The Sea Grill is one of several restaurants in the glittering Las Ventanas resort. To my understanding, it is the most casual of their dining options, however, to call it casual would still be disingenuous. The dress code is casual, but something about being on the property of Las Ventanas makes me feel like I should at least put a modicum of effort into what I wear. That and, you can rack up a substantial bill here, as was evidenced by the price of my lobster tail.
The Grill is right on the beach. It has no walls, just a small barrier, and is completely open air-as a result, you can overlook bright white sand, deep pacific blue surf, and if you're lucky, the extraordinary sunset. We were fortunate enough to be sat right at the edge with nothing but sweeping, unobstructed views of the rhythmic surf. It had comfortable seating, an open-air kitchen, and dazzling light fixtures.
Another yelper said that even if the food was horrible, you should still come here and that's true. I envision I could be served a glorified television dinner and still find some way to wax poetic about the atmosphere.
The food was right on the precipice of being the best I've ever had. That said, I really don't want to insinuate that it was anything less than excellent- because it truly was. But I still don't think I can give it the coveted "best seafood of my life" stamp of approval. What I can give it is freshness, quality, and a pure alchemy of flavors. Clearly, they're not going to be serving you anything less than amazing here. It's just the way these things work.
An overview of what we ate.
**A needless disclaimer, I'm of the belief that when at the sea...seafood it is. Seafood is amongst my favorite type of food, but unfortunately, I am very picky about how I consume it. Unless I am in a place where it's fresh never frozen- it's a no-go for me.
**A needless disclaimer pt. 2- Typically I'm not one to go over everything that we ate. But when you're dealing with pricing and the optics of a restaurant like this, it kind of feels irresponsible not to. I digress...
Complementary-
They'll bring you a selection of some of the best table bread I've ever had. Wood fired, with bright red roasted peppers baked inside. Brushed with a perfect amount of herbal seasoning, dip this bread in some oil and you've got yourself something wonderful right out of the gate.
Drinks-
Sparkling Water and (by request) a Margarita that wasn't overly sweet. Incredible cocktail, grade A tequila, in Mexico, you have to really bend over backward to find bad tequila. (unless you're frequenting tourist hot spots, with their world-renowned watered-down tequila at senor frogs.)
Starters-
Empanadas- a well balanced mix of sweet and savory. The chimichurri tied in surprisingly well.
Crab cakes- one of the only parts of the meal I wasn't all that impressed by. The crab didn't taste super fresh, and the seasoning was weak to boot. Usually, crab cakes are relatively easy to get right so I was a bit taken aback. Of all we ate, this was the only thing I was truly underwhelmed by.
Main Course-
Baja Lobster Tail with Mashed Potatoes and Crispy Leek: Oh boy, based on price alone I thought it had to be good, it just had to be. And it was. (thankfully I was a bit nervous after the crab) Best seafood of my life? No, but it was still fantastic and certifiably fresh. When you're dealing with fish that truly is the crux. If it's fresh fish, it speaks for itself, seasonings come secondary. But in my humble opinion, you can't out season a bad fish. As for the potatoes? Absolute knockout. Decadent, excellently textured, and wonderfully offset by the crispy leek. Out of this world flavorful.
Last but not least The Shrimp- Not as awe-inducing as the lobster, but delicious and juicy in its own right, nicely seared over a bed of fresh greens.
It may not have been my favorite meal of all time, but it certainly stands up there with some of the most memorable. Great food, but even greater ambiance- the Sea Grill is an opportunity to indulge the hedonistic part of you that wants everything to look, touch, feel, and taste perfect. read more