New York’s El Camarón Peludo offers Mexican-Spanish seafood and wine

Eater reported on El Camarón Peludo, a new wine and seafood restaurant in New York City’s West Village. The restaurant is the first full-service project by Giovanni Cervantes and Tania Apolinar, who previously ran popular taco spots and a soccer crowd-favorite venue.

The menu at El Camarón Peludo fuses Mexican seafood dishes with Spanish culinary influences, accompanied by a curated selection of wines from around the world. The restaurant operates as a small, walk-in-only space where guests are encouraged to linger over their meals.

Chef Carlos Barrera, originally from Mexico City and experienced in Michelin-starred Spanish kitchens, collaborated on the menu and concept. The idea for the restaurant evolved from space constraints and a desire to offer something different from their previous taquerias.

The team shared that the concept was influenced by a tapas-focused trip and a social media fan, which helped shape the restaurant’s direction toward mariscos and wine rather than tacos. Their experience managing multiple NYC eateries contributed to the development of this new venture.