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| The View at Sunset |
I was introduced to
Tortuga by a close friend during one of our ladies nights out. I am ashamed to admit that I have
never been to Mina a'Salam before, so I was undoubtedly excited to try this
place and take a look around. At first glance, I found it to be very charming,
the outdoor area is quite big and located right over the water with colorful
upholstery and warm lighting. The interior is very spacious and inviting with its
white tiled walls and its colorful and warm furniture. I have to admit, before
I even sat down it had charmed my socks off.
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| The Outdoor Seating Area |
I have already been three times in the span of a month. What
definitely got me hooked on that first night was the frozen mango margarita
that I ordered, it wasn't the Margarita itself that got me excited, it was
the chili, lime and salt seasoning that was on the rim of the glass. I was
like a little kid licking it off and embarrassing my friends. It was a small
alteration to the classic margarita, but it made a big impact.
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| Mango Margarita on the Left |
The second time I visited was for dinner. We ordered guacamole,
nachos
and camarones
al ajillo (sautéed shrimps with mushrooms, garlic and chili) for appetizers.
The plate of guacamole was quite small in comparison to the usually large portion
other restaurants offer but it was still good nonetheless. The nachos were nothing exciting, it was just a plate of
chips covered in melted cheese, similar to the cheese you get at cinemas, a bit
of guacamole,onions and some jalapeno peppers. Next was the dish of the night, the sautéed shrimps and mushrooms,
our waiter's recommendation. It was a welcomed surprise of flavors, the shrimp
and mushrooms were cooked nicely and the combination of the garlic and the seasoning
made the dish memorable. For main course we ordered a plate of Arrachera tacos
( filled with shredded steak) to be shared. I love my tacos bursting with
flavor, dripping at the end and making me want more. Unfortunately, this dish
was bland and the meat was not easy to chew. Finally,for dessert we ordered a
plate of churros
with chocolate sauce. The chocolate sauce was more of a custard, but I
can't complain since the dough was nice and soft from the inside and crunchy
from the outside.
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| The Guacamole |
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| The Nachos |
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| The Camarones Al Ajillo |
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| The Arrachera Tacos |
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| Churros |
We were surprised to see the bill was around 200 per person
seeing that we only ordered a couple of small plates and drinks. I guess it
shouldn't be that much of a surprise since it is in Mina a'Salam. Furthermore, I
have heard mixed reviews about this place, I recently suggested it to a
colleague of mine and he completely hated the place from the food to the drinks
to the atmosphere. I, on the other hand, have a soft spot for this restaurant.
Granted I did not have the best dining experience
but I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the service was very efficient and friendly.I would come back for their margaritas any day and that plate of sautéed
shrimps, well I'm drooling just thinking about it.
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| Margarita with Black Tequila and Black Salt on the rim. |
