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!

Friday, February 28, 2014

The Merendero Lake

Address: Corner of Calle Colon and Calle Constitution
Ph: (376) 766 1571

Hours of Operation:  Daily 12PM - 7:30PM
Facebook: The Merendero Lake
Credit Cards are not Accepted

Directions: From Walmart head west on the Carretera to a right on Calle Juarez, one block past Calle Colon in Ajijic. Turn right on Calle Flores and right on Calle Colon. The Merendero Lake Restaurant is 4 blocks down, on the corner of Calle Colon and Calle Constitution. It is on the Calle Ocampo side of Calle Colon. Parking is very limited on Colon, Constitution and Ocampo.

First Impressions

The Merendero Lake is located on the corner of Calle Ocampo and Calle Colon, in the heart of Ajijic. It is a pleasant little café, with lunch specials listed on a sandwich board on the sidewalk.

We have often passed by and smelled the delicious aromas wafting through open windows and remarked that we would have to visit.

The Menu

The Lake Merendero advertises their hamburger specials, and offer a variety of hamburger plates on the menu ranging in price from $55 pesos to $75 pesos, all accompanied with French fries. There are also a tempting variety of salads, soup, alfredo, baguette sandwiches, and savory and sweet crepes.



We ordered the Hamburger Nortena plate as the $95 peso special of the day, which included a glass of wine. The hamburger was cooked perfectly, no pink at all in the middle, served with a tomato slice, lettuce, caramelized onions and chipotle sauce. This is definitely one of the best hamburgers lakeside.

We also ordered a bleu cheese salad, with pecans, pear and chopped fresh greens and of course, huge chunks of bleu cheese. Most salads were priced at $65 pesos.



Service was casual, polite and leisurely. The chef came out from the kitchen and checked to see that our meals were cooked to our satisfaction.

We ordered a dessert to split between us. The waitress recommended crepes, with blackberries and cream cheese served with ice cream. It was so good that we are determined to return and order the crepes as an entrée.

The Lake Merendero serves sangria, wine, beer and some mixed drinks, which are listed on the chalkboard.

Ambiance

The Merendero Lake is a pleasant café, with an open air feel about it. Customers can see into the kitchen, and everything appears very clean. This is a place where you run into all the people you know in town, whether eating in the café or passing by.

There is a television in the corner and golden oldie music playing in the background. None of it seems out of place in this upscale burger joint.

 

Price

The prices on the menu are moderate, in keeping with similar restaurants in Ajijic. The lunch special was $95 pesos and included a glass of wine. Entrees are priced from $55 pesos to $120 pesos. Wine was $50 pesos for a large glass. Our meal, two entrees, four glasses of wine, and dessert totaled $358 pesos.

Our Recommendation ***

The Lake Merendero is a great place for lunch, and if you are hankering for a hamburger, this is probably the best one in town. Salads are delicious and just the right size and desserts are unique to the area - where almost every restaurant offers flan for dessert. We will definitely be back for more.



Sunday, February 23, 2014

La Iguana de Piedra

Address: Jocotepec-Chapala Carretera
Phone: 387-761-0009

Hours of Operation: Daily 10:30 AM - 9 PM
Facebook: Iguana De Piedra
Credit Cards Are Not Accepted

Directions: From Walmart head west on the Carretera towards Jocotepec. Past Los Sabinos and Lago Encantado there will appear on your left a succession of restaurants along the lakefront, starting with Mariscos el Carnal. La Iguana is the last of these restaurants. There is a large orange sign on the right hand side of the road with La Iguana on it. Parking is available in front of the restaurant, and valet parking across the highway is available for $30 pesos.

First Impressions

La Iguana de Piedra is just one of about a half dozen attractive restaurants on the lakefront between Ajijic and San Juan Cosala.  Every restaurant along this stretch of highway employs wavers who stand on the street, signaling and whistling at potential customers to encourage them to stop and eat.

These restaurants cater to weekend visitors from Guadalajara and start filling up after 2 p.m. on the weekends.

Behind the castle-like walls is a series of open air dining rooms under huge palapas and situated on the waterfront.

Once inside the large doors, you are in a beautiful garden. The grounds are filled with tropical plants, statues of animals and a pier that reaches out over the lake. We arrived a little early so were leaving just as the band was setting up. The next time we will make sure to come a little later in the day so we can enjoy the live music. .
 

Menu

We were seated promptly and the young waiter brought out large tostada chips, salsa and pico de gallo. Then he asked if he could take our order, though we had not been given menus

We told him we needed to see a menu and he informed us that there was no menu in English.
 "That is okay," we said, and so finally were given a menu.

 It was a very odd experience. We placed a drink order and sampled the giant chips and salsa, which were good, but we waited for some time before our wine appeared. The menu offered shrimp, octopus and fish, prepared in a variety of ways and several cuts of steak. The prices are some of the highest we have seen in lakeside restaurants. Customers pay for the beautiful setting and entertainment.

I would have thought  we were getting the gringo prices except, unlike most nice restaurants in Ajijic, there were very few gringos dining at La Iguana.

