This restaurant is amazing. First off the service.. as if the staff was there just for you. Alejandro was perfect. Knowledgeable and so friendly. But the food!!! Wow! The ceviche app was the BEST I've ever had. The halibut was grilled to perfection. The desserts.... A wonderful place to go for a special date or just to get out and be pampered. Thank you! read more

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We reserved our Friday night "lobster night" table a few weeks in advance! So excited! We arrived exactly at our reservation time and were not seated until 10 minutes later. No big deal. However, we sat at our table for over 10 minutes before a server actually acknowledged us. That was uncomfortable. Once he came by, we asked about ordering the lobster dinner and he said "well, it's very exclusive." to which I responded "I KNOW, we made a reservation exclusively for that. Is that noted somewhere?"He copped an attitude but then said "ok. I THINK we have some left". Ugh. So, the service was not ideal. Also, it was loud and clearly there were families in there that had just come back from Legoland or somewhere, because there were screaming children. Not really a big deal in a hotel environment because you kind of expect that, but don't go in expecting an "exclusive" experience here. That said, the food was AWESOME. Pork belly appetizer was the winner! The lobster was fantastic (although, we asked for extra of the sauce they put with it and it never came), and the potatoes on the side were great. Overall, I would love to go back and experience the food again, however, for the price, it's not worth putting up with the weak service. Also...that whole "dress code" thing. Don't stress. You're fine read more

We made a reservation for a table outside. Upon arrival we had to wait for our table. Why, I don't know because there was only one table seated outside. It was as if they weren't expecting us. Being its Lent and wanting to remain in observance we were looking forward to having the Baja lobster. Unfortunately we were unaware you had to request this when making a reservation. So it was disappointing to find out we were out of luck. All lobsters were spoken for. At this point we should have gotten up and left. I "settled" for the catch of the day. It was the most flavorless piece of small white fish I think I've ever had. It was chewy and maybe a tad bit overcooked. The tiny garnishes on the side might as well not have been added as they were so tiny. I felt like I was served the last of what was in the refrigerator. Thankfully we ordered two appetizers to share otherwise we would have left hungry. We sat outside which was lovely and much quieter than inside. We were able to enjoy our dinner catching up with friends. The service was very very slow. Although it gave us time to chat, it seemed to us that we were forgotten. For a luxury hotel I expected a more elevated dining experience. This was not. read more

Food was outstanding but the service topped that if it's even possible! They treated us like loyalty even though we were with my toddler who skipped a nap. What a wonderful surprise after a long travel day! We had the ceviche, pork belly app, chicken, and some desserts! What a beautiful spread and exquisitely presented read more

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Beautiful dining room. Excellent service, you get new silverware with every course. Complimentary arepas were delicious. Wish a Pom was tasted like a pomegranate martini with tequila. It was good but I think I expected something a little more exciting at a higher end restaurant. Lobster taco and chicken enmolda were cooked perfectly. The enchilada the chicken entree came with was my least favorite item. Potatoes tostones are a definite yes. Love the crispy bits and the super interesting flavor profile. Seafood paella didn't have the classic crust as other reviewers mentioned but was a generous portion. The aioli really complimented the rice. Overall the food was tasty but on the saltier side. They validate valet. Although the hostess acknowledged we were here for a birthday the servers didn't really do anything else special for us. read more

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This is a bright, pretty restaurant. I ate there three times for breakfast and one time for dinner. The breakfast was four stars. The food was good as was the service, but I thought it had a pretty limited menu for the entrées. Dinner was a five star experience though. As I read through other reviews, Alejandro was also my server and was amazing! He was so knowledgeable, helpful, attentive. He definitely stood out. There was a little amuse bouche, and I loved it so much that I would definitely order it as an appetizer. I ordered the lobster taco and thought it was delicious as was the wine pairing that he suggested. read more

