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Recommended Reviews - ARCA
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Wow wow amazing foodie experience here. Can't recommend enough if you want a unique, superbly tasty experience highlighting ingredients of the region. We had a great server, Jonathan, who gave great recommendations. Each dish was presented with a detailed explanation which was appreciated. Everything was super high quality, unique and delicious.
Made dinner reservations here for a Sunday night and the place was packed. The restaurant/bar was outdoor, with an open kitchen and had candle lit tables. It was very intimate and perfect for couples but can definitely accommodate a large party. The cocktail I ordered was the Naked in Tulum which was mezcal based and tasted good, so much so that I ordered another one. The food we ordered included: the bone marrow, scallop crudo, Mayan octopus, suckling pig, and grilled sourdough. All were good. However the stand out for me was the Mayan octopus (highly recommend). For dessert we ordered the Marquesita which was not too sweet and a great finish to our meal. I can see why this place was on the Michelin guide. But be prepared to pay a pretty penny for your meal. Shout out to our server Melissa for being attentive, friendly, and giving us recs.
The Striped Seabass with green mole and jicama salad is worth the trip. Order 2. You won't want to share. Other highlights include the prawns, wagyu, and bone marrow. Do not skip desert. The ingredients and preparation are outstanding. Believe it or not, the inventive cocktail menu makes the already superlative menu even better. Don't overlook some adventure in a glass. With the tulum vibes in the dining room, open kitchen, and great service ARCA is a must visit.
I don't know what I could possibly say about Arca that would do it justice - this is a food experience that I genuinely will remember forever. Despite staying at an all-inclusive in Tulum, once we all heard that there were so many Michelin restaurants in Tulum, we knew we had to leave the resort and experience some incredible cuisine in Tulum. Arca doesn't just feed you, it gives you a cultural experience in addition to the absolutely incredible food and drinks that are unlike anything I've experienced - and for a price that you couldn't touch anywhere else given the quality, ambiance, and experience. Stepping into Arca is like stepping into a jungle experience with its outdoor seating, wood fired ovens, with beautiful greenery around you, and candles everywhere to light the area and also keep the vibe special and natural. It's also spacious - no tables on top of each other so you just feel like you can breathe and take your time. The DRINKS! A great mix of classics and ones that brought in a really unique cultural vibe - for example, my friends ordered dirty martinis, while I opted for the Mestizo Margarita - which used sour orange which is native to Tulum and recado negro syrup to give it the black coloring. DELICIOUS! Everything was fully explained to us when it was brought out, which really added a special touch to the experience. The FOOD. Oh my god, my mouth is watering as I write this review. The food at Arca is my favorite vibe - tapas to share, so plays nicely into my typical "Do you guys just want to get a bunch of apps?" vibe. We threw everything in at once, but it was all spaced out and basically arrived 2 at a time. We had the sourdough bread that was hot and so fresh, served with a coconut butter that lives in my dreams which arrived with the bluefin tuna crudo, served in an aguachile and with a vegetarian take on a chicharron. All dishes come out with explanations of how they should be eaten as well as the culture/history behind them as well. From there, we got my personal favorite, the whole squash, which was literally a roasted squash prepared so many ways and included squash blossoms and this AMAZING sauce. That came out at the same time as the grilled broccolini that was basically a deconstructed Caesar salad with some really unique, delicious twists to elevate it. Lastly, we had the crab esquites which was a massive portion served with corn, tomato, and in this delicious broth (it was also served in a massive shell) and the Mayan octopus that sat on lentil puree with radishes. Everything was AMAZING and it was the perfect amount of food for us. Again, the service was just top-notch, next level with every dish presented and described - you could feel the pride everyone had in being a part of the dining experience at Arca and it was truly special being a part of it. As a last surprise and delight, they brought out a cake and candle since my best friend and I were in Tulum to celebrate our collective birthdays. It was SO good and came with a goat cheese ice cream that I will also probably crave forever. This is truly a must for those who want a cultural experience in a gorgeous environment with people who are truly the best of the best at what they do. This is a dining experience I still think about and cannot wait to return to for the next time I'm in Tulum!
