Our HRW Experience at Caracol was absolutely fantastic! My husband was a bit resistant to my desire to dine at Caracol so I ended up making a reservation and just telling him we were going to dinner! Even he said as we were leaving that it was probably one of his favorite dining experiences to-date! Our Waiter was incredibly accommodating and so friendly. I ordered the "Between The Waves" menu but expressed some regret to him that the Wood-Fired Oysters were not included. Voila! With a wave of his fingers and some negotiating he was able to comp us 3 to try! (With the caveat that my husband HAD to try a bite as we had mentioned that he had a strong aversion to shellfish ) We found all the flavor combinations to be unique and they kept our palates on our toes. The entrees were cooked well and were juicy and well-seasoned. And the desserts were equally as unique. We will certainly have to visit again . read more

5 stars fa sho. Oysters, keep em coming. Margs, mhmmmmm. Guac, don't stop. You wanna eat here. read more

I finally made it here for a happy hour, although I had originally intended to come during dinner. We slipped over here for a quick cocktail after a not so special late lunch next door. Their happy hour offers bar bites for $7, beer for $4, select cocktails for $6 and of course oysters for half price off their regular menu. I tried the Y Porque No Margarita off their HH menu and as the bartender indicated it's not a margarita, but a well balanced mix of various alcohols, but not strong at all. I liked it. We also ordered a dozen oysters, which were pretty good as well. They brought them out fairly quickly and some had yellowing around the inside of the shell as if they has been preshucked and refrigerated a few hours. We still ate them anyway. They don't come with lemons or tabasco, so you have to ask for these. I enjoyed the atmosphere here better, as compared to next door during a happy hour at least. It's pretty festive like other Hugo Ortega restaurants. read more

Caracol - Y porque no margarita - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

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All four pillars of the restaurant were impressive - food, flavor, service as well as ambience were great but not out of the world hence the four stars as opposed to a five. Enjoyed all the dishes including the desserts and really liked it, overall great experience. read more

I had a shrimp and rice dish. The services was really. Our server was informative and very nice. The ambiance was nice too, highly recommend this restaurant. read more

We went during a Sunday brunch all you can eat. Go for the service, the desert, the drinks, the restaurant and meats. The ceviche was a hit or miss. They had some kind of fish that was baked but it was cooked in away that did not resemble a fish anymore. They have plenty of egg dishes cooked in various ways and that was a salvation for me. I will try there regular menu and hope for I have a better experience. read more

Great service, amazing drinks and delicious food options. We went for a friends birthday during COVID. They were able to sit our large ground in two tables next to each other. My favorite dish were the oysters!! Both raw and charbroiled were delicious. read more

Caracol - Tacos - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

Everything was delicious. I ordered from the HRW menu and I really enjoyed their options.. The scallops were cooked to perfection and the lobster ceviche they had was really out of this world delicious. mango habanero patron drink ws delicious and strong...my favorite was the coconut flan desert tht my friend had perfect treat. The service was phenomenal, great music and etc...Definitely glad to live down the street from this spot cz I'll be visiting often.. read more

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Omigoodness - Caracol is a beautiful, modern, and elegant institution that is part of Hugo Ortega's restaurant group and focuses more on the Coastal cuisines of Mexico. This place is delicioussss. My friends and I came here for NYE dinner and made a reservation. We didn't have the full menu options; instead, they just gave us the set menu (kind of like restaurant week, where you choose one course from each section). Did not complain though b/c the choices they had on the menu all sounded delicious. This restaurant is definitely pricier than your average Mexican restaurant, but come with an appetite b/c they serve a lot of food! Here's what I ordered: Cocktel de Vegetales - This was a refreshing way to start the meal. It just had fresh vegetables that had a very clean taste with a slightly acidic vinaigrette to compliment the vegetables. Ensalada de Pera - The pears were honestly my favorite part of this salad. They're poached but retain their very sweet flavor and crunch. Paired with the nuts and vegetables for a hearty salad. Arroz Negro con Vegetales Rostizados - BE WARNED - THIS IS A HUGE PORTION. But DELICIOUS. The black rice was crispy and hearty, and the vegetables - none of the were overcooked or undercooked, perfectly roasted and seasoned, each contributing a unique texture to the dish. Cranberry and Pistachio Cake covered with a chocolate glaze and served with pistachio ice cream - ah dessert, my love. This was delicious - the cake is soft and delicate, paired with the creamy and luscious ice cream and the slight tartness of the cranberries. Yum yum yum. Stunning presentations, all beautifully seasoned and flavorful, and I was SO FULL by the end of the meal. They do validate your parking in their garage, so I definitely would take advantage of that. They have valet available as well. They have some outdoor patio seating, too, but it was too cold in Houston on NYE for us to take advantage of that. All in all, a wonderful experience at another institution of Hugo Ortega. read more

