Casa Banana

DO NOT GO HERE. THE EXCHANGE RATE IS A RIPOFF AND THEY HAVE HORRIBLE SERVICE. Ate here our last night on Tulum and they almost ruined what was an amazing vacation. Server didn’t smile and never came over to check on us and the hostess greeted us at the door with not a smile but with we only take cash and the exchange rate is 14.5. How rude. She didn’t even say goodbye have a nice night when we walked right past her. At that point I had it and told her this was the worse dining experience we have had in the week we were here. They don’t have that Tulum spirit at all. It was like eating at a Los Angeles restaurant. Very obnoxious. Yes the food was great but there is so much good food in Tulum with way better service. I can’t recommend going here.

Food was good, service not so much.
Our waitor disappeared after taking the order
No cc accepted, I recommend the Skirt steak and ceviche. Too many mosquitos, they should add more «leg fans»

Amazing everything. Home made smoked Chorizo; simple but delicious rucula salad; roasted lechon (pork) and amazing mango cheesecake. Ah! Almost forgot, a good priced-​quality wine selection. The only but: they didnt have Aconte Rum (Mexican Craft Rum).

Excellent food — we tried the Argentine skirt steak and Patagonian inspired lamb risotto– both delicious and a lot of food for two people. Nice atmosphere– jungle side so bring bug spray. Cash only and expensive. 3 stars b/​c our waiter at Casa Banana didn’t seem to care much for us.

Food is better than average… Now, the one gripe that I have is their exchange rate policy… They don’t take credit cards so you need to take cash. On top taking cash, make sure to exchange pesos Mexicanos or get your ATM to do the work. Even with the commission and fee that your home bank and local ATM may charge you probably get more money from it.
The exchange rate was 19 yesterday and they were giving you 14.5 for your dollar. Thats about 22 23% markdown, I think (didnt do the math). The food came about to $ 218.00 US Dollars, and had they taken credit card or give us 18.5 pesos (which I got at the Camaleon Golf course) for your US dollar our meal would have cost us like $ 180 or less.
Is a relatively high end Restaurant in this area, and I didn’t expect them to be so cheap. Earn your money not take from unsuspecting tourists who, like me, would be uninformed about this suspect practice.
One more thing, wherever I go, there is no many thing that I detest than a server trying to bump up his tip by offering more food (as we usually base our tip based on the total tab). Among four of us we ordered two appetizers and a salad to share and ordered our four main courses. My daughter was ordering a whole fish and my son was asking whether is big enough to share, and the waiter response was, «is very small, too small to share.» Certainly not enough had my son not eaten something or had we not had ordered three appetizers, but my daughter could only manage one third of it and most of it was left over. I guess I should have bump down his tip more than what I did. He still got like 15%. It bothered me more in retrospect — but heck is a meal.

The ribeye was delicious, as were the dulce de leche crepes, but the highlight was really the cocktails — they were by far the best we had in Tulum (including our meals at Hartwood and Arca). The ambiance of the place isn’t particularly special compared with some of the other places nearby, and it seems always fairly crowded, but it has great staff and great food and drinks.