Pros: The food is actually as good as they say online, and their beverages excel in quality compared to everything on the main Tulum street. Good vegetarian and pescatarian options. My partner has a huge aversion to mushrooms and he inhaled the mushroom ttlayuda. The ambience is amazing, an introverts paradise if you're a fan of dim ambient mood lights. Cons: Expensive! Steep. They were out of most of the mixology options on the menu that we were there to try. While seafood plates were good, the octopus was overcooked and a bit chewy. Crab tacos tasted or were primary just batter, no meat.
We went for dinner a couple weeks ago when we were in Tulum. I'm still thinking about the amazing seabass and green mole! It's so unique - doesn't taste like any seabass I've had. And so delicious and flavorful. We also got the Dzikilpak spread. It was unique and flavorful and filling. The restaurant is trendy and outdoors - typical for Tulum. Service was as expected for Tulum.
Really nice spot. Excellent service. We did the chefs tasting with alcohol pairing. Everything was small bites but so delicious and you can order more if you want. The presentation for each dish was pretty and explained with background of all the ingredients. Each pairing went well with each course. Would def recommend a nice fine dining experience here.
Best food I've ever had. My first experience at a Michelin featured restaurant. The soft shell tacos were INCREDIBLE. The crab was perfectly tempura fried giving the taco a nice crunch. The tortilla is subbed out for a leaf, which I found worked perfectly with the tempura. Where a regular tortilla could have been too heavy, the leaf gives a nice freshness to the taco. All of the flavors worked well together. The saltiness of the sea urchin paired well with the sweetness of the scallops. The bass was cooked to crisp perfection and I could drink the green mole sauce. The sauce was slightly smoky which worked well with the light and bright jicama salad. The salad also cut some of the richness from the sauce and the fish. The mushroom tlayuda was perfectly crisp with smoky, meaty mushrooms and fresh greens. The prawns were soft and juicy and I could drink that sauce as well. The atmosphere was laid back and sophisticated. Great music, not too loud. Definitely very pricy but worth it for the experience.
Hands-down my favorite dining experience in Tulum. We had a 5:30 PM reservation and were seated immediately. As a family of five, it was comforting to see other families dining there as well, since some restaurants tend to lean on the clubby side. But Arca is not that, you can tell they that their focus is in the quality of their dishes. First off, I must give major props to the spots amazing taste in music, from disco to Feist, I couldn't stop singing when I wasn't sipping from the delicious cocktails. The restaurant is moody and chic, tucked under gorgeous palm trees. All of the food is shareable, and it's more fun that way so that you can taste a bunch of things. We ordered about five dishes, excluding the kids, delicious crispy chicken and potatoes. EVERYTHING WAS 10 OUT OF 10!! We live in Los Angeles and dine out frequently, a lot of restaurants are trying to pull off the Tulum thing..and while they are absolutely delicious and elevated, Arca is top tier. Highly recommend visiting.
We went there when vacationing in Tulum. It was a perfect dinner for the occasion. We all loved our drinks, perfectly balanced, not too strong or too sweet. The food was served in smaller portions so we probably ordered 8 items for 5 people. Everything was very delicious. The ambience was amazing. We sat by the open kitchen and it was so much fun to see their actions. They are definitely in the top 50 as awarded.
ARCA was such a brilliant culinary experience we came back a second time! The whole atmosphere is designed to please- open air kitchen where the artist chefs create delish dishes. The soft shell crab tacos were amazing, the wagu was perfectly tender, the prawns flavor was to die for. Every waiter and waitress were kind and enthusiastic. Not many places that boast these kinds of prices can live up to it but ARCA surpassed expectation!
