Pasta Trenta Restaurant

Address: Constitucion 33A casi esq. Ramon Corona, Ajijic
Telephone: 376 766 1121. Call for a Reservation.
Email: pastatrenta@gmail.com
Facebook
Hours: Monday - Wednesday 1 PM to 10 PM; Friday - Sunday 9 AM - 10 PM 
Visa and MasterCard Accepted. Free Wifi.  

Directions: From Walmart, travel toward Ajijic and turn left at Calle Serdan, and then left onto Calle Ocampo, which will turn into Constitucion. Pasta Trenta is on the left, just before Calle Galeana. Park along the street in front of the restaurant.



First Impressions

One of the newest restaurants in Ajijic, Pasta Trenta, is located in a cozy nook on Calle Constitucion. The understated café entrance is easy to miss if you aren't watching out for it. But, don't just pass by without stopping, especially if you are hungry for authentic Italian cooking.

The daily specials are posted on the wall just outside the entrance and this afternoon they featured ravioli made in house and a coconut garlic bisque as specials. As we were standing outside, reading the menu and trying to decide to have lunch, two women who were just leaving told us what delicious meals they had and ensured us that we could not go wrong by eating at Pasta Trenta.

That is all we needed to hear to decide to venture in and try some of the interesting looking dishes on the menu. Word of mouth - especially unsolicited - really is the best kind of advertisement.

The intimate dining room may seat 20 guests. If you are coming for dinner, make a reservation so that you will not be disappointed if the restaurant is full. After our meals this afternoon, I predict that Pasta Trent will become very popular with local diners.

The Menu

Pasta Trenta's Dining Room

As their name suggests, the menu features at least 30 unique Italian dishes. Or, perhaps the name references a town in Southern Italy that inspires their cuisine. There are dishes on the menu I have never seen at any other Italian restaurant at Lake Chapala. Someone in the kitchen knows what they are doing.

The menu tempts you with a variety of starters, including a soup (today a coconut and roasted garlic bisque was the special), several fresh salads, bruschetta, antipasto and fried calamari, to name just a few.

A chalkboard on the wall above the table lists the mixed drinks available and several coffees. The waitress brought us a wine list with a decent selection of red and white wines served by the glass or bottle. The choices were almost overwhelming and everything sounded delicious. We decided to begin our meal with bruschetta and two glasses of Spanish wine, the Tempranillo.




Bruschetta

The serving size of the bruschetta was small, but quite enough for two, prepared fresh and arranged on two slices of toasted Italian bread. The tomatoes and fresh leaf lettuce were well seasoned and the dish was attractively served on a wooden cutting board.

For the main dish, we ordered 
POLLO E FUNGHI, prepared with chicken, garlic, and mushrooms in a cream sauce for

Prosciutto E Melle

$115pesos. At the waitress' suggestion, we also ordered PROSCIUTTO E MELLE, ham, apple, and choice of pasta served in a cognac and cream sauce, and priced at $115pesos. A basket of fresh bread and a small jar of garlic spread accompanied our meal.

Pasta Trenta's  entire menu can be previewed on their Facebook page.  

By the end of the meal we were stuffed but could not pass up dessert. We split a delicious lime tart which was not on the menu but offered by our waitress. I wish I had saved room for coffee because Pasta Trenta offers cappuccino as well as café latte and café Americano.

Lemon Tart

Service and Price

Our waitress was attentive and able to explain the menu selections to us and even made suggestions of her own favorites. I am always impressed when the wait staff can explain the menu items and describe how they taste. We each had two glasses of wine during our meal, a substantial glass for a mere $35pesos.

The total price, after 4 glasses of wine, starter, two main dishes and dessert came to $463pesos.


Those who read Lake Chapala Restaurant Guide  know that when we review a restaurant we do not skimp on our meals or drinks. Can you eat for less at Pasta Trenta? Yes, but you can also splurge and still spend less than $30US for two people.

Our Recommendation ****

Delicious Italian food prepared fresh by a knowledgeable chef. Attentive, intelligent service. Intimate, pleasant dining experience and reasonable prices. We highly recommend this new restaurant for a dining experience that is different from any other lakeside. Muy rico! Tell them Lake Chapala Restaurant Guide sent you.

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.

