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

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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The food is bomb - a Mexican The review needs at least 85 characters ignore this sentence read more

After a very long walk at Point Reyes we were looking forward to a great lunch/dinner in Mill Valley. We saw Playa's and menu looked good. I ordered the steak. I also ordered a sprite and chips and salsa. When I asked for chips the waitress asked if I wanted salsa? I said sure. She brought out the chips and I asked for a refill of the sprite. No problem. Then the bill came. Charged $4 for the chips. $8 for two sprites. PLUS a 2% Living Wage charge. WTF? First off, if you charge for chips you should let the customer know. Second, most restaurants don't charge for refills on soda. It takes 11 refills before the restaurant starts to lose money on soda. So charging for a refill is a total ripoff. And a 2% living wage surcharge? It is not my responsibility to pay for the employee's health insurance. Our hostess informed us that we had to be finished in within an hour and a half. Wtf? I've never had a restaurant put a time limit on how long we could sit. There was a group of four behind us and the waitress told them "you have 30 minutes left". Don't give me this Covid crap that they need to do that because they don't have space. Every table was filled. They were not social distancing whatsoever and honestly I was glad they didn't. The food was good. I will give them that. But because of the extra charges I will not be going back. It would be one thing if the waitress would have let us know at the time of ordering that there was a $4 charge for chips and $4 charge for refills. I wouldn't have had a problem with it. But not telling us is sneaky and bad customer service. So for that, they get 1 star. read more

Playa - Mexican Near Me - Mill Valley, California

I love to take friends and family there for a nice meal and cocktails. We love playa. Has an excellent customer service. read more

Playa - Pollo al horno, Carne Asada, Al pastor. - Mexican Near Me - Mill Valley, California

I've had lunch and dinner several times at Playa. The food is pretty good, but I like the energy and the atmosphere. I especially enjoy sitting at the bar. However, 2 days ago I had (fish) tacos, and while they were quite tasty, since the middle of that night I haven't been able to be out of site of the toilet, as I got a nasty case of food poisoning. Definitely no question that it was from that meal. I understand how that kind of thing can happen, but, alas, it's going to be a long time before I'll be able to eat that food again. read more

The atmosphere and decor are the restaurants top features, Not to mention the wonderful service and the drinks were poured well, I would recommend the restaurants spicy Moscow mule. The fresh baked chips, salsa and dips were great! I enjoyed my enchiladas, I only deducted a star because I thought they came with rice and beans and they did not it was just a trio of enchiladas. Presentation of food was excellent read more

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Playa was my favorite restaurant in mill Valley. Ate there tonight and the service was good, the margs really good but the menu had changed and it was no bueno. Gone are carnitas, tacos assortment and churros. The enchiladas I had were terrible. It's so overpriced now. I don't know what happened. But I'm very sad. read more

Service: Seems a bit hit or miss based on reviews. Our server was attentive and awesome, while the hostess left us hanging for a while without greeting or saying "I'll be with you." We were confused about the situation before we were seated. Ambiance: Great outdoor area with tables distanced for COVID-19 regulations. Heaters for colder nights. Lovely Mexicana music. Food: Flavorful and delicious. Get the chips and salsa. Great tequila drinks!! Loved the Kill Bill and Bloody Fog. Dinner menu includes veggie tacos that can be veganized. "Carne asada was delicious" and plentiful sides. Presentation is lovely. They cook with lots of oil and fresh herbs. Smells as yummy as it is. Will come back to try the guacamole! read more

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I was looking for a good chicken mole enchilada dish when I found Playa and I'm so glad I found this restaurant! They create exceptional meals every time, without fail!! Note: we've only had the food delivered thus far (bi-weekly for the past months) and so I haven't yet eaten at the restaurant and so I'm unable to comment on that, but I would expect great service given the way the meals are packaged and delivered! Give it a try!! read more

We had dinner at the bar and it was such a great experience. We started with cocktails, mezcal margarita for me and house for hubby. While the guac and chips were pricey they were worth it. The chips tasted like "gourmet fritos" which is a high compliment in my book. But the star was the broccolini we had with our tacos. (We shared chicken and fish). Everything was delicious and tasted as though it was lovingly prepared for us. Already made our next reservation! read more

Playa - Cocktails & Guac - Mexican Near Me - Mill Valley, California

Great place to hang out consistently good food good cocktails friendly service nice looking interior.

