Changes in Latitude, Attitude

Last week, I had plans to eat out with my pals John & Sarah. Where to go? We wanted something local, something interesting, and hmm... maybe spicy? A few minutes of online research had me curious about a Pan-Ecudorian joint nearby called Zero Latitude. My shiny LCD screen reflected back to me a menu that was loaded with killer options. The name of the place sounded a little Jimmy Buffet-esque, giving me pause, but I just kept that to myself and hoped for the best... Hey guys, meet ya there!

The overall vibe is very low key, unassuming. It's an open air space, and we pretty much had it to ourselves. Our waiter, a charming and cute fellow from Peru, donned a Hooters t-shirt, without irony, and guided us through the menu options. I loved seeing so many riffs on incorporating plantains! Oh and when I say "guided" I mean it. We asked about some dishes and he'd scrunch his nose, enh, it's okay. We'd ask about others and he'd be like, yes yes, oh my god it's sooo good. Awesome.

We shared a bunch of stuff, including the Latitude Zero Crab Salad. On a warm summer night, this was a refreshing way to start. The mango, papaya, red onion, and cilantro mixed well. Each bite went a different way on the savory/sweet train. Nice.



Next up we dove into the Black Bean dip with plantain chips. Yowza! Yummy but definitely richer than one might expect. Was there sour cream in there? A hint of some kind of mayo? I don't know, but the flavor was terrific - and the textures, mmm... the salty crispy chips with that rich, creamy, spicy, dip. Order this one if you go.



We had to sample a plantain empanada. We opted for the crab & sofrito. It was tasty, but I honestly I haven't enough empanadas in my lifetime to really weigh in on the nuances. But hey, we all liked it. It was gone in 2 seconds.



Sarah ordered the avocado & ginger vichyssoise. A treat. It was served hot, which was a little surprising, but the fresh, unique flavors and foamy-ness made for an overall light summer night dish.



The shrimp ceviche was definitely a disappointment. It was too soupy for my tastes. Shrimp too small. Not very appealing presentation. And so on. Besides, my standards are very high when it comes to ceviche.





Sarah ordered the chicken risotto, on the recommendation of our waiter, and it was the hands down winner of the night. Arborio rice, peppers, onions, tomatoes, sweet plantains, and a little bit of South American magic totally delivered the goods. Hearty, comforting, and so real deal. Do it up!



We were too stuffed for desserts, but they sounded amazing. Will definitely return, for the chicken risotto, the bean dip, and a few other dishes I'm still eager to try. Overall, it's a little hit or miss, but ask your server for their input. Just look for the guy in the Hooters t.