Chef couple Laura and Sayat Ozyilmaz are preparing to launch their second restaurant, Maria Isabel, a pan-Mexican concept, on March 3 at 500 Presidio Avenue in Presidio Heights. The venue aims to elevate mid-range Mexican fine dining while honoring Laura's family heritage from Guerrero, Jalisco, and Sinaloa. Reservations are now available for the opening.
The Ozyilmaz couple, known for their acclaimed pan-Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurant Dalida opened nearly three years ago in the Presidio, will manage two establishments just 1.4 miles apart. Maria Isabel occupies the former space of Ella's American Kitchen, allowing the chefs to oversee both during busy periods.
Laura Ozyilmaz, a Mexican-born chef who placed fourth on Top Chef Season 21, described the timing as ideal for introducing an elevated Mexican dining experience. In December, she stated, "this is the right time to open something [Mexican] that feels a little more elevated — not necessarily elevated like Californios, Michelin-starred, but elevating the culture itself." The menu draws from her family's roots, featuring a la carte and prix fixe options that bridge coastal Jalisco and Guerrero on her mother's side with northern Sinaloa on her father's.
The restaurant's name pays tribute to Laura's chef sister Maria and mother Isabel, influencing the interior design: the bar area on the right evokes a "sultry" mood like her mother, while the left side is brighter and pinker, nodding to her sister. Dalida was similarly named after Sayat's mother.
Inventive dishes incorporate California ingredients and modern elements. Highlights include a reimagined ceviche Acapulqueño with pre-poached shrimp, raw scallop, serrano chiles, marigold, oregano oil, vinegar, and preserved Seville oranges; pulpo enamorado as a tostada with avocado, satsuma kosho, and green aguachile; and a "Maiz" section featuring sweet corn tamal with sea urchin and pescadillas stuffed with rockfish served with passionfruit salsa. Larger plates offer lamb ribs barbacoa, Sinaloa-style ribeye carne asada, and enchiladas with Iberico pork. A $90 chef's tasting menu includes exclusives like a taco with thinly sliced ribeye and shaved nopales salad.
Consulting Bar Director Evan Williams has curated cocktails emphasizing lesser-known agave spirits such as bacanora, raicilla, and sotol, alongside twists on palomas and margaritas.
Laura emphasized cultural respect in a recent Eater interview: "What has been very important to us, and to me, is to embrace my community and find a way to express the sense of place. Of course, pay a lot of respect to the tradition, but also making sure that people understand it." Sayat added, "opening these deeply personal restaurants is 'not just us becoming a conduit for diners to connect with our cultures, but this whole exercise allows us to connect deeper with our upbringing, with our families... and I’m just really excited about that for my wife.'"
Maria Isabel has been listed among the most anticipated new restaurants of the year, building on Dalida's success and Laura's Top Chef appearance.