Wow!! So impressed with Playa. They have an extensive selection of tequilas, Mezcals, and Piscos. The food was out of this world! I've had eloté all over Mexico, California, Texas, and Florida... without a doubt the best I've ever had. The Chips and homemade salsas were super tasty.. and the shrimp tacos! ...OMGGGGG!! They come on a thin slice of jicama instead of a tortilla, something I've never seen before. I absolutely recommend this place to any and everyone. read more

Playa - Playa shrimp tacos were BEYOND amazing!! They come on thinly sliced jicama instead of a tortilla. - Mexican Near Me - Mill Valley, California

Had friends in from out of town and decided to try Playa finally, after checking out the waterfall (cascade) and doing some window shopping around the square. The atmosphere and decor were wonderful! Lots of light , open, fun energy , didn't find it too loud, like others have. We couldn't sit outside because we need back support in our chairs ( back surgery) and they only have benches, but the hostess sat us by the back patio so we could enjoy the view and light. We had a couple of rounds of Kill Bill margs, which are essentially Cadillac margs. They were outstanding. However, while the food was all great, it's not a great value. We shared the quac and it was so good. Really thick and crunchy chips and also thick and chunky quac. Love that. They also serve it w a couple of addl dips which were good, and you don't get that in very many other places. I had the Cobb salad and had asked if it was meal size. It was , but not as big as I expected. I order cobbs a lot as my meal, and they're usually bigger. 2 of us were sharing so I was a little bummed, as that was my entree. Ingredients were all fresh and awesome , I would have just liked abt 20% more of them! 2 folks had mole enchiladas and they were excellent but nothing comes with them- no rice or beans. We were all a little surprised and for $15 , it seemed like a bit of a rip. The service was outstanding! Very attentive and nice. Wish I could remember our waitress's name but I guess the drinks were perfectly strong ! Lol she was great. It's def a fun place to go , esp on a Saturday afternoon tooling around the square. Just be ready to spend a little more with the a la carte menu and smaller portions for some items. read more

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I visited for the first time before a movie even though I've passed it many times before. The space is lovely yet could be a bit loud for some. Outdoor seating is available too. I thought I ordered a lighter dinner with their ceviche and pozole verde but both were hearty dishes, rarely does ceviche come in that quantity. It was very fresh. The pozole was almost like a stew, plentiful hominy, pork, and fixings. The only minor fault was that it could use a bit more spice for flavor, I admit I've got a spicy palate. I took half of it home since I was pleasantly full. Others like the chips yet I found them too greasy, as evidenced on my napkin when I dropped one. I had a house margarita with jalapeño, light ice, and it was good. Sitting at the chef's bar was a treat since you can watch everything being prepared, helpful for future visits. The server was good yet once my food arrived, he was nonexistent. I actually got more attention from the chef and manager, not a bad thing. Prices are on the higher side for Mexican yet in line with other restaurants in downtown Mill Valley. read more

Wishing Covid had brought back the original Playa. It did not happen. :( My party of 5 were placed outside, in the far back. No shade whatsoever was provided. We were forgotten for up to twenty minutes before orders were placed. Sad that Playa used to be such a great restaurant - when they served the halibut for the big dish. read more

It was my first and my last dinner at this place. A tiny piece of salmon in soupy sauce called "Large Plate" for $32? You must be kidding me. I didn't believed my eyes. Left with an empty stomach and feeling of been robbed. No mention about sitting in restaurant like in a railway station buffet - high 2 stools at small round table next to restrooms on one side, and waitresses passing back and forth on the other side. Loud Mexican music from each corner. No thank you, no mas. read more

An open kitchen shows what more than I wanted to see. The girl with pigtails ate food, the her gloves on and then went back to prep chef work, same gloves. Others with their gloves off, scooped food with their hands, in the kitchen. No sense this was against food rules, this is a good way to make people sick. Managers said nothing. read more

I came here for lunch with my girlfriend. The food was really good!! The service was amazing. They have really good happy experience! Thank you for the kindness and good service! I definitely will come back !! read more

I love finding new gems. Me and a girlfriend of mine met here for lunch. Such a cute spot with outdoor seating on their back deck. They have a nice large bar inside with a causal yet chic atmosphere. We started out with some yummy cocktails. We ordered chips and guacamole, the tortilla soup, and the mole enchilada. Everything was delish, and you can tell their guacamole and mole sauce was fresh, from scratch. What a bonus!! Overall, great experience, lovely staff and quality food. Looking forward to going back! Metered street parking all around. read more