We ordered two shrimp dishes, Camarones Empanizado  and Camarones Verecruzana,  then sat and gazed at the lake while waiting for our meals.

Shrimp Veracruzana had large tender shrimp, served in a tomato, chili pepper, caper and olive sauce. It was slightly spicy and delicious and served with Mexican rice, a salad and slice of watermelon.

Shrimp Empanizado,  breaded and fried shrimp, was also served with salad, rice and watermelon.
The breading was nice and crisp and the shrimp large. Unfortunately, the shrimp was a bit overcooked and tough, the result of cooking too long. The Shrimp Veracruzana was the much better dish.

There were several desserts on the menu, however, the waiter did not ask for a dessert order. Our meals were so huge and filling, we decided to forgo dessert this time.

La Iguana has a full bar and serves beer and a very large glass of wine for $50 pesos.

Ambiance

Dining at La Iguana de Piedra is a beautiful experience. The dining rooms are situated under huge palapas over looking the lake. This is the quiet side of the lake so there are a few pelicans landing and taking off and fishermen casting from small boats on the far side of the lake.

We chose a seat at the edge of the lake. The view, alone, is worth a trip to La Iguana de Piedra for lunch.

Service was a bit slow. It seemed like they were not quite ready for customers when we arrived. We waited for some time before our drinks arrived, though we ordered them immediately after we were seated.

Our waiter asked for our order before we were given a menu. Our meals came out promptly after we ordered and the waiters were polite, though not especially attentive.

There was nothing wrong with the service, per se, but there was also nothing especially remarkable about it either.

Maybe management at La Iguana needs to bring in those guys off the street, the ones waving and jumping and begging customers to choose their restaurant, and let them spend some of their enthusiasm waiting on customers and let the confused and uninterested meseros spend some time flagging down customer in the streets.

Price

La Iguana de Piedra is one of the most expensive restaurants that we have dined at along Lake Chapala. Our meals were good, but not outstanding. The draw of this place is the beautiful setting. Our meals were $150 pesos each and were some of the least expensive dishes on the menu. Our total bill was $500 pesos

Our Recommendation ***

La Iguana de Piedra is a beautiful place to have lunch on a warm, breezy afternoon. Come a little later in the afternoon and enjoy the live band. The food is good, and service is average, but the setting is spectacular. Have the Camarones  Veracruzanas, if you can stand a little spicy kick to your meal.

Friday, February 21, 2014

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

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Cafe Negro

Address: 158 B Carretera of Chapala - Jocotepec and Calle Allen W. Lloyd, San Antonio, Tlayacapan
Hours of operation: Monday - Saturday 8:30 AM - 4 PM, Sunday 8:30 AM - 2 PM
Summer Hours (May-October) 8 AM - 2 PM Tuesday through Sunday (Closed Monday)

Directions: From Walmart head east on the Carretera approximately 1/4 mile. Cafe Negro is on the left. Across from AbsolutFenix Realty and the bus stop.

First Impressions

Café Negro is a bustling, busy little café on the lateral road next to the Carretera in San Antonio. There are a few tables set up on the narrow sidewalk near the entrance to expand the small indoor dining room. There are two tables with umbrellas to block the sun and a table with no umbrella and as many tables as can be packed into the indoor dining area.

This place  is always busy, full of expats and visitors to the area. It is jam packed inside, but freshly painted and clean.

There are no hours posted on the front of the café, no phone numbers, no website or social media posts or reviews for this café. From the menu, it appears as if the café is open Monday through Friday.

Menu

Café Negro has a small menu of daily breakfast entrees that change each day of the week, but we were told we could order anything off the menu. There is a nice  selection of beverages - coffee, tea, hot chocolate and juices. You must ask for water if you would like a glass with your meal. The coffee was served hot, but was a bit weak and watery tasting.

The menu includes crepes, several varieties of omelets, scrambled eggs, bagels, fruit, yogurt, and a vegetarian frittata. The morning we visited we ordered a ham and cheese omelet and  vegetarian frittata, which were both served with a cup of fresh fruit and toast.

Our meals came out of the kitchen quickly. The ham and cheese omelet was very good with a generous amount of ham and cheese.

The fruit cup had fresh strawberries, melon and kiwi, a nice accompaniment to the breakfast. The shredded zucchini and carrots that topped the frittata were barely cooked, almost  raw. I had expected something different, so it is probably my own fault that I was not happy with my meal and could only eat about half.

I would not order this again, though the presentation was beautiful. If the vegetables had been cooked properly, it probably would have been delicious.

Ambiance

Café Negro is a tiny café. There is not enough seating, inside or outside, for the large number of customers. Be ready to sit very, very close to your neighbors. Grab a seat outside, under an umbrella, if a table is available.

There is music playing in the background, not too loud, golden oldies that so many Mexican restaurants assume will appeal to their customers. Café Negro's customers are mostly retired residents of Canada and the US.

Parking is plentiful and located along the lateral road in front of the café. It appears as though many of the customers walk to the café from nearby neighborhoods. Service is prompt, perfunctory, almost brusque. You certainly don't feel like loitering at your table, having another cup of coffee, chatting with your companion or reading the Guadalajara Reporter at Café Negro - get in, eat and get out.