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Delicious baja inspired dinner at the Park Hyatt Aviara Parking Valet parking only. Service/Wait Time/Aesthetic Not busy at all for dinner with quiet music. Really clean layout with an open kitchen. Our server Norma was really very kind and friendly! Food/Drinks They bring you complimentary arepa with avocado crema and it is very tasty! The potatoes tostones were very good- perfectly charred and very flavorful. I also had the Wood Grilled Whole Fish which was a red sea snapper. It was perfectly cooked and butterflied out so there weren't too many bones. The churros are a must, a non skip item. I am aware they are $14 and that seems crazy, but it is the highest quality churro I have ever had. The white cream cheese sauce is the best dipping sauce, with the seasonal fruit compote and spiced mayan chocolate sauce being okay. Overall, I would recommend coming here for a fancier meal if you are staying at the Park Hyatt! read more

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Not many hotel restaurants provide top notch meals. This one definitely deserve 5 stars. We had dinner and breakfast twice during our stay. Everything was great including their service. We tried oysters, ceviche, steak, seafood paella, churros, French toast and omelette. Oysters and ceviche were so fresh!!!! Steak was high quality and well cooked with full of flavor. You will enjoy the luxurious ambience and food! read more

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Amazing dinner! The food was great and I think even better than ember and rye ( other on property restaurant) also our the servers were phenomenal! Alejandro and Oscar were such good hosts. Alejandro was so sweet and explained the food and introduced all the different chefs to my son ( who was so enamored bc he loves the whole restaurant industry). Too notch! Everyone should give it a try even if you don't stay here. Octopus was great. Chicken was also super tasty. read more

Ponto Lago - Arepa - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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This restaurant is located within the Park Hyatt hotel in Carlsbad. You have to use valet but they do validate which is a a huge bonus. The restaurant was aesthetically nice and we were quickly greeted by the host who was amazing. She welcomed us and mentioned "you guys are celebrating a birthday..." that was nice to notice and we were offered a corner booth or table. The seating was very comfortable and had a great view of the patio with beautiful backdrops. This was our second time here but the menu has changed over 1 yr which was nice to try new things. My wife got a delicious cocktail which paired nicely with the dinner. First up were the arepas which came as a pair. The presentation was slightly off with them facing towards the server but we fixes that for the photo. Just a small detail. They were just a little salty but were very flavorful. Next was the butter poached lobster taco which was amazing. It had a ton of lobster and the mix of two different tortillas really made it stand out. The potato tostones were one of my favorite things on the menu. They were beautifully seasoned and the cream paired amazing with it. For the mains we got the seafood paella without mussels. The shrimp and mussels were perfectly cooked. However, the rice was crunchy as you would expect for this dish. Just a little too soft to make it a paella. The fish was the opah which was also the local catch of the day. The last dish was the chicken breast which was perfectly cooked and was not dry at all. Packed with flavor and a light crunch on the skin, it was perfect and highly recommend trying it. We were to full for dessert but it would have been nice to have them offer a complimentary dessert for her birthday. Other than that the service was amazing from start to finish. If you're ever in that area or at the Hyatt, go check out this restaurant. read more

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Well Ponto Lago has definitely raised its standards over the past 3 years in terms of service. Alejandro from Spain took care of me and made it one of the most memorable dining experiences I had in quite a long time in any restaurant. From the moment i sat down until the check was brought me and my son were treated like royalty. I was blown away. We ordered the blue corn tortillas with guacamole to start. Made to order delicious tasting guacamole with just the right texture and light crunch chips. I do not like really thick crunchy tortilla chips so these mini saucers brought it all home for me. My son ordered the house chicken with mole sauce. He swallowed it up like no tommorow. I had to fork try the mole sauce. Three words: TO DIE FOR. I ordered the whole fish. Yes, steep at $78 but worth every penny. Bar none. I am one of the few customers at Ponto that order it just for me and not to share. Bragging rights? No just the best darn fish on the planet that I am not sharing! Dessert was the unique eclectic pineapple dessert created my a true sweets artist. Incredible. Never seen anything quite like it. Ask for Alejandro! read more

Ponto Lago - Whole Snapper - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

First, my waiter Alejandro was fantastic from start to finish explaining the courses and also assisting with a Spanish wine pairing for the paella. The food was above my expectations and incredibly flavorful. Half dozen of oysters were fresh and delicious with a hibiscus oil. The octopus was cooked to perfection and had an incredible aioli to pair with it. Finishing with the seafood paella for the main course was something new for me and was so packed with flavor I'll need to return just to have again. Incredible service, incredible food, and the ambiance with the open kitchen concept tied it all together. Well done. read more

