The humid New York summer is upon us and we all know what that means: uncomfortable sweaty hot messes. Another side effect for me is a lack of appetite. For some reason I just don't get hungry when it's super hot. Thankfully, there are a few dishes that hit just the spot amidst the summer struggle – coctel de camaron being one of them. I usually tend to make this dish myself since it is super easy to prepare but now I think I've found just the spot to get this refreshing dish.
A few months ago I posted my coctel de camaron recipe and shared that this is one of those meals that always makes me feel at home. For those of you not familiar with coctel, it is a savory shrimp cocktail – think bloody mary meets pico de gallo. Though there are many different ways of making this dish, I tend to love very few. With this in mind, I was pleasantly surprised when I decided to give Zona Rosa's coctel de camaron a try and ended up loving it! The thick tomato sauce, diced veggies and shrimp were superbly seasoned and chilled in a way that hit just the spot during this 90 degree weather.
Another interesting dish I found at Zona Rosa were the al pastor fish tacos. Yes, you read that right. I've always had al pastor tacos and fish tacos but never a mix of the two together so I knew I had to give these a try. These tacos consisted of grilled tilapia marinated in al pastor sauce topped with grilled pineapple and though I enjoyed them, I'm not sure I'd order these again. It may be a personal preference, but tilapia tends to be a little on the bland side for me so I don't think its the best match to carry the flavorful al pastor marinade. I did however love their topping sauces and their taco presentation was pretty impressive.
Last but not least came something that also hit the spot during the heatwave: a pineapple zempasuchitl. This fresh fruit drink is the margarita's mezcal cousin and boy is it delicious! The pineapple's natural sweetness blended perfectly with the mezcal's smokiness and the spicy salt rim on the glass. Definitely a must try.
Overall, I loved Zona Rosa. I didn't get a chance to take pictures of the locale itself but it is beautifully put together. A quirky mix of industrial and tropical decor give it a really interesting vibe. Plus, their rooftop patio overlooking the Williamsburg streets makes for perfect people watching. I can't wait to go back and try their other tacos and different flavor zempasuchitls.
TACO HUNT SCORE: 3.5/5
PS - In case you missed it... we're now on Instagram! Follow us @DESIGNplusTACOS.
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