Restaurant Reviews

Lake Chapala may just be paradise for those who enjoy dining out and eating wonderful, creative food. This guide to our favorite restaurants is just that - our very own favorites. We have ranked them according to their menu selections, service, ambiance and price and have personally eaten at them all, sometimes more than once. If you think we have left out a really good restaurant, it is probably because we haven't eaten there yet. Let us know and we will make a visit and add our review to this guide. Buen Provecho!

Monday, January 27, 2014

Tony's Plus Restaurant Bar

Address: Carretera Chapala-Jocotepec #149, San Antonio, Tlayacapan
Phone: 376-766-4614  Reservations: 376-766-4069
Hours of Operation: Thursday - Tuesday 12 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Closed Wednesday
Facebook Page: Restaurante Tony's Plus
Email: Tonysplus@live.com

Directions: From Walmart travel east on the Carretera approximately 1/2 mile. Tony's will be on the right (lakeside) in the Superlake shopping center. There is parking in front of Tony's Restaurant.

First Impressions

Tony's Restaurant Bar is not the kind of place that I would normally choose to dine. Quaint is okay with me and so is funky. But Tony's is located in a run down strip mall along the Carretera.

However, this restaurant is close to where I live and came highly recommended to us by many friends who have lived here for a long time.

Tony's is well known for high quality steak dinners. So, we finally got up the nerve to give it a try. Tony also owns the carniceria next door so you know his steaks are fresh.

Tony's Plus Restaurant Bar is a place we have returned to several times because of the menu selections and the consistent quality of the food.

 

Menu

Tony's Restaurant has a large and varied menu that include salads, soups, appetizers, chicken dishes, shrimp, pork and steak as well as daily specials.

A nice selection of traditional Mexican dishes are also available, such as burritos, tacos on flour or corn tortillas, and beef or chicken fajitas.



As soon as you are seated, a waiter brings a plate of corn totopos to the table, along with a bowl of pico de gallo, pickled carrots and a mango salsa to help you stave off hunger while you wait for your meal to be cooked to order.

If you prefer to start your meal with a fresh salad, there are several from which to choose -  green salad, Cesar salad and a mixed salad, as well as variations of these that include meat.


The steak menu offers T-Bone, Rib Eye and Arrachera, a tender marinated steak, and Beef Shish Kebob.

Meals are served with your choice of flour or corn tortillas.

Ask the waiter what is available for dessert and he will recite a list of pies -  peanut butter, pecan  and lemon pie - as well as cheesecake and flan.

We chose the flan to split between us and it was delicious.

Ambiance


Tony's interior is decorated with murals depicting the lake and mountains. There are plants hanging from the ceiling and an open courtyard at the back of the restaurant. The entire front is open to the street, which some may find unpleasant.

Like many restaurants in town, they play music from the 1960's and 1970's that they must think all Norte Americanos of a certain age like to hear. I want to go on record now that I have heard enough Classic Rock music to last me the rest of my life.

I wish they would just play Mexican music - softly - in the background. After all, we came here to enjoy the local culture. During an afternoon meal very recently, a dog somewhere behind the courtyard was barking nonstop through our entire meal. 

Tony's is a fine place for lunch or early dinner and the food is good. But, the environment is not conducive to romantic dinners or a special occasion. There is too much noise, from outside the restaurant and from within.

Service

Though we have heard some complaints about spotty service at Tony's, we have always enjoyed good service from the waiters. They are polite and prompt.

They do not hover around us, but check periodically to make sure our dinner is good and that we don't need anything at that moment. They are knowledgeable about the menu and specials.


Price

I have included some pictures from the actual menu that includes prices. Tony's is moderately priced, about the same as finer restaurants in Ajijc. The day we ate at Tony's, we had two glasses of wine each, two entrees and a dessert between us and the final bill was $360 pesos, about $30. I certainly cannot complain about those prices!

Our Recommendation ***

Tony's Plus Restaurant is a nice place for a casual meal, for a steak dinner or Mexican food. The quality is consistent and the prices right.

 





Pranzo Bistro

Address: Carretera Ote. #103 ( at the entrance to La Floresta)
Phone: (376) 766 1668
Hours of Operation: Wednesday- Sunday 8a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Reservations Accepted
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pranzobistroajijic

Directions: From Walmart, travel west on the Carretera approximately 1/2 mile. Pranzo is located on your the left just behind the large modern statues at the entrance to La Floresta. Turn right at the first light, to avoid being caught in the cross traffic when the light changes. There is ample parking on the frontage road in front of the restaurant.

