One of my favorite meals in Tulum. Really enjoyed the simple yet elevated flavors of their fresh produce and meat. We ordered: - Gambas mayas (prawns): Loved the tangy sauce. - Arrachera angus (skirt steak): Perfectly cooked and served with mashed yuca. Loved that the yuca had a crispy exterior. - Betabel (whole roasted beet): The betabel was suprisingly my favorite dish. I've always been neutral about beets and never knew they could taste so amazing. They salt the skin and roast the beet whole which creates a unique texture. The creamy sauce was the perfect accompaniment. - Berenjena (eggplant): Served in a super flavorful mole sauce. - Honey Monkey Margarita: Ordered two of these! The roasted banana flavor was so unique. Portions aren't the largest, but luckily my husband and I weren't starving. 4-5 dishes would likely be enough for two depending on your appetite. They charge you if you want your water jug (we had still water) refilled, though they didn't let us know that. Service was alright. It wasn't hard to flag someone down if needed, though I noticed that other tables were checked on more often. No personal food menus, but they explain each item on their large menu signs. At least a dozen people were waiting once the first round of diners were seated, so definitely recommend making a reservation via email up to a month in advance. Cash only. Wouldn't hesitate to return next time I'm in Tulum and would definitely return for the betebel! read more

Over the past month Noma has come up in conversation several times and it only seemed fitting while in Tulum we visit a restaurant built on a similar philosophy - nature to table. As a larger group of self professed foodies we were all thrilled to try out this place. First impressions were amazing with friendly service and a great ambiance and charm that only increased as the sunset. The menu changes daily based on the availability of fresh local ingredients and is written on large menu boards throughout the establishment. Our waiter was fabulous in sharing the menu & answering questions we had about the menu. Unfortunately because they operate at such a large volume you can only put in an order once. This might work for smaller groups, but with a larger group of 9 people it was hard to gauge how much food to order and we certainly didn't want to order two of something we didn't love. I really wish we would have had an opportunity to put in another order. We ordered: 1 ceviche Yucatán 1 ceviche tropical 1 other ceviche 1 fish collars 1 kale Caesar salad 1 eggplant 1 roasted beet 3 pulpo 1 mariposa fish 1 sea bass My favorite items by far was the ceviche tropical, the Caesar salad, eggplant, roasted beets, octopus and the mariposa fish. The cocktails were not as great as I would hope for the price tag. Not particularly balanced and mostly all on the sweet side. But given how amazing the octopus and fish were I would highly recommend this place. read more

Everything was really good. I love a place where I can watch the kitchen. Had the butterfly fish, prawns, octopus and a tasty mock tail. read more

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Best meal of my trip to Mexico. Hands down. A must-visit for anyone in Tulum. Reservations book up fast so make sure to try to get them as soon as they open. I managed to get a last-minute reservation and WOW I'm glad I did. Every single thing we had was incredible. Perfectly balanced. Rich and flavorful. We ordered 3 apps, 1 side, and one entree and it was too much for two of us. I suggest ordering a little less than we did. But everything was so good I wouldn't want to cut anything out. Service was great as well. Traffic was terrible so make sure to leave a half hour or more early. We parked across the street at a lot that was $16. If you're staying within 30~ min walking distance I suggest walking. read more

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The octopus and the tostada were excellent. It reminded me of bestia in DTLA. Will def return. read more

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Three years we have been visiting Tulum, and every year our trip has coincided with the seasonal closure. After hearing so many positive reviews, and feeling the buzz, we finally scheduled a trip that would align with Hartwood being open. From the first moment we sat down, we were pushed to order, everything, and quickly. We asked if we could order a couple of courses, and them order more - and they told us NO! We has to order all of our food at that moment, and that was all we could order. We ordered a couple items, not wanting to go overboard on food we have never tried. So glad we did! The first two dishes came out too quickly I can only imagine they were pre-made and plated waiting for someone to tell the order in. Not to me tion how incredibly watery our aguachile was. It was almost as though they plated a soup instead. The entire meal felt rushed, clearing plates before we were done with the dish, food being brought out without room on our tiny table, everything piled on top of us, and then the check being dropped with the last food dish. Service here was not attentive - took forever to flag someone down to order drinks, and when we did they wouldn't take our order because they weren't our server (or weren't a server - they muttered something as they walked away). Overall, I would say this restaurant experience stacks up to a food truck with a parking lot dining room. Nothing close to a great meal, and farther from great service. Three stars is generous, but the food was seasoned well, the drinks were what we ordered, and they didn't mess up any of our orders. Pretty low bar if you ask me. Sad we wasted one night of our trip on such a mediocre dining experience, but glad we now know to keep it off of our list. Save yourself the hassle, and go somewhere else. read more

