What We Ate at Breathless Punta Cana: An Honest Resort Food Review

One of the biggest questions I had before our honeymoon was simple: How is the food?

You can find beautiful pictures of a resort all over the internet, but pictures aren't going to tell you whether you're going to be excited about dinner every night or standing at the buffet trying to figure out what you're going to eat. Since we spent eight days at Breathless Punta Cana Resort & Spa, we had plenty of opportunities to try different restaurants, cuisines, snacks, drinks, and room service.

We didn't eat at every restaurant on the property, but we made our way around enough to get a pretty good feel for the dining experience. Some spots became regular favorites, while others were more of a one-and-done situation. Overall, I thought the food was good, with a few standout meals that I would happily eat again. There were also a couple of misses, including one dining experience that didn't quite go as planned.

Here's everything we ate and what I actually thought about it.

The Spoon: Our Go-To Spot

If you asked me where we ate the most during our stay, the answer would definitely be The Spoon, the resort's international buffet.

The Spoon had one major advantage for us: variety. There was always something different available, which made it easy to find something depending on what we were in the mood for. The restaurant operated during breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a late-night snack service as well. Breakfast was available from around 7 AM to 10:45 AM, lunch from approximately 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM, dinner from around 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM, and late-night snacks were available overnight.

lunch quickly became one of my favorite meals there. I especially loved the chicken sausages and the bread. There were plenty of options available, including fruit and sushi later in the day, so it was easy to build a plate based on what sounded good.

But there was one thing I almost always made sure was on my plate during lunch and dinner: the stewed beef or stewed chicken with rice.

I don't know what they were doing with that meat, but it was GOOD. 😂 The stewed beef paired with rice was probably one of my favorite combinations at the resort, and I found myself going back to it more than once. I tried plenty of different dishes throughout our stay, but if I saw the stewed beef or chicken available, I knew I was putting some on my plate.

The seafood casserole was another standout for me. It was flavorful and something I genuinely enjoyed. There was also plenty of fresh fruit available, along with sushi, which gave us some lighter options when we didn't want a heavy meal.

The pizza was okay. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't something I would go out of my way to eat at the resort either.

And Then There Were the Desserts...

This is where The Spoon lost me a little.

I really didn't care for most of the desserts. The ice cream was good, and the cinnamon rolls were decent, but outside of those, nothing really stood out to me. There were plenty of desserts to choose from, so there was definitely no shortage of options. They just weren't my favorite.

And honestly, that's okay. I'd rather have a resort nail the savory food than have mediocre dinner and amazing cake. 😂

The One Annoying Thing About The Spoon

The atmosphere at The Spoon was very casual and relaxed, but we did run into one strange seating issue.

Sometimes we were guided to a table by the staff, and other times we simply found a table ourselves. We eventually realized that there seemed to be a system for saving seats, but it wasn't always obvious to us.

There were one or two occasions where we were seated at a table, went to grab our food, and returned to find someone else sitting there. It was confusing because we hadn't realized that the table had been reserved or that someone was holding the seats.

It wasn't a huge issue, but clearer communication about the seating process would have helped.

Overall, though, The Spoon was one of our favorite places to eat because it was convenient, had a lot of variety, and gave us the flexibility to grab exactly what we wanted.

Barefoot Grill: Burgers, Hot Dogs & Beachside Food

The Barefoot Grill became another one of our regular stops.

This was a casual burger and hot dog grill located near one of the bars and close to the beach. It wasn't fancy, and honestly, that was part of the appeal. Sometimes you don't want to get dressed up and sit down for a formal dinner. Sometimes you want a burger, fries, and something cold to drink while you're still in vacation mode.

The burgers were tasty. Nothing over-the-top or gourmet, but they were satisfying and hit the spot. I especially enjoyed the fries that came with the meal.

The pizza was also pretty good, while the nachos weren't really my thing. The ice cream, however, was another win.

The grill was open from approximately 11 AM to 6 PM, which made it especially convenient for lunch.

There was only one person working the grill when we visited, so there could be a line while people waited for their burgers. Thankfully, the grill was large enough that they could cook multiple burgers at once, so the wait wasn't necessarily terrible.

And just like at the pools, we appreciated the drink service. A server would come around to the table and ask if we wanted something to drink, which made the experience feel more relaxed.

