Now to the important thing...

[Shebug]

....where to eat! :taco: :taco: :taco: :taco: :taco: :taco: :taco:

Seeing as we are soon into the single digit amount of days to wait, I'm ready to start feeling hungry.

I seem to recall from previous posts that some restaurants are closed at this time (low season), but which are open and great?

I know there are restaurant threads fairly often - but it seems to be constantly changing. So what are the best eats this summer? We plan to eat both on the beach road and in the pueblo and are adventurous eaters.

Thanks ahead!

Shebug

[minniemex]

You know, there really is no way to know when a restaurant is open or closed. They just don't operate that way in Mexico. It can be the middle of high season and a restaurant will be closed for any reason. It never makes any sense.

I would pick several that you want to go to and just start working on your list. This way you have back-ups in case of closure. Sometimes I head out for one restaurant and a different one just appeals to us and that is where we end up.

Also, another great thing about Mexico ~ two people in the same restaurant at the same time can have two completely different experiences.

[Lynnette]

Definitely have a list of options. As Minniemex said, it's hit or miss for what's open. Even if they say they will be open the next day (we had that happen with El Tabano) the restaurant could be closed. Here are our favorites from May: El Tabano....Ocho....Mezzanine....Don Cafetos....HC Monterrey....Cesiak....Zamas for breakfast....Cetli....and I would return to all of them for a second helping!!! Our only disappointing meal for the entire trip was the pizza from OM.

Take lots of photos and have a fabulous vacation!!!! :beerchug:

[beatfarmer]

Just trying to remember, which of those are on the beach and which are in Tulum pueblo........

In the past , we'd just drive by something that looked interesting, see it open and go for it, much to our delight many times!

[Lynnette]

On my favorites list ~

Beach road location: El Tabano....Ocho....Mezzanine (breakfast/lunch)....Cesiak....Zamas for breakfast.

Town location: Don Cafetos....HC Monterrey....Cetli.

[topshelf]

We must have very similar tastes to Lynnette. Our recent trip included:

Cetli - Awsome
El Tabano - Great
HC de Monterrey - Very good
Cesiak - Very good
Don Cafetos - Very good

We also went to:

Suenos - Very good
Posada Margharita - Very good food but service really struggled the night we went
Casa Cenote (In Tankah I think) - Food was good, setting was great
La Zebra - Just had the ceviche and it was the best I've ever had

[FITZ]

It takes a very good restaurant to win my favor, as my kitchen is one of the best places I know and trust. I do love to experiment with local cuisine and am not too crazy about ordering food from one culture in a different locale. You never know what substitutions are being made and the actual experience of the cooks. When we dine along the MX Caribe, we usually stick to seafood, Mex, or Mayan. That being said, we don't eat all that much in the tropics. Often, we don't feel like moving our arsses off of the beach to go fetch. We bring a medium size collapsable cooler. We hit the San Fran supermercado for a fantastic bakery selection, juices, fruits, and deli meats/cheeses. We pack small packets of various condiments we grab here and there, mustard, mayo, hot sauce, lemon juice. This basically covers our breakfast and lunch and we didn't have to break up our day. It's also portable.
We often bring back Pollo Bronco chicken or HC Monterrey grilled meat from the pueblo, and have great beach picnic dining. Both include sides, travel well, and are really tasty. There is also a fish store in the pueblo that will cook you up fresh fish they sell. Leftovers in the cooler.
When we eat at restaurants along the beach, we usually split apps and salads. We've been disappointed a few times at the quality/quantity vs prices with both food and drink. That's not to say there are not some good spots, but often your paying for the beach, which you really can't see at night. Casa Banana for breakfast and Zamas for snacks were two of our favs. We really miss Nachos Latitude. Haven't found another place like it.
We love to eat in the pueblo. Nothing fancy for us. Urge tacos, just north of Tulum pueblo on 307 is a really great lunch taco stop. Don Cafetos in the pueblo is always fresh and good for fish and mex food. Nice spot to people watch, as are alot of the places along theTulum road (307).
I'm sure you'll get some good responses from posters here who enjoy places like Celti, which is highly reccomended. We are a little more laid back when eating in MX.
One thing is for sure, you'll find a favorite.



.

[beachreader]

I think I understand what Fitz is saying about "other culture" food, and I felt that way for a long time (only Mexican food in Mexico), but the Italians have been in Tulum for a fairly long time, and I've had some really good Italian food down there from time to time. Most notably a spagetti carbonara at Zamas last spring and a tuna carpaccio at Violeta a few years ago. And the Thai dish I had at Mezzanine was as good as I've had it anywhere, but they do a kind of Mexican twist on it that's pretty unique. Goes really well with margaritas, too. :)

Not all the Italian food is good, of course, but I've had some remarkably average Mexican food down there as well. So I guess what I mean is I think a good cook is a good cook and if they're using fresh, local ingredients, the style in which they put them together doesn't bother me too much anymore, as long as it's good!

