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Café des Artistes is one of the best restaurants in Cabo.  It is located inside the JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort and Spa in Puerto Los Cabos.  Additionally, the resort is near the historic town of   San Jose del Cabo, Mexico.

Talk About Divine Intervention!

We spent the week near the marina for the annual Tuna Jackpot Tournament. Although we didn’t catch the big one, we still had a great time.  However, going home was not in the cards for us.

The pilot aborted our flight on takeoff due to mechanical issues. Needless to say, we had to stay in Cabo another night.  Luckily, this wasn’t such a bad deal, especially since we were able to get a room at JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa.  The resort is about a 20-25 minute drive from the airport.  After reading this review, please make sure to read the related post about JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa – a Must Stay.

My Brother is a Chef There!

After getting our luggage from customs, we went out of the airport to get a cab. Carlos Rodriguez, the security guard, was very nice and helped us with our cab. When he found out we were going to the Marriott, his face lit up.  He said, “My brother, Mario, is a chef there!” He gave us his brother’s business card and told us to ask for him.

Mario is Actually the Executive Chef!

We asked about chef Mario Rodriguez when we checked in.  Chef Mario is actually The Executive Chef for Cafe des Artistes, a restaurant that blends Mexican flare with French cuisine! The front desk agent alerted the chef that we were going to be there for dinner. Chef Mario came out and greeted us right away. We told him that his brother Carlos said, “Hi.” and that he had given us his card.  This simple gesture by his brother made him smile.

Because Chef Mario offered us a choice of ordering off the menu or having him prepare a special meal. Being foodies, we obviously opted for the chef prepared meal!  He asked about food allergies and what kind of foods we liked.  Basically, we told him to make us a meal he would make for himself.  He grinned and excitedly headed back to the kitchen to work his magic.

An Enchanting Evening of Fabulous Cuisine

Have you ever had an amuse-bouche?  A French term defined as ‘mouth amuser’ and pronounced “Amooz Boosh”.  This is a small appetizer that prepares the diner’s palate for the meal.  It also provides a preview of the Chef’s cuisine. With that said, our meal began with a flavorful Grouper Ceviche amuse-bouche.  Even more enjoyable was the Tuna Tartar.  Following the amuse-bouche was easy as it had a light sauce that really accentuated the flavor.

Chef Mario served a delectable mushroom risotto, the perfect sized serving to enhance but not overfill us before our main dish. So, I must say, it was delicious.

Amazing Detail in Each Course Served

We shared the Surf and Turf for our main course.  The Chef cooked the filet a perfect medium rare, and topped it with Foie Gras.  Foie Gras is the fattened liver of a duck or goose, and is a delicacy around the world.  We’d never had it before, and it was surprisingly good.  The Lobster Tail was tender and succulent, served with a melted butter sauce for dipping. Roasted vegetables provided a rustic flavor that complimented the steak and lobster perfectly.

Decadent Dessert Soufflé

Dessert was the most delicious soufflé. Carlos and Cesar, our attentive servers, poured a sauce into the middle of the soufflé at our table.  In addition, a raspberry sorbet accompanied the soufflé, which provided a nice balance to the dessert. At the end of the meal, Chef Mario personally presented us with two light and airy macaroons that were divine.

Excellent Service from the Café des Artistes Staff

Daniel, the Sommelier helped us to select a fantastic bottle of wine, which we enjoyed immensely. We tasted the wine to make sure we liked it and he filled our glasses. In addition, he provided an ice chiller to keep it perfectly chilled throughout our dinner. Although the meal was more than we would typically spend, the experience alone was worth every penny because of Chef Mario, and the Café des Artistes staff. A pianist filled the restaurant with the most beautiful music, enhancing the ambiance of the dining room.

An Amazing Finish to a Spectacular Evening

Once we had finished our meal, Andres, the restaurant manager, asked how our dinner was.  We emphatically declared that it was excellent! It was the most magical evening that we didn’t want to ever end! I highly recommend a visit to this hotel, and especially to Café des Artistes. Be sure to ask for Chef Mario and enjoy a chef dinner made just for you! Bon appétit!

Enjoy,

Sherri