Favorite Restaurants

[ggunn]

Alright Gun, whats the word on this Zachariah plate? I hear it mentioned before but didn't get the skinny on it. Is it REALLYworth giving up my mole enchiladas there? REALLY?

Well, it's a lot of things. It's served on a sectioned platter with different things in every section. There's grilled conch, shrimp two or three ways, grouper a couple of ways, grilled octopus, and a big dollop of guacamole. It's wonderful; I drooled on my keyboard just thinking about it.

 

[judydivescoz]

And Cherry Bombs!!! Yum!

Love them as well!!!

 

[cvchief]

Ggun: That does sound good. But no mole on the Zach? El Moro had to be like the King of Mole down there. I just don't know if I could give it up to try something else. Maybe if the Mrs. got the mole.....

Speaking of the missus, they tried La Candela in October. I guess its about 3 block north of the plaza on 5th. They got basic Mexican pretty cheap there and liked it alot. They also advertise some Cuban stuff I guess.

 

[bhalah]

Ggun: That does sound good. But no mole on the Zach? El Moro had to be like the King of Mole down there. I just don't know if I could give it up to try something else. Maybe if the Mrs. got the mole.....

Speaking of the missus, they tried La Candela in October. I guess its about 3 block north of the plaza on 5th. They got basic Mexican pretty cheap there and liked it alot. They also advertise some Cuban stuff I guess.

Yes, I think I know La Candela on the corner of 6th and 5th. Great food at very reasonable prices.

 

[JenLoves2Dive]

Here are some of my FAVS!

You MUST go to the El Mercado (Market) for a true Cozumeleno experience!
Located on Avenida 25 and Rosada Salas. Right in the center of town and very easy to find.
Every taxi will know where it is, as well.

Cozumel?s Mercado Municipal | New World Review (Good little review here.)

It is open from 7am to about 2pm and there are tons of food vendors throughout. All kinds of interesting fruits and vegetables like Mexican lychees, etc.
Want a fresh, yummy treat? Try the Mexican mangoes. They do not look like the green mangoes you are used to buying in the grocery store. They are smaller, yellow-orange and spicy sweet! You can also buy fresh squeezed orange juice there. There are about 5-6 eateries there and you can eat cheap...cheap...cheap!

My favorite is pictured below.
I don't know the name of this loncheria but look for several neon green menus (poster board) on the walls.

It is is the third eatery on the left with a very extensive menu. (Next to the Mexican/Indonesian place) The abuela that runs this place is so sweet and you can enjoy your meal while she putters along catering to her diners and humming and singing traditional Mexican songs. They have good pazole and soups and all kinds of tacos, etc. and is a great little place for breakfast. You can try several different dishes and eat a ton of food for about 50 pesos!

A few more local favorites for me:
One of my favs: Las Tortugas on 30th. Travel up Calle 19 or 17th toward 30th and make a right on 30th. It's about 2-3 blocks down on the left. Look for the green & yellow building with the red roof.

Also, (most locals know this) if you have a late afternoon lunch (any time after 2pm) ask the waiter to bring you "snacks". It's their version of Mexican tapas and they bring you all kinds of free samplers. (Of course, don't expect them to bring them to you unless you are ordering a meal.) You can sample a little fish ceviche, tamales, tequitos fried croquettes that are very similar to falafel. They have a pretty extensive menu. Closed on Mondays.

Mezcalitos (Next to Scuba Mau & Oxxo and across from La Palapita). That's about one block from Hotel Villa Blanca.
Same Mezcalitos that's on the East side of the island.

They have been known to keep inconsistent hours based on weather (nortes) and low season, etc. They have the BEST fish tacos (tacos de pescado) and very reasonably priced at about 65 pesos for three yummy fish tacos. They recently changed the style so if you like them fired (frita) make sure to ask them. Tacos are best with a little habernero salsa! When I am in town, I eat here at least 2x a week.

I also love Camilos on Avenida 5 (between Calle 2 & 4 norte). They have incredible soups including a very yummy and filling seafood soup and wonderful fish tacos including one with smoked marlin. Very reasonably priced and very good margaritas.

http://www.cozumelmycozumel.com/Photos/CozumelRestaurantCamillos.jpg

El Foco has yummy soft tacos. You can order them stuffed with pork, chorizo, cheese, beef , chicken or fish and you can individually order several different types. They are cheap and filling.

They also have good margaritas and a spacious area upstairs for large groups and are open relatively late. Watch out for the pico de gallo, it is the hottest on the island...muy picante!! Located across from the French Quarter on Avenida 5. I believe they are closed on Sundays and possibly Mondays.

Cameron Dorado. This is totally local and closes at 2pm but well worth the trip. All kinds of tacos and pork sandwiches, etc. and fresh local drinks like Horchata.

http://www.cozumelinsider.com/images/library/image2849.jpg

It's located on the Traversal Highway road (travel about 2-3 miles) on the right on the corner (Avenida 105).

Quick reminder: On Sundays La Choza serves the best Sopa Pazole!!

Their Sopa Pozole is made with red chiles (Guajilla), a rich broth with either pork (traditional) or chicken and pozole (large hominy-like corn kernals). (Tell the waiter if you want pork or chix) Comes with all kinds of fresh condiments to add into your soup. Take it from experience, this is a GREAT hangover dish. Feel so bad that you don't want to eat in? Order the Sopa Pazole para llevar (To GO). Pronounced para yay-var. I keep several containers in my fridge and it lasts for several days. Los Otates also serves pozole but I prefer La Choza's.

