"Joy Hardie" wrote in message
news:0mlve0dqbnc9vadcprhsjpaeuo20nj6nur@4ax.com...
> Hi Dennis,
> Great notes!
> I just heard a "mixed review" on Oscar y Lalo's yesterday. But
> since we will be staying on Soliman Bay I will definately give it a
> try! What do you recommend there?
Their specialty is fish. They're small enough that your best bet is to
ask what they have on hand. Keep in mind that the traditional way to fry a
whole fish produces something that looks like a very well done french fry. I
understand that you can get something more approximating American tastes if
you ask that it be cooked "a medio". I generally avoid this dilemma by
ordering filets. I can understand mixed reviews, they serve pretty typical
fare. In my estimation it's better than most, but still very typical of the
region. Considering the ambiance their prices are very reasonable. For
something more upscale try the indoor section of the Lol ha restaurant at
Akumal. It's near the Akumal Dive Center, which is the shop that annoyed me
by lying about the number of divers they take out in a group. The Akumal
Dive Shop is near the Ecological Center and in my experience is more honest
about their services. Both shops have very professional service once you get
out on the water.
All of the restaurants at Akumal have very nice fare. For something
more budget class try the little place on the right (or south side as you're
going in) just outside the entrance. They mostly cater to the employees.
It's a good place to get a very basic plate of mole. The family selling the
hammocks that I recommended are usually right across the entrance road from
them.
In Playa del Carmen I prefer the restaurants that cater mostly to
Mexicans on the same street as the San Francisco supermarket. You'll get
better prices and fare than is generally available at the places catering to
tourists if you just look for the busier places in that area. For something
very traditional and very reasonably priced, during the middle of the day
there are always some Mayan women selling food out of pots to the employees
just outside the entrance of Puerto Aventuras. Individual servings are
cooked wrapped in banana leaves. You'll find things like the very
traditional Conchinita pibil (pork with Yucatan spices--it won't be hot
spicey, they use achiote paste and sour orange).
Soliman bay looks to have a sandy bottom, which doesn't usually produce
your better snorkeling experiences. I assume you'll be staying on the point
just south of there as there isn't a whole lot on the bay itself. We camped
in one of the primitive RV spots at the restaurant one night. About the only
amenities they provide for RVs are a single electrical plug in and outdoor
showers. It was wonderfully quiet once the restaurant closed and they close
fairly early in the evening or at least they did the off season night we
were there.
Dennis
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