Contramar fell a bit flat

Contramar is a highly acclaimed Mexican restaurant from Mexico City. Its listed in the Michelin Guide as Bib Gourmand and specializes in seafood. They recently opened a location in the Fontainebleau in Vegas and I was excited to check it out. Here was the menu:

The interior is gorgeous. Elegant and modern. The vibe was buzzy. I liked that the menu was focused and manageable. We started with drinks which took forever to arrived due to a mix up – they were delivered to the wrong table. Things happen, and this did not detract from the service which was good in general. However, there was an additional mix up as I noticed the tables around us being served amuse bouches which we did not get.

The first item I ordered was the tuna tostada which our server mentioned they are know for:

It was good, and everything was well executed with high quality ingredients, but nothing mind blowing. Next, the fish tacos al pastor which looked amazing on paper. Butter poached pineapple? Cilantro? Yes and yes! Unfortunately, the flavor was muted. Clean, and fresh, but lacked any punch.

For our main, we ordered their signature whole grilled fish. Just like the other dishes, the cooking was excellent. The fish was moist and meaty, but it just lacked flavor. Despite two types of seasoning, the flavors were flat. The tortillas did not have that strong corn flavor and there was a lack of condiments.

We took the fish home and in the morning, had one more service mishap. They packed the fish and beans, but forgot the tortillas.

Overall, service was good because our server was friendly and attentive, and the assistants were also attentive. They always checked the tables when walking by and water was filled quickly. Unfortunately, there were details missing which made the service less than perfect. However, the main flaw with this place, in my opinion, is that the food lacked wow factor. I was looking for compliments of cilantro to pull the tacos together, but the flavor of the herb was barely there. Fish was seasoned very weak. Spices and flavors that are prevalent in Mexican cooking were missing. Overall, it was an OK experience but I would not return.