El Ancla

Address: Carretera Chapala-Jocotepec #976
Phone: (376) 106 2011
Hours of Operation: Monday - Saturday 12 p.m. - 9 p.m.; Closed Sunday

Facebook: www.facebook.com/elanclarestaurantbar&grill

Directions: From Walmart head west on the Carretera through Ajijic. Pass the Evento Centro and Los Sabinos. El Ancla Restaurant is approximately 1/2 mile on the left next to La Reserva housing development. There is ample parking in front of the restaurant. The buses east and westbound will stop in front of the restaurant.

First Impressions

We got off the bus too soon. We didn't realize that the local bus stops directly in front of El Ancla Restaurant Bar and Grill, but next time we will know and avoid having a pit bull follow us as we walk down the sidewalk.

And, there will be a next time. The food at El Ancla is excellent, yummy, delicious. The two story restaurant is situated at the end of a small strip shopping center filled with decorator stores

We have passed here a number of times and have not even noticed El Ancla, but after many recommendations (what better way to find a great restaurant?) we decided to visit during the lunch hour and give it a try.

We arrived too early, but that wasn't a problem for the staff, who set up a table for us, offered us a drink from the bar and brought the menu over so we could contemplate our order while they finished setting up the restaurant for the lunch crowd who actually knew the real hours of operation.

Menu

Wow, we were impressed by the menu. A nice selection of appetizers - mushrooms cooked in wine, shrimp stuffed avocado, skewered shrimp and mahi-mahi - a large number of entrees that included pasta, chicken, fish (mahi-mahi and basso) and shrimp.

Also available was what they promised was the best hamburger lakeside. We saw a lot of customers order the hamburger and fries, so this statement may not just be hyperbole.

We ordered the spinach stuffed chicken breast with poblano sauce and the appetizer-size fish and chips. These were both served freshly made and super hot.

My companion said that it was the best chicken dish he has tasted in the Lake Chapala area, and believe me, he has tasted a lot of them.

My fish and chips were very good, not greasy at all,  but hot, tender and flakey. Someone in the kitchen knows what they are doing.

For dessert, we shared the Bananas Flambé, served with vanilla ice cream. I always expect a flambé to be "flamed" at the table, but that may be asking a bit much.

The dessert tasted very good, even if we did not get to witness any drama associated with a flambéd dessert.

There were so many delicious items on the menu that it was hard to choose one. We will definitely return to try another delicious sounding entre. 

The service was prompt and accommodating, and as I noted earlier, they seated us and gave us a drink and set the menu in front of us while they continued readying the restaurant for opening. Can you tell how impressed I am at this kind of service?

El Ancla offers a variety of coffees, non alcoholic drinks, wine, beer and a full bar.

Ambiance

El Ancla Restaurant, Bar and Grill has a very pleasant and inviting environment. There is outdoor as well as indoor seating available.

Soft, easy listening music is playing in the background so you can have a conversation without having to shout over the music.

The restaurant is clean, inviting. It reminds me of a Scottish pub we used to frequent on the banks of Loch Fyne.

Right after opening time, the restaurant began to fill with customers. This is a good sign, since this restaurant is not right in town, but on the outskirts of Ajijic, so you have to make a bit of an effort to get here. There are separate restrooms for hombres and mujeres. Both were clean and I saw staff attending to them during the course of our meal.

The Price

The prices are very reasonable, about $120 pesos for an entrée. Wine, about $40 pesos by the glass. Two entrees, dessert, four glasses of wine will run about $400 pesos, or about $32.

 

Our Recommendation: ****

We really like El Ancla and plan to return soon. The food was prepared with care and very tasty. We were served promptly and our food was hot and delicious.  We observed that other customers in the restaurant were also served very quickly. The presentation was attractive.

What else can I say? Eat Here!