Lotti: Follow the Chef, Find the Shrimp
Chef Víctor Toriz of Gaba sent us here, and it delivered one seriously stunning bite — a shrimp tostada with kaffir lime that stops you in your tracks.
We have Chef Víctor Toriz of Gaba to thank for pointing us toward Lotti. Chef recommendations are one of my favorite ways to discover a city, and this one delivered one seriously stunning bite.
I can see exactly why he recommended it. Like Gaba, Lotti takes a creative approach to bringing Mexican ingredients and flavors into a broader culinary style. I love food that brings different cultures together in unexpected ways. But where Gaba feels rustic, elemental and all about fire, Lotti is more refined and polished.
The restaurant is cozy and beautifully done, with a lovely atmosphere. We tried four dishes and had two real standouts.
The shrimp tostada with pico de gallo, kaffir lime and hibiscus was insane. That kaffir lime! Front and center was aromatic and completely unexpected. Paired with the creaminess of the shrimp and crunch of the tostada, it was one of those bites that stops you in your tracks. Outstanding.
The baby Hasselback potatoes with avocado and trout roe were another lovely bite, with that satisfying combination of crispy potato, creamy avocado and salty little pops of roe.
The marinated mussels with aioli, pancetta and guajillo chili were very good, although they didn't quite reach the heights of the shrimp.
And then came the chicken Cordon Bleu. I actually loved seeing this retro classic make a comeback, and it was perfectly pleasant, but for us it was just okay.
Overall, we actually preferred Gaba, but Lotti is doing something quite different and doing it beautifully. If you like thoughtful, polished cooking with Mexican influences and a more intimate European feel, it's definitely worth a visit.
And order the shrimp tostada. Seriously.
Good to know
Lotti — Colima 235, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, CDMX 06700
The restaurant is quite intimate, but don’t be discouraged if you check online and it looks completely booked. When we went, there were actually plenty of tables available, especially once you include the outdoor terrace. OpenTable lists both interior and terrace seating.
Chef: Luc Liebster, Swiss-born, with a European culinary background and a menu that combines European technique with Mexican ingredients and flavors.
Style: Contemporary European with Mexican influence · Price: $$$$ · Michelin: Good Cuisine recommendation.
