Puntamar

We really liked Puntamar. Glad we finally tried it and will be back. Highlights were the Pizzabirria and shrimp. Great to have a seafood led Mexican restaurant that’s a little more upscale, but still authentic. Service was super attentive and nice. Our waiter was actually the owner. Walked in. There’s descent noise in the main outdoor area under the roof, but in a good way and if you want quieter there’s a separate patio section.

Authentic Mexican seafood. Originated from Mexico, the owner claimed all seafood were fresh from Mexico. We think it out beats the famous Michelin one-star Mexican seafood restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. Amazing aquachile, ceviche, grill octopus, fish tacos and great cocktails!

We were so pleasantly surprised by how great our experience at Puntamar was. We used to go to this restaurant a decade ago when it was a super delicious traditional Mexican restaurant (enchiladas, chimichangas, etc.). We tried it when it changed to another restaurant in recent years, and that was sadly disappointing. We weren’t expecting anything great when we popped in to give the new Puntamar a try, but it definitely exceeded our expectations and we can’t wait to come back to try more of the menu! Lalo was our server and he was so attentive and nice. The food was incredible, every bite simple but elevated, and just the perfect bite. The food reminded us of the great fresh seafood restaurants we love along the Baja coast, but Lalo said their inspiration is actually Mexico City style cuisine. Many people had the birria pizza and quesabirria on their tables, and we definitely have that on our list for the next time, along with everything else on the menu. I hope this place is very successful and stands the test of time! We’re definitely new regulars.

Amazing and delicious! Creative and fun atmosphere, drinks and food. My daughter who is 11 wants to say that the food is always phenomenal! Just remember to bring a sweater or seat near the heater in the winter.

Sadly disappointed with our experience. We felt welcome and the ambiance was nice. However, neither the food nor the drinks lived up to our expectations or the prices. None of the food (except for the tortilla soup) was seasoned or salted appropriately, and we walked away having had two appetizers, one adult beverage and one virgin drink, and a soup for $90 with tax and tip. Does not live up to its high rating.

Slightly off the more touristy centre of Encinitas, easy to find location on the main road. Plenty of parking spaces in front of the restaurant and large setup with good amount of tables with open and semi open spaces. Everything we ordered was really good, flavourful and quantities were adequate. The drinks were okay but not great. With excellent service, the whole dining experience was excellent. Will surely visit again.

Delicious food and super friendly service! Also the decor was cozy / romantic and it's a great spot whether it's with friends or your date! I also like how it's so close to the train station, it's convenient for any train riders. The octopus was delicious, and the churros was freshly and crispy. The portions were quite generous too! Loved the tacos, so flavorful.

This place reminds me of CDMX! Had the best flame grilled shrimp I’ve ever had, I’m still thinking about it. The dips it came with were flavorful but not overwhelming!! The west oysters were also super fresh & yummy. Ceviche was solid - the aguachile had a smokey quality to it I wasn’t used. Churros had a berry jam in them - not my preference but were solid & came with a surprise haha. Our server wasn’t the most attentive but overall I would definitely come back!