First Impressions

Pranzo Bistro is a very pleasant sidewalk café and Italian eatery, on the Carretera in Ajijc. When we first arrived in town we were not anxious to eat Italian food. But, every time we passed this pleasant little sidewalk café, it was full of expats eating and enjoying the outdoor patio. We knew it was just a matter of time before we tried Pranzo Bistro. The first time we visited Pranzo was after walking through the Wednesday tiangus nearby. We had a late breakfast, which was very good.


Menu

The breakfast menu includes dishes such as chiliquiles, a variety of crepes, and a very good Spanish omelet. The lunch menu offers sandwiches, paninis, pizza and a variety of salads.

For dinner, choose from a well reviewed vegetarian lasagna, fettucini with shrimp, Hawaiian chicken, tempura fish and much more.

Portions are very generous. Pranzo Bistro serves wine and beer as well as a variety of non-alcohol beverages.

 

Ambiance

Pranzo Bistro customers dine al fresco, under umbrellas on the large sidewalk patio in front of the café. Because of the close proximity of the Carretera, the traffic noise can be bothersome at times, but most people don't seem to mind since overall, eating at Pranzo Bistro is a pleasant experience.

The day we visited, some young vendors stopped by the table selling candy and wooden toys and a tour guide stopped at the table to promote his services.

Constant interruption of your meal to talk to one sidewalk vendor or service promoter after another becomes annoying after a while. I would prefer to dine without having vendors interrupt my conversation, and meal to sell something to me. The afternoon we were there, street musicians played for diners, which was very nice. 

 

Service

The waiters at Pranzo Bistro are attentive and prompt. I have grown accustomed to the excellent service at lakeside restaurants, and Pranzo Bistro is another in the long list of local restaurants that offers excellent service to their guests. I listened as the table of expats seated next to us addressed the waiter so rudely that I was tempted to speak up in his defense. However, the waiter handled the customers politely and skillfully, taking good care of customers who, in my opinion, should have been asked to leave.

Price

Prices are very reasonable at Pranzo Bistro. Two entrees and a glass of wine each will cost less than $260 pesos, or $15 USD  at current exchange rates.

Our Recommendation ***

Pranzo Bistro is nice place for lunch, especially after a late morning walk through the Wednesday tiangus.

The quality of the food is very good, service attentive and atmosphere, for the most part, is pleasant. The only drawbacks are the constant traffic noise on the Carretera and the vendors selling their wares among the diners. But, if the young musicians are playing, you won't even notice these small issues.

Yves Restaurant Bar

Address: Carretera Poniente #493
Phone: 376- 766- 3565
Website: Yves Restaurant

Hours of Operation:  Monday - Tuesday 8a.m. - 8:30 p.m.; Thursday - Sunday 8 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Closed Wednesday
Credit Cards Accepted

Directions:  From Walmart, travel west on the Carretera through Ajijic. Approximately 1 mile past Calle Colon, Yves is on the left in a former inn. Turn left on either Calle Flores Magon or  Calle Rio Bravo then take the unpaved frontage road to Yves. There is parking on the road in front of Yves, just keep an eye out for Vino Blanco and Martini, the resident mother/son burros!

First Impressions

Yves Restaurant Bar was one of the first restaurants we visited when we arrived in Ajjijc. At that time, it was situated on the lakefront with beautiful views from the  patio of the mountains across the lake and the pelicans taking off from the marsh grasses.

Now located on the Carretera, the new Yves Restaurant still conveys a pleasant, al fresco atmosphere. The new location may be difficult to find for first time visitors because it is located off a small frontage road, behind the brick walls of a former inn, but there are signs indicating the entrance on the Carretera and the ubiquitous white burro, Vino Blanco, may just be grazing near the entrance.

Menu

Yves serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, one of the few restaurants in town that manages to pull off this feat and do it well. We usually visit at lunch time and are offered the choice of ordering off the breakfast or lunch menu. Since it is gauche - even for us - to drink a glass of wine at breakfast, we usually order off the lunch menu. We have never been disappointed with our meal at Yve's.  .

Breakfast ranges from salmon and cream cheese omelets to pancakes served with their very own honey to the Mexican specialty, chilaquiles. Lunch is an eclectic mix of Mexican standards, Italian food, burgers and soups. Yves is known for their wonderful salad bar that is available during lunch and dinner service.

Order off the dinner menu, if you are hankering for some wonderful Arrachera or Sea Bass with Garlic Shrimp, beginning at 1 p.m. Yves offers beer and wine as well as a full bar and has a variety of non alcohol beverages.

