ZAMA's

Zama’s

You cannot beat the setting for a tropical evening by the sea and under the stars. ZAMA's has it all. The location is direct beach with your feet in the sand. The stars are easily visible from about every seat and the breeze is cool on even the hottest of nights. Morning and afternoon, there is plenty of shade and if there is any wind at all, you will find it at Zama’s. Most nights they have live music that is often great but always fun. And the food? The pizza's are the best on the beach. But then again, they are the only pizza's on the beach. Still, we crave them regularly and the setting makes them even tastier. The rest of the menu offers a wide variety of Mexican food, Italian food and Seafood. They also have a complete breakfast menu and good coffee.
Such a variety often makes us little piggies nervous - how many things can they cook well? But ZAMA's seems to have the turnover and the staff to keep just about everything fresh, most dishes are good and only a few are mediocre. We little piggies like the pizza - each one is good and if you are there after 6pm the oven is on and oink oink oink. The spagetti bolognese is surprisingly good too, but for big hungry gringos the portion may be small. For lunch we like the mexican vegetarian dish and the empanadas. Unfortunately, the green salad is a lot of romaine lettuce with shredded carrots, not much to write home about. The grilled vegetable plate is too boring for our tastes: we can grill carrots and zucchini at home. Guacamole is good and the house salsa is generally fresh and excellent. The house wines are unimpressive and if you plan on having one or two you should go for a bottle rather than the glasses. They have a decent selection by the bottle. The margaritas are tastey and generally right on. And the cuba libres are delicious.
Overall, we little piggies enjoy dining at ZAMA's, ambiance is 3 pigs especially if you are up for a fun night of music, dining and dancing. Service is always friendly and often quicker than you would think, so we say 2.5 pigs. The food is a healthy 2 pigs - oink oink!! And the pizzas as we said before oink oink oink!

Cesiak

If you are willing to go just a little farther up the road and through the arch into the biosphere, you won't be sorry you did. Keep driving about 4 kilometers and you will come upon Cesiak. This is an eco hotel in the truest sense of the word. But the restaurant is more than just natural. The food is basic Mexican, good and hearty. Prices are a little high but the view is really what you are paying for. We have been there for breakfast and lunch and we prefer lunch. Although, coffee there and then a walk on the beach is a great way to start your trip farther south toward the bridge or Punta Allen. Breakfast is just 1.5 pigs. The coffee is hot but too much chickory for these little piggies. Plus, coffee is by the cup with no refills. Eggs were good but not delicious. The fruit salad was fresh but not special. And if you cannot get a good fruit salad in the Caribbean you are in trouble. Lunch received 2.5 pigs. We like the shrimp tacos - spicey and fresh. The guacamole rivals the best of them and you get a small side of it with your tacos. The spinach salads are another hit, 2.5 pigs for that. Served with bacon and a balsamic based dressing, it is a veggie lovers delight. The club sandwich is good but doesn't compare to Ocho's but the view certainly does. We enjoyed every bite of our food. The margaritas en las rocas con sal are excellant - just make sure you can navigate the road back. Sunset here is spectacular. You see the sun sink into the lagoon while feeling the cool breeze from the sea. Cesiak: overall 2 pigs for food, 3 pigs for ambiance and 2.5 for friendly service. It is certainly worth the trip.