Went to Puntamar in Encinitas last night and wow... SO good! The restaurant has the cutest vibe--beautifully decorated and it honestly felt like a little vacation getaway. Staff was all very friendly and the food and drinks did not disappoint either. The Birria pizza and steak tacos were unreal (that cheesy crisp on top was everything ). We also shared the ceviche, Caesar salad, and shrimp--every bite was delicious. Honestly, the whole menu sounded amazing and I already can't wait to go back and try more of their food! read more

I hate writing bad reviews, but I also hate bad service. I was so excited to eat at Punta Mar because it looked super cute and the food looked good! Unfortunately, the service was not on par with the restaurant. It started when we first got seated around 7:05pm. A server didn't come help us until what felt like 10 minutes. Someone finally came over and took our order. We were sitting in front of the DJ and speaker area and they had turned up the music. My husband and I were dining with our 1.5 year old son so I had asked to move because it was loud for him. Thankfully they were able to move us to the patio area. Because I moved, I told our server to let the other sever know, but I don't think it was communicated because we didn't get our food until around 8:05pm. We waited and waited and saw other people around us get their order. I had asked our server multiple times and had I not said anything..we prob would have waited even longer. Our server did apologize and told us what happened, but nothing was offered for making us wait an hour for the food. I also saw the two guys who I think are the owners walking by checking on the girls tables next to us, but didn't check on us or apologize for what happened. For the food, we ordered the tuna tataki tostadas, black rose aguachile (recommended by our original server), quesabirria tacos, and cheese quesadilla & guac for our son. The tuna tataki was really good. The quesabirria tacos were good, but kinda chewy. My least favorite was the black rose aguachile. The server recommended the black rose over the verde, but I was not a fan. The sauce kinda reminded me of soy sauce. I think I would have liked it if it was the verde. When we finished eating, I had to ask a lady who was dropping off the drinks for another table for the check because our server was no where to be found. She wasn't very friendly and just seemed really busy. It seemed like they understaffed because everyone was doing everything and our server was all over the place. Service was definitely a 1/5. Hope they fix their service because I would go back for the food and drinks if it was better! read more

A Taste of Mexico in Encinitas! We had an amazing dinner at Puntamar this past Sunday with the family, and the experience made us feel like we were on vacation in Puerto Vallarta or at a beautiful beach resort in Mexico. The decor is absolutely spot on and sets the perfect vibe for a relaxed, and great dining experience. The food was phenomenal from start to finish. We kicked things off with the guacamole--so fresh and exquisite--and also tried the tuna tataki tostada, which had a fantastic combination of flavors. The tuna was perfectly balanced and simply superb. The tlacoyos were another hit, so flavorful and delicious. For our entrées, we went with the birria pizza (super tasty!) and the Branzino zarandeado, both of which were excellent. To top it off, we sampled their micheladas and cocktails, which were just as impressive as the food. Overall, it was a wonderful experience with top-notch food, drinks, and atmosphere. Highly recommend Puntamar, and we'll definitely be back! read more

Todo lo que probamos estaba delicioso , perfectly seasoned! We tried the trio tacos and all three were delicious. Tortilla soup had a nice generous portion of broth and bright lime flavor. Friendly staff! read more

Puntamar - Tortilla soup with chicken! - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

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So I was intrigued by the name of this new Encinitas restaurant, Punta Mar Mexican Seafood. It's located in a very nice plaza next to Leucadia Pizza by the defunct Piña. The seating is very nice and and is mainly a covered patio. It is a nice space with plenty of seating but limited on shade. The service staff was extremely friendly and the owner introduced himself. He let us know that he was from Mexico City and they strived for authentic Mexican cuisine. Our dishes were a hit and miss. I was disappointed with the lack of seafood/marisco offerings. They started every table with tostadas (which is traditional for MXDF) and a trio of salsas. The tostadas were great but the salsas had no heat. Every table around us was asking for hot sauce. My wife had the Machupichu Ceviche and it was excellent and a large portion. My daughter had the Quesabirria Tacos which had a great flavor but had a very sticky consistency and could be spicier. I had the taco trio. The steak taco was excellent but the shrimp and fish tacos were over powered by the breading and sadly bland. We might give them another try but overall I was disappointed. read more

So good! All of the drinks were amazing. Tuna tostadas were great. Service took a bit longer for the tacos but they were fresh and delicious. Best guacamole in all of San Diego. Will be back read more

Food here is excellent with a very welcoming staff. The vibes feel like you have been transported to Baja and the food is to match. Amazing seafood and birria that is authentic mexican food. One of the best new additions to enci read more

