Whether you select an all-inclusive or a luxury resort, you should leave the safety of your resort to explore the culinary tastes of Cancun. Travelers are safe to sample the delights along the busy Hotel Zone. The old familiar chain restaurants like comfort burgers at McDonalds or the higher quality steaks at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse pebble the Hotel Zone, but no trip is complete without a Cancun-style Pirates of the Caribbean trip to Lorenzillo's, known as one of the area's finest lobster house.

Post-Cancun's hurricane a couple of years ago, I sat on a bus bumping along the Hotel Zone eager to point out my favorite restaurant, Lorenzillo's. Words cannot express my disappointment when I discovered it did not survive the damaging effects of the storm. The beautiful palapa-roof was blown away, and in its place fragments of my favorite lobster house perched haphazardly on the wharf.

Flash forward another year and I'm happy to report that Cancun loves Lorenzillo's as much as I do. The rebuild is complete, and Lorenzillo's is still as charming, but slightly bigger, than its pre-hurricane building.

The completely rebuilt Lorenzillo's is much the same as the pre-hurricane version, although perhaps a bit larger. Located on the lagoon-side of Cancun, you literally walk the wooden plank (walkway) above the lagoon. To the left of the plank is a bar with seating for a pre- or post-dinner drink, and that's when you enter Lorenzillo's, enriched by nautical-esque, pirate theme, complete with maps, spyglass, anchors and even a wooden ship's wheel.

From the open bar, continue toward the lagoon and you entire an air-conditioned, waterfront dining room with open kitchen, VIP table and private VIP salon. Lagoon views can be found outside on the Sunset Pier where Lorenzillo's has also added a two-story palapas with tables upstairs and separate VIP palapas with breathtaking panoramic views. Literally built on the water, an oversized palapa serves as the roof. The restaurant is a city landmark, as the largest in the area constructed entirely of palm thatch and native hardwoods in keeping with ancient customs.

In 1979, the name of the infamous and merciless pirate, Lorenzillo, was given to this fine restaurant offering choice selections from the surrounding seas. Lorenzillo's lobsters are caught by fishermen from the Isla Mujeres, respectful of the international laws. From there, the lobsters are taken to Lorenzillo's Lobster Farm, with a maximum capacity of 20,000 live lobsters - fresh for your selection.

If you're not swayed by Caribbean character or finely-crafted trappings, you will be impressed with their menu. My personal favorite is their table-side Caesar salad and selecting from the tank my choice of Caribbean live lobster prepared as I like (steamed). Other menu selections include soft shell crab and stone crab (in season), jumbo shrimp and Chilean sea bass - all guaranteed to melt in your mouth, and ultimately put Lorenzillo's on top of your culinary list.