7 Seas
One of the premier places in Los Cabos to enjoy the beach, tranquility and, of course, great seafood is the 7 Seas Restaurant at the boutique Cabo Surf Hotel. Entrées and appetizers roam the seven seas here with dishes such as the Won Ton Shrimp––a large Chinese dumpling filled with shrimp, Ajillo Octopus––sautéed in olive oil and guajillo chili, and Kiwi Mussels––sautéed with white wine, garlic and parsley. Enjoy the unbeatable Torito Pepper’s Festival––Caribe peppers stuffed with shrimp, smoked fish, cheese and ginger sauce. The Bouillabaisse soup is rich and thick with seafood. The Spinach Salad, lightly tossed in balsamic vinegar and oil dressing with walnuts, bacon and mushrooms, is as extraordinary as the pink sunset reflected off the sea. During my visit, I ordered Scallop Potato Crusted Sea Bass that was tender and nicely decorated with a layer of scalloped potatoes––as convincingly as though real fish scales. The Tamarindo Shrimp came with a side of couscous, decorated with asparagus stalks. Sautéed shrimps in sweet and sour tamarindo sauce completed this romantic moonlight dinner by the sea. Entrées range from $17 to $45 U.S. There’s a full bar, with Mexican, Spanish, California and vintage French wines. Desserts include decadences ranging from flan to key lime pie. Indulge in their Profiteroles––puff pastries stuffed with ice cream and topped with chocolate sauce. Acapulquito Beach, Km. 28 Transp. Hwy., San José del Cabo. Offering seating capacity for 60 and groups up to 150, 7 Seas is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. For reservations call (624) 142-2666.––D.M.
Arts & Sushi Japanese Restaurant
Find this hidden treasure and you’ll return many times to savor the authentic Japanese cuisine in a casual and arty atmosphere. It’s small, but very big on taste. If you really want a treat, ask the waiters to start bringing their suggestions to you until you tell them to stop. It’s an event, not a meal that will awaken your taste buds. Perhaps they’ll start you with the delicious yellow chili peppers stuffed with shrimp and crab and deep-fried. Maybe the next dish will be paper-thin scallops, with spicy jalapeño rings, followed by mackerel and avocado in a green cilantro sauce. If you’re lucky, the next dish might be fresh marlin sashimi currican in yuzu, a sour Japanese citrus fruit, which is used almost exclusively for its aromatic rind. If you still have room, the No Name Roll filled with scallops, shrimp and avocado is a favorite, as is the octopus with ponzu sauce made with lemon juice, served with green onions and Serrano peppers. For curry lovers, the fish in a divine creamy sesame-curry sauce is top notch. For another dining experience, invite friends to enjoy the Teppanyaki table al fresco. Seating for 36 inside and 26 on the terrace. Hot, cold and unfiltered sakes are available, along with Japanese beer and an assortment of wine. Entrées from $15 to $18 U.S., spring rolls $6 to $15 U.S. and sashimi $13 to $18 U.S. Located at Plaza Bonita. Open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. For reservations, call (624) 144-4554.––S.B.
Baja Cantina Beach Grill
A relatively new dining destination on the beach, but a bit tonier than other beach clubs, is Baja Cantina Beach Grill. If you’re hungry for seafood, and looking for a place to impress your date, your spouse or out-of-town guests, especially on a night when the moon is full, stroll down to Médano Beach to Baja Cantina Beach Grill. Dine on the terrace or barefoot in the sand, and listen to top-notch live jazz as the sun goes down. The dinner menu buzzes with items like to-die-for cream of pistachio soup. The stuffed chili with crab is a great starter, followed by anything prepared on the mesquite grill, such as whole huachinango (red snapper) prepared with a soy-based sauce and grilled veggies. Dinner entrées are priced $16–$45 U.S., the seafood delight for two will run you $65 U.S., and the shrimp festival $40 U.S. The stuffed shrimp comes with crispy sweet potatoes and ginger mango sauce, while the catch of the day can be prepared six different ways. Mesquite-grilled meats include New York steak, rib eye, filet, chicken or gourmet burgers. Lunch is lighter with a nice selection of sushi, and breakfast at the Beach Grill is a nice way to start the day. Serving breakfast from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and dinner from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Live music nightly from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. On Médano Beach in front of Cabo Villas Beach Club. Call (624) 143-9773 for reservations.––S.B.
