Minding Your Business- CODO Mexican Kitchen

CODO, the Mexican-inspired dining hotspot in Chatham, is now in full swing as the summer season kicks off on the Lower Cape. As part of Coastal Hospitality Group, which also owns Pate’s and Chapin’s Bayside restaurants, CODO brings an atmosphere full of color, flavor and fun to Chatham. CODO dominates the Mexican food scene in the area, and once you step inside it’s easy to see why. The atmosphere is fresh and vibrant, and the food being served up is authentic and mouth-watering. The Spanish word “codo” means elbow, a fun, quirky nod to the restaurant’s physical location in Chatham, and the menu features the freshest locally sourced ingredients around.

CODO manager Eddie Sarabia is very well-known in the Lower Cape dining scene. After running his own Mexican restaurant in Harwich for many years, he bartended at Pates and other establishments around the local area. Now heading up the team at CODO, Sarabia brings his lifetime love of Mexican culture and food to Chatham.

In a shift from last year’s operation, this year CODO went from a counter service style to a sit down restaurant with full service. That was a strategic move Sarabia felt was a necessity for the operation. 

“When the owners asked if I would like to move over to CODO, I liked the idea,” Sarabia said. “But it would be nice to do some changes, like service at the table. Kind of heat the food up a bit with the menu. Mix it up a little and make it more authentic.”

CODO’s menu is filled with all the favorites one would expect from a delicious Mexican establishment and more. On the appetizer menu, popular favorites include chips and guacamole, nachos, taquitos, tostadas, Mexican street corn and chorizo and corn chowder. Salads and a variety of taco and burrito bowls are also served up on the menu. Tacos are a shining star with a selection of classic or street taco styles and every filling you could imagine: ground beef, chicken, carnitas, barbacoa, shrimp, plantains and cod. Enchiladas, fajita quesadillas and an array of side items like refried beans, rice and plantains round out the menu. Tres leches and churros are featured on the dessert menu to top off your meal.

Sarabia is excited about introducing weekly specials to the menu to spice up the offerings and give guests a taste of his heritage from growing up in Acapulco, Mexico.

“I’m introducing all kinds of dishes as specials,” Sarabia said. “For example, we are trying octopus tacos, fish empanadas, a dish from my home town with red snapper. You mix a guajillo paste with mayonnaise and marinate the red snapper in it. Then it goes on the wood fire and the flavor is amazing. When people come to the Cape, they expect seafood. We are also going to feature specials like lobster quesadillas, ceviche and octopus and shrimp cocktail. We will feature something new and different every week.”

On a recent weekly specials menu, CODO had some fantastic dishes like tacos el pastor with achiote, spices and a pineapple marinated pork, cajun butter brussels sprouts, shrimp tostada, cod empanadas and a wickedly popular cajun striped bass taco meal which sold out completely one night.

“We have gotten nice feedback from guests,” Sarabia said. “We will change it up every few weekends. They are so, so good!”

Another fun feature CODO introduced this season is their “lunch break” deal. Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m to 2:30 p.m. guests can choose from a $14 quesadilla plate or $15 taco plate with the purchase of any beverage. These are available for dine in or order ahead online options and offer weekday guests an affordable, easy option for lunch. 

The full bar is a hot spot in Chatham with delicious drinks served up every night of the week. The menu features a full selection of wine and beer, mocktails and a great selection of mezcal and tequilas. On the specialty cocktail menu, guests can choose from a selection of fun, authentic beverages like palomas, skinny, traditional and frozen margaritas and homemade sangria. 

Be sure to stop in CODO any day or night of the week for an authentic night of Mexican fare!

DETAILS:

CODO Mexican Kitchen

859 Main St., Chatham

508-348-5421

Open Daily at 11:30 A.M. for lunch and dinner