The Many Moods of Los Cabos
Cabo San Lucas and Los Cabos Restaurant Reviews
By Randy Turner, Sabrina Lear, Lindsay Blake and Ryan Thomas
Article from Los Cabos Magazine - Issue #8
This year, more so than ever, Cabo San Lucas and Los Cabos has reached a new level of culinary sophistication. Chefs from all over the world are arriving to open new restaurants and manage five-star hotel kitchens. The diversity and quality of dining experiences has never been better, and while most of the finest food is in the higher priced category, there are still many more affordable options. Join us as we explore the many moods of great food and good times in Los Cabos, including restaurants in Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and the Tourist Corridor. |
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Section One - Baja Cantina to Cosmic Oyster Bar at Hotel Hacienda
Baja Cantina
Baja Cantina has been a Cabo San Lucas landmark for over a decade. Overlooking the world-class yachts of Cabo’s marina, it has been a gathering spot for locals and anglers from around the globe seeking a friendly atmosphere and terrific food at fair prices. The owners create consistent customer satisfaction with their hand’s-on management style. The menu is extensive with something for everyone including traditional Mexican dishes, a large selection of seafood, steaks, burgers, ribs, salads, pasta and incredible pizza. Going fishing? Bring in your catch of the day and they will prepare it any of six ways such as blackened or grilled with garlic. Open for breakfast (with specials from $2.99 USD), lunch and dinner. For a true fiesta, sit at the Dockside Bar where it’s happy hour all day with appetizer specials and major televised sporting events for your entertainment. Friday nights from 9:00 pm to 11:30 pm, ladies can drink for free! Baja Cantina is located on the Marina at L-M Dock. Open daily from 7:00 am to midnight; the kitchen closes at 10:00 pm. Telephone: 143-1591.
Billygan’s Island
Situated on the ever-popular Playa El Médano in Cabo San Lucas, Billygan’s Island offers not only great food, but also more fun then should legally be allowed. This great people-watching location offers international cuisine and an exceptionally casual atmosphere. Happy hour is from 12:00 noon until 7:00 pm daily so you might as well spend a whole day here. Kick back on a lounge chair or get active and go parasailing; or rent a wave runner for some fast thrills. Once you have worked off breakfast, you can enjoy a variety of luncheon specials and then take advantage of their extended happy hour. If you are still able, the dinners are terrific, especially the Shrimp with Coconut Sauce. Live bands encourage patrons to dance on the beach during happy hour. Open 7:00 am to 10:00 pm, at the foot of Paseo de Pescador, on Playa El Médano. Telephone:143-0402.
Brasil Steakhouse
Vegetarians need not apply. The Brasil Steakhouse is for serious meat eaters. No menus in this traditional restaurant—you eat what they bring you, and they bring you a ton. Your meal starts off with an array of crispy little appetizers including fried banana slices and rice balls. Theses little critters are delicious and even better when washed down with an ice-cold beer, be careful though, you’ve only just begun. Next up, an assortment of salads ranging from tomatoes and cucumbers to coleslaw and pasta. You’ll know your Brazilian feast has officially started when you see your waiter approaching your table wielding a three-foot long sword. Al-though your immediate reaction may be to run for you life, stay put and prepare yourself for a carnivorous celebration. Look again and you will see one of twelve different types of meat stuck to the sword waiting to be sliced right onto your plate. Your feast has now begun! Whether you prefer perfectly seasoned ribs, bacon-wrapped turkey breast, fillet mig-non, barbeque chicken wings, New York steak, traditional Mexican-style carne asada, rack of lamb or any other of the twelve meats available from the kitchen, you are encouraged to eat as much as possible. The meal described is all you can eat, and they mean all you can eat. The cost is about $25 per person, drinks not included. The restaurant is located on Emiliano Zapata right in the center of downtown Cabo San Lucas. Open from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Telephone: 143-8343 and 143-8353.
The Brigantine Restaurant
Sitting on a magnificent Pacific beach, The Brigantine Restaurant combines elegance and romantic ambiance. Majestic waves crash upon the beach while whales can be seen breaching and spouting just off shore (in season). The Brigantine is designed with Mexican hacienda charm and features leaded windows, marble floors, spacious air-conditioned dining areas and outside patio dining. This restaurant is fast becoming known for its creative preparations of Mexican food and seafood cooked to perfection. The shrimp, lobster or sea bass are all savory and the presentation is superb. The Brigantine Lasagna, a delightful combination of fresh scallops, shrimp and fish with a black bean sauce and a poblano chile sauce, is sure to become a house favorite. The Stuffed Poblano Chile containing shredded chicken baked in a puff pastry and served over a red mole sauce is a new twist to an old favorite Mexican dish. Fast and friendly service add the final touches to an unbelievable dining experience in paradise. Located on the Pacific Ocean side of Cabo San Lucas, near the lobby, in the Playa Grande Resort. Open daily for breakfast from 6:00 am to 11:00 am and for dinner from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Telephone: 143-7575.
