Does Anyone Remember...

[Gonedownlately?]

...a few months back, maybe February, maybe April, when someone posted a question about the top upscale (I think that was the term they used) restaurants in town? Several regualrs responded with this their favorites...? Well, I wonder if people wouldn't mind posting their lists again? I've shearched the board for the exact thread, but I cannot find it. Friends of ours will be on the island next week and I'd like to give them some suggestions.

 

On our last trip we really enjoyed an open-air place that was sorta behind a gift shop (Cinco Soles?)... and a Mexican-ish place just a little past the Punta Langosta shopping center... Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated...

 

Oh, and any advice you have about places to eat in Playa would be great as well.

 

Thanks!

[ScubaMare]

Some of the more expensive restaurants in Cozumel include:

La Veranda (2 blocks from the Main Plaza at Calle 4 Norte entre 5 a. Ave & 10 a. Ave)

The French Quarter (Ave 5 South, 1 block off the main plaza)

Mesa 17 (new and getting rave reviews) (Calle 17 & 25 Ave. Sur)

 

I believe the restaurant behind Los Cinco Soles that you're referring to is Pancho's Backyard. I'm not sure about the one you're asking about past (south?) of Punta Langosta Mall.

[CozSally]

Add Acuario to the list. It's not expensive but the food and the view are first rate!

[ScubaMare]

Sally, where is Acuario? What do they serve? We've yet to go there and I'm jotting down the names/addresses of restaurants that we haven't tried yet. Much like here, we tend to go to our favorite places when we're in Cozumel and time flies before we can try anything new.

[CozSally]

Acuario is on the waterfront downtown, at Calle 11, where the stop light is, across the street from Neptuno's night club. Their website is:

 

www.acuariorestaurant.com

 

and the menu is listed there, although not in great detail. Here's my review from a while back:

 

Okay, it’s time to let the cat out of the bag. For over a year I have been a weekly patron at the Restaurant Acuario on the waterfront. I sit alone or with a friend or two, with my latest painting-in-progress before me, illuminated by a book light, the Caribbean lapping the shore just a few feet away. I’d order a drink and make it last 3 hours, while I enjoyed the live, soft Latin jazz expertly provided by my friends David and Raul. Over the year I’ve completed several paintings this way, stroke by stroke. I’ve told a few people about it. How you can sit outside, watch the sunset, slow dance to romantic ballads… but always with one condition: don’t eat the food. Acuario had ambience, location, great music and class. Food was never the reason to go there and the prices kept many people out.

 

 

All that changed about one month ago. There’s a new chef in town and his name is Luis Maya. Chef Luis is originally from Mexico City, but spent 18 years in the U.S., and one year in Germany. He was classically trained at the Culinary Institute of San Francisco and the results are astonishing. Close your eyes and imagine a fresh filet of mahi-mahi, grilled to perfection, seated on a puree of local sweet potato, topped with fresh pineapple pico de gallo, on a plate beautifully drizzled with a balsamic reduction ($12). That was last night. Last week I was a bit more timid and ordered the “Tacos Monchos”, two flour tortillas generously filled with strips of marinated skirt steak, tender and juicy ($10). The sides included a grilled chile of medium heat with an unpronounceable name (never mind trying to spell it), a grilled tomatillo, and a mound of fresh guacamole, beautifully presented with confetti of tomato and sweet peppers. It was so delicious, I almost ordered it again last night but I promised myself I’d try something new.

 

 

The reviews are starting to come in and they all agree. Acuario has found its key ingredient: Chef Luis. From the shrimp corn fritter appetizer ($7) to the Captain’s Platter of lobster, shrimp and mahi-mahi ($27, enough for two), there are no bad choices. In addition, there are daily specials such as last night’s Lime Tequila Penne Pasta with shrimp, conch and mahi-mahi ($15), which received a big thumbs up at our table, from one who knows his penne pasta. Cap off the evening with bananas flambé, prepared tableside and you have a true Caribbean culinary paradise. I believe that in just one month, Acuario has firmly vaulted into place among the top three restaurants of Cozumel.

 

 

Acuario is open daily from noon to midnight, with live music Monday through Saturday from 7-10pm. Appetizers average $7, entrees are $8-27, with more than half the choices under $15. Acuario is located on the waterfront and Calle 11, at the traffic light. I am not affiliated in any way with this restaurant.

[pedersenkj]

...which is just south of Punta Langosta mall on the east side of Melgar (across the street from the Naval base) is Mexico en los Siglos. The food is very good and they have a nice selection of local fare as well as some specialty dishes. They bring an appetizer of mini tortillas with a choice of four delicious sauces. This restaurant is also known for their large selection of fruit flavored frozen margaritas. Sally and I can both vouch for this one (the restaurant that is--I haven't personally tried ALL the different flavor margaritas yet but haven't found one I didn't like.) Enjoy~~Karen

[Gonedownlately?]

It was Mexico En Los Siglos that we enjoyed so much! I'm sending our friends there first. Thanks...

 

And Sally: on our next trip to the island we're heading to Acuario; you make it sound fantastic...

 

Thanks to all who have responded. I apologize for my horrific spelling in the original post.

 

Cheers!

[solita]

You asked about fav places in Playa too. My new fav is Thai Mid. It has fabulous Thai food. It is located on Constitutional and 15th. Another good one is Babes Noodles. It is on 8th between 5th and 10. One certain mom to be here started having soup cravings so I bring it over when I go.