The table behind us where a birthday was being celebrated. Children emerged carrying a cake and a sombrero for the birthday hombré. Paul Goldfinger photograph, December 2017. A. Park, NJ. ©
We recently revisited Plaza Tapatia, Mexican restaurant in Asbury Park. It was as good as ever, but someone wrote in that they did not find the food to be authentic. We have been to Mexico on a number of occasions, and in various locations including Mexico City, Guadalajara, Barra de Navidad and others, and we thought that Tapatia was excellent—the whole scene: food, preparation, service, atmosphere and even the music.
Our recent visit a few weeks ago was on Fajita Night (Wednesday) where we got three dinners for half price. We looked around and discovered that we “gringoes” were in the minority. The place was filled with Mexican-Americans. There was a large group of men at a long table having a good old time; as well as several families and couples. They were a cheerful bunch, evidently happy with this restaurant. We could have been in Mexico.
So, it seems to us that Plaza Tapatia is about as authentic as one could hope for in the US, and the clientele seems to agree.
MARIACHI MEXICO “Canción Mixteca.”