At this writing, there are just three in-town restaurants that we've eaten at and can offer recommendations on. While these places sometimes double as local hangouts, you needn't be concerned about the locals. By and large, we've found them to be friendly and very accommodating.

Prices at all three will be similar with breakfast costing $3 to $4 and dinners other than lobster, from $5 to $8. The price of a lobster dinner can vary from $9 to almost $15 depending on the price set at the local fisherman's co-op. On our most recent visit, beers and soft drinks were about a dollar.

Just after entering town you will round a corner and come to Conchita's (formally known as Comacho's.) We are happy to report that new management has taken over Conchita’s and we now feel comfortable recommending the food here again. In addition to the improvements in food, there is now a small bar area here that seems to have become a gathering place for many in the local expatriate community.

Our favorite in-town restaurant is Capt. Caribe's, located on the waterfront just south of the in-town pier. The owners are Tito, a local dive (and fishing) boat captain and his wife, Mah Bayah. The restaurant has a sign that says they are open for breakfast (at 8:30 a.m.), lunch and dinner but sometimes you will find them closed. The seafood is usually extremely fresh, well prepared and reasonably priced. We're not sure if it's because the chicken is free range, just extremely fresh or for some other reason but believe us when we say that the fried chicken at Capt. Caribe's is about as good as it gets.

The third restaurant in town and another or our favorites is known to us as Sylvia's. It is located a block further south than Capt. Caribe's and a couple of blocks off the waterfront. From the road, you will see three or four white plastic tables in a well lighted screened in patio attached to a residence. As you enter, you'll be looking right into the family living room. We've had and liked the chicken soup, pork chops, conch and fried fish here.

Food service is also available at two gringo owned and operated cabana/hotels. The food at both is very good. The furthest north of the two is Villa Caracol and the other, located almost in town, is Costa De Cocos. Food at Costa de Cocos is excellent! If you're planning to eat dinner at either, it is best to make a reservation (either in person or by marine radio) by about 4 p.m.

If you have some luck fishing, any of the restaurants in town will be glad to prepare fresh seafood that you might have caught for a reasonable set up charge. On some occasions, they might even be interested in buying or trading for any extra you might have.

Pick up some groceries on the way to Xcalak
While there are some options for obtaining food locally, you should plan on bringing groceries with you. You can purchase inexpensive coolers at any of the larger (and some small) stores. Or, if you just want a few cold beverages on hand, bring a soft sided cooler with you from home.

There are several options for groceries and supplies in Playa del Carmen. On Highway 307, is the Chedraui store and a Sam's Club and a Walmart located just a few blocks off the highway.

Tulum has a San Francisco grocery on the west side of Highway 307, plus several smaller markets

There is a grocery store and a good fruit and vegetable store in Felipe Carrillo Puerto. Both are located on Highway 307 about 2 blocks past the in-town gas station. Also, in season, you will pass citrus fruit stands along the road in the midst of the orchards near the town of Limones. If they are open, do yourself a favor and buy a bushel bag of oranges for about US$2.

There is both block and cubed ice available in Xcalak but you should bring ice with you for your drive down.

Local groceries/supplies:
There are a few small stores in town to visit for groceries. With a little luck, you can find soft drinks, beer, eggs, milk and some canned goods. The first store you will come to when you enter town will be Marina Mike's where you will also find cubed ice made from purified water. There are other stores scattered around town including a tortilla "factory" (actually a single machine in a shed) a block or two off the waterfront in the middle of town. There is a small bakery on one of the side streets in town. It’s not hard to find but a little hard to give directions so we suggest that you ask for directions once you are in town. The selection will be limited but the baked goods are fresh.

In Xcalak there is a concrete block building housing a store operated by the local fisherman co-op. This will probably offer the best selection of groceries in town. The street running a block further east of that has several small stores offering different merchandise including one that sometimes has some fresh produce.

Bottled beer and bottled water are available at “Melchor’s” located across the street from El Paton in town.