't impress at a neighborhood bistro
The cold appetizer ceviche was decent but nothing special - I've had better at casual bistros in Brussels. The vegetable work was simple and banal. The viognier wine was painfully acidic, actually hurting our palates. The second appetizers - a basic vegetable parmigiana and simple mussel birria - failed to excite. Neither dish pleased us.
Main courses: when Michelin standards collapse
The main courses represented the meal's lowest point, featuring fundamental execution failures.
Wagyu beef disaster
The wagyu beef cooked low-temperature came with a thick mole-style sauce to eat with tortillas. The result was nauseating, and shockingly, the meat was quite dry for wagyu cooked low-temp - absolutely outrageous for this price point and supposed technique mastery.
Fish so bad I couldn't finish it
The fish was simply cooked with a few lettuce leaves and no sauce. It was genuinely not good - the first time I've left a dish unfinished at a starred restaurant. The accompanying Syrah-style red wine, while ordinary, still cost over €50.
Desserts: the final insult
If I thought things couldn't get worse, the desserts proved me wrong.
Rice pudding and flavorless chocolate
The dessert course was rice pudding with lychee pieces and a chocolate tamale that was incredibly bland. Calling these offerings "a vast joke" feels generous. For a restaurant representing the pinnacle of Mexican cuisine, this lack of creativity and execution was shameful.
Street food puts Pujol to shame
The most telling comparison: I ate better on the street with small tacos for €2 that were exceptional. When street vendors consistently outperform your €250 per person "fine dining" experience, something is fundamentally broken.
The value proposition that makes no sense
Having paid over €1,000 for dinner for two at other establishments with pleasure, spending €500 at Pujol left me with nothing but bitterness.
European comparisons that hurt
You eat better at non-starred gastro restaurants in Brussels or Paris for €60 per person. This isn't hyperbole - it's a sad reality that reveals how disconnected Pujol's pricing is from actual value delivery. My extensive fine dining experience across multiple countries gives me confidence in this assessment.
When reputation exceeds reality
It was simply not good, very expensive, and not worthy of its pretensions. The meal felt more like paying for celebrity chef status and marketing hype than actual culinary excellence. For a restaurant with two Michelin stars, this performance was shameful.
The uncomfortable truth about Mexico's most famous restaurant
My decade-long anticipation made this disappointment even more crushing. Pujol seems more focused on capitalizing on its fame than maintaining standards worthy of Michelin recognition. The gap between reputation and reality is enormous, raising serious questions about how these stars were awarded.
This experience reinforced that sometimes the most hyped restaurants are the biggest disappointments. Trust your palate, not the marketing machine.
For honest restaurant reviews that prioritize your dining experience over industry politics, visit eatmex.mx. Every diner deserves the truth before investing their hard-earned money.
For official Michelin information, visit guide.michelin.com.
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