Somehow Hartwood lived up to the absurd hype! We loved our meal so much that we stayed one extra day to come back a 2nd time. Part of what makes it special is how local and sustainable it feels and what a great vibe they've created. Just come expecting a super fresh and tasty meal and you'll enjoy it. HOW TO GET A TABLE: If you don't have a rezzie, my best advice is to eat a light lunch and come for an early dinner to beat the rush. Both days we got here by 5:15 and were seated by 5:30pm. The menu changes all the time, but here are our highlights: THE BEET: OMFG! This is hands down the best beet I've ever had. It's roasted whole with the skin and served on an avocado cream. GET IT!!! LOBSTER SALAD: Delightful combo of lobster, watermelon, citrus and other flavors. THE RIB: Much has been written about this and it is sooooo deserved! Perfect balance of umami, porky goodness and sweet sauce. However, there were A LOT of bees flying around one the nights we were there and they swarmed on the rib. The staff trying to smoke them out and get them to leave, but had no luck. It was so annoying!!! If you're worried about that, ask if there are a lot bees around that night. FISH DISHES: There are always a few fish dishes on the menu...get whichever appeals to you the most (meatier, flakier, mild, etc.). Servers will help you. PLANTAIN: It's cooked in its peel and is sweet wonderfulness. WARNING: CASH ONLY!!! Bring your pesos. If you have 2 drinks, expect to spend about $80/person. read more

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My partner and I almost skipped out on the quintessential Tulum experience that is Hartwood, but after seeing a line out the door of travelers eager to get in, even in the heart of low season, we succumbed to the hype and got a reservation for the following night. We did not regret it! We ordered the (shellfish-less) ceviche, lamb tacos, sea bass, and of course the beet appetizer. We loved everything! Special standouts were the ceviche (our favorite dish) and the deliciously flaky sea bass. The beet dish was also surprisingly flavorful and the perfect addition to the meal. Additionally, we were impressed that our server was incredibly conscientious of my partner's shellfish allergy and helped us identify menu items that would not include shrimp or lobster. Definitely worth a reservation next time you find yourself in Tulum! (A few minor caveats - it was likely only easy to get a reservation because we visited during low season; I would definitely recommend getting a reservation in advance. You may also end up waiting for a while even if you do have a reservation, but the food will certainly be worth the wait.) read more

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Like everyone before me has said, Hartwood is a must when in Tulum. Their reservation system is only by email via website. We didn't have one but got there within 30 mins of them opening and we easily got a table-- so while a reservation is preferable, you can still get a table if you don't have one (if you have a small party)! The food was very good and the quality/favors were amazing. we started with a ceviche and got two kinds of fish that were recommended and it all was amazing. My recommendation is stick to the seafood! Depending on how hungry you are 3-4 plates are good for 2 people! read more

We had a pretty bad experience here The food was decent but wasn't amazing either. The roasted beet with cream sauce was actually really good. I'll eat that again! The fish was cooked well but wasn't properly salted or spiced. The ceviche was ok. It had this weird sauce on it rather than just lime juice. The octopus was terrible They really don't know how to cook it here. It was rubbery and tough. The service here was absolutely appalling. We waited so long for water, the menu, and for service. While everyone else was being served and the waiter were flirting with other customers, we just sat there waiting. We didn't want to leave a tip but they added the service fee automatically. We asked for the fee to be removed, and they waived it. Absolutely pathetic dining experience. Super disappointed because we had high expectations with this place as it was highly rated. Wouldn't come back even if the service was good. Bye Taste: ** Service: * Ambiance: *** ---------------------------- Hartwood Carr. Tulum-Boca Paila 7-6Km, Tulum Beach, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico ---------------------------- read more

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Must. Stop. By. This was the BEST meal we had while in Tulum. It spoke to the essence of the area...eating plein air, open fire, fresh seafood. AMAZING. Portions were sizeable and by the end of it, we were stuffed! Ordered 3 entrees and 3 apps for 3 people. Go figure. My advice: stick to the GRILLED SEAFOOD! Must get: Prawns: must eat the head! Cooked so well, it was juicy, flavorful, the highlight of our meal! Octopus: tentacles cooked perfectly, can't go wrong Bass: the grilled papaya added a tropical layer to the fish, cooked to perfection. The fish wasn't over cooked and if anything the head was slightly undercooked (which we realized when we tried to pull out the eyeball) I could live without: Ceviche: was light, refreshing, not overwhelming. Tartar: chip was good Pork: a dish we could have gone without but the chicharrones was calling our name. Compared to everything else, this one was lackluster although it came out last and our meal had peaked so that's not a fair assessment. CASH ONLY! Be prepared...despite the high cost. Paid in pesos and dollars so we had enough to cover but at a higher conversion rate. read more

