THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Bahia Azul

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Bahia Azul Restaurant Review:

Bahia Azul replaces the short-lived Pomegranate Café in The Alley on Bitters, and indications are that this iteration, featuring seafood from the Mexican state of Nayarit, might not immediately go out with the next tide. Appetizers such as the tangy, shredded fish ceviche are unique and fresh, and the empanadas de camaron (shrimp-filled turnovers --- no cheese, please) might be a little greasy but they evoke simple stands on the beach and are packed with flavor. We admit that the traditional Nayarit style paella had us scratching our heads regarding origins, but the seafood selection was generous, and the rice tasted nicely of a seafood broth base. The sarandeado style of cooking (sometimes called zarandeado) is common along the entire Pacific Coast of Mexico, but its execution can vary from simple grilling to more elaborate saucing. BA hits a reasonable middle ground by marinating its split fish in hot sauce and a little soy before grilling over mesquite; it’s an impressive presentation coupled with a pea-, carrot- and corn-spangled rice. Desserts run to the flan sort, so we suggest ignoring them and concentrating on the many, much more complex fish plates such as the chimpanchole, a chipotle/garlic filet topped with an entire bay’s bounty of assorted seafood.