Papagayo, Boston

Just around the corner from Boston Common, hungry city folk find themselves filing down narrow West Street with the hope of enjoying some authentic Mexican food. As with many Boston restaurants, Papagayo’s hole-in-the wall exterior is not an accurate representation of its contemporary and upscale interior.

The walls of this Mexican kitchen alternate between chic wood paneling and brick, and are accented with numerous old Mexican advertisements and paintings. Guests of Papagayo will find waiters and waitresses rushing up and down the stairs, balancing trays as they pass each other, to serve guests on multiple levels.

While the restaurant’s menu primarily consists of traditional Mexican food, they also have a number of Latin American seafood dishes as well as a concise selection of American cuisine. Additionally, their tequila list consists of dozens of drinks for even the most experienced palates.

One crowd favorite is the Ostiones Diablo ($14.95), which features a plate of oysters grilled in jalapeño-chorizo Butter. And while the menu does have a number of unique, more expensive options, Papagayo brings a gourmet touch to even the simplest dishes. Their assortment of street tacos are always popular, like the Omelette ($10.95) featuring scrambled eggs, potato sticks, chili, jack cheese and chorizo sausage. Even their house guacamole has an exceptional texture and a layered taste.

Papagayo

15 West St

Boston, Mass. 02111

617 423 3600