2 years ago
1 year ago
One of the best meals I had in Tulum. Setting -- The restaurant is beautiful and felt very integrated with the jungle. Very ambient lighting, but watch out for bugs! I was getting eaten alive since all the tables are open air/outside, but the waitress was really nice and offered me bug spray which helped a lot. They don't have a parking lot but we were able to find paid parking for 200 pesos right across from the restaurant. Service -- Service was really attentive. Our waitress was nice and helped to explain the menu and provided us with recommendations on what to order. No complaints whatsoever with the service. Food -- Everything we ordered was delicious. The octopus, fish, and pork dishes were our favorite. Everything was tender, flavorful, and presented beautifully. I think we ordered pretty much every large plate that was on the menu and we liked all of them. I don't think you can go wrong with the food here. I highly recommend anyone visiting Tulum to eat at Arca. It's definitely on the pricier side but worth every penny! read more
Came here on a birthday dinner with my twin and you can tell a chef who worked at Alinea owns and curated this menu. The food did NOT disappoint. Each dish truly respected and highlighted local ingredients and gave them depth and an appreciation for native elements I haven't really experienced with traditional Latin/Mexican cuisine. Truly a textural and flavorful journey and a treat for my birthday. Below is what we ordered ranked by my favorites: 1. Bone Marrow-decadent, not the most innovative flavor wise but damn it's hard to miss with wonderfully crusted sourdough and roasted bone marrow. 2. Venison tartare- I love tartare and this had this delicious clean and refreshing flavor, really melted on the palette. 3. Octopus- Beautifully tender with this delicious purée and crunchy fried lentils which gave the creaminess of the purée such a delicious contrast. 4. Soft Shell Tacos: This was the table favorite, and quite honestly was the most unique dish I have tried in a while. I wasn't a huge fan of the texture at the center of the crab, but the legs were delicious. Definitely a must try. 5. Blue fin tuna hibiscus ceviche - this was also just super delicious, very strong on the citrus front, with very fresh tuna. We also got two desserts, one was this umami dish and another was a dulce de leche based dish. I recommend springing for the dulce one since it was just delicious! This place was a pretty penny, and for around 7 plates and 3 cocktails we got out of there for ~ 100 a person! Well worth it for the extreme quality of the food. read more
I love the ambiance for this place. Definitely a great place for a romantic dinner out. The food on the other hand was just okay. Bone marrow: I thought it was a bit too overpowering with the seasonings it had. It was heavily salted ( almost tasted like they used soy sauce). Didn't really enjoy the flavor) 2/5 Soft shell crab : The crab was cooked perfectly. Unfortunately the sauce was overly salted and the flavors didn't really go well together. Very disappointing since the crab itself was tasty. 3/5 Uni ceviche: This was the best part of the whole meal . It was super refreshing and everything tasted super fresh. 5/5 Coconut icecream: Not what I was expecting for coconut icecream . It almost reminded me of dippin dots. It was super tart. I was thinking coconut ice cream was going to be on the creamier / sweeter side. 1/5 Overall the food was just okay. A little disappointing since we though it would've been better tasting considering the amount of people that were there. A good place thought for drinks and hanging out. Loved the ambiance. read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
First of all, the service was not as good. We got greeted and seated very quickly, but our server was busy servicing the next table and we were left 'no-water' for a while. The restaurant was not really busy at the time we got there. One of a few parties came after us even had the foods served. Our server did make it up for us by offering one free dessert tho. The food presentation is on point. Very creative. Love the stone bowl and the burning coal that keep the food hot. - The Sea Urchin Ceviche is good. Very tasty. - The Soft Shell Crab is ok. - The Scallop Crudo is good. - The Bone-Marrow is tasteless. - The Suckling Pig Roulade is kinda salty. Lastly, you might needa bring mosquito repellent if you don't wanna scratch your legs like crazy while having dinner. read more