La Peña de Santos Rico; Cafe and Art Gallery

Address: Calle Constitucion #16, Ajijic
Phone: 376-766-0281
Facebook
Hours: 9am - 4pm, Wednesday - Monday. Closed Tuesday.
Cash Only. No credit cards accepted
Limited Parking on Street 
Features: Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch. Large selection of hot and cold coffee drinks. Wine and Beer. Traditional Mexican and Latin American dishes. Dine in the courtyard and visit the art gallery. 

Directions: From Walmart, travel west on the Carretera to Calle Serdan. Turn left on Serdan and drive towards the lake to Calle Ocampo. Turn left on Ocampo, which becomes Constitucion after crossing Colon. Drive 1/2 block further. La Peña de Santos Rico will be on the right. Park along the right hand side of the street.
 

First Impression

The non-descript building that houses La Peña de Santos Rico is easy to miss if you are not paying attention. A chalkboard on the street in front of the café announces the special of the day.

The front door opens into an inviting gallery and a partially covered dining area lies at the end of the winding brick path. Soft music welcomes guests and huge trees shade the interior courtyard.

La Peña is translated as a meeting place for artists and musicians and La Peña de Santos Rico definitely has the feel of a bohemian coffee shop, café and hang out for artists. The dining room walls are covered in original art and the glass tables sit atop roasted coffee beans.


We visited La Peña de Santos Rico on a Friday afternoon and were the only guests at the restaurant. We were greeted by our waitress and given menus - written in English - with a surprising number and variety of breakfast and lunch dishes offered at incredibly reasonable prices.

The two page spread of hot and cold coffee drinks will make this a popular place with coffee enthusiasts. Que rico!

Menu

When we first heard of La Peña de Santos Rico it was based on their reputation as a great place for breakfast, and indeed, they offer an array of dishes, that includes Eggs Benedict, molletes, chilequiles, omelets, fresh fruit and yogurt. All breakfast plates are served with juice or coffee and no meal is priced over $60MX.

Our intention on this particular afternoon was to have lunch, though I made a mental note to return soon for breakfast. My friend was impressed with the drink menu that features wine for $30MX and beer for $20MX. These are just about the best prices in town for wine and beer.

I questioned the waitress about the wine, since such an inexpensive price usually means a cut rate brand, but this was not the case at La Peña de Santos Rico. We were served a healthy pour of a very nice Cabernet Sauvignon. The beers available are Victoria and Corona and an artisan beer called Berber, brewed in Zapopan.

The lunch menu lists traditional Mexican dishes, such as Chiles Rellanos, Chicken Enfrijoladas, Sopes, Fish Tacos al Pastor, Chicken Chipotle and the daily special, Carne en su Jugo. Again, nothing is priced over $60MX.

We ordered the Chicken Enfrijoladas and the daily special. While we waited, the waitress brought two tasty salsas and totopos to our table.

The Carne en su Jugo was different from anything I have tasted in local restaurants. A stew-like dish full of beef, beans and bacon in a rich stock. It was served with fresh handmade corn tortillas.


The traditional enfrijoladas featured four thin tortillas rolled around chicken and covered in a bean sauce, sprinkled with cheese and topped with thinly sliced avocado. Both dishes exceeded our expectations.

This is one of the few restaurants in Ajijic that focuses exclusively on traditional Mexican and Latin American dishes.

With two pages of specialty coffees, how could we resist trying at least one for dessert? We both ordered the Café Santos Rico made with expresso, Baileys Irish Cream, Kahlua, cinnamon and frothy milk and served with a cookie. The price? $60MX.

Muy sabrosa! But, will we be able to sleep tonight?

Price and Service

Our waitress was polite and prompt. When I got up to look at the art, she came over to tell me more about the paintings and the opportunity to meet the artist at an upcoming art sale. The paintings and photographs were beautifully framed  and reasonably priced.

The total cost of our meal - four glasses of good red wine, two main courses and two cups of alcohol infused coffee came to a modest $360MX. That is about $20USD. You can dine well for a lot less than this at La Peña de Santos Rico, but we like to have wine with our meal and something sweet afterwards.

You can eat breakfast or lunch at La Peña de Santos Rico for less than $5 if you are on a strict budget, which I may have to go on if I keep eating like this.

Our Recommendation **** 

What a great new place! La Peña de Santos Rico is a perfect place to meet friends for coffee or to gather a group for breakfast or lunch. There is plenty of seating and the atmosphere is pleasant and tranquil.

