3.5 stars on YELP? No waaaay!!!!
Native Zonie here who spent almost all my vacations on the Gulf from age 5 to 50. This might be in my top 3 Sonoran restaurants of my lifetime. I grew up on the Sea of Cortez. Their ocean shrimp can't compare to anyone else's shrimp. I've travelled and consulted in Sonora in the city. Been to some solid restaurants. The vibe alone here made me forget we had to go to work tomorrow. Can't I smell the ocean outside? This place RANKS high in all areas. I was so hungry I didn't photograph my Snapper Frito. You'll see the after photo - sorry. Highly recommend it. Light, flaky. Tender meat. Rice was good, carrot chunks in it. Beans are old school Sonoran home made beans, smashed up right - maybe with milk - not sure. Lettuce side was tasty with lime juice on it. CRISPY and cooling after eating my dinner. Tortillas? We only ate the flour ones - perfectly awesome. Slight butter flavor on my tongue? My husband ate the house fajitas - OMGOD YAAASSS! Caramelization was perfection on the onions and bell peppers. Beef. Chicken. Shrimp. Luscious fajitas - best we've had in the valley, by far.
Well let me back up now ....We began with chips and salsa. Yep! And a shrimp cocktail. Lots of cucumber the way a great Sea of Cortez chef will make it. Medium shrimp too, not tiny ones. Spice it up as you wish, their sauce is light. They'll bring you salsas that will make your eyes water. We also had raw oysters - every single one was fresh and sweet. All the fixens - just ask. Margarita was truly GREAT (best I've enjoyed in Phoenix, only Leo's in Tucson might be better) and my husband really liked his michaelida too (Just can't spell it now). Manager sweetly and quietly slid me a shot glass of their mango drink, nicely rimmed with tajin. Mnnnn. Perfectly frozen lovely drink. I saw the full sized one all prettied up. Epic looking!
Oh yes, we're stuffed. Content Elite Yelper here - finally... we found our favorite food spot. Next time I'm trying the rellano for sure. Maybe bacon wrapped Camerones - it's a Cortez speciality we all covet.
Fast service. Friendly. Loud music - but we adjusted. I truly felt like I was family, it was comforting to eat there. Can't explain that one. Maybe just old fashioned good service as only epic servers from MX can give. They love it when their customers are happy. We certainly were. Tip well - they work for it. We loved sitting at the bar, and will again sit there. Not all our wait staff spoke great English but we got by just fine. Here's the kicker all non natives must understand - Spanish speakers from good families don't like to use their broken English with Americans. It's embarrassing. Most servers living here legally ARE always practicing. Most don't mind us teaching them words. I can't spell in Spanish but I always do this when I don't know the correct word "Com-may se Dee-say in Espanol par favor?" And they'll tell me. Then I reply "Ahhh en English es cocktail sauce. Gracias mija!" They usually warm up fast. Enjoy the cultural experience. It's how they feel as well. One of our servers was from Nogales. The men sitting there next to us was shocked I knew where it was. "Border girl all my life." I guess they don't meet many natives there. So go and enjoy the food and lively atmosphere- it feels just like a Puerto Penasco hangout with a bigger menu!
PS: If you try the habanero salsa you'll figure it out FAST! They all began giggling when I asked "WHAAAAT is this one???"
(I've seen so many Valley customers talk about seafood poisoning so: Let me say, when you eat seafood there is a long-standing rule that if a shrimp or oyster doesn't taste right, SPIT it out, rinse your mouth out and spit into your water glass. Don't chew more and don't ingest it - it's a rule anywhere I go eat seafood or fish. It will keep you safe. Tastes off? Texture 'off' ....spit it out. It only takes a good chef missing THAT one. And let the manager know, quietly. I've eaten at gotten sick at solid restaurants. I've bought bad seafood at Costco. Nothing any purveyor or restauranteur wants more than to protect their customers from - it's a full 24-35 plus hours of feeling lousy. Don't forget, don't wolf down seafood, take it slow and enjoy). read more