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Think this place is terrific. Ate here last night with 2 adult daughters and 2 young children under 3 years old, reservation at 6:45 pm. Seated promptly on arrival, took drink orders right away then explained menu choices for the night. We chose 4 starters and 4 mains. Starters were empanadas (beef, beef & spinach, delicious!), ceviche, also delicious, Jimca salad and some shrimp that were very tasty. Vibe in the place was great and to our liking. Not rushed at all and presence of 2 young kids didn't phase them at all. Our waiter was attentive but not at all over-bearing. Our mains were: octopus, grouper, Robato (sp)( carribean sea fish, delicious!) and skirt steak, done perfectly medium-rare. All the mains were terrific, perfectly grilled and super tasty. My wife had ordered a baked sweet potato that was also a hit. All in all, a terrific experience, worth every penny and a place/experience we I'll remember for a long time! read more

Hartwood - Tulum, Quinta roo - Mexican Near Me - Tulum, ROO

This place was so great. Every dish is unique, seasonal, local, sustainable. The staff was so professional but also really hip and young at the same time. Literally loved everything we had. We really loved our server Andrea ‍ she helped us with a fantastic wine pairing and made the night really easy and special. Muchas gracias ! read more

Hartwood - Paloma - Mexican Near Me - Tulum, ROO

I sit here a bit torn about my experience at Hartwood nearly 24 hours afterwards. I decided to take some time to write my review because I did not want to be reactionary. Now with my meal digested and the smell of incense washed from my body, I think I can write a honest review of what is possibly the hottest restaurant in Tulum. Hartwood is a coveted place. You may have read over how hard it is to get a spot. It was challenging. I booked a reservation several weeks in advance. The couple next to us had already a failure to get a spot the day prior and the day we all are they had to come 5 hours before they were seated. When I told our hostess about our reservation, her smug presence left me uncertain if we were even going to be seated. It seemed a chore for her to look over her list, and even more of a burden to write our names down. We watched other groups be seated, curious if she even took down our names, afraid to even ask as to not incur the wrath of her demeanor. The entire restaurant is open. The waiting area faces the sea of tables. Watching other patrons eat. It's a strange experience. We sat observing the clientele. One party ordered a rejuvenating drink for their friend who wasn't feeling well, trying to celebrate 6 months of sobriety. Unknown to them and their ill friend, the drink they ordered was one with alcohol. The friend drank and what commenced afterwards was a comedy of errors, something out of a reality TV show. Enthralled by this event unfolding before us, and we were sat. At this time, our waitress, seemed the only inviting aspect of the experience . She recited the menu verbatim without a flaw in her breath. We decided on a tomato salad with our drinks. I ordered the Rubelo filet. My fiancé ordered the skirt steak, medium. As we waited for our food, other waiters walked up and down, between tables, with buckets of burning incense -- of which I assume was hartwood. Our tomato salad was cleaned as fast as it came. I was hungry. The salad, fresh, but too salty. I don't think anyone should salt a salad when you already use a salted cheese, like feta. The meat came, my fish came. My initial impression was they people know how to cook on an open fire. In reality the only thing that was well done was the filet. My fiancé flank steak was practically raw. And our waitress, the one who we liked, was no where to be found. I particularly disliked the white and black beans that came with my meal. They seemed so painfully undercooked that I felt like I was going to crack a tooth on it. The steak was left unfinished and my beans left alone. The horrible speakers they blasted otherwise great 80's hits left a lasting impression here. If you can't even afford to invest in a nice set of speakers for a place where you emphasis so much ambience, then who are you kidding? Honestly, your trip to Tulum may be best had at other places aside from Hartwood. More authentic places. This place felt like a prevention Hamptons getaway in the middle of Mexico. Look for places where the hostess enjoys actually hosting her guests. A place where they cook the meat as ordered. A place where the waitress checks on her guests, so as to make sure he hasn't choked on some raw legumes and lastly a place that chills out on the incenses and tunes in on their crackling speaker that makes my ears bleed. If you really want a true culinary experience... Something more than Hartwood, goto Kitchen Table. I'm honestly writing that. It's a honorable place, the cook from the heart. This place isn't. This place has no substance. I doubt my review will affect them, they already have so much buzz and momentum. If there's at least one of you potential patrons, however, don't be fooled by the pomp and pretense. That's not what Tulum is about, but what this place encourages. read more

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Made a reservation here during my tulum trip. I heard great things from my friends that travelled here. Very cute modern place situation on the bohemian strip south of Tulum. And our door dining experience, it is highly recommended to have reservation prior to coming during certain months. Simple menu with daily catches and harvests. Mainly sea food but they have a couple of meat dishes today. We ordered both ceviches of the day. I enjoyed the first one which is a fresh tasting ceviche. The second one is made from fermented pineapple juice which reminds me of shrimp paste in South Asian cuisine. We ordered a whole fried fish, filet of a fish and grilled octopus which seems to be a popular dish. I really loved the fish dishes and the octopus. We didn't get dessert because we got full. I do recommend this restaurant if you are stopping by Tulum. Worth the trip. Be prepared with mosquito spray and eating with flies because it is an outdoor restaurant after all. read more

