The atmosphere was perfect, and the food was fantastic. And yet… our teen-only ate bread. Here’s why I still call our Huset review CDMX experience a complete win, even when family travel doesn’t go according to plan.
Picture this: You’re in one of Mexico City’s most celebrated restaurants, the ambient lighting is casting the perfect glow across your table, the aroma of wood-fired dishes fills the air, and your 14-year-old is sitting there with her arms crossed, declaring she’ll only have Coke and whatever bread they bring to the table. Welcome to real family travel, where the most Instagram-worthy moments often come with the biggest plot twists.
Why We Chose Huset for Our Mexico City Date Night
I originally had my heart set on San Angel Inn, that dreamy traditional Mexican restaurant nestled in an old hacienda with alfresco tables around a fountain. The kind of place that screams “romantic family dinner in a former monastery.” But three days before our trip, they messaged to let me know they’d be closed for the holiday. Cue the mild panic of a Type A mom who had everything planned to perfection.
Enter Huset. Set in the heart of Roma Norte, this elevated casual dining Mexico City gem kept appearing in my frantic Google searches. The reviews were glowing, the photos looked incredible, and honestly, I needed somewhere that could accommodate our family of four while still giving my husband and me that elevated dining experience we were craving. Sometimes, the universe has better plans than we do.
Huset offers a charming, rustic dining experience with its signature wood-fired cooking approach. Its farm-to-table philosophy immediately caught my attention. As someone who appreciates both quality ingredients and Instagram-worthy presentations (let’s be real), this felt like the perfect compromise between sophisticated dining and family-friendly accessibility.
The Meal: What We Loved and What Actually Made It to Our Table
Let me paint the full picture of what became one of our most memorable meals in Mexico City, for all the right and wonderfully imperfect reasons.
The Perfect Setting
Walking into Huset feels like stepping into someone’s beautifully curated backyard party. The space has this gorgeous open patio vibe with vines cascading around you, creating natural privacy while keeping everything feeling airy and welcoming. The staff immediately made us feel at home, which is exactly what you want when you’re navigating family dining in a new city.
Our Drink Selection
I started with their CDMX cocktail, a spicy mango margarita that perfectly captures the essence of Mexico City in one glass. My husband opted for red wine, our youngest got fresh orange juice (because she’s still in her “nothing artificial” phase), and our teen? Just Coke. Foreshadowing much?
Appetizers that Delivered
I went with the pumpkin soup, which was velvety and warming, exactly what I needed after a day of walking through Roma Norte. My husband chose the sea bass ceviche, and I may have stolen more bites than I care to admit.
Main Courses Worth Savoring
The long pasta with peppers and shrimp was divine. The kind of dish that makes you close your eyes and savor every bite. Our youngest had the roasted chicken (a safe choice that worked out beautifully), while my husband’s roasted sea bass was perfectly cooked.
The Showstopping Side
Roasted ripe plantain with black mole. This dish had us questioning why we don’t incorporate more Mexican flavors into our regular rotation at home.
The entire experience felt elevated yet comfortable, exactly what you want when you’re trying to expose your kids to new culinary experiences without feeling like you’re walking on eggshells the entire time.
The Teen Mood Reality Check
Here’s where I keep it completely real with you: our 14-year-old was having none of it. And I mean none of it.
When our incredibly patient server came to take her order, she said, “Just Coke, please.” I felt myself get flushed with that particular brand of mom embarrassment—the one where you wonder if the staff thinks you don’t feed your children or if they’re judging your parenting choices based on one moment. My mind was racing with all sorts of scenarios, but honestly, anyone with eyes could see that wasn’t the case.
She sat there, arms crossed, picking at the complimentary bread while the rest of us enjoyed what was genuinely an exceptional meal. In that moment, I had two choices: let her mood derail our entire evening or accept that this was part of our story and lean into it.
Nearly a week later, when we were back home and the dust had settled, she brought it up herself. “Mom, I wasn’t in a good mood that night at dinner,” she admitted with the kind of self-awareness that makes you proud even when you’re still slightly exasperated. She couldn’t pinpoint exactly what had triggered her funk, but not seeing familiar options on the menu definitely didn’t help her attitude.
I appreciated her honesty, and we had a real conversation about travel expectations. “When we’re exploring new places,” I told her, “being open to new experiences is part of the adventure. Even if it doesn’t always work out perfectly.” She nodded and agreed; a small victory in the ongoing journey of raising a thoughtful traveler.
Why It’s Still Worth It: The Beauty in Imperfect Moments
Here’s the thing about family travel that nobody puts in their highlight reels: every trip has bumps. And you know what? Those moments often become the stories we tell years later. We’ll laugh about the time your teenager staged a silent protest against elevated Mexican cuisine.
This experience taught me something valuable. I can maintain my identity as a woman who loves good food and meaningful experiences. Yes, even while navigating the realities of motherhood. I refuse to skip grown-up experiences just because I’m traveling with kids. I adjust my expectations and find ways to make it work for everyone.
The truth is, Huset delivered on every level that mattered to me as someone who values luxury dining Mexico City has to offer. The food was exceptional, the service was warm and accommodating, and the atmosphere was exactly what I was hoping for. My teen’s temporary attitude didn’t diminish any of that—it just added another layer to our travel story.
For other parents wondering if it’s worth bringing kids to nice restaurants while traveling, the answer is absolutely yes. Will every moment be Pinterest-perfect? Probably not. But the memories you create—both the smooth and the bumpy ones—are worth so much more than a flawless dining experience.
The Beauty in the Bump
This entire Huset experience perfectly embodies what I mean when I talk about finding beauty in the bump. The “bump” wasn’t just my teenager’s unexpected mood shift. It was the reminder that real travel, real family experiences, and real growth happen when things don’t go exactly as planned.
There’s something beautiful about sitting in a gorgeous restaurant in Roma Norte, savoring incredible food while your teen stages a quiet rebellion with bread and Coke. It’s authentic, it’s real, and it’s exactly the kind of story that makes travel meaningful rather than just pretty.
The bump taught us about flexibility, about finding joy even when someone at your table isn’t feeling it, and about the importance of staying true to your own travel values while making space for everyone’s experience. Sometimes the most elevated moments come wrapped in the most ordinary teenage attitudes.
Traveling with kids is never about perfection; it’s about finding joy in the story you’ll tell later. And honestly, this story about our night at Huset is one I’ll be telling for years to come, teen attitude and all.
What’s your “we tried” family dining moment? I’d love to hear about your real travel experiences, the beautiful, the bumpy, and everything in between. Share your stories with me or tag @beautyandthebumpnyc on your next family meal adventure. Because the best travel stories are always the honest ones.
