COZYMEL'S, Lively Atmosphere with good food.
Written: Nov 21 '03 (Updated Jul 08 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fills the need for a Mexican food fix.
Cons: The overall feel can be spotty at times. The review tells all.
The Bottom Line: My wife and I go out to dinner fairly often. Sometimes we get in a Mexican Mood and this place fills our needs.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Cozymel's Coastal Mexican Grill |
It's funny how a good experience at one place can draw you to another. I have been fortunate enough to visit Mexico a couple of times. In Playa del Carmen, a Yucatan coastal town, I learned to enjoy things Mexican. This was my first introduction to Margarita's. I also found the town to have a festive and fun atmosphere. At the time I wasn't crazy about Mexican food, but it is there that I first started cultivating the taste.
Once in a while I get into a "Mexican Mood". The best choice I have found in overall atmosphere, food, drink, and service is COZYMEL'S COASTAL GRILL. Now this doesn't mean that this is the greatest place in the world, there are a few things they need to work on, but it does fill my "Mexican" needs.
ATMOSPHERE
This chain restaurant, of which ours is on Long Island, in New York, is one of three restaurants sharing one large parking lot. The others are Ramano's Macaroni Grill and Chili's. I recently reviewed the Macaroni Grill, I'm doing Cozymel's now. Guess which other I will review soon?
Whether in daylight or at night time walking up to the place immediately starts to get you in the mood. The front area has a field stone arch that leads you into a court yard that has a sort of Mexican Market atmosphere. Nothing is for sale, it's just that it is long and narrow and still outside with the building on both sides. Music can be heard and a landscaped area of Yucas and scrub pines give it a Mexican feel.
Walking in the doors you see bushel baskets of lemons and lime, garlic, and other fresh food items. The music gets a bit more loud and there is an energy of a younger crowd in the air. The decor has lighting and field stone fireplace that gives the feel of a Mexican hacienda. Huge vases with plantings and Caribbean colours tint the walls.
Our place is broken up into a series of rooms. Upon entry is the desk and a bar beyond it. The bar seats about twenty and has large churning coolers of frozen Margarita Mixes. I can feel the roof of my mouth freezing already. These frozen drinks are a Cozymel specialty. To the right is the bar service area where its basically first come first serve. Just grab a table if it comes available.
The rest of the restaurant is the dining area. and you wait to be seated. Ours has three rooms of which the third is usually for special parties.
The main room has booths that seat six and many tables of four.
I have found that the crowd is a twenty one to forty age group. Older folks, like me, do get to sneak in without any problem. Families come too. It's especially young and noisy on Friday and Saturday nights. That's not a bad thing. You may have to wait on line for up to an hour those peak nights.
The kitchen is open and you can see the chef and cooks hustling dishes together. I always like open kitchens. You can see what's going on and for whatever reason I always feel they get food out faster.
SERVICE
Most of the time we are greeted by a friendly gal, given one of those pocket pagers and seated within ten minutes. The staff is generally young, helpful, and on top of their jobs. We just went again last night and our server was a young guy, just up from the south, and new to the job. Any time we had a question he couldn't field he brought over his "trainer", and the trainer was quick to help us and our server. It seems the training process works.
Our orders are generally taken promptly and dishes come out in a timely fashion.
First we are asked about any refreshment orders, after this is done a bowl if tortillas and some salsa are brought to the table and they are very quick to refresh the items when low. Let me add that the chips are very light and not greasy. Their salsa is very fresh, rich in tomato and full of good flavor. They have just a hint of spice to them. Personally, I like it spicier.
DRINKS
For those looking to party, this is a fun atmosphere. Young couples and large groups of people fill the room that can get noisy at times. A few drinks can help stoke the revelry.
They have a full bar but they push their frozen drinks and Two for one Margaritas. That's what I have. These drinks come out to $2.50 per. They immediately serve both drinks. My wife and I will usually just order one and share the two and then order another one and share those two.
The frozen drinks go for about five bucks. They are colorful, garnished with pineapple, orange, lemon, lime, or cherries, depending on the drink. My wife particularly like the Sunset on the Beach. It tastes great and they go down easily. Be careful, the drinks can sneak up on you!
I have had their Margarita Sampler. It's a fun way of getting introduced to different flavors and brands of Tequilas.
A full mix of soft drinks are available.
I noticed a few signs advertising their Iced Tea. Be sure you know what you are ordering. If it's a Long Island Iced Tea, be sure to sip it s l o w l y. That one has a full mix of all kinds of spirits!
I didn't mention the choices of Mexican and Caribbean beers. Corona Extra, Corona Light, Dos Equis, Tecate, Bohemia, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo, Pacifico, Carta Blanca and Red Stripe that I enjoyed on my Jamaican trips.
The MENU
They have a menu of Mexican, Caribbean, and American grilled items. If you don't like Mexican fare you can still do well in Cozymel's Coastal Grill.
With every coarse they have their traditional favorites. You will find them underlined on the menu. You will do well ordering any of these items.
