I can still taste the paella from the Spring Menu but time moves on and menus change. But Z’tejas commitment to good food and great service are constant. Z’tejas Southwestern Grill, located at South Coast Plaza, rolled out its new seasonal lunch and dinner along with some cool skinny cocktails.
Recently, I had the chance to preview the new menu items which brought along with it some heat, just right for the summer! Hello, jalapeno!
My favorite appetizer had to be the Crab Cakes, three seared lump crab cakes served with jalapeño remoulade. It was tasty and meaty enough, not bready. I do hope they keep this on their regular menu.
The summer entrees included: Habanero Chicken Pasta, tender chicken breast served over a bed of angel hair pasta with baby spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and capers sautéed in a light habanera-citrus wine sauce; blackened tilapia, white fish served with crisp summer vegetables and finished with a grilled pineapple slaw and BBQ pork chops, boneless pork chops seasoned with a house made dry-rub and finished with tangy BBQ sauce and served with red-skin potato salad and asparagus.
I really enjoyed the paleo-friendly fish dish!
Yes, there is a delicious melt-in-your-mouth tilapia in there.
Last but not least, they have a strawberry icebox cake to die for, made of strawberries layered with ladyfingers and lightly sweetened, fresh whipped cream.
I’m not a big drinker but for those who enjoy fruity libations, you can choose from the Skinny Adult Agua Fresca with 1800 Silver tequila, strawberry, watermelon, Serrano pepper, lime and agave and the Skinny Garden Margarita with 1800 Silver tequila, cucumber, cilantro, lime and agave.
I’ll most likely be back in Z’tejas before the Fall Menu of course, as they have a pretty good Sunday Brunch as well as an amazing Happy Hour.
For more information, call (714) 979-7469 or visit www.ztejas.com. Z’tejas also has restaurant locations in Arizona, Texas and Utah.