La Yola

La Yola Review

Dining on a deck, gentle breeze blowing, over the PuntaCana Marina, you feel as if you were actually aboard a yola (a small fishing boat). Using thatched cane for overhead shelter, and the sea as a backdrop, this restaurant has a gratifying, open-air dining ambience. The cuisine has Mediterranean and Caribbean influences, and attentive service enhances the experience. Seafood and fish dominate the creative menu (you'll also find beef and chicken selections). For an appetizer, the spicy tuna tartare with guacamole relish starts you off with a pleasing burst of flavor and satisfying texture. Main plates, including the catch of the day—usually red snapper, grouper, ordorado (mahimahi)—are artfully prepared and presented. Baked Chilean sea bass with clam-and-cherry-tomato risotto is a savory special, but costs as much as the lobster—$45. For a more frugal alternative, have a side of lobster risotto for $7 and an ample appetizer.