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 Jardin de Ninette's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jardin de Ninette's. Show all posts

Saturday, July 23, 2016

El Jardin de Ninette's

Address:Carretera Oriente 52 b
45920 Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico Phone: 376 766 4905
Hours:  Tues: 5pm - 9pm; Wed - Thur. 12pm - 9pm; Fri - Sat 12pm - 10pm; Sun 12pm - 8pm
Accepts Visa and MasterCard.
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Directions: From Walmart, drive west on the Carretera. Jardin de Ninette's is on the right before Donas Donuts. There is a small parking lot in from of the restaurant.


Jardin de Ninette's

First Impressions  

Jardin de Ninette's moved last year to a new location on the Carretera in Ajijic and made their restaurant more accessible for their customers.

The new venue has the ambience of a rustic country inn. The main dining area is pleasant and cozy. Light filters in through the skylights and large windows keep the space from feeling closed in. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, like an embrace.

An outdoor dining room arranged under a large old tree in the back of the property provides additional space for guests.

Menu Board at Jardin de Ninette's
Though Jardin de Ninette's is in a new space, it has retained its special brand of excellence across the board - in service, food and atmosphere - that sets this restaurant above the rest.

The chef has crafted a carefully curated menu with selections that never disappoint. Some dishes were brought from their previous location, and others are new to the menu.

We visited for a late lunch, arriving before most dinner guests and after the lunch crowd had already left for a siesta. We were met by the waiter and offered menus that echoed the selections on the chalkboard out front, but with more detailed descriptions of preparation style and the accompanying side dishes.

Menu

A brief description of the menu on the chalkboard in front of the restaurant gives diners a hint of menu offerings and prices. Is there any other restaurant lakeside that serves foie gras? Jardin de Ninette's does, along with a limited but tantalizing selection of unique dishes.


Zucchini Appetizer at Jardin de Ninettes
For the appetizer, we ordered zucchinis paired with a good Sauvignon Blanc. A basket of fresh bread was served with our wine. The zucchini appetizer featured slices of zucchini broiled with tomato and cheese and dressed with olive oil and spices.
Pork Chops and Tequila Shrimp were the choices for our main dishes. One of the joys of eating at Jardin de Ninette's is the pace of the meal. Every course is perfectly spaced so that you neither feel rushed nor neglected.

Our meals were preceded by a dinner salad. This is not your usual salad-from-a-bag so common at many area restaurants. Rather, it is made from fresh organic greens, apples pieces, cheese and almonds and topped with a house-made dressing.

Our entrees arrived on hot-to-the-touch plates, the pork chop dark and sizzling, prepared with a  coffee rub that enhanced the aroma from the perfectly cooked 1 inch pork chop. The chop was served atop mashed potatoes and graced with a delicious sauce.
Coffee Rubbed Pork Chop at Jardin de Ninette's

The Tequila Shrimp has long been one of my favorite dishes at Jardin de Ninette's and I was happy to find they had retained it on the menu.

Large shrimp cooked until tender, covered in a tequila enhanced cream sauce and served with brown rice. This is one of the best shrimp dishes lakeside.

You might think we were too full to eat any more by the end of this meal, and we were. But, that did not stop us from ordering dessert, chocolate cake with ice cream and chocolate sauce. We split one dessert in order to be able to walk to our car at the end of the meal.


Tequila Shrimp




Service and Price

Enter Jardin de Ninette's and feel like an old friend of the family. At some point during the meal, the chef greets you at the table to ensure your meal met your expectations.

Of course, at Jardin de Ninette's, the food always exceeds your expectations. This is one of the true gourmet restaurants lakeside. Jardin de Ninette's sets the standard for excellence. The menu choices and the quality of the food is always superb. Que rico!


Postre at Jardin de Ninettes
Our bill came to a little over $700pesos for 4 glasses of wine, appetizer, two main dishes and dessert, around $40US.

Recommendation *****

If you want a truly gourmet experience, then eat at Jardin de Ninette's. There is no equal in the Lake Chapala area. This is the restaurant for a special romantic dinner, the place to bring guests  you want to impress or the restaurant of choice when you are in the mood for really fine dining. 

If you go, tell them Lake Chapala Restaurant Guide sent you.  Buen Provecho!