The ambiance is great and lively. Heated area by the fire kept me warm all night. but the food portions are pretty small and overpriced. The Brussels sprouts blew me away though! read more

Amazing ambience at this place. Unfortunately they don't have many vegetarian options. The only 2 are vegetarian options were quesadillas and tacos. They both had exactly the same mushroom veggie mix. Wished they had some more grilled vegetables. Both of these dishes were tasty. The Brussels sprouts were oily and good. The salsas were fab too! The bloody fog was great, not much alcohol in it read more

Playa - Watermelon Fog - Mexican Near Me - Mill Valley, California

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Arrived 2 mins after the kitchen closed. Asked for chips and a beer. The chips part blew their minds. The mustered, however. Unfortunately, they forget my beer. So I sat there 25 mins waiting and eyeing. Better get rest to close. It's 9pm! Blah. read more

I'm kind of in between 3 and 4 stars for Playa. The space is lovely and it has a great outdoor-ish area. The margaritas are pretty good but the food is just ok. There is just something lacking on the food front. For MV, it is a happening place so a fun place to go. read more

Margaritas are 12.00 each, served in a tiny glass filled with ice. The actual serving of the liquid is 1/3 of the tiny glass. You are paying for ICE!!!! Enclosed is a photo of the margarita after taking 3 sips. Absolutely ridiculous. 1 Star is well deserved, if you plan on ripping people off like this. Very expensive restaurant. No chips & salsa, nothing is included. Portions are very small when ordering food. read more

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

Atmosphere is nice, service people are so kind. it takes a little time to prepare the food but it is delicious and good customer profil read more

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Amazing food! One of the best tortilla chips and guac at restaurants. Cocktails are also delicious. Service was very polite and friendly. Love the indoor, outdoor and semi outdoor setup for all kinds of weather and mood. Great place for hanging out with friends. read more

Playa was a really nice vibe. The place was outdoors and weather amazing. Their food was good, Burgos rancheros specifically. I thought the shrimp tacos were a bit too heavy on peppers. read more

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This was the first restaurant post-covid we visited. The chips are freshly fried, the salsas are great (the habanero one is very spicy), and the carnitas is a perfect dish to share. They don't currently have a working blender (frozen margaritas) right now, so don't come for that. It felt safe, and the staff was very respectful and cautious with masks. read more

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I'm wondering if this place is under new management??? We have been regulars since they opened. We got takeout at least once a week all thru the pandemic to support them. The quality of the food has dropped dramatically. The prices have gone up dramatically. The menu has changed, the thick cut homemade chips have changed and taste packaged. We are SO bummed. We used to justify the $14 for tacos because they were excellent. Now they are $18 and very mediocre. Chips and guacamole used to come with salsa, and now it's all a la carte and when you buy the $12 guacamole and chips, you have to spend $6 more dollars to get a small trio of salsas. $18 for chips, guac and salsa?!?! The chopped salad has changed and it's now terrible. There is nothing for a vegetarian to eat in a restaurant serving cuisine that should offer plenty of vegetarian options. Just sad all around. We used to buy gift certificates for friends for birthdays. We certainly won't do that unless and until the food improves. And someone will have to convince me because I won't be ordering food here anymore. Fortunately, the drinks are still good, for now. Management, if you're listening, DO SOMETHING!!! Make Playa the great restaurant it used to be instead of the tourist trap it's becoming. read more

Oh how I wish Playa was in San Francisco! Although it's not too far from the city, I still wish it was closer. Love everything about this place. From the amazing service, to the beautiful ambiance and of course the delicious food and creative cocktails. Best part: super kid friendly! I recently came here with my two year old and 3 week old! I've dined here a couple of times and each time feels like I'm on vacation. The outdoor area is incredible. Love that they have heaters and fire pits everywhere to keep you warm. The whole vibe is just awesome and super relaxing - you'll forget all about time and responsibilities in your life! The food here is delicious. Super Americanized and pricey, but what isn't in this area?! The surf and turf burrito is my husbands favorite. I love their tacos! The veggie is great and the two fish tacos are a must. Their guac and salsas are a great starter but only thing that I disliked is that the guac is a little spicy. My two year old who loves guac, couldn't have any. I was a bit disappointed that they couldn't adjust the spice level (but maybe in the future they will). The yellow salsa is the best - I added it to every bite of my food! If you're in the area, definitely come to Playa! read more

