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!
Showing posts with label lunch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lunch. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Mom's Deli and Restaurant

Address: On the Carretera, in the Riberas del Pilar area
Telephone: 765 - 5719
Hours: 7am to 2pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Friday. Closed Wednesday
Saturday - Sunday 7am - 2pm Brunch 
Cash only; No Credit Cards Accepted
Take out available.

Directions: From Walmart, drive east on the Carretera approximately 2 miles to the Riberas del Pilar section of Lake Chapala. Mom's Deli is on the right. There is parking out front and on the side of the building.

First Impressions

Mom's Deli and Restaurant is a bright, clean, pleasant breakfast and lunch spot right on the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar. There is plenty of parking on the front and side of the building and along the quiet road that runs next to the building. The dining room has high ceilings and plenty of tables for customers.

This diner and bakery is always full of gringos, and for good reason. The food is reminiscent of a typical diner north of the border. It is good, hardy food. The coffee is steaming hot and ice tea is done right and constantly refilled.



Breakfast is a popular time for locals to gather at Mom's Deli and Restaurant. The menu includes fresh baked muffins and scones as well as pancakes, eggs, home fries, and fruit. The cinnamon roll French toast, pictured at left, is a favorite  among Mom's regular breakfast customers.

The Lunch menu always includes a daily special as well as a variety of sandwich plates that include egg salad, bacon lettuce and tomato and sliced beef and au jus, as well as salads, soups, and traditional meatloaf.



Included with the sandwich plates is a small side salad of either coleslaw, potato salad or macaroni salad. I had the macaroni salad which I thought was tasty. The coleslaw is very popular with diners.

One of our friends always orders the Asian salad, pictured at right, which she says is the best around. It is a huge serving with a tasty Asian dressing.

If you go, make sure to inquire about the daily special.

Ambience and Price

Eating at Mom's Deli and Restaurant is like your lunch break at the warehouse. The ceilings are high, the noise reverberates off the walls and if your dining companion is not right across the table from you, you may not be able to hear what they are saying.

There is no music playing, just the noise of others talking. I had breakfast with a group of friends and we could not hear each other.

However, the food was good and the service is fast and friendly. The waiter is a man with a local mission to children who are in the hospital during the holidays so he is a very special sort of person, as well as being an excellent waiter.

Our Recommendation ***

Mom's Deli and Restaurant is not a high end eatery, nor do they pretend to be. Prices are down right reasonable for high quality, simple and well prepared breakfasts and lunch fare. The menu is limited, but what they do, they do well. If you like diners and down home cooking, you will like Mom's Deli and Restaurant.

 

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Nuevo Cafe Paris

Nuevo Cafe Paris
Address: Madero # 421, Chapala, Mexico
Phone: 3767655353
Website (in Spanish)
Hours: 8am - 10:30pm Tuesday - Sunday
Live Music Wednesdays at 7:30pm
Directions: Nuevo Café Paris is located on the main route, headed north through Chapala towards Guadalajara. The café is on the right, just before the recently renovated plaza. Parking is available in front of the café and along the malecon. 

First Impressions

Café Nuevo Paris
Nuevo Cafe Paris is located on the main boulevard that runs through the middle of Chapala,  just a few steps from the central plaza and indoor farmer's market. The café looks brand new, though the plaque displayed prominently by the entrance boasts a history that dates from the mid-1950s.
Parking is available on the street outside the café, but we parked along the malecon and walked the short, two blocks to the restaurant to avoid having to back out into busy traffic when we left.  
The restaurant is open and airy, giving the feel of a casual, urban coffee shop. The dining room is bright and modern. Pictures of Paris line the walls. This morning, there were young couples sharing  milkshakes and several tables of businessmen, briefcases open, engaged in serious conversation over huge cups of coffee.  
Cafe Latte at Nuevo Cafe Paris
Because we had read online reviews that characterized Nuevo Café Paris as a breakfast and brunch cafe, we were surprised to learn that in addition to breakfast, Nuevo Café Paris also offers a lunch menu featuring hamburgers and fries, sandwiches and salads as well as a tantalizing selection of dinner entrees.
Nuevo Café Paris opens at 8am for breakfast and closes at 10:30 pm. every night except Monday. Wednesday evenings, live music begins at 7:30pm.  

   

Menu

Scrambled Eggs at Café Nuevo Paris
We found a table  against the picture lined wall and the waiter appeared immediately with menus written in Spanish and in English.  The breakfast menu features a variety of traditional Mexican dishes as well as American standards,  including hot cakes and eggs, breakfast burritos,  enfrijoladas, eggs benedict and frittatas. Light menu choices such as yogurt and a fruit plate are also available. 
And then there is the coffee - Cappuccino, Café Latte,  Cafe Americano, Espresso,  Café Paris (with a touch of flavor) and hot chocolate.
We ordered a Café Americano and a Café Latte, both served steaming hot in over-sized cups. The foam on the latte was embellished with a design that was a work of art. It was almost too beautiful to drink. This is probably the very best cup of coffee I have had in Chapala.

