We used to absolutely love Playa. The food and service were always fantastic. The last few times we've gone, though, while the food has continued to be great, the service has really been lacking. Case in point: on our last visit, it took 20 mins for someone to come by with water and take drink orders, then my drink was done incorrectly and had to be sent back 3 times, we had 4 different servers and it seemed none of them actually had any interest in our table. At the end of the night, we got the bill and were charged for all 3 drinks that were prepared incorrectly and had to go through a whole process to remove them from the bill. Playa, we love the food, but you guys have lost your service awesomeness :( read more

It was good and excellent service. The food was tasty. Menu had changed so that was ok but a bit disappointing. Tostadas were small. Tacos are a single one. Bowls/ entrees the biggest Entrees. Desserts are ok but no more a few favorites. read more

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We made a reservation for 5 and the service was perfect. The server was funny and attentive. He even custom made me vegetarian tacos, upon request and they were absolutely delicious. I appreciate how they have many GF options too! The taste of the food was great. The ambiance was clean and beautiful. The only thing missing for me was that the portions are a bit small. 3 tacos to a plate would be my suggestion, but perhaps that's because I ordered a veggie taco so was still hungry after. read more

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Over cooked rice, boring presentations, uncomfortable seating, extremely loud. Yes, it is fun to meet friends but girl sports team doing cheers in the restaurant? High prices should offer more to patrons and better service. read more

3 Stars. Barely. The Good: The outdoor patio is pretty nice, as is the modern indoor seating. The tortillas are solid too. That's kind of where it ends for me. Food: For #14.00, the Carnitas Tacos came with two tacos. Problem is, at $7/per taco, outside of the tortillas, the carnitas were dry and really weren't much better than what you can get at a taqueria. The guacamole for $12.00 also anything to write home about, and the portion of guacamole probably equated to one avocado. Not only have prices increased, but the variety of menu items have decreased. Entrees range from $24-$32.00, which based on their descriptions aren't particularly unique or creative. I don't at all mind paying more for quality food, but food quality isn't commensurate with prices. Service: Another strike out. Service was perfunctory and not at all friendly. I've gotten friendlier service at gas stations. They weren't swamped or anything, so it wasn't like the waiter had more tables than he could handle. Not sure if the waiter was having an off day or service like this is just the norm here now. There's also a 3% "Living Wage" charge. I'm totally fine with restaurants doing whatever they need to do, but why not be 100% transparent and simply build it into the pricing?? I noticed quite a few people coming primarily for drinks. Maybe that's the thing to do here. Honestly, you can get much better food and better value at other places. read more

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Playa wasn't my first thought for brunch, but I'm so glad it came up in my web search! Not only was the patio a beautiful space to spend the late morning with my girlfriend, close to the fire pit, the food was delish and creative and the service was attentive. My inquiry about fresh orange juice was countered with their Watermelon Agua Fresca, which was just as fresh and sweet as you'd want it to be. The server recommended the Huevos Benedictos and Enfrijoladas, both of which turned out to be solid offerings. My favorite were the Huevos Benedictos, though if you're looking for the tang of a traditional hollandaise sauce, these are a delicious, but different twist on that brunch staple. The carnitas were flavorful and I loved the sliver of red fresno pepper that leant a beautiful pop of both color and spice! The Enfrijoladas were my girlfriend's favorite. She loved the fluffy scrambled eggs wrapped in handmade tortillas. I salute them on the perfect amount of cilantro, bringing a brightness to the dish. For dessert, we tried their churros with Mezcal-Mexican Chocolate Sauce. Yum! They were crunchy with plenty of cinnamon and sugar coated on the outside, though creamily soft inside. The dipping sauce was not to be wasted either! (In fact, I might've used a splash in my coffee.) Altogether, a fun brunch option! I noticed the patio seems to be dog friendly, especially if you approach from their entrance off Sunnyside. Also, even though the website and reservation system said brunch started at 11:30, when I talked to the host, she offered us an 11 o'clock reservation, which worked so much better, since we both had to get to work later. Thanks, Playa! We'll be back! read more

