Amuleto

Chose this restaurant randomly for a family dinner and it turned out to be spectacular! Started with the creamy, fresh guacamole and chips and then had someone delicious elotés. Each family member said each entrée they ordered was amazing, including the mole, the carne Asada, the tacos and the fish. We can’t wait to come back here again!

Mexican cuisine perfection. Cocktails are one of the premier things– rotate seasonally with fresh ingredients. The tacos come two to an order and also rotate with what’s in season. The queso fundido and guacamole are SO good. They also have fresh fish and pork entrees but I haven’t had them. This is one of my very favorite restaurants.

We brought our Texas-​belle friend to dinner and she said that Amuleto is both excellent and authentic high end Mexican food. It was our second time there and
it was a wonderful dinner both times. The drinks are unique and delicious!

Texas transplant living in the Boston ‘burbs since the 90’s. Always trying to find good Mexican food that isn’t a chain. Happened to come across Amuleto through a Unilocal recommendation and, BINGO! Yum yum in my Southwest tum! Friendly service, bustling Friday night in June, guests in a good mood with their drinks. Delicious chicken & shrimp verde enchiladas, carne asada tacos. Crunchy chips & fresh perfect salsa, though not complementary. I would change that price from $ 4 to $ 2 if you are ordering alcohol. I think this place would do well to have a ladies/mom’s night with deals on drinks/​apps. Management came by to make sure we were happy, yes we were. Will go back again and again!

Stopped into Amuleto on a beautiful Friday night when Moody St. was bustling with the families of graduates from Bentley and Brandeis. Without a reservation, which is not how I normally dine, we walked in to see if we could be seated (even if at the bar) at 7pm.
The host asked us to wait just a few minutes as he checked in 2 parties with reservations. To our surprise we were seated at a table and ordering drinks within 5 minutes. Fantastic!!!
After devouring warm chips with freshly made guacamole, our entrees arrived. The chicken enchiladas were accompanied with Spanish rice and black beans. They were very good and warmed up nicely on Saturday too. The salmon was fresh and well prepared too. For dessert we had the flan which was a nice balance of custard and sweet.
We will definitely return as the host to the wait staff were accommodation and friendly. The food was also very good!
Thank you for making our Friday night a hit!

A relatively new Mexican restaurant on restaurant row in Waltham. Higher-​end than your typical Mexican joint, and the food is a notch above as well. A vast improvement over nearby Taqueria Mexico.

Service was very slow. Food was average. There was abundance of vinegar in some recipes making it very tangy. I wouldn’t want to try this place again.

Finally an authentic Mexican meal that doesn’t come in the brightly colored plates with the same looking meal slopped on them. Went for Cinco de Mayo and had a couple pork tacos. They were excellent. Great blend of spices on the pork and the three salsa sauces were a perfect compliment. I’m already planning my return visit.
Side note: the hostess and the bartenders made the meal even more enjoyable. You can tell everyone who works there really believes in this place. And thanks to that meal, so do I.

Our favorite place in Waltham! Food is amazing, staff is amazing, cocktails are phenomenal! You have to get the guacamole to start. Highly recommend reservations but you may luck out and get a seat at the bar.

I have to say that we were rather disappointed in our dining experience, after reading all of the amazing reviews that this restaurant received.
The ambience was really awesome, but the food left much to be desired, as did the drinks. I was not happy with the mezcal drink that I ordered (maybe it was my fault as I didn’t know that mezcal has a smoky taste, much like a campfire). My Mother was not thrilled with her mango margarita as it was very thick and she couldn’t taste the tequila.
As for the food, we enjoyed the queso fundido, but were unimpressed by the dried-​out corn tortillas that accompanied it. We also ordered the grilled octopus, that was slimier than I would have liked. For our entrees, we ordered the tamarind pork which was on the dry side, and the shrimp, which was certainly the better of the two dishes. The rice with the shrimp dish was actually delicious and had a strong lime flavor.
For dessert, the chocolate pudding was more like a bland chocolate mousse, but, the flan was yummy and had a nice amount of caramel sauce.
All in all, I would not return to Amuleto any time soon.

So. So. Good.
I was a little sad when Habaneros closed, since the place seemed to have potential (despite having a lot of problems and being pricy). Amuleto is such a huge step forward.
Amuleto has a very creative menu, a pretty good cocktail/​beer list, and is fairly priced (more high end than not, but more worth it than most as well.) If you go in with typical Mexican restaurant expectations you might be disappointed (both in menu options and price), so just be aware this is more of a mexican inspired bistro.
The appetizers are so amazing we have been going just to sit at the bar and order 3 – 4 with a couple drinks.
Pork belly. So much pork belly.
The Cuban-​style roasted corn on the cob definitely provides a fix (if you are normal like me and dream about this on the regular), but it’s not quite as good as most typical cuban lunch spots (or Toro in Boston). A solid B/​B+ though, so no severe complaints.
They have wonderful ceviche as well.
The décor is delightfully overthetop. Music at proper volume. Staff very solid.

