“Courteous treatment will make a customer a walking advertisement”. ~
Almost every big event in my life has been celebrated over a meal at a favorite restaurant. It’s an opportunity to relax, and celebrate over good food and drink without any fuss or muss. (If you are lucky it’s good food and drink 😉
Carboncitos has quickly become my go-to dining spot in Playa del Carmen (‘Playa’) due to its ambiance, location, incredible food, reasonable prices, and most of all, its welcoming staff and stellar service. It offers a lovely cafe-like setting mere feet off of 5th avenue, with outside tables under a retractable awning. (The people-watching is great too!)
Dining at Carboncito’s quickly becomes the Mexican version of the iconic TV show Cheers where ‘everybody knows your name’. And not only do they know our name, they also know our favorite drinks and food choices! Now that’s service!
For all my years scoping out restaurants in Playa, this gem was hiding right under my nose. I was under the misconception that Carboncitos only served Mexican fare. I could not have been more wrong on that one. (Sshhh don’t tell my husband I admitted to being wrong.) And what a very tasty and varied menu at that.
Along with the delicious Mexican and Mayan influenced dishes they offer, they also have a very well-rounded menu of fresh seafood, fish, steaks, chicken, burgers, pastas, BBQ and vegetarian options. (There’s a kid’s menu too.) The pièce de résistance however is their table-side flambé. Yes flambé. Woot woot!
Flambé is fast becoming a lost art, but not at Carboncitos. As the servers flambé, they take you on a culinary journey by explaining the ingredients (type of tequila, wine or local chili peppers) as they add them to the pan. Then comes the big moment when the tequila and wine hit the pan and do a flaming mambo dance together! This is a show-stopper which always elicits many oohs and aahs from the surrounding tables! (They will even flambé your pasta sauce and dessert dish at your table!) Talk about dinner AND a show!
Carboncitos is a well-oiled machine. From the moment you are seated, the servers effortlessly unfold your napkin onto your lap, pass out menus, strategically position a purse stand, and then deliver complimentary fresh tortilla chips and sauces.
Up next, the delivery of huge cocktails carried on the server’s head! It’s like a cirque-du-soleil act of them juggling a stack of drinks 2 or 3 levels high on their head without spilling a drop! (Don’t try this at home folks!)
It’s poetry in motion watching the staff work their magic. They are never obtrusive yet they always manage to anticipate your needs before you have to ask. (I like ice in my water, and they are constantly dropping a glass of ice off when needed. Thanks guys!)
So let’s get to the nitty gritty – the food and drink! A must-try is their flambéd filet mignon steak with tequila, red wine, garlic and Roquefort cheese. (My husband dreams about hopping a plane back to Playa JUST to enjoy one of those fab steaks.) The entree that I swoon over is their to-die-for flambéd lobster tail a-la diabla (tequila, white wine and chili guajillo.) Their enchiladas, el pastor tacos, chicken fajitas and fresh fish are big hits with our family as well. And I can’t forget to mention their tangy Caesar salad made table-side as well. Two of my fave appetizers are the sizzling jumbo garlic shrimp and the Caribbean coconut shrimp which are a party in your mouth. Be prepared for drooling, so have a napkin ready…
Their cocktails, especially their margaritas are some of the best I’ve had in Playa. They also offer exotic non-alcoholic cocktails such as strawberry daiquiris and pina coladas which my daughters are all over! Along with their regular list of Mexican beer, on the menu is some pretty fine local craft beer which is all the craze these days and a go-to for my hubby.
And don’t forget their ‘Happy Hour’ includes: 2for1 cocktails, cervezas (sol, tectate, xx lager) & house wine (red/white. (No wonder I’m always smiling in Playa!)
Mucho kudos to the owners Steve and Alejandra who have paid very close attention to all the details of building their restaurant’s reputation. They clearly have a solid system in place that enables their staff to be so efficient yet friendly all at the same time producing delish food at a high standard.
Be prepared for a memorable evening with the staff at Carboncitos. And be prepared to be ruined for meals at any other restaurant like I am.
My summer trip is booked, so Carboncitos here we come!
Note: Carboncitos only takes cash – no credit cards. They are located on Calle 4th between 5th and 10th Avenue. To see their full menu click here. You can contact them here on Facebook.
Salud!
“PLAYA” Gal (a very satisfied client now working to promote Playa Beach Getaways!)
To read more of Sally’s blogs click here & see them on right sight of page. Or arrow to bottom of this blog!
Contact Sally at: playagal@yourbestgetaway.com
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Sally Foran is a happily married mom of 3, residing in Canada and is a frequent traveler to the Riviera Maya MX. She is an aficionado on ‘everything Playa del Carmen’ and writes with joy and passion about the area. She is also a witty blog contributor to Work & Family Foundation Canada, and NAVUT (offering professionals new to Ottawa the inside scoop!) Sally has also been awarded Blogger of the Week, and nominated as Blog Treasure Hunt of the Month on TravelBlog.Org which enjoys over 250,000 bloggers world-wide.
Playa Beach Getaways / Your Best Getaway is a Denver CO. based company owned by Tonya Sarina offering luxury oceanfront condos & villas in Playa del Carmen & Cabo. They have earned a rating of Excellent by Trip Advisor, FlipKey and VRBO and continue to earn raves from satisfied guests who return time after time.
Pictures courtesy of Foran/Robusky, TripAdvisor, HotelCielo