Buzo's Restaurant-Bar — Restaurant in Playa del Carmen

We were craving seafood but didn't want to pay tourist prices, so after reading the reviews for Buzo's, we decided this was the place for dinner. We arrived just before 8:00pm on a Thursday and only a few tables were taken. Pro tip: smoking is permitted at the front of the restaurant, which is open to the street, so ask for a table in the middle or rear.

Our waiter spoke better English than we speak Spanish and he gave us an English menu, but he called over another employee who was more fluent. We started with ceviche, which was delicious and plentiful, and since we planned to try several dishes, we somehow restrained ourselves from finishing it off. Our waiter thoughtfully offered to package the rest to go. As other reviewers have noted, the service is excellent.

We decided to share one of the specialties, Camarones Arropados, shrimp and Manchego cheese wrapped in bacon. We also ordered a combination of shrimp prepared three ways--with mango sauce, with tamarind sauce, and breaded with coconut. These came on a bed of yellow rice with a salad of sliced cucumber and shredded carrot. We knew we wouldn't be able to eat all of this, so we strategically saved some of the Arropados for breakfast. The cost for this feast was around 750 pesos or about $45.00 US, including 4 beers.

The food and service were outstanding and well worth venturing outside the tourist area. Seriously, if you're in Playa and staying close to 5th Ave then you're missing some of the best...

An outstanding meal for 16 of us. Easily one of our best over a three week trip which included some great restaurants here in Playa as well as some great restaurants in Carmel & Pebble Beach, California (just before coming to Playa).

Lobster was live and priced by the kilo (make sure to check the current price per kilo and choose your size before they prepare it, so there are no $$$ suprises)...several preparation choices.

Pricing was fair for what we ordered. 12, 500 pesos or $730 US$ for 16 folks; lots of drinks, appetizers, lobsters, mains, more drinks & deserts, etc, etc.

My favorite dish was one of their specialties (for two).... assorted seafood, peppers and onions with cheese melting on top, arriving in a still sizzling stone bowl, with shells to make your own tacos for 260 pesos...on the menu as "Molcajete con Marisco Gratinado" More than enough for the two of us and one of our favorite meals in a long time.

Staff were attentive without being too pushy, decor was not fine dining but very casual.

In summary, I hardly ever post a review and we dine in some fabulous restaurants from the Post hotel (amazing but well known) in Lake Louise, Canada to Merriman's in Hawaii, etc. This one was a...

Food: 3/5 Tasty seafood, cold beer. Really wanted a US style fish and chips so I ordered breaded fish with fries. Fish was really tasty, but really thin cut (fish plus breading on both sides less than 1/4 inch thick). Fries were not totally cooked. My wife ordered breaded shrimp which comes with rice and a salad. Shrimp was really good and fairly good sized.

Service: 4/5 Attentive, but it took a fair amount of time for both food and drinks to arrive. Server only spoke Spanish, but he quickly asked another English speaking server to assist. Menus are available in English and Spanish.

Venue: 3/5 OK. Not trashy but not upscale either. Bathroom (OK, I didn't inspect the ladies room) was also OK - not fancy, but reasonably clean. There were a couple stand ups, and two thrones - only one had a seat though.

Overall: 3/5 As a resident, I will be back here from time to time and will enjoy it, but it won't be hard to trump this place with a different option if I find the quality and customer...