625975 Sun Jun 07 18:43:32 -0700 2009 5 20 Tristate Region 0 4751400 I'm trying not to get too excited, lest I get massively disappointed. But the name just makes me giddy. I was flying down Stillwater yesterday and slammed on my brakes when I saw a new sign on what used to be Corelli's Pastry Shop. The awning says, "Maya Restaurant" with a nice traditional image of a Mayan figure. The place isn't open yet. I peaked in the window and it from what I could tell, it looks like it's in the last throes of remodeling. I hope it's opening soon. Could it really be that we'll have an actual regional Mexican restaurant in town? Will they actually offer Mayan cuisine or is it just a clever name without any correlation to food from the Yucatan/Southern Mexico? I'm really, really hoping for the latter. I'm not expecting this place to be as good as something like Poc Chuc or Yucatasia in San Fran, but if they will even attempt at real regional food, I'll be thrilled. Hopefully history won't be a guide for this new place. It's gone through a gradual evolution from an Italian bakery to an Italian-Colombian bakery/restaurant to a Colombian restaurant to a Colombian/Haitian restaurant. So, until it opens, I'm keeping cautiously optimistic. Fingers crossed... Maya Restaurant 166 Stillwater Rd. Stamford, CT Sun Jun 07 18:43:32 -0700 2009 11120 adamclyde 1 4752675 I stopped by last week (Thursday evening, I think) and poked my head in. I asked the guys working on the store when they were opening and what was going to be on the menu. Unfortunately, I only got some vague answers ("Open in June", "Regular Mexican food"). They didn't have a menu printed up yet. I drive by it most nights and will report back as soon as it opens. Mon Jun 08 08:24:59 -0700 2009 4751400 16715 cteats 2 4753012 Bummer. What a missed opportunity... Did you get the impression that the guys in there were people who owned the place or just workers? I'm trying to find reasons to keep a sense of optimism :) Mon Jun 08 09:56:14 -0700 2009 4752675 11120 adamclyde 3 4754545 Didn't mean to give that impression. I wouldn't give up hope on it. The guys I spoke with were vague and I think were a little confused by a guy in a suit stopping in and asking questions. Someone is clearly putting money and effort into it. I think the most likely case is that it's a good to very good sit-down option for authentic Mexican, and if we get lucky could be something special. I'll be there soon after it opens to check it out. Mon Jun 08 17:25:16 -0700 2009 4753012 16715 cteats 1 4803229 Stopped in tonight. There is a "Grand Opening" sign up, but that seems a little premature. It's a bakery/restaurant. There's a bakery display case in front along with some tables, and more tables in back. The menu hasn't been printed up yet and it seems like it is still in flux. The manager told me it was going to be "mostly Peruvian or Guatemalan" and I should stop by in a few days. Wed Jun 24 15:38:42 -0700 2009 4751400 16715 cteats 2 4808094 yeah, I stopped by on Tuesday... same thing. A vague answer... "Guatemalan, Peruvian, stuff like that." Hmmmm. If this was "Mayan and Incan" then I could understand the Peruvian stuff, but I'm perplexed. Actually, I'm not... it seems to be just a clever name for a vague pan-Latin restaurant. and the owners don't seem to have a clear view of what they want to do, so I think they are just making what their cooks know how to cook. What's clear is that it isn't a Mexican regional gem. Oh well. Anyhow, when I'm back from the West Coast I'm going to give it a try. Who knows. Fri Jun 26 07:53:01 -0700 2009 4803229 11120 adamclyde