This was THE BEST meal we had on our entire Mexico trip. From start to finish, it was perfect in every way. We started off with 2 craft cocktails and both were delicious. We loved that everything was tapas style so we could order a bunch of dishes to share. We ordered - Soft shell crab tacos: 5/5 our first dish and wowow it set the tone for the meal. Full of flavor and very light and airy for a tempura dish. We both wish we had more - Seared prawns: excellent flavor in the salsa - Bone marrow: came out smoking and they obliged when we asked for extra bread - Octopus al pastor: cooked perfectly with just the right texture The food was amazing but what made it even better was the service. After each dish, the servers cleared the table and brought us new plates and silverware for each new dish. They were very on top of everything but never made us feel rushed. We sat at a table in the back and it was very romantic. We loved everything about this place and can not recommend it enough! read more
Arca Restaurant is magical. From the moment you enter to the moment you exit it is a time filled with great food, drinks, and atmosphere. The ambiance is spectacular you can almost feel the bond with a jungle when sitting there. The kitchen is open and the team is so energetic, its pure pleasure watching them cook. Service in Arca is tailored to perfection. We had: Seared Prawns- the quality of the prawns was fantastic and notation of chili was subtle and not overwhelming. Addition of Plantain Vinaigrette was a star to this dish. Absolutely delicious. Octopus Al Pastore-- this was SPECTACULAR. I have to admit it was definitely the best octopus we got so far in our restaurant experience. We simply love octopus, I am cooking it myself very often, we try it at every restaurant we visit if its on menu so I could literally write a book about it lol. Just try it and you will know what I am talking about :) Served with smoky lentil puree , radishes, salsa and Epazote, simply brilliant. Coconut Oil Pan Fried Fish--another very delicious position. Fish was flaky, coconut sauce was pairing wit it ideally. We have tried few coctails and all of them were awesome making our dinner night completely perfect.With quite a few restaurants we checked in Tulum I would place Arca on top of my list and just thinking about it make my taste buds go crazy :) read more
This was the best meal I had in Tulum. I went for Thanksgiving day (not that it mattered in Mexico, but it was my excuse for having a nice dinner). 1) the ambiance - this place is built into the jungle and is stunning. The look and feel are novel and fresh, and it stands out even in Tulum. The open kitchen is a bit of a problem since they do a brigade-style kitchen, and you can hear them often. 2) cocktails - I had three different cocktails while I was there. A smokey margarita (which wasn't on the menu but was on Instagram, and they agreed to make it for me anyway), the 'arca-colada,' which was their take on a sophisticated and mature pina colada (it was outstanding). Then honestly I don't recall the third one. Honestly, the quality of the cocktail program shocked me. 3) the food - This is the reason you are here. This restaurant would stand up as a well-respected "top 10" or "best new" in pretty much any city I've had the pleasure of eating in. The food was delicious, beautiful, and inventive. The flavors were familiar to higher-end cuisine but novel. If you are going to Tulum-- book ahead. (and this was better than Atila is other restaurant but I fear I was there on a bad night) read more
We had a great culinary experience at Arca. The dishes were very creative and flavor! We ordered the grilled pulpo with lentil paste/granola, suckling pig with tortillas & bone marrow served with bread. Our fav was defnitely the bone marrow, best we tasted so far! They serve the bone marrow on coals to keep it warm. The drinks were good and strong, we had a cocktail with a grasshopper in it which was quite an experience. Do note that the portions are on the smaller side and it's recommend to order about 3-5 dishes to share. Also take note of the prices as each dish is on the pricier side. The service was great, very attentive, each dish is decribed/explained on arrival. The restuarant is beautiful, ambience amazing! Will 100% recommend for a romantic date night! *our total was about $3350 mxn ($223) for 3 dishes and 3 drinks. read more
3 years ago
Excellent! Great place to dine while in Tulum. Visited on a Monday night and it was packed so highly recommend making reservations. Started with the Alta Colada cocktail and it was divine. The pulpo dish was delicious. This place is a must while in Tulum! read more
