DH and I with our 7 yr old DS will be going to PDC, staying at The Royal Haciendas for a week in late June. We'll have a rental car to get into town.

I would love recommendations for good restaurants, some beach casual but GOOD food, and others very nice, but would still be ok to bring a well behaved 7 yr old. We do most breakfast and lunches at the condo, or on an excursion, but go out for dinners. Any places that the locals go that aren't purely touristy?

TIA!

There are a lot of places to eat in Playa but most of the non-touristy ones are not on the beach. But still within walking distance. Yaxche www.mayacuisne.com is very nice and is on 8th street between 5th and 10th avenues. Il Pescatore is on 10th avenue and around 22 or 24th street (on one of those corners) at the north end of town. Great italian food. There is a large Italian community in PDC and the food is excellent. For Mexican food there are three or four restaurants right in the same area that are great. If you turn left onto Constituyentes as you are driving south on 307 and travel east for a few blocks you will see the Mega supermarket on your right. If you stand in the Mega parking lot and look north you will see a group of restaurants. They are HC Super Carne, El Fogon, a third who's name I can't remember and a pastry/sandwich shop at the end on the corner. All are excellent. I go to Super Carne for arracherra, El Fogon for the pork tacos. If you stand in the Mega parking lot and look west onto 30th avenue you will see a large palapa restaurant called La Pesca. The cheese soup with seafood is very good. Also if you walk down 10th avenue there are many different places to eat. Just a note on restaurants....you have to ask for the check when you are finished as they will not bring it to you unless you ask. Also, sometimes the tip (propina) is included in the check when you get it so look at it to see if it's there. Some do and some don't.
One place I do love to eat in that is not in Playa is Pelicanos in Puerto Morelos. If you want to sit outside on the deck and watch the people fish off the dock this is a great place to do so. Puerto Morelos will be north of where you are staying. When you drive north to Puerto Morelos get in the local lane to make a right onto the road into town. Drive down the road east until you get to the end and turn right. Pelicanos will be on your left. There are also other neat places to eat in this town too.

Wow, colokid. You go above and beyond the call of duty, even for a Fodorite! Thanks so much. Do you live in PDC or just visit frequently? I checked out the website for Yaxche and it looks very interesting. I've bookmarked it and I think we'll try it out one evening. Pelicanos sound great too.

We have travelled in Mexico before so are familiar with the tipping customs and bill etiquette. Thanks for the reminders.

I have a condo there and just bought a small home in Chemuyil. I am fortunate to be able to spend about 3 mths a year there off and on. Have a great time.

We have some suggestions of places not to miss (and some places to avoid) on our blog entry of Playa restaurants. Hope it helps.

http://playazone.wordpress.com/2007/...-and-the-ugly/.

Tony and Cheri
Luna Blue Hotel and Garden
Playa Del Carmen

Thanks so much. I've bookmarked your site.