This place is incredible!!! Wonderful customer service, delicious food, and beautiful ambiance. Make sure you try to sit outside. We have an amazing experience and the Al pastor tacos and the grilled octopus was great!!! We highly recommend this place and will be coming back when we are in town. read more

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OMG you guys. What a disappointment. I was dying to try this place. We got here right at 5 tonight (it fills up fast). We started with the chips and salsa and guac and cocktails. I had the Watermelon Fog. My friends had margaritas. Everyone was happy with the drinks. The salsas and chips and guac were just okay. The verde had good flavor but no heat. The tomato one tasted like bland tomatoes. The other one had decent heat and had weird color and texture and flavor. Guac - eh. The salsas were very small but it seemed like enough since it wasn't that great anyway. Then we tried the quesadilla and the opah aguachile as shared plates. The quesadilla - weird and too thick tortilla. The flavors were okay of the squash. Just mediocre. The tortilla overwhelmed it. The opah (a salad? Ceviche?) was odd. One piece of the fish was bad - super fishy and old tasting. The whole thing needed some acid. It seemed very under-dressed and like it needed something. Then we had fish tacos, carne asada tacos, and the carnitas large plate. Both tacos were stone cold. (Also they had the same weird and not good tortillas.) Not like they were warm before they brought them out. They were cold like they were out for several HOURS before being assembled into tacos. The asada had good flavor at least. But not even warm?! Also a bit on the raw side for me. The carnitas was the best item we had. The waiter was great. He took off my tacos because he could see I didn't eat them. I didn't even say anything. And the opah (I did tell him it was bad). I didn't even mention how bad the fish tacos were at this point. Overall SUPER disappointed in this place. Such a bummer! Stop by for a cocktail - they're good. Skip the food. This level of mediocrity at this price? No. read more

Playa - Carne Asada Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Mill Valley, California

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Hate to leave a negative review but I've had two terrible experiences. First, I ordered Playa on DoorDash and got a moldy taco (photo below). Second, I went in person and good was very disappointing. Queso was watery and lacked flavor. Chicken enchiladas had a 'mole' sauce they tasted liked Hershey's chocolate was heavily spread over the top. The churros for desert were terrible. They were shriveled up and the inside texture was way off (could they have been frozen?). Anyway I like the ambiance but the food is just so off unfortunately. read more

Playa - Moldy taco - Mexican Near Me - Mill Valley, California

First time here. All I heard was how expensive this place was. We came at Happy Hour so really can't address that. Biggest impression after the clean, bright setting is the food. OMG, the food. It is Delicious, yes with a capital D. We tried 3 of the 4 edibles on the small HH menu. Wow. The cheese/roasted poblano fundido, the carnitas tacos, and the braised chicken tostada were some of the best HH food we've enjoyed in some time. Drafts were $6. Who could want more? Ordered the wood grilled calamari off the dinner menu. Another hit, especially the red mole sauce! Coming back for HH again soon and often. read more

Playa - Wood grilled calamari with a Propaganda Pilsner - Mexican Near Me - Mill Valley, California

Playa appears to be a cool spot for dining outside. Nice interior dining areas and bar as well. We arrive on a warm Saturday afternoon to enjoy some lunch. The service was really good all the way around. Simple long tables and benches which can handle large parties, or share with other patrons. We started with the guacamole w/ chips and salsa tray. I know, it's JUST chips and salsa...But, the three salsas and the guac were all really good. Definitely devoured the habanero! I ordered the chilaquiles and partner had the machaca huevos rancheros. Neither of us were all that impressed with these two dishes. We both were putting the remaining salsas on our main courses to give them more flavor. All in all, I am glad we stopped in for lunch. I'm sure they do a hopping evening business. read more

Playa - Machaca Huevos Rancheros - Mexican Near Me - Mill Valley, California

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Face coverings, safe distancing, limited sitting, and dinner time cap are inconveniences but the quality and taste make it all worth it read more

Playa - Mexican Near Me - Mill Valley, California

I don't understand the negative reviews, but I'm so glad we didn't listen to them! Stopped here to break up a rainy day and everything was delicious! Chips and guac/salsa, hubby had the carnitas tacos, I had the salad with steak. Our cocktails were perfect. Friendly service, too. We'll be back for sure. read more

Pass on this restaurant... Seriously it's such a shame that such a beautiful ambiance has such terrible, terrible service. THE WORST SERVICE IVE EVER EXPERIENCED read more

