With the scent of sizzling fresh seafood and spices in the air, on December 17 the curtain comes up at The Royal Haciendas to reveal Los Murales, the Riviera Maya resort’s brand new restaurant.
A delight for the senses, art and cuisine go hand in hand at Los Murales. Everywhere you look you will find artistry, from the Byzantine-style murals that give the restaurant its name to the exquisitely presented food on your plate.
A labor of love for Royal Resorts Executive Chef Enrique Garcia and The Royal Haciendas chefs, Juan Manuel Fuentes and Daniel Che Chimal, the Los Murales menu is a true marriage of flavors, conceived to captivate and intrigue. The delicate flavors of seafood are paired with a hint of lime and fresh herbs, a touch of chili and the exotic spices of the Far East. Each dish is a voyage of discovery, an experience that you will want to repeat over and over again.
The finest and freshest fish, shrimp, lobster, scallops and other fruits de mer from the Caribbean, Gulf and Pacific coasts of Mexico occupy pride of place on the menu along with cold-water favorites such as salmon, monkfish and Chilean sea bass. Meat lovers will enjoy the hearty prime steaks, pork, lamb and poultry, and there is a delightful selection of starters, soups and salads for a lighter meal. Finally, be sure to save space for dessert, with choices ranging from classic French Tarte Tatin to Caribbean-style Banana Flambée.
During a pre-inauguration menu sampling, I ordered the Ricotta and Spinach Tortellini with Lobster sauce and locally caught Boquinete, a fish also known as Spanish Snapper or Hogfish, which was served grilled with garlic butter. For dessert I chose Caribbean Strawberries, expertly flambéed tableside by our waiter. All my selections were delicious. Comparing notes with my dinner companions, the Porcini Mushroom Crepes, Shrimp Agua Chile, Monkfish and the Ferrero chocolate cream also received glowing reviews.
The wine list includes wines from Mexico, California and the Pacific Northwest, Chile, Argentina, Italy and Australia carefully selected to enhance the flavors of the food.
The restaurant’s murals are a showstopper. Depicting a collection of tropical fruit and vegetables that are staples in the Mexican diet and in the hacienda kitchens of yesteryear, the six niche paintings by Cuban artist Arturo Montoto are an allusion to the nation’s deep ties with the land itself. Masterfully reproduced in Byzantine-style tesserae by craftsmen at Venetian Mosaics of Mexico, the famous Perdomo family workshop in Cuernavaca, they are also our tribute to Mexican mosaic art, a tradition that dates back to the days of the ancient Olmec, Maya, Mixtec and Aztec civilizations.
Visit www.losmurales.com for more information on our latest restaurant.
Be the first to dine at Los Murales, book your table by writing to losmurales@royalresorts.com or call ext. 66213 if you are at the resort. Open from 5 – 10 p.m., Monday to Friday. The restaurant opens to the general public in January.