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A dreamy coastal date-night kind of spot where the oysters are fresh, the chardonnay is Cakebread, and the seafood is as gorgeous as it is flavorful. The ceviche could've used more chips (and a bowl, please!), but the smoky crudo and grilled octopus more than made up for it. Finished with warm churro rolls and dipping sauces that felt like a hug. Fancy without being stuffy. I'll be back--with a date or a dinner-worthy client. read more

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I've been wanting to try Ponto Lago for a while and when I saw they were doing a local spiny lobster special on Fridays (during lobster season) I could not resist! The service was THE BEST we have experienced in a very long time. Alejandro explained the restaurants concept and development, and even pointed out the chefs and what they each do in the sections of their open kitchen. He offered us some cava for our celebration, which was delicious. When I couldn't decide on a wine, he brought tastes of the ones I was considering. The sunset views here are absolutely amazing (I would imagine during warmer weather they may serve on the outdoor space which would be even more amazing). And I haven't even gotten to the food yet! The little corn cakes and avocado they give as your bread- omg so good. My husband got the dish with 3 kinds of meat and they were all fantastic (especially the flavor on the ribs), my lobster- I have never had a fresher, more perfectly cooked/ textured spiny lobster in my life! The octopus was flavorful and plated beautifully, but it was a little tough. I didn't get a picture of my husband's drink but it was like a pineapple Margarita and was gorgeous! He said it was the best and most balanced cocktail he's ever had. They brought us churros for desert but we were so full they were impossible to finish- but they sure were delicious. This has become our new go-to for a fancy/ celebratory meal in the area. read more

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Located at the Park Hyatt, this restaurant offers a unique menu with unforgettable attentive customer service. I ate here for dinner and breakfast. The dining experience for Dinner was outstanding! Shoutout to Alijandro for an above and beyond stellar service throughout my dinner! The food was delicious! I had the ono fish, as the catch of the day, and their guacamole as an appetizer! EVERYTHING was flavorful! The chef came to my table, and he was so friendly and kind. Overall, I highly recommend Dinner at this restaurant! Now, for breakfast.... The service needs to improve. The buffet is highly recommended and popular. The entree off the menu, the portions are too small. Juices and coffee are also a good choice. Overall, this clean and classy restaurant is still 5 stars, in my opinion. And there you have it.... read more

We booked their private dining room for my mom's 80th birthday party with 20 guests and it was a beautiful experience. The food was delicious and the service was absolutely perfect. We enjoyed cocktails and appetizers on the patio while the sun set over the ocean view and then enjoyed an array of delicious dishes family style. We also enjoy eating here locally on date nights. Their menu is really special and the service is spectacular. It's a lovely setting. Highly recommend. read more

Beautiful restaurant inside Park Hyatt. Stunning views with outdoor seating if one wishes to soak in the California sun. Dropped in for brunch and ordered myself a Huertos Rancheros. Came with a side of concha (mini) which was yummmmm. Wish they had the churros on the menu for brunch too. Well, maybe next time around read more

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Staying at the hotel here is ok but damn this restaurant is good. I have to say the Oaxaca style arepas with avocado purée are some of the best I've ever had. I will definitely be back read more

Ponto Lago - Arepas so good!! Don't sleep on these - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Their buffet breakfast selection is wonderful, from their create-your-own omelets to the chocolate croissants and muesli, they were all delish! They have fresh fruit, pastries, toast, bagels (you can create your own lox anyway you like!) Servers will bring drinks out to you. During busy seasons, if you order dishes on their menu, be prepared to wait a bit. Service for breakfast was not great, it took 20-30 minutes to track down our waitress. But service during dinner time, it was pretty good. The front desk is always courteous and friendly. Sometimes if you call for same day reservations and the only available one is too late, they will call you back to offer an earlier time slot (which hubby and I greatly appreciated since we had 2 kiddos with bedtimes.) Ambiance wise for breakfast - it can get loud and busy during the breakfast hours (I believe it was until 10 am) For dinner, you should must reservations just to be on the safe side. Dinner is a bit more intimate and warm. Some families come for dinner too but it's not as loud as during breakfast hours. At dinner, there are some chef rec's. All the dishes were pretty flavorful and well thought out. I would pass on the arepas are not that good though, a bit dry and lacks flavor. My favorite dishes were the scallops, squid and branzino. They change up the menu every so often. Overall, this space is beautiful, it's clean, modern, airy and high end. There is indoor and outdoor seating, rooms for bigger parties. A nice open view into the kitchen. Clean and thoughtful restrooms (kid friendly.) read more

