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    Madre Tierra

    4.3 (73 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood, Steakhouses
    Open 12:00 pm - 11:30 PM

    Madre Tierra Photos

    MADRE TIERRA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Touristy
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - Madre Tierra

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    Reviews With Photos

    Shane L.

    The wife and I came here while on a mini vacation and we were not disappointed at all. How could you lose with the wide open restaurant area overlooking the downtown Playa Del Carmen shopping district where on one side has some Mexican music playing with accordions and guitars and the other sides showing some Old Navy action. The warm breeze and music playing made a great atmosphere. As for the restaurant, outside of the beautiful scenery, was a plethora of authentic options from steak to seafood and is a definite change from all of the burritos and churros that you find elsewhere but it was a very nice change and the quality was impeccable. I had the salmon egg rolls that were crispy and delicious and decadent at the same time with a great crunch and a smoky flavor with the dipping sauce. The wife started with a bisque that was smoky in flavor and they called it tortilla soup and she loved every minute of it (she said key is to throw all the fixins in the pool) Then we both had the flank steak that came on a giant cutting board with some fingerling type potatoes and small pile of veggies but the steak was perfectly cooked and was tender and the flavor was divine! I had the margarita and they made a non alcoholic strawberry one for the wife that she loved. For dessert we had the cheesecake with coffee to top off a perfect evening with GREAT service and attentive staff to be there for our every whim. When we come back, we will be here ... it really made our stay that much more memorable.

    Wine corks!
    Chuq Y.

    I really want to give this place 5 stars, but I just can't do it! Madre Tierra is a great place with an open air dining room on the second floor. The food was delicious except for the steak for us. :( The staff was absolutely wonderful and super polite.They were very attentive without being overbearing, and this was easily the best service we had for food (which means I am excluding bars). They are a seafood and steak grill, and for our fancy meal of the trip, we decided to come here after having tacos for many days and many many meals. I opted for the Surf & Turf, which is a soft beef fillet with pepper sauce and lobster tail. The lobster was delicious, but they were kind of small. I felt like they would not be legal size in the states, but I'm not sure of the rules for Mexico. I would definitely get the lobster again though. The steak on the other hand, was just as described on the menu: beef fillet. I'm not sure what cut of meat it was, but it was not quite as good as I expected. I was expecting a nice juicy cut of meat, but it was not juicy, and it really detracted from the experience. Others in my party agreed that their steaks were just meh as well. Should you come here for a meal though, for goodness sake, get the Caesar salad. The dressing is made tableside, and their party trick is cracking the egg with a spoon and fork. It's really neat, and I have been practicing at home. They serve the dressing over a few leaves of romaine lettuce, and you can choose if you want anchovies or not. I would definitely go back here with a hope that the steak is better. Everything else was spectacular.

    Vee A.

    Walk by this restaurant randomly. The staff was friendly and attentive. The service is was good. Got our drinks right away and food right after that. They made the guacamole right in front of us. That was a good touch on presentation. We order tocos shrimp and beef steak with shrimp. The shrimp taco was good but the beef smelled and taste not fresh. It seems like it was out for a long time before cooking that's why it had after taste and smell. When we ask the server if its actually beef the manager confirmed that it was but we just told him our feedback. After that we didn't feel like continuing to eat got our check and left. They did take out one of the taco Off our bill.

    Sea Scallops
    Lorenzo M.

    One of the oldest restaurants in Playa del Carmen and still standing! (I think more than 15 years) I came for dinner along with my family and I can say quality of the food is very good and perfectly cooked. The menu is very small but as far as I know, and from what the other members of my family said everything tasted very good. I can't recommend anything in particular because everything was really good.

    Great food and excellent service. Good wine selection and mostly under $30. Will come back here.
    Bert T.

    Second story views and breezes. Non-smoking section. Great food and reasonable prices. Excellent service too. Great appetizers and desserts. Filet and lobster were superb. Wine is great value.

    Surf & Turf
    Tiffany B.

    The sirloin and lobster were prepared to perfection and the service was exceptional. I'm a lover of all things bread and they missed the mark with frozen baguettes. Still worth a visit if you're ever in Playa!!

    SPAGHETTI MADRE TIERRA
    Gus S.

    Excelent experience. We had the FISH FILLET and the MADRE TIERRA SPAGHETTI. Both fresh and delicious. I definitely recommend it. Carlos was great and took good care of us.

    Tony J.

    Captured the experience of overlooking the downtown shopping malls . The service was outstanding! Ray our server was extremely friendly and made sure we were all satisfied. He even prepared fresh guacamole right at the table. By far the best we've tasted! The food was excellent and pricing was very reasonable. If we come back to visit we will make it a point to eat there again.

    Denise M.

    I just ate there with my husband. The service is good, guacamole was made in front of us. We got rib-eye and filet mignon. The first one had like 30% of fat and both come with a side of vegetables. The overall quality of the food doesn't worth the money we pay for it. For the type of restaurant, the food should be better. Dry meat. We add a side of fries and I order a coke and a drink, it was almost 70$ the bill with tips. I would not go back.

