Restaurante Bar Esmeralda — Restaurant in Oaxaca

Visited: October-11, 2024 Food experience was as anticipated for a beach cafe. The problem is that we were taken by the three employees present who seemed to be working together. As a side hustle they sold us a bioluminescence tour of the local lagoon and scheduled hotel pickup the following evening at 6:30 to 6:40PM for which I foolishly prepaid in cash for the tour. They verified they had both hotel address and Whatsapp contact. Following evening we waited outside hotel for an hour and had no pickup nor follow-up contact. Reached out to them on Whatsapp the following morning - they responded by trying to get us to go on an alternative tour that evening but we had no time. When asked how to get refund was told they needed 'account' number which was provided. Again day later I asked about refund. There has yet to be refund or follow-up. Lesson learned: Don't be so trusting - this is NOT an uncommon experience. I am reminded of PT Barnum "There is a sucker born every minute" and a confidence trickster...

Probably this is a place to drink and play pool by the beach, definitely not a good restaurant. The meats on my Oaxacan grill platter were cold and dry, the cheese was not fresh and there were no moles or salsas served with it. We received 3 fish tacos instead of 4 and for mxn 200 instead of mxn 180. Chips for guacamole were very old. The wait for food was very long. I just hope we will not get diarrhea from this. I prefer not to describe the restrooms. Altogether another disappointment in...

I'd avoid this place.

Upon arriving to Zicatela my family and I had our luggage and we were tired and hungry.The waiter was nice and inviting. However, after we ordered it took over an hour to get our food and we were the only ones at the restaurant. Additionally, the food lacked quality and flavor and it was the most expensive meal I paid for yet! The pineapple water was watered down and had no flavor....