Price

The price for a full breakfast at Café Negro is very cheap. We ate two full entrees and had two American coffees for $138 pesos. What was a little disconcerting was the charge for topping off our coffee. Our bill included a $10 peso per cup charge for each refill.

Really? A charge for topping off my cup of coffee? I could understand a charge for specialty coffee refills, but for heating up a regular cup of coffee when the meal is served? I had to ask several times before an obviously perturbed waitress refilled our cups and told us - in Spanish - that she was charging us for the refill.

It surprises me when businesses do not realize that little things - refilling a cup of coffee, pleasant wait staff  - are what bring customers back again and again.

Our Recommendation ***

The food is average at Café Negro and the dining room and serving areas are clean. If you want a quick breakfast, with decent food at reasonable prices and don't mind snarling wait staff and an extra charge each time your coffee cup is topped off, then Café Negro fills the bill.

Our joke about places like this is that if you get on their nerves, by asking for a glass of water or to have your coffee topped off, they add a PIA charge to your bill - because you have been a pain in their posterior. I suspect we got a PIA charge on our bill for bothering them for a refill of our coffee.

But, I could be wrong. Maybe they treat all of their customers like pains in their ...well, you get the idea. Personally, I have come to expect courteous service and the welcoming, relaxed atmosphere of the local cafes, so I will not return to Café Negro. But, a lot of expats like this place, it is always crowded, so there must be some attraction that totally escapes me.

Try Café Negro if you must, but if you feel rushed and unwelcome, and get a PIA charge for asking the waitress to heat up your coffee, don't say I didn't warn you.




Wednesday, February 12, 2014

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!

Monday, February 10, 2014

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.







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, February 3, 2014

Mario's Restaurant Familiar

Address: Ramon Carona #132,  San Antonio Tlayacapan
Phone: (376) 766 1452
Hours of Operation: Tuesday - Sunday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Closed Monday

Directions: From Walmart, head east on the Carretera, approximately 1/4 mile. Turn right on Calle San Jose. This is the right turn just before Superlake. Drive toward the lake for two blocks. Turn left on Ramon Carona. Mario's Restaurant Familiar is about 1/2 block on the left. It you reach the intersection by the plaza, you have gone too far.

First Impressions

Mario's Restaurant Familiar is located less than half a block from the central plaza in the small pueblo of San Antonio, Tlayacapan  It is the first place we eat that was recommended to us by a long time resident - our landlord. We ate there on our second day in the Lake Chapala area. We stopped into meet her at the real estate office and when we inquired about a really good restaurant for lunch, she suggested Mario's - in fact, she said she would take us there herself.

"Get in the car," she insisted, "I know a really good place for lunch." And off we drove, the wrong way down one way streets, weaving, whistling and talking the entire way. We pulled in front of a place that, had I not been introduced by Beverly, we might never have tried on our own. The restaurant looks very simple and rustic from the outside, with a sliding screen door and the name of the restaurant painted on the wall. I already suspected that Beverly was a little crazy, so was not sure what we would find inside.

But, to my surprise, the restaurant was clean and  pleasant and the owner and staff friendly and welcoming. We were off to a good start.

Menu

A daily lunch menu offers a large variety of dishes that includes seafood and beef dishes and salads. The daily specials are written on a white board - in Spanish. The waiter will gladly translate.

For lunch, we had Arrechera, recommended by our host, and fried shrimp with mango sauce.  The shrimp may just be the best I have had since arriving in town. It was a memorable meal. Our lunch was accompanied by fresh corn tortillas.

Other items on the menu included hamburgers and French Fries, shrimp cooked in a variety of ways, pescado (fish) dishes, and salads. A breakfast menu is available before noon.


So, a week later, we decided to return to Mario's Restaurant Familiar to try some of the delicious looking items on the  breakfast menu. This time we sat in the back of the restaurant, in an open courtyard behind the kitchen.

We ordered Huevos Rancheros and were treated to a feast that began with chips and salsa presented in a stone molcajete. The Huevos Rancheros were served with beans and freshly made corn tortillas.

We also had fresh squeezed orange juice and coffee.

 

Ambiance

Mario's Restaurant Familiar is a neighborhood café. It is not a place that is easy to find for first time visitors to Lake Chapala, but it is worth the journey into the small pueblo of San Antonio, Tlayacapan to experience a taste of authentic Mexican cooking.

The restaurant is simple, but clean and inviting. There is a very pleasant open dining area surrounded by green plants, reached by walking through the kitchen area.

Service is homey, friendly, and personal. After all, this is a family owned business.

Price

The price range for breakfast is between $50 and $95 pesos. Dinner entrees are also moderately priced. Two can have a filling seafood lunch for less than $240 pesos, about $18 dollars at the current exchange rate.

Our Recommendation ****

If you want a taste of excellent, authentic, Mexican cooking in a family owned restaurant, make the effort to find Mario's Restaurant Familiar. Try the shrimp with mango sauce. You will not be disappointed.