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This was our first dinner when we were staying at three Park Hyatt Aviara. Great food, and despite the ambiance being upscale and chic, because the resort is very family friendly, I did not feel out of place with two young kiddos. We ordered a few appetizers - hamachi crudo, octopus, and the chips and guac. I especially recommend the hamachi, they had it with watermelon and peppers, and the combination with the sauce was delicious. For the entrees, the kids got mac and cheese, and spaghetti and meatballs. The portions are large, so if you want your kids to share, that would work too. The adults got the seafood paella and a ribeye steak (pic). The paella was good, but the ribeye was the one that stuck in my head. The kids ate a lot of that too. The service was ok. We felt the dude was trying despite him not loving kids haha. But we get it. Anyways, a good stop if you're staying at the resort. read more

Ponto Lago - Seafood Paella, Hand Pressed Corn Tortilla, and Wood Fired Steak - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

The svc was excellent both breakfast and dinners. Fish options excellent. Omg the octopus was outstanding so tender so well executed ! Kudos to the chef made our evening special. The scallops under cooked but @ least bit rubbery like I would cook them @ home. Love the twist to the potatoes and preparation. . We can't wait to return. The ambiance on the balcony or inside both are so nice ! The designer made the place so comfortable. The colors are so soothing like the Miraval spa read more

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Fabulous dinner! Alejandro was an incredible server. Highly highly recommend! It was quiet and elegant. Service was fabulous. So glad we decided last minute to dine here. read more

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We enjoyed both brunch and dinner at Ponto Lago during our stay at the Park Hyatt Aviara, but this review is for the dinner experience. The restaurant itself has a nice intimate ambiance. We started with oysters and the ceviche tour--both good, but not mind-blowing. The seafood paella was fresh and flavorful, the churros on the rack was a nice touch. The service was attentive and friendly, enhancing the overall experience. While Carlsbad has many dining options, Ponto Lago is a decent choice if you're already at the hotel and prefer not to drive into town. read more

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Breakfast Amazing breakfast selections! They pretty much have all your usual breakfast items here in the morning. Omelette station, hot links, pancakes, potatoes, cereal, oatmeal, smoked salmon cream cheese bagels, toast, assorted fruits, and list goes on! My kids dived straight for the pancakes & eggs. Breakfast hour starts at 6am. Dropped in around 9am on a weekend in July & there was plenty of seating available. Dinner Branzino was my favorite! Nice pickled chile sauce with a chipotle-vinaigrette to complement the fish. The seafood paella was mediocre at best. Clams were a little dry/overcooked. The churros are good and served hot! Didn't care too much for the strawberry and chocolate dipping sauce. Service is great both during the morning & evening. Attentive waiters that made us feel very welcomed! read more

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Came here for breakfast while at the Park Hyatt Aviara and decided to do an a la carte breakfast instead of their breakfast buffet. Everything tasted pretty standard - eggs, bacon, omelettes, etc. and nothing really stood out or blew our minds. The portions seemed small for the giant plates they served the food on. The breakfast buffet looked delicious with a decent selection, but still don't think it's worth their buffet prices. read more

