Buccanos at Night
We would like to go out on a limb, and suggest that Buccanos at Night is currently the best restaurant on Cozumel. It has everything: creative cooking, ambiance (ocean views) and outstanding service.
Ines Falkenberg describes their place as a family project with her husband, daughter and son all playing parts in the success. But, every Friday and Saturday night, it is Ines who oversees the plating of her creations and makes sure all of her guests are well cared for and happy. Annie starts the evening off by greeting you at the entrance with a flashlight and guiding you to your table, with the ocean and lights of Playa as the backdrop.
The dazzle begins with the appetizers and continues with the entrees. We have had: crispy poached egg on pesto crostini with a tomato adobo sauce, chile pasilla and garlic shrimp on a cilantro pesto crostini (gotta love the entire roasted head of garlic on the plate), and the seared octopus with a grilled pineapple and spinach. Our favorite entrees include a seared tuna (only available when Ines’ husband has caught it), the wahoo tartare with avocado and citrus and an almond caper vinaigrette, and cheese ravioli covered with butter poached lobster with poblano rajas and almonds. This is creative cooking, with every dish a balance of flavors with quality ingredients flawlessly prepared. Most of these items are the regular menu, but don’t decide until you hear the specials for the evening.
Dessert lovers won’t be disappointed, if you have room. The trio of chocolate mousse flavors changes every weekend, but could include hazelnut, dark chocolate or coffee. The apple parfait with cinnamon ice cream is a nice spin on an American classic.
The wine list is good and the cocktails are generous. The refreshing wine cocktail is a blend of white wine, muddled berries and good splash of limoncello.
Service is attentive, but never intrusive and the setting is about as good as it gets. Prices are fair, considering the creativity and quality of the food. Appetizers run $7.50 to $17usd and the entrees are $12 – $26usd.
Buccanos Beach Club is open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch, with one of the best beaches on the west side (the snorkeling is good, too). However, they only serve dinner on Fridays and Saturdays beginning at 6:00.
They will stay open through August for dinners, closing for dinner until Thanksgiving (or the third week in November for our non-American readers).
Reservations are accepted. Don’t miss what is arguably the best food on the island in one of the best locations.
Let the arguments begin!
No argument from me…it is the BEST restaurant, and service on the island.
What were your favorite dishes?
There was 6 of us for cocktails, and dinners so we where able to share a number of goodies.
We started with the wine cocktails-yummy.
We had sauteed cheese raviolis…excellent
In addition, we had calamari rings…met with happy faces, and crispy Oaxaca cheese sticks…my mouth is watering.
All 6 of us ordered the catch of the day, and where quite satisfied on how all the variation on the dishes where prepared and served.
My husband and I shared the seared tuna…oh my was that good.
My fish dish was served with a honey drizzle which was outstanding.
We finished off with with a round of cinnamon ice cream apple parfait, and a chocolate brownie topped with ice cream and chocolate.
It was certainly a tasty evening.