Mexican-Mediterranean Fusion? Come Again?

For our final Destin restaurant review, I will share my thoughts on dinner at Azul Mexican Fusion. This restaurant first caught my attention when they defined their cuisine as Mexican-Mediterranean fusion.  Talk about the unexpected.  If that was not enticing enough, I read several reviews raving about their sunsets by the bay watching boats going in and out of the Harbor Walk Marina.  I thought… “Say no more.  Count me in.”  Naturally, I was excited to go.  Water.  Boats. Sunsets.  It’s the stuff coastal dreams are made of.  Unfortunately, the dream fell a little flat.  Here is the good, the bad, and the ugly.  The restaurant is located within Harbor Walk Village at the Emerald Grande Resort.  It is essentially an entertainment venue that includes dining, shopping, games, water activities, and special events.  It is a very nice boardwalk with a thoughtful layout and design.  It is great for families and tourists to find a host of things to do all in one location.  Here is the rub.  The parking situation set the tone for a disappointing evening.  In order to get to the restaurant, we had to pay $20 to park.  Some places were even charging $30.  I found that to be outrageous, especially since there was no restaurant parking validation.  It seems a little unfair to penalize a patron to a restaurant who has no interest in participating in anything else on the boardwalk.  Knowing I was about to have two of my favorite cuisines in a rare waterfront experience, I made the decision to regroup.  Approaching the restaurant, my countenance began to change.  I was greeted by a beautiful waterfront entrance.  It had more of a Mediterranean vibe than a Mexican vibe I would say.  The décor was elegant and visually relaxing with warm colors and splashes of greenery.  The restaurant had both indoor and outdoor seating consisting of bars, high-top and low top tables and lounger areas.  We sat outside at a high-top table closest to The Destin Bridge looking in the direction where the sun would set.  The views were spectacular as we watched all types of boats parade through Destin Harbor and East Pass as the sun went down.  It was a Tuesday night, and the restaurant was not busy, yet the attention to service was very slow.  Eventually, we were brought complimentary salsa and chips to our table.  I found the salsa to be a little too spicy for my preference.  The flavor was different than what I am used to, but it was ok.  The menu featured many of the Mexican and Mediterranean classics you would expect, but with an upscale refresh.  The fusion aspect was more about offering menu items from both cuisines instead of blending the two flavor profiles together.  Therefore, I wanted to sample both cuisines to savor the experience.  I ordered the hummus for my appetizer and the slow cooked barbacoa beef quesadilla as my entrée.  The hummus received lots of praise in other restaurant reviews, but I personally did not find it to be anything special.  My biggest issue was I looked at their menu online prior to going to the restaurant and saw the hummus pictured with pita bread.  To my surprise, when the waitress brought me the hummus there was no pita and she informed me that it does not automatically come with the appetizer.  I had to pay an additional $3 to have a proper accompaniment to my appetizer.  I was dumbfounded.  You did not serve salsa without chips.  Why would you not provide pita, the traditional pairing with hummus?  Once again, I was highly disappointed.  Could the barbacoa beef quesadilla redeem this meal?  While the parking, the service and the appetizer debacle had soured my evening, I must admit the quesadilla was truly delicious.  The dish was served hot.  The beef was juicy and had a deep, smoky flavor with a slight tartness from the vinegar and lime. The guacamole was fresh and creamy, while the sour cream cooled things off.  Would I give Azul a second chance?  That is a tough call given the parking situation.  I suppose if I planned to spend at least a half day enjoying the other activities on the boardwalk to make the cost of parking worthwhile, maybe I would.  Though the food experience was a mixed bag, the views and the atmosphere were a treat worth having again.  After all, it is rare to find consistent service and quality in any given restaurant, so I believe a little grace should be extended at least once.

Summary

Restaurant Name: Azul Mexican Fusion

Address: 2 Harbor Blvd, Destin, FL 32541

Service – Below Average

Food – Average

Portion Size – Average

Menu Selection – Average (Brunch offered on Sundays.)

Dietary Options – 95% Biblically Clean

Cost/Value – Upscale

Ambiance – Warm Mediterranean, Romantic

Parking – Paid. Cost $20-$30. Limited availability.

Reservations/Waitlist – Online Reservations

Suited Type of Patron – Date Night or Social Adults

Signature Dishes – Azul Street Corn Ribs, Chicken or Falafel Tacos, Azul Bowl, Moroccan Meatballs, Mexican Pizza

Special Features – Waterfront Dining near Harbor Walk Marina with Sunset Views