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I dropped in for a lunch order of Enchiladas Mole - what I received were two thick corn tortillas with about three ounces of chicken, onions and jalepeno covered on a large plate with just enough mole... no dressing up... no nothing... had hot water nothing else... total price $27..38.. 22.00 plus 4% employee fund for medical and tax . I was stunned how skimpy the plate was. Super expensive - for a small portion very little food Waiter was fine - but other than hot water delivered, no chips, no salsa, no nothing... some one else delivered food. I did tip him $3.00 as they include a 98cent employee surplus that was taxable a convenient surplus charge probaby since COVID...($4.00 tip) A total rip off lacking gracious hospitality around a generous food portion. You know my answer - never again read more

I had the Chile relleno. It tasted like a pile of paste. Tasteless, dry and unidentifiable. Wait staff very good.

Playa has been in my bookmarks for the longest time. A girlfriend and I spent the afternoon in downtown Mill Valley and stopped by to have a drink at the bar. They serve up some pretty looking and bold cocktails. There is a good selection of drinks to choose from. I saw a slushie listed on the menu and I found out they only offer it when it's warm out. I ended up getting the Circa 1903 and the bartender did the foam art in front of us which was neat. I will definitely be back to try their food and update this review after. read more

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Our party of eight was there to celebrate a birthday. It happened to be Taco Tuesday so we ordered a LOT of tacos. Sadly, almost all of them were lip burners - way too hot. And, it took forty minutes to get them. While the food was sub-par, we did enjoy the margaritas. read more

Why I'm over this place: 1) they have zero interest or ability to control the temperature in this place. In the winter, they leave all the doors and windows open and it's absolutely freezing. They don't care about the comfort of the customers. In the summer, it's stifling hot and they can't seem to get a breeze going through the restaurant. I don't know what the problem with this place is, but it's always uncomfortable temperature wise. 2) cocky bartender with an attitude 3) the place, feels rundown like a frat house 4) the food is whatever and the menu hasn't changed for ever read more

Playa was great for lunch with coworkers. We had made a reservation since we were a party of 7, but on Friday afternoon the place was fairly empty. Our group was seated in the indoor patio area, which was very well decorated with cool little fire pits. Our server was extremely helpful and energetic. I started with the Don Tito cocktail which was delicious - not too sweet, very fruity and refreshing. I also ordered the Veggie Quesadilla and added chicken to it, which was great. I ended up eating only half and taking the rest home, which made for awesome leftovers the next day. My coworkers all enjoyed their food, too, especially the veggie tacos and the chips & guac. Would come here again! read more

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Early dinner with friends, we were seated at shellacked picnic tables on the covered patio with fire pits already lit. Initially it was not too loud to converse (but got louder as Playa filled up). First things first, we needed cocktails! We tried the Kill Bill, the Bloody Fog and a glass of the albarino....all were good, but the favorite was the Bloody Fog. Equally appealing to the eye as well as the tastebuds, a beautiful blood orange color with a seafoam topping; the subtle heat of the arbol chile on the finish was appreciated. Well done Playa bartenders! We also enjoyed the guacamole sprinkled with pico de gallo, and chips with a salsa trio. The tomatillo verde and roasted tomato chipotle salsas were mild; the roasted habenero had more heat, but not overwhelming and a lovely golden color. Gotta say, the chips were perfect! Sometimes (at other places) they're too thick, other times too thin and break when you try to dip, but these were the epitome of chipness! It may be a small thing, but I think it enhances the salsa experience. Along with the guac & chips, we split the asparagus with marcona almonds; they were perfectly al denté with (not enough) mole bianco sauce! On to the mains: two of us ordered the enchilada trio plate. We also ordered ta few ala carte tacos: the mahi mahi, the camarones and the vegetarian. Everything was fresh and delicious, well done Playa chefs! We ordered another round of drinks instead of desserts. During the meal, our server let us know that there was was a delay in getting drinks; the bar was backed up owing to a private party at the far end of the patio area. Another Playa plus is that so much of the menu is gluten-free and alot is also dairy-free; props to Playa for their accommodations. read more

