Even with all of the construction around Downtown Disney as it transforms into Disney Springs, Paradiso 37 stands out amongst all of the temporary walls placed around the area. This place is a little bit of a hidden gem and one that shouldn’t be overlooked or classified as just another “Mexican” restaurant.
Paradiso 37 is located on the West Side of Downtown Disney and it opened in 2009 after the Pleasure Island nightclubs closed. Surprisingly, I had never been here until this past March with my husband, and then again a couple of weeks ago with friends. I really like this place and the company I shared it with made it even better! It has a certain charm to it that makes it inviting and the food is pretty good. Most of all, the margaritas are outstanding and who doesn’t love a good margarita!
Paradiso 37 Taste of the Americas is themed around the diverse flavors of North, Central and South America and gained its name from the 37 tequilas displayed in the colorful “tequila tower”. Whether you are looking for a relaxing sit-down meal in a cool atmosphere or a quick bite at the bar with cocktails, the vibrant atmosphere here is sure to please.
My husband and I wandered into Paradiso 37 with the intention of having a margarita (or two…ok maybe three) and an appetizer and ended up eating until we felt like we were going to explode. We enjoyed every single bite!
Let’s start with the margaritas…the Ultimate Paradise. It is the ultimate classic margarita. Corozon blanco tequila, cointreau, fresh lime juice and agave nectar topped with gran gala. It is a pretty fantastic margarita.
And then there is this one….the P37 Swirl Sangria Margarita. Delish! I love a good sangria and it is especially good when it is combined with a classic frozen margarita. You can even get this margarita in a souvenir Paradiso 37 glass!
My husband ordered another margarita – I can’t for the life of me remember the name of it but it was VERY spicy. It had a jalapeño infused tequila that left the lingering heat in your mouth. It was a nice compliment to the fresh lime juice and cointreau but I preferred the Tequila Sunburn – the cranberry juice made it perfectly refreshing!
As for the appetizers, my husband and I started off with the guacamole since our intentions were only to have a little snack. We both love fresh guacamole and Paradiso’s didn’t fall short of being fresh. It’s chock full of chunky avocados, tomatoes and just the right amount of lime juice and cilantro served with crisp tortilla chips. Goes great with the margaritas!
Then, we saw this interesting dish pass by us. What is that? Looks like an interesting corn on the cob. Well, it’s the Central American Crazy Corn and it’s one of the best things on the menu. Fire-roasted corn on the cob, topped with a spicy yellow pepper sauce and melted cheese on top. Wait, it serves 2? Yes, please. We should have stopped there….
My husband ordered the Baja Fish Tacos and they looked wonderful but I do not eat fish and don’t believe it belongs in a taco. So there’s that… They are served with a roasted corn salsa and a lime cream sauce with a spicy slaw and a tortilla salad on the side. I took a little taste of the roasted corn salsa and it was pretty good, but it belongs on a steak street taco! That’s just me…
I ordered the P37 Nachos, which is another appetizer but can completely be considered at meal and is very filling! Love the queso fundido and the chili combination on it and the pico de gallo and fresh jalapeños were an added extra.
Needless to say, my husband and I rolled out of there stuffed to the gills and since it was in the middle of the afternoon, we really could have used a siesta. Instead, we walked off our super-sized meal and margaritas by shopping around the Downtown Disney area.
When I returned a couple of weeks ago to meet up with friends, it was almost like a deja vu! “I’ll have the P37 Swirl Sangria Margarita and guacamole, please.” The guacamole is consistently good and was once again the perfect addition to a margarita. We were all busy laughing and enjoying our margaritas and I wasn’t very hungry this time but I still ordered a steak quesadilla.
The steak quesadilla is on the menu as an appetizer, but it is large enough to be considered a meal. Flour Tortillas, with your choice of marinated steak or chicken, a delicious combination of cheeses, sour cream and pico de gallo make this a great choice for a light meal.
All in all, if you are looking for a place to hang out with friends or relax after a busy Disney day, have great margaritas and some tasty dishes with a latin flair, Paradiso 37 is a great place to go. Not only is the atmosphere great inside but there is outside seating offering a great breeze off of Village Lake and front row seat for the all the hustle and bustle of Downtown Disney’s nightlife.
Visit www.capturing-the-magic.com for a preview of the stunning coffee table book, Capturing the Magic and purchase your copy today.
- Happily Ever After Fireworks Dessert Party - 08/06/2017
- Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast Review - 07/21/2017
- 2017 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Marketplaces - 07/12/2017
Recent Comments