What a fun and cute place (both the inside and outside)! Came here on a Saturday night for some dinner eats. Did not have a reservation, but we lucked out that there was an opening for two at the counter by the kitchen. Our waiter greeted us right away. He was so kind and knowledgeable about the menu, he was able to answer all of our questions. Our drinks and the chips (very thick, looked like fancy fritos), guacamole and salsa (three different kinds of salsa, yum!) were delivered to our table in a jiffy. For dinner we shared the hamachi crudo (fresh, lovely in color), the carne asada tacos, and the al pastor tacos. The al pastor was bliss, very, VERY tasty. The pork had the perfect amount of crisp and chard-ness. read more

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A nice little spot in Mill Valley with a classy interior and outdoor patio, Playa was a good find in the Marin area. For appetizers we ordered the guacamole, multiple salsas and what the waiter described as an "extra spicy" sauce. The salsas we tried were both perfect and the guacamole was decent. The spicy sauce had an inherent smokiness that I enjoyed, but it lacked the flavor of the other two salsas. For an entree, I ordered the shrimp tacos which I'll say were quite flavorful. The spice level was perfect for me however I felt that the sauce and accoutrements did not allow for the shrimp flavor to truly shine through. read more

The food is excellent. However, they take a credit card to hold a reservation. Multiple texts today making sure we were coming otherwise they WOULD CHARGE A $100 FEE if we were not there by 6:10. Not an ideal interaction as were were there at 5:55 and HAVE STILL NOT BEEN SEATED AT 6:30. Service is lacking for front of house. Not a great start to the evening and no apologies offered. read more

Probably one of the best places to eat in Mill Valley. Consistently good food, good service, and great atmosphere. I feel like they simplified the menu during COVID and looking forward to when they go back and having more specials and variety. read more

Absolutely terrible customer service. The only thing good about this place is the location is very convenient so when I don't want to drive I'll stop by. If the food was as bad as the customer service I wouldn't come back at all. Luckily the food isn't terrible but I've had better food for much less at locations that are only a short drive from here. read more

After a strenuous 5 hour hike in Mt. Tam and soaking in a hot tub at Almonte to relax our sore muscles we wanted a tasty reward. We found Playa driving by and decided to not trust the 3 star reviews. The ambience of fire pits, spacious patio and modern decor was refreshing to step into after our nature excursion. The food and the drinks did not disappoint. The drinks were extremely well balanced and elegantly crafted of all naturally sourced ingredients. Both the food and drinks weren't not only beautifully presented but absolutely made our stomachs smile. :) Luis our waiter was such a delight and made the best recommendations. I would definitely return for more!!! read more

Playa - Hamachi Crudo - Mexican Near Me - Mill Valley, California

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Playa last night, not real busy, but bartenders should be dishwashers. Never said"Hello, how isyour nught" never Saud anything, just looked at us. Needed a metal shotglass to make house margaritas. Spent the whole night talking to the servers, bar back and busboy. I looked down the bar and every glass was empty. A far cry from Buckeye, perhaps Peter should employ Jeff Burkhart to train these horrible bartenders on common courtesy and manners. I have never tipped below 20% in my life but last night we only left 10%, I ordered a drink and he turned and talked to the bar back for 5 minutes before he made my drink. The tacos were inedible. I've been there dozens of times, but I will never go back. Bring Nicole back as the manager. read more

The service was just wow. I went on May 29th in the evening and I was astounded by how helpful and amazing the staff was, in particular the staff member Natalia. She was always on top of everything we needed and her humor - combined with her immense knowledge of the restaurant and food - made our night enjoyable and memorable! read more

Love the food there was amazing, very fancy and delicate lobby, they have such a pretty lights at night. I got a pork dish and my friend got a shrimp taco, totally good, ps, they have a giant beautiful bar too, Margarita there was so good! We will definitely back soon! read more

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My friend and I LOVED this place!! We came in for a drink, ended up having more than one (their version of a paloma, yum), and the food was absolutely delicious. We had a chopped salad that was so tasty I got another one to go, and the veggie tacos (if you like mushrooms, you really have to try them!). Everyone was professional and so friendly, my friend and I chatted for quite a while but didn't feel rushed to leave. Also, they are totally on top of their game about gluten-free items (most things are), I felt very safe eating there. I wish I lived closer, I can't wait to go back! read more

Playa - Playa Paloma! - Mexican Near Me - Mill Valley, California

First time there. Good to have a reservation. Beautiful enclosed patio dining as well-lots of families with kids though. Sat inside which was nice too. Plenty of food -good portions and nice and fresh. Great service too. We loved the enchiladas -very filling and chips and salsa. So good! Will revisit for sure. read more

Food poisoning from the salad. Need I say more used to love this place but now I can never go back.