Enfrijoladas
After pouring over the menu selections, we finally settled on a traditional American breakfast of scrambled eggs served with hash browns, beans and a toasted muffin and enfrijoladas, a  Mexican breakfast dish. 
The eggs were scrambled until dry, which is common in Mexican restaurants, and the hash browns crisp with no hint of grease. The muffin was split, buttered and seasoned.
The enfrijoladas, cheese filled tortillas topped with a thick, cream sauce, demanded an order of tortillas to sop up every last bit. This was a satisfying and delicious meal.

 

Service and Price

Dining room at Café Nuevo Paris
Service at Nuevo Café Paris is prompt, friendly and professional. We were served quickly and our waiter checked to ensure we were enjoying our meals, though we never felt rushed.

Like most other restaurants in Mexico, the bill was not presented until requested. The menu items were all moderately priced. The cost of our breakfast only $169pesos, less than $12usd.

Our Recommendation ****

We highly recommend Nuevo Café  Paris for breakfast or brunch. We had no idea, even after living lakeside for nearly two years, that Nuevo Café Paris was anything more than a coffee shop, and that is why we had not visited earlier. Don't make the mistake that we did - visit Nuevo Café Paris for good food served with an artistic flair, friendly, attentive service in a pleasant, bistro-like environment.

Friday, December 26, 2014

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
Facebook
 

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.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Ritchie 88

Address: #41 Calle Colon, Ajijic
Telephone: 376-766-4185
Facebook Page: Ritchie 88
Hours:                  Tuesday - Saturday  9AM - 4PM
                             Sunday 9AM - 3PM

Directions:  From Walmart, head west on the Carreterra to a right on Calle Juarez, one block past Calle Colon in Ajijic. Turn right on Calle Flores, and right on Calle Colon. Head south for 2 1/2 blocks. Ritchie 88 will be on your right just before the plaza. Parking is limited in this area.

First Impressions


Wednesday is market day in Ajijic and we were going to be in town for the afternoon, so we made plans to try Ritchie 88, a highly recommended restaurant near the main plaza.

Ritchie 88 is ranked #2 on Trip Advisor for restaurants in Ajijic. That is high praise, considering how many wonderful restaurants are in the area.

Currently, Ritchie 88 is only open for breakfast and lunch, however, the owner, Patricia, told us that she plans to extend the hours until 8 p.m. on Thursdays through Saturdays, starting the week of February 10, 2014. The full lunch menu will be offered at night as well as dinner specials.


We arrived at Ritchie 88 at about noon and were the only ones in the café. We were met at the door by the owner who seated us in the outdoor patio area in the back of the restaurant.

The restaurant is clean, pleasant and wonderful aromas were wafting from the kitchen. There were specials written on the blackboards at the entrance and a sandwich board with the special of the day - shrimp burger.



Menu

The menu offered a nice selection of breakfast and lunch plates. Breakfast included a number of omelets, waffles, French toast, and eggs any style, served with beans or hash browns. I would have had a spinach and goat cheese omelet but we arrived too late.

Too bad, because it sounded amazing. Instead I ordered a spinach salad with warm goat cheese. It was served with a basket of fresh bread and was absolutely delicious.

My husband ordered a chicken baguette that was also very good. The presentation was done with care and was lovely.

After our lunch was served, we were left alone to dine, soft classical music playing in the background, the beautiful Mexican sun shining in the courtyard and a soft breeze blowing, just enough to turn the whirligig in the garden.

We had a very good meal in a pleasant atmosphere. It made me wonder why there are not more people dining in this wonderful little café.

After our meal, we were offered a small selection of desserts and decided to try the warm brownie, topped with ice cream and crushed nuts. It was very good.

The lunch menu offered a number of baguettes, soups and salads. The soup of the day was lentil and I was tempted to try that. Ritchie 88 has a large selection of hot and cold teas and coffees, as well as wine and beer.

We were very pleased with our meals and are anxious to return to sample the selections off the breakfast menu.




 

Ambiance

The outside of the restaurant, in Ajijic, rarely suggests the ambiance inside the restaurant, and such is the case with Ritchie88. It has a modest, unassuming exterior and a bistro-like atmosphere inside.

There is art on the walls inside, classical music playing in the background and a courtyard with covered outdoor seating. There are orange trees, a pomegranate tree and wind chimes singing in the breeze.

Inside the restaurant is another  small dining room. The atmosphere is cozy and romantic.
I think it is a good idea for Ritchie 88 to offer extended hours, as this is a beautiful spot for a romantic, intimate dinner.

 

Service

We were served by the owner herself and she made sure that we were well taken care of and happy with the taste and quality of the food. But, otherwise, she left us alone to enjoy our meal. She made suggestions from the menu and made us aware of the specials of the day. Overall, the service was very good, which you would expect if waited on by the owner of the establishment!

 

Price

The prices are moderate, with house wine by the glass priced at $35 pesos and most entrees priced at about $70 - $86 pesos. Our total bill, with two entrees, hot chocolate, coffee latte, tea and dessert came to $260 pesos, about $20.

Our Recommendation ****

The lunch menu at Ritchie 88 is very good and we can recommend it to you for lunch. We plan to return to sample the breakfast menu. This is a nice place for lunch, close to the plaza but with intimate dining and excellent service.

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.

 





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.

 

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


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.