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Started By
Message
Excellence Oyster Bay
Posted on 7/16/25 at 2:09 pm
Posted on 7/16/25 at 2:09 pm
Any restaurant recommendations? Ones to avoid?
TIA
TIA
This post was edited on 7/16/25 at 9:45 pm
2
Posted on 7/16/25 at 3:17 pm to xBirdx
This would get more traffic on travel board, I think.
I've done the Playa Mujeres one and I've done the El Carman (Punta Cana) one. The restaurants were pretty much identical, as it seems all of that stuff is the same across the brand.
It was... well, all inclusive food. Those are the only two all inclusives I've ever done, and I thought the food was fairly bad at times, but apparently it's better than other AIs... So I guess it depends whether you're an AI person or not.
If you're normally a foodie and used to real restaurants when traveling, just set your expectations low. If you go in with low expectations, you can find things you enjoy.
Most tolerable to me on both visits was the Mexican spot and Magna. Oh, and Lobster House wasn't bad from what I recall.
The French place was meh. Sports bar/room service menu "American" food was even weirder. Boiled eggs on the club sandwich. Salsa with the mozz sticks. Strangely dense fried tater tot type things with a lot of meals. I mean, I think a lot of it is just a bunch of resorts in other parts of the world trying to get other cuisines down with limited access to ingredients/method. It is what it is.
I've done the Playa Mujeres one and I've done the El Carman (Punta Cana) one. The restaurants were pretty much identical, as it seems all of that stuff is the same across the brand.
It was... well, all inclusive food. Those are the only two all inclusives I've ever done, and I thought the food was fairly bad at times, but apparently it's better than other AIs... So I guess it depends whether you're an AI person or not.
If you're normally a foodie and used to real restaurants when traveling, just set your expectations low. If you go in with low expectations, you can find things you enjoy.
Most tolerable to me on both visits was the Mexican spot and Magna. Oh, and Lobster House wasn't bad from what I recall.
The French place was meh. Sports bar/room service menu "American" food was even weirder. Boiled eggs on the club sandwich. Salsa with the mozz sticks. Strangely dense fried tater tot type things with a lot of meals. I mean, I think a lot of it is just a bunch of resorts in other parts of the world trying to get other cuisines down with limited access to ingredients/method. It is what it is.
Posted on 7/16/25 at 3:21 pm to LouisianaLady
The Indian place at playa mujeres was surprisingly very good when we went. Mexican one was very solid, but somewhat dependent on the dishes. Some I had were dynamite, some meh.
Agreed on the French one. It was fine, but nothing spectacular. Magna and lobster house were solid too.
The Grill wasn't anything to knock your socks off, but we enjoyed lunch there most days. The ceviche was very good and they had a grilled chicken fajita type dish that was enjoyable, make sure to ask for their house hot sauces.
Agreed on the French one. It was fine, but nothing spectacular. Magna and lobster house were solid too.
The Grill wasn't anything to knock your socks off, but we enjoyed lunch there most days. The ceviche was very good and they had a grilled chicken fajita type dish that was enjoyable, make sure to ask for their house hot sauces.
This post was edited on 7/16/25 at 3:23 pm
Posted on 7/16/25 at 3:23 pm to GoCrazyAuburn
I heard the Indian was the best one, but both times we just couldn't fit it in!
I forgot to add - We did hibachi in a private party room in Punta Cana since we were a large group, and the food was actually pretty good all things considered.
I forgot to add - We did hibachi in a private party room in Punta Cana since we were a large group, and the food was actually pretty good all things considered.
Posted on 7/16/25 at 3:32 pm to LouisianaLady
Yep. We ended up going back a second night.
As to the OP, I wouldn't worry about the sports bar or any american themed ones. Sports bar is fine for drinking if you are feeling homesick for that vibe, just don't worry about the food
We really didn't have any bad meals and most we enjoyed a lot. They aren't 5* dining by any means, but plenty good. Any of the ones that are pretty ethnic are going to be solid.
As to the OP, I wouldn't worry about the sports bar or any american themed ones. Sports bar is fine for drinking if you are feeling homesick for that vibe, just don't worry about the food
We really didn't have any bad meals and most we enjoyed a lot. They aren't 5* dining by any means, but plenty good. Any of the ones that are pretty ethnic are going to be solid.
Posted on 7/16/25 at 6:15 pm to xBirdx
Just got back from this resort two weeks ago. Overall we thought the food was really good, no real complaints. Service got a little slow at times, but I think that’s Jamaica. They run on island time.
