I’ve been here now for over 2 months and will occasionally run into some tourists or friends from Montreal and everyone asks me the same question, can you recommend any good restaurants? I decided to share my thoughts with you guys, so here it is, ….Jazz’s top 11 best restaurants in Playa Del Carmen. Keep in mind this based on what I’ve tried in the last 2 months and my list will most likely change as I try new restaurants :) Also, the following is listed in no particular order.

El Diez

I’ve been here at least 4 times now, partly because it’s close to home but mainly because their steaks are good. I’ll always order the flank steak which I’m told has the least amount of fat (I’m trying to watch my weight; rugby season is around the corner!). It comes served on a wooden paddle, without any sides so ask for the grilled vegetables if you want something to accompany that lonely steak. The service has been consistently good….meaning that I don’t wait long to receive my first drink, refills, seating, and the bill. My bill usually ends up being about $300 pesos (approx $24 US) but keep in mind I’m ordering the most expensive steak, super sized, plus grilled vegetables and a beer.

John Gray’s Place

Serving a quality meal consistently to me is a real sign of a successful restaurant. It means they have a system in place for ensuring quality and most likely the same people working there. Odds are you won’t see John Gray here as he splits his time between his 3 restaurants. I’ll usually head over to “The Den” which is part of the restaurant…it’s more casual and I like watching the Montreal Canadians (they’ve been really kind in putting the games on) play while ordering from the kitchen. There’s a round couch area in the back with its own flat screen TV if you’re a small group looking to sit together. Almost everything I’ve tried on the menu is great but the real treat is desert….ask for the chocolate brownie. They serve it hot with vanilla ice cream, a perfect way to end the day. They also make a good bloody caesar if you’re tired of beers.

La Cueva del Chango

It’s my favorite breakfast restaurant in Playa Del Carmen. If you’re looking for an authentic Mexican restaurant that locals love, I mean love, come here. There’s open air dinning in the back, feels like you’re eating in the middle of a jungle. I’ll usually order the fruit salad with yogurt and granola along with a “lassie” which is basically a smoothie. The service here is good, it’s always the same people and the owners are almost always there which I take as great sign. The prices are really fair, which most likely explains why so many locals love this place. I’ve tried Cueva del Chango for lunch and dinner, it’s very quiet at night, and breakfast seems to be there expertise. The only thing that bugs me about this restaurant is the mosquitoes but ask for some spray and problem solved. It’s a little bit hidden so ask around; try to eat here at least once and I’ll bet that you’ll love this place.

El Fogon

When you think Mexico you probably think of tequila and tacos. Well, this is “the” taco place if you’re looking for the real Mexican experience. I’ll order the pork tacos which come with meat, cheese, and pineapple. Watch the “meat cutter” reach up high to slice pieces of pineapples from the spit while catching these pieces into your tacos….flawless hand / eye coordination. You can dress your tacos with sauces and a tomato / onion mix. Order the grilled onions which add a little vegetable to your meal….but who are we kidding, we’re here for the meat and that’s it! If you’re on a tight budget El Fogon is where you’ll want to fuel up before heading out….cheap and easy, that’s how I like it :)

Cocina 38

After walking by this restaurant about a hundred times I finally tried it. Every dish I tested was amazing, very good food. The meal wasn’t cheap so it’s definitely a place where you take that special lady out or client. The portions leave you wanting more which is good because I could probably eat myself to death here. I had ordered a desert that included some ice cream and was impressed to see the chef come out and personally apologize for the softness in the ice cream. Their freezer had problems and he wanted to say he was sorry. The service was excellent, wine selection was healthy, bloody caesars weren’t the best but hey, now I’m just being very picky. It’s located on the opposite end of town so if you’re staying in Playacar take a cab or walk back (45 mins walk / 5 mins taxi), it’s a great way to digest and see all of Playa.

Wicky’s

I haven’t tried their steaks but did test out lunch one day. I love the atmosphere; it’s modern, well lit, cool views of the ocean. On a hot day the central air-conditioning is nice to retreat to. I’ve sat by the bar and watched some college football; the staff here is very friendly and eager to help. Its central location is ideal if you’re looking to have lunch and continue your trek along the beach. I wish I could give you more feedback on the food; I’m due to test more items out. I would be very surprised if you left this restaurant un-happy.

La Pummarola I

There are 3 of them now but no I is to me the best one. It’s located in an undeveloped part of Playa Del Carmen, a very casual restaurant which is great when you just don’t feel like dressing up or being seen. I like their pizzas and recently tried their beef medallions with potatoes….nice to eat on a cold day. Their cabernet sauvignon by the glass is very good. The real killer is their nutella pizza with vanilla ice cream for desert. I’ll sometimes go there and order dinner to justify me ordering desert :) ya, it’s that good.

The Glass Bar

Almost every hotel / villa concierge staff will recommend this restaurant and with good reason, it’s centrally located and serves some excellent dishes. The service at The Glass Bar is very good…..whenever my glass of water came close to empty they were there to fill it up, same with my wine glass. Everything I tried that evening was excellent, I had no complaints but realized that when the bill came that this was going to be one of those restaurants that I would come on “special occasions”. It’s not a bad thing, I’m just giving you a heads up that you get what you pay for and The Glass Bar delivered.

Update....(Jan 27, 2011)

Because The Glass Bar is closed I'm replacing this selection with Como Como which is located on 5th Avenue, between 38 and 40th Street. It's the same chef from Glass Bar but the prices are wayyyy cheaper, great value!

El Nativo

I would rate El Nativo and Cueva Del Chango as the best restaurants in Playa Del Carmen for those seeking a good breakfast. El Nativo is located in town so it’s a little bit of a mission to walk to0 (maybe 10 mins from 5th Avenue) but trust me, their 1 liter smoothies and fresh fruit dishes make it worth the trek. It’s very affordable; I would almost say cheap considering all the fresh fruits that come with each dish. Now for some reason that I can’t explain, there’s 3 El Nativo restaurants literally all beside each other. I’ll usually eat at the one furthest north but assume that the other 2 are just as good.

Los AguaChiles

AguaChiles is well known with locals. Come 2pm and you’ll find all the regulars there. They have excellent ceviche and fresh tuna tacos, some of which can be served on lettuce rather than corn tacos. I’ve been here at least 10 + times and I’m usually 100% happy but my most recent visit resulted with food poising. I had decided to try their soup and paid the price. Others at the table also agreed that service here wasn’t as good as it used to be. Nevertheless I would still recommend that you try this local restaurant, just maybe avoid the seafood soup.

Canibal Royal

There’s plenty of beach clubs to choose from in Playa Del Carmen but if you’re looking for one that serves up good food, this is the best one. I do have to say though, Mamitas serves up some great sushi dishes but almost everything at Canibal tastes good. One of my favorites is the 3 little cute hamburgers they serve; the fresh slices of cheese make them ever so tasty. Service here is very good and its relaxed atmosphere makes it ideal places to just chill out…..take your time and enjoy the day. The only drawback in my opinion is their prices, a little on the high side for what you get. Considering we get to enjoy live mixed musique and a great view of the ocean, maybe it’s justified?