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.
Facebook

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!

Mariscos Peter

Address: Carretera Poniente 524 SN, Ajijic Centro
Phone :376 766 4450
Hours: Open Daily 11am - 6pm. Closed Wednesday.
Facebook  
Take Out Available
Large Area for Parking
Directions: From Walmart, drive west through Ajijic towards the Huerto Events Center. Mariscos Peter is located at the west end of this complex.

First Impression

I have often by-passed Mariscos Peter for more elegant restaurants, but on Tuesday morning we visited the Farmer's Market next door and decided to try some place new for lunch.  Most of the tables in the outdoor dining area were empty and so was the interior dining room, but the little restaurant begin to fill with Mexican patrons after noon.

The waiter greeted us and handed us menus written in Spanish. He took our drink order immediately, but since we were early, all that was available to us from the menu were the cocktails and tostadas. We were disappointed to learn that our choices were limited, but we decided to stay and order something from the list of available items.

Menu  

It was unfortunate that we could not order from the main menu, as there were a lot of enticing sounding dishes, a large variety of tacos including egg, bean, fish, and shrimp, botanas and fish and shellfish cooked to order. Half orders are available and all meals can be ordered para llevar (to go).

We settled for a tostada topped with shrimp ceviche and one topped with calamari ceviche, which was so good my husband ordered a second helping.

Our lunch was accompanied by a glass of white wine. We were surprised at the good quality wine served, Las Moras, from Chile.

Mariscos Peter has a full bar and serves wine and beer at reasonable prices. They also offer several desserts. We ordered a piece of cheesecake topped with raspberries to end the meal. The cheesecake tasted rich and creamy and it had not been frozen previously, though it obviously was not made in-house. I suspect it came from Pasteleria Rochatas in Jocotepec, the premium bakery at Lake Chapala.

While we were eating, the cooks fired up the grill in the front of the restaurant and started cooking whole fresh fish and chicken. We really should have come a bit later so we could have tried some of the grilled marlin.

The ceviche on our tostadas was fresh and delicious. We sat in the open dining area for over an hour, just people watching and listening to the Mexican music playing in the background. I checked the restrooms and found them scrupulously clean. Looks like we have been missing out by not visiting Mariscos Peter before now.

Price and Service

Mariscos Peter is not cheap, but the prices are reasonable and in keeping with those at other fish restaurants in the area.

Our tostadas were 18pesos and 25 pesos. Wine was 45pesos per glass for a healthy pour. Service was good and though the waiters spoke little or no English, we were able to communicate our order.

Recommendation ***

We did not get to eat from the main menu, but based on our tostadas, wine and dessert, I would certainly eat here again. The restaurant is clean and we watched as the cooks put giant, whole fresh fish on the grill.

If you eat lunch early, as we do, make sure to arrive after noon in order to give the cooks time to start the charcoal grill. Marisco's Peter is a good choice for lunch if you are looking for a place that serves fresh, grilled fish and seafood.

Fonda Dona Lola

Fonda Dona Lola
Carretera Poniente 36
Ajijic, Mexic
376-766-4455
Hours: Mon - Wed 8 AM - 5 PM; Fri 8 AM - 5 PM; Closed Thursday; Sat - Sun 8 AM - 3 PM
No Credit Cards accepted

Directions: Head west from Walmart on the Carretera approximately 2 miles. Just over the hill, on the west side of Ajijic, Fonda Dona Lola is found on the left (lakeside) across from Casa del Waffle and the car wash.  Ample parking in front of restaurant.

First Impressions

The auditorium size restaurant is located on the main highway through Ajijic, just west of town. The huge brick building sits back off the highway and is easy to miss.

Steps lead into the vast dining room, however, a ramp provides access for those unable to manage the steps.

Abundant parking is located in front of the restaurant. The dining room is open and very clean and reminiscent of a school cafeteria.


Menu and Service

We visited Fonda Dona Lola based on the recommendation of a friend, who told us to try their breakfast.

We arrived early and found a table close to the door. We were one of two couples having breakfast on a Monday morning. The waiter came to our table immediately and handed us an extensive breakfast menu, written in English.

We were served coffee and a basket of toasted bakery bread while we considered what, among the tasty offerings, we would order.

The menu included an impressive number of traditional egg dishes, pancakes, fruit as well as Mexican specialties.

