Imagine owning and operating a restaurant in a place like Isla Mujeres: you source only freshly caught grouper, there are constantly water and power issues, you keep a fully stocked bar so heavy bottles have to be lugged and unloaded, you have trouble finding staff, your peak season is one month long, your rent keeps going up etc. etc. Now imagine doing everything twice because you actually have 2 restaurants a block away from each other. This is the dedication of Karina and Wbeymar Maldonado of Caribbean Brisas and Caribbean Garden.

We were immediately drawn in by the cheerful hot pink and orange table cloths the evening we visited Brisas. Hilary indicated that she had decorated a former bedroom in the same colours!

We enjoyed a Passion Juice, Mojito and Michelada? The latter two being skillfully made.

Enrique was our server. I had already met him at Don Bigotes. Such a nice guy. So earnest and helpful. He lugged this specials board over to help us decide.

We hadn’t yet had fish and chips on the island so that was the first item that caught our eye. Oh my, the fresh grouper in a light and greaseless batter was terrific. The tartar and fries were top notch too.

The shrimp tacos were out of this world with two unusual sauces (not pico de gallo or guacamole) that were the perfect combination. The ribbons of cabbage and a sprinkling of sprouts were a refreshing touch too. The specials board called them “Peaceful style”. We didn’t know what that meant but I think our server mentioned a reference to California.

We were very full once the three of us had shared the first two entrees. A pasta dish of shrimp and bacon came out just a bit later. Unfortunately, our appetites had been appeased, and we couldn’t give the dish its rightful due. The red wine sauce was a nice twist and the noodles were perfectly cooked. We were obviously too full for dessert as we didn’t clean our plates off!

“Brisas” of course mean “breezes” in English. I would predict changes are on the wind for this popular place.

So how do you run two restaurants a block apart? With great difficulty, but these 2 give it their all and their guests are the winners.

Kaths’ quote: A dream doesn’t become reality through magic, it takes sweat, determination and hard work. -Colin Powell

Love never fails.

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