The menu is not split into sections; Zapote subscribes to the “small plates” restaurant set up, though the plates are not at all uniform. This can be tricky in terms of ordering the right amount to eat: price is an indicator, but sometimes a reflection of ingredients as opposed to portion size. The dishes arrive as they are ready, and this as combined with a lack of information on size can make it difficult to pace yourself through your meal. Of course, you are welcome to ask for recommendations and guidance, and can clarify anything regarding how to navigate the menu.
In terms of ambiance, the decor of the restaurant is simple but elegant, though not necessarily entirely cohesive. The plates looked like beautiful little moons, which was lovely, though didn’t feel especially connected to any other design aspect. Where we were sat, we had a view into the kitchen: whilst the sleekness of the main space was somewhat undercut by a look into the mechanisms behind it, I am always pleased to be encouraged to appreciate all the work that goes on behind the scenes. It was pretty noisy when we arrived at about 21:30, but the space was mostly filled with diners at the ends of their meals, and it quietened down over time. Every table seemed like a good table; ours seemed like the best.
We started out with some totopos and guacamole (£8), which was creamy and delicious and light; a wonderful kick off to the meal. We ordered cocktails, but were recommended away from the Don Chava (£13) in favour of El Corazón (£12). The service was excellent: our waitress asked me what my favourite cocktail was, and based on my answer of a chilli margarita, suggested a drink that worked out brilliantly, whilst also reassuring me that if I didn’t like it, she’d take it back. This embodied the wonderful blend of professionalism, kindness and expertise that characterised the service at Zapote, and which transformed our dining experience for the better.
The first dish to arrive was the yellowfin tuna and spicy crab tostada (£9). If you were trying to sort the menu into smaller and larger dishes, this would go in the smaller category, but it served well for two people once broken in half. The tuna was beautifully sliced and seasoned, but the spice of the crab, whilst not being too hot, was somewhat all-consuming. It felt like a shame to have it as our first dish, given it slightly annihilated our taste buds. This was very tasty, though not quite what I was expecting.
The tuna was closely followed by the grilled Octopus, served with pasilla chilli and pipian verde (£26). This came on special recommendation of our waitress too, and we were excited to try one of the restaurant’s top choices from its own menu. It probably suffered in our estimation somewhat because, disappointingly, neither of us are massively into octopus. That said, the sauce was delicious - creamy, but not too overpowering; the kind of thing you scoop up to eat on its own once you’ve run out of things to dip.
Already by this point in the meal I was starting to fill up. We’d been served a bottle of red wine, and it seemed that I had jumped the gun in already feeling like I was slowing down when the meal was only really getting started. The food was overall quite rich, and quite heavy. When our smoked aubergine with oyster mushroom and tamarind (£11) and coal roasted secreto al pastor skewers with guacamole and salsa roja (£17) arrived, I took a bit of a breather before tackling them. The pork of the skewers was tender and light, and the guacamole with which it was served complimented it perfectly. The oyster mushroom felt like the star in the aubergine dish; the aubergine provided a purée base which was very tasty but again pretty rich.
The last of our main dishes was the short rib of beef, aged sirloin, ancho chilli, avocado salsa, tortillas (£27). I was sorry to be so full by the time this arrived. The sirloin was cooked to perfection - my boyfriend and dining companion has not stopped thinking about it since - and the tortillas which are made in-house daily using native Mexican corn, were a worthy product of the care that goes into them. This was a sizeable dish, and the quality of the ingredients felt very high. Whilst you may balk a little at spending £27 on just one plate, this is a pretty good place to put your money.
We finished up with a delicious dessert, which was a special when we visited: a passion fruit meringue concoction big enough to split between the two of us. The sharpness and freshness was welcome after feeling somewhat overladen by the flavours and textures of the main dishes. We ended on a high undoubtedly.
Zapote was a quality evening out. The space was classy and tables spaced well so as to maintain some intimacy in a loud and bustling restaurant. The guacamole and the sirloin were standout food items, and the presentation was beautiful throughout. Whilst the meal felt like something of a slog due to the heaviness of some of the food, the overall standard of dish was very high. The standout was the service - personal, attentive and expert - which elevated our experience and left us feeling not only satiated but deeply well-looked after.
