Alicia Wagner Calzada | 210SA
Camarón Pelado on the South Side offers lots of great Mexican-style seafood at reasonable prices. |
There are two general problems with seafood in San Antonio: finding some of good quality and finding some that won't break the bank. Camarón Pelado (Peeled Shrimp) solves both of those problems if you're into Mexican-style seafood. That includes green chile shrimp enchiladas, Niño Envuelto (a fish fillet stuffed with shrimp, crab, octopus and other yummy delicacies of the sea smothered in bechamel or chipotle sauce) and crab quesadillas. Save room for a michelada (beer over ice with lime juice and, if you like, Clamato, Tabasco and Worcestershire sauces) because here, you'll be able to afford it.
WHAT: Camarón Pelado
WHERE: 1113 Pleasanton Road off Division; (210) 928-2829. (There's a new location on Zarzamora and Commerce with the same menu but not owned by the same people)
HOURS: 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays
TASTE SENSATION: The seafood here is so fresh, you'd think you're at a seaside restaurant in Puerto Vallarta instead of the South Side. Enjoy a vast selection of seafood cocktails — shrimp, oyster, octopus — or ceviche — fish, shrimp, scallop, octopus, oyster. You can't go wrong with any of them, and this place doesn't skimp on anything. Count on having a glassful of shrimp or anything else you choose, not just a few floating around at the bottom. While the Niño Envuelto might be the best dish on the menu, nothing else we've tried has ever been disappointing, including the enchiladas and grilled fish (but we can't speak to the fried frog legs!). And try ordering a Trucha Relleno de Mariscos (trout stuffed with seafood) somewhere else; here, it'll only set you back 12 bucks.
TUMS-WORTHY: There's not much negative to say about the taste of the food here, but do watch out for the calorie count: Most dishes are served with fries and plenty of tartar sauce. Also, several slices of white bread are brought out along with crackers and chips and salsa. Make yourself feel better about eating a whole Mex-style fish (fried, grilled or garlic marinated; prices range from $9.49 up and tack on another $5.19 if you want it stuffed with seafood) by skipping the fries and the bread. And here's something that irks us a little whenever we go: Sometimes, the nicer back room of the restaurant is closed off. If you are able to gain access, however, you'll feel like a VIP!
| THE 210 TAKE: Camarón Pelado has got to be one of the best seafood values two hours from the ocean. The Mexican-style dishes are the best, including Levanta Muertos Caldo (Wake the Dead Soup: rice, shrimp, oyster, octopus and fish) and Filete de Pescado a la Veracruzana. But there are choices for non-seafood lovers, too, including steaks and burgers. CP also offers reasonably priced family-size orders of fish and shrimp. And here's a hint: The tacos (fish or shrimp) that are listed in the appetizer section are enough to be a meal for three people; share an order of those and have a small shrimp cocktail (which are huge), and you'll be set till the next time you're able to make it to Snoopy's in Corpus.
Julie Ann Vera | 210SA |
