Marlindo — Restaurant in Mexico City

Update (May, 2024): -1 ⭐️ Overall, -3 ⭐️ Service, -1 ⭐️ Atmosphere ; came here again with friends who were in town visiting. Food was still good, but service was very bad/non-existent. It may be because we were seated at a weird table (half inside half outside) and that we didn't have a dedicated waiter. It was very hard for us to get someone's attention after our initial order. Food also came well before drinks, which was odd.

I would still come back but am not as keen as I was in my inital review 😅 on a positive note: they had bottled beers now

CDMX Eats 2024 #58, Mariscos #6: I'm a little apprehensive about writing this review because I don't want anything about this place to change. It seems like it has been around for a few years, though, so we should be in the clear.

I found Marlindo after picking up some furniture via FB Marketplace nearby on Zacatecas. Marlindo had a good amount of people there, it looked very laidback, and from what I saw: the food looked good.

Fast forward a few weeks, and I was reading reviews, looking at pictures of their menu and of the food. We were craving seafood, so we decided to give it a try.

What we ordered: gin y ginger $130, pacifico $55; pulpo tostada $95, átun tostada $80, aguachile tatemado $125.

I would happily order all of the above again. I struggle to choose the star of the meal: a toss-up between the aguachile and the pulpo (the tuna was no slouch, though!). Consider ordering the Pura Vida (ceviche); I saw someone order it while we were there and that'd be the next thing I order.

The food was incredible: all the seafood was fresh, the sauces served in the dishes were super flavorful, their myriad of salsas were spicy and delicious (shout out the the habanero, garlic, oil salsa), and their homemade totopos/tostadas just elevated everything. One of our favorite meals/spots and best seafood so far.

Our waitress, Eve, was super sweet and attentive, and I really enjoy the vibe here as well. This is also a great shout if you go to Mi Compa Chava and decide you don't feel like waiting in a 30-60+ min queue. Marlindo is only a 3-min walk away.

The only negative I can think of is that they serve their beers in cans. I can imagine it's to encourage patrons to order micheladas, etc., which I can totally understand. We will happily be back here often. Writing this review, I want to head over for some aguachile, tostadas, and a few Pacificos as soon...

This place surprised us. The food was pretty good but not great. But at their price point and the decor/vibe, it was great and I would absolutely return. We got the guacamole, battered fish and shrimp, and tuna ceviche. The guac lacked flavor or any salt, the tuna ceviche was interesting but overpowered by ginger - it definitely was missing something. The battered fish was good, the batter was fluffy. Overall, the food tasted fresh.....but lacked flavor. However, we found the place a great value given that we enjoyed the atmosphere of the place.

Edit: Went back two days later to try some more dishes. The shrimp in spicy sauce and the fried cheese taco (costra?) with octopus were phenomenal. I still stand by 4 stars because we got the battered fish a second time and it was not good. The fish was almost barely cooked inside. Did not taste good and caused an upset...

I’ve been to Marlindo in Roma Norte three times and always return because it never disappoints. On my latest visit I ordered the Caldo de Camarón, which was warm and flavorful with shrimp, potato, and carrot in a light broth. The Aros de Calamar Fritos were perfectly crispy and tender. For something fresher I had the Tostada de Camarón—a ceviche-style shrimp tostada with a jalapeño kick that felt bright and satisfying.

We paired everything with a Clamato preparado, which complemented the seafood beautifully. The atmosphere is relaxed and feels like a beachside escape, especially on sunny days. The staff are warm and attentive, making each visit feel comfortable and genuine.

Everything tasted fresh, servings were generous, and the prices felt fair. Marlindo consistently delivers a combination of flavor, vibe and hospitality that keeps me...