Concina 38

There is a new restaurant in town and though we did not want to publicize it that much, as it is a little piece of heaven.  The food is so good, the service great, the atmosphere wonderful and we like the husband and wife team that owns the place. 

Now a bit of back ground before we start.  Here at the Life Just Became Simpler Community, we are foodies..we like good food, we like to appreciate food for what it is, either it be a dining experience, a cooking experience, a cultural experience or just a friendship experience.  We are not food snobs, meaning, we do not just dine in the best of the best restaurants, we do not turn our noses up at restaurants if they are not just so, we love a fresh piece of fruit, a great cut of meat, a great mexican local hangout, a great bowl of pasta, you name it we like it, if those who are serving, cooking or preparing are passionate about what they do.  It is easy, when eating food, to know when the food is prepared with passion or is just prepared with the idea of glupping down a meal..for the sake of a full belly…MacDonalds is an example of food for the sake of food, a hamburger void of passion, and many other things might we add, but it is just a belly filler….which sometimes we need.  Cochinita pibil on 20th street from one of the local vendors is a torta made with passion, with precision and with the intention that this food should be savoured with each and every bite…we love food like this…we seek out food like this..we appreciate food prepared with this intention of passion in mind.

So the latest place of choice for all of us, for our foody customers, which we have a lot of, is Cocina 38.  This place is not for everyone, this restaurant we know will not appeal to all audiences.  Similar to 30th Ave, not everyone likes everything.  We just think that this place rocks and give it the rocks up!

We dont know to give a long review but we will make the following points:

1.  They currently have a great Mexican house wine.  Hats off to them for appreciating local wine in Mexico and attempting to educate the public on local wines.  Well done!

2.  They do hard to cook food well, very well.  This is not easy and consistency night after night is hard too.  This is mastered.  Well done

3.  Their decor is simple and tasteful.  there is not pomp and circumstances, it is food serviced simply and well.  Well done.

4.  They have details that no one matches here in Playa Del Carmen.  Order a coffee and you will be given, for free, some little chocolates that are probably the best I have ever tasted and you are talking to a non chocolate fan.  Well done!

There are many other great things to say about this restaurant, and again we have to stress that this may not be for everyone.  The price point may be too high, the quietness annoying for those who need noise and chaos, the menu choices too far out…this is not a fast food place as they need time to build each plate, one customer at a time.  if you are looking for a quick eat to go out partying after, we would say dont go…this is a place to savour and appreciate..

Well done Cocina 38.  We appreciate your passion for food, local flavours, fusion and just being nice people.

Have you been?