A fantastic experience, with standout staff, food, but some improvement with allergies
May 16, 2024 Jack D
There’s not a good way to put into words the level of service here, but… I can try…
Going from the Cancun airport to the transfer company, to stepping into Leblanc was the biggest whirlwind of my life. As soon as my wife and I got out of the van we were greeted with cold towels and our bags whisked off to our room while we were handed a coconut…
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There’s not a good way to put into words the level of service here, but… I can try…
Going from the Cancun airport to the transfer company, to stepping into Leblanc was the biggest whirlwind of my life. As soon as my wife and I got out of the van we were greeted with cold towels and our bags whisked off to our room while we were handed a coconut and condensed milk drink that was heavenly. We got checked in and our wrist bands that double as room keys (nice so you can’t lose them, but a little annoying if not quite tight enough and sliding up your wrist but VERY minor gripe).
Immigration and customs lines were long so we got in late afternoon and had our dinner at Terraza. The duck confit tacos were out of this world, and everyone should get them. The manager or supervisor of the restaurant came to check on us and asked how we were and she was the best but I cannot remember her name unfortunately.
This brings me to my next point… the food was incredible for the most part. Terraza for dinner and lunch was great, with the duck and the pizza (10/10), lumiere stood up against Bay Area California French restaurants, I got the beef cheek which was a top 10 meal of my life and my wife got the papillote which she enjoyed. The brioche bread course was one of the best breads I’ve had, and everyone should try the soufflé (10/10). Yama… Yama was my wife’s favorite with the cocktails being standouts of all the restaurants, and the sushi being incredible, the toro especially. I have a peanut allergy so I spoke with the executive chef of the resort and supervisor to ensure the restaurant would be safe for me as some dishes contain peanuts and was reassured they would keep me safe. The wagyu was worth the $30 upgrade. Do it. Lastly, we did not have time to go to Bella, but finished with Blanc which was okay, but was expecting a little more. Might have been an off night but the service was just alright in comparison to the rest of what we experienced here. When we eventually can come back, I would forego it for Bella. The buffet at Blanc for breakfast and lunch was generally high quality and comparable to high end Las Vegas buffets but not as many options as those. But this leads me to my next point.
For those with allergies, please read, as it seems hit or miss the experiences people have. I felt like I did still need to advocate for my allergies to peanuts and almonds, while others have said they have not. It was sometimes hard to know what steps were being taken to prevent cross contamination, and at the bar I was frequently given containers with peanuts. Also, at the buffet and across le Blanc menus, things with nuts and seeds are labeled on the menu, however, it does NOT say what it contains. One big way they could level up their inclusivity with allergens would be to have labels on the things at the buffet of the common allergens (for example, does it contain sesame seeds or peanuts? Big difference for me, and I don’t want to overly restrict my food choices). Another thing would be to have multiple ice cream scoops both at the buffet or the Glaceé ice cream by the pool. I asked about whether there was another scoop and was told there was not. The nice worker asked me if I wanted her to use a regular spoon, but I decided against it.
Desserts outside of the soufflé weren’t a very strong point in my opinion but I was limited by the nut/seed icon on the menu. Most the ice cream tasted of coconut which is fine, but was a note that I always got that I wasn’t expecting.
Okay. Moving on!
Drinks were good, if sometimes weak, but can get more so no worries there. Carlos by the pool was always on top of things, getting us set up. No complaints. They have some cool cocktails.
A standout who deserves his own category: Saul, our night butler. Leslie, I speak directly to you. This man is an incredible talent in hospitality. Taking notes about my allergy for the subsequent petit fours, always having a bath ready after our dinners, aromatherapy, all with a smile whenever we saw him. Anyone would be lucky to have him as a private butler. He would be up to the job. I can’t say enough good things about him.
Overall the experience was fantastic, and the service was out of this world compared to anything I’ve experienced before. However there is still some room to be more clear about allergens, and it felt like the app giving a section for allergies didn’t really change anything. This being said, the food was fantastic, the service was incredible, and we wanted for nothing. You can’t hope for me on your honeymoon.
We check out tomorrow morning, so we will be enjoying one more breakfast and walk on the beach prior to leaving.
Overall would recommend to anyone who likes good food and drinks alcohol.
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