ARCA is one of the best and most creative meals you'll have while you're in Tulum. ARCA uses local connections to represent the food and culture in Mexico, leaving your mouth wanting more after each plate you taste. The flavors created here by this talented team are fantastic. The space? It's beautiful - large and all outdoors with an incredible vibe surrounding you throughout your entire meal. Everything was delicious - you can't go wrong no matter what you order; food or drink. What'd we eat? *Roasted Pepper Tartare *Local Roasted Squash *Housemade Sourdough Bread *Grilled Octopus *Grilled Fish *Seared Prawns *Roasted Bone Marrow *Short Rib Tacos What should you know? *Make a reservation *Recommended to share plates *Great and creative cocktails *Expect NYC prices *You'll pay for each bottle of water your table goes through, still or sparkling I don't care who you are, who/what/where/why you believe in... you must order the following: 1. Housemade Sourdough Bread 2. Roasted Pepper Tartare 3. Roasted Bone Marrow 4. Short Rib Tacos Kick back with a cocktail, a few bites, relax and enjoy the vibe. read more
I like this place but don't love it. For what you get, it's expensive. It's one of those places where you leave still feeling hungry. I made reservations (which is only available between 6-7pm). I thought their food was good but very limited options. What I didn't like was THE RUSH. Although many people will view the service as prompt... I just felt overwhelmed with ppl coming every 5 minutes to clear/change my plates. It was our first night in Tulum. We initially wanted to start off with appetizers and enjoy our drinks but our waiter said WE NEED TO ORDER NOW because there's a time limit (1.5hrs) on the tables. That kinda rubbed us off the wrong way. Ironically, when it was time for us to get our bill, we had to flag down 3 different people because our server couldn't be found. This place is definitely romantic and the ambiance was nice. It's all completely outdoors with dim lighting and torches. It was a nice spot to check out but I don't know if I would come back considering there's so many great spots in Tulum to try out. read more
Probably the best dining experience we had here in Tulum! The soft shell crab tempura tacos was great. The batter wasn't too thick. Just right. It had a different type of flavour from the fried chaya. Everything eaten together gave a great texture. YUM! The prawns were fresh, cooked properly, and came with a good sauce. The bone marrow was amazing. Can't go wrong with bone marrow! Hard to mess that up. The octopus was a little tough. Hard to get right without proper experience. Cook it wrong and it can get rubbery. But the lentil purée that came with the dish tasted amazing and I don't usually like lentil! Compared to everything else we'd had in the area, this was by far the best outside of local street tacos. Taste: **** Service: **** Ambiance: *** ---------------------------- ARCA Av. Boca Paila, Tulum Beach, 77766 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico ---------------------------- read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
7 months ago
3 years ago
Absolutely love this place! I was in Arca 2 years ago when they only opened and unfortunately I didn't have good experience with the service and food... This time I decided to give a second try because of my friends review. I am glad I did! The host was very pleasant and greeted me friendly. The manager Paola and the staff were amazing! The food was delicious! The unique flavors and taste of perfectly cooked ingredients made their magic. I changed my opinion about the place. The cocktails were delicious. I had Casa Dragones and hibiscus mescalita. I highly recommend this place and I will definitely be back to experience their food! read more
This was easily the best meal I had in Tulum. We made the reservation before we arrived to Mexico and when we arrived, we were quickly taken to our seats. Note that the restaurant is outdoors and there were mosquitos so bring bug spray! The restaurant has an open kitchen where you can see the chefs preparing the meals and the smell of the food was amazing! I loved every single dish we ordered and would highly recommend the chili prawns, soft shell crab and sea bass. Every dish was full of flavor and was presented beautifully. The staff were also incredibly nice and explained each dish to us before it was served. I would definitely come back here again the next time I visit! read more
I give this place four stars because everything we had was delicious except the bone marrow and bread were just okay. The soft shell crab taco, the mushroom plate and the suckling pig roulade were an amazing flavor experience. I loved the vibe and decor I loved the intentionality on how to eat each plate A few things to consider before booking: 1. It is very expensive for small plates (it's almost like a tapas experience) HOWEVER, my husband and I were full with the four plates and bread we ordered. 2. You cannot eat the venison if you have a walnut allergy read more