The café is open for breakfast and lunch every day but Tuesday. Bring cash, no credit cards accepted. Our next trip to La Peña de Santos Rico will be for the gallery showing and art sale. Stop by and try their specialty coffees or indulge in a traditional, and delicious, Mexican meal.

Buen Provecho!

Perry's Pizza; Pizza Place; Fish and Chips Shop

Address: Carretera Poniente #31, Ajijic Phone: 376-766-2841
Hours: Breakfast 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM; Lunch/Dinner 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Monday - Sunday.  
Facebook
Webpage

Reservations Accepted.
Voted Best Pizza in 2015 in a People's Choice Award.

Directions: From Walmart, travel west through Ajijic about 1 1/2 miles. Perry's is on the right at the top of the hill before the rumble strips as you are leaving Ajijic. The restaurant is located in a colorful building with an outdoor dining area and parking in front.

First Impressions

Perry's is a restaurant in search of an identity, changing shapes and definitions about as often as I change my clothes. First came Perry's Fish and Chips Shop, located in a tiny storefront in the village of Ajijic. Then, a wood-fired pizza oven was installed and a variety of pizzas added to the menu. Suddenly, Perry's added daily breakfast service. Tomorrow, who knows what new shape Perry's will take.

The limited parking and dining areas in their former location hampered growth. The new location, along the Carretera west of Ajijc is a welcome change for Perry's loyal customers. The newest location offers outdoor seating, bright, umbrella shaded tables crowded onto a wide front porch. There are a few indoor tables and adequate parking.

We visited for lunch on a Wednesday afternoon. There was one other occupied table when we arrived. A pleasant young waitress greeted us and handed us menus and allowed us our choice of table.

Then, she stood expectantly - tapping her pen against her order pad - while we decided what we wanted to eat. We ordered a couple of beers in order to give us some time to look at the menu out from under the impatient scrutiny of the waitress.

Menu

Perry's, as mentioned above, is searching for an identity, for some magic formula  that will appeal to customers. The menu offers fish and chips plates prepared with either dorado or tilapia, fish tacos and a daily fish lunch special that includes chowder, one piece of fried fish, French fries, onion rings and coleslaw. Also on the menu are hamburgers, chili burgers, salad and a variety of pizzas.

I took a friend who had tasted the pizza and declared it the best in the area. There are many reviews that corroborate his statement, along with customers who nominated Perry's for an award in 2015 for best pizza.

This afternoon we ordered the daily fish special and the bacon-bacon cheeseburger.


My first choice had been fish and chips, made with the dorado. However, the waitress informed me that there was no dorado that day, only tilapia. This was the first disappointment of the afternoon.

There are only two different fish on the menu. A restaurant that advertises itself as a fish and chips shop ought to have the fish available that is advertised on the menu - or at least a decent substitute. I changed my order to the fish special made with tilapia.

My meal began with clam chowder. The base was thick and flavorful, but I never did find any clams in the soup. The potatoes, though, were quite plentiful, but they were not thoroughly cooked. Rather they were hard, little chunks. I suspect this dish is a doctored version of a pre-packaged soup and not made in house.  Clam chowder is an easy dish to prepare and ought to be made fresh, from scratch, every day.

The fish and chips looked delicious, crisp brown batter fried fish served on a generous portion of French fries and accompanied by two onion rings and coleslaw. The fries were crisp, fried perfectly and served hot. I could not taste the grease, which means it was clean and heated to the correct temperature - something a lot of local restaurants have a hard time doing.

The fish was another story and the most disappointing feature of the meal. The batter was, indeed, crisp on the outside, but the inside was doughy and undercooked instead of shatteringly crisp as I expected. What had happened?

The fish was most likely still frozen when dipped into the batter and fried. It should have been defrosted, dusted in flour, salt and seasonings and then dipped into the batter to prevent this problem. The tilapia was flaccid and tasteless - certainly not what I expected from a place that bills itself as a fish and chips shop.

The coleslaw was also a disappointment. The tiny cup of slaw consisted of carelessly cut hunks of cabbage and carrots, completely without seasoning, with almost no dressing. Shred the cabbage and carrots, Perry, and make a seasoned dressing in which to marinate the vegetables.

