Editor Pick
Arrecifes
- January 21, 2006
- Rated 3 of 5 by
heathriel from Woburn, Massachusetts
Arrecifes is located within the Westin Resort and Spa and overlooks the ocean with its circular design cut into the side of the cliffs of Los Cabos. Each night they have live music to accent their eclectic menu.
Because of the live music and the open-air setup, I would not recommend this as a romantic restaurant. The acoustics are terrible, and you really need to shout across the table for the other people in your party to hear. It is not conducive to a quiet evening. Also, the breeze from the Sea of Cortez can get quite chilly, so bring a sweater if you're planning on wearing a sleeveless top.
Anyway, the menu is varied, but it seems to be mostly pretentious for no reason. The chef here has major talent, so they have no need to go as over-the-top as they do on some of the dishes. Some things are too busy, like how the lobster bisque is more like a chowder and has a crab cake sitting in the middle of it--underneath a large crouton. Tasty? Sure. Necessary? No.
Some of the translations seem a bit odd as well, but take them at face value. When you see "braided shrimp" on the menu, it really does mean "braided" and isn't a typo for "breaded." "Prehispanic seeds" still has me scratching my head.
For all the pretension, the food is quite good (and it better be for the price). The Seafood Trilogy is generally agreed by my family to be the best item on the menu; it contains lobster tail, shrimp and scallops, and three dipping sauces. I'm a fan of the poached fish (the kind of fish changes each time I visit) served with a watercress and seaweed puree.
For dessert, they have an extensive port and cognac menu, but the other things change daily. In the past they've had an orange-"scented" flan that was generally well received by my relatives, as well as many a chocolate dish that disappeared almost before they hit the table.
The food is definitely good, but I'm not convinced you can't find a comparable meal for less money somewhere else in the area. However, the view is stunning and the Westin is secluded. Go to dinner here and then take some time walking around the resort gardens and down on their private beach. *That* would be a romantic evening.
From journal Family Fun in Cabo San Lucas