* Update: Yves serves a really good breakfast. This morning we stopped in for coffee and decided to order mushroom, cheese and spinach omelets. The dishes were served with hash brown potatoes and a choice of bacon or sausages and came with toasted wheat bread, accompanied by freshly made strawberry jam. You can also order juices, or a mimosa, with your breakfast.

Ambience

We loved Yves lakefront location, so I was prepared to be disappointed in the new venue. However, the new location is very nice in its own way - outdoor seating under umbrellas, a pool that has been transformed into a pond with fountain, and the ever present burro, a sort of mascot for the restaurant, grazing under a nearby stand of trees.

Yve's Restaurant Bar is located on the Carretera, yet the atmosphere is quiet and serene, thanks to the brick walls of the old inn.

The restroom - only one to accommodate both men and women - is spotless. The owner was buzzing about when we had lunch recently, greeting guests and making sure the details of the lunch service were just right.

Yves opens early, which we particularly like, so if we are in town before the traditional lunch starts at most local restaurants (usually not before 12:30 p.m.) we know we can get a good meal, in a beautiful atmosphere.


Service

The service at Yves is very good - prompt, courteous, efficient. We were seated quickly and our drink order taken right away. The owner is on hand to make sure that his guests are greeted and are happy with their meals.

Waiters have a much larger area to cover now, with seating along the water feature, under a grove of trees and inside the restaurant, but they don't seem to have a problem making sure that all of their guests are well served.

Yves, himself,  has extensive experience in the restaurant business and it is apparent in the service and quality of the food.

Price

Yves Restaurant and Bar is moderately priced, in keeping with comparable restaurants in Ajijic. Monday is specially priced at 10% off all lunch and dinner tickets. Salad is included with most entrees and if you order an appetizer, the salad bar is half price.

Our Recommendation ****

Yves Restaurant and Bar has relocated from the lake front but has not lost its charm, high quality food or excellent service. This is a popular place for breakfast - especially on Sunday morning or romantic lunch. In the high season, make reservations, especially if you are coming with a large group.

 

Restaurant Min Wah

Address: Callejon Al Tepalo #96-A
Phone: 376-766-0686
Facebook: Restaurant Min Wah
Hours of Operation: Monday - Sunday 8AM to 8PM
Restaurant has off street parking lot

Directions: From Walmart drive west on the Carretera towards Ajijic. At the stoplight at the Carretera and Calle Encarnacion Rosas, turn right, towards the mountain. Donas Donuts is on the corner and will be on the right when you make this turn. Restaurant Min Wah is 2 1/2 blocks on the right. There is a large dragon over the entrance to the restaurant's parking lot.

First Impressions

Can you find good Chinese food in Mexico? Why yes. In fact, we have a very good Chinese restaurant right here in Ajijic. Restaurant Min Wah is located off the main tourist corridor, on a steep narrow road leading up the mountain. But, don't let that deter you from finding this great place to enjoy a traditional Chinese meal.
Restaurant Min Wah Entrance

A Chinese dragon sits atop the entrance to their parking lot, letting you know that you have arrived. It had been so long since we had tasted good Chinese food that we did not hold out much hope of finding a good Chinese restaurant in Mexico. How nice to find Restaurant Min Wah. The food is very good - surprisingly good.

Restaurant Min Wah bills themselves as Super Cocina China and they try to live up to their claim with an extensive menu for dining in and take out.


Menu

The Restaurant Min Wah menu offers a large selection of standard Chinese dishes that include Chow Mein, Chop Suey, Fried Rice, and Egg Foo Young.
As a starter, chose from an impressive variety of soups; Sizzling Rice Soup, Wonton Soup, Hot and Sour Soup, Chicken Noodle Soup and several more. I like the Egg Flower Soup, or Sopa de Flor De Huevo.
Entrees include Almond Chicken, Cashew Chicken, Garlic Chicken, Mongolian Beef, Beef with Broccoli, Curry Beef, Sweet and Sour Pork, BBQ Pork with Broccoli, Mu Shu Shrimp, Shrimp with Lobster Sauce, Vegetarian Dishes and much, much more. From 11:00 to 2:00 p.m. you can also order breakfast.     

Restaurant Min Wah has a full bar and a large selection of non-alcohol drinks. If you don't feel like eating out, call ahead for take out.

Ambiance

Restaurant Min Wah strives to convey an authentic Chinese atmosphere. It is hard to miss the giant dragon over the entrance to the parking lot and the water feature at the base of the entrance ramp.

Inside, large picture windows give the dining room an open feeling. There are tables for two and larger tables that will accommodate a crowd.

