We read good reviews so we decided to have drinks and appetizers. It's a small place off of fifth…read moreAvenue, which made it much quieter. We ordered the guacamole chips and they were below average . We've been having guacamole and chips every day and these seem to be on the lower end of the taste spectrum for all the guacamole we've had so far. The piña colada did not taste like a piña colada . The margarita tasted really good. It's a small restaurant so the menu is a little on the small side. The service was quick and we were able to get our check quickly too .

This place is very romantic and overlooks the ocean. Now it is not easy to find. When you are…read moreclose, you must take the back gate and walk up some steps. Don't give up, it is worth it. Make sure you make a reservation. We ordered the wood fired brie cheese, special ravioli (spinach) and my wife ordered the tagliatelle all Bolognese. There is no need to order a starter. The dinner meals are more than plenty. We were miserable because we finished our plates. We have spent time in Italy, and it was that good. I will never forget smelling the ocean while we ate delicious food. This is a no brainer. Give it a try. We hope you like it too.

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!

Adorable location with attentive staff and great food! We…read moreeven sampled some Mezcal at the suggestion of our waiter and found some new favorites. The seating is comfortable. We look forward to a return trip.

This is easily one of my favorite restaurants in Playa Del Carmen. I've been a few times but I seem…read moreto always forget to take photos of my food. The photos here are when I had the eggs with chaya, mushrooms, spinach, cactus, poblano, turkey ham, Oaxaca cheese, and potatoes. Mind you, these came with warm tortillas and we were given chips and salsa to start... all under 200 pesos! I was so full and so happy. To be honest, I didn't care for their juice on this day but absolutely love their mango lassi. Pay attention if paying by card because one time when I went to pay, the lady selected the tip then handed me the card reader to pay without mentioning that she had done that or asking me what I wanted to do. I didn't say anything because she cheated herself and selected less than I was intending to tip so I let it go out of pettiness. I have to admit that it's the only time it has happened but still worth mentioning. I'll definitely go back and highly recommend a visit.

When I first read Ryan L's review of this place, I was a little confused. The "Cenas Mexico…read moreEspectacular Dinner" is located in an Amphitheater where it is intended to be a sit down dinner with wait service. Ryan L stated that it was a buffet. I'm pretty sure that having a buffet in this kind of building would be extremely impractical. Patrons would have a difficult time walking up and down steep stairs to attend a buffet dinner! And they wouldn't like guests walking around while the show is going on. Plus, the seating arrangements are somewhat cramped, making it difficult to come and go. I suspect that it isn't me that is confused, but maybe Ryan L. I think he may have written his review on the wrong restaurant. It is more likely that he went to the "Restaurant La Peninsula" which is the one and only buffet in the Xcaret park that I'm aware of. Now for my review: During our Xcaret water park visit, we attended the "Cenas Mexico Espectactular Dinner." held in the evening. This was an all inclusive 5 course dinner, drinks and a show about the history and culture of Mexico. This spectacular, colorful, and entertaining show had music, dancing, singing, and even personalized attention from our wonderful waiter Oscar throughout the whole evening. The food was served in smaller portions most likely because you get several courses. I wasn't sure what I was eating most of the time, and I couldn't actually see very well during the show since the lighting was quite dim. I had to give a few of my selections to Joe K to eat for me, since I don't like to eat meat that much. But most of the food and drinks were very flavorful and I didn't leave the restaurant still hungry. The dinner and show is a "must" for all who want the full Xcaret park experience!

We debated on adding the cost of yet another experience onto our already packed itinerary. However,…read morethe front row seats to the magical Spectacular show and the 7-course meal that accompanied it, were so enjoyable that I couldn't imagine coming without enjoying the whole experience. Xcaret really knows how to wow their visitors by always creating a first class experience no matter what it happens to be. They go all out for the show which is a giant Broadway-like show about the history of Mexico from the Aztec era to the conquistadores and highlights from different parts of Mexico that give it the flavors and colors we all love. The food was also spectacular and top notch, they kept all the plates and drinks flowing. One plate in particular caught our eye, a potted plant which ended up being a pudding with chocolate dust and a dollop of whipped cream. We almost didn't think it was edible, but there was a spoon! And it was delicious, going green never tasted so good. Get the full experience at Espectacular de Mexico, even at $100 a plate you won't regret it. Ay mamásita!

This little gem sits off 5th Avenue. We almost walked past and glad we came up this little street…read more The Mayan lobster flambé is made table side. This is amazing!!!!!!! The aroma of fresh garlic, onion and peppers filled the air immediately. I was over joyed with the flavors and medley of the dish coming together. Fresh ingredients, bold mix of flavors and amazing staff!! I love this place

Carboncitos was a really enjoyable experience overall. The food was genuinely delicious. I started…read morewith the chicken soup, which had great flavor, but the portion was pretty small. For my entrée, I had the skirt steak, and it was tender, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The sweet potato with honey and cinnamon was absolutely delicious. My only real complaint is the portion sizes on a couple of items. The salad was very small, and I would have loved a more generous serving. I also ordered an amaretto sour. It was a little weak at first, so I asked for more amaretto, which made it better, but it still wasn't quite as strong as I prefer. The service was phenomenal. The staff was attentive, kind, and genuinely friendly throughout the entire experience. I felt well taken care of and truly enjoyed myself. I would definitely return.

