Fresh Caribbean seafood, an oceanfront setting, and the kind of unhurried service that makes a long lunch feel like the right decision.
Isla Contoy is named for the uninhabited island nature reserve that sits off the northern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula; a place of extraordinary natural beauty that has been protected from development since 1961. The restaurant at Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancún shares its name and, in its best moments, something of its spirit: a connection to the Caribbean that feels genuine rather than performed. The Setting The restaurant occupies a position at the edge of the resort, open to the Caribbean on one side and the resort's grounds on the other. Tables near the water catch the trade winds and the sound of the surf. In the evening, the light over the ocean turns the kind of colors that make you reach for your phone and then put it away again. The Food The menu is built around the seafood of the Caribbean coast; fresh fish, shrimp, lobster, and ceviche that changes with what the kitchen is working with. The sea bass, when available, is the move: fresh, flaky, and prepared with a restraint that lets the quality of the ingredient speak. The ceviche is bright with citrus and generous with seafood; a version that holds its own against the best in the region. The dessert program is stronger than you might expect from a resort restaurant. The warm brownie sundae (three brownies, three scoops of vanilla ice cream, caramel, and pecans) is the kind of thing that ends a meal on a note that makes you reconsider your plans for the afternoon. The Service Service at Isla Contoy is attentive and unhurried. The team understands that a meal here is not a transaction but an experience, and they pace accordingly. Requests are handled without fuss. The cocktail program is solid; the piña colada, made with fresh pineapple, is the obvious choice. Practical Notes Isla Contoy is open to resort guests and, in some configurations, to outside visitors. Reservations are recommended for dinner. The lunch service is more relaxed and offers the same menu in a slightly less formal atmosphere. Dress code is resort casual.