Tulum Mexican Cuisine — Restaurant in Daphne

This has to be one of the more pleasant surprises I’ve had dining out in Baldwin County recently. I’m not generally a big fan of “Fancy Mex” because of the cost and how far it strays from the more conventional way of making food, but Tulum really strikes a good balance between traditional and contemporary takes on Mexican.

Rather than the festive bright colors of traditional Mexican restaurants, this one hews more towards dark tones of a contemporary steakhouse. It feels more like the place to take a date than the entire family for sports or live music.

On the day my family visited, there was a staffing shortage so service was a bit on the slow side, but both our server Alex and the manager were apologetic about it, and checked on us several times to let us know we weren’t forgotten. Rather than the bog-standard chips & salsa, this restaurant gives you toasted corn tortillas and two kinds of very mild salsas — one fairly traditional red salsa and an orange-tinged aioli type salsa that’s more creamy and smooth. Both were decent, especially when mixed together, but I would have preferred a little more spicy heat to at least one of them.

We tried to sample a variety of items from the main menu. One diner picked the Birria tacos, something he has a lot of experience with. The other diner was indecisive so the server recommended the Pink Paradise Enchiladas, which feature a roasted beet (!) sauce along with a side of poblano rice. I was in the mood for a bit of everything so I picked the Fajita Mix since it had shrimp, chicken and steak all on one plate. All three plates arrived in relatively short order and looked well-presented, something many more basic Mexican restaurants don’t bother with doing.

The birria tacos got a thumbs up; the shredded beef in the tacos was tender, and the dipping sauce had porky notes to it. Like a typical birria, the sauce was greasy and fatty and perfect for taco-dunking.

The fajitas were a pretty standard “onions and peppers with sour cream and guacamole” but they also threw in a few slices of roasted yellow squash, which I quite enjoyed. The shrimp was excellent, tender and juicy with a great marinade flavor. The chicken was fairly tender and had good a good sear on it from the grill. The steak? Eh, kinda tough. Not my favorite, definitely. I was hoping even the standard steak would be a cut above at these prices, but I guess you can’t have it all. (There’s a ribeye steak fajita plate under the steaks entry on the menu, which ought to be better for steak lovers.) The flour tortillas were good but nothing special, ditto the Mexican rice. The refried beans were creamy and well seasoned but difficult to eat with a fork in the tiny little serving ramekins they use for sides.

The star of the night was the Pink Paradise Enchiladas, by far. Don’t be put off by the roasted beet sauce. It’s what makes these shrimp enchiladas shine! The pink hue is weird but the flavor is out of this world and not at all like the awful pickled beets I’ve had as a kid. It helps that it’s a rich, creamy sauce that pairs well with their amazingly seasoned and tender shrimp. The poblano rice was definitely a step up from the Mexican rice side on my fajita plate, too. There’s just a hint of peppery bite behind the vegetal pepper flavor, so it’s not too spicy for sensitive palates.

Overall, I really enjoyed my experience, despite the initial service issues. Sure, it’s pricey compared to some nearby competition, but the ambiance, service and food quality...

OK so……. I’ve been here twice. In two weeks I’m gonna say some good things and bad things even though I gave them five stars on everything because I think they deserve it and everybody has a bad day.

The very first time I went there it was awesome. Me and a friend. The food was great. The atmosphere was good. It wasn’t too loud. Our server she didn’t quite understand everything which was kind of frustrating and after going the second time, I know where not to sit and what day.

I had the ribeye fajitas, which was amazing the first time. The second time, though I ordered it again, medium told her I liked it all pink and she said she was gonna put it in medium rare because they always overcooked it. I was like OK you know your cooks better than I do. Well, it didn’t come back overcooked, it came back very medium rare and very, very, very fatty and tough. It was quite odd compared to the last visit which was just a week before this. She asked if she could take it back and have him cook it a little more and I was like unless you’re gonna bring me a whole new steak no thank you because you’re just gonna press it down and dry It out basically.

My aunt had ordered the nachos which she was very disappointed because it didn’t come with nacho chips. It came with these deep fried flour tortillas that they made in house I’m assuming. and they were just not crunchy at all. Very soft like eating bread. For meat she had the Carnitas, which there was like half fat half meat

My mom, she decided to get the tacos, the shredded chicken tacos. she really liked them. She used some of my onions and peppers to put on them from the fajitas. So she really didn’t have too much to complain about. But the salad that they gave her, it was quite odd considering that she didn’t explain it was gonna already have dressing mixed in and what kind of dressing it was. in addition to having corn and some other stuff in it because she wasn’t used to that.

One thing that I will not ever order again is their mac & cheese. It is not good. It’s dry tasteless and just not worth the extra side get something else.

The nacho chips and cheese the queso as an appetizer is amazing. The chips are so light and crunchy. They should use those for the nachos.

I was actually surprised that the manager never came over to at least talk or asked questions so it was kind of upsetting. I’m assuming she just never said anything.

So maybe they will read this and try to fix a few things or maybe they won’t cause maybe they...

Last night, our family embarked on a long-awaited dining experience that exceeded all expectations. We'd been eagerly anticipating the opening of this new restaurant, and it was worth every second of the wait! Our excitement was largely due to Carlos, an exceptional server we knew from another restaurant. His reputation for going above and beyond for his customers had us buzzing with anticipation. When we learned he was part of this new venture, we couldn't wait to see what he had in store. From the moment we stepped through the door, we were enveloped in warmth and hospitality. The staff, including Carlos, greeted us like old friends, making us feel instantly at home. Their friendliness and attentiveness were truly remarkable. As someone who's quite particular about seasoning, I was blown away by the flavors. My husband and I ordered a mouthwatering chimichanga with steak, while our son devoured his Steak Fajitas. The steak was so juicy and tender, I was tempted to steal a bite from our son's plate! The portions were generous - we even had leftovers to take home. But it wasn't just the taste that impressed us. The presentation was stunning, with each dish artfully arranged on the plate. Just when we thought the evening couldn't get any better, Carlos and Armando treated us to a show-stopping dessert. It was a delightful spectacle that left us in awe - both visually and taste-wise. The entire experience was nothing short of magical. From the beautifully designed interior to the impeccable service, we truly felt like VIPs. This restaurant strikes the perfect balance - it's great for everyday dining, but also perfect for those special occasions when you want to dress up and feel extra fancy. After a challenging year, this family night out was exactly what we needed. We were hoping for a nice evening, but what we got was an unforgettable experience that lifted our spirits.. We left with full hearts (and full stomachs!), feeling grateful and excited for Carlos, Armando, and their team. They've created something truly special, and we can't wait to return. Here's to many more memorable meals at our new...