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Wonderful, flavorful Mexican food, accompanied by beautiful patrons in a hidden location in the Galleria area. We have been here many times and will be back. read more

Higher end coastal Mexican cuisine. If you love Mexican food and seafood, definitely check this place out! Service is fantastic and the food/drinks were wonderful. Will definitely come back! read more

Caracol - Oysters, potatoes, brussel sprouts - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

In a few words, mediocre service, yet quality foods at reasonable prices for such chic setting and location. Having seen a number of excellent reviews from the fellow Yelpers, I paid my first visit to Caracol last evening with the boyfriend and a friend, and ordered off of the HRW dinner menus to try a little bit of "everything," plus a dozen of super duper fresh oysters on the half shell. OMG those oysters were top notch yummy!! So, on the apps, the conch of the Ceviche de Caracol put a nice crunchy texture to the cold seafood dish, and the Carne Apache was light and looked all colorful; both were good! However, the best of all was the Mejillones en Verde, with a generous amount of adorable baby mussels swimming in this flavorful, sharp-green-colored chorizo verde! Seriously, the chorizo verde was really really good, and it was such a shame that we didn't bring our own bread from home to soak up all the sauce! Coming up next, all three of the main courses were great! The pork shank, which was my favorite, was tender and just fell off the bones, and the fish in tomatillo-caper sauce was pretty good as well. The duck, which was the boyfriend's fave, was crispy on the skin yet juicy in the meat, with the red pumpkin seed sauce boosting up the flavor! The confit-stuffed molote served alongside the duck was a tad chewy to me, but the boyfriend didn't seem to have any problem chewing on it *teeheee* Finally, bring on the desserts! YAY!! The guys liked the cinnamon coffee-orange custard and the Piña Rostizada because both were not too sweet, and the rum roasted pineapple and pistachio cake were pretty interesting and successfully created a tropical theme with the coconut ice cream! But, my most favorite dessert award went to the Helado Mexicano! The condensed milk ice cream was creamy and sweet, and the roasted sweet potato cubes added a contrasting texture *nom nom nom* In conclusion, I would highly recommend the raw oysters and the mussels in chorizo verde, and yes, i would come back! :) read more

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I come here every time I'm in town, everything is fantastic, the food, the staff, the drinks and the location. Oysters are great, I recommend ordering a side of their black refried beans and a side of guacamole to eat with their fresh tostadas. Follow up with their ceviches, doesn't matter which one you get they're all amazing. Original margarita is also FANTASTIC. read more

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We had high expectations of Caracol after visiting Hugo's but it was a somewhat disappointing experience. To start off, the valets were not wearing masks - given that they are inside customers' cars and none of us actually wear masks inside our cars, this is a big red flag! We had the Houston Restaurant Weeks brunch menu - there were no choices for the first and third course, which was definitely a let down. The first course was a chilled tomato soup (no options to choose from!), which was surprisingly small, almost as small as a tequila shot. The entrees were good but nothing extraordinary. Finally, there were no options for dessert but the French toast with a dollop of icecream. Truly speaking, I have had much better French toast at other places. Basically, it was all just okay, nothing stood out. A solid 2.5 stars but with the valets not wearing masks, they get a 1.5 (rounded to 2) for not being more mindful of the safety of customers! read more

