Deli 8 Restaurant-Bar

Address: on the Carretera Chapala - Jocotepec, in San Antonio, Tlayacapan
Phone: 376-766-1569
Hours: Open Mon - Fri 7 AM - 6 PM; Sat - Sun 9 AM - 8 PM

Wifi Available; Animal friendly.  
Credit Cards Accepted: MC and Visa
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Directions: From Walmart, drive east on the Carretera for approximately 1/2 mile. Deli 8 is located on the right, next to Handy Mail. Several parking spaces are located in front of the café and across the street on the lateral road.

First Impressions

Deli 8 Restaurant-Bar is a small, sidewalk café located in the strip of shops along the Carretera in San Antonio, Tlayacapan. There are 4 or 5 tables on the sidewalk, under an awning, and a few tables inside the restaurant dining area which opens onto the sidewalk.

This is casual dining with customers sipping coffee and reading the newspaper, others using the restaurant's wifi while expats gather for breakfast, their dogs lying at their feet.

At first glance, Deli 8 looks like just a coffee shop, but it is so much more. This is a full service restaurant that is open all day, everyday, and offers a full breakfast menu, lunch and dinner and even advertises happy hour every evening.

Menu

Deli 8 offers an amazing variety of dishes from their small kitchen. We had breakfast with friends on a cool December morning and found  a table outside. Our friends appreciated that their dog was welcome in the outside dining area.

We had heard very good things about Deli 8 but were unprepared for the large selection of tempting dishes on the menu. This included eggs any style, omelets, eggs Benedict, pancakes, French toast, waffles, oatmeal, enfrijoladas, chilaquiles, and even a club sandwich.


Two of us ordered waffles, one topped with strawberries and whipped cream and the other with cajeta - a caramel like sauce.

One of our group ordered enfrijoladas, tortillas wrapped around chicken and topped with cream sauce, and our other friend ordered pancakes and bacon.

Everything was served hot from the kitchen, though not all at the same time. The quality of our meals was so good that we hardly noticed the minor timing issue.



The enfrijoladas were the best our friend had every tasted - no other breakfast restaurant lakeside comes close, according to him. The waffles were hot and crisp, classic Belgian waffles filled with strawberries and whipped cream or topped with caramel. The pancakes were light and airy served with a generous portion of crisp bacon.

We had coffees and chai tea, but we could have chosen from a wide array of gourmet coffees, including cappuccino, hot chocolate and juices. Everything was so good that a few days later, we went back again for more.

We have only had breakfast at Deli 8, but after tasting the food, we are motivated to return and have lunch. Once we do, we will update this review. But, I couldn't let such a gem go unreported and un-reviewed another moment.

Service and Price

The service at Deli 8 is prompt and attentive. Our cups of coffee were topped off before they got completely empty. The only problem, and it is very minor, is that all of our food did not come out at the same time. The prices for breakfast start at 30 pesos with the most expensive item topping out at 65 pesos.

Their lunch menu offers a variety of baguettes, arrachera steak, spaghetti, hot dogs, hamburgers, bbq ribs, grilled chicken, salads, salmon in shrimp sauce, fish fillets, soup and more.

We can't wait to sample something from their extensive menu when we return. Deli 8 also serves wine and beer.

 

Our Recommendation ****

The owners and staff of Deli 8 go out of their way to do everything possible to delight their customers. What we liked? The delicious food cooked to order, a varied menu, attentive service, reasonable prices, wifi connection, convenient hours, and pleasant, unhurried atmosphere.

Eat at Deli 8. I insist.

Fonda Dona Lola

Fonda Dona Lola
Carretera Poniente 36
Ajijic, Mexic
376-766-4455
Hours: Mon - Wed 8 AM - 5 PM; Fri 8 AM - 5 PM; Closed Thursday; Sat - Sun 8 AM - 3 PM
No Credit Cards accepted

Directions: Head west from Walmart on the Carretera approximately 2 miles. Just over the hill, on the west side of Ajijic, Fonda Dona Lola is found on the left (lakeside) across from Casa del Waffle and the car wash.  Ample parking in front of restaurant.

First Impressions

The auditorium size restaurant is located on the main highway through Ajijic, just west of town. The huge brick building sits back off the highway and is easy to miss.

Steps lead into the vast dining room, however, a ramp provides access for those unable to manage the steps.

Abundant parking is located in front of the restaurant. The dining room is open and very clean and reminiscent of a school cafeteria.


Menu and Service

We visited Fonda Dona Lola based on the recommendation of a friend, who told us to try their breakfast.

We arrived early and found a table close to the door. We were one of two couples having breakfast on a Monday morning. The waiter came to our table immediately and handed us an extensive breakfast menu, written in English.

We were served coffee and a basket of toasted bakery bread while we considered what, among the tasty offerings, we would order.

The menu included an impressive number of traditional egg dishes, pancakes, fruit as well as Mexican specialties.

We settled on pancakes and were glad we did. Our breakfasts were served hot from the kitchen.
We were pleasantly surprised, as these are some of the best pancakes we have had in the area.

The bacon was crisp, just the way we like it and the scrambled eggs were cooked to retain some moisture, and were fluffy, though not undercooked. 

The waiter was attentive, filling our coffee cups several times during the course of the meal.

Price

Every menu item at Fonda Dona Lola is reasonably priced. Our pancake breakfasts, one with bacon and the other with scrambled eggs, a basket of fresh bread, and two cups of coffee came to an amazing $110 pesos, about $8.50.

Our Recommendation ***

Fonda Dona Lola has to be one of the best deals in town for breakfast. The food and service are good and it is nice to find a place with adequate parking right in front of the restaurant.