Best International Restaurant Is Maximo Bistrot in MXC

"Tucked in La Roma, the Mexico City restaurant Máximo Bistrot — led by Eduardo “Lalo” García — surprised me with a design that mixes huge, colorful mountain tapestries, a 'tree of life' bas-relief lit by tiny candles, stark wooden chairs and tables, bold green-and-white check floor tiles, and even hand-woven Mexican napkins. The menu honors Mexico’s biodiversity while relying on classic French technique: imaginative, ever-changing dishes (mushrooms become a highlight during the rainy season) and memorable twists like a crunchy Caesar salad draped with silky headcheese slices and dribbled with peppery basil oil. García calls it “a European-style restaurant with a Mexican feel,” but what stayed with me as much as the food was his compassion for staff and pride in his country — Máximo opened quietly in 2011, has since garnered wide acclaim, and García has actively mentored employees, splitting ownership to help them launch their own restaurants and secure their futures." - Katie Chang