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Dining Out - 2/10/2013 2:32:47 PM
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Akumolly
Posts: 128
Joined: 8/12/2011
From: Iowa
Status: offline
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Hi folks,
We are here in the beautiful land of iguanas and ocean and I thought I'd share some tips on dining out. This is our sixth trip here and without a doubt, these restaurants are consistently good.
Turtle Bay Cafe - My favorites are their hamburgers, flatbreads, breakfasts, and desserts.
Pescadors - EXCELLENT grilled fish.
Pizza Leo's - Great Mexican pizza and pastas.
Tequilaville - Love their shrip tacos and Wednesday night rib night. I don't think I've ever had better ribs in the U.S.
Que Onda - Great pasta. Sunday is taco day from 1-9 p.m. Very reasonable and very good. Love the pork tacos.
In Tulum - "something" Cafe on the main street. (Just can't think of the name right now). OMG. Go there and order a shrimp burger. They are out of this world good. Coming from Akumal, the cafe is on the left side of the road. Pretty much across from the bakery. Towards the end of the shopping. Bright checkered table cloths. Also, try the watermelon drink. YUM.
Best Happy Hour - Hands down it is La Buena Vida.
For those of you who have never ordered the La Buena Vida, try it. It's wonderful, but don't have it before dinner because it will spoil your appetite.
Now, my impressions of the Lo'l Ha. This is the second time I have had a negative experience there. Reservations written on wrong date. Food is overpriced. (Though the seared scallops are quite tasty.) TERRIBLE SERVICE. Annoyed because I asked for a "glass" of water. Had to ask for the bread they were walking around to give tables. Had to ask for refills of water. Food was lukewarm. Never came back to table again after serving meal. We were going to order another bottle of wine, coffee, and dessert. Finally got server's attention and asked for the check. I WILL NOT GO BACK!
That's it for today! 
< Message edited by Akumolly -- 2/10/2013 2:40:07 PM >
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Akumolly Molly
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RE: Dining Out - 2/10/2013 3:17:49 PM
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rucruizin
Posts: 1968
Joined: 1/7/2010
Status: offline
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Here is a link to my Que Onda review, complete with food porn
That is, if I copied the right link??? Oh well, only one way to find out.
http://forums.locogringo.com/forums/tm.asp?m=1452000&mpage=1&key=?
_____________________________
It is, what it is.
It becomes, what you make it.
Make it spectacular!
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RE: Dining Out - 2/10/2013 4:08:32 PM
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dougdnh
Posts: 73
Joined: 1/20/2011
Status: offline
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My take -
Yes the Pescador has great seafood, so does Turtle Bay. In defense of the Lol Ha, we've eaten at the snack bar many times, and the food was always good, especially the pulled pork tacos and the home made soups. The service is always friiendly and spot on.
The Buena Vida is always fun, and both it and the Lol Ha have good happy hours.
This year we discovered two really good but very different places to eat :
El Parke -in Chemuyil. This place is the real deal for Mexican home cooking, not for the faint of heart. The restaurant is actually a handful of plastic tables on the patio of a funky little cement block house. Pop waits tables, mom and daughters cook. The restroom is the family bathroom in the house. Belly buster empanadas, byo beer. You can eat until you can't move for about $6.
La Malquerida in Tulum, a few hundered feet off the main drag on Calle Centauro. We have been coming to the Riviera maya for 8 years, this is possibly the best meal we've ever had. It's a very typical little open air restaurant, but it's always busy even when other ones are empty. Seafood to die for, and extremely friendly waitstaff. Don't be surprised if they offer you a free shot of tequila!
We also loved the Gynn Ak near the Buena Vida - great lionfish, but small portions.
We'll have to try the Que Onda next year!
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RE: Dining Out - 2/10/2013 4:16:42 PM
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rucruizin
Posts: 1968
Joined: 1/7/2010
Status: offline
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Can yo give more directions to the one in Tulum.
Also, once in Chemuyil, then what?
quote:
ORIGINAL: dougdnh
My take -
Yes the Pescador has great seafood, so does Turtle Bay. In defense of the Lol Ha, we've eaten at the snack bar many times, and the food was always good, especially the pulled pork tacos and the home made soups. The service is always friiendly and spot on.