I also eat out most meals, so maybe I've just gotten more relaxed about it over the years.

[Margoinmexico]

Also, another great thing about Mexico ~ two people in the same restaurant at the same time can have two completely different experiences.

I have to jump in on this one, as what MM says is absolutely right. Being in the business of recommending restaurants that I can't afford to eat in is kind of a hard job!

In 10 minute walking distance of my current location are about 7 or 8 good restaurants. And the guests of Casa de las Palmas eat out a fair bit, and each group has a different favorite and least favorite. I have groups that eat once at a certain restaurant and swear never to go back due to bad food or too high of price or bad service or what ever, then the next group will eat 3 meals a day saying it is the best food ever and such a good deal with such friendly service!

I say the best meal is the one where I don{t have to do the dishes!

[Lynnette]

I almost forgot a very inexpensive favorite in town. Try Los Pepes....excellent ceviche and garlic shrimp. Killer margaritas, too!!

[Shebug]

...with all that great food I'm going to eat. Thanks for all the suggestions - some were new to me, and a lot of them reconfirmed my mental list of possibilities.

Lynnette, never remember hearing Los Pepes mentioned, whereabouts is it?

Fitz, I'm like you a lot of the time - I like to eat what is eaten locally. But what is eaten locally is sometimes not what would traditionally have been eaten locally.

I love spicy food, so Indian food is my big thing - and the absolute best Indian places I've eaten have all been in London, and not in India. And in both Egypt and Morocco the finer restaurants are often called Lebanese for some reason - but still serve the same great fare as other local restaurants - you just get a higher bill and a tablecloth. So things are not always as they seem - and maybe Italian food is gradually becoming a "local" thing along the RM?

Oh, I definitely want to check out Urge Tacos - can we walk there from say the San Francisco?

As a side question, any particular favourites when it comes to salsas / hot sauces? I love that stuff, and would eat in a place just for a great salsa!

Thanks again all - you're great, I'm gonna print this thread for sure.

Shebug

[Lynnette]

Urge is a short walk north of San Francisco. Los Pepes is located a couple blocks west of 307 on the corner of Polar and Osiris.

[minniemex]

[quote=Shebug;45804


As a side question, any particular favourites when it comes to salsas / hot sauces? I love that stuff, and would eat in a place just for a great salsa!


Shebug[/quote]

What you need to try then is the "escabeche" from Don Cafetos!! Beware the orange ones!!

http://minniemex.smugmug.com/photos/453089455_cDnYj-L.jpg

[mayaflya]

Urge is a short walk north of San Francisco. Los Pepes is located a couple blocks west of 307 on the corner of Polar and Osiris.

I checked out Los Pepes in March 2008.....Urge Tacos is gone...

"Next is Los Pepe’s, which is on the corner of Polar and Osiris...it has a stellar reputation as a seafood place."

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3253/2358279241_8f860acbe7_o.jpg

It was too early in the morning to eat lunch, so I had one of their margaritas...40 pesos...definitely the best....small glass, but not watered down a bit...just the way I like them, alcohol, fresh lime juice and ice

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3185/2358279405_15d00067f6_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2011/2359113842_5090ceea72_o.jpg

[PhyllisB]

Urge is gone?? I thought we ate there in April....

[BP.]

What you need to try then is the "escabeche" from Don Cafetos!! Beware the orange ones!!

http://minniemex.smugmug.com/photos/453089455_cDnYj-L.jpg


Minniemex, you've provided THE definitive answer to Shebug's question:



As a side question, any particular favourites when it comes to salsas / hot sauces? I love that stuff, and would eat in a place just for a great salsa!


This stuff will keep you dreaming of it. A must-try.
(But where's the head of garlic? Did you already eat that too?)
Oh, and PS- this time around the bowl included a potato. It is visible in someone else's recent TR.

[BP.]

It was too early in the morning to eat lunch, so I had one of their margaritas...



:eat-drink:

[beachreader]

Yes, we did eat at Urge, though to be honest I can't remember noticing if they were there last week. It seemed still quite popular last spring, and the overhead couldn't be much, so I'm surprised if they're gone now.

We tried to go to El Oasis (also west of 307 a couple of blocks, but a big yellow building rather than the blue of Pepe's, and a couple of blocks north of there I think), but it was closed. Too bad, I was really psyched to go there; Margo says they have the best food, and they have a/c, which would be nice in summertime. No idea why they were closed, we didn't stop to see if there was a sign or anything, but places seem to close for random nights from time to time. I think there may have been a soccer game going on, maybe that was it? :)

[beachreader]

For salsas, though I've gotten kind of wimpy over the years, you should definitely visit La Zebra at some point. They serve six salsas with all food orders. Not all of them are very hot, but they all have a lot of flavor, including a super-hot one of blended habanero and carrot, a beautiful orange color with a touch of sweetness from the carrot.