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Mixed feelings about this venue. On the one hand the lobster taco was literally the best lobster I've ever eaten and the beans could and should be an entree. The seafood cocktail while notably of good quality was marginal in delivery. Meaning the food was fresh but it just wasn't remarkable, the sauce was drab and the oysters were meh. Also the most expensive crudo on the menu. To call the rice dish paella is just fiction. There was no crispy rice and little if any paprika. Seafood was overcooked and veggie selection confusing. Service was two star at best. Our waiter kept disappearing into the back room and not checking on us. Drinks took forever to get and forget about a refill. Had this been an Applebees I might have understood, but this place is $$$$ with a presentation of high end dining. At the end I could forgive the one or two dishes that didn't meet my expectations, but the service was the deal breaker and the reason I wrote this review. Save your precious time and money and go to Embers and Rye instead. read more

We love this place. Came here for date night and we prefer to dine here over Ember and Rye (located at the same property). We dined outdoors and had beautiful views of the golf course. Our servers carefully explained the menu and specials. Everything we got were tasty and presented well timed. We will be back. read more

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Overall tasted well. The sauce for the scallops tasted really good. The potatoes were the best! The wood grilled octopus was chewy but the sauce for it was not my favorite. The churros was the best part of the meal, definitely recommend you to try it! They are super warm, soft, and crunchy at the same time. read more

Ponto Lago - Churros - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Nice patio. Appetizers and cocktail were very tasty. Amanda is an excellent hostess, and we enjoyed our welcome to the restaurant. The arepas are delicious. Burrata salad was good, if a little too heavily dressed. I was planning at first to give it 5 stars, and the first part of the meal was! But there was an excessively long wait between our appetizers and our entrees because of a mixup in the kitchen. And after the 40 minutes or so, they assumed everything would be ok once the tenderloin came. ("How was everything?" asked a manager. "Very good before the entrees", I replied. "Sorry about the wait on the steak," he said, " But I'm sure it was delicious when it came!" Except, dear Yelper, it was not delicious. I liked my branzino. But SO said that the steak had an off taste & was a cheap cut. They also seemed to forget about us for a good 30 minutes and also were not filling water without being asked. It's strange that a ton of people came over to ask "how is everything?" over the meal & I answered honestly... But it was as if my answers didn't matter, because they made no adjustment whatsoever on the bill nor sent out any little trifle to say sorry. They seemed to think the dessert churros - which we'd ordered - would make up for everything. They were huge, to be fair... But as my SO said, not as good as churros at a less expensive place. So: five stars for the patio, five stars for the first course. But the steak was bad, the churros were average, and the servers forgot about us in the middle. 4 stars would normally mean we'd come back... but we won't. And I can't recommend it to friends given the prices and the experience. Definitely a great setting and some really creative food. The arepas were amazing and the cocktail and burrata salad were very good. But there are other high end places in SD where they know how to take care of you better! read more

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Very satisfied. Stayed at Park Hyatt for three days and got to try a la carte breakfast, buffet and a dinner. Typical breakfast at a high end hotel but a pricy buffet. If you are looking for quality, I would definitely recommend a la carte. Dinner was very satisfying and all dish we ordered were satisfactory. Good wood grilled steak, paella with generous seafood portion, octopus leg that is very nicely poached/grilled. Shisido pepper was a bit soggy but not too bad. No complaint. Great service from the waiters/ waitresses really well trained and very kind as well. read more

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Alejandro was our amazing server last night. He took care of us by pairing wines with our meals and explained each dish he presented us. It was a unique experience and it's rare for me to like every single dish 1000% read more

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My friend and I came here for restaurant week. I never would have thought of this place if she did not suggest it since it is one of those hotels with valet only and I try to avoid that. Anyways, she was running late due to traffic and when I called, the staff was really accomodating about moving our reservation a little later. Kylie, our server, explained the menu and how they prepare and grill the food over the fire. She was thoughtful of the fact that we were celebrating a birthday and also made sure our wine, appertizer and entrees came out at good times. We enjoyed the meal selections but the branzino and sweet potato sides were our favs. Although the pickled red onion, chorizo and green sauce seemed like a strange mix for sweet potato, everything tasted well together. Ponto Lago plates look small, but we left full! Cool hotel with nice art, courteous service, thoughtful food prep and a bustling open kitchen to view. I am glad to dine here during RW and enjoy their 3-course offering. read more

