My first night is always the same, La Habichuela. It is very near Parque de las Palapas, where the children are brought to play at night.
A soup. It used to be Black Bean but that is gone and I have to admit to forgetting what this is. The main course is always Chicken Mole.
Great little warm soft tacos in the bowl. For years I was always placed at the small table to the left of the doors into the garden but, especially with Covid, I asked for the garden and got this first table as you enter the garden. I don’t mind at all watching the guests enter. Next night is Peters! I stopped in about 5:30 and they were able to take me when they opened at 6:00. I spent that time walking up the street away from the Hotel Road.
Again I sat for the first time outside on the porch. You can see that the Margarita is already gone and I am onto the house white wine. I had a Russian waitress. Next is the mushroom ravioli that I have had before.
And then a pork loin.All excellent!
Saturday I am off to El Estadio Cerveceria & Restaurante. This is the best beer bar in Cancun. Their supply is somewhat depleted with Covid but still wonderful. The bar tenders name is Barbara. Her English is not great but she really knows her beers. She remembers me from many nights on previous trips. Again, due to covid, I choose to sit outside instead of at her bar. She still will come out to check on me and help me order the right things. This is a simple chicken with salad. I wonder what is in the small tapered glass. The Beer Box was the place to go for Cerveca in my first years but is long gone.
This is El Socio Naiz Taquería. A new addition to my dinner agenda in 2020. You can see the 6 dip dips on the left. 2, the white and green are harmless and then it gets hotter from there. The chips are also very good. Wine is not their thing. I think he had to go out and buy a bottle or borrow form the next restaurant.
Might as well throw in a selfi from Naiz.I am onto Monday night and sushi at Samuka. Note the Saki in the warmer. They announced right up front: “no tuna”. I have never been to a sushi place without Tuna. I returned a few days later and again “no tuna”.This is La Dolce Vita. I think I ate here four times in 2022 and also 4 times in 2020. It is close to my airbnb. Always good. Here we have the rabbit, a special for the night, Note the plate on the left in the background. It is a free appetizer. Crusty bread and foie gras. They also bring wonderful bread with the meal, you can see it on the right. But I usually insist on holding onto the foie gras and having one more piece.Yet another selfie and then the free sweet at the end.Note the headlamp to the left. I am really getting blind and it allows me to often actually read the menu.This is Wednesday night at La Coyota – Cocina & Mixologia. Not one I need to revisit. But I was trying to eat locally and stay off the busses to the Hotel Zone at night.Now this is sushi at the real place, Hanaichi, on the Hotel Road just about 1k from Surfin. They have tuna! I used to always use this location for lunch the first day but now I am 100% lunch at Surfin.Back to Vita for a duck ravioliA selfieAnd the empty restaurant before dinner.It is Saturday and I am back at El Stadio for chicken (was not smart enough to order with salad this time) and a little NFL playoff action.Back at Samura, still no Tuna but at least I moved to a poke bowl that was quite reasonable.And I am afraid this is the Brady loss.Monday back to Vita. I was pretty full from a late dinner so just a salad. The waiter was not happy but very good and note the pizza that came with it! Now I am paying attention enough so when the waiter offers a complimentary after dinner drink I say limoncello.Tuesday is back to La Habichuela, a seat on the porch overlooking the garden and a soft shell crab appetizer.Wednesday back to Vita one last time, a not up to par ham but a nice couple from Canada to talk to at the next table.Thursday, last night, a new place, La Troje, The woman next to me at Surfin worked at a hotel, and sent me here.The cheese fondu was wonderful, this heavy mix not so much. One last sushi/margarita at the airport. Riding a couple hours a day really helps me to eat without disasterous results