The Buena Vida is always fun, and both it and the Lol Ha have good happy hours.
This year we discovered two really good but very different places to eat :
El Parke -in Chemuyil. This place is the real deal for Mexican home cooking, not for the faint of heart. The restaurant is actually a handful of plastic tables on the patio of a funky little cement block house. Pop waits tables, mom and daughters cook. The restroom is the family bathroom in the house. Belly buster empanadas, byo beer. You can eat until you can't move for about $6.
La Malquerida in Tulum, a few hundered feet off the main drag on Calle Centauro. We have been coming to the Riviera maya for 8 years, this is possibly the best meal we've ever had. It's a very typical little open air restaurant, but it's always busy even when other ones are empty. Seafood to die for, and extremely friendly waitstaff. Don't be surprised if they offer you a free shot of tequila!
We also loved the Gynn Ak near the Buena Vida - great lionfish, but small portions.
We'll have to try the Que Onda next year!
_____________________________
It is, what it is.
It becomes, what you make it.
Make it spectacular!
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RE: Dining Out - 2/11/2013 12:28:47 PM
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dougdnh
Posts: 73
Joined: 1/20/2011
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: rucruizin
Can yo give more directions to the one in Tulum.
Also, once in Chemuyil, then what?
quote:
ORIGINAL: dougdnh
My take -
Yes the Pescador has great seafood, so does Turtle Bay. In defense of the Lol Ha, we've eaten at the snack bar many times, and the food was always good, especially the pulled pork tacos and the home made soups. The service is always friiendly and spot on.
The Buena Vida is always fun, and both it and the Lol Ha have good happy hours.
This year we discovered two really good but very different places to eat :
El Parke -in Chemuyil. This place is the real deal for Mexican home cooking, not for the faint of heart. The restaurant is actually a handful of plastic tables on the patio of a funky little cement block house. Pop waits tables, mom and daughters cook. The restroom is the family bathroom in the house. Belly buster empanadas, byo beer. You can eat until you can't move for about $6.
La Malquerida in Tulum, a few hundered feet off the main drag on Calle Centauro. We have been coming to the Riviera maya for 8 years, this is possibly the best meal we've ever had. It's a very typical little open air restaurant, but it's always busy even when other ones are empty. Seafood to die for, and extremely friendly waitstaff. Don't be surprised if they offer you a free shot of tequila!
We also loved the Gynn Ak near the Buena Vida - great lionfish, but small portions.
We'll have to try the Que Onda next year!
La Malquerida in Tulum is on Centauro South, a side street off the northbound side of 307. Centauro is in the heart of the downtown, close to the HSBC bank. The restaurant is just a few hundred feet down Centauro on the right side of the street. There are several similar looking retaurants adjoining it, make sure you walk into the right place!
El Parke (not sure about the spelling) is in Cemuyil pueblo, not too far from Pizza Leo. It is close to the large public park/ball field. There is a tall radio tower in the park that will orient you in the right direction. The restaurant is on a small street about a block from the park. It has a small sign, look for the red plastic tables out front. Sorry I can't be more precise, we had to drive around a little to find it. It appears to be a very popular place with the locals, so there should be a crowd there.
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RE: Dining Out - 2/11/2013 12:47:08 PM
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longing4sun
Posts: 465
Joined: 12/12/2006
From: St. Louis, MO
Status: offline
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This is one of my favorite topics!! I agree with everyone and I'll add my two cents:
La Cueva...any fish prepared any way, langostinos, seafood soup, oh my! This place has sentimental value for my husband and me. It was the first restaurant I ever ate at in Mexico, on the first night of our honeymoon 11 years ago. It was a great introduction to Mexico with the lovely lighting and laid back atmosphere.
Lol Ha Snack Bar...any of the appetizers are good and the view is unbeatable. Service can be slow, but we typically don't care b/c we're on vacay.
Lol Ha Restaurant...meh. Ate breakfast there once last year. Took an hour and a half. Overpriced for sure.
Loncheria...I absolutely adore their chorizo tacos (or any taco for that matter). My husband loves their little beef burritos, and their chicken soup will change your life.
La Buena Vida...excellent happy hour, ceviche, grilled fish.
Turtle Bay...cannot be missed for breakfast! Only ate dinner there once, it was ok, but I crave their "skillet" breakfasts all year long. And the fruit that's served with it is always amazing.
