San Jose Restaurant Guide

The eye-catching mural above the front patio of the Puerto Azul Restaurant on Lincoln Avenue is artist Angel Rangel's rendition of the coast near Mazatlán, Mexico. Depicted on the building is a bright blue bay, sandy beaches, towering mountains, tropical plants and a passenger ship anchored just offshore. Rangel's friends Eduardo and Sandra Orozco opened Puerto Azul about two months ago, and they carried the mural's vivid seaside theme inside through decorative touches that include Rangel's ceiling mural of sea turtles, octopuses, shark and fish.

Mexican seafood stands out on the Puerto Azul menu, much of it from Orozco family recipes. Entrees include piña de mariscos -a pineapple stuffed with seafood, from a favorite recipe Eduardo's parent brought to the U.S. from their family restaurant in Guadalajara, Mexico - and camarones a la diabla, spicy shrimp entrees that originated in Mazatlán, Sandra's hometown.