_DSC0020_opt

Nazca Kitchen: Mark Davis

Dec. 21, 2012 — the day the world was supposed to end. And the day Craig Collins, founder of the popular barbecue joint Red, Hot and Blue, opened his latest concept, the South American restaurant Nazca Kitchen. “What have you got to lose, right?” he jokes. As he did with his first venture, Collins brought something relatively new to the neighborhood with Nazca. “When we opened Red, Hot and Blue in 1994, no one ate pork. Now it’s a barbecue staple.” At Nazca, the focus is fresh fish and organic, sustainable, healthful ingredients. It isn’t easy, Collins says, for a North Texas restaurant to obtain fresh seafood. In fact, he’s in the process of attempting to strike a deal with an Alaskan supplier. Fingers crossed. Until then, you can bet Collins and his team will not serve anything that doesn’t look, smell and taste as fresh as anything in the DFW area; this is evidenced in menu items such as the grilled tilapia or roasted half chicken that came recommended by manager Juan Chavez. Culinary creations — a quinoa salad tossed in tahini glaze or a butternut squash and cranberry side, for example — leave a lasting, crave-inducing impression. The fish “tacos” with aioli drizzle come wrapped in butter-leaf lettuce that is grown in neat, aesthetic soil rows alongside the eatery. Collins painstakingly selected the wine list. A self-proclaimed “wine geek,” Collins says he tasted 400 wines before narrowing down the 12 available at the Nazca bar. 

Sign up for our newsletter!

* indicates required

Nazca Kitchen

8041 Walnut Hill #854 (at Central),
214.696.2922

Ambiance: Peaceful
Price range: $6-$16
Hours: Daily 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

| More fresh finds |

Boiling Crab
For fans of fresh seafood in steaming heaps, this northeast Dallas hole-in-the-wall satisfies.

10560 Walnut at Plano
972.272.7086

La Duni
Crispy meat sandwiches and popovers earn praise at this Latin-inspred NorthPark Center spot, but the creamy quatro leches cupcakes seemingly are shipped fresh from a supplier in HEAVEN.

8687 N Central
214.987.2260

El Rincon De Villa
Fresh handmade tortillas, authentic green chilaquiles and tasty horchata take diners at this divey little cafe on a mini south-of-the-border adventure.

6867 Greenville (at Park)
214.891.9954