La Lunita...personally I'm not a fan. Ate dinner there once, didn't think it was good at all (years ago). Thought about trying it again since then, but didn't want to waste a dinner on what might not be an enjoyable experience. Lots of people like it, though, so I'm sure we were just there on an off night.
Que Onda...this was one of my faves for an end-of-trip dinner b/c let's face it...you do get a little tired of tacos and chips and pico. Well, maybe not that tired, just ready for something different. It was closed when were were there last so I'm happy to hear it's open again.
Pizzeria Leo in Chemuyil...the pizza to me was just ok (I'm pretty picky about pizza), but their chorizo nachos are fantastic! Also really good ceviche.
Don Cafeto's in Tulum...I don't know why, but I make this place a destination every time. Something about all the photos on the wall, and the old dudes playing dominoes in the corner, makes you think of a Mexican Sopranos. Watch out for the pickled veggies they put out, though. I thought I was biting into a pepperoncini, but it was some off-the-charts turbo charged chile that I thought I was going to die!!
Looking forward to this next trip to try some other places!
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RE: Dining Out - 2/11/2013 1:49:40 PM
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rucruizin
Posts: 1968
Joined: 1/7/2010
Status: offline
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Ummmm, I'm not sure I believe you. You're gonna have to show me. 
I miss you
quote:
ORIGINAL: longing4sun
This is one of my favorite topics!! I agree with everyone and I'll add my two cents:
La Cueva...any fish prepared any way, langostinos, seafood soup, oh my! This place has sentimental value for my husband and me. It was the first restaurant I ever ate at in Mexico, on the first night of our honeymoon 11 years ago. It was a great introduction to Mexico with the lovely lighting and laid back atmosphere.
Lol Ha Snack Bar...any of the appetizers are good and the view is unbeatable. Service can be slow, but we typically don't care b/c we're on vacay.
Lol Ha Restaurant...meh. Ate breakfast there once last year. Took an hour and a half. Overpriced for sure.
Loncheria...I absolutely adore their chorizo tacos (or any taco for that matter). My husband loves their little beef burritos, and their chicken soup will change your life.
La Buena Vida...excellent happy hour, ceviche, grilled fish.
Turtle Bay...cannot be missed for breakfast! Only ate dinner there once, it was ok, but I crave their "skillet" breakfasts all year long. And the fruit that's served with it is always amazing.
La Lunita...personally I'm not a fan. Ate dinner there once, didn't think it was good at all (years ago). Thought about trying it again since then, but didn't want to waste a dinner on what might not be an enjoyable experience. Lots of people like it, though, so I'm sure we were just there on an off night.
Que Onda...this was one of my faves for an end-of-trip dinner b/c let's face it...you do get a little tired of tacos and chips and pico. Well, maybe not that tired, just ready for something different. It was closed when were were there last so I'm happy to hear it's open again.
Pizzeria Leo in Chemuyil...the pizza to me was just ok (I'm pretty picky about pizza), but their chorizo nachos are fantastic! Also really good ceviche.
Don Cafeto's in Tulum...I don't know why, but I make this place a destination every time. Something about all the photos on the wall, and the old dudes playing dominoes in the corner, makes you think of a Mexican Sopranos. Watch out for the pickled veggies they put out, though. I thought I was biting into a pepperoncini, but it was some off-the-charts turbo charged chile that I thought I was going to die!!
Looking forward to this next trip to try some other places!
_____________________________
It is, what it is.
It becomes, what you make it.
Make it spectacular!
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RE: Dining Out - 2/13/2013 9:13:25 PM
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el gran chico
Posts: 366
Joined: 10/21/2005
From: Toronto, ON CANADA
Status: offline
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I had the lionfish ceviche at Gynn-ak for dinner tonight. Fantastic!!
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Returned from Akumal, Feb.12 to Feb 20, 2013 (14th trip to MEX, 11th to RM, 7th to HMB)
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Printable Version
Some of those places sound wonderful!
Miss you too Ru!!! I will never forget the time I went to Akumal when I was 3 months pregnant (trip obviously planned before I found out!!). I gained 15 pounds during that trip, not one single pound of it attributed to the wee one in my belly. I ate a meal for every cocktail or cerveza my friends drank!
