El Quetzal Restaurant

Address: Hidalgo #236, Chapala,
Phone: 376-765-6063
Hours of Operation: Monday - Sunday 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday - Breakfast Buffet from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.; Live Music - Sundays from 3 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Directions: Start in Chapala, from the intersection of Calle Francisco Madero and Calle Hidalgo (the end of the Carretera).  Head west towards Ajijic on Hidalgo. Travel approximately 1 1/2 blocks. El Quetzal is on the left. An iron gate sports a sign announcing the restaurant and a sandwich board in the street advertises "El Quetzal". From the malecon in Chapala, walk west, past the Beer Garden. El Quetzal is just before the end of the malecon.

First Impressions

If the ancient Mayans had designed a restaurant, El Quetzal would have been the result. The quetzal, a beautiful tropical bird, was sacred to the Mayans.

The décor of this lakeside restaurant is like a museum of Mayan symbols - serpents, also sacred to the Mayans, coiling down the tamarind tree, the plumed serpent, representing the marriage of the quetzal and the serpent, and Mayan statues.

Customers enter from the street, or from the patio entrance on the western end of the malecon and dine alfresco, under the shade of the huge tamarind tree.

Our visit was on a beautiful spring afternoon.  We chose to sit at a table near the malecon so we could gaze upon the lake and the mountains in the distance. A warm breeze was blowing off the lake.

The Menu  

The waiter brought our menus immediately after we were seated, took our drink order and left us to read the menu. The menu is available in Spanish and in English.

El Quetzal specializes in steak, fish and seafood dishes. There is a tantalizing selection of appetizers, including fondos, soups, empanadas, quesadillas, molcajetes and ceviche.

A full bar is available, and a wine special was offered at 2 X 1 prices. The white wine was served cold, chilled to exactly the right temperature.

We ordered shrimp empanadas, refried beans and shark cooked in garlic. The waiter brought out a basket of huge totopos and a spicy salsa to whet our appetite while we waited. 

The shrimp empanadas were large and served sizzling hot with a crispy crust and accompanied by a small side salad and slice of watermelon.

The serving size was so large that I could not have had anything else to eat. I broke open an empanada to reveal a creamy cheese filling stuffed with shrimp.



The thin filet of shark, cooked in garlic, was accompanied by large wedges of fried potatoes and served with a small green salad and fruit.

The shark was tender and not overcooked. The refried beans were creamy and topped with melted cheese and totopos.

Some tempting sounding desserts on the menu made us think twice, but after a huge and satisfying meal, we were unable to try any of them. Looks like we will have to return for dessert.

El Quetzal is moderately priced, a little more expensive than some other restaurants lakeside. The shark was priced at $120 pesos and the empanadas, at $100 pesos. Wine was a bargain, though, at 2 X $40 pesos.

Ambiance   

The location and ambiance of El Quetzal is just about perfect. There is soft Mexican music playing overhead, the view of the lake and the mountains on the southern shore is lovely.

The manager of the restaurant, walks among the diners, chatting and making sure everyone is satisfied with their meals. 

The décor is unique and fun, with snakes coiling around the trees and statues of Mayan gods guarding the bar. El Quetzal is certainly  different from anyplace we have dined along the lake.

Our waiters were polite and very professional, anticipating our needs but not coming back to the table too often.

The restrooms are old, but they are clean. Mujeres and hombres have separate spaces. They could use some updating and the Mujeres had no paper towels or working lights.

Price

El Quetzal is not cheap, but the prices are reasonable for the quality of the food that is served. Our meals, including wine, came to $375 pesos, less than $30 USD

Our Recommendation ****

El Quetzal is in a unique and beautiful setting, a Mayan garden hidden from the street by an ordinary looking entrance.

The food is delicious and the 2 X 1 wine special makes eating here a bargain.

We are coming back to El Quetzal soon. I have a feeling this restaurant is destined to become one of our favorites.

  

 

La Lena

Address: Francisco  Madero #236C, Chapala
Ph: 526-422-7813
      526-420-2096
Hours of Operation: Daily 12 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Directions: From Walmart head east on the Carretera approximately 7 kilometers to the intersection with Calle Francisco Madero. Turn left on Calle Madero. La Lena is 1 1/2 blocks on the left. Parking spaces are along the highway and are limited - watch for an opportunity to park as soon as you turn onto Calle Madero.

First Impressions

Brightly colored La Lena is perched above the sidewalk in Chapala. Decorated in orange and green, it looks like a Mexican fiesta. Banners are strung above the dining room and tables are covered with multi-colored tablecloths. The open air dining room overlooks the sidewalk and the main thoroughfare through Chapala.

A charcoal grill, made from half of a 55 gallon barrel, smokes on the patio. Cooks exit the kitchen from time to time to put a pot on the fire, or to roast tomatoes. La Lena has that casual, beach shack feel that is perfect for a late afternoon lunch.

The menu is  propped against the wall, next to the short flight of steps into the dining room so customers can peruse the selections before making a commitment to la comida.

Menu

La Lena is not designed with gringo visitors in mind, but that is the charm of this cafe. The food is traditional Mexican fare. The menu offers several varieties of quesadillas, tacos, empanadas, and burritos as well as steaks, hamburgers and chicken burgers.

The menu is in Spanish and the waiters speak no English, but we were able to  get by with our limited vocabulary and the young waiter was patient with us.

We ordered a cheese quesadilla, empanadas camarones (shrimp turnovers), a chicken burger and French fries. The waiter brought totopos, salsa and pico de gallo to the table along with our Pacifico beers. The chips were fresh and crisp and the pico de gallo some of the best we have had.

Our meal was served after just a short wait. The chicken burger was actually a grilled chicken breast on a bun, served with avocado slices, tomato and lettuce.

The plate included french fries, but not knowing this, we placed an additional order for fries. No matter, since they were very hot with no greasy taste, so we ate those too.

The shrimp empanadas were incredible, served with a tomato and lettuce salad. The turnovers were fried crisp and the shrimp and cabbage interior was warm and cooked just right.
La Lena has a full bar located at the end of the dining patio, however, they do not serve wine. Beer is available.

Ambiance

La Lena is a cool place to eat. The dining room is outdoors, under a covered patio. It is just high enough above the sidewalk to allow diners to watch the world go by without feeling like they  are part of the street scene. We sat at the table closest to the railing to have a bird's eye view of the main thoroughfare and do some people watching. Carnival started today in Chapala and strangely costumed actors where beginning to show up in the plaza across the street.

There are pictures of famous Mexican banditos on the wall and the ubiquitous sun plaque. The grill is an interesting addition to the patio, smoking slightly, pots and fresh vegetables taking their turn cooking over the hot fire.

It is all very casual, very Mexican, very pleasant. Our waiter spoke no English, but was prompt, efficient and friendly. The washrooms are clean, with separate facilities for men and women.

Price

We ordered a chicken burger, an additional order of fries, cheese quesadilla, shrimp empanadas and four Pacifico beers. Our bill totaled $279 pesos, about $22 USD - a great deal.

Most of the items on the menu ranged from $20 pesos to $65 pesos. The most expensive items were those that served two people, which topped out at $120 pesos.

Our Recommendation ***

La Lena is a good place for lunch. We recommend the cheese quesadillas and the shrimp empanadas if you do go. The prices are very reasonable. Sometimes it is nice to eat at an establishment that does not necessarily cater to gringos. It reminds you that you are, after all, in Mexico