The best two restaurants were the excellence club restaurants: Zenith and Magna. Of the two we liked the Zenith menu the best, but both were really good and definitely had more high end food and presentation than the others. Both for breakfast and dinner.
The kitchen table breakfast buffet had a solid spread.
Caribbean grove, the Caribbean place, was a pleasant surprise. Actually really like it there.
Spice the Asian place was good. We went once for a regular table and once for hibachi. Probably wouldn’t do the hibachi again. It took forever and was 800 degrees in the hibachi room. When we sat at a table we told the waiter just to bring all the popular stuff and he brought us a huge spread that was good.
The jerk hut is the little restaurant near the main pool that is open for lunch and had good jerk chicken and hotdogs. Easy to get a plate and bring back to your chair.
Chez Isabelle was the “fancy” French place and it was just okay. There were literally only two tables occupied when we were there so that was odd. Food was fine, but the excellence club restaurants were way better.
Lobster house didn’t have lobster due to the lobster seasons, but the food was still good.
The Italian place was also pretty solid, except for the pizza which was meh.
The Caribbean theme night buffet was actually really good and had some bomb oxtails and different stews.
We didn’t eat at the sports bar but the vibe in there was weird and the food we saw other people getting looked not good.
We ate at the grille one night but I had been over served by the time we got there and didn’t even eat
General tip: all the apps and plates are pretty small portions, meant to be just a bite or two. So try a lot of different things. They don’t care if you order all the apps and multiple entrees.
The best two restaurants were the excellence club restaurants: Zenith and Magna. Of the two we liked the Zenith menu the best, but both were really good and definitely had more high end food and presentation than the others. Both for breakfast and dinner.
The kitchen table breakfast buffet had a solid spread.
Caribbean grove, the Caribbean place, was a pleasant surprise. Actually really like it there.
Spice the Asian place was good. We went once for a regular table and once for hibachi. Probably wouldn’t do the hibachi again. It took forever and was 800 degrees in the hibachi room. When we sat at a table we told the waiter just to bring all the popular stuff and he brought us a huge spread that was good.
The jerk hut is the little restaurant near the main pool that is open for lunch and had good jerk chicken and hotdogs. Easy to get a plate and bring back to your chair.
Chez Isabelle was the “fancy” French place and it was just okay. There were literally only two tables occupied when we were there so that was odd. Food was fine, but the excellence club restaurants were way better.
Lobster house didn’t have lobster due to the lobster seasons, but the food was still good.
The Italian place was also pretty solid, except for the pizza which was meh.
The Caribbean theme night buffet was actually really good and had some bomb oxtails and different stews.
We didn’t eat at the sports bar but the vibe in there was weird and the food we saw other people getting looked not good.
We ate at the grille one night but I had been over served by the time we got there and didn’t even eat
General tip: all the apps and plates are pretty small portions, meant to be just a bite or two. So try a lot of different things. They don’t care if you order all the apps and multiple entrees.
Posted on 7/16/25 at 7:05 pm to tiger rag 93
Great info!
So you are able to order
2
Entrees off the bat?
How was the entertainment?
So you are able to order
2
Entrees off the bat?
How was the entertainment?
Posted on 7/16/25 at 9:34 pm to xBirdx
You can order whatever you want, they don't care. If you were there having like a 4 hour dinner, they may say something. We usually got a couple of starters each time an usually entree for each of us and one we wanted to try that we split. If you want more, get more. Definitely don't treat the restaurants like a normal dining where everyone gets there one thing and thats it. Get and try stuff, its the point.
The entertainment we enjoyed. Some if you have a good group of guests there will be awesome if the poeople are fun. Like we had karaoke one night and a silent disco another. The people that were there when we were, were all lots of fun and everyone was really into it, so it was just a big party.
The entertainment we enjoyed. Some if you have a good group of guests there will be awesome if the poeople are fun. Like we had karaoke one night and a silent disco another. The people that were there when we were, were all lots of fun and everyone was really into it, so it was just a big party.
This post was edited on 7/17/25 at 9:28 am
Posted on 7/17/25 at 9:31 pm to xBirdx
We honestly didn't do much of the entertainment this trip. In the past we have gone to Excellence Playa Mujeres and the silent disco was always a good time.
Posted on 7/23/25 at 10:38 am to tiger rag 93
They are all very similar, been to 4 of them so far. Oyster bay main pool facing the beach is awesome, but yea. Definitely on Jamaica time.. Hell the driver from the airport even picked us up some local ingredients.
The original cancun location actually had the nicest staff and largest rooms.
The original cancun location actually had the nicest staff and largest rooms.
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