IXCHEL Mexican Cuisine in Setauket Now Open For Dinner, Get a Peek Inside
IXCHEL Mexican Cuisine has opened its doors for a soft opening of the restaurant, according to owners Juan and Daphnee Munar who spoke with LongIslandRestaurants.com at their restaurant recently.
Daphnee Munar said they are only open for dinner right now to work out the kinks with their kitchen and staff. Anyone who wants to go to IXCHEL should call and make a reservation to ensure they get a seat.
Last summer, the Munars purchased the space from the owners of the former Old Field Barbecue. Co-owner David Tunney had tried to extend his Old Fields restaurant brand there starting with a barbeque joint and then converted it to Old Field Tavern, which ultimately closed down at the end of 2022.
The Munars have breathed new life into the space, which, before it was Old Fields, was an Indian food restaurant called Raga.
The completely renovated dining room now features an elegant, lighter, more contemporary vibe with accents of traditional design. Munar is not ready to reveal the total interior space yet, saying she wants people to come in and experience it for themselves. We took a trip down to the restaurant and got to see the results of their design plans, including a full mezcal bar that has been completely refurbished.
The menu is based on cuisine from the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico with guacamole made-to-order tableside; appetizers that include Gringa Ixchel, a large homemade flour tortilla, Oaxaca cheese with choice of steak, grilled chicken or shrimp; and entrees like their Azulic Tuna Tostada with a crunchy blue tostada shell topped with flavorful marinated tuna, onions, and fresh avocado or the Arrachera Uxmal, grilled skirt steak served with refried beans, and grilled nopal. This is definitely not another Tex-Mex joint.
Munar says they anticipate having their grand opening by the end of January.
Head over to IXCHEL at 130 Old Town Road in Setauket. Call (631) 526-2004 for reservations.
Scroll down for a sneak peek inside IXCHEL Mexican Cuisine.
