Casa Mission

JUMP TO NEW REVEIWS

Posted on 03/01/04
Name: Jean McAdam
State: Illinois

Traveled: February, 2004
Stayed: Cozumel
Weather: Excellent
Highly Recommended
Value: Good Value
Type: Mexican

Children: No
Ambiance:10
Service: 9
Friendliness: 8
Food: 8
Family_Oriented: n/a
Cost: Moderate

Comments: We return to Casa Mission every year primarily for the beauty of the setting.

Posted on 02/13/04
Name: Glo
State: Sinaloa

Traveled: January, 2004
Stayed: Cozumel
Weather: Excellent
Highly Recommended
Value: Excellent Value
Type: Mexican

Children: Yes
Ambiance: 10
Service: 10
Friendliness: 9
Food: 10
Family_Oriented: 8
Cost: Moderate

Comments: U have to Know it
http://www.casamission.com

Posted on 02/13/04
Name: Margaret G. Bear
State: GA

Traveled: December, 2003
Stayed: Cozumel
Weather: Excellent
Highly Recommended
Value: Excellent Value
Type: Mexican

Children: Yes
Ambiance: 10
Service: 10
Friendliness: 10
Food: 10
Family_Oriented: 10
Cost: Expensive

La Casa Mission & La Mission

Comments: Anyone visiting Cozumel with the taste for a fabulous authentic dining experience would not want to miss Casa Mission. This world class restaurant is housed on an acre+ of beautifully maintained tropical gardens surrounding a traditional hacienda. Along with the gardens, a menagerie of exotic birds and animals receive the personal loving care of "la Dona de la casa."

The ambiance of a large and lavish Mexican dinner party can be found a few blocks from El Centro's touristy buzz. White table cloths glow in candle light. Live mariachi music drifts around the veranda, through the gardens and onto a lovely gazebo.

A complimentary dish or two of incredibly delicious guacamole hits the table before or concurrent with the drink order. Although most in my party enjoyed the margaritas, I preferred sipping good tequila accompanied by a spicy tomato-based chaser of sangrite, made from a guarded family recipe. The professional wait staff seems to know just when to produce a light for your cigarette or refresh your beverage and when to leave you to the company and conversation of your fellow diners.

Even so, exquisitely prepared super-fresh seafood and traditional Mexican dishes are the main attraction. Our week in Cozumel included three meals at Casa Mission. For me, it was always seafood, expertly grilled lobster, local jumbo crab and shrimp. However, I did enjoy a heaping platter of traditional Mexican dishes at a sister restaurant.

La Mission, located downtown, offers the same great menu and friendly service in a beautiful, if less dramatic setting. Even the salads and vegetable sides are a pleasing blend of color, texture and flavor. My favorite of these was a medley of steamed vegetables served in a red cabbage leaf. If there's room left or children in your party, don't miss the creamy, delicious ice cream frozen and presented in a carved-out pineapple half.

When Berto and Stella Miranda say "Mi casa es su casa," you can believe it.

Posted on 08/21/03
Name: Jonathan

Traveled: November, 2002
Stayed: Cozumel
Weather: Condition
Use At Your Own Risk
Value: Very Poor Value
Type: Mexican

Children: No
Ambiance: 1
Service: 1
Friendliness: 1
Food: 3
Family_Oriented: n/a
Cost: Expensive

Comments: As I've posted at greater length on the travelnotes.com BB, our group of 7 (from the Experienced Divers Group assembled by Doc Vikingo on the RSD goard in 1998 and converging on the island that and every Thanksgiving thereafter) ate there last Thankdgiving and had a grievously unpleasant experience.

First of all, the animals were kept in despicable conditions, in very small, barren cages, and some of them, mainly the birds, looked badly neglected and ill. Also, the lion cages are not really safe, as evidenced by an event involving a 12 year old girl who was mauled by one of the lions through the wiremesh cage a year or two ago.

Secondly, the food, though significantly overpriced, was crashingly mediocre. Our group of seven ordered a variety of entrees, but the most effusive appraisal from anyone was, "Well, it was okay . . . ."

