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.

 

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.

 

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

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.