I’ll preface this review by saying that I think this place is overpriced. That being said, I can’t in good conscience give it any less than four stars. Everything is executed to exceed your expectations. The cocktails are premium and handcrafted (they are boozy and delicious by the way, a decent value at $ 10-​$ 12 a drink). The guac was pretty good and a bonus that the chips were oven warm. The Carne Asada was cooked to order medium rare but was no better or worse than a decent steak. It was elevated by a trio of hot sauces that our server brought over (the habanero was excellent with good flavor and respectable heat that didn’t over do it). My wife enjoyed her chicken enchiladas, so no complaints there either. Expect to spend $ 120-​$ 150 for two on a pretty solid meal.

Not sure why the reviews are so high… The classic guacamole and the sopa de tortilla were actually pretty good. We ordered the lamb and the carne asarda… Our server returned to get my guests temperature on the steak. Medium rare was the reply… Yeah it came out well, my lamb was atrocious. I returned my lamb for a safe chicken enchiladas and my guest just did t eat her food. My new meal was the blandest I’ve ever had. For a Spanish restaurant there was seriously no flavor that was good except the lime in the guacamole.
It’s a 3 block drive but I’d rather go to Paisanos.
2 stars for the drinks and apps

Excelente! This place checks all the boxes: nice place, great service, fun atmosphere, excellent food and drink. Went on a Saturday at 5 and thought it would be dead that early. Now, here were some people a nice little buzz and by 6 it was full. We ate like kings and did small plates instead of dinners.
Guacamole Rojo
Duo de Sopes
Shrimp
Octopus
Carnitas tacos
Retried beans
Street corn
Mexican chocolate pudding
Got Don Julio margaritas made with love and just how I like the without mix of sweetener.
I will definitely go back here.

Yah! Great new place on the end of Moody!
We had a party of 3 (1 toddler) and they stuck us on a kind of small table so we were constantly shuffling plates and drinks to make room. On the other hand, the table was right next to this small window into the kitchen which was interesting to watch as well as the view to the cool looking bar area.
Small, dining area with really comfy chairs. I know it sounds weird to say, but they were really comfortable!
Started with guac and a very yummy Amuleto margarita. Had issues with asking for salsa multiple times and had to flag someone down for it. Once we got it, it was very yummy. The complimentary pickled veggies were also very so tasty!
Loved the verde chicken enchiladas especially the retried beans! chili relleno with amazing spicy broth (get rice to add in broth). The chicken tacos were loaded and the addition of corn was nice.
They don’t have a kids menu and Parking is hard to find on Moody so give yourself time if you have reservations.

I was SO excited to try this place. While the food was impressive the service was a let down. We made a reservation which on a Wednesday night wasn’t needed, we were seated right away.
Our server greeted us quickly asking if we wanted to start with guacamole. We barely looked at the menu so we said we weren’t sure yet but ordered drinks. We then didn’t see her for quite some time. The host delivered our sweating drinks and we had to ask him for our server. I’m not sure how she was so in the weeds with what seemed to be 3 – 4 tables and the restaurant as a whole was less than half full. The Amuleto Margarita was perfect though once we got it.
When she finally came over we ordered the Pulpo Asado — grilled octopus with mushrooms, onions and chili pepper. Probably my favorite thing. The char on the octopus was wonderful. I’ve never had it like that before. We did go with the classic guacamole which was fresh and delicious. We were never given the «salsa trio» which I saw on everyone else’s table and even on the bill (no charge)!!
We also ordered several tacos which came out a bit before we were ready. The server kept trying to clear our app plates that were clearly full. She really got on my nerves. But again the food saved the night. We tried the barbacoa, chicharron, pollo and al pastor tacos. No complaints there! All well composed, perfect portions and only $ 9-​$ 10 for two.
We ended up taking a lot to go as we wanted to save room for dessert which was also bittersweet. There were only 3 choices. I really wanted the Churro Ice Cream Sandwich I saw on Unilocal but that wasn’t an option. We were going to get the Flan but the table next to us sent it back saying «it was like a solid block of cream cheese» — yikes! We ordered the Mexican Chocolate pudding and I asked her to inquire about specials/​the ice cream sandwich. She said she’d ask the kitchen and never came back! But again like everything else the pudding was SO good. Light and rich at the same time. Just perfect.
Then the bill came. We had returned two drinks we didn’t like (MezcalLoco) in exchange for the margaritas we previously had. They were still on the bill and each $ 2 more. She gave us $ 4 cash back but I should not have had to ask. And from a restaurant business standpoint that means she didn’t ring them in. $ 136 before tip for apps, several tacos, 3 drinks each, dessert. Not a bad deal!
The food was so f-​ing good I’m sure I’ll give it another try but I was certainly disappointed the first go round.