Horrible service/ nonexistent service. Not sure if it was because we were a party of 6+ so tips were guaranteed, or they're super short staffed, but our waiter NEVER checked up on us the whole 1.5 hours that we were there. After getting seated by the host, we were ignored for 10-15 minutes. Then a guy came by with some free chips. Great! Kindly asked him to get our waitress because we were ready to order. Another 10 minutes go by with no one paying any attention to us. Raised my hand and locked eyes with her, she notioned 1 minute. Cool! Another 5 minutes go by, and the guy comes back with water glasses. Finally!!!!! Water!!! Told him we still haven't met our waiter yet and the kids are super hungry. He said sorry, and after about 5+ minutes, our waiter, with the medium length black hair, finally comes to get our order. She didn't introduce herself, was super casual about the whole thing. Didn't even apologize that she did not come back to us after using the "1 minute" hand gesture with us. Whatever, at least we got our orders in. Then, the waiting game started. Food came out extremely slow. Guess downtown is so busy + tips is guaranteed for big parties, so who cares about retaining customers. read more

Enjoyable food and really lovely service. The decor and vibe are beachy and cool. We wandered in with our 2 kids around 3 pm. This seems like more of a restaurant geared towards adults. Still, the restaurant owner and wait staff were so kind and humored my kids. During this in between time after lunch and before dinner, there were only a few patrons and we had the outdoor patio to ourselves. The churros served on a mini cart decorated with sparklers were a huge hit with kids and adults alike. The ceviche and guacamole were bright and fresh. The drinks sounded amazing...maybe next time without the kids! read more

10/10 the fish ceviche was the best I've had very authentic!!! The quesabirria was delicious as well :)

We had a great dinner at Puntamar. We had the galacian octopus, shrimp skillet, tuna tataki tostadas, and ceviche. Everything was so fresh and tasty. Our favorite by far was the shrimp skillet. The place had a lively vibe, but it didnt feel crowded and loud. The mariachi singer that showed up was a great addition. read more

We love the food and service at Punta Mar. But, we can't enjoy the meal, because we can't talk to each other without yelling above the music. There isn't a quiet table anywhere, including the patio. This seems to be a trend at many restaurants now days. It's really too bad, because we "older couples" have money to spend on good food, however we like to communicate and share ideas without competing with blaring music. Next time, we'll pick up our food and take it home. read more

Puntamar is such a refreshing addition to the area. The atmosphere is classy, casual, and well thought out. Food- fresh and delicious. The mole was phenomenal (for those who love sweet mole), charred octopus cooked perfectly, and the taco trio and queso birra were the favorites. Service- knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. Definitely coming back soon! read more

The food was delicious! Service was fantastic, they went out of their way to make sure everything was great! we loved it and will definitely be coming back!! Highly recommend it! read more

We tried this place out for Lunch. I have to say the food is really good. Every dish we ordered was so tasty and they have a menu of micheladas (beer) that is also amazing. The service was on point, we even met Alejandro who is one of the owners and he was extremely nice and made sure we were taken care of properly. The ambiance is very comfortable as you can sit infoors or outdoors on the patio. We actually liked it so much that we decided to go again with the kids. I definitely recommend you give this place a try!! Well done Puntamar!! read more

Great skinny margs! Food was authentic and fresh. Fun place they were pumping solid tunes. Owner was great and told us his story and we always appreciate it. We will be back! read more

Amazing food, service, killer ceviche, and lively ambience- loved our date night at Puntamar!

I cannot say enough about this awesome local Encinitas spot! My fiancé and I have been there for a casual dinner and also hosted a larger group for our surprise engagement party. The service is impeccable, food is delicious, and the owner couldn't be more kind and personable. We will absolutely be making a regular appearance here! read more

Went there for a date night with friends. Ambiance felt like we were in Baja California and not in Encinitas. Great Food and Drinks! Abirria Pizza was unbelievable! Will definitely come back. read more

Food was amazing! I am born and raised Mexican, and this has been by far the best place I tried in San Diego. Service was exceptional - owner didn't have chocolate milk for the little one but he made some on the spot! music set the ambiance and they even have salsa dance classes in Thursday's! Owner is working the tables and making sure everyone is well taken care. read more

Discovered this gem on a Sunday afternoon. Its location and set up is unique and transports you to Mexico with its decor and ambiance. The staff/owner were friendly and shared their knowledge and recommendations. We thoroughly enjoyed our tuna and black bean starter unlike anything I'd ever eaten the Mahi mahi ceviche had great spice level and the smoky skillet giant shrimp needed nothing further. 30 mins later we are still enjoying the flavors. read more

Wanted to check out a restaurant after the beach and found this lovely gem. Great staff, great service and overall great experiences! We were lucky to have Eileen as our server and bartender, she was phenomenal. We were in the mood for some delicious seafood and landed on some amazing aguachile, would definitely come back soon. read more