    Nice atmosphere, disappointing experience at Madre Tierra
    Vin Z.

    After many trips to Playa we finally tried Madre Tierra because it always looked so inviting with the beautifully designed staircase and romantic lighting. Unfortunately the food wasn't as good as the atmosphere. It was a pretty disappointing experience and the meal was not worth the price. The staff were friendly but rushed us through the meal, we wanted to linger and enjoy drinks but went to another place.

    Tamesha C.

    Excellent service, cheap wine... so so. Fortunately, they make up for the subpar food with an unprecedented view and relaxed ambiance. The great thing about this place is, you get 2 complimentary drinks (yes, alcoholic) when you check in and take a picture with the owner.

    Grilled tuna

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    Interesting place with a lot of tourists. I will not go to the re next time but some other people may really enjoyed the ambiance

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    10 years ago

    Fabulous grilled lobster (with a garlic sauce;) good service- no air conditioning but still delicious

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    Madre Tierra Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Madre Tierra

    Started with fresh quac made at our table, then ordered the ceviche for an appetizer.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

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    El Fogón

    El Fogón

    4.6(1.3k reviews)
    0.7 kmCentro
    $

    After visiting all three El Fogón locations in Playa del Carmen, I can confidently say they're all…read morefantastic. The service is quick, the prices are incredibly reasonable, and the food is consistently delicious. Before your meal even arrives, you're served a plate of fresh radishes, cucumber, and lime wedges, plus a selection of toppings including tomatoes, onions, and both a green and red salsa. Unfortunately this location didn't give us the cactus like the other locations did. The red salsa was my favourite, it paired perfectly with the tacos and had just the right amount of heat and flavour. The standout for me was the al pastor taco. The meat was incredibly flavourful with crispy edges, a smoky char, and the perfect balance of savoury spice and sweet pineapple. It was easily one of the best al pastor tacos I had in Playa del Carmen. I also tried the sirloin taco and the chicken breast plate, both of which were excellent. The portions were generous, everything tasted fresh, and the quality was impressive, especially for the price. El Fogón absolutely lived up to the hype. If you're looking for authentic, delicious tacos and grilled meats that won't break the bank, this is a must visit. I loved it so much that I ended up eating at all three locations and every visit was just as good as the last.

    We had a fantastic meal at El Fogón in Playa del Carmen! The atmosphere was fun, lively, and felt…read morevery authentic. The service was outstanding, and everyone made us feel welcome. My wife and I shared the chicken fajitas, which were excellent. My friend ordered the al pastor fajitas, and his wife had the pork chops--everyone agreed the food was delicious. The guacamole was fresh and amazing, and every dish was flavorful and generously portioned. If you're looking for authentic Mexican food with excellent service and a great atmosphere, I highly recommend El Fogón. We would definitely come back!

    Photos
    El Fogón - View from interior towards the corner intersection.

    View from interior towards the corner intersection.

    El Fogón - Nopales

    Nopales

    El Fogón - Strawberries smoothie

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    Strawberries smoothie

    Ictio - Oysters

    Ictio

    4.6(65 reviews)
    0.5 kmParaíso del Carmen

    Came here on a Wednesday night and they were packed. Thankfully, we managed to snag a table even…read morewithout a reservation but the service was pretty slow the whole night. I guess they weren't prepared for it to be this busy on a Wednesday night. The food was all really good, except for the fish. It was grilled well but tasted a bit dry. Only the top of the fish that was covered in sauce had flavor but it didn't seep through to the bottom of the fish. I recommend getting the Seafood Ceviche because they make it with coconut milk, which was different from all the other ceviches we had on our trip. Other than the slow service, this was a good experience. Seafood Ceviche 9/10 Crispy Jumbo Shrimps 9/10 Soft Shell Crab Taco 9/10 Fresh Catch of the Day (half garlic butter, half ictio) 7/10

    On a local's recommendation, I stopped in for lunch at ICTIO Fish House and it instantly became one…read moreof my favorite dining experiences here. Then came the whole fried fish -- crispy, golden, incredibly fresh, and topped with fresh onions, cilantro, jalapeños, and a charred lime on the side. It was so delicious I could barely put my fork down! The owner himself came out to check on us -- so kind, humble, and genuinely passionate about his food. Everything is made with the freshest local ingredients, and it shows in every bite. The flavors are bright, authentic, and unforgettable. ICTIO is an absolute must. This is the kind of meal you'll remember and tell everyone about.

    Photos
    Ictio
    Ictio - Charales

    Charales

    Ictio - Live music.. They were pretty good. Restaurant filled up by the time we started to eat.

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    Live music.. They were pretty good. Restaurant filled up by the time we started to eat.

    Madre Tierra - seafood - Updated August 2026

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