Every time I go come to Mexico City I am impressed with the number of new restaurants I see. Someone told me a statistic the other day (I am not 100% sure of the accuracy of this number): every year, 8 out of every 10 new restaurants that open up in Mexico City take a hit. They close and a new one comes up in its place. I don’t know if that number is true, but it sure feels like it.
A block away from the “Parque del Reloj” in Polanco, a very active, beautiful area (my favorite) in Mexico City, is Bellopuerto. This seafood restaurant grabbed my attention purely because of its looks – no reviews read and no questions asked – something I rarely give into, especially in Mexico City where I always go to the places people recommend.
The design of the place is fantastic – starting with my utmost weakness – pops of color against white. With its traditional, rustic look with a fresh, modern twist, Bello Puerto sold itself to me easily. The wooden white tables and chairs reminded me of the beach – any beach, really, but it made me think of Santorini – one of my favorite places on Earth. Look closer and the details, from the turquoise plastic basket/bin where the salsas are placed on the table, to the neon sign and the plastic light fixtures that probably cost no more than 20 pesos each (less than $2) at the {mercado}, give it a low-key, yet not-cheap, traditional Mexican feel.
What really won me over are the columns (yes I am aware of how strange that sounds). Vinyl cord typically used in Acapulco chairs, wraps the columns in a colorful striped pattern. This cord is now being used to make all kinds of cool furniture and home décor pieces – and here we see the trend applied in a completely different way. Love.
Now, I am no food critic but the food was pretty good. Started off with the {tostadas de atun} – typically served over chipotle mayo and topped with fried onions and avocado, followed by the {ceviche de jaiba}, and ended with a {huachinango a la veracruzana}. The three plates were excellent. And to top it off, the waiters were great, which is nothing less than common in Mexico.