CASH ONLY — BRING PESOS otherwise the USD conversion is very poor. Market is 18.46 but restaurant’s conversion was only 14.50.
10% Suggested Gratuity included in the meal.
HUGE PORTIONS — if you dont eat much, its probably best to share instead.
Drinks are about 150 – 180 pesos, appetizers are about 200 – 250 pesos and main entrees are about 400 – 500 pesos.
For appetizers we ordered:
*Calamari — came with two dipping sauces — the calamari was cooked perfectly with a very light batter
*Warm octopus salad — the star and must order — the octopus had a very nice char flavor and the salad came with more octopus than vegetables
*Argentine sampler — a little bit of everything but it was rather forgettable
In our party we ordered and listed from most favorite to least favorite:
*Catch of the day — whole red snapper — the fish was cooked perfectly and was such a huge portion
*Skirt steak — super soft — this meat was ten times better than the flank which was not marbled or tender
*Suckling roast pig — another huge portion — the dark parts of the pig was tender but other parts were a bit too soft. The skin was equally the same — some parts were crispy but other was rubbery
*Flank steak — we all asked for medium rare, but even with steak knives, we all had a hard time cutting and appreciating the steak. The steak was overdone and tough. By far the biggest disappointment to the whole meal.
Food: 4.5 stars
Price: 3.5 stars but in this area, all the prices are high
Service: 1 star — We were ignored for most of the night but by far the biggest crime of it all was when we were setting our bill. We had to pay a portion in USD because we didnt have enough in Pesos. The difference left was equivalent to $ 107 dollars so we gave $ 110 and was waiting for our change. When it became apparent that we still wasn’t getting our change in a timely fashion, we asked our waitress and she said, «oh you wanted the change back?»
Consider that gratuity was ALREADY included in our bill — if we didnt want our change back, we wouldve indicated to her, «go ahead and keep the change.» However, it was so extremely rude of her to just assume that she can pocket the additional change. Its not that $ 3.00 is anything, but it is more so the principle that you cannot just assume any amount, no matter how small, already belongs to you as tip.

Very chic & rather expensive restaurant in Tulum but very tasty! It cost approximately $ 100 USD for 2 entrees, 3 drinks, and 1 dessert, which are comparable to prices in big cities in the US.
As for the food the flank vacio and the banana margarita were standouts
Service was great and the clientele was fully of beautiful people — I felt as if I was a première in South Beach, but that’s Tulum for you.
Make sure to apply mosquito repellent as even though the outdoor setting is lovely since the restaurant is on the «jungle» side it is prone to bugs in the evening.
Overall, one of the better meals I had in Tulum but definitely a splurge, but if you’re there you’re most likely on vacation so go for it!

Favorite restaurant we ate at in Tulum! The «Chef’s Whims» duck in the rasberry-​orange glaze was so unique, and the Filet Mignon was the standout dish of the evening. The cocktails here are made with a great deal of craft, they have a constantly changing menu but had at least 15 on when we were there. We had two cocktails and then ordered a bottle of wine, a Malbec recommended by the waiter that was fantastic. This place is a must try in Tulum, even though it is different from the traditional Mexican/​Carribean food you can get in the area, it is a good break in cuisine to try some Argentinian food.
The restaurant is on the jungle side and was a bit buggy (wear your spray!) but the heat was not an issue, there were lots of fans there as well.

Casa Banana is a great choice if you are in the mood for a steak. They have some great quality beef that does wonders grilled over an open flame.
We had the rib eye and it was cooked perfectly, super tender, and had awesome flavor.
I would definitely recommend the grilled beet salad as well. Awesome charred beets and chunks of goat cheese served warm.
Skip the fried calamari. It wasn’t seasoned and didn’t taste very fresh.
The only downsides for me are that the seating area can get a little hot and muggy and it’s quite expensive. Cash only, so make sure you bring that full wallet.

The food was pretty good, so I can’t really complain about it with the exception of my flank steak which should have been marinated longer to make it more tender.
The real issue I have with this place is the way they treat their customers. First, they keep people waiting with open tables. Next, they are cash only and their high prices ensure few will have enough money. Then when you think you can make up the difference with dollars, they are using an exchange rate of 14:1 which is just a slap in the face to all. Short on cash, the nearby ATM only gives out dollars, AND charges an $ 8 fee to make a withdraw. So in summary, you end up paying a 25% premium on their already premium prices due to the way they are operating.
I like good food, I do not however like to be ripped off and have it rubbed in my face. Until this place accepts credit cards, they will continue to make a killing off everyone dining there. Even a 5% fee on credit cards is better than what happens now.

