Eric S.
Yelp
Wow. This is a special place, and I feel I didn't approach my first visit this afternoon with enough wonder. First, the view. The open-air restaurant is perched atop Carrizalillo beach, a little cove just west of the center of Puerto Escondido. Gorgeous, enough to distract you from the stellar food they serve at Espadin.
Service is attentive but inobtrusive, and very professional. I asked to skip the cheese on the green salad I had for an opener, and it came without cheese, as requested. This is ALWAYS an issue in Mexico - I'm not lactose intolerant, just dislike cheese. The server who delivered the salad (I'd ordered from another) asked me if I was lactose intolerant. I explained no, I just don't like cheese. The salad was carefully sorted, with trimmed lettuce and marinated radishes in vinaigrette - perfect palate refresher.
The dorado that came next was mounted on a sauce with beurre blanc, hence her question. Very, very professional. I requested that they not overcook the dorado, as they often do with fish in Mexico, and it was delivered exactly as I wanted. It was a simple preparation, with the beurre blanc mounting and cilantro pesto, some mashed potatoes, trimmed cauliflower and carrot.
There's a full bar, but I didn't have any of the alcoholic drinks. Walking in, I saw one of the staff sorting mint leaves on a table, inspiring me to order a mint lemonade. Perfect accompaniment for a late lunch in the middle of Oaxaca summer.
Puerto Escondido is still an endearingly grubby town, fifteen years after my first visit. Every once in a while though, I want to sit down for something special. I wasn't looking for something special at lunch today, but that's what I got, and Espadin is where I'll go in the future for something special.