Papagayo

Papagayo is a new Mexican restaurant that recently opened in the Fort Point neighborhood of Boston’s waterfront. I walked in on a Thursday night around 9pm, and the bar was packed but there was surprisingly no wait for a table for two. 

 

Our server brought over complimentary chips and salsa right away, and they were so good we polished them off while deciding what to order. The chips were made fresh, the salsa definitely had a kick to it, and they both seemed to be unlimited. Another server brought us refills of both after noticing the empty plates while delivering our drinks. The drinks were also impressive, the house margarita was served in one of the biggest glasses I’ve ever seen and the mojito was deceptively strong despite the smaller (or more normal-sized glass). 

 

There were a couple of tableside options for appetizers (ceviche and guacamole), which I was curious to try but the grilled island creek oysters sounded too good not to order. Our server reaffirmed this decision when she commented that the dish was one of her favorites. The oysters were delicious, served warm and still in the shell, and topped with a jalapeño-chorizo butter that gave them a little spice but wasn’t overpowering.  

For entrees, we ordered two different types of tacos – the short rib and tacos al pastor. Both came disassembled on the plate, so you could build your own. The short rib tacos were served with soft flour tortillas, chopped onion, lime, cilantro, avocado relish, and a spicy BBQ sauce. These reminded me more of a traditional, authentic Mexican taco. The tacos al pastor came with large slices of grilled pork tenderloin, flour tortillas, pineapple salsa, cilantro cream sauce, and green salsa. These also came with refried beans, rice, and pico de gallo on the plate, and reminded me more of a tex-mex style dish. Both were excellent, but the short rib tacos were my favorite. 

 Overall, I enjoyed the food, drinks, and atmosphere at Papagayo. The location is relatively easy to get to (just a short walk from south station), which makes it more convenient than some of the other new places on the waterfront and I would definitely go back!