Been here on several occasions - for lunch, buffet brunch, and happy hour. All visits here have been excellent! From ambiance to service to food to presentation, Caracol never ceases to impress. Hard to pick fave dishes, but I love their signature dessert, El Coco. It consists of a chocolate shell, with coconut buttercream, ganache, and streusel. Amazing presentation - you must try this! I like their seafood and non-seafood options alike. They were really good about refilling our water glasses even before half empty. If you park in the garage, you can validate your parking ticket with the hostess. read more

It's okay. Very nice decor and service. Dishes are plated well but taste is a little disappointing. The ceviche was good, the guacamole wasn't, non ripe avocados and under-salted. Tortilla chips were really good. The oysters were not good. Strange fusion choices with these. Fish tacos were very plain. Did not elevate a street food dish in any way, and would choose a good taco truck over these any time. Desserts were excellent. Overall, feels like a place to go, if you're expensing it, but not a great spot when you are paying. read more

I have only been one time here for a brunch on Sunday. The place was packed, all tables occupied. It's a good sign, but the tables are too close to each other that it is really difficult to comfortably move from your table to the area where food is offered. They have an oyster bar and a large section for dessert - the majority of food is Mexican style though. It is USD 37.00/person - excluding any drinks, tax and tips. Slightly overpriced in my opinion. read more

Caracol - Items from the dessert buffet ... - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

I've heard really great things about Caracol. Everything From the happy hour to the regular menu I've been eager to try this place! Went for lunch houston restaurant week and it's such a great deal. 3 courses for $20! This is also maybe my favorite lunch HRW I've had so far in all the times I've done HRW in the past. Apps: -Sopa de Chile poblano: sounds spicy but just has the right amount of kick/heat for me to start the meal. Entree: -Camarones Al Chipotle: a flavorful healthy option! Served over a bed of cauliflower rice Dessert: tres leches is a must! If there was something we had to order away from the HRW menu it's the El Coco dessert. -When your mama says don't play with your food but you are given a mallet to crack this dessert open, how can you not?! It's a high quality Chocolate shell that resembles a coconut and inside is a coconut butter cream, ganache, coconut bits, and crunchy coconut streusel. It's delicious. Because of the fun and the great combination of flavors and textures, it was a memorable way to end the meal. Great service and a great Mexican seafood option for brunch, lunch or dinner! We got there right at opening and we saw within the hour the place fill to capacity inside. Outdoor Patio space is available too for seating. I'd get here early. Parking is FREE in the garage if you have your server validate the parking ticket stub. Otherwise valet is always an option read more

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HRW menu based review. Between the waves vs Wines of Mexico vs Our Style. Amuse of all three were distinct and packed with various tastes that tintilizes your tongue and nose. Can't go wrong with any of them. However I'm not personally a big fan of soup so it's going to go like this. Round one between the waves and our style. Entremes. Pork Ribs was damn delicious. Soft. Tender. Comes right off the bone. A decent amount given. Wow oh wow. Sorry i forgot what else was on the menu for the other two cause this is the clear cut Winner. Wines of Mexico. PlatoFuerte!!! The main event! Scallops were soft and plump! Duck was crispy and amazing. Beef fillet was cooked exactly right. Wow. They were all amazing. Distinctive flavors amazing presentation and just too damn hard to pick a winner. You can't lose! Postre. I'm bias towards Chocolate but each dessert was amazing. However i will have say that even being as a lover of all chocolate I have to say that Caracols brownie dark chocolate cake was too simply good to pass up. Winner our style. Worthy of the praise and I didn't mention the amazing service and ambience. read more