On the other hand, there were a few pleasant surprises. My friend said that the bacon cheeseburger he ordered was probably the best he had eaten since moving to the Lake Chapala area. The burger was large, cooked perfectly and piled with bacon. The plate was served with fries and a side of fresh vegetables.

Perry's serves the usual soft drinks and iced tea but also offers a nice selection of beers, including craft beers, and wine. Dessert is also available.

Price and Service  

Perry's prices are very reasonable. They are open seven days a week and now serve breakfast, as well as lunch and dinner. Service is fast and friendly. Our entire bill for two meals and three beers was $210mx - about $12USD. We rarely eat this much food for this little money at other restaurants in the area.

Perry's is well known for their fish and chips so I was surprised at the disappointing quality of the fish special. I think the problem may have originated with a novice cook in the kitchen that afternoon. I am going to assume that this poor representation of their fish and chips plate was an anomaly. Perry should drop the tilapia from the menu and stick with mahi-mahi, even if an adjustment has to be made in the price. The better quality of the fish would make it worth the extra cost.

Our Recommendation ***

Go to Perry's for an excellent burger and the best pizza in town and skip the fish and chips.

Perry's biggest mistake is trying to be all things to all people. The Pareto Principle states that 80% of the effects (profits) come from 20% of the effort. Perry should take this to heart and refine his business to concentrate on those menu items that bring in the most satisfied customers and greatest profit.

Breakfast at a fish and chips and pizza shop? Why? This is an area that already has several popular breakfast restaurants. Perry's should pick an identity - just one - then concentrate on being the best they can be.

El Rincon de Frida

Address: Hidalgo Sur # 159, Jocotepec, Mexico
Phone: 01 387 763 2801
Facebook
Hours: Monday - Saturday, 9:00am to 11:00pm; Closed Sundays.
Special Events: Tuesday, poetry reading; Thursday, live entertainment.

Directions: From Walmart in Ajijic, drive west for 25 kilometers, into the town of Jocotepec. Turn left at the first stop light and drive about 1/2 mile, turning right at the third street. Turn right at the first stop light, onto Hidalgo Sur. Park along the street.

First Impression

El Rincon de Frida memorializes the Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, on every wall, and in every decorative touch. Rarely do I get to use the word, bohemian, to describe lakeside restaurants, but that is precisely the word that fits this tiny soup. salad and sandwich shop.

Frida's has no parking lot. The only parking available is along Calle Hidalgo Sur, in front of the restaurant. We parked several blocks away and walked, but that was because of the festival going on in Jocotepec which had blocked many of the streets. It was later in the evening when we dined, but the streets were well-lighted and we felt safe walking to the restaurant.

Frida's dining room accommodates perhaps 25 at the most. Quotes from the artist are written on the wall, her picture is everywhere and she is referenced in almost every menu item.

On Thursday, live entertainment begins at 9pm. Tuesday nights are reserved for poetry reading. The owners have carved out a unique, artsy - yes, bohemian - corner that is popular with young locals and older expats.

We visited with a large group of friends and the waiters happily pushed together tables and created a space for all of us.

Menu

El Rincon de Frida's menu offers a nice variety of unique sandwiches and fresh salads, all reasonably priced from $40pesos to $72pesos. I ordered a "Flor de Vida," a vegetarian sandwich consisting of cream cheese, cucumbers, alfalfa sprouts, tomatoes, onion and lettuce served on toasted wheat bread and accompanied by a green salad.


It was delicious, the vegetables crisp and fresh. A friend ordered the "Diego en el Pensamiento," a house-made chicken salad, also accompanied by a green salad.

We also ordered "Papas a la Frida" - hunks of delicious roasted potatoes - to split. It was a good thing we only ordered one, since the portion size is huge and clearly made to share. Many in our party ordered one of the huge salad bowls and raved about the taste with every bite.

The drink menu includes soft drinks, large margaritas, and limited - but good quality - wines and beers.

Service and Price

Frida's waiters are patient, friendly and accommodating. They speak some English and seemed to understand the special dietary requests made by some in our party. I was impressed with how kindly they treated their older customers.

The meals are slow coming out of the kitchen, but that is because every order is made by the chef, who constructs each plate like an artist, when the order is placed. Nothing is prepackaged or pre-staged at Frida's. Because of the pleasant environment, our party was happy to wait for their orders to arrive.