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Talk about great service and great chefs !!! Amazing pork ribs and for sure by far the best ive ever had. Highly recommended place to chill and have a great time. read more

This little spot was top on my list to dine at and I am so glad I came. It's tiny but beautiful HOWEVER I strongly recommend you make a reservation. It's the off season for Tulum right now and it was packed. We were seated right at the time our reservation rolled around. There aren't menus, just a huge board that they change daily. Our waiter was lovely (forget his name but he's from Atlanta). He gave us fabulous recommendations of the bean salad (my personal favorite and I think everyone should try it), the octopus which was perfectly cooked, and the empanadas which were SO freaking good. We were pretty tired so we didn't get drinks- just beers and it was light and refreshing. There weren't mosquitos so not sure what this place was doing to ward them off but it was working ;) Side note- they DONT have WiFi which really isn't a problem but my SO was still on business so we just popped into the bar next door for a beer while we waited for our reservation and got their WiFi which was strong enough at Hartwood. read more

Hartwood - Inside - Mexican Near Me - Tulum, ROO

Hartwood has SOOOOO much hype. Everyone recommends it when going to Tulum. "If you don't go here you will be missing out" "You have to go, it's the best place in Tulum" "It's so good you have to reserve a month ahead of time". It's seems like its Tulum's champion. The Star of the show. So, I was pretty excited to go and visit this place that has generated so much hype. So, we got a reservation on Valentines day. I went to a couple really nice places in the 2 previous days before this. To see if Hartwood would actually stand tall, even amongst giants. I'll tell you more on my conclusion at the end. The food was very good. When you are seated, they have a big menu with today's menu on it, in chalk so they can erase whatever items they run out of (Because their menu is based on what they have caught that day). The waiter did an excellent job of telling you about EVERYTHING on the menu one by one. This showed me that the waiters here knew what they were doing and knew the menu like the back of their hand. We started with the Tomato Salad and the grilled prawns. The Tomato salad was good. But nothing that blew my socks off at all. I think my money would have been better send on another starter. The prawns were really good. Nice and big and juicy. And they came servers on a spicy mango sauce I believe. Which complemented the flavor of the Prawns. Also, there was a good helping on both the starters. Enough to share each, so that is another plus. Then for the main courses we got Octopus tentacles with Spicy potatoes and Skirt Steak with what I think I remember being mashed plantains. Then a side of sweet potato to share. The Octopus was cooked perfectly. I had Mur Mur the day before and I'd say it was about a thigh on how excellent they were cooked. The spicy potatoes that came with it we're very good as well and was a nice addition. The skirt steak was ok. It was good because it was steak but didn't really stick out for me. I feel like any good restaurant would have steak cooked at that caliber. But the mashed (what I think was) plantains were very nice. I liked them more than the steak honestly. The sweet potato we got on the side was very very good. Idk what spices or whatever they put on it and on the plate. But one of the best sweet potatoes I've ever had, for certain. We finished off the night with the Peanut Brittle Ice Cream and a Spicy Chocolate No Flour Cake. The ice-cream was better in my opinion. But both were only good. The service was really nice. We were asked if we needed anything and cared for a lot. So, they did a perfect job on that. Plus, the servers showed a vast knowledge of the menu which helped a lot. The place was really nicely set up. But not as good as a lot of the really good places down in Tulum. There were really some amazing ambiances and atmospheres down here. Hartwood's didn't really make its mark for me or stand out in this department. Overall this place is good. But it is not as good as Mur Mur, for certain. Everything from the taste to the atmosphere was failing to catch up. I can see what people like Hartwood. But I promise you, if you really want top notch cuisine and atmosphere go to Mur Mur, you don't have to wait so long, and you don't have reserve tables 30 days before. But overall Hartwood is very good. However, it failed to distance itself from other really good places down there. But I'm going to give it 4 stars, but if I didn't go to Mur Mur the night before. I would have like it more. read more

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This place is 10000% overhyped. We got here right on time for our reservation and was told to wait for 15 mins for a table we saw was already empty. I don't understand why they made us wait. The restaurant is really crammed and the waiters are not really attentive. They are always gossiping in the corner. The price here is the same as any restaurant in SF. Honestly nothing special about this place, I would not recommend. The food was average, not bad. But not worth it for the price. If you want to eat somewhere fancy, I suggest Arca which is right next to hartwood. That was easily the best meal I had in tulum. read more

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Coming here for seafood is definitely a good move! I ordered grilled prawn and sea bass. Both were so fresh and cooked to perfection. They got this smoky flavor while still tender. Flavor wise, I think it can be more complex. I don't think I'd wait 1.5 hours again for this. I hope it's easier to get reservation next time. read more