Great food and drinks! Server was attentive and helpful with recommendations. Ambiance has a casual vibe that looks like you could walk in from the beach (which is just across the street). The open air building makes one feel like they're south of the border. The music was fun, but a little loud if you're trying to have a conversation. We asked them to turn it down a bit and they accommodated. I understand the music creates a lively atmosphere (which we enjoyed) that can draw a crowd. Maybe crank it up louder toward the street to attract attention? The ceviche and micheladas were amazing! Instead of ordering entrees, we ordered almost all of the appetizers and shared them amongst 4 people. What a wonderful way to sample the menu! The bday churros were a fun way to cap the meal. 3 different dipping sauces accompanied them. Yum! We've been telling everyone we know and are looking forward to coming back soon! Thanks Puntamar! read more

Puntamar - Watermelon michelada. Yes, those are gummy rings on top! - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Puntamar has the BEST and most authentic Mexican food in encinitas. Their guac was sensational and only $8.50 for a whole serving! This restaurant will give you the perfect staycation vibes. Finally the churro tower is amazing. Cannot recommend this place enough!! read more

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This place was amazing! The food was outstanding. There were 9 of us in our group and everything we ordered was really good. The ambience and service were good too! We will definitely be back. read more

Had a great dinner with Alex as our server. Food was delicious and unique. Atmosphere is nice too! We'll definitely come back, as long as there's enough parking read more

I don't know if my body was dancing because of the food or music. The food was amazing and the atmosphere was such a vibe. I tried the tostado, sopas, pizza birria, ceviche, and the trio tacos. Chef's kiss....real Mexico City food! read more

Food, drinks and service were fantastic. We had a late lunch on a weekday so not crowded, but I do hope they get a good crowd most days and do well. More people need to try this spot and support our local, unique establishments...it's a great space with really pretty decor and the bar/dining room design is perfect for big groups. read more

Delicious mainland Mexico flavors!! Puntamar is our new favorite addition to Encinitas for ceviche, cocktails and so much more! Think breezy beach club with amazing food! These owners own 32 restaurants in Mexico and this is their first outpost in the states. They might be new to Encinitas but they know good food! Don't hesitate b/c it's new! read more

Puntamar has become one of our favorites in the area. Alejandro is a warm and attentive owner and beautifully shares his love for the food he presents. Standouts include the tuna tataki tostadas, the Machu Picchu ceviche, the birria pizza, and the octopus. I always look forward to going back and trying something new or seeing the faces of the new folks we've brought with us to dine. I always feel transported to someplace magical when we dine here. Love, love, love this place. read more

Puntamar is a fantastic addition to our beach community. Great food and experience. Shout out to Ashley bartender extraordinaire who keeps the energy, flow and vibe going while making amazing cocktails and Michiladas! Fantastic atmosphere. The place is full and everyone is enjoying themselves We need merch! The logo is too awesome not to represent around town and beyond. Hats, tanks, tshirts, sweatshirts for "winter".... Let's go! read more

Took two hours to have lunch...inattentive service at best. Food was good, but not great - two fish taco plates and a guac app, nothing else - $60 with 15% tip. read more

Amazing service and food! My uncle threw out his back while in the restaurant and they brought us ice asap and free churros! We love punta mar! Great local spot!! read more

Fantastic new place. Great food and ambience with great staff. We are excited to come back.

Zaul, zaul, zaul.... The best server ever. Super attentive, good recommendations and fantastic service. It's so hard to find good service now a days and this guy is perfection. Food was delicious as well! Ceviche and aguachile that he recommended was amazing! 5 stars!! 10 outta 10 service and food! Sending all my friends and family here and too zaul ! Also brought us so many tostadas it was amazing read more

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Amazing and original upscale Mexican food, great drinks and ambiance, love this place. Enjoy read more

I just visited Puntamar for the first time today and I would say this place is great!!! The fish tacos were delicious and drinks were great too!! I will definitely be coming back :) read more

Good atmosphere,owner came over and welcomed us to his restaurant. Good food and excellent customer service,will definitely be coming back read more

Worth going back!! This place was such a great vibe with amazing food. They opened up quite recently within the last week and everything was excellent. Service was great, everyone was so friendly and helpful, I will say Roy was the most helpful and so kind. Prices were reasonable especially for portion sizes. Just a note to possibly expect when going, we ordered an appetizer and it came out with our main dishes. The food did take a little while to come out, but totally worth the wait. read more

Puntamar is a treat! I was driving by with some friends and the cool space and music caught our attention so we decided to walk in. We were welcomed by a cool staff and ordered some delicious spicy margaritas. The food was spectacular, I would recommend the fish tacos and the aguachile! Definitely going back. read more