Need restaurant help in PDC

[superez]

Hi ladies,

 

I'm having a very simple dinner (accompanied by a mexican trio) after our catholic ceremony for 6 guests in Playa del Carmen and my wedding coordinator has suggested 2 spots: Maramao restaurant on the beach at the Mosquito Beach Hotel and Casa del Agua in town but not too far from the beach. If anyone is familiar with either of these restaurants, or even better had their wedding dinners here, I'd love to hear your comments! I love the idea of being on the beach at Maramao, but we like the menu better at Casa del Agua. Maramao's menu is shorter and mostly italian. Here are some links:

 

La Casa del Agua Restaurant Playa del Carmen Mexico

 

hotels.com - WE KNOW HOTELS INSIDE AND OUT.® (no menu listed here for Maramao but it is shorter than casa del agua and mainly italian).

 

Also, the Caribbean Blue Weddings website testimonials section has some pics of a wedding at Maramao...click on Carrie and Paul's 11.20.07 wedding link.

 

Any thoughts would be very welcome! Thanks ladies!

Susan

[superez]

Oops! Forgot to paste the Caribbean Blue Wedding website Playa del Carmen Caribbean Blue Weddings Home Page

 

Thanks,

Susan

[monicaswave]

Hey Susan,

 

I am also using Caribbean Blue Weddings!!! Sorry though, my reception hasn't happened yet so I don't have any of my pictures. Irene had also offered those two options (maramao and casa del agua) to us but since really wanted a dance area we stuck with Maramao. I can't say I'm extremly thrilled at the location but we are definelty hoping for the best. Mosquito beach looks very chic and modern so we really like that but a few things to consider:

 

1) The lighting on the few wedding pics I've seen from there looks too dark. Although Irene said that more lighting has been added.

2) I wanted to decorate the place with hanging lanterns and drapes and Irene said the owner doesn't allow that. I may give the owner a call myself and beg him though.

3) The open bar is sooo expensive.

4) The restaurant has red and black chairs which my WC forgot to tell me. If you are not a big fan of red and black you will have to rent chairs for an extra fee. If you don't really care, it's not a big deal.

 

Other than that, the location is really good. You can't beat being right by the beach, especially in Nov when weather should be really nice .

 

I do have a few pictures I obtained from a bride in the forum. I will contact her and ask her if she doesn't mind that I share them with you. I hope this helps!

[PaulaV]

Search for a post by Sol Tamargo about recommendations for PDC.

She is a vendor here, but is also a recent bride and wrote up a good review of places in Playa.

[superez]

Thanks Paula and Monica for your comments! Monica, it's so nice to meet someone who is also using CBW! I know, the red and black chairs at Maramao are a bit funky (Irene had sent me some pics), but since I'm having such a small party I think it'll be ok. I would love it if you could pm me the pics you have from the other forum bride, I'd really appreciate it!!! So where are you getting married?? We are getting married in the small catholic chapel in town.

Thanks again!

Susan

[monicaswave]

Susan,

 

We are getting married right on the beach at Playacar. We could have chosen to get married on the beach right infront of Maramao but we wanted something a little more secluded. We debated for a while to have a chapel wedding or a beach wedding. We will do a religious ceremony at home just the two of us and have a symbolic ceremony on the beach at Playacar. I hope this helps!

[Dijawana Diva]

Been to Playa del Carmen five years in a row, and just had my wedding there last month...

 

We had our welcome reception at MARAMAO on a Friday, where we asked them to reserve the enclosed area by the bar.

 

Here is MY experience from MARAMAO; I don't know whether this is typical of their service, but me and my fiance were very disappointed in the service; the food was good, tho!

 

My planner forwarded me their menu and prices right before Christmas; they quoted me 26USD/pp for 2 hours open bar plus 20USD/pp for 2 hours of passed appetizers (7-8 appetizers).

 

After Christmas, I was given another quote of 40USD/pp person and $30USD/pp for same things... After making a stink, they offered to honor the same pricing, however, instead of a FULL bar, they would not offer beer and wine, and instead of 7 apppetizers, it went down to 5.

 

When we met with the Manager a few days before the event, we told him that we were bringing in our IPOD for music, and he assured us that all was well. We also made it clear that any guests ordering anything off the open bar menu will be okay, and that we were willing to pay for that once the evening is done.

 

So... let's fast forward to the Welcome Reception.

 

We bring our IPOD - and he says that they don't have the right connection... Hey, we're easy- - - just put on some music!

 

They claim to not have much music (yea, right!) so we asked them to play ANYTHING while the planner ran out and got some CDs from her car.

 

Appetizers come out; instead of passing it out, they lay it on each table and let people help themselves... NO PROBLEM

 

When people started asking for drinks, every server actually tried collecting money from our guests! We told them again - RUN A TAB! This went on for about the first hour where we explained (in english and spanish), again and again that anything not covered by open bar should be placed on our tab. To top it all off, the well drinks were weak as hell!

 

When the planner arrives with CDs and attempt to play it, nothing came out. The manager comes out, the bartender tries to help - - NOTHING! So we resorted to doing an impromptu speech while they were trying to troubleshoot.. Well, apparently, the volume was put on MUTE - that is why the damn thing wasn't playing (smart folks they have there!)

 

All in all, although the food was good, but the staff needs to get trained a bit more with their systems and customer care...

[superez]

Thank you so much DDiva for your Maramao review! I'm so sorry the staff issue created unnecessary drama for you at your welcome reception! They really do need to get their act together! But I'm glad the food was good and I'm sure your guests had a great time. I hope that you two enjoyed yourselves too! Where did you get married and have your reception? Congratulations to you two newlyweds!

Susan

[superez]

Hi Monica, Thanks very much for your help! I can't wait to hear about your beach wedding! We were thinking of doing that, then once we saw the chapel we couldn't resist.

Have a great evening!

Susan

[kelowna sara]

Hi - we're having the wedding reception at Maramao after a beach wedding in September. Here's what I came up with to deal with the red and black chairs. I requested all black chairs be placed at our tables and I am bringing chair bows to bring it all together with the napkins, runners and centerpieces I'm also bringing. Will also have back up music from the beach wedding if sound system doesn't work or something. The privacy issue has me wondering though.......when we do speeches, dancing and things, how close are the other customers? Any other info on Maramao