MUG (Manhattan User’s Guide) has been a favorite website since its inception. Today’ s post is about neighborhood favorites and they included Zarela with the following “review”

Zarela, 953 2nd [50th/51st] 212.644.6740
Cuisine: Mexican
Average entree: $19
Zarela Martinez has long been an overachiever’s overachiever. She’s run this terrific restaurant since 1987 (following success at Cafe Marimba), written cookbooks, teaches cooking, and is the mother of Aarón Sanchez, a fine chef in his own right (proving the manzana doesn’t fall far from the árbol). The restaurant maintains its festive atmosphere and commitment to true Mexican fare after all this time.