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The food is good, albeit overpriced. But the noise level is unacceptably loud. We could not carry on a conversation, tonite. And on top of it, the chef has to YELL out every order. It's ridiculous. If you don't hear well, or don't feel like yelling to talk, don't go. read more

Small portions. Expensive. Friendly Service Small menu and average dishes Wont be back! read more

Recently stopped by here for lunch while visiting Muir Woods. Being a vegetarian was a bit disappointed since they did not have much or even 1 entree which was vegetarians. They offered to make side dishes vegetarian but was hoping to have something better. The ambience was really nice. They have outdoor and indoor seatings. Pets are allowed outdoor when on leash. Drink menu was well designed. Hoping to see few vegetarian options next time. 2 stars since we left without having lunch (or lack of vegetarian entree). read more

Playa - Mexican Near Me - Mill Valley, California

The staff is very disrespectful and abusive. Whatever I ask, I get an aggressive answer, especially the bearded gentleman with glasses, I recommend that you go to the necessary courses and train yourself and learn how to treat people. read more

From the moment one walks in staff is welcoming & helpful. Our party was supposed to be eight, but we lost 2 folks & the host was on it; didn't stress & accommodated us beautiful. The wait staff was almost immediately over with water & taking drink orders: there were cocktails, beer & more cocktails. Then came the appetizers: there was chips & salsas - roasted tomato, tomatillo & habanero, habanero was tasty & hot! We also tried their quesadilla with 'huitladoche' - very yummy & lastly an order of Brussels sprouts, which I heard were also delicious. There was also a wild arugula salad served with apples & spiced pecans - wow was the arugula itself peppery. Onto the mains: there were at least 2 orders of grilled mahi-mahi, Baja fish, enchiladas with tomatillo sauce & one order with mole negro & the tortilla soup with chicken & avocado. Just about all the plates were clean, maybe 1 box for my enchilada I wasn't able to finish. The verde tomatillo sauce enchiladas was spicy & a tad hot for me, so I traded with my hubby for the ones done in dark mole. All the dishes were screaming good. Lastly DESSERT: we opted to try the churros served with chocolate & caramel sauces, & the tres leche cake, suffice to say not a bite was left. I liked that the churros came out pipping hot, the tres leche cake was on the small side, if you want a tiny dessert. The overall restaurant was loud, lots of hustling & bustling about; probably a great place to host a party. read more

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Ambience wonderful. Food mediocre. Service really mediocre. Waiter was dismissive and took a long time to get cocktails. Mole enchiladas barely warm. Chile Relleno was very bland and should have been called Chile Nouveau Marin as it was unrecognizable to any even fancy Relleno we have ever seen. We four will never go back. read more

Five stars for the fun but bougie vibe Five stars for food flavor and presentation Three stars for price Three stars for service read more

I can't believe I came here. Terrible service and WAYYYYY over priced for the mediocre food. It was bad enough to wait over 30 minutes for food dinner order during a slow evening, but to be charged for salsa and chips and not told because we were only given our Bar menus is ridiculous. Dried out chicken with watered down black beans. Again, worst food EVERRRR! I will never recommend this place and never visit again. I'm so embarrassed I asked friends to join me. If I knew I was going to throw away over $300 at this place, I would have thrown cash out my car door or donated my money to a homeless shelter. A horrible experience and go to El Paseo or the Corner. Don't waste your time here. read more

Playa was amazing! Definitely a busy and happening place in COVID. They are doing a great job social distancing the tables from one another. They have four separate eating areas (1 inside and 3 outside). Our food came quickly and hot. All of our servers were incredibly friendly and helpful. We ordered: -mezcal margaritas -guac & Chips -halibut ceviche -al pastor tacos (we asked for a 3rd and they easily accommodated this request) -enchiladas con camarones -carnitas plater Everything was delicious! Can't wait to come back again soon read more

