Malva

I cannot wait to get back to Baja to go back here. This place is amazing. We found it through another site, and I am so glad I trusted my gut. We came by cruise ship to Ensenada and really wanted to try something than the normal there. We were able to Über to this place (about $ 9 each way by über). My first driver I had to call the restaurant and have them give him directions, but its really easy to find.
We had 1pm reservations (we made through their facebook page) but got there at 12:30, since we had called about 20 minutes prior they were ready for us.
Our server greeted us, and let us have our pick of tables. The view is outstanding. It is chilly, so dress in layers, but having a coat is worth it, our server let us know that the weather in the valley in unpredictable and will change constantly.
We got a great introduction to the restaurant and the winery (it shares its space with Mina Penelope Winery). They have a focus on local, sustainable foods that they can forage in the Baja area. He suggested as first timers trying the 7 course menu and we ordered a bottle of wine from the house winery (the Cabernet-​Merlot).
We started with house made rosemary bread with a pesto dip that was nice. The bread was fresh baked and still warm.
Our amuse from the kitchen was a wonton chip with fresh octopus, radish, beet crema, cilantro blossom and serrano chili. This was an awesome bite and introduction to what we were about to experience. The flavors blended well and you could taste each individually. I was impressed at how nice the octopus was as I generally find it very rubbery.
Our first course was a yellow tail ceviche, tossed a malva emulsion (malva is a plant and restaurant name sake). There was a corn crust on the plate and it was served with chips made from the house bread and it was very nice. The fish was very fresh, it blended well with the malva, and paired perfectly with the wine.
Next course was a duck carnitas sope, and I could eat this all day. It had a cilantro crema and serrano sauce on the plate. The sope was tender and pillowy and the duck was out of this world awesome! By far my favorite dish of the day.
Then we had a garden salad with fresh foraged vegetables and a carrot purée. We actually watched them pick the salad greens. The plate had a roasted carrot and asparagus as well as a beet, and it all worked together. It was so nice and delicate.
This was followed by the soup of the day which was a parsnip soup. This was warm and comforting, and yummy. It had goat cheese and a corn ball in the bowl, decorated with greens and the soup was poured table side. Great presentation.
This was followed by the first of two main entrees, the first was a yellow tail that was perfectly cooked with the most awesome crispy skin. it had a sauce on it that was so flavorful but i actually cannot identify what it was. Beneath the fish were 6 of the most yummy gnocchi that almost overshadowed the fish. The dish also had greens on top that went well with it.
The final entrée was their signature lamb dish. This is roasted in the outdoor over for 18 hours, then shredded, then reformed into a cube, then seared on a pan to give the edges a crispy touch. Tableside they poured a lamb jus on it that was yummy. It was served with salted swiss chard and a pinto bean purée. This dish really showcased their talent.
Our final dish was a tangerine panna cotta that was light and delicate and a perfect finish to an amazing meal. We had french press coffee made with delicious shade grown beans.
We paid and then sent us off with homemade marshmallows as a finish.
Overall this place would be a 2-​star Michelin restaurant if it was in Napa. The service was spectacular and the food was perfect. I was shocked when I saw the bill as lunch for the 2 of us, with a bottle of wine, and we asked to add a 30% tip was only $ 119!!! I was expecting at least over $ 300 easily and would have felt good with that.
If you are in Ensenada, this place is worth the side trip for lunch or dinner. I cannot wait to go back.

After a full day of wine tasting (I think we hit up about 5 wineries around the area), we came here for dinner. Becky made reservations before hand because we had a group of 6 of us.
At this point of our trip, we had eaten so much none of us were hungry, hungry. So at my end of the table I split 2 dishes with the guy next to me. At the other end, I think each ordered a main entrée and shared it with everyone. It’s like, you walk into the restaurant knowing it’s going to be amazing, but your sad because your just not that hungry. When I’m hungry I enjoy the food 100 times more.
We ordered:
— duck carnitas (they served it with corn tortilla and we ate it taco style. It was amazingly delicious!)
— ribeye cooked medium rare (topped with black beans, onions, and other yummy goodness) it was delicious as well, but we ate about ½ of it and passed it down the table because we couldn’t eat anymore.
— we were told the dessert here was amazing, there were 6 items on the dessert menu, so we ordered one of each. My top 3 favorite were the smore’s one with chocolate, goat cheese ice cream, and a key lime pie tart.
–also at the very end they give you a piece of homemade marshmallow. It was interesting.
–their watermelon fresca was amazing! We tried to order a pitcher of it but they only served it in mason jars one at a time lol
Again, this place was super cute with a nice décor. Not on my top 3 favorite spots in Valle de Guadalupe, but it was pretty dang good.