We went to lunch with four couples and were easily accommodated. Restaurant Min Wah is very quiet, so a good place to dine to enjoy conversation. The restrooms are spotless.

Restaurant Min Wah is open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., serving breakfast everyday but Tuesday. On Tuesdays they open at 11 AM


Service

The waitresses are prompt and efficient, taking our drink orders immediately after we were seated and happily providing a separate check for each of the couples at our table. After we ordered, the wait was not long before the first course was served. In contrast to some restaurants, where the wait staff intrudes upon your meal, our waitress at Restaurant Min Wah was very stealthy, dropping in to fill glasses with more water or tea without interrupting our conversation. Very nice.

 

Price  

Restaurant Min Wah  is one of the least expensive meals we have eaten in a lakeside restaurant. In addition to a full menu, and dishes served a la carte, a lunch special daily is available from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This special includes soup, rice, fried wonton, and a selection of eleven different entrées and hot or ice tea, all for just $85 pesos. So, two people can eat lunch for about $13 - quite a bargain.

Our Recommendation ****

If you are craving good Chinese food, Restaurant Min Wah is the place to go in Ajijic. Dine in for a very pleasant experience or order take out.

   


Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Roberto's

Address: Carretera Poniente #35, Ajijic
Phone: 376-766-1616

Website: www.Robertosrestaurante.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/robertosrestaurante

Hour of Operation: Wednesday through Saturday 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday Brunch 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Parking: On the right, off the Carretera, in front of Roberto's.
Live Entertainment

Directions: From Walmart, drive west on the Carretera through Ajijic, approximately 4 kilometers. As you head out of town, you will come to a small hill. Just over the hill on the right, Roberto's is just past Calle 5 de Febrero. If you reach Calle A. Obregon you have gone too far. Look for the tables set up outside the hacienda gates.

First Impressions

Roberto's was difficult for us to find the first time. Everyone gave us vague directions. It is located right on the Carratera so it should have been easy to spot.

Right? Well, no. Not unless you know where to look you can drive right by it and never know it was there. * Roberto's now has a prominent sign in front of the restaurant. It is on the right, as you come over the hill heading west out of Ajijic. Roberto's is situated on a hill just above the Carretera.  The picture, left, is of the front of the restaurant.


It would be a shame to bypass Roberto's because it is a very good restaurant offering consistently delicious food in a beautiful old hacienda.

Plentiful parking in front of the restaurant and a few tables are set up outside the gates to help customers find the entrance. This is another of our favorite restaurants in Ajijic.

* See below for update on Sunday Brunch at Roberto's.


The Menu

Robert's menu offers a wide variety of dishes - steaks, chicken, seafood, salads. This is North American style food prepared well.

Once  you are seated, the waiter takes your drink order and delivers a basket of warm bread and croquetas de la zanahoria (carrot croquettes) to your table to stave off hunger while you browse the menu.



Some of dishes available daily include Panko Encrusted Fish, Steak Diane, Crab Cakes, Salmon Dijon, Moo Shu Pork, Mongolian Beef.

Brunch is available on Sunday mornings with dishes that include a brunch burrito, salmon scrambled eggs, pancakes and bananas foster, eggs Florentine and crepes.

We visited Roberto's to sample their Sunday Brunch for ourselves and it was scrumptious. There are so many creative, tempting dishes from which to choose.


We finally settled on Robert's Special Breakfast of eggs, ham, bacon, hash browns and praline French toast. Before the meal arrived, we were served  a fruit plate with a seafood spread and two toasted and buttered slices of bread. The waiter also delivered a basket of fresh bread  and carrot fritters.

We also ordered Roberto's Breakfast Special, a frittata-type concoction of chorizo, spinach, mushrooms, peppers, onions and eggs with creamy potatoes on the side.


To drink, we chose freshly squeezed orange juice and coffee. Coffee was included in the price of the meal. When we thought we were finished and full to the brim, our waiter brought out two small bites of very rich cheese cake that neither of us could resist. Roberto's has to serve the best Sunday brunch lakeside.

Roberto's offers special menus during the holidays. Spring is here, and the advertised special for St Patrick's Day will feature a special meal of corned beef hash made in house.


There is a full bar offering mixed drinks, wine and beer. Sunday brunch features drink specials, including Mimosas, Champagne, Vino Blanco
and Bloody Mary for $50 pesos each.

 

Service

Once again, we observed the service at Roberto's and found it to be impeccable. The waiters are very attentive, watching to refill your coffee cup or bring another drink as soon as your glass is empty, friendly and unobtrusive.