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My partner and I stopped by because his brother Marvin works in the kitchen and would rave about this place. We decided to stop by for dinner on a Sunday night. Place was packed! The restaurant itself has a cute outdoors vibe to it. The candlelit dinner is very romantic and just beautiful. Now the food! The food was exquisite. We keep dreaming about the Arrachera with the succulent rub to it and the butterfly cut fish. Marvin did not exaggerate how it all would be. He kept coming to check on us to make sure everything was up to par and it excelled. Our server, I didn't get his name was also amazing and prompt with our drinks! The server assistance made sure our table was clear of any unused plates and kept our table clean at all times. Highly recommend coming here if you're ever in this town!! read more

After hearings tons about it. I decided to try it out. This is just my experience - The food tasted like metal. The owner is extremely unfriendly. Of course, he's a New Yorker. I recommend eating at a place run by Mexicans, they know how to run a restaurant. They rushed us out. I am not exaggerating. The waitress literally said: 'This is taking forever, could you please leave soon?' I have never been treated like that. My recommendation is to avoid this spot. Period. read more

Some of the BEST FOOD I'VE EVER HAD! My goodness. I see why it's hard to get a reservation here...the food is absolutely DELICIOUS. Hartwood came highly recommended by a friend who had been to Tulum a couple of times. You want to make reservations at least a month in advance, if you can. I emailed 3 weeks prior to my trip to Tulum and couldn't get a Saturday night reservation, so beware. You can see the huge open flame they cooked the grill on. You could also see all the fresh fruit and veggies that they use. I was like liking this restaurant already. The kitchen was busy the entire time we were there. We started with the 2 kinds of ceviche they serve. One was a more traditional with lime and avocado. The taste was impeccable! Some of the best ceviche I've ever had. The other had chili oil. The taste was still good but I liked the traditional more. We ordered an array of food: red snapper, Coronado, pork ribs, and grilled octopus. O.M.G....the amazing flavors. The snapper was whole and butterflied. Grilled to perfection and the seasoning was sooooo good. It came with a side of parsnips (my friend calls them carrots with an attitude, lol) and a watermelon and citrus salad. The salad really worked well with the fish. The melon and citrus taste brought out the taste of the fish. Coronado is a meaty white fish. Another dish that was very well seasoned and cooked perfectly with sides that accompanied the fish wonderfully. The pork ribs were oh so good. Cooked to perfection. Wonderfully seasoned and tender. That meat slid off the bone like butter. The grilled octopus was so tender and cooked just right. It wasn't rubbery at all. My friend said it was some of the best octopus she's ever had. Everyone was thoroughly impressed with their dishes they ordered. We all agreed everything...yes everything was amazing. The flavors were amazing. You can taste that flame grill on the food and it does nothing but enhance the flavor. I'm telling you, this is some good food! If you ever plan on going to Tulum, make sure you email them so you can get a reservation. FYI, it's cash only. read more

Hartwood - Red snapper - Mexican Near Me - Tulum, ROO

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You should have reservations and may have to make them in advance. The environment was loud but in a good way as your still able to have a conversation at your table. The customer service is good. Pricey. Food - The dishes were so delicious. First time, I had a beet made that way plus the puree to eat it with explosion of flavors spiciness, acidity, sweetness and much more in one bite. The prawns and fish were bomb but the tacos was ok. The place has no parking area. You would have to drive a little past it to take a 5 minute walk. Parking charged 400 pesos but you can talk them down. Traffic is so bad and the road is like you are driving on the moon with so many craters. Recommend taking taxi to this place. read more

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Nothing about this place was worth any of the hype. The place was aesthetically bland and tasteless. It was so dark all could see was the one candle light at each table. There was one restroom for the entire restaurant that had crevices in the worst place so anyone can watch you handle business if they looked up from Their table. The staff was okay.. Valencia or Victoria of whatever her name was at the door was polite. Let me know I needed to wait a bit but could take a seat and order a drink from the bar. Our server. I didn't even get his name but he was rude as hell!!! As soon as he got to our table he was courteous, friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and I could tell he was tired of explaining the menu for that evening. He was not patient with us not being able To hear him at the table. He was not willing to repeat himself. And ended up throwing dishes at us just to get us to order something.... not the ordering experience I read about. The food was... average and if it wasn't average it was awful. The shrimp for the appetizers were the only good thing on the menu that we ordered. And we ordered a little variety. Both ceviches. The shrimp. And the empanadas. Then the steak and the octopus. The empanadas were too salty. The ceviche was fresh but lacking flavor. And the steak and octopus weren't cooked well. The steak was chewy and undercooked for the ordered preference. And the octopus tasted like I was chewing on a piece of fat the entire time. It was gross. I sent the octopus back and they sent it back out charred. It was disgusting!!!! Then the server like never came back after our food was dropped off. Like. WHERE IS THE SERVICE. then wanted to demand we pay the "suggested tip" amount. No way. NO. FREAKING WAY. We left a grossly short tip for the inexperienced staff that managed this restaurant that night. Our dining experience here made us so upset and nervous about Mexico's services industry and palette of food that we cancelled all of our reservations at all the other restaurant in walking distance from This place because seriously? This is supposed to be top notch and it fell from A tree into the dirt. Maybe Tulum isn't the place for true fine cuisine. Disappointed. read more

