With close to a dozen Mexican restaurants, Waltham is a go-to destination for south-of-the-border fare. The latest eatery to throw its sombrero into the local dining scene is Amuleto Mexican Table, which opened last month on restaurant-rich Moody Street.

Amuleto offers a contemporary take on Mexican cuisine, reflecting the experiences and techniques that well-traveled chefs are bringing to Mexico City, says general manager Rogerio Padilla. Menu items are grounded in tradition: Tortillas and tamales are “homemade, fresh every day,” and the quesadillas are “real Mexican style, made with fresh masa” but given a creative lift, according to Padilla, a Baja native. Enticing starters include guacamole with pork belly as well as a cauliflower ceviche with salsa fresco, cilantro and olive oil. Braised lamb wrapped in a banana leaf with hominy puree is a popular entree, Padilla says, as is octopus with caramelized onions, mushrooms and chili pepper. Customers can also choose from eight kinds of tacos filled with everything from shrimp and green chili sauce to pork-belly confit and avocado cream; the Jamaican offers an exotic combo of hibiscus flowers, serrano pepper and cotija cheese.

Amuleto is serving dinner Monday through Saturday, along with beer, wine and a cocktail list based mostly on tequila and mezcal. And there are plans to add lunch and brunch as soon as Padilla can hire more staff.

Hello to Jaho

Salem’s Jaho has opened its third location, Jaho Coffee Roasters and Wine Bar, blocks from Downtown Crossing on the ground floor of the Kensington. The only cafe in Boston that roasts its coffee on-site, Jaho serves coffee, tea, and sandwiches during the day and a roster of 200 wines, plus craft beers, “artisanal small bites” and dessert at night. Caffeinistas will appreciate brewing techniques ranging from Nitro Iced Coffee to Seraphim Single Brewing, as well as plans for coffee education classes and tasting events in the near future.