Isla Mujeres Xmas + CUN stopover

[Windy]

I'm going to Cuba for New Year's and happily will have a few days in Isla Mujeres on the way there.

I'm already hooked up with Holly's Eats and a lot of recs (Rolandi's, etc), but it seems like a lot of the nicer restaurants in IM aren't Mexican.

Where would you go on Christmas day for a traditional Mexican dinner? I suppose the Yucatan is the wrong place for chiles en nogada, but I was hoping for more than ceviches and margaritas, at least one day.

Also, on my way home, I have a 7-hour layover and was planning on taking the bus to Cancun centro.

Any recommendations for a great Mexican lunch, aside from following my nose? It will be on the early side, perhaps 10:30 or 11, so I can be back at the airport by 1 pm. Doesn't need to be fancy, although I don't mind spending a little more if it is.

I speak decent Spanish, and was dazzled by how good the food in the Yucatan and Quintana Roo was, even in touristy places, the one time I was there.

Thanks!

[bronwen]

Yes, the food in the Yucatan is very good. Christmas Day is a tricky one for restaurants though I can't think what would be open on Isla apart from Rolandi's as that's a hotel. Maybe the restaurant attached to the Nauti Beach condos or the one attached to the hotel with a vaguely sounding Asian name further up on Playa Norte. We went to Cozumel one Christmas Day and it was rather quiet and depressing, I remember.

[Windy]

Thanks bronwen. Maybe I'll save exploring for the 26th and take what I can get Christmas Day.

[Holly Moore]

I'd suggest asking here if you haven't already. The folk on this forum know everything about Isla Mujeres. http://www.islamujeres.info/home.asp

[Windy]

Thanks Holly. It is an amazing resource, as is your site with the mouth-watering cazuelas.