Lake Taco

Address: Libramiento Chapala Ajijic #132, Plaza Interlago Interior #23
Phone: 331 230 6173, 376 766 2945
Hours of Operation: Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Facebook Page: Lake Taco Ajijic

Directions: Turn north, on the road directly across from Walmart. This is the Libramiento.. Head up this road approximately 1/4 mile and turn right into the Pemex Station. Lake Taco is located next to the Car Wash under the large palapa.

 

First Impressions

Lake Taco is located in the corner of a strip mall just north of Walmart on the Libramiento. It is easy to spot because of the large palapa that covers the outdoor dining area. Our first impression was that it looked like a nice spot for lunch. We like to sit outdoors to eat and enjoy the beautiful weather of Lake Chapala.

The dining area is clean and inviting. There are herbs planted around the patio and you can smell the strong scent of rosemary and lavender.

The waitress was laying across the serving bar, looking bored and tired, as we walked up to the hostess station. She roused herself long enough to seat us at a table in the corner and take our order.

Jim Morrison and The Doors were blasting from the speakers attached to the top of the palapa. We tried to talk to one another after we were seated, but only managed to hear a few words of our conversation. I looked around, but there was no way of escape. We were trapped in that 1960s time warp that so many local restaurants seem to think appeals to expats.

Menu

The menu is fairly limited, with items such as tacos and burritos, salads and hamburgers and side dishes of beans or French fries. Lake Taco opens at 9:00 a.m. so they also offer a breakfast menu.

Wine and beer are available, as well as a selection of non-alcoholic beverages. The restaurant also offers, according to their Facebook page, a full bar. We had a chicken burrito and a fish taco. Both were very good and freshly made.

Lake Taco is good place for lunch or breakfast, or for a quick taco, or burrito. Sometimes you need a place where you can just drop in for a quick snack, and Lake Taco is one of those places.

Ambiance

The dining patio at Lake Taco is casual and open air. We sat in the corner so we could have a view of the lake and the mountains. The dining area is clean and inviting. The only issue I have is with the loud, loud, loud music.

We like to chat during lunch and the music precluded any conversation that didn't involve shouting and gesticulating.

We could see the mountains to the north, and the lake in the distance from where we were sitting.
Lake Taco has wifi and there were customers on the patio, sipping coffee and reading their tablets.

There is a nice view from some areas of the patio. The waitress was pleasant, but quickly excused herself to go back to her lounging area on the bar.

Price

The items on the menu at Lake Taco are cheap.
This is not fine dining, by any stretch of the definition, but it is not meant to be. This is lakeside's version of Taco Bell.

You can eat two entrees and have a glass wine each for under $20.

 

Our Recommendation ***

This is an outdoor taco shack, good for lunch or a quick snack. The food is good and cheap. Someone please tell them to turn down the music so we can talk to one another over lunch and we might just linger a little longer.

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