Calima Restaurant
Calima Restaurant, located in the Playa Grande Resort on the picturesque Land’s End, is a palapa-covered open-air restaurant/bar offering casual breakfast, lunch and early dinner. Calima is right beside the terraced pool area inside and catches some great cooling breezes from the Pacific from about noon on. Featuring a small bar area with a sushi bar, Calima offers a happy hour starting at 3:30 p.m. The menu is perfect poolside repast featuring many fresh seafood options. Appetizers include Shrimp Cocktail, Nachos with Beef or a Caesar Salad for two. For lunch try the classic Hamburger, Veggie Burger made from a portabello mushroom, the Beef and Shrimp Kabob, Carne Asada Tacos, Battered Shrimp Tacos or Quesadillas with Shrimp. If you are feeling like sushi for lunch, Calima has assorted sushi, sashimi, temaki, unomaki and tempuras made fresh and tasty. For an early dinner “The Grill” menu offers many and varied surf and turf combos for around $25 U.S. Calima is a great place to bring the family, where kids can have any of their favorites such as hot dogs, macaroni and cheese or a milkshake. Appetizers range from $7 U.S. with lunch entrées from $10 to $15 U.S. Calima is open daily from10 a.m. to 8 p.m. offering seating for 100. For reservations, call (624) 143-7575 ext. 3306.––B.F.
Capitan Fish
These days, every serious chef is on a hunt for great local ingredients. In Cabo San Lucas, the quest is for the freshest local seafood. Chef Juvencio García, of Capitan Fish Seafood Restaurant, has mastered the skill. Located on the second level of Plaza Puerto Paraíso, Capitan Fish boasts stunning views of the marina from its open-air terrace, while the ocean theme reigns in the spacious interior. Owner, Luis Rionda, has created much of the artwork transforming this casual establishment into an ocean art gallery. As patrons enjoy their delicious fare, they are accompanied by nine custom-made live-size sharks and flocks of seagulls. The menu is extensive, offering a variety of seafood specialties from cocktails and lobster tacos, through soups and salads, to catch of the day, and surf and turf combos. Try the rare Mako Shark Fillet, or the tender Shrimp Capitan Fish, stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon. For hearty appetites, the Parrillada is the ultimate grilled seafood combo, sporting lobster, whole red snapper, octopus, shrimp and crab. This extraordinary entrée serves three. Entrées at Capitan Fish range from $14 to $23 U.S., combos are priced $18 to $39 U.S., and lobster dishes for up to $55 U.S. Open daily, from 12 noon until 10:30 p.m., Capitan Fish is a family-oriented restaurant with a play area and a special menu for the little ones. With seating capacity for 92 in the air-conditioned interior, and 60 on the terrace, Capitan Fish is one of the best spots for fresh seafood in Cabo. For reservations, call (624) 144 4966.––A.U.
Casa Rafael’s
Sometimes the best restaurants are hidden in the least likely places. Casa Rafael’s may take a little searching, but is well worth the hunt. Once there, you will wonder how you missed it with its bold colors and eclectic façade. Two dining areas allow a choice of either The Ocean Room, where you get the feel of being inside an aquarium, or on the enclosed patio, dining poolside under the stars. Casa Rafael’s offers high-end fare with some nice surprises. Their nightly or seasonal specials, such as a six-course gourmet dinner, include a glass of wine or champagne for $24 U.S. If on the menu, try the outstanding seafood lasagna that includes a Caesar salad, or the whole red snapper. For appetizers, do not pass up the fresh seafood bisque chock full of succulent shellfish. For an entrée, choose among Cornish game hen with champagne sauce, chicken cordon bleu, duck with raspberry chipotle sauce, seafood stuffed chile relleno, seafood combinations, and pasta dishes. Save room to satisfy your sweet tooth from the dessert tray. Entrées from $16 U.S. for Bolognese pasta to the signature dish of medallions of lobster in an oriental black bean sauce and filet mignon with French morel mushrooms for $49 U.S. Open for dinner from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The piano bar welcomes diners, either before or after dinner, to listen to an accomplished pianist, and a cigar room is available for that indulgence. Located between Hacienda Cabo San Lucas and Marina Sol Condos in CSL. For reservations call (624) 143-0739.––S.B.
The Crazy Lobster and The Sleepless Lobster
Enjoy a succulent lobster and tender steak, without the pomp and frill of a fancy dinner house, at The Crazy Lobster and The Sleepless Lobster restaurants. You can get a fat lobster tail here for ten bucks––cheaper than you could catch one for. My classic chicken fajitas dish with bell peppers and onions was tantalizing and the margaritas were potent. Tequila shots are 7 pesos and the happy hour, with two-for-one domestic drinks, runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Enjoy buckets of clams, lobster, scallops, ribs, chicken, steak, and more––all cooked to perfection. Mexican combos abound. At the Sleepless Lobster, waiters dance, spicy jokes are painted on the walls, a pool table lurks in a side room and karaoke has been known to occur. A delicious flan is the house dessert. But, make sure to ask for it, as the waiter won’t tell you, according to the reminder on the menu. Mariachis decked out in colorful costumes play favorite Mexican ballads on request. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Seating available for up to 70 with dinner entrées ranging from $7 to $18 U.S. You’ll find the Crazy Lobster on Hildalgo in Cabo San Lucas, half a block up from the Tesoro Los Cabos Resort on the marina, and the Sleepless Lobster on Zaragoza behind El Squid Roe. For reservations call (624) 143-6535 for The Crazy Lobster and (624) 143-1021 for The Sleepless Lobster.––D.M.
