Meet Me in Mazatlán: Costa Pacifica Margarita Garden Review
Editor & Photographer: Nick Blevins
Additional photography courtesy of Costa Pacifica Margarita Garden
The Guacamole Costa, the Mango Ceviche, and the Torre Lida, with two cantaritos in the back, c/o Costa Pacifica Margarita Garden
Costa Pacifica Margarita Garden is the newest addition to The Creamery District, Only One Hospitality Group’s entertainment and dining hotspot located just beyond the St. Mary’s strip at 875 E. Ashby Place. Fresh, artfully-presented Mexican seafood with thoughtful international touches unites with an expanding selection of creative drink options under a modern, tasteful roof.
An impressive trio of tropical towers, each with a distinct sauce or garnish at its base, began the experience. The Guacamole Costa, my new favorite way to enjoy guacamole, was as fun to look at as it was to eat. The Torre Lida, a beautifully-prepared tuna, avocado, and garlic-lime mushroom umami party, was a textural joy. My favorite of the three, the Mango Ceviche paired sweet jewels of diced Ataulfo mango with fresh, meaty fish, tomato, onions, and cilantro (a side of habanero salsa won’t be scorching any tongues, and absolutely sings atop the ceviche).
Smokey and tummy-warming, the Tlalpeño Marisco soup that followed offered an ocean’s bounty of harmonious seafood sabor, including big, juicy shrimp, octopus, clam, and squid.
Like a dragon greedily guarding its treasure hoard, the Costa Pacifica Fish entree–a whole, deep-fried red snapper portioned into crispy morsels ideal for sharing–laid curled around the perimeter of the plate, a pile of golden nuggets upon rice spilling forth from its center. Creamy, savory refried beans complemented the mild snapper, and a simple salad readied the palate for bite after bite.
The eye for detail continued with the cocktails: my margarita was on point; chilled, with a substantial salt rim for the substantial volume of liquid in my very large glass. My chispa arrived in a beautiful, hand-painted clay mug known as a cantarito. While undoubtedly gorgeous, it was also even taller than my margarita. Plan on sharing with a friend, perhaps.
For dessert? The soft, dense texture of pastel de elote, a sweet cornbread drizzled with chocolate and crushed pecans accompanied by vanilla ice cream, was the perfect return to shore after an evening spent, deliciously, at sea. Decidedly full, how better to conclude dinner than with a show? Capping off the meal was a carajillo, a coffee cocktail involving fire, prepared tableside.
While delicious margarita chalices can be had now, the “Margarita Garden” in the name isn’t simply a moniker to distinguish the new restaurant from its north 1604 sister location: an outdoor green space promising greatly-expanded drink options is presently in development, with a “special grand opening” planned for March. Visitors can expect even more events on site in the future. You can follow along at www.costapacificamargaritagarden.com.