We never feel rushed when eating at Roberto's. I appreciate this about a restaurant. If I am made to feel like I could linger all day, I am apt to order another drink, or a dessert to share. We had only been a few times before the waiters recognized us as regular customers.

Ambience


The unassuming entrance hides dining areas perched above the road and shielded from noise by a lush landscape. The wooden gate opens up to a  small flight of steps into an old hacienda turned restaurant.


Musicians play on Sunday afternoon.
A waiter will rush forward to greet you and make sure you are seated in one of the cozy dining areas outside, or in the larger dining room inside the casa. It is easy to find a cozy, romantic corner at Roberto's for an intimate lunch or dinner.

The décor is old Mexico, though the food is definitely Norte Americano. If there is entertainment, it is probably best to dine in one of the indoor dining rooms, as the music can make it difficult to hold a conversation. There is ample parking in front of the restaurant and it is a fairly easy walk from Ajijic.


Price

Roberto's is a moderately priced restaurant. The Sunday Brunch is priced between $75 - $120 pesos. Lunch entrees are smaller versions of the dinner menu and prices start at $65 pesos, with the most expensive dish at $120 pesos (less than $10).

Dinner prices range from $120 pesos to $150 pesos. The price for our Sunday Brunch was $175 pesos.


Our Recommendation ****


Roberto's is a nice place to have a delicious lunch or perfect for a romantic dinner. This is also a great place to entertain guests. That is my grinning brother in one of the pictures above. He loved celebrating his birthday at Roberto's. We highly recommend Roberto's for delicious food.

After today, we can also recommend Roberto's for Sunday Brunch. The chefs are very creative, the food is so good and the overall experience is delightful


Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Ajijic Tango

Address: Calle Morelos #5, Ajijic
Phone: 376-766-2458
Hours of Operation: Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 12:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 12:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.; Sunday 12:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.; Closed Tuesday.
Website: www.Ajijictango.com
Credit Cards Accepted
Reservations encouraged for dinner on weekdays, no reservations accepted Saturday or Sunday.

Directions: From Walmart, drive west on the Carretera towards Ajijic, to right on Calle Juarez, one block past Calle Colon. Turn right onto Calle Flores and right onto Calle Colon. Travel towards the lake, approximately 5 blocks. When you cross Calle Ocampo, Calle Colon turns into Calle Morelos. Tango is on the right, 1/2 block past Calle Ocampo. Limited parking on Morelos but there is parking at the malecon 1 1/2 blocks past Tangos

First Impressions

Tango is the place to eat in Ajijic. The walls of this lovely dining room are decorated with the work of local artists.

The dining room fills quickly when the doors open at 12:30 p.m. The menu is eclectic, Argentinian-inspired, with interesting soups, sandwiches, pizzas and steaks.

This is one of the restaurants in town where you are likely to see someone you know during your meal because everyone eats here.


Though we have visited during lunch hours and in the evening, we have never had to wait long to be seated.

The Menu

Tango is billed as an Argentinian restaurant so we expected the steaks to be very good - and they are. The steaks are USDA inspected and prepared perfectly, particularly the arrachera, which is fork- tender.

Begin the meal with an appetizer, such as Spanish sausage, fillet carpaccio, empanadas (corn, beef, spinach and cheese and sausage) or spinach croquettes. There is also a variety of fresh salads available.

Entrees include homemade pastas, wood fired pizzas, steaks, chicken and fish dishes. The $60 peso lunch special is available from 12:30 to 1:30 daily, on weekdays with a limited selection of soups, sandwiches and pizza. The dessert menu features alfajour, (pastry with milk, jelly and nuts), crepes, and chocolate cake and vigilante, a cheese and sweet potato candy, Tango has a full bar, including wine and beers.

Ambience

Tango has a nice, open dining room and though the restaurant is often full, it never seems noisy. There are no intimate corners for romantic dinners, but the atmosphere is pleasant.

On occasion I have felt rushed by wait staff that hover close by, eyeing your progress and grabbing a plate or glass off the table the moment it is empty.

The last time this happened I was perturbed enough that I decided to forego dessert and a final glass of wine. I have grown used to the leisurely tempo of Mexican mealtimes and do not like to be rushed.

Besides feeling like I need to hang onto my serving utensils and wine glass, Tango's atmosphere is warm and inviting and the décor attractive. The bathrooms are spotless.

Service

The waiters are prompt and efficient - a little too prompt for me, as I explained above. Perhaps they have been scolded by impatient customers in the past and are now over-compensating, but this is only a minor issue and a personal peeve, nothing that should keep you from trying one of the nicest restaurants in Ajijic.

