La Justicia de Don Pino — Restaurant in Isla Mujeres

Everything has been so delicious! My kids love it too. We have come back many times during our month here on Isla and will be coming back a couple more before we leave. Seafood is so fresh and cooked beautifully, price is right. Vibe: authentic and chill. It's the place every local told me to go to for the best seafood and they were right. Favorite items: shrimp ceviche, lobster tail (grilled with butter and garlic dipping sauce - this was so divine I dream about it), whole grouper fish fried (warning - a ton of food - good for a table to share). We also got fish stuffed with seafood - I was skeptical because i don't like chewy type seafood and it was a mix of filling - but it was cooked perfectly. Also the hamburger with seafood (just because - surprisingly good although I probably wouldn't order again), and the aguachile ceviche. My girls loved the spaghetti options - the one adventurous one gobbled up her shrimp every time. Also delicious horchata! The servers were so nice, especially Angel. They do take debit or credit (small surcharge on credit) so that's nice too. Go here, especially if you want to escape the touristy north end...

We opted to stay outside of the booming Playa Norte hotel zone in Isla Mujeres to opt for a local Colonia, which came with its own stunning, off-the-beaten-path recommendations best known to locals. We came to Justicia de Don Pino, owned by an elderly lifetime local named Jorge, who is missing a few teeth, owns a local winning baseball team, and runs a family establishment whose reputation precedes them. The aguachile is a must try, and their other ceviches are as prized, but the aguachile specifically had the perfect balance of acid and spice, heat and refreshment. We also had their cream pasta with shrimp, which was such a generous portion of fresh shrimps, and finally, we tried to lobster tail which came with all the fixings, was simple, fresh and perfect. For seafood, this is where you want to be. Exceptional service, exceptional food. It’s good...

We were excited to try this place given the good reviews, but was underwhelmed by the food: stale chips, over cooked and chewy grilled octopus, and over cooked and mushy steamed vegetables, not to mention the overpriced dishes. USD 7.50 for a plate of steamed carrots and zucchini is not something to be expected. The local taqueria a block away had more satisfying food at a fraction of the price. The service was decent, but cannot make up for the dismal dining experience. The only thing that tasted normal was the spaghetti with cream (Alfredo sauce?). Maybe it's a hit or miss and we...