A flavor memory brought back to life…read more
Our family traveled to Puerto Vallarta about 3-4 years ago, and one of the things we love most about traveling is getting off the beaten path and exploring places that feel a little more authentic and local. On that trip, we ventured deep into inland/semi-coastal Jalisco and ended up at a little eatery called Ok Corral Restaurant & Bar in Cabo Corrientes. The food was incredible, but one dish in particular stole my daughter's heart: pescado zarandeado, specifically red snapper.
She loved it so much that she basically stole my food.
Since that trip, my daughter and I have had a little mission of our own: find that fish again and find the version that brings back that exact flavor memory.
Then we found Las Nuevas Islas in Fontana.
From the moment we walked in, the experience was fantastic. The staff was incredibly welcoming and attentive, but what really stood out was how much they cared about getting my daughter's meal right.
We let our 9-year-old explain to our waiter what she remembered about the fish from Mexico. She asked if they had red snapper. He initially told us they were using tilapia, but mentioned that they had just received a shipment of fresh fish and was almost certain there was some red snapper in it. He went back to check.
Sure enough, they had it.
But he didn't stop there. He asked to see the picture we had from Mexico so he could see how the fish was seasoned and cooked. He took that information straight back to the chef and asked if they could prepare it the way my daughter remembered it.
And my goodness, they absolutely nailed it.
The fish was cooked perfectly, beautifully seasoned, and had that charred, savory flavor we had been trying to find for years. Watching my daughter take that first bite and seeing the smile on her face was worth the trip alone.
Our waiter jokingly asked her, "How is it? Do you like it?"
She looked at him and said, "I'm sorry, no, I don't like it... I LOVE IT!"
Seeing the smile on his face after hearing that, and seeing my daughter relive a flavor memory from a family trip years ago, was one of those little moments that makes a restaurant experience much more than just dinner.
We also had the fish ceviche tostada, which was incredibly fresh, bright and refreshing, and my wife had the fried fish tacos, which were perfectly battered and delicious. And that green serrano salsa deserves its own mention. It is seriously spicy, but absolutely delicious.
The restaurant itself is huge, with a great open feel, a beautiful and simple bar, a stage for live music, and an overall atmosphere that feels incredibly welcoming.
But what we'll remember most is the people. The waiter could have simply said, "We don't have red snapper." Instead, he went looking. Then he went back again. Then he talked to the chef. They listened to a 9-year-old describe a fish she remembered eating in Mexico years ago and did everything they could to recreate it for her.
That's hospitality.
Las Nuevas Islas didn't just serve us a great meal. They helped our daughter bring a little piece of a family memory back to life.
If you're looking for Nayarit-style mariscos, pescado zarandeado, fresh seafood, great service and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere, I can't recommend Las Nuevas Islas enough.
We came looking for a fish we remembered from Mexico. We left with a new favorite local restaurant.