4 years ago
Definitely make sure to make a reservation here or you may not be able to get a table. This is a very upscale and elevated Mexican restaurant in the heart of Tulum beach. Every dish just wows your taste buds. For drinks, I started with a mojito and my boyfriend got a margarita and they were really good. For food, we got the scallop crudo, soft shell crab tacos, sea bass, Amish bread, and octopus and they were all phenomenal. Loved all the flavors altogether and it was so elevated and had a lot of attention to detail. For dessert, we tried the avocado ice cream and it was pretty good. I didn't think it was amazing but it was definitely a different taste and something unique. The service was good throughout the night and the ambiance of the place is really nice too. Overall, I'm very happy with my experience here and I could say that this meal was the highlight of my trip to Tulum. Simply amazing. read more
If you're in Tulum, you have to check out ARCA! This place is a fancy, upscale Mexican restaurant with great cocktails and food selection. Food is served tapas style and meant for sharing. Between my fiancé and I, we ordered the scallop crudo, soft shell crab tacos, octopus al pastor, and and sea bass. Every dish was phenomenal. My favorites were the octopus and crab tacos. Note, you need a reservation for dining here and they cap you at 90 minutes so that the next party can come. Also, it's definitely on the pricier side so be ready to spend money. Great spot for a special occasion! read more
3 years ago
My partner and I found this spot while searching for food and quality drinks. We showed up around 7pm and were greeted warmly by the head bartender, Carlos. The craft cocktails were some of the best we have ever had and the experience was one we continued to come back for. We learned about different types of Mezcal and the history behind the brands and ended up ordering food as well (soft-shell crab taco). You can tell the people who work there really enjoy their jobs, the environment was relaxing with a nice buzz of excitement. Highly recommend for anyone staying in Tulum! read more
4 years ago
This was by far my fav restaurant my boyfriend and I checked out on our trip to Tulum. An absolute must!! The ambiance was great and the service was amazing. Our waiter was passionate about the dishes and gave us recommendations on what to order and how to enjoy each bite. He also brought us champagne on the house because we were celebrating our 2 year anniversary. We ordered the Octopus al Pastor and Roasted Bone Marrow to start and both dishes were phenomenal!! We had some leftover bread from the Bone Marrow dish that we dipped in our leftover Guajillo Adobo sauce from our octopus dish and that was amazing. For our main course we ordered the Seared Prawns and Roasted Local Squash. If you're someone who loves to put the perfect bite together while enjoying a meal -- this is the place for you. Every bite was heavenly between the flavors and the textures in each dish. This was the least pricy and favorite restaurant we visited that completely lives up to its hype -- highly recommend :) read more
Traveling to Tulum can be overwhelming. Every restaurant has beautiful people in flowing dresses enticing you to enter and dine. While I've yet to be disappointed, one restaurant has stood out above the rest. Nestled behind some trees in Tulum Beach, Mexico is new open-air restaurant named ARCA. ARCA is a micro-seasonal restaurant. This means that their menu is carefully crafted with locally sourced ingredients and is updated regularly to reflect available products. ARCA's menu is composed of small dishes that are meant to be shared. I dined with a friend and we were unsure how many plates to order. The waiter suggested we share 6 plates, so we made our selections. Typically when I order at a restaurant, I order an appetizer, meal, and sometimes dessert. At ARCA, there is no distinction between courses. When the waiter asked if we had an order preference, I told him to decide for us. It was the best decision I ever made! The order couldn't have been more perfect. read more
2 years ago
Amazing drinks, great location, delicious food, but the staff is the star of the show. They were very attentive and accommodating to our large group of 6. Annette is a wonderful bartender, ask her for dealers choice, she won't lead you astray. read more