Appetizers
Table Side Guacamole is one of their featured items. A server will come to the table and blend it all together for you. "Not too much cilantro please". I like that you can help suggest what you would like in it. This goes for $7.99 Most of the appetizers are $5.-$10 and can be shared. Other items are Crab Cakes, Chile Con Queso, Fajita Chicken Nachos, Calamari and Quesadillas. These are particularly good.
They also have their Traditional Sampler with a mix of a few of the items I mentioned. This is another good item to share. It's $10.79
Soups and Sandwiches
Sandwiches are $7.99. For another $1.29 you can add a soup or house salad. Waffle fries come with the sandwich. I have never had any of the three selections of Cozy Cuban Sandwich, Chicken Tender Wrap, or Jerk Chicken Sandwich. They look good and are presented well.
Salads
These are good! They offer a
Jerk Chicken Caesar. Jamaican jerk chicken, tossed with parmesan cheese and Cozy's jerk Caesar dressing. $9.29
Grilled Chicken Fajita Shredded cheese, tomatoes, corn and fresh avocado tossed with your favorite dressing.$8.99
This next one is excellent!
Paradise Chicken Roasted chicken, pineapple mango pico, red onion, smoked almonds, sweet red pepper, cucumbers, green beans, and Mango Chardonnay Vinaigrette.$9.79.
They also offer Calypso Chicken Salad at $9.29 and the House Salad at $4.29
GRILL, SPECIALTIES, and TRADITIONAL FAVORITES
Just to get a few choices out to the non Mexican fare eater. You have a few items that may be good for you. They always have the Fresh Fish of the Day. Different choices different days and preparation can be done to order.
Baby Back Ribs are always good and Coconut Crusted Shrimp are heavenly and a house specialty. If you like a Hawaiian flavor try the top sirloin Steak that is marinated, grilled and served with grilled pineapple, vegetables, and pineapple-rum sweet potato mash. $12.99
Another house specialty that I had just last night was Yucatan EspecialSauteed shrimp and sea scallops tossed in our creamy Cancun sauce with mushrooms, poblano peppers, and fresh spinach served atop rice. $13.99
The scallops were not the finest, a little chewy and not fresh, but the sauce, shrimp, and spinach were incredibly good.
Cozy's Paella is another dish that I have from time to time. It's a good one a $16.99
Other items that I have not had but look good are The Chilean Sea Bass, Chile Relleno, and Roast Pork Adobo. These are $10-$15.
Other Favorites on the menu are Seafood Enchiladas, Spinach and Mushroom Enchiladas, Burritos, and combo dinners where you can mix and match.
My wife always seems to order Chicken Fajitas. This last time she wasn't as pleased with the overall cooking. The onions were still a bit too hard and the food was not sent out in a sizzling dish as it always had been before.
DESSERTS
I have a soft spot for flan. They have a good one and that's what I like to order. Vanilla Cheesecake Flan Traditional Mexican custard combined with American cheesecake creates this rich vanilla dessert topped with a caramelized sugar sauce and whipped cream. YUM!! They also offer Passion for Chocolate, a rich cake with caramel filling and Banana Pudding, a house specialty. I haven't tried this one yet but listen to this, Our very own banana pudding recipe made with fresh cream and bananas, garnished with vanilla wafers and wonderful vanilla sauce. Served on a cinnamon bunuelo and topped with whipped cream and cinnamon. All these desserts are $4.99
CLEARING the TABLE
Many of the dishes come with black beans. They are very good. Most ingredients are fresh. I was disappointed with my scallops last night but all in all they have pretty good food.
Our place has a few household cleaning issues. Not in the overall cleanliness which is good but in clutter. I suppose while they work all day they don't see it. An example is the fine looking field stone fireplace. It is a prime place to sit and many ask for that area. On the shelf of the fireplace is a stack of baby booster seats. That takes away from the romantic feel of the open flames. Some of the bushels that hold fresh market items are empty. It is my feeling that if they are not full move them out of the way.
The music last night was awful. The speakers were not working well and the choice of music was not conducive to the Mexican, Caribbean atmosphere.
Though the place is far from perfect, and spotty at times, we do came back every time we get into that "Mexican Mood".
More chain eateries by popsrocks
Applebee's / Romano's MACARONI GRILL / KFC / OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE / Wendy's / OUTBACK Restaurant / Cozymel's / Cheesecake Factory / McDonald's / Taco Bell / Checkers Burgers / Red Lobster / The White Castle / TGI Friday's / Charlie Browns / Burger King / Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips / Dunkin' Donuts / Starbucks / Ralph's Famous Ices / Cold Stone Creamery / CARVEL Ice Cream / Boulder Creek Steakhouse / Waffle House / Krispy Kreme / Friendly's / Nathan's / Jillian's / Blimpies / Quizno's / jumba juice / Ruth's Chris Steak House /Don Juan's / Peter Luger Steak House / Don Juan's / Cracker Barrel
Freeport's Nautical Mile
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Cafe By the Sea Dining and wonderful desserts. Some fun entertainment too!
Otto's Sea Grill Fine dining or partying on the canal
Ralph's Famous Italian IcesThey are on Freeport's Nautical Mile and elsewhere across the Island
Recommended:
Yes
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