It was a wonderful octopus cocktail; firm, fresh octopus pieces in a sweet and spicy tomato sauce just like my favorite places on the east coast of Mexico. Located right next door to the Grand Central Market on Broadway, I realized that I didn’t remember this seafood restaurant’s name. I walked past it again yesterday, but for the life of me, couldn’t find a name on the front of the store… Sure, I probably could have gone in and asked, but it’s more fun this way.

Beautifully cooked chicken in a flat roll with refried beans and crema… oh yeah, and some shredded lettuce and cilantro Ana Maria is my favorite stand in the market.

There was a powerful smell of sewage that hit you the moment you entered the restaurant. And it wasn’t just a temporary problem, as it never went away over the 2 years I went there. After a few minutes, though, we would get used to it. The food wasn’t remarkable in any way, but the flan was as good as I’ve had anywhere. Dense and rich, almost chewy. I might have preferred a caramel sauce, but who can say anything bad about chocolate and whipped cream… or maraschino cherries?