Amazing food in a beautiful outdoor location! At the waiter's recommendation, we got the soft shell crab tacos, the scallop crudo, and the grilled venison. And we finished off the meal with an interesting dessert - like a "sour cheesecake with dulce de leche", as the waiter described. It was all absolutely so delicious and beautifully plated. We also got two rounds of cocktails - very pretty and yummy! The staff were also lovely - very attentive and helpful. And the restaurant ambience was really nice, even the bathroom entrance had a cool vibe. Really just a wonderful dinner in Tulum! read more
5 years ago
Built in the spirit of Hartwood, off-the-grid and "micro-seasonal as a current representation of the flora and fauna around us," ARCA opened in 2015 and has since made a name for itself amongst travelers visiting Tulum's beachfront road. Now toqued by Chef Jose Luis Hinostroza, a California native with Mexican roots who came to Tulum by way of Rene Redzepi's Noma pop-up, ARCA seeks to create bold flavors by working with only the land around it, close ties to local fisherman tying in with the jungle's intrinsic diversity. Open air across an expansive footprint, without the need for advanced reservations or a protracted wait for walk-ins, leaves fall from overhead occasionally as copal burns to tame bugs, all this while perusing the menu of a man trained not only in Copenhagen but by the Roca Brothers and Achatz. Decorated in wood and candles, an ambient soundtrack playing while waiters fluent in English assist a nearly all-American crowd, most tables get started with Bread imbued by the fermented sap of a Maguey Plant, a flavor complex on its own but better with Butter or scoops of charred Marrow in a Tamarind Glaze beneath Onions. More pricey than Hartwood, a portion of Cephalopod prepared like Adobo and plated in "new Nordic" fashion offering approximately 1/4 the Protein at similar cost, Soft Shell Crabs strike a seasonal note thanks to flash-frying and service in a green leaf intended to be eaten like a Taco with local Gooseberries and fiery Salsa. Next kissing three Prawns with fire in a thick and tangy Sauce, similar to five better-executed by Chef Eric Werner the previous night, Suckling Pig arrived crisp on the exterior but spoon-tender at the center alongside spiral-cut Chayote before ending just sixty minutes after seating with frozen Edam Cheesecake filled with Guava and rolled in Coconut. read more
3 years ago
This was easily our favorite restaurant we had in the beach zone area of Tulum. Absolutely everything was amazing. The octopus, the suckling pig, the bone marrow and the prawns were all especially delicious and the cocktails were SO good. Our only regret was we didn't get to go back! read more
3 years ago
More of a tasting experience than a meal, but would definitely come here if you are looking for unique flavor and texture profiles to light up your taste buds! The soft shell crab "tacos" were probably the best bite we had in Tulum, crispy, juicy, and filled with flavor. The bread and shrimp were also excellent. The portion sizes are a bit small for the price so just be prepared to eat a number of small bites or go get something else before or after! Servers were great at explaining the different options on the menu. It does get a little hot outside even with the fans! read more
5 years ago
***Novel ahead*** ARCA is tucked away from the road, creating a natural hidden oasis for fine dining with jungle vibes. Reservations are accepted for 6-7pm and then seating is first come first served (the front restaurant closes at 10:30pm, but the back bar is open until 2am. This area is walk-ins only). We were unable to get a reservation for three, so we decided to chance the "open" seating. Keep in mind that ARCA is open air, so when it's raining (which is often), seating is even more limited. Luck was on our side and we were able to get a seat at the back bar. It was myself, my friend Beth, and her sister Jenny (to celebrate Jenny's birthday and our girls trip). Finally able to get out of the rain, it was nice to sit down and start the process of drying off and warming up. So of course we had to start with a drinks order so we could make a toast. I opted for the ARCA colada (Fat Wash Gin Coconut, roasted pineapple syrup, lime, Aquafaba, topped off with a beautiful piece of dried pineapple - $250), Beth had a glass of the Parxet cuvée (sparkling wine from Spain $260), and Jenny chose the Har Mar Superstar (Mezcal, ginger, honey, lemon, and thyme - $250). Fortified with our drinks, it was time to choose our food. We all agreed to split everything, so it was a matter of deciding what sounded best. We all decided we would get the: Tuetano (roasted bone marrow, tamarind and pasilla glacé, charred scallion salsa, pickled onion flowers, house grilled bread - $400). The presentation was spectacular and the portion was ample, with two large halves of bone, but the tamarind glacé was off putting since they piled it on thickly and it ended up tasting like barbecue sauce. Once we scraped most of that off, it was more tolerable as an accent flavor. I'd give this a 3/5. Camarones de Campeche (seared prawns in chile mixe butter, plantain vinaigrette, green grosella and chile marzano salsa - $470) which came as four head on shrimp. Again, beautifully plated and this sauce greatly complemented the sweetness of the shrimp with a bit of heat and sourness. 