Costera Cocina Tulum - Chicago — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

We made a reservation at Costera Cocina Tulum for my friend’s 40th birthday celebration. We were told that our entire party of nine had to be physically in the restaurant by 7:15pm for us to be seated.

We adhered to the policy only to wait 30 minutes before we were given a table. Their reason: the guests who were seated at the 10-top table before us wouldn’t leave. They even claimed that they were considering involving the police. This was the first red flag.

When we were finally sat, the area was dirty. There were multiple knives on the floor and leftover food particles on the table and the menus. The restrooms weren’t clean.

Our server didn’t seem adequately trained to handle a large dinner party. After sitting with the menu for 20 minutes, we were told that we could only order from the restaurant week prix fixe menu if all nine of us participated.

Because we were not informed firsthand about the restaurant week policy, we asked if an exception could be made considering that we had politely waited almost an hour before anyone even attempted to take our food order.

Our server wouldn’t budge, so we asked for a manager. James showed up and blamed corporate for the issue. He told us he called the owner and apparently the owner didn’t answer. He attempted to dismiss us by reiterating the corporate stance, which I found interesting. I’m sure his corporate office wouldn’t appreciate his blatant lack of hospitality.

When we asked what could be done to make our experience better, James, a white male, told us that he had already comped a “little birthday drink” for our table and then switched to speaking in a Blaccent.

No real concessions were made, although they did allow us to split our table into two so that the bulk of our party could order from the prix fixe restaurant week menu.

The food was decent, but lacked salt and the chicken was overcooked. We received a watered down cocktail that we had to send back. We didn’t actually get served food until after 9pm. Two members of our party left. We didn’t close out until 11pm.

On a positive note, the salmon was delicious and the food runners were clearly the most efficient and professional people in the restaurant. I’d like to personally shout out Oscar for being on top of his game.

Unfortunately, it did not seem as if the management has effective systems and protocols in place for large groups.

The management also did not appear well versed in cultural competency, which we found disappointing considering the restaurant concept and the fact that most of the patrons I saw were people of color. When we left, the host did not even look up to offer a proper farewell.

Overall, it was a disheartening experience.

Atmosphere: subpar F&B: mediocre Hospitality: Nonexistent

Edit: I was awakened at 4am with upset stomach. At this point, I would like a full refund. I wouldn’t recommend them to my...

Came here on a date. It’s located in Fulton market on a cute brick street. Entering the restaurant my hopes were high as the visuals and environment was absolutely stunning. Very loud music so keep that in mind. The waiter was hard to understand because of the music but that isn’t an issue for me (not his fault). The waiter gave us the option of either the menu or their multiple course meal for 60 dollars. They have one rule though. If you want to get the multiple course meal then the whole table has to get that as well. I completely frowned on this concept as my date and we should be able to order what we each want. Fine, we chose the regular menu and ordered our drinks. My date ordered a Diet Coke. I understand at a regular restaurant if you have to remind a waiter once about a drink, but a restaurant like this where you are paying top dollar?? I had to remind the waiter 3 times for her Diet Coke and I was completely embarrassed. The actual food in itself I’m not gonna touch on too much as I do not feel like I ordered the right dishes to make that judgement. My burger with lobster on top was average and burnt but again might of been the wrong thing to order so I blame myself for that. The fries were delicious. My dates carne asada tacos were typical are easy to find elsewhere for half the price. Now time for dessert! I’ve never had corn cake, but my date has and she insisted I try it. The Cake came and visually it did look pleasing. We both took a bite and to our surprise the cake was cold and dry (hard and crumbly) old possibly? We both immediately agreed this was not worth the $16 dollars. The least they could’ve done was warm it up in the microwave? Corn cake is supposed to be served warm and fresh. You guys only have about six items on your dessert menu that each should be top-notch.

The thing about me is, I don’t mind when food is bad. I do mind when there’s no accountability for when a restaurant messes up (compensation). When the waiter finally came back, I told him it simply was not good, and there was NO APOLOGY, but rather he took the dessert away and simply returned with my check. This restaurant is overpriced. The visuals of the inside and the food look great, but it seems as if that’s all Costera Cocina has...

The ambience at Costera Cocina Tulum was undeniably beautiful. From the subtle lighting on the floor to the elegant tables, the atmosphere set the perfect tone for what I hoped would be a memorable evening. Unfortunately, my experience was far from that.

To start, my girlfriend and I were not greeted kindly upon arrival. It felt as if we were intruding rather than being welcomed guests. While the hostess did accommodate us with a better table, the initial interaction lacked warmth. I had noted in my reservation that it was my girlfriend’s birthday, hoping for a thoughtful acknowledgment. Yet, when we were seated, nothing was mentioned. Concerned, I discreetly confirmed with the hostess, who assured me it was noted.

Our waiter was polite but inattentive. He made no recommendations or introductions to the menu, simply asking for our drink and food orders. Oddly, he asked if we were celebrating anything, which bothered me since I had already clarified this in my reservation and with the hostess. This lack of communication undermined the effort I put into making this a special night for my girlfriend.

The food, unfortunately, was disappointing. My Cavatelli with Street Corn and chicken lacked flavor, and while it was served hot, my girlfriend’s Carne Asada arrived lukewarm and was not impressive. The guacamole and mango sorbet were highlights, but they couldn’t salvage the meal overall.

As the evening went on, the lack of care became more evident. The waiter failed to mention the birthday dessert until I asked. When it arrived, it was placed on the table with a rushed “happy birthday” and no effort to make the moment special. To make matters worse, the check process was chaotic. Items we didn’t order appeared, the complimentary dessert was charged, and the disorganization left a sour impression.

What should have been a memorable birthday celebration felt like an afterthought. Despite the beautiful setting, the lack of care and attention to detail made the experience disappointing. Costera Cocina Tulum has potential, but the service needs to improve to match the...