Much like your average nightclub or high school cafeteria, our hearts have a VIP section. It’s reserved, in part, for cash-only spots in the back of bodegas. And when a cash-only spot in the back of a bodega also happens to serve a quality cup of shrimp, there’s nothing we can do. That’s why we’re putty in the hands of La Esquina Del Camarón Mexicano, our favorite place for casual seafood in Jackson Heights. At the back of a bodega on the corner of 80th and Roosevelt, behind a few shelves and a couple of fridges, you’ll find a restaurant that would fit in the basket of a hot air balloon. Stake out a seat at the single picnic table, then approach the tiny counter and order a coctel de camarón or the combo version with rounds of tender octopus. Either way, your cup of seafood will come doused in a zippy red sauce the color of Drake’s jacket from the “Hotline Bling” video, with a burst of fruity sweetness balanced by a heavy dusting of chopped onion and cilantro. Close your eyes, and you’ll feel like you’re sitting near a beach, even when it’s 20 degrees outside, the 7 train is being noisy, and there are several strangers sitting around your picnic table wondering why you just closed your eyes. In addition to cocteles, this place also serves some massive fish tacos, crispy empanadas, and a few other snacks - but those plastic cups of shellfish are the most compelling reason to come here. So the next time you’re in the mood for quality seafood, and you’d rather not deal with a server, a host, or a menu with more than 12 items, head over for a dose of shrimp. Make use of the hot sauce sitting on the picnic table, and if you happen to pour a little too much, don’t panic. The beverage options are nearly infinite. That’s just one benefit of eating in the back of a bodega.