By now most of you know how I feel about this hotel’s service. But my story is entirely different for their Navo restaurant. It is absolutely amazing! It’s located next to the water, it is beautiful, and has excellent service! I recommend Gavin, but I’m sure they are all up to the restaurant’s standards.
This restaurant specializes in seafood and since I wanted to do something special for Michelle’s birthday, which would be the following day, and her favorite thing in the world is seafood, this worked out perfectly. I let them know ahead of time about the special occasion and when we arrived they greeted us by name and said “this must be the birthday girl”. They started by showing us all the different types of fish and shellfish they had on ice in a display window. Then we walked by the glassed in area where the chefs were. Every one waved, and we could hear muffled “Bola’s”. The friendliness was especially unexpected from the Chefs, considering in the states they have a bit of a reputation for being arrogant and pompous. I got the feeling they didn’t get many single girls in their restaurant : )
The hostess led us to a table in the far corner. What to me looked like the best one in the house. Soft lighting, wooden beams, and open walls so you could hear the waves and birds and other night life. Although a large party was seated shortly after us, Gavin took care of us like we were his only guest. We were served a chilled bottle of Fiji water in a metal box, that seemed to keep it icy cold. We ordered a bottle of champagne to celebrate, and it was delivered on ice, in a bucket at the table side. Neither our water not our Champagne ever got below half empty before being refilled.
Michelle started out with some sort of lobster soup, and I had a garden salad. For the soup they brought a bowl and then poured a carafe of soup into it, which looked very elegant, but for the hefty eaters we are it may have been a bit small. Mine on the other hand could have been an entree. Mounds of lettuce, with grilled corn, avocados, blue cheese, tomato, and cucumber. It was served with a crispy cracker shaped piece of cheese. Thinking of the tangy citrus dressing still makes my mouth water. 
Oh, and before that the chef sent out a complimentary amuse bouche. A tiny bite size appetizer of their choosing. Very thoughtfully they sent mine out vegetarian, and Michelle’s was some sort of chicken. I’ve experienced this kindness before in certain sushi restaurants, but usually they will send out fish, so it was very thoughtful for them to take us both into consideration. 
After these two courses we were served a dollop of mango sorbet on a ceramic spoon as a palate cleanser before our main course. The sorbet was only mildly sweet and a delicious pause before the main food arrived!
Michelle ordered the surf and turf and I had the vegetarian risotto. Both were delicious, cooked perfectly, and served piping hot. You could tell it didn’t sit under warming lights 30 mins before being served.
The Birthday dessert was a fancy piece of cheese cake, with bits of fresh papaya and topped with something white and crunchy, which I’m still not sure what it was, but also delicious! There is a strawberry cut in a fan shape, and a small scoop of ice cream, which we debate must be ginger or lemon grass flavor. “Happy Birthday Michelle” is written in chocolate around the edges of the plate. So very elegant. Michelle is all smiles and it is a relief and joy that something has finally turned out so well here.
WHAT I LEARNED:
- Some times you have to look for the hidden gem, in this case it is Navo
- If you are not a picture taker, make or take a friend who is : )
- Eat outside as much as possible because the nights are beautiful
- Wear bug repellent because the mosquitos can be vicious!
TRAVEL AND OTHER MEANDERINGS 