Not your typical Mexican restaurant-'solid 3 stars. House chips (~$4) came with salsa at 3 heat levels. I mixed the medium chipotle with the hot habanero to add more kick to the sweet smokey salsa. Because we ordered the guacamole, we had to ask for more chips. Dinner consisted of taco al pastor, a bowl of black beans, surf and turf burrito with small side of rice and black beans. Pretty tasty--worth another visit if in the area. read more

I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious food and drink were here. I kept my expectations low, as I was expecting a tourist trap. The restaurant is inviting with seating indoors and out. We opted to sit at the bar, and had great service from all the staff. Started with a Big Jimmy cocktail (Gin, honey, lemon, bitters, ginger), and it did not disappoint! It's right up with my favorite Marin cocktail. The margarita was one of the best Mr B had imbibed in a long time. For food we got al pastor (pork) tacos and chicken flautas. Impressed with the quality and taste of the food. There was a brightness to both, as they both included small bits of pineapple, which elevated the dishes. Did note a large piece of uncooked pork (fat? skin?) that was unsettling. Price point is on the higher side for the portion size of food, and for cocktails. I found it pretty cheap of Playa to charge $5 for chips and salsa. Subtract a star for that. read more

Playa - Mexican Near Me - Mill Valley, California

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It was okay. I think it's fair to say that I've had Mexican food a good amount of my life in SoCal, going to Mexican parties with my family and having a taco guy serve us our food. I can't say that Playa compares to this experience. We had the chips and salsa, where I really liked the chips but the salsa was okay. The spiciest sauce served was surprisingly not that spicy (my nose didn't even water, and I'm pretty sensitive). I ordered a loaded quesadilla but the flavors didn't really pack a punch. Their ceviche was watery but I did like how the lime was there. The service was also nice. The atmosphere was pleasant (not really Mexican though), but I'm more about the food quality. It kind of sucks that the food prices are to the roof, because I can get a $1 loaded fish taco in SoCal but get them here for 4x (or more) the price. It's understandable considering the rent is high, but it just makes me want SoCal Mexican food more than this food, with the benefit of saving money, so it kind of makes me want to avoid these places. This is a nitpick, but I also think that calling this place "Playa" without a beach in sight is weird. "Río" seems more appropriate. read more

This rating is probably a 3.5. Upscale Mexican specializing in all things mole. Worth a visit if you are craving tacos and a marg. PROS: -Beautiful space with great outdoor seating -whole chicken is amazing! Highly recommend with a side order of tortillas -extensive mezcal and tequila list -it was game 7 and we were finishing up and asking where we could watch the game, our waiter kindly found us 4 seats at the bar! Given it is Mill Valley, sports bars are hard to come by, very appreciated. CONS (and the reason we did not round to 4 stars): -food did not come out at the same time, so we sat with one entree and a side of elote for at least 5 minutes. -after sitting at the bar I noticed they have some of their 3 top margaritas premixed, a personal pet peeve (given I usually order light on the agave etc), and just find it kind of cheap. read more