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This hotel is beautiful and the restaurant also looks gorgeous. It was great to dine here during our stay. The food was good, service was wonderful and the ambiance was amazing! I enjoyed the food but probably loved the ambiance more. The seafood paella was seasoned well and flavorful but didn't have the burnt rice I usually liked but I believe this is a different version of paella from Mexico. The crudo was refreshing. The wood grilled corn was one of my favorite. The wood grilled octopus was also pretty good. There was a fried cheesy appetizer which I forgot the name of and it was super hot and delicious! The shishito was decent but probably my least favorite. The churros were unique and given in large portion. The most addicting dish was surprisingly the kid's Mac and cheese! The flavor was so good and cheese covered every macaroni and served at a hot temperature making it so addictive! The moms kept eating their kid's Mac and cheese! Luckily our kids can't eat a lot and the portion of the Mac and cheese was generous. read more

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Took my husband here for his birthday. We went a day early and it was a Monday so the restaurant was pretty quiet. Unfortunately we did not get to see a view because it gets dark so early in December. We got arepas for complimentary appetizer once we put our order in. It was so good! Melted cheese in there and a corn flavor. We ordered oysters, shishito peppers and seafood cocktail for appetizers. The oysters were fresh and the shishito peppers had a unique sauce it sat on. That was my husband's dish so I didn't really eat it. The seafood cocktail was ok. Nothing stood out on this dish except the rice paper it came with. It tastes like a regular seafood cocktail but it was a lot! Was almost full just eating this app. For the main we ordered the seafood paella and rib eye. Also got a mushroom dish as a side. I appreciate the rice being all cooked through for the paella as most paellas I get sometimes still have uncooked throughly rice. The rice flavor was good and even though the pot seems small, there was alot of rice. The fish they added did not have that much flavor but is fresh. Rib eye is a rib eye. I didn't taste anything special with the steak. I loved the mushroom, it also has a sauce it sat on that was good. These dishes are big and very shareable! My fave drink was the guavarita. There's a sweet foam they put on top and makes it so pretty and tasty. They brought out a dessert and candles for the birthday boy. Service was excellent! I would come back but would skip a few dishes. Maybe when it doesn't get dark so early so I can enjoy the view also. read more

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Ponto Lago is a delightful restaurant within the Park Hyatt. I booked the Chef's Corner for a celebratory dinner and the experience will be among my most favorite dining experiences. The Chef's Corner is in the back of the kitchen affording a unique view of the busy work. We were served a five course meal that was a symphony of flavor and delight. Paired with delightful wine every bite was better than the last. My favorites were the delicious arepas - chewy and cheesy - a delightful bite of Hamachi, a lovely scallop taco (first time I enjoyed scallops), and the best churros I have ever eaten. The service was spectacular. Kurtis Habecker, the chef, provided a path through the menu explaining each dish. The waiter and assistant waiter were attentive and delightful. Everything was wonderful. We left full, happy, and with lots of memories. read more

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I honestly cannot say enough good things about my experience dining at Ponto Lago last week. From our arrival at the valet with Tom who went above and beyond to walk us to the restaurant and give us recommendations at Park Hyatt, to our greeting from the hostess to our service from Saeid and Norma- everything was incredible. We ordered the - Guavarita which was a Tequila Cocktail with Guava Foam (the guava foam was SO good): $20 - Seasonal Fruit Smash which was a Berry Mocktail: $14 - Burrata Salad: I don't remember the price but it was delicious - Local Blue Fin Crudo: I'm pregnant so I couldn't taste this but my husband loved it - Tenderloin Steak with Chimichurri, Sweet Potatoes Side & Churros for Dessert The entire meal was absolutely delicious. The portions appeared small at first but they were so flavorful and with the various courses, it was actually the perfect amount. Each dish had a phenomenal presentation and we talked about the sweet potatoes and churros for days after- they were THAT good! We're already looking forward to our next visit to the Park Hyatt Aviara and Ponto Lago. Hoping we get the same staff as they really enhanced our experience! read more

