El Faro - Costa Maya — Restaurant in Quintana Roo

I always strive to find the good in every restaurant, but unfortunately, my experience at El Faro left much to be desired.

The Good: The view is undeniably beautiful, and that’s what you’re paying for here. It’s a picturesque spot with potential, but sadly, that’s where the positives end.

The Food: The food was just okay. I ordered three street-sized tacos for $22—no sides included. While overpriced, that wasn’t even the worst part of the experience.

The Service: This is where things really went downhill. Enter Hugo, quite possibly the rudest and most obnoxious waiter I’ve encountered in a long time. From the moment we sat down, his attitude was dismissive and condescending. When we balked at the high prices, Hugo didn’t try to explain or offer any alternatives. Instead, he responded with sarcasm, saying, “Well, you could go into town. Pay $4 each, that’s $16 one way, so $32 round trip. Same price, so what are you going to do?”

When I joked about chips and salsa not being free, he shot back, “Come on Miss, you see the price right there,” with a tone that made it clear he wasn’t in the mood for any lighthearted conversation.

Hidden Fees: On top of the inflated menu prices, they charged an undisclosed service fee and taxes, which added about 300 pesos to the bill. This was the first time I’ve ever chosen not to tip, but apparently, Hugo went ahead and tipped himself.

Word of mouth is everything, and after this experience, I stopped a large group from going in and being subjected to the same mistreatment and overcharges.

Overall: If you want to enjoy the view, maybe grab a drink and leave it at that. Otherwise, steer clear. There are better places to eat and spend your money...

El Faro's oceanfront location at the fake Puerto Costa Maya pier is what drew in me and my spouse before heading back to the cruise ship. After getting used to the dirt cheap prices of Puerto Vallarta, I for one was taken aback with what these guys were asking.

ATMOSPHERE: You can't get any closer to the ocean than this! It's so close you'll be covered with sea spray. The place is totally outdoors with protection via umbrellas. There are more covered tables further from the ocean fronting the restaurant but they're along a busy sidewalk and were mistaken for public use by some folks. Country music was played overhead.

MENU: Beer, mixed drinks, burgers, skewers, steak, chicken, shrimp, ceviche. Food prices ranged from $15 - $20, alcohol prices between $4 and $14. Pricey compared to other parts of Mexico.

We almost ordered a plate of shrimp but decided to just have some beers while enjoying the sensory experiences of the ocean.

SERVICE: Our server was welcoming and friendly.

OVERALL: Nice ambiance for a drink and...

I like this place, the service provided by Nacho and his team was excellent. The food was extremely fresh and tasty. We had fish prepared 2 ways, Costa Mayan Style (their specialty) and fried with garlic butter. Both dishes were exquisite. We also had the shrimp ceviche and drank their Coco Loco drink and margaritas. We prefer the margaritas. Eating with a view of the ocean, while digging your toes in the soft white sand, and listening to the soft waves crash against the shore line makes for a super memorable and relaxing meal. I can say that I didn't give it 5 stars because 1 it is a little pricey, and 2 they don't seem to take credit cards. Based on previous reviews and my personal experience their credit card machine seems to always be down for one reason or another. My advice, bring cash with you, better if Mexican pesos. Overall, pleasant experience with good service and truly...