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My boyfriend and I decided to try this place out. We went on a Sunday for brunch which is from 11:00-2:30. ($37/person) As we came in was asked the host for a seating of two and they only had one table available for only an hour. We were both already hungry so we agreed to the time frame. As we sat down, our waiter greeted us right away and got our drink orders really quick since we were on a time crunch. The brunch buffet had a variety of tamales, ceviche, briskets, tortilla chips with salsa, Mexican rice, chicken, fish, etc. OH YEAH! They even have a oyster bar!!! The oysters come with pico on the bar but you can ask for no pico. The oyster shooters tasted like a Bloody Mary but without the alcohol haha. The food was great but nothing bad. I honestly ate a bunch of oysters to fill me up. The dessert table had mini churros, Mexican hot chocolate, hot fruit punch, some type of cake soaked in milk (which was amazing!!), mini caramel sandwiches, and many more. Overall the service was amazing and attentive. All wait staff really works well together! They also give out a complementary dessert for a lot special occasions like anniversaries or birthdays. read more

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We made reservations for a special event. The wife thought the Halibut was delicious. My Seafood platter was amazing! The oysters, to the lobster to the scallops, absolutely awesome. Great attentive service! The ambience could have been much better inside though, it was loud and felt cramped. You would think when someone makes reservations for a special night, we would be seated somewhere nicer? read more

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Perfect place for brunch if you love both seafood and Mexican food. The buffet is amazing, great twists to Mexican dishes (the brisket is to die for) and the oyster bar is delicious. I'm not a big raw oyster fan but the mango concoction they've put on top of the oysters is mouth watering and refreshing. Service is amazing and the live music tops it off! I can't wait to go back! read more

Love Caracol!! Came today for the Sunday brunch. It's available from 11am-2:30 for $37 an Adult & $12 a Child. They serve a buffet style of items with live music. Our group was here to celebrate a baby shower and the service was excellent, above expectations accommodating for the extra requests we had to make the day special for the mama-to-be! Love the food, the service, the cocktails, and the atmosphere. Once again, can't wait to come back! read more

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Best Mexican seafood in Houston. I loved the sauce in my grilled seafood plate. It had lime and avacado under my scallops, octopus, muscles, and lobster. It reminded me of Cancun and Cabo. read more

We hit the restaurant at Saturday brunch. Kinda hidden great parking in the garage, nice atmosphere- great server with suggestions. I tried two different drinks, something with a great filled ice cube and the second I asked for a spicy drink- both excellent. I ordered the scallops and they were out of this world delicious. I had stomach surgery recently so this was just enough for me to be full and I wasn't able to try a dessert- but this place is great- they have several rooms that can be used for private parties too. We walked in at about high noon on a Saturday and was seated right away with no problem. I'd like to try Sunday buffet as it looks excellent in pics so we will be back. read more

The serving size is comical. The Galleria area is packed with happy hours, where you can get a much better deal. I'd like to try new places every week or so, and this was on the list. I guess the one good thing about going is that I crossed it off my list and won't be back. read more

Caracol - Needs seasoning....badly - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

Absolutely delicious! Recommend highly for date night or with friends, All the main dishes are exquisite and pricey. So worth it!

I went here on my birthday to have dinner with my friend. The food was amazing. Honestly I have zero complaints, I had the Langosta Puerto Nuevo and it was incredible. Super juicy and flavorful. It came with a side of refried beans and rice which were also great. We also ordered the chicharrón de calamar and without a doubt it was delicious. Super crunch and meaty, the spices on top went great on it. They also gave me a complimentary HBD cheesecake slice and it was great as well. Aside from that we also ordered the churros with chocolate and it was really tasty as well. Honestly zero complaints about the food. As far as service, I wanted to love it as much as his other location Hugo's but the service lacked a little although the server was super friendly with a great attitude he took forever to come to our table. Maybe understaffed ? Idk. But that was literally my only complaint. The ambience is great, everyone had welcoming smiles and great attitudes. read more

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Fantastic. I was here Friday night with my husband and another couple. I am going to start off why I didn't review this as 5 stars right off the bat. The menu, although primarily in English, the headings and titles were in Spanish. Luckily, our friends spoke Spanish and could advise where the appetizers, drinks and mains were located. Now to the food and drinks. The drinks were great. Tequila based for a Mexican restaurant. The wine lost was a little lacking. Again, I am a wine snob. There were some very high end bottles but not as much in the $75-150 range that I felt confident in The food was bright and fresh. Ceviche was great and my sea bass in banana leaf was fantastic. All in all a great meal. I would certainly go back but wouldn't be my #1 pick read more