Price

Prices are very reasonable, especially if you visit at lunch time and order from their limited, but delicious, $60 peso menu. The line forms at the door before opening time and the restaurant fills quickly with other budget minded patrons. If you are dining in the evening, expect to pay about $450 pesos for an appetizer, 2 entrees and two glasses of wine each.

Our Recommendation ****

Good food, prompt service, reasonable prices. We recommend Tango as a great place for lunch or dinner.

Tabarka

Ramon Corona 2-A, Ajijic, Mexico
Phone: 376 766 1588

Credit Cards Accepted - Visa and Mastercard
Hours: Tuesday - Sun 12pm - 10pm. Closed Monday.  

Directions: Tabarka's new location is just north of Lake Chapala Society in Ajijic. There is limited parking along the calle.

Tabarka has a second location, Tacos Frida, located along the Carretera in San Antonio, Tlayacapan, across from Super Lake for more casual fare.

First Impressions

Tabarka serves gourmet Basque/Spanish food, some of the best we have tasted anywhere. If you want to impress guests, take them to Tabarka for dinner. This is a great restaurant in a new setting very close to Lake Chapala Society.

The owner, Chef David, is from Alicante, Spain and oversees the preparation of each dish. We love to eat lunch here in the afternoon and indulge in the tapas or paella.

 Menu

The menu changes daily and is written on a white board that the waiter brings to your table. The specialty of the house are the tapas and we highly recommend ordering the set price tapas
special and taste whatever the chef decides to prepare, based on the season and availability of fresh ingredients.

The tapas special is available for a set price or can be ordered individually. Each dish is a pleasant and delicious surprise. Slices of Spanish tortilla, exquisitely prepared small plates of fish, fried eggplant, meatballs, and tiny bowls of soup. Paella is the specialty of the house


Tapas from the kitchen

Paella is prepared fresh when ordered so your patience is requested since the chef needs at least thirty minutes to prepare this dish properly.

Tabarka has a full bar with mixed drinks available as well as selection of wine and beer. Ask for a recommendation, and the waiter will suggest a wine from the chef's home region in Spain.

 

Ambience

The dining room at Tabarka is al fresco, under  covered tables that shields from the sun and rare showers.

Art by Spanish artists covers the walls. Tabarka has created a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere for a romantic lunch, or to entertain friends. For those who are without a vehicle while visiting Lake Chapala, Tabarka is now much easier to reach in the new central Ajijic location.  

Service

Service is very good. When you order the tapas special you never have to wait very long between dishes before another scrumptious dish is placed before you.

The waiters are knowledgeable about every dish on the menu and can be trusted to give good recommendations. They bring the menu board to your table and explain each dish. 

Every time we have visited Tabarka, Chef David greets us at the table at some time during the meal. We have learned a lot about Spain and the traditional foods from this area by talking to David.

Our Recommendation  *****

If you must choose one really outstanding place to have dinner in Ajijic, go to Tabarka. This is gourmet food, prepared by a master chef who really cares about what he serves.

The open air seating is pleasant. The prices are very reasonable, especially considering the impressive quality of the dishes.


 

Monday, January 20, 2014

Restaurant Isla Cozumel

Address: Paseo Ramon Corona #22A, Chapala
Phone: 376-765-4606 or 376-765-7515
Hours: Open daily, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Credit Cards Accepted


Directions: From Walmart, drive east on the Carretera approximately 7 kilometers to the first red light in Chapala. Turn right at the light, onto Madero and left on Paseo Ramon Corona, which runs along the waterfront. Isla Cozumel is located at the end of the malecon, next to the giant palapa.



View from outdoor seating at Restaurant Isla Cozumel

First Impressions

Restaurant Isla Cozumel is a great place to eat after a walk on the malecon and a boat ride to Scorpion Island. There are wandering mariachis and unlimited wine and margaritas included in the price of the entrées. Lake Chapala is famous for near perfect climate and we visited Restaurnat Isla Cozumel on a particularly fine afternoon in November.



The Menu

Restaurant Isla Cozumel offers a variety of seafood and traditional Mexican dishes. The waiters are quick to bring out chips and salsa, followed by an appetizer of totopos with a refried bean and cheese topping.  The menu offers a large variety of seafood dishes and traditional Mexican plates -  fried shrimp, garlic shrimp, coconut shrimp, ceviche de pescado, scallops, octopus, filet relleno de mariscos, and calamare. 