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CaboRey Dinner Cruiser
A new gourmet dining option is now available with the summer 2002 launch of the Caborey Dinner Cruiser in Cabo San Lucas. Enjoy dinner, dancing, live entertainment, shopping and fun in the sun activities aboard a 144-foot catamaran. The owners say that this is the largest catamaran of its type on the American Continent. Com-plete with three decks of pure family entertainment. Telephone: 143-8260
Cabo Wabo Cantina
If you are looking for excellent food at reasonable prices, then Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas is the place to dine with your family or friends. Located above the popular nightclub, Cabo Wabo has an assortment of cocktails, delicious food, and a great view all in one. With a casual atmosphere, this restaurant remains relaxing despite the nightclub downstairs. The creative cuisine consists mainly of fresh meats and seafood that are cooked to near perfection. The Pan Seared Sea Scallops with red cabbage slaw and parsley oil, or the Crispy Lob-ster Ravioli with roasted tomato salsa and cilantro oil, make for a delicious appetizer to go with your first cocktail. |
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For your main course, the Sautéed Jumbo Shrimp with garlic and assorted dried chilies, deglazed with lime juice and Cabo Wabo tequila is a delicious meal. The Roasted Sea Bass with warm tomatillo vinaigrette or the Fresh Catch of the Day are also excellent choices. If you prefer meat to seafood try the Pan Seared Beef Medallions with chipotle butter. Whatever the selection, you’re likely to enjoy your meal. Dine on the open-air patio that looks out over Marina Boulevard, the heart of downtown Cabo San Lucas, and enjoy one of their famous Waboritas made with their own Cabo Wabo tequila. Located on Vicente Guerrero between Lazaro Cardenas and Madero. Enter though the nightclub or their other entrance on Marina Boulevard at Matamoros in Plaza de los Mariachis. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner from 10:00 am to 12:00 am. Telephone: 143-1188.
Café Canela
Knowing that the same people who bring you Peacock’s and Mi Casa restaurants own Café Canela, one must figure that the food is good here, and it is indeed. This marina side café, on the Malecon in front of Plaza Las Glorias, has a bistro feeling and fresh, healthy food at moderate prices. An outdoor eating area under a vine-entwined pergola is most inviting, especially since the marina is right in front of you. For breakfast, try the waffles, any of the savory egg dishes or their Canela Breakfast. For a satisfying lunch, you will find wonderful twists on old favorites as well as other delicious dishes like Stuffed Pita with either chicken or roast beef served with vegetables and a tzatziki-like, garlicky, yogurt-based sauce. Caesar Salads are crisp and fresh and the Fettuccini Alfredo with Shrimp and Scallops is rich and filling. Cafe Canela has fresh pastries and delicious coffees, a full bar, and is open for breakfast and lunch only, 6:00 am to 5:00 pm. Telephone: 143-3435.
Caliente Casino Real
In the heart of downtown Cabo San Lucas on Marina Boulevard sits Caliente Casino Real, the largest sports bar in the area. With forty-three television monitors and fourteen satellite systems, this is the place to be if you want to relax in a casual atmosphere and watch any sporting event on any major network. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, Caliente is a fun place to go with your family and friends to enjoy cocktails, food and your favorite teams! If sports coverage is not entertainment enough, there is a game room filled with pool tables, dartboards, backgammon, 3-D golf and enough electronic games to keep you, or your children, entertained for hours. One of the great assets of this restaurant is that the staff is friendly and the service prompt. Excellent appetizers, classic Mexican dishes, specialties from the sea, juicy steaks—Caliente Casino Real offers a wide variety of food to suit your mood, at great reasonable prices. Sit and dine in air-conditioned rooms or on the open-air patio where you can enjoy the pulse of the city. And don’t forget to try Lupes’ homemade barbecue ribs while you are enjoying Caliente’s downtown atmosphere! Telephone: 143-1934
Calima Restaurant
A new addition to the dining scene in Cabo San Lucas is Calima Restaurant, located above the pool deck within the Playa Grande Resort. Calima was originally situated on the lobby level at Playa Grande, however, the Brigantine Restaurant now occupies that location. Calima Restaurant offers casual dining overlooking the pool area and the Pacific Ocean and features fresh sea-food selections well prepared and presented. You can choose to relax under large umbrellas while sipping on your favorite cocktail or dine under the open air pergola. Enjoy a tasty appetizer like Fried Squid with a sweet and sour sauce or an entrée of Seafood Stuffed Fish Fillet wrapped in bacon. The Fish Fillet, Culichi style, is delicious with a tasty Poblano chile and cream sauce topped with shredded Monterey Jack cheese. And for the true seafood connoisseur, the Sushi Bar at Calima has a wonderful variety of your favorite sushi or sashimi, all very fresh and tasty. Open daily 10:00 am to 8:00 pm serving lunch and early dinner. Tele-phone: 143-7575, ext. 3306.