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On a day when Mill Valley reached a high of 62 degrees I walked into Playa with a chill. The dining room was empty and the host told me I could sit anywhere I desired. A ray of sun was shining on a few tables and I chose one of those. Throughout lunch, the (inside) dining room never had more than about 6 parties in it and as it cleared out a worker opened the door between the dining room and the outdoor space. A chilly draft streamed in. I was pleased when another worker went over to shut the door (and told him so), mentioning that it was cold and that flies had come in. Moments later I realized the door was still ajar, rose to shut it all the way, then found it wide open again less than five minutes later. When I mentioned the cold draft to our waitress, she shrugged and said it needed to be open due to (here, she motioned toward the cooking area) "... from the kitchen". I don't think so. At this point, we were pretty much the only diners in Playa and the door had been closed the entire time we'd been there. I hardly think that they routinely leave this door open straight through dinner service and the "couldn't care less" attitude of our waitress felt no less welcoming than if she'd just come right out and flipped us off. Other than that? Playa trades in high-end Mexican fare and the place is beautiful. I wasn't in love with the food but it's true that the attitude of our waitress slightly affected my overall rating. * Chips are served with a trio of salsas ($5) but we were given less than 2 tablespoons of each. * Tijuana Caesar ($13 + $4 for addition of chicken): Extremely unique preparation of this classic, with leaves wrapped in cucumber (more artful than taste-driven), and no evidence of anchovies. The chicken which topped the salad appeared roasted, not grilled, and it added very little to the flavor profile. The whole thing wasn't bad but I'd not order it again. * Carne Asada Tacos ($13): My dining partner never remarked on their taste but later, tactfully described the meal as "all about the company". * Elote Loco ($7): 4 chunks of slathered corn on the cob were less tasty than expected. I usually adore elote; this one I'd not order a second time. * Cilantro Rice ($5): Fluffy and uninteresting; less so once the flies landed on it. We told our waitress. The rice remained on our tab. So, how's it feel to spend $55 (pre-tip, no cocktails) on lunch for two while sitting in an avoidable draft? I paid in cash just so I wouldn't have to be reminded later of how much I spent to enjoy a meal so little. Playa is a beautiful restaurant with crowds flocking to it at night. Michael Bauer (SF Chronicle restaurant critic) liked it a lot. I may be an outlier but the food coupled with truly indifferent service make me unlikely to return. Your experience, I hope, is better. read more

I thought this place was great when it first opened as it was a welcome addition to the Italian heavy dining scene in Mill Valley. It's definitely a fun, bustling place, especially on the weekends, and features an outdoor patio with fire pits, a rarity in Mill Valley. That being said, the food portions are tiny, main courses are expensive, and some food is odd and lacks in flavor. They have a nice selection of wine and beer, but the Margaritas are loaded with ice, have little flavor other than the salt, and little-to-no alcohol. Pretty lame for $12 a drink. The chips and salsa cost $5 and come with three different sauces, two of which are very spicy. The chips are brown, seemingly over baked, and greasy. Bleh! You'll get a better meal and drinks down the road at The Cantina. read more

Menu change for the worse. Even classic taco items are not the same. What was once amazing tacos are now meh, was so bummed bc I came for those delicious Al Pastor tacos and found them to no longer have pineapple (waiter said the pineapple is now puréed in the sauce? I didn't taste it). The once amazing surf & turf burrito, gone. I used to love this place bc it had ambiance & great food but now just go for an average overpriced meal so you can get the ambiance. read more

Delicious dinner tonight. Although service was slow because of how busy they were, the food was delightful! We got the extra hot salsa--which is definitely not for everyone! I loved it! So if you like spice, ask for it! Fresh guacamole, hamachi crudo, and halibut ceviche starters were fantastic...as well as the octopus. You can see our entrees! Warriors on tv. Guests enjoying the patio. Bar full. Lots of energy! Worth a trip to Playa! If Yukti is behind the bar, see if she has any special cocktails. She's awesome! read more

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I love the food but the service is just always really disappointing. I want to return for the food but I can't really bring anyone because the bad services ruins the meal. read more

The flavors were basic and the dishes seemed to lack heart and soul along with being under seasoned ..... If I were in the area again I would skip Playa and go to The Cantina a few miles away. Also, for a huge party they won't provide separate checks, which makes it somewhat of a fiasco at the end of the night with a large party. I won't be back. read more

We were sitting outside enjoying our appetizers when we were asked to move inside as there was another reservation for the table. We hadn't even received our dinner yet. We had reservations, there was no mention of a time limit when we made the reservation, when the hostess sat us, when the waiter took out order, nothing. No one else was asked to move inside. Plenty of opportunities to tell us before you made us go inside. So rude. And the shrimp tacos were awful. Not sure why you would put what tasted like bland canned tomato paste in shrimp tacos, but literally the worst tacos I have ever had. Apps and cocktails only at Playa. Oh, and the waiter tacked on an extra dollar when I checked my statement the next day. read more

Hippest spot in Mill Valley and the ambiance alone gives it 5 stars for me. Good for groups, considering having birthday parties here even though it's far from the city. Modern interiors, open kitchen, full bar and plenty of outdoor seating. In terms of food, it was a little pricier than what you get since it's like $12-14 bucks for 2 tacos. I wish you could get individual tacos and mix & match. The crazy corn was a tasty side for $7. The price is probably what is driving the 3.5 rating. Service is solid. Just a fun place in an older town. read more

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