Mission Taqueria: A modern, healthy Mexican eatery comes to Pleasantville

IMG_9958 (1) We had heard a lot of buzz about a new Mexican restaurant that had opened recently in Pleasantville. The owners of the successful 105Ten in Briarcliff Manor have launched Mission Taqueria, a new style of Mexican kitchen. The food is basic in its heritage and roots, but the execution and presentation is thoroughly modern. A great deal of time was spent developing a menu that is light, clean and healthy, yet full of taste.

The space is in an older building that has been transformed by designer Andrew Kotchen into a clean, uncluttered, modern, and urban space. The effect of this design is to create a space where the food and craft cocktails take center stage. Booths line the walls, pub tables are placed in the middle of the restaurant and two cozy tables for four reside by the front windows. The bar is a colorful area with a honeycomb backsplash in blue which is repeated in tile on the bar front and floor. The taps are unique and bring a touch of old Mexico into the modern design language of the interior.

The menu of traditional Mexican dishes has been updated to reflect the notions of lighter, cleanand healthy fare. The usual heavy cheeses and sauces are thankfully missing and replaced with a menu with an emphasis on blending fresh ingredients in a healthy manner. The effect for us is that we left the restaurant satisfied and not weighed down.

We enjoyed some unique and fresh dishes such as the Guacamole served with a light topping of queso fresco, house made chips, pomegranate and toasted pumpkin seeds. Very interesting take on the classic guacamole staple.

The Mexican Street Corn was another nice opener and is lightly grilled ear of corn (cut in two) and served with a lime aioli, and chili powder. The Pumpkin seed hummus was a unique dish in taste and presentation and instead of chips was served with a fresh cut veggie crudite.

Tuna Poke Tostadas

For our mains we enjoyed the Tuna Poke Tostadas, a healthy dish with Hawaiian poke (tuna) served on small tostadas, and topped off with a fresh slice of avocado. Loved this dish!

While there are main entrees including chicken and steak, we opted to check out the Taco menu with seafood, meat and veggie options. We enjoyed the California Dreamin’ Brussel Sprout Tacos ($14) (great for healthy eaters and vegetarians), The Shrimp($17), fresh grilled shrimp served with a mango salsa. The Lobster Frites ($19) were also a must try with poached lobster, and a pepper and chipotle aioli and topped with potato threads . All healthy, light and delicious and devoid of the heaviness so frequently seen in Mexican restaurants.

irene 2359