Ponto Lago - Steak Tenderloin with Chimichurri Sauce and Sweet Potato side - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Service was great. Everyone was super nice and accommodating. Had a party of 10. The drinks non booze start at $14 not too bad. They were good. So mixed drinks were like $25. That's $150\200 in drinks. Ehh. The starters were ok nada crazy got 4 to share. Main course. Wife chicken dry as bulls ass. I was shocked. The mole was good. I got the seafood and rice. Rice a bit salty cuda held back cuz of seafood in it. Served clams that never opened. Muscles over cooked and shriveled and cold. Rice cooked well but again a bit salty. Shrimp and sauce was good. Mac n cheese for the kid was good that was $12 great value there. Other kid for spaghetti. Sauce was ok. Turkey meatballs tasted like sawdust formed together. $12 again no woop. But chicken was like $40 for 200* temp chicken was a bit much. So total on food was $500+ or so with 2 kids. The shocker was dessert. Got everything they had it's like 12-14$ each. This was the home run. Everything was great and plated well, looked so amazing. The churro was massive with 3 sauces. Choc mousse was fantastic. Orange thingy was spot the f on. My gripe. How do you have a virgin lemonade for $14 but have this bomb ass dessert for the same price or a main entree for $50 that should be $10 at 7-11??? Idk man but skip apps and dinner and just go there for dessert. Big tip. If you don't drive a 100k car be prepared to wait a bit to get it. Sat waiting for valley where everyone else in our party didn't even hand the guy their ticket and got their car. I'm next the "main" guy goes over to grab some really sweet cars for people waiting behind us. Ok no big woop they are probably here and etc or staying here. Sure cool. Well after that happens 4 times. The main guy just walks by me to talk to the dude behind the desk. I say hey can I get my car?? He takes my ticket goes it to another guy and 5 mins later my car rolls up. Well after I had to ask the guy to get my car when he just grabbed everyone else's I put away my $50 bill I was gunna give and handed $5 instead. Meanwhile my friends that drive 100k cars only gave $10 each. Don't judge a book by its cover just cuz my yota isn't 100k don't mean I don't tip well. It's usually the ones that do are the ones that don't. Zero star for valet and reason id never go back 3 star for the service and dessert. Find better food at a hole in the wall for $30 than $600+ here. Save your money cuz they don't care if they get it or not. Give it to a business that would appreciate you. read more

I came to Ponto Lago for the Baja Brunch with my sister and two friends. They did not disappoint. The food was fresh and mostly Spanish influenced. Sure they had some traditional breakfast foods like french toast but they also had paella. The Baja Brunch was $84 a person and it included coffee and tea. The bottomless mimosas were extra. They have a churro bar and a Bloody Mary bar. The brunch had so many selections: Fruit bar, salad bar... carving board with beef. They even have oysters. Our server was very attentive to refreshing our drinks. This is a popular brunch spot due to TikToks and IG posts about their brunch; but it was not crowded. This is a beautiful restaurant with views of the ocean. Many of the patrons were guests from the hotel. Ponto Lago is located in the Park Hyatt Aviara Hotel in Carlsbad. The Baja Brunch is only available on Sundays from 12:00pm to 2:30pm. read more

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I had the absolute pleasure of experiencing the Chef's Corner, and let me just say... it was an extraordinary culinary masterpiece at Ponto Lago! This intimate, one-on-one dining experience took place at a private table just off the kitchen, offering a front-row seat to culinary artistry. The head chef personally guided us through each course--tailored to our preferences and dietary needs--with creativity, passion, intention, and unmatched attention to detail. From the delicate caviar to the freshest burrata, perfectly shucked oysters, buttery sea bass, and the most tender prime rib--every bite was a journey of flavor and finesse. When you want to get an elevated taste of Baja California's flavors, visit Park Hyatt Aviara Resort's Ponto Lago. Debuted in 2020 as part of the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel's $50 million property-wide renovation, Ponto Lago offers Baja-inspired dishes that are as refined as they are flavorful. It's no surprise this gem is Forbes-rated. The service, the ambiance, the food--chef's kiss. A once-in-a-lifetime experience I'll forever cherish. read more

This place surprised us. Turned out to be one of the best restaurants we have ever been to. Highly recommend. Service was just ok, but food and ambiance is incredible. Highly recommend read more