Old Money Restaurants in Mexico city / Sep’s, 1930s Nostalgia and Alsatian Cuisine

By Anna Lagos / Photos courtesy by Sep's

Under the presidency of Lázaro Cárdenas (1934-1940), the country experienced significant transformations: agrarian reforms and the nationalization of the petroleum industry. The city welcomed the tram, and Mexico received many exiles from the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and, later, Europeans seeking refuge from World War II.

Founded in 1939 by Antoine Freyermuth in the Condesa neighborhood, it was named after his father Joseph, who came from Alsace to Mexico and here met his partner, Mrs. Sabina Jiménez. Together they had 5 children. Sep’s is no longer what it was in those 1930s, but it has managed to establish itself as an emblem of Alsatian cuisine in Mexico. Alsace is a charming region of France, bordering Switzerland and Germany, recognized for its good food, wines, and the allure provided by the mountains. It has also been a bone of contention for centuries between France, Russia, and Germany. While its cuisine is a fusion of both countries, Jorge Freyermuth explains that it "definitely leans more towards the French."

Mr. Freyermuth arrived in Mexico on refugee ships departing from the French coasts to America and began his new life by establishing the restaurant in a very small place with a menu of very few Alsatian dishes. As there were not many restaurants in Mexico and the food was delicious, they began to have many clients and expanded. Over the years, each of the 5 children integrated into the family business. They all lived off the restaurant, but, just in case, they all had a profession.

The menu offers a selection of European dishes like Gruyere cheese fondue, clam soup with pernod, ostrich medallions with mustard, buttered red snapper fillet, and grilled quail. We recommend the Alsatian dish, prime rib, veal breast, along with the shanks, generous portions ideal for sharing. Onion soup and lentils and the steak in its juice. Open 365 days a year, this restaurant is also famous for its draft beer.

In the golden age of Sep's, lines formed in search of a table for lunch or dinner. “If a table was vacated, immediately, even if it was dirty, diners would sit down. I know clients from years ago, who arrive and hug me. They greet me with a kiss,” says the head waiter of the restaurant to TV UNAM. Perhaps the best part of the place is the music coming from the baby grand piano to accompany the meal. Secure a table at Sep's in an area that reminds us of a Mexico City that has gone never to return.

• Location: Madrid 69, Tabacalera, Cuauhtémoc, 06030 Mexico City, CDMX
• Contacto info: 55 5566 9249
• Service hours: 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
• Ideal for: Lovers of French gastronomy, family gatherings, romantic dinners, and business meetings.
• Cuisine: Alsatian cuisine, with both French and German influences.
• Payment: Credit cards, debit cards, cash
• Accessibility: Access for people with reduced mobility.
• Parking: Available
• Reservations: Recommended, especially for dinners and weekends.
• Nearby public transport: Metro Revolución or Metrobús Reforma