Restaurant Isla Cozumel

Address: Paseo Ramon Corona #22A, Chapala
Phone: 376-765-4606 or 376-765-7515
Hours: Open daily, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Credit Cards Accepted


Directions: From Walmart, drive east on the Carretera approximately 7 kilometers to the first red light in Chapala. Turn right at the light, onto Madero and left on Paseo Ramon Corona, which runs along the waterfront. Isla Cozumel is located at the end of the malecon, next to the giant palapa.




View from outdoor seating at Restaurant Isla Cozumel

First Impressions

Restaurant Isla Cozumel is a great place to eat after a walk on the malecon and a boat ride to Scorpion Island. There are wandering mariachis and unlimited wine and margaritas included in the price of the entrées. Lake Chapala is famous for near perfect climate and we visited Restaurnat Isla Cozumel on a particularly fine afternoon in November.

The Menu

Restaurant Isla Cozumel offers a variety of seafood and traditional Mexican dishes. The waiters are quick to bring out chips and salsa, followed by an appetizer of totopos with a refried bean and cheese topping.  The menu offers a large variety of seafood dishes and traditional Mexican plates -  fried shrimp, garlic shrimp, coconut shrimp, ceviche de pescado, scallops, octopus, filet relleno de mariscos, and calamare. 

They also offer steaks and traditional Mexican dishes, including a wonderful hot molcajete - a dish of melted cheeses and seafood. Our favorite dish is Costa Azul Camarones, which is a bacon wrapped, cheese stuffed shrimp. The bacon is not greasy, but more like a thinly sliced ham. This is so delicious we highly recommend that at least someone in your party try this dish and share - if you can force yourself to after the first bite.

The restaurant has a full bar, but just be aware that if you order the house wine or margaritas, then the price of those is included in your entrée. The waiters will bring out refills in huge icy pitchers and there is no additional cost. Our guests did not believe us when we told them this. If you have company to entertain, this makes taking them to dinner a real bargain.

Ambience

We always choose a sunny day to visit Restaurant Isla Cozumel and sit outdoors at the end of the malecon and engage in people watching. The best day to do this is Sunday, because a lot of visitors come to the lake from Guadalajara.

There is a market that runs along the street-side of the malecon and native dancers and musicians that you can watch from your ringside seat. Wandering mariachis stop by the table and sing a ballad or two to you while you enjoy your meal.

Service

I am becoming very spoiled living in Mexico. Service is always polite, prompt, courteous and that is exactly what you will find at Restaurant Isla Cozumel. We practice our limited Spanish on the waiters and they are very kind and accommodating. The restaurant is very clean and the bathrooms are spotless. This is a go-to place for us when we are entertaining guests from NOB.

Price  

As we alluded to above, Restaurant Isla Cozumel is a real bargain. The prices are very reasonable, you are served complementary appetizers immediately upon being seated that are over and above the standard chips and salsa. The food is delicious and is accompanied by all you can drink wine and margaritas. Dinner for four hungry Americans, including drinks and tip, was $550 pesos, about $42.

Our Recommendation ****

This is a wonderful place to eat, not only because the food is very good, but because the setting is wonderful. We recommend a day in Chapala to include the vendors and a quick trip out to Scorpion Island and then return for a late lunch at Restaurant Isla Cozumel.