We celebrated my wife's birthday at HA', the Michelin-starred concept by Carlos Gaytán inside Hotel…read moreXcaret, and I'll be straight about it. The service? Exceptional. Easily the highlight of the night. Attentive without being overbearing, thoughtful pacing, and they made the occasion feel special from start to finish. The food... didn't live up to the same level. Visually, every dish was stunning. You can tell a lot of intention and technique goes into the plating. But once you actually taste it, things fall off. Course after course, flavors felt muted, disconnected, or just not memorable. Nothing was bad, but very little was crave-worthy. Standouts were limited. The wagyu tartare and crab had moments, but even those didn't fully deliver on flavor. The oxtail had the depth you'd expect, but by that point it felt like an exception rather than the standard. Desserts were creative, but again leaned more interesting than satisfying. For a one Michelin star experience, you expect precision in flavor first, presentation second. Here, it felt flipped. My take (and this is opinion): HA' is trying hard to be elevated and artistic, but it's missing the soul and punch that makes a tasting menu truly memorable. Especially at this level, "beautiful but forgettable" isn't enough. Would I go again? Probably not. Was it worth experiencing once? Yes, mainly for the service and the setting.

This place was breathtaking! From the decor to the food, my husband and I loved it all. We were…read moreexcited to go to a Michelin star restaurant while we stayed at La casa de la playa. The multiple dining course experience felt so fancy and each time a new dish came over we were fascinated by the artistry and attention to detail the chefs put into making each dish. We also had a variety of wines that would accompany each dish. Whenever I am back at the resort, I'll definitely come again and definitely recommend coming here if you're in the area!

Axiote Cocina de México was an incredible, beautiful restaurant, and one of the highlights of our…read moretrip--a perfect reminder to get out of the hotel and experience the local fare. The space is warm and completely unpretentious--wood, simple tables, an open kitchen and a palapa-style roof. Nothing about it screams "fine dining," and that's part of the charm. The perfectly prepared food does all the work. We chose the tasting experience, and bite for bite it was outstanding. The fried mushrooms were perfect, the fish ceviche was awesome, and the beef tongue was cooked beautifully. And don't be afraid of the grasshoppers--seriously. Yummy. Even ingredients I normally don't gravitate toward, like black beans, were used so thoughtfully that I enjoyed them. The drink pairings were equally impressive--tequila, beer, wine and espresso--and each one genuinely complemented the course it accompanied. We were basically the only guests that evening, and our waiter turned that into a wonderfully personal experience. He patiently answered every one of our many "American questions" about the ingredients, preparation and pairings, never making us feel rushed or out of place. A sincere thank-you to him, the cooks--who my partner and I gave a standing ovation to--and the entire team for making the evening so memorable. My one tiny suggestion? Cloth napkins. With that many courses, sauces and textures, the paper ones felt a little out of step with the quality of the food. But when the napkin is your biggest criticism, they're doing something right. And then there's the value. For an experience of this quality, the price was remarkable. Our total was about $320 including tip for the full tasting experience and pairings for two. We have spent more than twice that on comparable special-occasion dinners at home, so Axiote felt not just exceptional, but genuinely budget-friendly for what you receive. Axiote is relaxed, confident, welcoming and absolutely worth leaving the resort for. Go hungry, ask questions, trust the kitchen--and yes, eat the grasshoppers.

Great experience last Friday night at this Michinlin Bib restaurant. So glad I stopped by this…read moreplace is bomb and super not pretentious! Wish I got the tasting menu but I opted for 3 of the specialties instead and they were delicious... Tasting menu is best value tho! I got the raw trout sashimi thing and it was by far the best plate of the meal (first dish/appetizer) , then got the shrimp flautas (good not amazing) then I got the trout loin for the entree (good not amazing) Skinny marg was perfect and so was the waitress! Would recommend and go back but like I said I would for sure do with the 6 or 8 course tasting menu!

Always great eats- al pastor tacos, guacamole habanero green sauce and service by JOSE always an…read moreawesome time!

Food is spectacular, we got alambre de pastor/de pollo. Portions were smaller, and cost was pretty…read morehigh ($220 for each plate). We noticed that (as common in PDC) our mixed drinks did not have liquor in them. We thought we found a honest restaurant but it seems they have trickery too, so we won't be going back. Service is nuanced too; we had a great server the first time and a server that misheard us and didn't ask again the second time. First server seemed happy with a small/moderate tip, while second didn't even say thanks for the same tip (when we went a second time). Ambiance is okay... part of the restaurant is next to the road outside and chairs are within "grabbing" distance, which makes leaving a purse hanging or just not watching your back a bit stressful. We also got approached by multiple people offering roses made out of folded leaves... and had to continuously say that "no, we didn't want it".

Sad that last place to eat dinner before heading back home was mediocre restaurant. I saw some…read moregood reviews and food looked good so thought I give this place a try. Friendly staff like all the other place. Menu was simple and price was not too bad. Ordered guacamole to start, pastor taco, carne Asada taco, stuffed casadilla with Carne Asada. Guac was some what blend, lacked in flavor just mashed up guacamole.. But tasted pretty good. Pastor taco was better than some of the other places. Carne Asada taco meat was little bit on the tough chewy side.. It lacked in flavor but they do give you good amount of meat and tortilla to make your own. Casadilla was not bad, added cheese made it little bit better. Over all food was OK, nothing here made me go man I'm glad I came here.. Nothing I couldn't get it at home.

Best pastor I have ever had! I got a "volcano" which is like a crispy flat tostada. I also enjoyed…read moresome chips and 2 hot salsas (verde and rojo) which were very delicious. I tried a michelado which is beer mixed with a spicy red juice, also good. Very cheap! Watching them cook everything fresh on the griddle was fun and the food was so hot (temp) due to the extremely quick service. My server was also very sweet. I loved watching and listening to the bumping Señor Frogs across the street while supporting a small local business and enjoying undoubtedly much better food at a much better price! Show this place some love!