4/5 since it was overpriced for such a small portion. Pulpo (octopus al pastor, guajillo adobo, lentil purée, lentil granola, pickled radishes, xcatic salsa, epazote - $500) which came with three large tentacle portions. The flavors worked well together and I was a big fan of the al pastor flavor as well as the lentil granola. The epazote was barely noticeable but added a bright and bitter citrusy tang. 5/5 Pan de pulque (pulque sourdough bread served with local Amish butter and Mayan salt from Celestún $150) which came with three decent pieces of fresh and soft sourdough, the Celestún salt, and Amish butter, which also had huacatay (rare Peruvian herb that hints of basil and citrus). This was a good palate cleanser and even the stingy people who think you shouldn't pay for bread have to give it a try! 5/5 Tacos de jaiba (amaranth tempura soft shell crab, grosella and pickled habanero salsa, hoja santa emulsion, grilled hoja santa - $380) were presented as two "tacos" where the hoja santa (Mexican pepperleaf, which grilled gave it a slight seaweed reminiscent taste) was essentially the taco shell and my oh my, this was an impressive experience. The crunch of the tempura. The creaminess of the crab and the emulsion, the bite of the salsa, all worked together to bring an explosion of complex flavors. 6/5 Langosta esquites (lobster tail, grilled corn, chorizo, guajillo oil, fried capers, Chiapas cheese - $600) this one did not look as appetizing when it first came out but the taste is on point. It's savory, smoky, salty and just plain good. The lobster tail is perfectly cooked and the flavor of the corn is not lost at all. 4/5 just because of the price point and less than spectacular presentation. Crudo de callo de hacha con erizo de mar (scallop crudo basil and coconut salsa verde, pickled onion flowers, scallop chicharron, sapphire powder - $380 + $250 for sea urchin upgrade). Okay, first off sea urchin literally translates as "hedgehog of the sea". Callo de Hacha is a variety of scallop that is native to the Sea of Cortez and has a recognizable ax head shaped shell. They use this shell to serve the crudo, which is so bright and fresh! The scallop chicharron turned out to be the crispy crackers and added a nice crunchy texture to the dish. This was by far my favorite of the night. 1000000/5 We all had a couple more drinks, bringing our food total to $3,130 and drinks to $2,040. There is a 5% convenience fee if you pay by credit card (sometimes they can't get a signal for the card reader if the weather is really bad, so I recommend carrying backup cash just in case). This worked out to ~$300 USD before tip, which for three people is crazy cheap. If you're ever given the chance, DO NOT miss the chance to dine at ARCA because it is not just dinner, it is an experience of local culture and nature that cannot be matched by any place in the US. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Beautiful Ambiance food was delicious very tentative staff. Food was amazing moderate portions. Order different dishes and share. read more
I can't rave enough about this place. It's worth all the hype!!!! We made a dinner reservation for 2 at 6pm. They seated us right away when we got there. The restaurant is huge and the tables are all well spaced apart. The ambiance is amazing but the food blew my mind. soft shell crab tempura tacos (10/5) - MUST TRY! This was so unique and delicious. The leaf tacos compliments the tempura crab perfectly. Scallop crudo (11/5) - this was my favorite dish of the night. The scallops were so refreshing and delicate. We scraped the plate clean Bone marrow (4/5) - this was good, but nothing special than a standard bone marrow. Octopus (5/5) - best octopus I've ever had! The octopus was perfectly cooked and flavors were super unique! Definitely try this place if you are in tulum! read more
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Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila Km 7.6
77780 Tulum, Quintana Roo
Mexico
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http://www.arcatulum.com
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