One Small Menu Mishap

I did run into a small issue here that wasn't a big deal, but it's worth mentioning.

I had looked at the menu through the resort app and saw something called the Breathless Burger, which came with bacon and onions. So naturally, that's what I ordered.

When my burger arrived, it was basically a cheeseburger without the bacon or onions. I checked the toppings station and there wasn't any bacon available there either.

Again, this wasn't a major issue for me. The burger was still good. But it did make me realize that the menu displayed in the app didn't always perfectly match what was actually available at the restaurant.

Sofrito: One of Our Favorite Meals

Sofrito was easily one of our favorite restaurants at Breathless.

The restaurant had a casual dress code, but the atmosphere felt much more elegant than the name might suggest. It was beautiful, open, and close enough to the beach that we had a great view of the water.

There weren't windows surrounding the restaurant, which actually worked in our favor. We got a nice breeze coming off the water while we ate, and the entire setting had this beautiful, upscale atmosphere.

Honestly, it felt like we were rich people having dinner in a movie. 😂

Sofrito specializes in Latin Creole cuisine, and this was one of those meals where I don't really have anything negative to say.

For our appetizer, my husband and I ordered the Dominican Sancocho, a traditional Dominican stew made with cassava, plantain, assorted meats, herbs, and other ingredients.

We were expecting something closer to an appetizer-sized serving.

That is NOT what we got.

The sancocho arrived in a large bowl with rice on the side, and it was absolutely delicious. It was hearty, flavorful, and filling enough that we were already pretty full before our main courses arrived.

For our entrees, my husband ordered Dominican fried chicken with green plantains, while I ordered the beef steak with onions.

Both were delicious.

By the time dessert was offered, we had to decline because that sancocho had already done its job. 😂

Sofrito was one of those meals where I left thinking, "Yeah, I'd eat that again."

Spumante: Our Italian Dinner

Spumante was the resort's Italian restaurant, and the dress code was casual elegant.

The restaurant was open from approximately 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM, and we actually tried to eat there once before but encountered a wait, so we ended up eating somewhere else.

When we eventually got a table, I started with the minestrone soup. My husband ordered the Trapizzini alla Culinaria. He enjoyed his appetizer for the most part, while the minestrone wasn't really my favorite.

For our main courses, I ordered a chicken penne pasta with mushrooms, bacon, and Alfredo sauce. My husband ordered chicken Parmesan.

Unfortunately, the meal didn't go quite as smoothly as we'd hoped.

Before I even took my first bite, my husband noticed a piece of hair in my food. I immediately brought it to the server's attention and asked for a replacement. The server was very understanding and apologetic about the situation, which I appreciated.

When my replacement arrived, it wasn't exactly what I ordered. The pasta came with a different type of noodle and shrimp instead of chicken.

Thankfully, I'm not allergic to shrimp, so it wasn't a serious issue for me. The pasta was still edible, but it wasn't one of my favorite meals of the trip.

Interestingly, the server remembered us the next morning and stopped us to make sure we were okay. That small interaction actually meant a lot because it showed that he cared about what had happened and remembered the issue rather than simply brushing it off.

So while Spumante wasn't our favorite dining experience, the service recovery was handled with kindness.

Silk City: Teppanyaki Night

If you want to eat at Silk City, make sure you make a reservation.

This was the resort's Japanese teppanyaki-style restaurant, where guests sit around a large cooktop while the chef prepares the food right in front of you.

The experience was fun and interactive, and the meal came with sushi, miso soup, wine, and our main course.

The sushi was amazing. The miso soup was good, and my entree of shrimp, chicken, and rice was delicious.

We didn't have any complaints about this meal.

Silk City was also one of those experiences that felt different from simply walking into a buffet or ordering from a grill. You get dinner and entertainment at the same time, which made it feel like more of an experience.

The Nook Café

We also stopped by The Nook Café, which was a small café designed more for grabbing something and going than sitting around for a long meal.

I ordered the salmon sandwich, which was pretty small. It was okay and enjoyable, but nothing that I would specifically return for.

Now, the hot chocolate and chocolate loaf bread were a completely different story.

Those were delicious.

I actually went back for both of them because I enjoyed them so much. Sometimes it's the random little café item that ends up becoming your favorite snack of the trip.