I’m in love with the atmosphere… with the food and drinks to match, what more could a person love? The open air, Edison bulb lighting and boho romance appeal inhales you as you step in… but since this was our first stop after driving the hour and a half drive from Cancun, so I’m not sure that weighed into my opinion as well.
I can only say for lunch (we wanted to stop by for dinner but friends had other plans). I highly recommend the warm octopus salad and one of their cocktails like the caipirinha. The mojito had too much lime in it.
Comparably to other restaurants, this menu is pricey. Their dinner menu was about $ 30-​$ 50 USD per person while other places are around $ 20-​$ 30.

I ordered the skirt steak and my hubby the whole fish. I didn’t get to taste the fish, but the steak was to die for. Perfectly cooked and came with a side of roasted veggies (or mashed potatoes if you prefer). They also served complimentary bread with a pâté spread… nom! Tito’s mule was the best cocktail I’ve had in a long time. Eat here.

A friend recommended the whole fish, which to my disappointment wasn’t on the lunch menu. I ordered the passion fruit margarita and the shrimp and fish skewers instead. The skewers are sooooo tasty, the fish just melts in your mouth. The basil sauce is a perfect balance. The passion fruit margarita was a nice twist on the original. I’m not normally a margarita drinker, but decided to embrace my inner tequila imbiber since I’m in Mexico. Would definitely come back, especially since I’m still thinking about that whole fish. If it’s anything like the skewers, I think I’ll love it.

**EXCELLENT FOOD IN TULUM**
We couldn’t get reservations for Hartwood,
so our tour guide recommended this place.
So glad he did.
Serving up classic Argentinian-​style cuisine,
the food here is simple, fresh and delicious.
LOCATION
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Part of the Nueva Vida hotel.
On the main road, would need to bike or taxi.
AMBIANCE
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Romantic, but busy.
Lots of candles and good boho energy.
FOOD
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ARGENTIAN SAMPLE PLATTER
Meats, olives, eggplant, and that delicious cheese!
RATING: ⁴⁄₅
CATCH OF THE DAY
Probably one of my favorite fish dish experiences of ALL-​TIME!
The side dish flavors (sweet potatoes, omg) and the über fresh
catch-​of-​the-​day taste from a wood fired oven = unbeatable!
RATING: ⁵⁄₅
DESSERT
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FLAN
Not too sweet, a bit thick.
RATING: ⁴⁄₅
COCKTAIL
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Get anything with mezcal or tequila and you’re set.
OVERALL
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Great urban rustic menu and nice cocktails (not too strong for me).
A bit pricey for Mexico (around $ 70-​$ 80 USD for dinner for 2 with cocktails), but worth it.
RECOMMEND for dinner in Tulum.

Our dinner at Casa Banana was the best that we had on the beach road. We were staying nearby at La Zebra and Casa Banana was just a few minutes away we decided it would be a good spot for dinner. We arrived at about 6:30 and there were just a few other couples dining. I guess we showed up just in time because by 7 a few large parties arrived and the dining area was getting pretty full. We started with sharing an excellent spinach salad, I had the rib eye and my wife had the skirt steak. Both meats were prepared perfectly and were melt in your mouth tender. The meat portions are HUGE and we could have shared one steak between us — fortunately they were able to wrap up our leftovers which we took back to our hotel for breakfast.
This was definitely the most expensive meal of our trip, coming out with tip to over 1600 pesos and the food, great service and ambiance made it well worth it

Ok, guilty as charged. We went here after a most frustrating experience at Hartwood and I have to say, it should have been our FIRST choice. The steaks, omg, the steaks, they were completely amazing. The ambiance was perfect, the service was also on-​point. It’s worth every penny, and it’s cash only here (USD or Peso).
Very, very delicious.