We settled on pancakes and were glad we did. Our breakfasts were served hot from the kitchen.
We were pleasantly surprised, as these are some of the best pancakes we have had in the area.

The bacon was crisp, just the way we like it and the scrambled eggs were cooked to retain some moisture, and were fluffy, though not undercooked. 

The waiter was attentive, filling our coffee cups several times during the course of the meal.

Price

Every menu item at Fonda Dona Lola is reasonably priced. Our pancake breakfasts, one with bacon and the other with scrambled eggs, a basket of fresh bread, and two cups of coffee came to an amazing $110 pesos, about $8.50.

Our Recommendation ***

Fonda Dona Lola has to be one of the best deals in town for breakfast. The food and service are good and it is nice to find a place with adequate parking right in front of the restaurant.

La Casa del Waffle

Address:  Carretera Poniente #75
Phone:  376-766-1946
Hours of Operation:  Sunday - Saturday  8am - 2om
Web Page:  www.lacasadelwaffle.com.mx
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/lacasadelwaffle

WIFI Available
Credit Cards not Accepted

Directions:  From Walmart head west on the carretera approximately 2 1/2 miles. Casa del Waffle will be on your right just past the car wash and Roberto's restaurant. There is parking available in front of the restaurant.

First Impressions

La Casa del Waffle is located on the western edge of Ajijic, on the right side of the Carretera, when headed west. There is a small, but adequate parking lot in front of the restaurant.

La Casa del Waffle offers outdoor seating and some indoor seating, with a large open door onto the patio. This is a clean and pleasant little breakfast café. Free wifi is available for customers.

I almost did not review this restaurant because I thought it was a chain. But, turns out that the "chain" started in Ajijic, and this La Casa del Waffle is the original restaurant. The other two restaurants in Guadalajara and Talaquepaque are based on the Ajijic model.

When we arrived at about 10 am on a Friday morning and there were plenty of available tables. Very loud American rock music was playing, almost too loud to carry on a conversation.

Menu  

We have been to La Casa del Waffle several times since we have lived at Lake Chapala. This is as close as you are going to get to Denny's or IHOP in Mexico.

La Casa del Waffle offers a variety of fruit topped Belgian waffles, pancakes and traditional eggs, potatoes and bacon, but also has a few traditional Mexican breakfast specialties.

They also offer a children's menu, so this is definitely a family friendly restaurant. On Sunday mornings, after church, lines form outside Casa del Waffle, waiting for a seat.

This morning we ordered the Good Morning Breakfast - sausage and eggs on toasted English muffins, topped with gravy -  and a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and refried beans, accompanied by an a la carte order of biscuits.
 
Our meals were served hot and were good, almost like a real American breakfast. The biscuits were not really biscuits, qua biscuits, but rather breakfast yeast rolls, cut open and toasted.

I was a bit disappointed that they were not real, southern style biscuits but I realize that not every place in the world interprets biscuits like this southerner.

The coffee was very good, and a waiter came by the table to freshen our cups almost as soon as they were empty.

 Service and Price

The service is very good at La Casa del Waffle. We were waited on immediately, and served coffee while we read the menu. When we have visited previously, we were served a small basket of bread, but not this time. I am not sure why.

The waiter kept our coffee cups filled and was a little anxious to remove our plates before we were finished with our meals.

Our meal, without tip, came to $222 pesos,  or about $17US, about what we pay in the US when we visit a breakfast chain restaurant.

Our recommendation ***

La Casa del Waffle is a good place for breakfast if you want traditional, familiar, breakfast food. This is a nice, clean restaurant with a pleasant atmosphere and good food at a fair price.

If you sit in the patio area you can lessen the effects of the blaring music, which will improve your experience significantly.
  

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!

Tabarka

Ramon Corona 2-A, Ajijic, Mexico
Phone: 376 766 1588

Credit Cards Accepted - Visa and Mastercard
Hours: Tuesday - Sun 12pm - 10pm. Closed Monday.  

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tabarkarestaurante

Directions: Tabarka's new location is just north of Lake Chapala Society in Ajijic. There is limited parking along the calle.

Tabarka has a second location, Tacos Frida, located along the Carretera in San Antonio, Tlayacapan, across from Super Lake for more casual fare.

First Impressions

Tabarka serves gourmet Basque/Spanish food, some of the best we have tasted anywhere. If you want to impress guests, take them to Tabarka for dinner. This is a great restaurant in a new setting very close to Lake Chapala Society.