This was our first dinner in Tulum, and boy it did not disappoint. Making a reservation was a pain, as I had to email 3x (in different languages!), but it proved to be worth it. We arrived at 7:05 for a 7pm reservation on a Thursday night, and waited for 10 minutes or so before being seated. The restaurant is party covered, but many of the tables are out in the open. On a mild night like this, it was quite pleasant, but I've read that the restaurant closes when it rains. The menu changes every day and the servers take great care in explaining every dish to the the table before ordering. This style causes the servers to be a bit slower than usual getting around to the tables. We ordered the ceviche de yucatan, smoked amberjack, octopus, grilled fish of the day, and ice cream (sweet corn, cheesecake, and cinnamon). The ceviche, while tasty, was probably the least impressive dish. The fish was incredibly fresh, but the mix of mint was a bit strong. The smoked amberjack was very unique, fatty, and tasty. It went great with the flatbread. The octopus, which was grilled and came with pesto roasted potatoes, was simply the best I've ever had, and I've had some damn good octopus in San Francisco. It was fresh and incredibly tender. The fish was also great, and the ice cream flavors were unique and fun. By the time we finished, around 8:30, the line was 30+ people. If you plan to come here, make a reservation on the earlier end of the night. The servers don't rush any table, and people take their time. It seems like walk-ups are basically not accepted, as the restaurant struggles to get even all the reservations seated on time due to delays. We saw multiple walk up groups turned away, or told they could wait but not be promised a table. This was one of our favorite meals during our time in Cancun. Truly a special experience with amazingly fresh food under the stars. Pro tip: mosquitos come out at night, so use bug spray! Parking can be tricky, there are paid lots north and south of the restaurant, but don't get tricked into paying more than 100 pesos! Also, this place is cash only. If you order 3+ dishes, expect somewhere in the range of $40-$50 USD per person. read more

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Well this was quite possibly the best fish dish I've had in a very long time. I made a reservation via the email on their website about a month ago. We arrived a few moments early and they had a list with our name on it and said our table would be ready shortly. We ordered a drink from a very personable server and by the time he walked away the table was ready. I know a ton of people must of been walk-ins around us as they were waiting a bit longer than us. We sat and a server who spoke perfect English (Hunter) came by and thoroughly explained the whole menu to us - which was all written on a board. They brought the board with them when they explained the menu and they left the board as we decided what to order. We got the ceviche Yucatán which was flounder and great flavors of lime, cilantro, jalapeño and cucumber. Delicious. We both ordered fish dishes that were amazing. The flavor of the grill Was so great & the combo of flavors was amazing on both dishes. The fish was just cooked perfectly - so flaky and just melted in our mouths. We also ordered a side of a baked beets and wow the flavor was amazing with the jalapeño cream it came with. It was great to see the kitchen and the way they were cooking the food in the back over the open flame. It's great that it's an entirely eco-friendly restaurant and all locally sourced ingredients. The presentation is always beautiful. It was an intimate experience & we were surrounded by amazing people enjoying great food. A must in Tulum! And bring pesos as it's pesos only. There is an ATM just north of the restaurant closer to mur mur that gives our pesos as many of the atms on the beach street are mainly USD. read more

Hartwood - Mero and roblano fish dishes. So so good and cooked perfectly. - Mexican Near Me - Tulum, ROO

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Hartwood was a great restaurant in the heart of the Tulum hotel zone. They pride themselves with no menu because it changes everyday. The server was very knowledgeable on all the dishes and we knew exactly what we wanted to order. The tuna tartar tostadas were sooooo good and extremely fresh. The empanadas were also very good with lots of flavor! The ribs were so juicy and tender. They were amazing! We were so happy to have gone here. read more

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This was my second time in Tulum and the first time I visited I had heard such great things about this place so, since we weren't able to get in without a reservation the first time I made sure to have one this time.. that unfortunately wasn't kept for some reason. So, after explaining this to the hostess, she said we could wait for seats to open up at the bar.. which we accepted. Waited about 30 mins before being seated but this was to be expected. I must say that I was some-what disappointed with some of the menus items that we ordered.. The lamb tacos had good flavor but the taco itself completely fell apart. The lobster dish was a little chewy and didn't have a whole lot of flavor And the ribs didn't fall off the bone like you would expect. The absolute best part about this experience was the bartender! He was super friendly and we enjoyed talking with him. He made us a killer pomegranate caipirinha! And if we could sit at the bar all night we would! The staff was great and super friendly and they all seemed to be very knowledgeable about the menu items and what each dish has in it read more

