Mariscos Nayarit — Restaurant in Raleigh

A recent visit to Mariscos Nayarit known for its Mexican seafood dishes revealed a dynamic space brimming with energy, though not without its eccentricities. Patrons seeking a lively atmosphere, particularly on Sundays and select evenings when live bachata and salsa music takes center stage, will find it here in spades.

Culinary Observations The food, in general, is commendably good, with portions generous enough to satisfy the heartiest appetites. A standout from a previous visit, the bacon-wrapped meatloaf paired with a vegetable blend, proved to be a particularly satisfying offering. However, consistency appears to be a minor challenge across the menu. The fried chicken sandwich, for instance, was unfortunately overly crunchy, detracting from the textural balance one hopes for. Similarly, the fried jambalaya was found to be notably dry and lacking in flavor, a dish perhaps best avoided.

Libations and Ambiance The beverage program offers a curious duality. While the pitcher drinks regrettably fail to deliver a discernible "buzz," the margarita offerings are a redeeming feature, lauded for their uniqueness and delicious complexity. These inventive concoctions, alongside the appealing artwork adorning the space, serve as significant draws. However, the internal soundscape can be problematic; the music inside frequently registers as excessively loud, potentially overwhelming conversation and diminishing the overall comfort level for some diners.

Service Notes Service, while not entirely without merit, was observed to be somewhat lacking on occasion. This, combined with the volume, presents a minor hurdle to what could otherwise be a more polished experience. In conclusion, this establishment caters to a specific clientele: those who prioritize a lively, music-filled environment and substantial, generally palatable food, while accepting certain trade-offs in terms of service consistency and noise levels. The truly exceptional margaritas and the infectious energy of the live music are undoubtedly the stars of the show. This establishment presents a compelling, albeit somewhat uneven, dining and entertainment proposition. It thrives as a vibrant hub, particularly for enthusiasts of Latin music, with consistent live performances of bachata and salsa on Sundays, and occasionally throughout the week. The generosity of their food portions is notable, ensuring patrons leave thoroughly sated.

From a culinary perspective, the kitchen demonstrates moments of genuine excellence. My prior visit highlighted the bacon-wrapped meatloaf and accompanying vegetable blend as particularly satisfying dishes, exhibiting a thoughtful balance of flavors and textures.

The establishment's commitment to visual appeal is also evident; the artwork adorning the space is appealing, creating an engaging ambiance. Furthermore, their margarita offerings are notably unique and delicious, serving as a significant draw and a commendable highlight.

However, the experience is not without its considerable caveats. The volume of the live music inside can be excessively loud, potentially detracting from comfortable conversation and dining. While the food is generally good, consistency appears to be a challenge. The fried chicken sandwich, for instance, suffered from an overly crunchy texture, which proved distracting. Similarly, the fried jambalaya was found to be dry and lacking in flavor, a significant miss. Service, at times, also appeared somewhat lacking, indicating room for improvement in attentiveness and efficiency. Lastly, those seeking a potent libation from the pitcher drinks may find them underpowered, failing to deliver the expected "buzz."

In conclusion, this venue offers a lively atmosphere and commendable aspects, particularly its live music, generus portions, and exceptional margaritas. However, patrons should approach with an understanding of its potential shortcomings in consistent food execution, service, and...

It is a shame because the food is delicious. The problem at this restaurant is that if you don’t look Hispanic the waitress will avoid coming to your table because they don’t speak any English. Not even basic English. Yesterday I went with my husband and son to eat and have some drinks. Within 5 minutes of arriving someone brought us the usual tortilla chips and salsa. After that, 14 minutes had passed and no one else had came to our table to take the drinks order. The restaurant was near empty and there were 4 waitresses standing by the back wall. Two more waitresses had passed by our table, but they went to check on the people that was sitting at the other 2 tables near ours. Finally, I decided to flag a waitress and let her know that no one had taken our drinks order yet. She communicated with the staff through the personal headsets they carry, and a few minutes later a waitress came. Her first statement was, “English? Spanish?”, so I answered and said that my husband and son spoke English, and that I spoke Spanish. As a respect, I normally don’t speak Spanish if someone in my group doesn’t speak Spanish. Well, after the waitress found out that I spoke Spanish, she didn’t bother trying to take the orders directly from my husband and son. Automatically the waitress had made me her interpreter, and every time that a waitress came to our table, they only spoke Spanish to us, even knowing that my family spoke English only. Once the food arrived I had to stop eating to interpret for the waitresses that approached us with questions In Spanish.

In Spanish, I ordered a Bahama Mamá drink but the waitress brought me something else. I quickly told a waiter that was passing by that they had made me the wrong drink. When the waitress came, she said that the bartender had told her that the menu has the wrong ingredients, but she could make me another Bahama Mamá with the ingredients of the menu. Really? It is obvious that the menu has the correct ingredients, but either the waitress or bartender had made a mistake, but had a problem saying it. The mistake was not a big deal, but the made up answer was. I ended up having to order a margarita to make it easier on the bartender or waitress. On top of that, the restaurant charges 15% gratuity WITHOUT announcing it BEFORE the service is rendered, which it is against the NC law. We normally tip 20-30% depending on the service received, but with yesterday’s service, weI would have tipped only 10% if the unannounced gratuity was not already included.

My husband gave feedback to the front manager, and based on the manager’s reaction, most likely he didn’t understand English that...

We went out of curiosity to celebrate valentine day cause a friend of mine recommend the place, I was really disappointed with the place. The waitress did not provide good service; she didn’t know the dishes. I asked about specific ingredients in the dishes, to which she responded that there was no problem (I don’t like clams or scallops). The dish I ordered, “langosta al gusto” (lobster to taste), did not mention them in the description, but I asked to avoid misunderstandings. They told me it only contained what was listed in the description, but it had clams, scallops, and crawfish.

I’m not the type of person who confronts or likes to argue, so I simply set them aside and continued eating, but most of the filling was precisely clams and scallops. I ordered food for my children—two pizza dishes—and was shocked when they brought the plates to the table. It was a deep-dish pizza like the frozen Red Baron ones you can buy in bulk, with fries (cost $15.00). There weren’t even two; they didn’t try to add anything or put a twist on it. The third dish for a child was rice with chicken; there was no description of the dish. I thought it was simply Mexican rice with chicken, but no, the dish arrived drenched in cheese sauce. My daughter (2 years old) didn’t touch it, and I gave her some of my plate because she was very hungry, and we ended up returning the rice with cheese sauce. We tried to explain to the waitress kindly what happened; there was no attempt to fix the situation; she simply said, “hay que pena”(“Oh, what a shame.”)

The best part of the place was the drinks (the margaritas); they were delicious, and my husband’s dish, which was a steak cooked to his requested doneness.

That’s why I gave it 2 stars. The price was high, especially considering the number of mishaps. They charged me for the dish that wasn’t consumed, the pizzas that I could buy a 12-pack for $12, and my dish that, easily in another mindset and not on Valentine’s Day, I would have returned. They’re lucky I was in...