Chez Papa — Restaurant in Playa del Carmen

I've been coming to PDC since 96. I fell in love with it instantly and I knew my wife and I would end up living here. Of course it's not the sleepy little fishing village it once was it has blossomed into something I love even more now. And Chez Papa is a part of the blossoming of PDC.

Everyone who works there is a gift. From the owners Leo and Lulu to Chef Marco, Luigi and Christian. We are huge fans of each of them because of their attention to detail and they make you feel like a part of the family. They just completed updating their terrace which is our favorite place to sit and eat, you have to check this place out.

The food? Off the chart delicious from the rotisserie chicken with mashed potatoes and a salad to the filet mignon with mashed potatoes and a salad, the cheeseburger with fries also an excellent choice. Dessert's we've had there have been the chocolate mousse and flan again just incredible like everything else there. Again their attention to detail is superior from big things to little things and it's a special place that you must give a try. SAVE ROOM FOR DESSERT!

Our wedding anniversary was on the 22nd of this month where did we go to celebrate? Chez Papa they were kind enough to take care of us with a special table and a beautiful table and a delicious bottle of wine that my wife and I loved and I'm not a big wine fan but the Malbec or Merlot go with the chicken and beef perfectly.

So much 💕 to Leo and his wife Lulu who own the place. To Chef Marco, Luigi and our first contact Christian who is like my brother from another mother now who has been a joy to be around as they all have been. Needless to say If you don't give it a shot you'll be missing out on one of the best dining/food experience's you can have in Playa.

We'll see you guys again I'm sure before the weekend ends I'm craving the chicken again. Much love to you guys you have and all are something special and that's what Playa is about. You are the kind of people that keeps us coming back to PDC and we feel truly blessed to have found you guys. And thanks for the wedding anniversary treatment my wife and I both had eyes full of tears because of the special moment you gave us. Along with the table of 10 doing the beso chant.

💕 you guys and...

Used to be one of the best restaurants in Playa. Wondered aloud to my friend why it was empty at 8 on a Saturday night. I soon found out why.

Went for dinner + dessert. I had shrimp tacos and my friend had Caesar salad.

The waiter messed up our drinks; bringing lemonade when we ordered mineral water. The tacos were just deep fried shrimp in taco shells with a mayo sauce. No veg or anything special.

My friend said the chicken in her salad was far too salty. She didn’t finish her meal. I did finish my tacos because I was hungry and looking forward to dessert.

I ordered crepes. My “crepes” were wet, thick and strange with a lot of gross sauce all over them. My friend’s flan tasted like pure ginger powder. We had a couple bites and because they were not at all tasty, we didn’t finish those either.

We would have just paid the bill and left it at that but the owner came up to us and said he’d just arrived from Canada 3 days ago. He said he knew things were wrong at his restaurant and he was trying to fix them.

He took the desserts off our bill and offered us replacement desserts, but we both were grossed out and didn’t want them. He then asked how everything else was and when we told him it honestly was pretty bad he offered to take a portion off the bill and urged us to come back another time.

When I told him honestly that I wouldn’t be back unless he took care of the whole bill, he got angry and retracted his offer to take a portion of the bill. He followed us into the street demanding we pay 175 pesos which we did.

The whole thing was an an absolute debacle and when I told him I’d write a review about this he said I was extorting him.

Now I definitely won’t be back. The new management has ruined the place and what should have been a...

My favorite spot to eat non-Mexican food near by Airbnb on 34th street. Never had much French food, but now I know why they are the king of classics. Their menu del dia, such a steal, get the steak and fries for a super deal. Not to mention the sausage platter, home-made custom made sausages to order and enjoy.

I came to know this place my first time arriving to Playa del Carmen waiting for an Airbnb and I needed a dreaded coffee after the Mexican restaurants I ate at had no cafe, so I stumbled upon this pearl in the beach and got ordered myself a cappuccino, hit the spot, made by a mexicana who with her French husband were owners of this magical place. Such a lovely couple.

In the interior between the restaurant and the panaderia is a chill, homey feel patio with trees covering you from the random Yucatán summer rain and the eventual hot carmen sun.

Come here for the food, for the French beach experience, you won’t be disappointed. I hope to comeback and live nearby so I can have breakfast everyday. Ohh the breakfast, the croissants and the baguettes with butter and jam, and whenever I feel I want to eat a proper meal, I come here as a...