Decided to stop in with my friend for an early dinner on a Wednesday night. The layout of the restaurant has been kept the same (used to be Habanero’s) but the décor has definitely been upgraded. They have rich velvet fabric that wraps around high booths and intimate tables, this place has a sexy vibe to it.
The host who sat us asked us where we wanted to sit and was quick to point out which table was the favorite; right by the window — in the corner — in a cozy L shaped booth.
Our waitress greeted us very quickly and we both ordered a glass of wine. The wine selection has something for everyone and offered by the glass or bottle. I was very impressed with the tequila selections as well as the variety of margaritas.
For dinner we decided to share a few small plates in order to get a good sense of the food here. We ordered: Elote de la Calle (charred corn), Guacamole Roja and the Chicken tacos.
The charred corn was phenomenal it came in a portion of three ears and was loaded with Cotija cheese. This was honestly some of the best corn I’ve had in a Mexican restaurant. The Guacamole Roja was OK but if I did order it again I would of ask for the roja sauce on the side. I like my gauc thick and chunky so the rojo sauce just watered it down for me. The chicken tacos were excellent and a perfect portion of two medium sized soft shelled tacos.
Two glasses of wine and three appetizers totaled to $ 50, which was a great deal. I was a little skeptical to see so many 5 star reviews but I can assure you that this restaurant deserves it with their food and service. I Can’t wait to come back and try some more food!

I do not go to Waltham Center often but I will definitely return to visit this outstanding and welcome addition to their vibrant dining scene. The vibe here is authentic and hip, definitely a great spot for a nice dinner with a date or the family. Our waiter was attentive and quick to give recommendations. He also conveniently had pictures of many dishes on his phone. I mostly stuck to their small plate menu because it was so good and there were tons of great options. Here is what I tried:
Sangria — It was awesome and I would recommend this drink. Not too fruity or overpowering
Jamaica Mezcalini — Never had anything quite like this, it came in a rocks class so did not give the girly drink vibe. Would order again
Tamale — Perfectly executed short rib tamale
Pork Belly Guacamole — I am generally a purist when it comes to guac but the pork belly here add a nice crunch and texture.
Mexican Corn — A Mexican classic executed flawlessly
Grilled Octopus — If you have never tried grilled octopus I would recommend it, it is not fishy and was flavored perfectly. It is more like meat of the sea.
Ribs — Honestly, some of the best ribs I have had in recent memory. The meat was so tender and moist and easily fell off the bone
Empanadas — Another solid menu item that I would order again
Flan — Another classic perfectly executed dish. Notably the texture of the flan was on point, which can be the tricky part of this dish.

If you’re looking for the best authentic Mexican restaurant in town, look no further than Amuleto on Moody.
I was happily surprised when I stumbled across this new eatery to find great food and even better drinks. I were greeted with fresh homemade tortilla chips and an array of different types of salsa, all which were excellent. I then ordered the barbacoa taco and guacamole both which were astounding. For my main entrée, I decided to get the Birria de Chamorro or braised lamb. This was one of the best decisions I’ve made in a long time. To drink, I had a Mezcal cocktail, a first for me, but certainly not the last.
Simply put, if you’re looking for great Mexican food/​drinks accompanied with a beautiful interior look no further than Amuleto.

Outstanding. In a town full of Mexican restaurants, this one stands out for its subtle and grown up flavors. It is a bit on the expensive side for a Mexican restaurant, but we’ll worth it. It would also be great for a date or a night out.
The Vegetable Enchilada with its grilled veggies in a choice of the sauces (I had mole) was amazing. I am still savoring the flavors. Perhaps, it is worth saying what the Enchilada were not. They were not drowning in mole, but a gentle coating. It was not smothered in cheese. There were cheese crumbles that are great flavor additions. It was really for adult tastes. My wife loved her meal, which had the rojo sauce. However, she felt that the black beans are a bit bland. The complimentary ceviche at the beginning was a really nice touch.
I had the octopus with grilled onions as an appetizer. The octopus was tender and had a fantastic grilled flavor. Because we had a long drive that night, we skipped the drinks. But, the people at the bar looked really happy. It is also worth mentioning that the server was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and what went well with what.
We loved the service, are still thinking about the food and expect that we will return often.