Hubbers and fam talked this place up a storm, so it was a must have during our visit to Merida. So…read morethat was the original plan: to visit their Merida location but having a spot at the Progreso Malecon just simply made it very convenient.
Hubbers and I came through maybe a little over an hour before closing time so there were plenty of seats and tables to choose from. We were given menus and what I appreciated immediately is that our server asked if we much prefer an English menu. Hubbers said he was fine but I certainly can use one. (I would have been fine without it, but it sure made ordering faster and easier!)
We (literally) wanted to order practically everything, but common sense kicked in and decided to get a few apps, then decide whether we want mains or not after.
They gave complimentary crispy tortillas and biscuits. Thankful for my refreshing and delicious pina colada because all these comp'd goodies did is made my mouth dry. The lime and sauces didn't help at all. This might just be their ploy of making us order more drinks. (I'll admit it worked.) But you know: don't knock it 'til you try it.
One by one apps were getting to our table.
TUNA CARPACCIO: The plate had so many things going on yet very well put together. It was a busy plate, for sure, but the fish was the absolute star of the plate. The vege added texture to the bite and the flavor of the sauce/marinade had a good blend. Avocado added creaminess to each bite.
HALF DOZEN OYSTERS: I am incredibly skeptical about having oysters outside of the US, but Hubbers assured me they're safe to eat here. They tasted fresh, sure, but I found it kind of bizarre that the size of the oyster is not commensurate to the size of the shells. Delicious, otherwise.
FRIED OCTOPUS: Hubbers loves octopus, so this was a must-have. This was well prepped. The seasoning on the thin batter was perfect and the octopus was tender. This dish didn't last very long on the table. We practically gobbled it all up. We liked it so much we thought about putting in a second order. We opted against it in the end.
PICANA PIZZA WITH CHIMICHURRI: Okay, so I decided to get a main since I had a craving for pizza. Never had a picana pizza before, so there was no better time to try it. I didn't know what to expect, but since this place isn't a pizza joint, I didn't expect much. The crust was so thick that a fifth of the pie was JUST crust. There were slices of picana which tasted great. The amount of cheese was not overwhelming and the little vege it had surprisingly cleansed my palate, albeit a little. But the biggest challenge to this pizza was that they didn't slice it through and through to separate them triangle-shaped goodies. I was full after one slice, so I asked them to pack the rest up to take out. Offf, their packaging was less than stellar. (They literally and carelessly stuffed everything in a container - one can tell they just didn't care. And they still didn't bother separating the slices.)
Hubbers decided on steak which he couldn't finish either since the apps were filling, but we're lucky to have a small kitchen (fridge included) in our hotel and had that and the pizza for a second meal.
Hubbers also opted for dessert. I took a small bite. It was alright.
SIL and her husband joined us later and put in a couple of starters and drinks. Salmon carpaccio (forgot to take a picture) is delicious as well.
FOOD: 4.5
SERVICE: 4.5. Friendly and attentive staff, they make up for the minor gaffes.
VALUE: 3. Pricey, but fair, especially for the location. Expect to pay the equivalent of US/American prices.
PARKING: Not sure if they have their own parking lot, but there may be street parking at the back.
OVERALL: 4.
I'd have to try the Merida location first before I'd come back here, but overall better than average first run.