They also offer steaks and traditional Mexican dishes, including a wonderful hot molcajete - a dish of melted cheeses and seafood. Our favorite dish is Costa Azul Camarones, which is a bacon wrapped, cheese stuffed shrimp. The bacon is not greasy, but more like a thinly sliced ham. This is so delicious we highly recommend that at least someone in your party try this dish and share - if you can force yourself to after the first bite.
The restaurant has a full bar, but just be aware that if you order the house wine or margaritas, then the price of those is included in your entrée. The waiters will bring out refills in huge icy pitchers and there is no additional cost. Our guests did not believe us when we told them this. If you have company to entertain, this makes taking them to dinner a real bargain.

Ambience

We always choose a sunny day to visit Restaurant Isla Cozumel and sit outdoors at the end of the malecon and engage in people watching. The best day to do this is Sunday, because a lot of visitors come to the lake from Guadalajara.

There is a market that runs along the street-side of the malecon and native dancers and musicians that you can watch from your ringside seat. Wandering mariachis stop by the table and sing a ballad or two to you while you enjoy your meal.


Service

I am becoming very spoiled living in Mexico. Service is always polite, prompt, courteous and that is exactly what you will find at Restaurant Isla Cozumel. We practice our limited Spanish on the waiters and they are very kind and accommodating. The restaurant is very clean and the bathrooms are spotless. This is a go-to place for us when we are entertaining guests from NOB.

Price  

As we alluded to above, Restaurant Isla Cozumel is a real bargain. The prices are very reasonable, you are served complementary appetizers immediately upon being seated that are over and above the standard chips and salsa. The food is delicious and is accompanied by all you can drink wine and margaritas. Dinner for four hungry Americans, including drinks and tip, was $550 pesos, about $42.

Our Recommendation ****

This is a wonderful place to eat, not only because the food is very good, but because the setting is wonderful. We recommend a day in Chapala to include the vendors and a quick trip out to Scorpion Island and then return for a late lunch at Restaurant Isla Cozumel.




Sunday, January 19, 2014

Viva Mexico, Tia Lupita's

Address: Porfirio Diaz #92, San Juan Cosala
Phone: 387-761-1058
Hours: Friday through Wednesday 12 - 8 p.m.; Closed Thursdays

Directions: From Walmart, drive west on the Carretera through Ajijic, approximately 6 kilometers. At the first traffic light in San Juan Cosala, turn left on Calle del Cardenal. Travel one block. Turn right on Porfirio Diaz. Viva Mexico, Tia Lupita's is 2 blocks on the right.





Outside View of Viva Mexico! Tia Lupita's

First Impressions

Viva Mexico, Tia Lupita's is family owned and one of the best restaurants lakeside for traditional Mexican food and wonderful steaks. We visited on a Sunday afternoon and the restaurant was moderately full. We did not have a reservation but were seated promptly.

Like many places in Mexico the outside appearance belies what is found inside. The décor is traditional Mexicana, artsy, clean, inviting. The day we visited, mariachi's were playing in the courtyard.



The Menu

Salsa Prepared Tableside
Not long after you are seated and have placed your drink order, a chef  arrives at your table with a large stone molcajete and all the ingredients to make a delicious salsa, to your specifications.

The menu includes traditional items such as chiles en nogada, which  is a specialty of the house. We have had this dish in other restaurants in Mexico, but this is still the best we have ever tasted.


Chiles en Nogada - Delicious!
The steaks are also delicious and perfectly prepared. Filet mignon and buffalo steak are served sizzling and perfectly grilled.
Wine and beer are available  as well as mixed drinks and they are locally famous for their extra large margaritas.

Service

Service is very good, as it is almost everywhere in Mexico. Our waiters were attentive, but we never felt rushed. We especially enjoyed the tableside preparation of salsa.

 


Ambience

Viva Mexico! Tia Lupita's can be recognized by the large mural painted on the outside of the building. Inside, the dining rooms are large and open with traditional art on the walls. The lightening is subdued and romantic. It is a comfortable, rather than elegant, place to spend a leisurely afternoon enjoying a wonderful meal. It is also a great place to meet friends and can accommodate large groups.


Price

The prices at Tia Lupita's are very reasonable. Where else can you find an 8 oz. filet mignon for $9.00? Expect to pay about $350 pesos for dinner and wine. Credit cards are not accepted.

Our Recommendation ****

You will love this restaurant. The food and service is excellent. Try the chilies en nogada, if it is in season. You won't be sorry!

Gossip's Kitchen

Address: Carretera #36 at Javier Mina,  Ajijic
Phone Number: 376 766-0217
Hours: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Closed Sunday
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gossips
Contact: gossips.kitchen@gmail.com

Directions : From Walmart, drive west on the Carretera to Ajijic. One block past Donas Donuts (mountainside) and Actnivar Bank (lakeside), is Gossip's Kitchen, at the intersection of the Carreterra and Javier Mina.

