You can’t have too much of a good thing, and the newest Italian restaurant in Los Cabos quickly proved itself to be a worthy addition to a lineup that already included several stellar options. Starters like the carpaccio di pesce (fish carpaccio) are perfectly prepared, blending locally sourced ingredients with traditional Italian recipes. Entrée highlights include the limon piccata scalopini, fettucini amatriciana (ask for a little extra heat), and the decadent rigatoni carbonara. You won’t go wrong with any of the pizzas made in Raffaele’s mesquite oven: The adventurous can request the eponymous pie, made with potato and Italian sausage. Top your meal off with a cappuccino or selection from the extensive wine list and a slice of tiramisu. Camino Viejo a San José at the corner of Paseo de la Marina, Cabo San Lucas, (624) 143-3898, www.italianrestaurantcabo.com. Mon.–Sat.3p.m.–11p.m,Sun. 2p.m.–10p.m. Major credit cards and vouchers accepted. $–$$$ A.A.
Chef Matias Forte is a bit of a superstar in Los Cabos, and he has built his following one bite at a time. The authentic Italian, ingredient-driven menu at Romeo & Julieta is the perfect complement to a setting that is utterly romantic. Enjoy a candlelit dinner of rich carbonara—or any of the 16 pasta options—garlicky mussels in white wine sauce, and gelato. You’ll feel absolutely transported, especially when you pair your meal with a selection from the extensive wine list. Boulevard Marina and Camino del Cerro, CaboSan Lucas, (624) 143-0225, www.restaurantromeoyjulieta.com. Sun. 2 p.m.–midnight, Mon.–Sat. 4 p.m.–midnight. MasterCard, Visa, and vouchers accepted. $$–$$$$ A.A.
Brian Solomon is a people pleaser—in the best way imaginable. The menu at his popular Cabo San Lucas Marina mainstay is one of the largest, most diverse I’ve ever seen, and you’re guaranteed to find something—or several somethings—you’d like to order. More impressive, though, is the kitchen’s ability to hit the mark on such a wide variety of cuisines. Stop by in the early morning for a hearty, traditional Mexican breakfast of green chilaquiles with chicken and fresh squeezed orange juice. Aching for the comforts of home? You can’t go wrong with the French toast. Lunch and dinner options include a 12-ounce filet mignon, 20-ounce certified Angus rib eye steak, and the spicy Northern Italian Trio Pasta with shrimp, sausage, and chicken. And we have not even mentioned the separate, five-page sushi menu; it includes options for everyone from sushi initiates to connoisseurs. Pair scallop carpaccio, a chef specialty, with a mango mojito (a nice twist on the classic). Or go with the soft-shell crab Spider Roll or Seafood Roll, which is made with the catch of the day, spicy tuna, shrimp, crab, and octopus served on a bed of spicy orange and sesame sauce. There are weekly musical performances as well as a monthly wine pairing. Boulevard Marina, Cabo San Lucas, (624) 143-7606, www.solomons landingcabo.com. Daily 7 a.m.–11 p.m. Discover, MasterCard, Visa, and vouchers accepted. $–$$$ A.A.
It’s been called the most romantic spot in all of Los Cabos, and the young-and-in-love flock to the multitiered terrace restaurant to dine on exquisite Italian and look out at the iconic sunset over Land’s End. But it takes a small army to man the kitchen at Sunset da Mona Lisa, one of the most talked-about Italian restaurants on the Baja Peninsula. Three culinary experts oversee a team of 15 chefs. (Turn to “The Triple Threat,” page 95, to learn more.) The menu here was crafted to cater to all types of dietary restrictions (including gluten sensitivities), and there’s something for everyone. We began our dinner with an appetizer of thick-cut, carpaccio-style tuna that popped with notes of soy and citrus. We continued with house-made gnocchi filled with crab in a white truffle cream and beef tenderloin and vegetables cooked right at the table, on a sizzling volcanic rock. As we ate, we drank from a wonderful malbec. Come dessert time, we switched course: pairing Oaxacan hot chocolates with panna cotta. Valet parking. Km 6 on the Tourist Corridor, Cabo San Lucas, (624) 145-8160, www.sunsetmonalisa.com. Nightly 5 p.m.–10 p.m. MasterCard, Visa, and vouchers accepted. $$–$$$$ A.A.
The sister restaurant to Sunset da Mona Lisa provides patrons the same signature sunset view in a more casual environ. The pizza and wine bar features more than 180 labels of wine from Italy, South America, Europe, and México. Tapas at the bar are free from 4 to 6 p.m., but you can also opt for one of the tasting menus; either is generous enough to share, accompanied with appropriate wines. The Deluxe Tasting includes a salad or the fritto misto, a meat and cheese platter, a trio of wood-fired gourmet pizzas, a platter of thinly sliced steak that you cook yourself on a heated lava rock, ending with a choice of dessert that might be tiramisu, crème brûlée, fruit plate, or a sweet pizza made with bananas, coconut, nuts, and a chocolate sauce. The specialty is gourmet pizza, but many Sunset da Mona Lisa items may be ordered. Km 6 on the Tourist Corridor, Cabo San Lucas, (624) 145-8160, www.sunsetmonalisa.com. Nightly 5 p.m.–10 p.m. MasterCard, Visa, and vouchers accepted. $–$$$ S.B.
Tiered patios frame a large swimming pool, allowing for Villa Serena’s casual, palapa-shaded seaside atmosphere, excellent seafood and Mexican cuisine, and gorgeous unobstructed views of the Sea of Cortés. The scene is so tropically beautiful—with palm trees waving in the breeze below and sailboats cruising offshore—that every drink should come with a tiny umbrella. Lobster tail is the specialty of the house, but freshly caught treasures abound; options include salty appetizers such as shrimp cocktail, oysters Rockefeller, and clam chowder, as well as entrées like seafood enchiladas and whole red snapper served with rice, beans, and steamed vegetables. Surf and turf fans will enjoy the Villa Serena special, which is loaded with shrimp, lobster, and lamb chops, while turf-only fans may want to opt for a selection from the premium lineup of hand-trimmed steaks. It’s hard to go wrong with anything on the dinner menu, which also has superb seafood salads and a shrimp-and-spinach-stuffed chicken breast. Just make sure you leave room for dessert. Villa Serena boasts several decadent meal cappers, including a delicious double chocolate cake. Km 7.5 on the Tourist Corridor, Cabo San Lucas, (624) 145-8244, www.villaserena restaurant.com. Daily 7 a.m.–10 p.m. AmEx, MasterCard, Visa, and vouchers accepted. $–$$ C.S.