In general, though, everywhere will have versions of salsa de habanero, usually in the green family, usually blended, usually served in a small cup with a smiling warning from the waiter. :)

And I'm still a fan of the good old green sauce in the bottle that's on most tables. I can barely touch it, but I love it.

[mayaflya]

Yes, we did eat at Urge, though to be honest I can't remember noticing if they were there last week. It seemed still quite popular last spring, and the overhead couldn't be much, so I'm surprised if they're gone now.

I'm going to back up a step....Urge may still be around...but when we drove by the Urge location in July it was deserted. I had remembered a post from back in the swine flu days about it being closed, and jumped to the conclusion that they had closed permanently....perhaps someone local knows more?

[Shebug]

Minnie, I know this sounds insane to some, but your photo absolutely makes my mouth water....yum!

[minniemex]

This stuff will keep you dreaming of it. A must-try.
(But where's the head of garlic? Did you already eat that too?)
Oh, and PS- this time around the bowl included a potato. It is visible in someone else's recent TR.

Yes, I did eat the garlic:p

I have never had a potato ~ can hardly wait to try it!!

Shebug ~ glad I made your mouth water:D It truly rocks!! (the escabeche)

[Lynnette]

Urge was open in May. I wouldn't think the swine flu would affect their business too much....mostly locals every time we stop there. Who knows, though...as we spread the word on TI, maybe more tourists eat there now. It seems like Mayaflya has the latest eyewitness report.

[Tranquilo Tomas]

Urge is still open and thriving. We ate there twice in May. Excellent fresh salsa bar.
Open 11-5 M-Sat, closed Sun. I highly recommend this place for ceviche and fish/shrimp tacos. Great prices.
Other favorites - Pollo Bronco (cheap roasted chicken), La Nave for great Roma style pizza and salads (the seasonal fresh mussels here are amazing), the new El Oasis for seafood, also a must is Ginger. El Tabano is very good when it's open. Posada Margharita is excellent also. I do like the arracheta at HC Monterrey. I'm a bit like FITZ. We prefer our own cooking and are very particular about food. I hate to pay for food when mine is better! I'm not that crazy about the regional Mexican cuisine in the Yucatan. I don't think that it's anything spectacular. The Maya influence is unique and I like some of their spicy preparations. I'm a native New Mexican and pretty obnoxious about good chili.
In my opinion, the better restaurants on the coast are all located in Playa del Carmen.
Bon appetito!

[letele]

I second El Oasis and El Tabano! Both are yummy and pretty inexpensive!

[Tranquilo Tomas]

yeah letele . . . you're the one whose recommendation got us to El Oasis.
Gracias amiga.

[Shebug]

Wow, thanks!

Have now added El Oasis to the list. Any advice for someone whose command of the Spanish language is pretty much restricted to "Hola!"? In terms of what to order, that is... (I'm sure I could probably do with advice on all sort of things, but nevermind!!)

I realize I'm sort of hijacking my own thread, but Tomas, I'd love to hear your suggestions for Playa too.

Shebug

[Margoinmexico]

:wave:Urge Tacos is open, saw it yesterday.......but I have a different favorite taco stand.........

And if you want to go on a salsa tour, take me! I know all the best salsa in town, and know how to order what they might not have out on a gringo table.......jajajaja!

El Oasis, is my favorite place to eat in all of Tulum, including the beach. There may be better atmosphere, but not better food! Camerone la diabla is my favorite.......they have the famous black habanero picante sauce there too........the only other place I know to get it is in Punta Allen at Muelle Viejo...where we call it Punta Allen Devil Sauce. Great Michaladas at Oasis as well. I've become a conoseur. It is totally Mexican owned and operated, starting to see a few gringos in there, but not too many...

One of the beach favorites for my guests, especially if they have families is OM pizza..........

For seafood on the beach, and breakfast actually for my guests the favorite is Tita Tulum

Zamas chef menu is totally worth it. And LOVE the atmosphere there. Most nights in high season they have my favorite musicians playing there!

[PhyllisB]

LOVE Tita's breakfasts!

[Shebug]

Margo, I might just take you up on that! :p

And great to know Urge is still open, will have to try it. Too much food for 5 days!!

[Margoinmexico]

[quote=Margoinmexico;45945]:wave:
El Oasis, is my favorite place to eat in all of Tulum


quote]

:wave:El Oasis is closed for remodeling! Sorry! Dang! I found out when going there to eat, so disappointing......I'll let you know when they reopen.