restaurant review: hacienda cocina y cantina in cabo san lucas, mexico

The Hacienda entrance.

On a recent trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, one of the pleasant surprises Mr. Sazy Rock, a couple of friends and I truly enjoyed was a meal at Hacienda Cocina y Cantina. See, Hacienda is located inside a time share resort and has a nice view. Usually, that means terrible food. But, not at Hacienda.


The Scene

During our meal, many non-guests of the resort dined at Hacienda, including my group. Many were tourists, while a few looked like local families having a celebratory dinner. Diners were dressed smart casual, i.e., no beach wear.

The view from my seat.

The view was magnificent! I definitely enjoyed looking at rock formations, the ocean and the stars while dining al fresco.


The Food

• Pulpo Cantina - The octopus was perfectly meaty.

Pulpo.

• Calamares Frito (fried calamari) - The calamari's hint of spiciness and sweetness made for a very flavorful dish. It was also lightly battered and lightly fried. I could have ordered this dish again but I got too full from the rest of the food we ate.

Calamares Frito.

• Aguate con Camarones y palmillo (crudo of shrimp and heart of palm) - The shrimp was fresh and tangy.

Shrimp Ceviche.

• Chile Relleno (stuffed chile) - The fresh chile was not drenched in batter and had a nice snap when I bit into it. The cheese stuffed inside the chile provided that soft and salty bit of heaven.

Chile Relleno.

• Filete de Res (beef steak) - Great quality skirt steak, which had a bit of chew to it. The thyme flavor was subtle.

Filete de Res.

• Enchiladas de Langosta - The langoustine and shrimp were fresh, and the sauce had a rich smoky flavor.

Enchilada.

The Service

All the staff were friendly and efficient. For those who lack Spanish language skills (like me), their staff communicated in English well. Their sommelier also helpfully suggested an interesting wine made from Baja California that had a caramel smell and vanilla taste, and went well with the food.

Wine from Ensenada, Mexico.

The Price

I saw plenty of cheap places to eat in Cabo. Hacienda was not one of them. But, for higher end dining, I found it well worth the price. For four people, the bill, which included a couple bottles of wine and taxes, came up to approximately 4,000 pesos (excluding tip).

The Verdict

I enjoyed our meal at Hacienda. If back in town, and want a bit more fine dining, I would definitely go back.

Our friends made dinner reservations via our hotel's concierge. If you wish, you may book a table via OpenTable or contact them at (415) 259-4170 via their US number, or at (624) 163-3144 via their local number.


Have you dined at Hacienda? What did you think?