Sapphire

We are going to be staying at the Iberostar Tucan for a week in early March. Even though it is an all-inclusive, we (two couples) thought it would be fun to sample one of the restaurants in Playa Del Carmen one night. I've seen these listed in the Fodor's book and am curious about which one you might recommend trying for our one night "out": La Parilla, Yaxche, De Vino, The Glass Bar, John Gray's, Alux, and La Casa del Agua.

I am also curious about whether I will be able to order something that is not spicy even if we try a restaurant that specializes in the local cuisine? (Have health issues - GERD - which make it unwise to eat spicy foods.) Come to think of it, what are the Spanish words for asking if the food is spicy?

Also, is it wise to get a reservation at that time of year?

Many thanks! It was fun to read the recent posts about Playa del Carmen as I look out the window at the snow and anticipate our vacation in Mexico!

hopefulist

I can't recommend a restaurant but you might want to sneak down afterward for some chocolate at a small café called Ah Cacao (corner of Constituyentes and 5th Ave.). We enjoyed a spicy Maya hot chocolate and the homemade ice cream version - both incredible. There are coffee drinks, too as well as other light fare.

You can access my photo collections with blog and travelogue links (if you haven't already) here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

colokid

No reservations needed.
John Gray's always gets good reviews.
Yaxche moved uptown to a spot on 5th Avenue and I think 24th street. A much bigger building.
Alux is an interesting place and I've been there for drinks but did not stay for dinner. It is on the west side of the highway so you will need a cab to get there.
La Parilla is touristy. No interest in going there myself.
There are many good and just so'so restaurants in Playa. Most of the trendy or better meals are now north of Constituyentes. If you want good mexican food try El Fogon. On Constituyentes between 25th and 30th avenues opposite Mega. Many restaurants on 5th avenue in the north end of town and quite a few have just opened on 5th and 38th including Piola (italian), Como Como (italian), Kool Fish, Braemar, Cocina 38 just to name a few.

MFNYC

We really like John Gray's. A few years back we ate at Yaxche and enjoyed it as well. I haven't eaten at the others. We also like El Bistro at the Tortuga hotel, Av. 10 between 12th & 14th very much.

Are you interested in any particular type of food? Yaxche is Mayan where as John Grey's and El Bistro are more eclectic. There are also some very good Argentinian steak places if that's something that interests you.

jette

<<<Fodor's book and am curious about which one you might recommend trying for our one night "out": La Parilla, Yaxche, De Vino, The Glass Bar, John Gray's, Alux, and La Casa del Agua.>>>

It can be hard keeping up with closings in Playa! De Vino, Glass Bar and (I think) Agua are all gone now. I agree, Parilla is not that great but gets a lot of traffic due to it's location.

There are so many great restaurants mostly off 5th or further north on 5th depending on if you want Italian, Mexican, Spanish,French, Seafood or Steak. I'd be hard pressed to choose just one but if you have a preference for food types, maybe we can narrow the choices.

I'll actually be there first 2 weeks of March, can't wait to get out of this snow!!

colokid

Yaxche moved and I'm not so sure about the food now. Glass Bar opened in a new location. There are quite a few that closed and quite a few that opened just while I was there two weeks ago. One night gone, the next day working on something new. Some have been in town for as long as I've been there including John Gray's (there's another, original JG's in Puerto Morelos), Babe's Noodles, Pummolara, and some other's on 5th near Calle Corazon. I also and enjoy Diez, Il Pescatore on 10th Ave., El Bistro at la Tortuga (they also have a beacch club in Tulum that's very nice), Cactus on 30th Ave and 20th Street, and the new Italian and French pastry places in town one by Il Baretto and one by the Cuban place that moved north from down by the ferry. Drooling as I think of those!

zootsi

We've eaten at Yaxche - nice place, interesting Mayan food.
Our favorite in Playa is La Pesca, a quiet seafood place on 30th across the street from the Mega Mart. Excellent food, nice atmosphere, reasonable prices. You typically don't need reservations at either place. Not all food in Playa is spicy, there are many, many options. The north end of Playa is considered Little Italy, with several good Italian places. We enjoyed Da Bruno.

MFNYC

The food at places like John Grey's and El Bistro is not spicy at all (there may be a dish or 2 that is, but overall it's not the case). Same goes for the various Italian, Steak and other non-"Mexican" cuisines. "Local" cuisine, may or may not be spicy. It depends on what you order.

gmoney

Check out this forum. Lots of great local info here as well as tourists. Carboncitos is recommended quite a lot.

http://www.playa.info/playa-del-carm...ngarros-y-m-s/

Sapphire

Thank you all for your helpful responses! I've passed them along to my fellow travelers so they can get an idea of the options before we go. Hearing that some places have closed as new ones open really brings home the usefulness of a forum like this!

Sapphire

Leaving tomorrow for Playa Del Carmen. Have talked with the couple going with us and they would be most interested in a good seafood place that is on the quiet side.

We may be in Cozumel one day while one of our group goes scuba diving so eating dinner there would be another option!

While I'm at it, any suggestions for best places to get photos of the sun setting (or rising)? We are staying at the Tucan, going on a tour with Edventures one day, and heading over to Cozumel another.

Thanks for your help!