We went to this exceptionally good Mexican restaurant on our first venture back into the world of New York eating. It seemed like the perfect "we're home!" kind of place. It shares a chef (Sandoval) and ownership with Maya, another fine Mexican restaurant on First Avenue and 64th Street where we've enjoyed some fine meals.
The upstairs dining room feels like an exclusive beachside hacienda. Palm trees sculpted onto the walls, straw paddles roatating along the tall, angled off-white ceiling.
I started with "Ostiones Pampano" - cornmeal crusted oysters with black bean~mango tomato~chile and chipotle vinaigrette. Chris had "Ensalada Mixta ~ mixed greens, and avocado with a cilantro~lime vinaigrette (we've been salad-deprived for the last six weeks in Paris). The vegetables and citrus dressing were exquisitely fresh.
For the main course I had "Huachinango" ~ a whole baby red snapper with cactus~tomato salad and tomato-chile. It had been de-boned, rounded out, and stuffed with the cactus salad. I loved it. Chris had the swordfish special which this night was a piece of perfectly grilled fillet cut round and placed on a bed of julienned veggies surrounded by fresh diced mango. A bowl of fried plantain was the perfect accompanyment for both our dishes.
We shared an "Arroz con Leche", rice pudding that was undistinguished. The Margaritas on the otherhand were so good we had TWO!
Our only complaint was the service felt a little rushed. They didn't ruch the service, as soon as you finished a plate there was a server to whisk it away. Maybe a little too efficient!
Pampano
209 E. 49th St.(bet. 2nd & 3rd Aves.)
Manhattan, NY 10017
212-751-4545
Zagats says..
Co-owned by Placido Domingo and chef Richard Sandoval, this “classy” Midtown Mexican “hits the high notes” with an “exceptional” “coastal” menu displaying a “mastery” of “creative seafood”; with a “chic”, “airy” space and “(maybe too) attentive” service, it elicits many a “gracias” as a “distinctive” “change of pace.”
The upstairs dining room feels like an exclusive beachside hacienda. Palm trees sculpted onto the walls, straw paddles roatating along the tall, angled off-white ceiling.
I started with "Ostiones Pampano" - cornmeal crusted oysters with black bean~mango tomato~chile and chipotle vinaigrette. Chris had "Ensalada Mixta ~ mixed greens, and avocado with a cilantro~lime vinaigrette (we've been salad-deprived for the last six weeks in Paris). The vegetables and citrus dressing were exquisitely fresh.
For the main course I had "Huachinango" ~ a whole baby red snapper with cactus~tomato salad and tomato-chile. It had been de-boned, rounded out, and stuffed with the cactus salad. I loved it. Chris had the swordfish special which this night was a piece of perfectly grilled fillet cut round and placed on a bed of julienned veggies surrounded by fresh diced mango. A bowl of fried plantain was the perfect accompanyment for both our dishes.
We shared an "Arroz con Leche", rice pudding that was undistinguished. The Margaritas on the otherhand were so good we had TWO!
Our only complaint was the service felt a little rushed. They didn't ruch the service, as soon as you finished a plate there was a server to whisk it away. Maybe a little too efficient!
Pampano
209 E. 49th St.(bet. 2nd & 3rd Aves.)
Manhattan, NY 10017
212-751-4545
Zagats says..
Co-owned by Placido Domingo and chef Richard Sandoval, this “classy” Midtown Mexican “hits the high notes” with an “exceptional” “coastal” menu displaying a “mastery” of “creative seafood”; with a “chic”, “airy” space and “(maybe too) attentive” service, it elicits many a “gracias” as a “distinctive” “change of pace.”
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