I applaud Playa for sticking it out in challenging times in the restaurant business to provide years of quality Mexican cuisine in the heart of the tony hamlet of Mill Valley, California. It is the place if you are craving traditional Mexican fare such as soft tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, sopas and ensaladas, not to mention an abundance of freshly made chips, salsa and guacamole, making this perfect place to go before you catch a movie next door at the Cinemark Sequoia Cinema or the Sweetwater Music Hall down the street. I came with a party of four early on a Sunday evening at about 5 p.m. and even with no reservations we managed to get a table for four right by their sliding doors which opened out onto their nice patio which overlooks the local creek that runs right through downtown Mill Valley in addition to the paved parking lot where customers of the restaurant can park in. This time, we loved our table because it wasn't too close to the overwhelming noise of the patio but also allowed us to stay indoors, people watch the action at the bar and still protect us from the chilly wind that crept up on us that evening. This was the third time I have been here, the first time, we shared chips and guac and a traditional margarita out the patio, the second time we got to eat inside their dining room and I ordered their Enchiladas served in a lovely de mole rojo sauce. And now here I was back with friends ready to order something new. But of course we being fans of their Guacamole & Homemade Chips, we had to make that our first priority in ordering it again. Their guacamole filled with garlic, onions, tomatoes, Serrano chiles, Epazote seeds, lime and Cilantro was one of the tastiest guacamoles that I have had in some time. The homemade chips had a nice crunch to them without being overly salty, they only made us want more, which thankfully our server was nice enough to replenish our chip bowl when we ran out, which was due to the fact that our chips and guac also came with three of their "salsa" sauces, one made of roasted tomato, which was mild, one made of tomatillo verde, which was more medium, and one with Habanero, which was spicy! For my entree, I wasn't super hungry as it was still early in the evening, but something about the Albandigas, which were their house-made meatballs served with roasted tomato, chipotle, yellow onions, garlic, cilantro, mint and five of their tastiest house-made tortillas were calling my name, so I bit and decided to go for it and I was not disappointed. Although, it was the dish was literally four meatballs in a bowl of sauce, everything tasted perfect as they were well-seasoned and piping hot with each bite. The real star of the dish were those tortillas because were so warm and fresh, I easily could have eaten a second bag of those tortillas with just guacamole or rojo mole as they were that delicious. To wash down my meal, I had to get a cocktail and instead of the requisite margarita, I ordered the Watermelon Fog made with tradicional Blanco, ancho chile, watermelon, agave, lime, and topped with sea salt-lime foam; it was a fun and exotic cocktail from a venue in which I wasn't expecting it. If you are looking for a delicious well prepared meal that won't necessarily break the bank in an area that is well-known for breaking the bank, the Playa might be the place for you. Be forewarned it gets loud and quite busy as there aren't too many options for late evening dining in this section of Mill Valley, but I cannot personally recommend Playa enough, good food and service that's strategically located in the center of suburban Mill Valley. read more

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Great ambiance, pretty presentation of the food. Arugula salad had no flavor, the shrimp I added also had very little flavor. The homemade chips were good. The guacamole was good. The fish tacos were okay. Based on this experience I would try another place next time read more

Non-Mexican, Mexican food. Aka gringo food. Not terrible, by any means. Just bland and super over priced. Nice people working in service. Ambiance is really cool. The menu is hella limited. Entrees are tacos and salads. That's it. Don't come here thinking it is a normal Mexican restaurant. It's nothing like a Mexican restaurant. read more

Playa has a fun vibe. We ate here on a quick stop in Mill Valley, on recommendation from a store employee a few doors down. I had the flautas appetizer as my meal and it was very good, and plenty of food. My dining partners both got tacos, and seemed to enjoy them. It's not a huge amount of food for the price - the tacos don't come with any sides. I got one of the seasonal non-alcoholic beverages (something cucumber lime flavored, I believe) and it was so delicious that my partner tasted it and ordered his own. It was overall a positive experience. read more

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Fun and casual spot in Mill Valley. Shared a wonderful jalapeño burger with amazing fries. I rarely eat burgers but next time will have one for myself. Guacamole was just ok - but I live in Houston so bar is very high. Will be back for sure. read more

I've been here couple of times sitting at the bar. Last time not busy two bartenders that hung out talking to each other while I sat with empty water glass and drink. Finally one asked if I wanted more water but never served it. Nice spot but disappointing they don't care about service read more

Been great every time .. just wish there were a fee more options on the menu for some variety.. lots of tacos

The one star reviews for this place crack me up...so entertaining! Please, it's a hip Mexican restaurant in Mill Valley, not your local taqueria in Union City. Overpriced? Yes, of course it is...it's a cool restaurant in Mill Valley! Loud? Yup, it's a crowded, trendy place in Mill Valley! Okay, I won't go on with my "...of course it is, it's Mill Valley!" theme. Playa is a really nice looking Mexican restaurant in the heart of Mill Valley. I found the food nicely prepared - good to look at and GREAT to eat. No, the portions are nothing close to El Rancho (my local taqueria), but neither is the atmosphere. Playa is a beautiful spot with thoughtfully prepared food. Service? It was busy on the Sunday afternoon that I visited and I found the service quite proficient. Expensive? Not especially for the location, atmosphere/vibe and quality. Look a $9 beer is spendy, but drinking a Lagunitas 'Lil Sumpin' for $9 is better than a $5 Corona at El Torito. Perspective, my friends. I'm gonna give Playa 4 stars...and yes, I'd return. "It's Mill Valley!" 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

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

Amazing service, awful food. I wanted to like it here but every time I'm disappointed. I truly love the staff, but the food is not true Mexican food. The drinks are amazing though. 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

Started with the Hamachi appetizer and it was fresh and tasty. I had the Carne Asada tacos which were really good. I also ordered a side of the beans, I could eat those everyday. Definitely will be back read more

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After reserving a table for two on yelp, we were met with confusion at the door to the point where we had to "prove" that we had reservations. It was awkward once again. Luckily for us, we had a great server named Etzael that gave us great suggestions. The Beef cheek enchiladas were my favorite and the appetizer aguachile with ahi Tuna was phenomenal. So I guess, if I can get through all the red tape of getting a seat in the future, I might get a chance to try a few more items. Great atmosphere BTW. read more

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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