Hartwood - Mexican Near Me - Tulum, ROO

Absolutely nothing to rave about. My gf heard such great things about this place and had to make reservations one month in advance, as advised by their website, and by friends who highly recommended this place. Deep in the necks of the jungle, we visited this place on our first night here in Tulum after a very delayed flight. The ambiance was dark, hot, and loud. Not to mention the lovely mosquitos. The menu was all written on a large easel that was dragged around by multiple people, and no point of even reading it, since it's all in Spanish. You get a waiter that has this entire thing rehearsed from head to toe and goes over the menu like a guy taking bids at the auction. We got our drinks, and tasted like pretend cocktail beverages with flavor water.... Food was okay, but honestly I was just fed up with the overall experience. Nothing great whatsoever. Who the hell thinks this place was so worthy to make a month in advance reservation? This place was TERRIBLE! The bathroom was an outhouse lit with a candle or two and heavily incensed just like the entire place! I literally could not breath! I could barely see where I was pissing... the sink counter top was covered in ashes from the incense, but you obviously Could not see from all the darkness. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND EVEN IF MY LIFE DEPENDED ON IT. Horrible service and not worth my time and money. Rather eat street tacos than put all my pesos here. read more

Not just lived up to, but exceeded the hype! I went with a group of 12 for my birthday, and all I had to do was email 1 month in advance and we were good to go. Since we had so many people we were able to try almost everything on the menu, so I'll just cover the highlights. Lobster: HOLY MOLY this thing was huge. I split it with another person and we were pleasantly surprised at how much it filled us both up. The meat was juicy and flavorful Steak (I think it was a ribeye?): bathed in butter, tender, and HUGE. Multiple people at the table ordered the steak and almost everyone ended up having leftovers, even after sharing bites. Empanadas appetizer: also SO good we ended up ordering another one! Ceviche appetizer: there was a lot of meat, and it was a great blend of flavors and spices. I particularly loved the thinly sliced jalapeños and wish there were more We also enjoyed the drink selection and the atmosphere! It was fun and lively - great place for a group or more intimate meal! Couldn't recommend this place enough read more

Hartwood - Ceviche and empanadas appetizers - Mexican Near Me - Tulum, ROO

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Food was excellent. The grilled octopus was so ridiculously tender, each bite was pillowy heaven. I think lobster is overrated, but the flavor on this lobster was impressive. Ceviche was wonderful and the speciality cocktails were delicious as well. The empanadas were the only dish that wasn't a standout. So why 2 stars? Service and food poisoning. The wait/service: Talk about attitude. You should arrive at least 1.5 hrs before the place opens at 6 pm to ensure a reservation. Advance reservations are only for groups of 8+. When we dined, Hartwood actually opened at 5:15 pm because they felt like it. When we arrived at 6:15, the wait list was already full. The guy at the front immediately turned us and everyone else away. No explanation for how the process works. Luckily we had a tip from a friend to be persistent, grab some drinks from the bar, and wait it out. Which we did. We managed to find the last open spot in the waiting area to sit down, grabbed a couple cocktails, and waited an hour. Ended up being seated at a communal table with two other couples. So if you are persistent, you can get a spot. They just don't tell you and prefer to turn people away. *Cash only, and fairly pricey, so make sure you bring enough. At least 500 pesos per person to be safe, definitely more if you are drinking. **Also it's very dark after sunset (candles provide the light), so be careful about what you eat. The head part of the lobster was completely raw, but A did not notice this until he took a bite. Cue 6 hours of violent food poisoning and throwing up twice an hour. I was lucky and only ate from the cooked tail portion, so I escaped a night of hell. read more

Hartwood - Pulpo (octopus) - Mexican Near Me - Tulum, ROO

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My friend and I had the Empanadas with Suckling Pig and we got very sick from it. So just a small warning if anyone wants to experiment eating something different since there are a lot of out of towners here. We eat pork all the time so I was pretty shocked about that. However, overall the food, atmosphere and friendly staff was wonderful! So please come if you can. Just don't experiment too much with your food palette. read more

Our evening spent at Hartwood couldn't have been any lovelier. The glow of candlelight, interesting cocktails very much on par, and a sandwich board full of exciting offerings made for an incredible ramp up to a meal so delicious that we couldn't stop talking about it all week! read more

Few restaurants live up to the hype, and few have seen as much hype as this one. This one does live up to the hype. As background, this Hartwood is an open-air, live fire restaurant that exists mostly off the grid. It was founded by Eric Werner and Mya Henry, two new Yorkers who visited Tulum in 2010, fell in love with the place, and decided to stay. Hartwood prides itself on two things: Live fire cooking, and a network of local suppliers who provide fresh ingredients. There is no set menu; rather, a chalkboard tells you what is fresh. The plantain and the beet appetizer is always a staple, as is some kind of ceviche, the octopus, and a steak. The rest varies based upon what has been caught recently. I had the roasted beet with habanero-avocado crema; the smoked amberjack salad; and grilled octopus with potatoes. I didn't have a cocktail, but did ask them to give me a non-alcoholic drink...which was made from two of the 15 fruit purees they had on the bar (one employee does nothing but prepare the purees). The food was amazing - not a fussy preparation, but well prepared and tasting strongly of place. I liked the vibe, and the fact it's basically a clearing in the jungle. The drawback, if there was one, is that it's hard to reach them to make a reservation. I'd recommend showing up early if you're not staying in Tulum, or heading by and asking in person for a reservation if you are. Eating at the bar is also an option - they don't accept reservations for less than a party of 2. read more