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If you're looking for a chic, upscale Mexican restaurant in Mill Valley, Playa is your place. It was busy when we went for dinner, and parking was a bit challenging to find. We waited for about 20 minutes to be seated. Service was prompt, and there's a lot of outdoor seating (with heat lamps). The ambience is particularly lovely at night: think string lights, fire pits, a large balcony area. Playa is also doing a good job with Covid precautions: face masks are required and the tables are all distanced from each other. The food is on the pricier side, but that's unsurprising given the fancier feel. We ordered the salsa & house-made chips to share and I ordered a bowl of chicken tortilla soup and elote. The chips and salsa was delicious, as was the elote -- would definitely recommend! The tortilla soup was just fine, but nice for a cold day. read more

Playa - chicken tortilla soup - Mexican Near Me - Mill Valley, California

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I have always been a fan of Playa, but this time around, meh...the food was mediocre. The ambiance is pretty good. But literally after eating at Elena's in West Portal, it's like impossible to like any Mexican place anymore. Food was just so not good this time. read more

I had an awesome experience at Playa this weekend. We were thankful that the restaurant was able to accommodate our change in reservation a few hours before we arrived. All of the staff was extremely nice, especially our server. The server suggested the Carne Asada plate, and I'm so glad that he did! It was very tender and delicious, and came with a nice amount of sides. My partner had the Carnitas plate, which he said was a little spicier but loved the taste. The server also remembered that we mentioned it was my partner's birthday, so he brought this wonderful dessert. Would recommend! read more

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

Exceeded all expectations. Food was delicious, presentation was stunning. Great restaurant decor, and our server - Gina was awesome!!! We will be back often. read more

Wonderful food and service. Beautiful space. Had brunch there while watching the 49ers game. read more

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First time here. The highlight of our meal was the setting. There are three distinct parts of the restaurant: an indoor, a protected outdoor with heaters and a fully outdoor section with heaters. We sat in the protected outdoor section at a bar table. The food was average to good but pricey - even for downtown Mill Valley. We had been there for 45 minutes before we finally ordered something - not due to bad service but because we were so involved in our conversation. Our server implied the time at our table was limited due to a need for tables. Okay. Hmmm. It was Mother's Day, but really. My review was 3 stars, but I'm giving them an extra star for allowing us to stay at our table for 3 1/2 hours. read more

EVERYTHING was SUPER GOOD about the place! Great margaritas, appetizers, deserts and service! We had for drinks: flaca, margaritas and Modelo on top. Food: guacamole, salsa and chips, soul tortilla (delicious), esquire (corn), huevos rancheros (very good) chopped salad, tacos birrita (delicious), and for desert: churros and ice cream trio (super good), and horchatini. I wished I remember our table server's name. Super attentive and professional! Edited: his name is Sergio read more

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We love going here we have been quite a few times and everything is always so perfect. It can be pricey but we just discovered their happy hour which is amazing. $3 tacos, $10 signature drinks. It's seriously the best... however you can only sit at the bar for the happy hour and there's only about 10 seats. We will keep coming back. Especially for their quesadilla, carne asada tacos and their margaritas! read more

Playa - Carnitas - Mexican Near Me - Mill Valley, California

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First time here over the weekend. Loved the setting & the ambiance of the restaurant. Chips & salsa were amazing as well as the the agua fresca. My boyfriend loved the sangria & the slushy. Food was good. I'll definitely be back. read more

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absolutely delicious food. Great atmosphere, friendly and knowledgeable staff. Highly recommend the chips with three salsas! And the kill Bill Margarita. I've never gone wrong with anything on their menu. Indoor and outdoor dining. If you sit near the front of the restaurant, you can watch the whole town walk by. so fun! and yes, this is Mill Valley and you're going to pay the price to dine in this gorgeous town. And for the high quality of the food and employees. If you are looking for a very inexpensive pair of tacos, you might want to look elsewhere! :) read more