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Came here for dinner and was able to book last minute seatings for 4 around 9:15pm just 2 hours before. We initially got seated indoor, but the AC was too strong that we felt chilly so we asked to move to sit outdoors and they were able to accommodate easily. The weather at that time was nice with a slight breeze, so it worked out well. We had good attention to our table and the waiter actually walked me to the bathroom when I asked where it was. We started with their complimentary chips and guacamole with cheese on top - which was delicious. The salsa and spicy sauce to dip in were also tasty, and not too spicy! - Ostiones Asados ($31 for 12): one of our favorite dishes here of the evening and the reason our friends keep coming back and brought us here. Wood-roasted Gulf oysters, cheese, chipotle butter, and toasted bread crumbs on top! Yum... definitely worth order a dozen! - Callo de Hacha ($32): my main course with really big scallops and tasty sauce beneath it. Tasted good, but didn't taste special or unique - however, a solid dish. The mixed part in between the scallops were roasted cauliflower, wild mushrooms, rajas, and Poblano sauce. Also, JUST ok since I'm not a mushroom fan. - Langosta Puerto Nuevo ($55): this lobster dish can easily be shared between two. Fire roasted lobster, flour tortilla, playa la ropa beans, and arroz Mexicano. The lobster was fairly large and delicious! I would order this as my main course if I came back. - Michelada ($7): my boyfriend and friends ordered this and it's their favorite drink here. It's beer mixed with sangria, and peppers so it has a kick of spice when drinking the beer. - Blackberry non-alcoholic beverage: this was mine :p it was very refreshing with the heavy meal - not a huge fan of paper straws, so I suggest bamboo or metal straws for future. Overall, spent about $277 for 4 people, not too bad for a good, hardy meal. Will definitely come back just for the oysters. Clean place with indoor and outdoor seating. read more

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Great Sunday brunch spot! All the drinks are good there. Brunch buffet fresh oysters all day. Highly recommended! read more

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Caracol is a beautiful restaurant. The ambiance is perfect. It is beautifully decorated inside and even the outdoor seating is lovely. I love coming here for happy hour. Bar bites are $7. I usually stick with a simple guacamole & salsa. The tortilla chips here are good..Thick and crunchy. Oysters are another favorite of mine for $13/dozen for happy hour. Nice selection of happy hour drinks of mojitos, margaritas, wine, and beer. I would love to come back and try the brunch I hear many others rave about. read more

Caracol - Happy hour ceviche $7 - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

I've been to Hugo's (same owner) and I gotta say I like this place better which is hard to imagine. For starter they have a whole separate menu for vegetarians -- wow!! If it's not at your table don't hesitate to ask for the other menu. There were so many options I actually struggled to order for once! If you're vegetarian definitely give this place a try! We got the cauliflower and quesadilla appetizers and I ordered the tamal Azteca. The cauliflower was interesting and I preferred the cauliflower without the sauce. The red sauce that came with the quesadillas was bomb! The tamal was more like a Mexican lasagna - it was tortillas layered with tamale filling between. There was a creamy sauce and red sauce and lots of mushrooms. Definitely don't order if you don't like mushrooms. I really liked my dish! It was super filling and very rich, I would get it again. FYI: parking is validated and valet is free read more

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A must try in Houston, we came to enjoy the happy hour and we ended up ordering our favorites twice. Great service and their margaritas are really good as well! read more

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Good happy hour location in Galleria with free parking. Went for a birthday get together and sat in bar area. Shared appetizers flaunts, empanaditas, guacamole and chips. They have some happy hour drink specials. read more

