The Boricua en la Luna blog reviewed a few Puerto Rican restaurants in the past.
Now that The Boricua en la Luna relocated to Tampa Bay, Florida, it should not be as hard to find more Boricua restaurants like it was in the Baltimore-Washington D.C. area.
This week something unique happened while exploring the town of Zephyrhills, Florida. Known for bottling its pure waters and serene spaces, Zephyrhills is probably the last place you would expect to find a Puerto Rican restaurant.
Despite it all, there it sits, a bastion of Puerto Rican gastronomic excellence in a town of about 17,000 people.
Corozal Restaurant is a testament to hard work and family unity. The original restaurant was founded in 1994 by restaurant worker Angel Jimenez in the city of Bayamon, Puerto Rico where the restaurant received much acclaim.
After moving to Florida, Mr. Jimenez’s daughter Jeanette and her family opened the second Corozal Restaurant. Opening in a small town with not many Puerto Ricans (at least at that time) some in the family were concerned about how successful this second venture would prove to be.
Just like the line from the movie Field of Dreams, the Jimenez family proved that “if you build it, they will come.” The restaurant thrived despite its unlikely location, drawing regular business from patrons driving from as far away as Tampa, Ocala, and Orlando.
“Maneuvering a successful advertising campaign was key in growing our customer base,” said Corozal administrator Sheila Jimenez. “It’s important that you let everyone know that you are there and open for business.” An innovative way Corozal has done this is by advertising live music performances Saturdays and Sundays.
Corozal Restaurant is known for its powerful paellas, searing seafood, perfect pork chops, and marvelous stuffed mofongos. So if you are looking for a place where you can get satiate your cravings for Puerto Rican comfort food, what better place than Corozal Restaurant where their slogan is “eat like you’re home.”
For more information about Corozal Restaurant’s hours, menu, and specials go to their website here. You may join the many happy customers that have made Corozal their favorite Puerto Rican restaurant in Florida.