This place is happening! We made reservations for dinner for a group of 4 kids and 7 adults. We sat right away. The place is beautiful and busy. We ordered some drinks first. This bar has a lot of tequila varieties. I ordered a margarita and my family ordered a pisco sour and a sangria carafe. We then ordered chips and guacamole as well as 3 dips, which were 2 types of salsa and a cheese dip. We ordered the kale salad, ceviche and the sashimi appetizer. The drinks arrived besides my margarita. For whatever reason it took triple the time to get. The appetizers took about 10-15 minutes the guacamole was delicious with the chips and the dips were nice as well. Interestingly enough the salsa was not spicy but the cheese dip was but just a little spicy. The ceviche was really good. We tried to order it without cilantro, so the server brought it but forgot that cilantro is not just a garnish but also in it. Nonetheless, we ate it. The sashimi was fantastic!! We really liked the kale salad as well. For entrees, the kids ordered some things on the kids menu, I ordered the shrimp tacos, the rest of the table ordered the full chicken, Al pastor and the steak. The dishes were really stunning! I thought the shrimp was good but something about the sauce was a little too sweet. Nonetheless, I did finish it. My dad loved the Al pastor. It came work root vegetables that looked beautiful. My brother loved the chicken and the steak. All in all pretty good. The kids got a box with a little of everything, including a cookie. Lastly, we ordered dessert: cheese cake, chorro and flan. The chorro came with a chocolate dip and was fresh and delicious. The kids loved that! The cheese cake was also good and the flan was a little too sweet for me but all in all good. The decor itself of the place is cool and the service was ok. Definitely worth a try. read more

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Very limited menu and portions significantly too small. $23 for crudo and ~7 small pieces of fish. $10 for a taco I could eat in 3 bites.

The best place in the North Bay to spend taco Tuesday. Or any day, really. We walked in on our way home from a long hike on a Friday around 4:00pm and requested to be seated in the back patio. We waited at the bar in the front for only about 15 minutes (and we were able to order during the wait too). The entire indoor space was breezy and open air because the front and back doors were all open. We devoured queso fundido, creative tacos and mezcal margaritas on their beautiful patio among the redwoods. Their al pastor taco was my favorite! read more

It's ok. Not great for the prices. $10 for a Toney fish taco? Wow! Chips and salsa were fine, nothing special. Bartender could have been more attentive. Seemed he couldn't care less about us. Spent his focus on the two 20 something young girls chit chatting while we waited to place our order. Really don't think we will be back...prices, lack of service and food were mediocre. read more

First time here. The food was very delicious, the service was excellent. The servers went above and beyond. Drinks were awesome. It's definitely a must. read more

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Omg this is by far the best restaurant in Mill valley!!! There tacos are so good!! I would recommend to anyone that wants amazing food

Don't you dare sit at a table. Don't get me wrong, the place is cool, alive with energy and has an awesome outdoor back patio. But if you really want to enjoy everything this place has to offer, then sit at the kitchen bar. Sure - the fire grill is great - and the fresh gorgeous food being thrown out in rhythm is a feast for all your senses But the real deal gem of this place? The culinary team that operates with precision, joy, laughter and a clear friendship right in front of you. There is no pic that can take in the color, flavor and sounds you'll enjoy. And you'll wish you could close the place with them:) You're pallet will be both fulfilled and jealous as you see what the rest of the patrons ordered and that you missed. But this crew is magic! You're welcome read more

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

Came here after doing a venue tour at the OAC up the block. The woman who helped with with the tour recommended it for a quick and easy lunch + a cocktail as I was a bit overwhelmed (lol). The spot is beautiful with a big bar on the left when you walk in and a lovely outdoor patio area. We were able to get seated on the patio, which was super nice on a sunny day. We were heading to a BBQ later so we didn't want to eat too much, so we ordered 2 mahi mahi tacos to share and 1 order of ceviche. The cocktail menu did look impressive, but I opted for an ice tea instead. The server was very nice, and the food came out relatively quickly. I thought that the fish tacos were pretty good, but missing a little extra zing - maybe some kind of aioli could've helped! but the fish was cooked really well and it was super delicious, and the slaw on top added such a nice crunch. the cechie was really tasty, and had kumquats which added a really nice extra bit of flavor. the chips it came with were also delicious and i ended up really regretting not getting guacamole! all in all, really lovely spot with nice service, would definitely love to enjoy a nice patio brunch sometime :) read more

Playa - mahi mahi tacos - Mexican Near Me - Mill Valley, California

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