THE DISH: A new dawn for downtown with ZAMA Latin American Delicacies | Food items

“Zama implies dawn in Mayan, so the menu normally takes from Mayan cuisines, from Cancun to Guatemala to Peru, all the influences, influenced by our chef, Daniel Alvarez,” reported supervisor Johnny Diaz.

The chef-pushed menu leans heavily on seafood, with an assortment of appetizers as very well as specialties Peruvian ceviche and aguachiles negros and a red snapper with a distinctive aioli sauce.

(The restaurant’s owners also run Bocados, the Mexican-inspired sushi bar on Coffee Road.)

“Regular chile relleno and moles are fully distinct with our menu. Even our desserts are for our flan, we use goat milk as an alternative of normal milk.”

Diaz explained along with new can take on classic dishes, there will be a minor one thing for everyone including vegans, vegetarians and pescatarians. Other dishes contain queso fundido produced with mushrooms and poblano chiles, enchiladas, and rack of lamb.

Steakhouse followers will be pleased to know ZAMA will present 7 distinctive high-end cuts together with rib-eye, porterhouse and tomahawk.

And what goes much better with a steak than a cocktail? ZAMA’s libations will be lively and distinctive.

“We benefit from a large amount of flavors, Latin American flavors,” Diaz stated. “Jamaica, tamarind, pretty tropical flavors that fall under our concept with much more emphasis on the sweet and bitter. The menu is weighty on mezcal and tequila.”

ZAMA has transformed the place that was very last The Mark with a lush, tropical vibe with touches this sort of as an overhead sea of greenery, stone partitions and upstairs dining nested with floral wall artwork. 

The cafe has a primary dining space, significant lounge place that can host official eating as nicely as cocktail receptions and two lesser private dining locations that can seat 10 and 14, respectively. 

Later future month, ZAMA will also open up the adjacent patio space for outdoor eating. Lunch service will also get started in mid-February.

As remaining preparations had been underway for Monday’s opening, Diaz mentioned everyone associated is fired up to deliver this clean eating idea to downtown Bakersfield. 

“When we’re hungry, we can go any where,” he reported. “When we want an knowledge, we go to this variety of cafe.”

“We’re in this article to produce recollections for every single one particular of our company.”

ZAMA Latin American Delicacies opens Monday at 1623 19th St. Meal service is from 4:30 to 10 p.m. Sunday via Wednesday and 4:30 p.m. to midnight Thursday via Saturday.