Cayo Esquivel Seafood — Restaurant in South Miami

A Hidden Gem for Seafood Lovers

During a recent visit to Cayo Esquivel Seafood with my mom, we discovered what might just be the best seafood spot in town. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a warm and friendly atmosphere that set the tone for an excellent dining experience.

The restaurant has a cozy, laid-back vibe, perfect for a casual yet satisfying meal. The decor subtly hints at the sea, enhancing the authenticity of the experience. While the space is not overly fancy, it’s the kind of place where you feel comfortable, making it ideal for family dinners or casual get-togethers with friends. The service was fantastic. Our server, though I regret not remembering his name, was attentive, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. He made sure we were well taken care of, and our food arrived quickly and freshly prepared.

Now, let’s get to the real highlight – the food. Cayo Esquivel is no joke when it comes to serving high-quality seafood at a price that feels almost too good to be true.

Seafood Parrillada ($29.99) This dish is a must-try. For just under $30, you get an enormous platter of seafood, including two succulent lobster tails and a generous assortment of shrimp, fish, calamari, and more. Every bite was fresh and flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and grilled to perfection. It's so plentiful that it's easily sharable between two people. The value for this dish is unbeatable – seafood this good at this price is rare!

Their ceviches are another standout. The freshness of the fish, combined with the zing of citrus and the right amount of seasoning, makes this dish the perfect starter. It’s light, refreshing, and bursting with flavors, a testament to the quality of their seafood.

Cayo Esquivel proves that you don’t need to break the bank to enjoy quality seafood. The portion sizes are extremely generous, and the prices are shockingly affordable considering the variety and amount of seafood you get. It’s a fantastic value for anyone who loves seafood but is conscious of their budget.

If you’re a seafood lover and you haven’t visited Cayo Esquivel, you’re missing out. From the outstanding service to the incredible food and unbeatable prices, it’s a place I would recommend 100%. Whether you're craving fresh ceviche or an epic seafood feast like the parrillada, this restaurant delivers on every front. I’m definitely planning to return soon, and I can't wait to share this hidden gem with more...

The seafood at Cayo Esquivel is exceptionally presented and is, of course, delicious! My only complaint would be one of the servers, named Eugenia. Every other server that has served us there has done so quite graciously. On one occasion, however, we went to Cayo Esquivel and were served by Eugenia. Before the appetizers could make it to us, however, she asked us if we would move to another table, as some guests were with an uneasy child, and they wanted a smaller booth to contain her. We agreed, and moved to another booth. However, immediately after we took our seats in the new booth, we looked over at the one that we were in, and there was no child there at all. As it turned out, Eugenia had lied to us in order to seat that party where we were, which is where they wanted to sit. We were in plain view of them, and she still proceeded with her audacious action.

We used to go to Cayo Esquivel at least once a month. Needless to say, after that incident, we did not return for some months - until this past weekend. We were thankfully served by Lia, who is just a spectacular server. Honest, sweet, and attentive. She was actually the one who attended us when the unpleasantry happened those months back. If it were for the discourtesy of Eugenia those months back, I would have rated Cayo Esquivel 4, and even 3 stars! Customer treatment is paramount in any business. Because of Lia's attention on both occasions, however, I was compelled to rate Cayo Esquivel with 5 stars. Keep up the good work, and value such awesome...

Rarely do I write (bad) reviews but this place deserves it.

Absolutely worst experience. Went about two years ago to this place because one of my wife's co-worker highly recommend here. We went in, no one came to sit us for a good 5 min, we were just standing there staring at them. Had to signal them to come and sit us. Then after we sat down, the servers just ignored us for a good 15-20min, not even water. And the restaurant was not even busy, they tried to ignore us because none of the servers spoke any English. Well, if you had English printed on your menu you better hire someone that can at least understand the menu.

During the dinner no one ever came once to ask how was the food. And had again to tell at them again to get the freaking check.

Now onto the food. Just your typical Latin American affairs, nothing spectacular. In fact, I can probably have the same dish with better tastes at most of the restaurants nearby. "Seafood" was added to the title just so they can charge you more for the same stuff.

Won't be coming here again and I would advise you to do the same.

Interestingly, the owner replied asking me to speak to a Manager. The manager needs to be fired for allowing such bad behavior of servers to run wild at the first place, a customer needn't to speak to a manager to be treated right, period. When customers were treated badly to a point that manager needs to be called, then it will never be a pleasant experience,...