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So I risked it and showed up early on Sunday without a reservation. Place was packed as everyone else had mentioned. Seemingly, i lucked out as I only waited about half an hour before I got sat at the bar, which I didn't mind at all. (Party of two). The ambiance was great. Good vibes. Lots of people. Drinks were also awesome. Good mix of Mezcal and Gin variations. (Seems to be the norm in Tulum). The apps were ok. Nothing out of this world. Ordered the salad, the shrimp, and the ceviche plates. The entrees however were awesome. I had the octopus and my gf had the churrasco-cooked to perfection. Verdict: as long as you don't have to wait too long, def check it out. Warning. Very expensive for Tulum standards. Must bring cash!! read more

Hartwood - Best Octopus I've had! - Mexican Near Me - Tulum, ROO

Best dinner we've had in Tulum this far. We planned this trip last minute, so we were unable to make reservations, however we were able to sit at the bar, which my husband and I prefer to do anyways. Our server Julio was amazing. First- we were very unprepared as we did not bring cash- which is a problem since this restaurant is cash only- and when Julio saw that I was sending out my husband to the ATM, he insisted that we wait until the end so that my husband would be able to enjoy the food as soon as it came out of the kitchen. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and drinks, with spot on recommendations according to our preferences. We ordered the jicama salad, the empanadas, the roasted beet, the pork ribs, and the snook. Everything was so perfectly done- the flavors complimented each other, the peppers in the sauces elevated the dish, but weren't so spicy that you couldn't taste the other foods. With a rotating menu, I would eat here every day. To finish, we had the honey pie with a scoop of peanut brittle ice cream. AMAZING. the honey pie has a dollop of lavender cream on top- so light and refreshing, and not overly sweet. Does pair well with the saltiness of the peanut brittle ice cream. At the bar- we were greeted with mezcal shots- not really a shot girl any more but these were delicious! The cocktails offered on the menu are very diverse, also rotating, so I can't recall any names- and I what I would consider pretty unique to Tulum. Plenty of tequila & mezcal options however I prefer more gin & vodka drinks. There are these types of cocktails available, but just not as many options to choose from. This was remedied though when one of the bartenders asked what my cocktail preferences are, to which he made me the perfect, refreshing, not overly-sweet customized gin cocktail. The atmosphere in Hartwood is very relaxed, yet hip and modern. Loved that this place is off the grid as well. Most of the lighting is via candlelight, which also felt very intimate. The service made us feel so welcomed, like we were friends&family. read more

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This restaurant could survive the tough competition of the Los Angeles restaurant scene. Highly recommend this place for some of the best seafood I've ever had. Make reservations early (2 weeks), they're very popular! read more

After getting recommended Hartwood by multiple sources I was counting down the days until our reservation. Unfortunately- the service was absolutely terrible and after asking multiple times to space out the dishes they ignored our requests and continue to fill the small picnic table with appetizers and entrees all at once without any consideration of their guest requests. Although the food was good, it truly felt like a factory even though it wasn't even busy. Truly disappointed- If you're looking for a real food experience go to Wild it's a better experience. read more

BEST MEAL I'VE EVER HAD. Not an exaggeration. We loved everything about this restaurant. We loved watching the bartenders mixing up delicious and unique cocktails - the best we had in Tulum. The kitchen looks so cool with the wood fires. We loved the sustainability efforts here - chalkboard menus, candles on the tables, very few lowly lit lights, wood fires. The service was impeccable. I don't know our waiter's name, but he was from Spain. He knew that menu inside and out. Was able to describe every dish and provide great recommendations. The rest of the wait staff was on top of it. The second we finished a dish, someone was there to take it. If someone saw us looking around for a second, they recognized we wanted something and came to ask us if they could assist. We ordered the Ceviche De Quelites, Salbutes de Cordero (lamb tacos), Filete de Robalo (grilled fish), Costillas al Agave (shortribs), and the Betabel (beet). Every dish as it was brought out kept getting better and better. The Ceviche was so flavorful! But the LAMB...!! So juicy and had so many amazing flavors. The fish was probably the least favorite, but was still delicious. It just was much lighter compared to the other dishes we got. THE SHORTRIBS were our favorite dish. It was so so so so juicy, tender, fell right off the bone. We couldn't understand just how they cook it so perfectly. It made us want to go back for another night! Honestly, if we come back to Tulum, we could eat here every night. read more