Dining At The Luxury Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado Don Pablo Collection

Finding truly gourmet dining at an all-inclusive resort is always a welcome bonus. The Luxury Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado Don Pablo Collection delivers with The Don Pablo Restaurante Gourmet.

The hotel itself is located on a small island off Samana, Dominican Republic and is part of the brand's Don Pablo luxury collection. The Don Pablo Restaurante Gourmet, the signature restaurant, is one of four located on the property and is included in the all-inclusive package at The Luxury Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado Don Pablo Collection. Tucked away and overlooking the water on three sides, the restaurant is truly a gem. The traditional-style service offers an attentive wait staff and beautiful plates served under silver domes. You may choose to have the à la carte menu or the five-course tasting menu that can be paired with wine. The tasting menu is easily the best way to fully experience the true cooking and chef's specialties.

Our tasting menu started with a small bite of mushroom turnover with potato in a light phyllo dough filled with delicate flavors. The second course was a Camembert cheese fried — yes, fried — with a raspberry filling that was perfectly prepared, so that when cut into, the cheese oozed out. The third course was a combination of two soups. The waiter first poured in an asparagus soup and then added pumpkin to the other side. Despite the mixing, the true flavors of each of the main ingredients shone through. No fuss, no heavy creams, just delicate and delicious.

The fourth course had two mains: steak and lobster followed by duck. The steak was served over a bed of sautéed onions with a hint of rosemary. The lobster tail was served over potato. It was simply grilled with a heavy pepper hand, but was meaty and delicious. Again, real food done well. The duck was served sliced with a sweet sauce over potatoes and onions. The fifth and final course was a mango cake with a chocolate top; the perfect ending to an amazing meal.

The Luxury Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado Don Pablo Collection has three table service restaurants and an international buffet in the main building. I strongly suggest making reservations at all the restaurants during your stay, especially The Don Pablo Restaurante Gourmet — in case you didn't pick up on that.