Ron_in_Dover's Profile
Bachelorette Party in Playa Del Carmen
My initial thought, since I suspect you are not familiar with Playa, is Carboncitos. It is a Mexican grilled food restaurant, specializing in, but not limited to, al Pastor dishes. It is easy to find on Calle 4 about 50 feet west of 5th Avenue. They have a web site, mostly for their hotel, at http://www.hotelcielo.com/ They also have a rooftop lounge/dining room with a great view of Cozumel.
A couple of more upscale and expensive places would be Ajua Maya http://ajuamaya.com/) and Yaxche(http://www.mayacuisine.com/index.php). They both claim to offer Mayan cuisine. IMHO, neither restaurant has good food. Yaxche, located on Calle 8 between 5th and 10th Aves, has a beautiful interior courtyard and offers a fantastic flaming coffee drink called a Mayan sacrifice. Ajua Maya is located on Calle 4 between 5th and 10th Aves and has live music nightly.
I recommend contacting the restaurants by email to see what they can offer and get approximates costs. Also, I suspect that reservations would be needed for a party of 10.
Tulum/Playa Del Carmen with 16 month old girl
You may want to stop in Playa to get milk. Mega Comercial now has US style pasteurized milk in the refrigerated section. Most other stores in Mexico sell the ultra pasteurized non-refrigerated milk product in paper boxes on the regular shelves - it has a different taste that your daughter may not like.
Mahekal Beach is a nice place. A few years ago, some would say it is isolated, but Playa has grown considerably in a northward direction and encompasses the resort. If you are not using their meals plans, there are many places to eat near the resort. A good,, place is Cueva del Chango (Monkey Cave) on Calle 38, on the north edge of the resort - it is cool with little rooms, greenery and water features. Also, La Pummarola, about 2 blocks away on Ave Flamingo, has some pretty good Italian. There are lots of new places around 5th and 10th Aves just off of the resort, between Calles 26 and 40. Have a greatg trip.
Bachelorette Party in Playa Del Carmen
Jamie, what type of great food are you looking for? Would you like "continental", Mexican, Italian, steak, or other? Would you like a place where your party can be separated from the normal restaurant patrons, or just in a large table in the middle of a place?
Playa Del Carmen- Restaurant Recos?
Everything we have ever had at Las Brisas has been quite good. Maybe not the absolute best, but quite good. Last trip I had their shrimp ceviche and tikin xic, and wife had a kebob of some sort (does not do seafood). I expect we will have dinner there at least once next month.
Not too sure I want to make the trek to La Floresta after heading to La Borrega for some babacoa and also a mandatory trip to the glass factory at Calle 80 and 307.
There is a little comida corrida place on 30th around calle 68 that I want to try after hearing good things. My list of places to try has been growing by leaps and bounds over the last couple of weeks. I am going to have a tough time winnowing through the list.
Saturday dinner near Dulles
We have an early flight from Dulles on April 11 and will be spending the night in a hotel in the area. I am not too familiar with the area. I have searched the boards, but nothing seemed to fit due to my lack of geographic familiarity. So, I am looking for recommendations for a decent dinner in the area. I am an adventurous omnivore but my wife does not eat any seafood. Any recommendations?
Playa Del Carmen- Restaurant Recos?
Thanks for the updated info. We are headed down again in early April. With Oasis and Dr Taco closed, sources of good shrimp tacos are fewer - just have to go further afield.
Dover, DE restaurants?
Our favorite is Mare Monti for Italian bistro-style food. Hidden in the corner of a strip mall on the corner of Saulsbury Rd and Forrest Ave next to Food Lion. Cool Springs is good for seafood with a nice open kitchen design. Dover Downs has a constantly changing cast of restaurants as they look for something that works, but Michele's is still good for a pricey a la carte dinner
Anything worthwhile West of 307 in PDC?
If you remember Tacos Israel/Tacos Arabe in Playa, that closed a few years ago, with fondness, give this link a try. http://www.buyplaya.com/blogs/rob_kinnon/archive/2009/01/07/finding-old-friends.aspx
Pictures and detailed driving instructions to the taco tent.
Playa Del Carmen, Need Help (also some kid friendly options)
My dos pesos:
La Tarraya and El Oasis are seafood places with little else, so I suspect they would be out given your sister in law's allergy.
La Cueva del Chango is about 16 blocks from Playa Maya, which makes it a pretty good hike. It is mostly a breakfast place, good for the kids, with lots of small dining alcoves. IMHO, lunch and dinner are not as good as breakfast.
El Fogon has 3 locations, one of which is 6 blocks from Playa Maya (calle 6 bis and Ave 30). Good, inexpensive grilled meats and delicious frijoles charros. Carboncitos is closer to Playa Maya and has practically the same menu for about 30% more (11p tacos al pastor vs 8p at El Fogon). Carboncitos has been expanding their menu, so now have additional items. Both places are open air and fine with children, but not too much entertainment. Closer to Playa Maya is La Parrilla. Normally, I would recommend steering quite clear of it, but with kids along, they might be amused. The food is generally overpriced and under-flavored.
Karen's is also fine for the little ones. It suffers from the same dining challenges as La Parrilla.
Fusion is just a block from Playa Maya - just down the beach. A little reggae in the evening followed by the famed fire dancers. The food leans mostly to seafood, but includes other items. Generally pretty good.
Cocina 38 was still having portion problems when we were in Playa in March, so we bypassed in favor of Antica. I understand the problem has been rectified. It would not be kid friendly and is 16 blocks from the hotel.
Sorry to say, we have passed Casa Mediterrania more times than I can count, but have never entered.
For breakfast, we have just eaten on the beach in from of Playa Maya (stayed there 12 days in March). For a change of pace, head for the taco carts at the zocolo and get either a torta or some tacos de cochinita pibil - best breakfast in Playa.
I understand that El Asador de Manolo is in the process of moving locations and may not be open when you are in town. Otherwise, it is a good Argentinian steak house.
HC de Montrerrey is located on Constituyentes (calle 18) at Ave 30, which makes it about 15 blocks from the hotel. IMHO, the best arracherra in Playa. I have heard that they have opened a new location on Vae 10 between calle 12 and 14 - about 6 blocks from the hotel. The original small location still serves arracherra, but is now owned by another person/group. It is called CH Super Carnes and is located on calle 1 sur between aves 15 and 20 - about 7 blocks from the hotel.
I can not comment on Renzo's, but I understand there are at least 3 new sit down pizza locations in the area.
Poseleria de mi Abuelita is one of my favorite lunch locations. It is on 30th Ave just north of Consituyentes. It is a small place - about 6 or 8 tables - and I would not think it too kid friendly (not much to do, right on the street and small)
Rehearsal Dinner in Playa Del Carmen - suggestions?
We were at a similar dinner on the sunroof/second floor at El Bistro at La Tortuga Hotel. Their menu is quite varied and, since the hotel recreated the restaurant, the food is really very good. It is located on Ave 10 just off the corner if Calle 14. One great thing: the prices are less than the 5th Ave places, with, in my opinon, better foor.
Trying to Remember 2 Restaurant Names in the Playa del Carmen Area
I am not sure of the location you gave in PDC and I am not too familiar with Tulum, so I can't help with a restaurant name. Might I suggest you address this question to the PDC intimates at Playa info? This is the link: http://www.playa.info/playa-del-carmen-forum/
