Restaurante Mar Blau, Porto Colom

Whether you have taken a romantic break with the spouse, dragged the kids of to the village for a little solitude, or taken the plunge and taken up diving in the quiet little village of Porto Colom, you'll find something to water your palate.

The restaurant is set on a wonderful site overlooking the harbour. On a busy night it can hold up to 100 covers per sitting although in these situations it can become rather cramp in the establishment. ...
...the opportunity to sit on the terrace and watch the local go by as they venture in and out of the village plaza, as the boats roll in and out of port, and the sun slowly starts to set.

The menu is varied and can cater for many a taste whether it's a taste of England you yearn for or a Spanish palate you want to acquire. Perhaps some crocodile, or Kangaroo. You can be adventurous or as sombre as you like, most are made to feel welcome. ... more

Whether you have taken a romantic break with the spouse, dragged the kids of to the village for a little solitude, or taken the plunge and taken up diving in the quiet little village of Porto Colom, you'll find something to water your palate.

The restaurant is set on a wonderful site overlooking the harbour. On a busy night it can hold up to 100 covers per sitting although in these situations it can become rather cramp in the establishment. owever the nightime view is well worth suffering for. Take the opportunity to sit on the terrace and watch the local go by as they venture in and out of the village plaza, as the boats roll in and out of port, and the sun slowly starts to set.

The menu is varied and can cater for many a taste whether it's a taste of England you yearn for or a Spanish palate you want to acquire. Perhaps some crocodile, or Kangaroo. You can be adventurous or as sombre as you like, most are made to feel welcome. Children have a menu to pick from, however this is limited and rather bland. Don't be put off though, the kitchen are always happy to make a child size portion of a main meal and price it accordingly.

The desserts are too die for...literally. Cheese cakes, chocolate cakes, ice-cream - generous servings ensure you are loaded with calories before you leave.

Pricewise you can't really go wrong. A meal for two, including wine, could set you back as little as 35 Euros if you're on a tight budget, and can rise to varying amounts depending on some of the delicacies you choose. There is a healthy wine selection, many originating in Spain, but the remainder from surrounding Europe. Personally I would reccomend the Champagne Sangria, or one of their novelty cocktails named after the original staff members. On paying the bill, each member of the party is given a chupito (shot). This is usually grenadine for the little ones and flavoured Archers for the adults.

The music varies and can be anything from showtunes to modern R'n'B, so an array of scene can be set. Thisis coupled with simplistic yet effective table decorations which consist simply of a tablecloth thrown over hexagonal tables, dressed with large church candles and cute little ashtrays that double up small candle holders.

Most of the staff are pretty friendly and easy to talk to and you're likely to come across them in the local bars of an evening or on the beach doing Promotional PR work on the beach by day. They are quite attentive towards children and will often allow them to roam freely, including talking to members of kitchen staff (parents permitting, obviously)

The restaurant takes a pride in hygiene, with the cleanest, freshest wash rooms you could hope for. Trust me, the hotels aren't even up to this standard. The restaurant itself is immaculate inside and out although between sittings, waitressing standards can sometimes drop a little and result in wet/ dirty tables.

All in all, this is a great place to eat, it is relatively close to everything because of its location at the bottom of the hill and is quite close to the heart of native life with the plaza just off to the left. It is by far the by far the best place to eat in the area, and is generally where you can find the local club owners on a Saturday/ Sunday night before doors opening, so even if you're not after a large meal, you are likely to come across some interesting company adorning the bar instead. 

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