I wholeheartedly agree about El Moro. LOVE their mole!

I love this neighborhood restaurant. Make sure the taxi driver knows exactly where it is located. It's tricky to find and some of them will try and take you to a different restaurant so make sure to give them the exact street address, 75 Bis Norte Entre 4 y 2.
I love the Fish en Pappillotes with its rich creamy sauce.
Don't forget their homemade ice cream!!

Wow...now I am truly hungry!

P.S. Christi has turned me on to a most awesome little restaurant for totally healthy food and excellent immune boosting smoothies. It's called La Cuisine and it's easy to find. Just travel down Melgar and make a right on 11 (the light in front of Margaritaville). Cross over 30 and continue up toward 70. It's on the left about two blocks after you cross 70. Calle 11 entre 65 Bis y 70. Special order your own custom salads, sanwhiches and wraps or order from the menu. Excellent wraps and smoothies. ALL their food is fresh and the portions are based on the Zone and Nutribalance diets. Very good prices.

Note: There is always someone there that speaks English to help you with the menu.

 

[MMM]

Nice write-up Jen. I think the photos are a nice touch to help people find things. Have you tried El Pero Verde yet? I have heard good things. Vegetarian.

Also, if you like fish and haven't yet been, you must try San Carlos Pescadero. He's back around 50 BIS. I didn't care for Tortugas but might have got them on an off night. I'm a big fan of Tres Gatitos. Must try pozole at La Choza. I had it at Otates the other night. Another place I'm waiting to try is what I've dubbed Son of Kinta. I walk past nearly every day and poke my head in to see how things are going on construction. Last week he thought he'd be open this week but as of last night...not so much.

 

[Zman96]

Also, if you like fish and haven't yet been, you must try San Carlos Pescadero. He's back around 50 BIS.

Same as Pescaderia San Carlos on Calle 3 or does tripadvisor have the wrong address? I have had a few people recommend it to me, but I am not sure where its at.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Same as Pescaderia San Carlos on Calle 3 or does tripadvisor have the wrong address? I have had a few people recommend it to me, but I am not sure where its at.

It's located on Avenida 50 Bis, between Calle 3 Sur and ARosado Salas.
Last time I went, we took a taxi there and ended up walking back to the downtown area. Delicious, reasonably-priced food in a down-to-earth setting.

 

[MMM]

I decided to take a page or two from Jen's book. Since I'm here for several months and eat out several times a week, thought I'd try and post reviews of where I've eaten and comments about them.

I'm going to start with Guido's. I know it's an island staple but for all the years I've been coming here, I have never eaten there before. I heard it was expensive and I HATE going down to the waterfront, especially when cruise ships are in. But I had some time to kill and I was curious about their new hotel rooms opened in association with the restaurant this fall. So poked my head in for lunch earlier this week. I was surprised to find that there is a lovely garden one can enter if you go all the way to the back. I have a light appetite generally so opted for just an appetizer (grilled wahoo with avocado and a cilantro vinagrette) along with garlic bread. The latter isn't so much a bread as it is a grilled pizza crust without much in the way of toppings. I enjoyed everything and it was more than enough for me. I washed it down with a generous glass of wine. Service was excellent. The owner is Swiss and after lunch showed me her new hotel rooms (which are up the stairs to the left of the photo). There are only a handful, and they are STUNNING! All look onto the ocean (with a small deck), are decorated in vibrant, contemporary colours, have full, furnished kitchens, satellite TV, Wi-Fi etc. The master suite is SO spacious. The granite countertop is nicer than my kitchen at home in Canada and the stove is better than what is in my Cozumel house. There is no pool but man, you can't beat the location. The master suite is $130 US and the junior suite is s$110 US plus tax. I think I'd go for the master suite for sure. I will definitely come back. Don't know what it has taken me this long to go there.

Hope my photo link works; if not I will try and figure out what I have done wrong.

 

[MMM]

Yay! That worked! OK, onto the next one. Last night I went for supper with two fellow Living Underwater divers who live at El Cantil. Initially we planned to go to a place down the street from my house that is a local cantina but in the end, we went to a relatively new place in town on the corner of Ave 5 and Calle 3. It used to be a clothing store and either before or after (I think after) was a real estate agency office (Coldwell Banker??). In any event, it is called Del Sur and advertises its specialty as empanadas. Well, it has those in abundance, including dessert empanadas. We ordered a variety of them (not the dessert ones) which were served with a delicious chimichurri sauce (homemade). I opted for simple: one with onion and cheese and one with tomato, basil and cheese. The dough was delicious. I had grilled veal sweetbreads for my main course (and will be eating leftovers for the next several days) at a very reasonable 70 pesos. My friends had the mixed grill and they also will be eating leftovers forever. My only gripe is that they have not yet received their liquor license. I made do with two glasses of very good lemonade but a nice red wine would have gone well with this! That can be easily rectified with time. Some may remember that this shop used to be down on 5th N (across from Camilo's) but they have been in their new location about 3 months. The menu has expanded considerably (they have added a grill) and so has the space. Good food, simply prepared. Great location.