Why wait hours for Hartwood, when you can have a fantastic meal at Casa Banana. Don’t get me wrong, the food at Hartwood is incredible, but the attitude and wait makes for an exhausting experience, especially on vacation.
In contrast, Casa Banana had friendly staff, which made the inattentive service here a bit more forgiving. There was no wait when we went for lunch and breakfast. And the food was up there with Hartwood as the best I’ve tried in Tulum.
You can tell a place is good when the salad dressing blows your taste buds. Their Warm Octopus Asparagus Salad did that for me and more. The tenderness of the octopus rivaled my all-​time favorite, the asparagus was cut and prepared well, and the honey chili dressing was love at first bite.
My love affair was short lived when I tried the side salad on the Steak Milanesa. Wow, this dressing was somehow even better! Not sweet, just perfectly satisfying, lemony tang.
Their chips are also excellent. Fresh chips are pretty much everywhere in Tulum, but these were standout for the crunch and thickness.
The next day, I had the Huevos Rancheros for breakfast. Not as jaw-​dropping delicious as lunch, but very enjoyable nonetheless.
My only complaint here was the amount of time it took to get the check, and the general difficulty when trying to flag down staff.

It seems that Casa Banana is known as the backup plan when you can’t get a table at Hartwood, which is a shame. The food, ambiance and service here are so stellar that it deserves its own reputation!
Like many nighttime spots in this area, most of the dining space is out in the open, with just some dim sexy lighting to set the mood. This makes it a little hard to see your food, but it’s better than a lot of other places! The staff is great about accommodating your party, whether it’s an intimate table for two or a big group at one of the long communal tables. Beware: the tables right by the open oven can get quite warm, so if it’s a hot night it might be worth waiting for another table.
Anyway, on to the good stuff: the food! A beet salad with goat cheese. Sounds super generic, right? I can’t tell you how many of those I’ve had in my life, but this one stands out as one of the best. I don’t know what it was about it — probably the quality of the ingredients.
After that I knew I wanted a steak. I wasn’t completely familiar with all of the cuts listed, so the server kindly helped me out based on my preferences. I like a marbled steak, so I went with the rump, and boy was it marbled. I’d venture to say fatty. That’s fine with me, but in a more well lit place I’d be able to eat around it so I wasn’t getting mouthfuls of fat in some bites. That was a bit gross but overall the steak was so delicious. And as you can see from the photo, it was HUGE! I could barely get through one of the two pieces that came out on the sizzling platter, and ended up gifting the other piece to the dog at my hotel (a travesty, I know, but unfortunately no fridge in our room!)
My husband ordered the lamb risotto from the chef’s selection section of the menu and absolutely loved it as well. All of these dishes were wonderful when washed down with their delicious specialty cocktails.
This was one of the more upscale and sceney meals we had in Tulum and it was a lovely and romantic date vibe. I can’t recommend this place enough!

For all you Heart_​_​_​_​d fans … or those who think they want to stand in line to eat mediocre food — Take Note! You’re missing the boat, friend. You need to bag the waiting line and get down the street to Casa Banana.
Tried it on our third trip to Tulum (and kicking ourselves for waiting so long). The atmosphere is amazing and the food the best on that street. (Casa Banana is on the jungle side of the street — STILL — NO BUGS!) The hostess seated us immediately, and someone came to explain the cocktail menu and take our drink orders within 2 minutes. The drinks were creative and they didn’t break the bank. They have a super upscale wine list as well — very nice selections (best Ive seen in Mx).
The dinner menu was wonderful — all sorts of choices, steak (its an Argentinian steak place, folks), seafood, chicken — anything you want. We went with a few different apps — all of which we could have ordered more of and called it dinner — and then mains. I had steak and have been trying to recreate it ever since that night! It was a beautiful skirt steak and it was seasoned to perfection and grilled to my liking 100%!
We enjoyed beautiful desserts and listened to the music and relaxed the evening away.
Pro Tip: If you’re going in the warmer months, sit on the 2^nd level (its just a couple of steps up), near the bar — you will be away from the grill (take a look at it — it’s large … its HOT).