Guest Review: This fish taco blogger's mom heads to Mexico

As the mother of a dedicated fish taco blogger, I felt I had to do my part and eat some fish tacos during my recent trip to Mexico, the land of the taco. My husband and I went on a New Years cruise and one of our stops was the port of Cozumel. I not only had a chance to explore this town but also to eat genuine Mexican delicatessen.

We decided to check out Palmeras. Located right by the beach in front of the main ferry pier, the restaurant's Caribbean style wooden structure and French tile roof were very inviting. Its location offered a spectacular view of the Caribbean sea and what I hoped to be a solid promise of a new culinary and fishy adventure.

Our fish taco plate (~$10) came with three tacos. The strips of blackened fish were wrapped in soft flour tortillas. I could not distinguish what type of fish was served; however, I noticed that the filling included a mayo-based creamy sauce, guacamole, salsa and shredded lettuce. The latter ingredient surprised me, as cabbage is traditionally served in fish tacos. The taste of the meal was good but not as extraordinary as I (naively perhaps) expected from the Mexican tavern. However, the entire experience of sitting outdoors on a gorgeous January day, while looking at the blue ocean and drinking Mexican beer was indeed priceless.

Av. Rafael E. Melgar
San Miguel, Cozumel 77600
Mexico
(987) 8720532

http://www.restaurantepalmeras.com/

3 out of 5 fishies.

Guest fish taco blogger heads to Hotlanta

Prior to the Philly trip and subsequent El Vez review, we went to Atlanta to see the Cardinals take on the Braves. Needing a fish taco fix, we headed to Pure Taqueria. The restaurant has three locations in the Atlanta area, as well as a place in North Carolina. Our destination in Alpharetta, GA started its life as a 1920s era Pure Fuel gas station. The place has large glass garage doors that open up and expose you to the elements. Inside, they play up the gas station feel with cement floors and industrial furniture; 1920s metal ice coolers keep the beers cold.

We ordered the Pescado - three fried fish tacos on corn tortillas for $10.49. The tacos were topped with poblano slaw and chipotle mayo. The platter included arroz Mexicano and your choice of frijoles negros, refritos or churros. To spice things up, two salsas - cruda tomatillo and chile morita - were served on the side. The fried fish was superb and super fresh. They used tilapia, although it was hard to tell as they did not skimp on the batter, resulting in a nice and crunchy fried fish. The chipotle mayo was a nice take on the traditional Baja sauce. It wasn't overly spicy, but had a bit of a kick to it. However, topped with either or both of the side salsas, the fish tacos had some serious Atlanta heat.

Our fish taco cravings were satisfied. Unfortunately the Braves beat the Cardinals.

103 Roswell Street
Alpharetta, GA 30009
(678) 20-0023

http://puretaqueria.com

4 out of 5 fishies.

Guest fish taco blogger does Philly

Love fish tacos? Heading to Philly? Here's a review from guest blogger John Lyon!

I made the five-hour drive from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia in order to see the Phillies take on the Mets. Wanting to expand the fish taco blog outside of the Lou, I had to try El Vez, Philly’s most famous Mexican restaurant. 

El Vez is located in the heart of Washington Square West. The colorful exterior is nothing compared to the décor that awaits you inside – think Tijuana meets Vegas glitz. The restaurant is filled with Day of the Dead chachkis, with a random assortment of goodies thrown in, such as Charo’s face painted on the bar stools and a low-rider bike dedicated to the boxer Oscar de la Hoya hoisted above the bar.

We started off with the Indian Red Lopez guacamole and without a doubt, it was the best I’ve ever had. It’s a mixture of fresh avocados, spicy crab, cilantro and salsa roja. Then it was time for the fish tacos; a tough choice between crispy mahi-mahi and sea bass. I went with the sea bass because it was prepared with a sweet potato puree, grilled scallions and fried jalapeno. I was curious, having never had a fish and sweet potato combination. The sweet potato and Baja sauce gave the taco a sweet and sour (yin/yang) taste. The tortilla is on bottom, so it is not eaten like a traditional taco. The taco size is rather small but stacked high and I found it very filling (especially after chowing down on the guacamole). The only downside was a lack of sides to go with the meal (not that I had much room to spare). I was glad to be able to walk off the meal and see the sights of the City of Brotherly Love.

And, oh yeah, the Mets beat the Phillies 4-3.

121 S. 13th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 928-9800

http://www.elvezrestaurant.com/

4 out of 5 fishies.