The owner, Chef David, is from Alicante, Spain and oversees the preparation of each dish. We love to eat lunch here in the afternoon and indulge in the tapas or paella.

 Menu

The menu changes daily and is written on a white board that the waiter brings to your table. The specialty of the house are the tapas and we highly recommend ordering the set price tapas
special and taste whatever the chef decides to prepare, based on the season and availability of fresh ingredients.

The tapas special is available for a set price or can be ordered individually. Each dish is a pleasant and delicious surprise. Slices of Spanish tortilla, exquisitely prepared small plates of fish, fried eggplant, meatballs, and tiny bowls of soup. Paella is the specialty of the house



Tapas from the kitchen

Paella is prepared fresh when ordered so your patience is requested since the chef needs at least thirty minutes to prepare this dish properly.

Tabarka has a full bar with mixed drinks available as well as selection of wine and beer. Ask for a recommendation, and the waiter will suggest a wine from the chef's home region in Spain.

 

Ambience

The dining room at Tabarka is al fresco, under  covered tables that shields from the sun and rare showers.

Art by Spanish artists covers the walls. Tabarka has created a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere for a romantic lunch, or to entertain friends. For those who are without a vehicle while visiting Lake Chapala, Tabarka is now much easier to reach in the new central Ajijic location.  

Service

Service is very good. When you order the tapas special you never have to wait very long between dishes before another scrumptious dish is placed before you.

The waiters are knowledgeable about every dish on the menu and can be trusted to give good recommendations. They bring the menu board to your table and explain each dish. 

Every time we have visited Tabarka, Chef David greets us at the table at some time during the meal. We have learned a lot about Spain and the traditional foods from this area by talking to David.

Our Recommendation  *****

If you must choose one really outstanding place to have dinner in Ajijic, go to Tabarka. This is gourmet food, prepared by a master chef who really cares about what he serves.

The open air seating is pleasant. The prices are very reasonable, especially considering the impressive quality of the dishes.

 

Viva Mexico, Tia Lupita's

Address: Porfirio Diaz #92, San Juan Cosala
Phone: 387-761-1058
Hours: Friday through Wednesday 12 - 8 p.m.; Closed Thursdays

Directions: From Walmart, drive west on the Carretera through Ajijic, approximately 6 kilometers. At the first traffic light in San Juan Cosala, turn left on Calle del Cardenal. Travel one block. Turn right on Porfirio Diaz. Viva Mexico, Tia Lupita's is 2 blocks on the right.





Outside View of Viva Mexico! Tia Lupita's

First Impressions

Viva Mexico, Tia Lupita's is family owned and one of the best restaurants lakeside for traditional Mexican food and wonderful steaks. We visited on a Sunday afternoon and the restaurant was moderately full. We did not have a reservation but were seated promptly.

Like many places in Mexico the outside appearance belies what is found inside. The décor is traditional Mexicana, artsy, clean, inviting. The day we visited, mariachi's were playing in the courtyard.

The Menu

Salsa Prepared Tableside

Not long after you are seated and have placed your drink order, a chef  arrives at your table with a large stone molcajete and all the ingredients to make a delicious salsa, to your specifications.

The menu includes traditional items such as chiles en nogada, which  is a specialty of the house. We have had this dish in other restaurants in Mexico, but this is still the best we have ever tasted.



Chiles en Nogada - Delicious!

The steaks are also delicious and perfectly prepared. Filet mignon and buffalo steak are served sizzling and perfectly grilled.
Wine and beer are available  as well as mixed drinks and they are locally famous for their extra large margaritas.

Service

Service is very good, as it is almost everywhere in Mexico. Our waiters were attentive, but we never felt rushed. We especially enjoyed the tableside preparation of salsa.

 

Ambience

Viva Mexico! Tia Lupita's can be recognized by the large mural painted on the outside of the building. Inside, the dining rooms are large and open with traditional art on the walls. The lightening is subdued and romantic. It is a comfortable, rather than elegant, place to spend a leisurely afternoon enjoying a wonderful meal. It is also a great place to meet friends and can accommodate large groups.

Price

The prices at Tia Lupita's are very reasonable. Where else can you find an 8 oz. filet mignon for $9.00? Expect to pay about $350 pesos for dinner and wine. Credit cards are not accepted.

Our Recommendation ****

You will love this restaurant. The food and service is excellent. Try the chilies en nogada, if it is in season. You won't be sorry!