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!

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Alfredo's California

Address: Paseo Ramon Corona #12, Chapala
Phone: 331-301-9862  or  331-470-2258
Facebook
Hours: Wednesday - Monday, 10 am -7 pm
Parking on the street in front of restaurant.

Directions: From Walmart, drive east into Chapala, about 5 miles. Turn right at the stoplight in Chapala and left onto Ramon Corona. The restaurant faces the Chapala malecon.

Alfredo's California has a small second location in Ribaras del Pilar on the Carretera.

First Impressions

Alfredo's California in Chapala
Alfredo's California is located on the street that runs along the malecon in Chapala. The exterior is welcoming, so I can't explain why it has taken me so long to eat here.

I and a friend visited on a Saturday afternoon, a little earlier than most people eat lunch around here, so there was no one else in the café when we arrived.

The dining room is arranged under a palapa. Christmas decorations adorn the cloth covered, metal tables. There is a well stocked full bar in the dining room and another bar in the back of the restaurant and plenty of room for larger crowds.


Pasta Menu
There was no background music playing, only an old television set on the end of the bar streaming a National Geographic documentary - the same one my companion watched in the barber shop. A small kitchen is located in the corner of the dining room, behind a half-wall. The waiter handed us a fold-out menu with an immense variety of dishes. How can they possibly prepare all the dishes on the menu in such a tiny kitchen and with only one cook?

Menu

Alfredo's California has the largest variety of dishes I have ever seen offered at a restaurant in Chapala. The picture, at left, shows just a few of the selections from the pasta portion of the menu. In addition to pasta, you can choose from a number of chicken dishes, seafood plates, Mexican fare, 9 sandwiches, 15 different kinds of burgers, appetizers and salads. Also, you can order a cocktail, wine or beer or soft drinks.


Freshly Made Chips and Salsa
We ordered two glasses of the red house wine to drink while we read the menu. We were pleasantly surprised when the waiter served a Chilean Reservado. A glass of house wine is 40pesos, one of the least expensive, and largest pours, lakeside.


Tampiquena
 
The waiter brought out a basket of fresh totopos and salsa made in-house. The chips were warm, lightly salted and delicious. With corn tortillas so plentiful in Chapala, there is no reason not to serve them fresh and these were cooked perfectly.

The salsa also tasted freshly made and was not too picante. I recently complained about other area restaurants serving totopos from a bag - they could take a lesson from Alfredo's California.

We finally decided on Chicken Cordon Blue, a lightly breaded and pan-fried chicken breast topped with a slice of ham and cheese and covered in a white mushroom sauce, and Tampiquena, a dish served with two cheese quesadillas, chorizo, beef strips and guacamole.

Chicken Cordon Blue
Both meals were served with a dinner salad, rice and steamed vegetables and the Tampiquena was  accompanied by hand-cut French fries. The house-made, chunky, guacamole was well seasoned, with not too much cilantro.

Our meals were prepared to order and while we waited we were served a small but fresh, crisp dinner salad. The waiter was attentive during our meal and spoke some English, which worked fine with our "some Spanish."

Serving sizes at Alfredo's California are ample - we didn't eat again the rest of the day.  As we were eating, the café began to fill with people who dine at a more traditional lunch time in Mexico. Our meals were tasty and filling. The waiter kept our wine glasses filled and was anxious to ensure we were satisfied with our meals.


Full Disclosure: Our Check
I was a little disappointed that we were not offered dessert, though I doubt if I would have had room to sample anything after such a large  meal. All in all, this was a pleasant dining experience.

Alfredo's California also offers a breakfast menu with a large variety of egg scramble dishes, omelets and pancakes. Their omelets, I have learned, are legendary.

Service and Price

Our waiter was friendly and attentive and spoke English. He provided us with good service throughout the meal and we never felt forgotten. The prices at Alfredo's California are some of the most reasonable in the area. Most entrees average around 100pesos.

Our entire meal, as you can see by the picture I have posted of our check, came to less than 500pesos.


Nice Large Pour of House Red wine

Our Recommendation ***

Alfredo's California advertises international cuisine, by that they mean they have a large and eclectic menu of dishes that includes Italian, Mexican and typical diner food from North of the Border. This is not gourmet cuisine, it is comfort food prepared well.

My only complaint is minor. A TV playing while I am eating, unless it is a sports bar and I am there to watch a game, is a big turn-off for me. Shut it off  when the restaurant opens - please - and put on some nice background music. (The waiter did do this just as we were leaving). Otherwise, the food is tasty and Alfredo's California is worth a visit.

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