La Playa MEXICAN GRILLE — Restaurant in Port Aransas

I am a restaurant owner x 3 and I love this place! The food is amazing. We had a local tell us about it over 15 years ago who has now passed away. I GET how hard it is to run and maintain a restaurant. BUT...we could pick ANY beach to go to in the world and in fact have, but over and over we CHOOSE Texas beaches to help support TEXAS businesses. I have been here 5 times over the past few years and have had the MOST RUDE encounters with staff 2x now! The first time it was because we chose to have a separate table from our children so it could be a table of 4 and a table of six. It was absolutely obvious that it was a horrible choice by us and they were so rude about it BUT after service they commented that they were really regretting having our kids table but how well they behaved. This week we were treated so poorly. They said I requested an outside table. I didn't but it was extremely loud in the place. So after being told it would be an hour wait, someone went in to check at an hour and 15 minutes and told them we did not request to be outside and that was a mistake. They said NO! YOU REQUESTED OUTSIDE. Okay but we don't need outside and you can split us up four and four? A second person went in and said the same thing at an hour and 30 minutes. At an hour and 40 when we were being called inside after everyone else who arrived after us took a seat and was being served, they said so rudely well you requested outside seating!!!!!! I said, that's what you heard and I heard something different but we did not request to be outside so please stop saying that. We have told y'all Several times it was a misunderstanding! She said, "Well you did!" This was the same two people who were so rude the other time. There was a cleared table almost ready inside and we asked if we could sit there. She said she had to check to see if the other party was still waiting. So we went outside again after waiting in 100 degree temps with no shade again. We sat down. Yes when they told me to my face again that I'm going outside because I requested outside my sister did say, you are so rude . We all work in the industry! We get it! We sat down and the lady who may be the owner said let me see (the rudest of them all)! we were like no we are fine. The point here is NOT that we sat outside or waited 1.40 min. The point is that this was the second time we have been there and that they were so RUDE! It's obvious they don't like tourist as we overheard a waitress talk which was the one who didn't want the kids the first time (and has lived there 21 years). The economy is hard right now and supporting small businesses is so important. The food was amazing but our waitress obviously was told something about us and would not even look at us! She finally after we ate said I see you didn't hardly touch your fajitas and they are super Burnt, would you like for me to have them refired? No, beef is expensive and we would never send them back. Even burnt they were good. We were very nice to her because she was working so hard and it was not her fault but the point is. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE SO RUDE TO CUSTOMERS AND YOU SHOULD BE THANKFUL DURING THE SUMMER THAT PEOPLE CHOOSE YOUR RESTAURANT BECAUSE THE FOOD IS AMAZING. PEOPLE WAIT HOURS TO EAT AT YOUR RESTAURANT! That's such a honor! There are a lot of restaurants that aren't as fortunate to stay in business that long. My hope is that from here on out you choose kindness and when a customer tells you they didn't request something you at least chalk it up to a misunderstanding and are kind because that's what...

Best Mexican food in the area, especially anything with Shrimp, by far. However, to me the more intriguing story to this place is how it's run - as a rational response to the crazy demand.

All the sour grapes about La Playa is simple. Do you want amazing Mexican food on your beach vacation? You do? So do many many many other people.

This is a relatively small place given the demand, and to serve as many people as they can, they've done a few things that ignorant people who haven't done their homework won't understand:

No reservations: they don't need to save you a table. There's 100 people behind you ready to sit down with their full party. No phone calls: they're too busy serving the droves of zombies hungry after a day at the beach. No cards: not sure I understand this one other than better operating margins and less card issues - you have the cash or you don't. List on the door at 4pm: provides some order to chaos when they open, and ensures you're around when they call your name. Write your name down and don't show up? No worries, 100 parties standing there who didn't read the sign ready to take your spot.

The lady running the place out front likely deals with entitled, hungry out of Towners constantly. Too much demand and stress to deal with your ignorant and unprepared dissatisfaction. Come early, prepared, on the list, with your full party and a good attitude, maybe a joke or two? You'll be treated very very very well, and you'll have an amazing meal.

Don't do all of those things and you'll likely wait forever, get a tired wait staff at the end of the night, or never get a seat.

In Port A, if you want amazing Mexican food with delicious seafood options, YOU HAVE TO WANT IT. If you do, La Playa will deliver every time. Just ask the people at the top of the list.

One thing they can do, worth a laugh, is sell "I survived 5pm at La Playa" t-shirts to anyone making the first cut. They'd be all the rage around town.

Now get off your sandy butt and get on the list and get yourself...

WOW. We had to check this place out because of the reviews. We were blown away by the amazing food and exceptional service. Got there at 4:45 on Saturday with many others before doors opened at 5pm. (we passed this place up many times during week because of long lines outside) Manny was our server and just phenomenal. We got the special app, scallops..HUGE and perfectly cooked. I got the primo margarita at Manny's recommendation when I asked for "smooth". He was right...I got two during dinner. My 19yo daughter got the ultimate enchiladas (3: shrimp, crabmeat, crawfish) and especially loved the shrimp. I got the Chilean sea bass special. Perfectly seared in butter and topped with crabmeat and fresh avocado. IT MELTED IN MY MOUTH. Side dishes included grilled portabella, carrots and zucchini. Carrots were a bit undercooked but other veggies were perfect. The rice side had corn, cilantro, and sweet pepper in it. My husband got crisp tacos and they were just to his liking. We got Flan for dessert and wish we ordered one to go as well...so. friggin. good. We ended up at $140 for the three of us including 20% tip. SO WORTH IT. If you can only eat out one night on your vacation, make this your place. Get there early and they are cash...