If you are traveling to Cancun soon or are staying at Royal Resorts and can’t wait to get your fill of fresh seafood, The Royal Sands has another delicious dining option for you to try during your vacation. Now open, Sand Dollar is a cevichería or seafood bar on the terrace outside Sidelines. The menu features seafood cocktails, tostadas, tacos and several varieties of ceviche, all perfect for lunch with an ice cold beer or a tropical cocktail and a view of the pool deck and the Caribbean.
Get your bearings and order drinks, try the Pink Wave, the Sand Dollar signature cocktail, a refreshing concoction of fresh lemon, Sprite, blush wine and Merlot. As you look at the menu, your waiter will bring tortilla chips and two homemade tomato salsas for you to snack on, both are delicious.
Have you tried ceviche before?
Ceviche is one of the most popular dishes along Mexico’s Caribbean, Pacific and Gulf shorelines and throughout Latin America. Fresh seafood is marinated in lime juice until it literally “cooks” and turns white. Chopped onion, tomato, chili, coriander, and a dash of oil and seasoning are added and the ceviche is served with totopos or corn chips, very tasty!
Ceviche recipes vary from region to region, some chefs add cucumber or mango and the seafood can be diced or grated fish, shrimp, lobster, clams or octopus or a mixture of all of them! Chef Juan Manuel Fuentes has created five different ceviches for the Sand Dollar, made with shrimp, fish, clams and even oyster mushrooms for vegetarians. You won’t find these flavorful ceviches anywhere else. Try one, try them all!
Plenty of delicious seafood choices on the Sand Dollar menu
The Sand Dollar menu also features a selection of Mexican seafood cocktails with octopus, shrimp and the famous Campechano. Often served as a pick me up, this hearty seafood cocktail is a blend of shrimp, fish, octopus and clams marinated in lime and tomato juice with chopped onion, tomato, cucumber, coriander, avocado and a hint of chili. A fruit cocktail with fried plantains, watermelon, papaya, melon and kiwi fruit marinated in orange juice, parsley and honey vinaigrette is a refreshing tropical alternative.
Try the crispy corn tostadas. Piled with fish ceviche, octopus, tuna or shredded beef salpicon, a tasty Yucatan dish, and served with salsas, they are so delicious you won’t be able to eat just one.
If you are in the mood for seafood tacos, there’s a choice of taco fillings to munch on at the Sand Dollar. “Shelliche” mixed ceviche, octopus salad or stewed tuna tinga feature on the menu, as do minilla, which is shredded fish cooked in a mild chipotle chili sauce, and flaked salmon served Korean style with sesame oil, coriander, carrot, red cabbage, lime juice, sambal sauce and rice sheets.
Sand Dollar tacos are served with the traditional soft corn tortillas but you can also choose lettuce leaves, crispy taco shells or rice sheets for an Oriental touch. Tostadas and tacos come with chili sauce or chipotle mayo and there’s plenty of habanero chili on demand.
After your meal sit back, enjoy the view, order another beer, cocktail or coffee and be sure to save space for a homemade ice cream – coconut and fresh pineapple or tangerine with Xtabentun –, ice cream soda or Key Lime pie.
The Sand Dollar is located on the terrace outside Sidelines Sports Bar at The Royal Sands. Open daily from 12 noon to 8 p.m. (weather permitting). From 5 to 8 p.m. freshly made sushi is also available in addition to ceviches, seafood cocktails, tostadas and tacos.
What else is new on the Royal Resorts dining scene?
In more Royal Resorts dining news, be sure to try the new panini and crepe menu in La Rotonda Bar at The Royal Haciendas just outside Playa del Carmen. Freshly made sushi is also available. Daily, 5 to 10 p.m.
Discover an array of tempting new dishes on the El Conquistador menu at The Royal Islander in Cancun.
There’s also the Mexican Wine Tasting Dinner on Wednesday at Hacienda Sisal in Cancun. Try wines from some of Mexico’s most famous vineyards and a delicious menu of traditional dishes to complement them perfectly. Reservations are required for this event as seating is limited.
Have you tried the Monday Smoke BBQ lunch on the terrace at Cayo Largo in The Royal Islander? Brisket, ribs, pork and chicken are all cooked to a traditional smoke recipe from St. Louis and there is a choice of sauces and traditional BBQ garnishes. Smoke BBQ sandwiches are also available at The Royal Cancun on Tuesdays.
Also at The Royal Islander, Paco’s Tacos has an expanded menu offering of tasty traditional tacos and is sporting colorful new Mexican décor.
Enjoy your favorite cocktail in the open-air terrace bar at Tradewinds in The Royal Caribbean or the Sippin’ and Dippin’ beach bar at The Royal Cancun.
Stay posted on this blog for more Royal Resorts dining news.
