The Place: Who knew there would be two Mexican seafood wine bars in the West Village? I enjoyed my meal a few months ago at Quique Crudo and I couldn’t help but think of it while sitting at the brand new El Camarón Peludo. The set-up is similar (although this place also has a few tables), the vibe was buzzing, and the owner/chef was walking around overseeing the entire experience.
El Camarón Peludo is the latest venture from the team behind the truly excellent Taqueria Ramirez and Carnitas Ramirez. And they struck gold once again.
I was lucky to get a bar seat on an early weekday evening. The first thing I noticed was the smell of cooked shrimp, but not just any shrimp. It reminded me of the sweet, rich experience of the shrimp I’ve tried at the seafood palace Ramiro in Lisbon. I had never had that experience in the US.
The Dish: The shrimp here were a different type from the giant scarlet and tiger prawns I love in Lisbon. These come from the Mexican state of Sinaloa and nearby Pacific waters, where they are often made into a Taco Gobernador. This is the first time I’ve had this type of taco and it blew me away.
Not only was the carefully cooked shrimp out-of-this-world, but the remainder of the crisp taco fillings only enhanced the star shellfish. Rich refried beans, cooling Oaxaca cheese, and a hit of spice from an earthy poblano pepper and some red salsa.
The taco was fantastic and while it was sized for precious wine bar snacking, the filling was quite generous and it was a great way to get a taste of this precious shrimp that they also serve in other forms. While the other thing I tried here was also great, I couldn’t help but want more of this addicting shrimp, which may just be the star of the entire restaurant. Price: $10
| EL CAMARÓN PELLUDO |
| 20 Cornelia Street (between Bleecker and West 4th Street), Greenwich Village |
| Instagram: @elcamaronpeludo |