Casa del Mar Restaurant
Casa del Mar Golf Resort and Spa located at Km. 19.5 in the Corridor, is part of the expansive Cabo Real resort complex. The dining room complements the high standard of Cabo Real with breathtaking views of the lush landscaping and the serenity of the desert and the Sea of Cortés. Whether you choose to dine inside or on the terrace, you will find the setting at the restaurant quite romantic. The menu features continental seafood cuisine with a special Mexican flair. To start off your evening try one of the many exquisite appetizers such as the Mussels with Cilantro and White Wine, or for lobster lovers who want something unique try the Lobster Crepes with Poblano Sauce. This is just a prelude to a variety of dishes available for your main course. Chilean Chef, Patricio Pizarro, suggests the Spaghetti a la Vodka, a blend of pomodoro (tomato) sauce with vodka and seafood. Grilled Sea Bass stuffed with seafood or their succulent lobster and shrimp dishes will satisfy every seafood lover. If seafood is not your thing, try the delicious Rack of Lamb or the Filete de Res al Merlot, both cooked to perfection. The restaurant at Casa del Mar also offers a casual poolside menu of seafood cocktails, salads, tacos, hamburgers, and a variety of sandwiches. Open daily from 7:00 am to 11:00 am and again from 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm. Telephone: 144-0030.
Casa Rafael’s Restaurant
On the hilltop above Médano Beach sits Casa Rafael’s. As you enter, the beautiful murals adorning the walls and ceilings, as well as the colorful 2,500-gallon aquarium, will titillate your senses. This is a complete dining experience so allow yourself time to enjoy it. Owner and Chef, Rafael Arraut, will start your evening with a gauntlet of delectable hors d’oeuvres from Malaysian Chili to fresh Smoked Dorado Paté, however, one mustn’t overlook their great soups and salads. The house specialty is the delicious Lobster Medallions in oriental black bean sauce yet everything on the menu is a specialty. Beef lovers will enjoy the Black Angus, the only beef served at Casa Rafael’s. The wine list is extensive and the bar offers nearly every conceivable option for the most discerning tastes. Casa Rafael’s is known for its unequaled service and professional staff. The music at the piano bar along with a Cuban cigar is a fitting way to complete your evening. Banquet facilities are available for special occasions. Reservations are nec-essary. Dinner begins at 6:00 pm. Tele-phone: 143-0739
Cosmic Oyster Bar
Located next to La Noria Restaurant at the Hotel Hacienda Beach Resort on Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas, The Cosmic Oyster Bar is a great place to start your evening. This bar is a collage of color with the ocean as its theme. An array of game fish are painted on walls that are coated with a brilliant Caribbean blue. This is a great place to enjoy your favorite sporting event on the big screen television, shoot a game of pool on a unique pool table or just sit on the patio and enjoy the sun. Cocktails of all varieties are at your beck and call and the jumbo margaritas will have you hooked. As the name implies, the Cosmic Oyster Bar offers a variety of seafood appetizers starting with the delectable Blue Point Oysters, and running the gambit from Mixed Teriyaki Brochettes with tuna, Filet Mignon, Chicken and Shrimp, or Smoked Tuna Paté with sesame toast. Chef Albino Aguirre oversees all with a deft touch. For a unique experience, the Cosmic Oyster Bar is hard to beat. Open 7:00 am to 11:00 pm. Telephone: 143-0122, ext. 2107.
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| Cabo San Lucas Information Source - Los Cabos Guide. Directory and travel guide to Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and Los Cabos areas of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Activities, articles, beaches, fishing, general information, golf, hotels, maps, real estate, rentals, resorts, restaurants, services, shopping, vacation discounts, villas and more. www.loscabosguide.com |
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Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico - Last revision: 12 November 2003
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