Finally, the service was abysmal. Orders were mixed up and came out of the kitchen randomly, with some of us half done while others were still awaiting delivery. Also, several of us ordered rather expensive soups when we were not told (nor was it shown on the menu) that soup of the day came with the entrees, a fact we discovered when the waiter delivered all the soups at the same time, and we asked how come those who hadn't ordered soup got one. We got no discount or credit for the soups not delivered or eaten. We also got no continuing service and had to chase down waiters to get drinks replenished and missing napkins and silverware supplied. Also, despite requesting separate checks at the outset (some were using plastix and others paid cash), we were presented with a single, nonitemized bill for the whole group. When we asked that it be itemized and separated, the total greatly exceeded the amount of the single bill originally presented. In addition, the waiter attem
pted to shortchange three of our group of seven, and his efforts were so clumsy that, after a brief verbal skirmish in which the waiter attempted to justify the ripoff, the manager suddenly appeared out of nowhere with the correct change for everyone, although he had not been present for the discussion.

This place is in a class of its own as a tourist trap. The waiters and maitre d' at Casa Mission don't need jackets and aprons. They should wear the badges of their professions: masks and eventually, one would hope, prison jumpsuits.

<')///><

Posted on 02/27/03
Name: Brad Cirimotich
State: IL

Traveled: February, 2003
Stayed: Cozumel
Weather: Excellent
Not Recommended
Value: Very Poor Value

Type: Mexican
Children: No
Ambiance: 9
Service: 4
Friendliness: 3
Food: 5
Family_Oriented: n/a
Cost: Expensive

Comments: The restaurant is off the beaten track and does have a fairly nice ambiance. The food was just average and the cost was way overpriced. The staff was not very friendly and seemed more concerned with which waiter was going to get the tip. In my opinion, this is a tourist trap and I personally will never, ever, eat there again. I would love to use more colorful language, but due to board ethics I will not. Same your money and eat a better meal at places such as Las Tortugas on 30th.

Posted on 10/09/02
Name: Thomas Holecek
State: Kentucky

Traveled: August, 2002
Stayed: Cozumel
Weather: Excellent
Highly Recommended
Value: Excellent Value

Ambiance: 10
Service: 10
Friendliness: 10
Food: 10
Family_Oriented: n/a
Cost: Expensive

Comments: The food was excellent, the staff absolutely fantastic and perhaps one of the most "interesting" restaurants I've ever been to. Those roars you hear at dinner are real lions. It was a truly wonderful dining experience.

Posted on 10/01/02
Name: Tom
State: ma

Traveled: September, 2002
Stayed: Cozumel
Weather: Good
Highly Recommended
Value: Excellent Value

Ambiance: 10
Service: 10
Friendliness: 10
Food: 10
Family_Oriented: n/a
Cost: Moderate

Comments:
I had asked for suggestions for a romantic dining location on our 25th wedding anniversary. Several people responded on travel notes, and the most responses we received were for CASA MISSION!! Softly lit garden areas greeted us as we walked thru the metal gates. A tiled walkway led us to a beautiful hacienda. A selection of the evenings specials were artfully arranged for our viewing pleasure. We were escorted to our table and had our chairs held while we were seated. Cloth napkins were spread out on our laps( the majority of restaurants here serve these little paper napkins) The table was located on a veranda open to the lush gardens. Three strolling musicians played requests and were really good. As for the meal, my wife had a lobster. which she said was great. I had a filet which was one of the finest pieces of meat I've ever had. After dinner we strolled the gardens out back and were greeted by two large lions, not really crazy about having wild creatures locked up like
that, but still pretty interesting to see. So take my advice if you want that special night out, Try the CASA MISSION. And no I'm not the owner or employee.

Posted on 08/08/02
Name: Slo
State: california

Traveled: July, 2002
Stayed: Cozumel
Weather: Condition

Ambiance: 10
Service: 9
Friendliness: n/a
Food: 10
Family_Oriented: 4
Cost: Expensive

Comments: What an amzing meal and restaurant. We had planned to go to the lobster house but an American living in Cozumel suggested we try this place instead. the ambiance reminds one of the old romantic mexico seen in western movies. Beautiful gardens, and the lions are not to be missed. The service was excellent and the food was superb. My husband and I split lobster and a filet mignon, both of which met or exceed stateside standards.

if you are looking for a romantic dining experience while in Cozumel do not miss this place. (No to be confused with La Mission)

Back to Restaurant Reviews
Restaurant List
Local Dishes
Recipes by Cozumel Chatters

Email us to have your review listed or removed. Thanks!

"Say you saw it on TravelNotes.cc!"