Wowza--this has to be the best brunch buffet anywhere. They serve oysters as part of the buffet!! Have I convinced you to keep reading? Walking in on a Sunday at around noon, the restaurant was super busy although there wasn't a wait to sit down. There is a huge variety of foods to choose from in the buffet, from tamales, tacos, oysters, beef cheeks with mole, and a lot more...I can't begin to list all the options, but my favorite items were the tamales (they have multiple flavors and they're all delicious) and the beef cheeks (sooo tender and delicious). This is a super high quality brunch. The dessert variety is also very extensive! They have flan, rice pudding, dulce de leche, alfajores, hot chocolate, tres leches, and more. Again, I can't name everything they had available for dessert but anyone will be able to find something(s) they like. My favorite items were the tres leches cake and rice pudding. The service is 10/10. The employees are super attentive, keeping water glasses full and silverware in stock between plates. If you're looking to treat yourself for brunch, give this place a try. My tamale standards are sky high now. read more

Creative menu with a range of creative options for pescatarians, vegetarians, omnivores, cocktail lovers, and mocktail lovers alike. Will absolutely be back! read more

We went to Caracol last night to celebrate my son in law's birthday. The restaurant was bustling, and the service was outstanding. The group started out with some innovative cocktails that everyone enjoyed as well as 18 of the Wood Roasted Oysters with Chipotle butter. These oysters are really why we made the return trip to Caracol. They are easily the best Oyster dish I have ever had and they were equally well received by the rest of the table. If I lived closer to Caracol, I would have to head to the restaurant 3-4 times a week for a happy hour portion of this dish. Next we sampled a variety of the small plates. We had the yellowtail crudo which was outstanding with a nice little pop of heat. We also had the Seared Tuna Tacos, the Wood Roasted Pork Ribs, and the special appetizer which was a baby squash stuffed with seafood and a spicy flavorful sauce. All of the appetizers were excellent. My personal favorite was the pork ribs which were tender and came with an tasty sauce to accompany them. For the entrees the table had the Beef Short Rib with Butternut squash puree, the Sea Bass wrapped in Banana Leaf, the Pan Seared Jumbo Sea Scallops, and the Halibut Special. The Sea Bass and the Scallops were major hits. The Short Rib was just OK as it was a little dry and the combination of the mole and the butternut squash left it with a very sweet taste. The only miss of the night was the Halibut Special. The fish was so overcooked that it was almost inedible. It would have been extra disappointing but my wife was pretty much stuffed from the other items that she still left satisfied. This would have been a 5 star review but that one dish was a pretty big fail. We finished with an excellent selection of desserts, and went home fat and happy. Birthday celebration successful!! read more

We came here this past Sunday for my Bridal Brunch! After looking on yelp, I was beyond excited to come and try this place! We made a reservation for 11:30 and was promptly seated. The ambiance was amazing, from the decor to the set up, to the live music. I loved every second of it. Our waiter was very attentive and recommended a pitcher of the veracruz mimosa, which had champagne, pineapple, orange juice and lime. As soon as he left the table with our drink order, we headed towards the buffet. Holy buffet. If you love Mexican cuisine and seafood, this is it! I can't even begin to list the exact names but they had a fish meatball soup, tamales, enchiladas, mole, empanadas, egg dishes, chilaquiles. I was in heaven! I piled on everything I possibly could before heading to the second buffet table to get heaping spoonfuls of snapper and octopus ceviche! The elote was by far, the best elote I've ever had in my life! Be sure to get their brisket which melts in your mouth, paired with the spicy potatoes. Ugh, heaven! I sat my plate down, got a clean plate and headed to the oyster bar! They had scallops with a green salsa, oysters on the shell with pico de Gallo and oyster shooters! Everything was super fresh! After a couple of plates, we headed to the desert table. I didn't think it could get any better. They served Mexican hot chocolate, churros, rice pudding, an amazing tres leches cake, pan dulces, candies, more cakes, flan! Seriously, I'm planning on brunching there every Sunday! While eating desert our waiter brought me out a congratulations desert! It was a nice surprise! It tasted like apricots with some type of glaze and I think cinnamon or horchata flavored ice cream. DELICIOUS! This place is amazing, if you haven't been you're seriously missing out! read more

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The overall food is good. Cocktails are great. But I ordered the "Mariscos al Ajillo" and it was very disappointed. It was unflavored dish , I did not taste the garlic at all. Also the waitress recommended it with white rice and I regretted it. The rice was plain and unflavored. read more