"Mariscos La Riviera Nayarit opened eight years ago in Norcross, a suburb in Gwinnett County 30 miles north of Atlanta. The seafood establishment is owned by the Mendez family matriarch, and three of the women in the family — Cristina, Aracelys, and Angie — manage two locations. The Mendez family has lived in Atlanta for almost 20 years. The restaurant’s lively ambience and coastal decor — think fish nets, vibrant blues, and shells — set the mood for those ready for a meal at the marisqueria. Angie Alvarez, the restaurant’s general manager, speaks fondly of her grandmother’s love of seafood and how she wanted to create a restaurant where local residents could experience fresh seafood from the region of Nayarit, a small state on the west coast of Mexico facing the Pacific Ocean. Diners can find a selection of fresh oysters, shrimp, crab legs, fish, and other seafood items cooked in different ways, from grilled to boiled, that can be served in large platters. But the star of the menu is la piña rellena — half a pineapple stuffed with a mix of grilled seafood, topped with cheese, and then broiled. Another crowd favorite is the huachinango zarandeado — a whole red snapper with the backbone removed that’s rubbed with a chile marinade and blackened on a grill top." - Muriel Vega
