New Mexican Restaurant Opens in Presidio Heights

Maria Isabel is the second restaurant from husband-and-wife chefs Sayat and Laura Ozyilmaz, who opened the acclaimed Eastern Mediterranean restaurant Dalida in the Presidio in 2023. While Dalida pays homage to Sayat's Turkish heritage, Maria Isabel is a celebration of Laura's Mexican roots, specifically the coastal traditions of her native Guerrero and her father's home state of Sinaloa. The restaurant's name, Maria Isabel, is a tribute to two important women in chef Laura Ozyilmaz's life: her sister, Maria, and her mother, Isabel. This duality is reflected in the restaurant's design by Jenne Wicht of JAK W, with one side of the 56-seat dining room being bright and pink to represent her sister, and the other featuring earthy tones and wood accents inspired by her mother. The restaurant is located in the former Ella's American Kitchen space, just 1.4 miles from Dalida. The menu aims to fill a gap in San Francisco's dining scene, offering an elevated take on Mexican cuisine that is more ambitious than a taqueria but less formal than Michelin-starred options like Californios. Diners can choose between an à la carte menu and a $90 family-style tasting menu. The kitchen will have a robust masa program, nixtamalizing corn in-house for fresh tortillas, tamales, and tetelas. Specific dishes will include a take on Guerrero's pulpo enamorado (octopus in love), presented as a tostada with grilled octopus, and Sinaloa-style aguachile. Other offerings range from a sweet corn tamal with sea urchin to larger plates like lamb ribs barbacoa and enchiladas with Iberico pork. The dessert menu will feature items like a roasted pineapple flan with spicy salsa macha and a coconut and mezcal "Baked Acapulco." The beverage program, designed by consulting bar director Evan Williams, will showcase a wide range of Mexican spirits beyond tequila and mezcal, including sotol, bacanora, and raicilla. The wine list, curated by Jerry McGie, will highlight wines from California as well as underrepresented regions in Mexico, such as Baja California and Querétaro, and countries in South America.