Dining At The Exclusive One & Only Palmilla's Suviche Restaurant
Restaurant Review - Suviche, Los Cabo
The experience of dinner at Suviche begins well before you sit down for your meal, it’s the arrival at Palmilla that sets the scene for a memorable evening. As you wind through the roads of San Jose Del Cabo’s most revered neighborhood, the fragrance of the sweet frangipanis wafts through the salt-laden air. The roads are lined with manicured gardens filled with bright tropical flowers. Smiling gardeners welcomingly wave as you drive by, and for a second you’ll be convinced that you were teleported into Pleasantville.
The closer you get to Palmilla the more elegant the buildings become, and soon towering above you are the breathtaking cliffside mansions of the exclusive Villas’ Del Mar community. The stunning surroundings lead you towards the gates of One & Only Palmilla.
One & Only Palmilla possesses an old-world charm, like a scene from a Slim Aarons print, glamorous couples, and beautiful cars are coming and going from the lobby, past the quaint chapel on the hill.
As you walk through the lobby, lush gardens envelop a water fountain, the view opens up to reveal the dramatic ocean view that One & Only Palmilla is perched beside. A spectacular scene of rugged beachside cliffs and wild oceans, that you’ll be able to admire throughout dinner.
The Atmosphere
Climbing up the stairs to enter Suviche restaurant, the soft jazz sounds from a live band adds to the romantic ambiance, while in the distance the sound of the ocean waves hitting the rocks provides a subtle backing track for the band.
The design of the restaurant is classically contemporary, with sleek brown leather couches, a warmly backlit alabaster bar, and modern glass chandeliers. The floor-to-ceiling windows highlight the beauty of the beachfront, creating an open space that feels inviting. Small tables of honeymooners and loved-up couples sit alongside the glass window enjoying the view. Noticeably absent from the setting are people on their phones, filming or taking photos. Everyone seems to be soaking up the atmosphere and falling in love with the view, or even, talking to each other.
Bar
On-hand sommeliers are available to provide premium wine options to pair with meals. The wine cellar is extensive, highlighting a variety of Mexico’s best wines. I couldn’t pass up the artfully designed cocktails though. The Menai, a tequila-based cocktail mixed with jasmine tea, was crisp, refreshing, balanced, and tastefully presented. An ideal accompaniment to the rich flavor of the tuna sushi and sashimi.
Food
The food menu and dishes were developed by Jean Georges Vongerichten, who began collaborating with One & Only Palmilla on their dining when they refurbished in 2015. The menu focuses on celebrating the best local ingredients with a Japanese influence. Dishes are elegantly simple, refined, and mastered to perfection. Throughout dining at Suviche we found the quality of ingredients to be unmatched, the seafood dishes were the highlight. It was as though the fish was so fresh it had come straight from the ocean in front of us.
Suviche Menu Highlights
The black truffle tuna nigiri is unparalleled. We have tried Tuna at many world-renowned sushi restaurants and this was the best tuna nigiri we had ever tasted. The tuna seemed to melt into your mouth, as the black truffle delivered a rich umami flavor that was perfectly balanced by the vinegar flavor of the rice. This dish is worth flying to Cabo for. Please do not dine here without trying this tuna. I cannot stress this enough. It might be the best thing we’ve ever had.
The prawn tempura arrived, seeming a little plain looking, however, we soon realized the dish didn’t need any dressing up. The tempura was light and crisp delicately covering the prawns without overpowering them. Flawless execution of a simple but outstanding dish that focused on craft and ingredients to deliver impact.
The strawberry mochi sundae was another delicately flavored dish. The classic combination of strawberries and cream with varying textures gave the dish complexity through layered intensities of strawberry flavor. Moorish and indulgent without feeling heavy. The ideal way to end an outstanding dining experience.
Service
While the food is the highlight at Suviche, the silver service only adds to the experience. The waiters anticipate your needs, your glass is never left empty, should you have the slightest shiver and you’ll be offered a rug before you even realised you were cold. The wait staff at Suviche are knowledgeable and helpful without being overbearing. Throughout the evening you’ll have a dedicated waiter attending to your table, making sure everything is running like clockwork. If you are celebrating an occasion, this is an ideal restaurant as you can take comfort in knowing that the staff will make your table feel special.
After Dinner Drinks
Staying around for an after-dinner tipple at One & Only Palmilla is a hypnotic experience. Sun cascades down onto the firepit, as jazz plays in the background. Festoon lights hang between swaying palms adding to the orange hues of the sunset. The atmosphere is utterly charming, as enigmatic people sit around the firepit getting lost in conversation over fine cigars and whiskies. The most disappointing part of the evening is hearing your taxi has arrived, leaving you desperate to book a few nights and linger a little longer.
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