The café was open practically around the clock, which made it a convenient option when you wanted something outside of the normal restaurant hours.

Dominican Dinner & Resort Events

Food wasn't limited to the restaurants.

The resort also hosted different events throughout the week where food was available, including a Dominican dinner. The Dominican dinner was set up in the plaza with tables for guests, and the food was served buffet-style while entertainment and a show took place.

We really enjoyed these types of events because they gave us the chance to experience more of the local culture without having to leave the resort.

The food at the Dominican dinner was tasty, and I liked that the experience wasn't simply about eating. It combined food, music, entertainment, and culture, which made it feel more like an actual vacation experience.

There were also other restaurants on the property that we didn't try simply because the cuisine wasn't really our thing. I think that's one of the benefits of staying at a larger all-inclusive resort. You don't have to force yourself to eat somewhere just because it's included. There are enough choices to find the places that fit your preferences.

Room Service

Of course, we had to try room service at least once.

I ordered a Caesar salad and pizza, while my husband ordered hot dogs. His hot dogs were served with different toppings, including chili, but he prefers his food very plain.

I specifically requested through the app that his hot dogs only have ketchup.

Unfortunately, when the order arrived, it wasn't prepared exactly as requested.

Again, this wasn't a huge issue, but it was another example of something I noticed during the trip: the resort app was convenient, but the information and requests submitted through it didn't always translate perfectly into what we received.

What About the Drinks?

Drinks were easy to find throughout the resort.

There were bars around the property, including the swim-up bars at the larger pools, and servers regularly walked around the pool areas asking guests if they wanted something to drink.

Since I'm not a big drinker, I didn't go crazy with the alcohol. One or two drinks is usually enough for me, and anything beyond that tends to make my stomach hurt.

But if you're someone who enjoys cocktails and wants that unlimited all-inclusive drink experience, you won't have to work very hard to find one.

The Stomach Situation

Now let's talk about something I didn't expect.

Our stomachs were fighting for their lives.

😂

Throughout the trip, both of us experienced some stomach issues. We obviously can't say with certainty what caused it. Traveling means you're eating different foods, drinking different water, eating at different times, and exposing your stomach to ingredients and preparation methods that may be different from what you're used to at home.

For us, it felt like our bodies were simply adjusting to a completely different diet.

I think it's important not to automatically assume that stomach problems while traveling mean the food was bad or unsafe. There are a lot of possible reasons for digestive issues when you're traveling, including dietary changes, unfamiliar ingredients, richer foods, increased alcohol consumption, and changes in routine.

Whatever the reason, our stomachs definitely let us know that they were not used to everything we were eating.

So if you're traveling to Punta Cana, I'd recommend bringing whatever basic stomach remedies you normally use when traveling and giving yourself some time to adjust to the food.

Our Favorite Places to Eat

After trying several restaurants and dining options around the resort, our favorites were pretty clear.

The Spoon was our go-to because of the variety and convenience. I could almost always find something I wanted, and the stewed beef or chicken with rice became a personal favorite.

Sofrito gave us one of our favorite sit-down meals of the trip. The atmosphere was beautiful, the Dominican Sancocho was incredible, and both of our entrees were delicious.

Barefoot Grill was perfect for those casual beach-and-pool days when we wanted something quick, filling, and easy.

Those three restaurants gave us completely different experiences, which is one of the things I liked about having so many dining options available.

So, How Was the Food at Breathless Punta Cana?

Overall, I'd say the food at Breathless Punta Cana was good.

There were definitely dishes that I loved, dishes that were just okay, and a couple of meals that didn't go exactly as planned. But we never found ourselves completely stuck wondering what we were going to eat.

The biggest thing I'd keep in mind is the restaurant schedule. Not every restaurant is open all day, and several of the specialty restaurants don't open until the evening. That can mean the restaurants that are open become busy, especially around dinner.

I'd also recommend checking the resort app before heading out for a meal. Just keep in mind that menus and schedules can change, and some experiences require reservations.

For us, the food was definitely one of the better parts of the resort experience. We found several meals that we'd happily eat again, and the variety made it easy to keep things interesting throughout an eight-day stay.

Would I go back and eat at Breathless Punta Cana again?

Absolutely.

And yes, I would be making sure that stewed beef and rice found its way onto my plate at least once. Maybe twice. Okay... probably several times. 😂

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