*Watch for their new location opening soon at the new Rose Bowl Mall in San Antonio, Tlay. which will be open for breakfast and lunch.

First Impressions

Gossips is one of our favorite restaurants. The chef and owner, Ismat Jivani, has created an African-fusion menu that is simply some of the best food you will find lakeside. Jivani was born in Nairobi, Kenya and trained at the Santa Fe School of Cooking in New Mexico. How lucky we are that he decided to open a restaurant in Ajijic in 2011, after having been the in-house consultant for former lakeside restaurant, Number 4. Gossip's Kitchen is located on a busy street corner and it can get a little noisy, since the best seats in the house are on the patio, but once you taste the food you will forget about the traffic. The restaurant has been recently updated with new paint and a sturdy barrier between guests and the street.

The Menu

Crab Cakes - My Favorite!
Gossip's Kitchen offers a number of fresh salads, soups, sandwiches, curry, gumbo and creative fish dishes such as defried salmon, oysters and Paul Prudhomme inspired crab cakes. Gossip's Kitchen serves wine and beer and a selection of interesting mixed drinks.

The dessert menu is limited, but delicious. Bread pudding made with banana bread and served with ice cream and Key Lime Pie are standards and there is usually a dessert special as well. The last time we ate at Gossips the dessert special was boozy raspberries over ice cream. The new menu has many old favorites and some new creations made to share - like Shells from Hell, lump crabmeat coated in coconut - and Satay. Oysters are still featured on the menu and there are always at least two scrumptious specials.

The only complaint I have is that they do not serve coffee, which would make their dessert course perfect.




The Service

The waiters at Gossips have worked there for as long as we have been living After only a few visits, the owner and staff make you feel like old friends. The service is friendly, prompt and conscientious. We have never had a bad meal at Gossips and have always had excellent service. It is one reason that we continue to return again and again.

Ambience

Gossips ambience is funky. It is situated on a busy street corner on the main road that runs through all the lakeside villages so it can be loud from the street noise. In the winter, they lower a plastic curtain to dull some of the noise and to keep in the warmth.

We almost always sit outside, unless the patio is full and then we sit indoors, across from the open kitchen. There is a mermaid painted on the outside wall admonishing you to "eat more oysters and love longer."

Price

Lunch for two, with a dessert and two glasses of wine apiece, about $400 pesos. Credit cards are not accepted.

Our Recommendation ****

This is a great place for lunch or dinner. Try the crab cakes or the deep fried salmon and don't leave without splitting a banana bread pudding with someone you love.


Saturday, January 18, 2014

Sunrise Restaurant


Address: Carretera  #149 C, San Antonio, Tlayacapan
Phone Number: 376-766-6123
Hours of Operation: Tuesday through Saturday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Closed Mondays

Directions: From Walmart, head east on the Carreterra approximately 1/2 miles to the intersection of the Carreterra and Ramon Velasquez. The restaurant is on the right (lakeside) next to the Ferreteria. If you pass the Oxxo, you have missed it. 



First Impressions

Courtyard Seating at Sunrise Restaurant
The entrance to the Sunrise Restaurant, from the Carreterra, looks uninteresting, even dreary, and for this reason we put off trying this wonderful little place for a long time.


We finally decided to have lunch here one sunny Saturday afternoon and were pleasantly surprised. The dining area, situated around a hidden courtyard, is lovely. In addition, the food is very good.

The Menu

For lunch, we had the "Combinacion Mexicana," a quesadilla, chicken enchilada and chile relleno served with fresh tortillas, so thin you could almost see through them.

We also tried Avocado Stuffed with Shrimp Salad.  Both dishes were excellent and very reasonably priced, lunch entrees average about $80 pesos. For dessert, we shared the flan, another good choice. It was creamy and delicious. Sunrise Restaurant has a full bar and daily drink specials.

Update: Sunrise Restaurant also serves a delicious breakfast - eggs cooked just right, bacon, sausage, baskets of fresh warm bread, hot coffee topped off by the waiter.   

Service  

The servers at Sunrise Restaurant are prompt and friendly. They made sure we never waited long for our drinks and brought salsa and chips to our table as we waited for our meal.
 
The restaurant is scrupulously clean with some of the best restrooms of any restaurant lakeside. 

Our Recommendation  ****

We highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for a great place to eat in San Antonio Tlayacapan for breakfast or lunch.