My friend and I came to Playa del Carmen about a month ago and we specifically moved to an area that was close to this restaurant due to it's vegan menu and reviews. Over the month we have been here, we have tried EVERY vegan...restaurant you could find, including BioNatural, Fresco Hábito, and all the other "competing" restaurants. Every single time, we said to ourselves "We should have just went back to this restaurant."
Here's why:
SERVICE: Their staff is attentive, quick, relaxed, and professional. You do not have to worry about poor customer service here.
QUALITY: Their açaí bowl is better than every single açaí bowl offered at the restaurants that specialize in açaí bowls (Aloha, Peace and Bowl, Fresco Habito, BioNatural, etc). Their 100% vegan menu means they actually deliver meals that are thoughtful, complete, and fulfilling. The presentation of the food is so artistic that it for sure adds to the experience.
PRICE: Their menu is the SAME, if not a lower price, than the other vegan restaurants in the area which blows my mind. If they upped the prices, I would still come here. Also, they don't charge for water which is hard to find considering most restaurants just bring you a water bottle...
AMBIENCE: It's hip, but luxury-hip if you know what I mean. You do not feel crammed like you would at every other restaurant (I'm serious, EVERY other restaurant feels crammed and during COVID it makes this place feel like a refuge). Their choice of music is spot on. They have outdoor seating which is nice if you'd like a slight breeze and they also have a nice "high end coffee shop" feel inside as well which is great for pulling out your laptop or writing. They really killed it with the aesthetic.
HOURS: This is the only thing I'm upset about. They open at 9am and close at 7pm. As an early riser and late nighter, it's super inconvenient for me because I have to go to other places for morning coffee or the dinner munchies and would be spending double on this place if they catered in that regard, but what can you do, hah!
TOURIST FRIENDLY: We've heard the crazy stories and have experienced it ourselves at another restaurant of tourists being scammed. The staff here seems/feels trustworthy and we have always checked to make sure we were charged correctly and given the right amount back. They have never taken advantage of us which, again, makes this place so easy to come back to twice a day. In addition, their manager speaks fluent english and we have not had trouble communicating ourselves if the circumstance called for it.
CLEANLINESS: Their bathroom, main area, and outside area are always clean and well taken care of.
No, I was not given any incentive to write this review. I am just grateful when others take the time to help me make informed decisions when it comes to eating out and this place has been amazing, but even more important, CONSISTENT in all the qualities you look for when trying to find a restaurant that fits your needs. After coming here for a full month, writing this review felt necessary to help any other fellow plant-based humans decide where to spend your dollar in Playa del Carmen. The Pitted Date is a solid choice.
If you're on the other side of town, Comet 984 Diner and Nessya Falafel are good BUDGET options, but if you're on vacation and want the best, most consistent experience---The Pitted Date wins. Every time.More