Fresh From The Sea

Mariscos del Patio – Mexico City

Seafood – April 2023

We had many excellent meals in Mexico City, and one of our favorites took place at a family run restaurant in Coyoacán called Mariscos del Patio (Patio Seafood).

Our good friends, who we spend many holidays with and affectionately call Las Chicas, have family in Mexico City. Xochitl’s (one of the Chicas) daughter Michele and son-in-law Jorge own two seafood restaurants (the original restaurant is located in Texcoco, about an hour outside Mexico City near the Pyramid of the Sun). We were very excited to visit their Coyoacán restaurant, but knowing this was mainly a fish restaurant and since I am more of a carnivore than a piscivore, I was a little concerned. What if I didn’t like my meal? From the first bite to the last, my fears proved unfounded. This was going to be a great lunch.

All the original recipes are Jorge’s father, who developed them over years of entertaining on the patio. Their kids, who help run the restaurants, have developed a few recipes of their own. Michele and her daughters drove in all the way from Texcoco to greet us, which was a really neat surprise.

The seafood is purchased fresh every day (son, William, was doing just that when we visited), and the menu highlights the quality and freshness of those ingredients. Seafood specialties such as shrimp, marlin, ahi tuna and octopus are prepared in a variety of ways.

That morning we had visited both the Leon Trotsky House Museum and Casa Azul (Frida Kahlo Museum), so by the time we reached Mariscos del Patio via Uber, we had worked up quite an appetite. That was fortunate, because soon afterward we partook of an array of fantastic items. Before Michele and her family arrived, the friendly staff were able to help us decipher the menu despite our woeful lack of Spanish. We ordered ceviche starters, grilled shrimp and marlin quesadillas along with fresh chips, salsa and pico de gallo.

Having not paid attention to how much food we were ordering, I ordered the taco patio; garlic shrimp scampi served on a cheesy freshly made corn tortilla with a side of mixed green salad.  I always eschewed fish tacos in the past, but after devouring this flavorful taco I thought to myself, “Why have I not eaten these all my life?” Oh well, life begins at 70 they say.

Then came mango magic. Our server told us that the mango margaritas were excellent, and true to his word they were wonderful. Not naming names, but let’s just say at least a few of us ordered more than one. I might have to fly down to learn the secret to this frosty mango marvelousness.

Now, for most people that would constitute a hearty lunch, but for this hungry bunch, like The Carpenters might have said, We’ve Only Just Begun.

Tracy, Stephen and I ordered the Torre de Atún (Tuna Tower) which Tracy described as “an explosion of flavors” … a jewel-toned fresh tuna tower with plump shrimp, avocado, red onion and cucumbers drenched in secret sauce poured over the top. Wow!

Tim had a tasty Tostada Mariana; cooked shrimp, cooked octopus, surimi crab and fresh fish, while Sheila enjoyed Sizzling Grilled shrimps with pico de gallo, served with rice and papas a la francesca, otherwise known as French fries.

For a truly authentic Mexican meal (Mariscos del Patio is not in a touristy part of the city) complete with a cool, attentive staff, we can’t recommend this restaurant enough. We will certainly return the next time we are in CDMX. One dish I already know I’m ordering is the Vampira Marlin (Smoked Tuna Vampira); smoked tuna, tomato, green chili, white onion, served on a cheesy toasted corn tortilla, with a side of mixed green salad. I will have to ask them, since it is a vampire marlin, can we only eat this dish after dark?

And I will most definitely wash it down with Rupert Holmes’ favorite drink.

Thanks to Michele, Jorge and everyone at Mariscos de Patio for a memorable Mexico City meal and experience.

Mariscos del Patio
Armada de Mexico 1473, Coapa, Cafetales,
Coyoacán, 04930 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
12 p.m. – 9 p.m.