This is not a fast food stop, so expect to stay a while. Entertainment began at 9pm on Thursday evenings when a funky duo performs traditional Spanish ballads.

Lola sings in a deep baritone, glancing occasionally at a cellphone for the lyrics to the romantic ballads, while the guitarist plays some pretty impressive accompaniment. It is interesting - and certainly unique - entertainment. I have not attended the poetry nights, but think that this would be interesting to hear in two languages.

Our Recommendation ****

If you find yourself hungry in Jocotepec, I can recommend El Rincon de Frida for good soups, salads and sandwiches in a friendly, funky, Frida-filled café.

If you are thinking of going in the evening, especially on the nights when there is music or poetry reading, make a reservation so you will be sure to get a table. Buen Provecho!

Chopstix, La Comida Oriental

Address: Bugambilias Plaza, on the Carretera in Ajijic
Phone: 376-766-1375
Hours: 11:30 - 4:30, M-F. Closed Saturday and Sunday
Facebook
Vietnamese Cuisine. Monthly Dim Sum by Reservation.
Cash Only; Credit Cards not Accepted

First Impressions

Chopstix is an unpretentious diner specializing in Vietnamese cuisine. The café is located on the ground floor, at the back of Bugambilias Plaza. Customers can also enter from a door that opens onto the side street. The dining room is bright and scrupulously clean. The kitchen and preparation areas are visible from the modest dining room.

Chopstix serves lunch only, Monday through Friday. Diners quickly fill up the tables at lunch time. This is a very popular place with expats. The menu is simple, with a variety of traditional Asian appetizers and main dishes, as well as a special that changes daily.

The owners are hands-on, greeting customers as they come through the door, over-seeing the kitchen and running the cash register, waiting on tables and making sure that customers are happy with their meals. A dessert menu, written on a chalkboard, consists of an ever-changing variety of ice creams made in house.

Menu

Traditional Asian appetizers and noodle-based main dishes are offered on a one page menu, with drinks listed on the opposite side.

Diners can choose to begin with pot stickers, fried spring rolls or fresh summer rolls. I have tasted all three and could make a meal out of just the appetizers alone. They are all delicious and cooked to order. The standard dishes offered each day are a noodle bowl, consisting of rice noodles, a large serving of chicken, salad and a freshly made peanut sauce, a Rice Plate and a Bread Plate.

On the day we visited, Chicken Noodle Soup, or Pho Ga, was the daily special. The soup is served in a large bowl brimming with steamy, well seasoned broth and huge chunks of chicken, rice noodles and fresh greens.

Chopstix offers a large variety of drinks, from Chinese Green Tea and lemongrass tea, to a locally brewed pro-biotic ginger beer, white and red wine, beer and soda.

Then, there is dessert. The only thing on the menu is ice cream, but that is enough. The luscious creamy dessert is made in-house. A menu on a chalkboard in the dining room informs customers of the varieties available that day.

We ordered bowls of mint chocolate chip and lemongrass-ginger. The ice cream is rich and creamy and the added flavors are fresh without overpowering the creamy sweetness. This is the best ice cream I have tasted while living at Lake Chapala. Even if you do not care for Asian food, stop in for a bowl of this ice cream. The lemongrass ginger is my favorite flavor - it is irresistible.

I have tasted nearly every dish on the menu at Chopstix and have never been disappointed. If you love Asian cuisine, you can't go wrong ordering anything on the menu.

Chopstix offers a monthly Dim Sum. Reservations are required for this special meal. Customers can sign up on their Facebook page or by email to receive notification of when the meal will be served.

Service and Price

These are hands-on owners who have been living and working in Ajijic for over 15 years. They understand their customers and work hard to keep them happy. The service is fast, friendly and conscientious. Prices are very reasonable, especially for the generous serving size of the dishes.

Our Recommendation ****

Chopstix is a great place for lunch. If you have not been yet, stop by after a morning of shopping at the Wednesday tiangus (street market).

The food is consistently good and the prices are right. If you are in the mood for good Asian cuisine, we highly recommend Chopstix for a delicious and satisfying lunch. Don't forget to try a bowl of their heavenly ice cream.

La Mesa Restaurant

Address: Carretera Peniente 19A, Ajijic
Telephone: 376 766 2948
Hours: 12pm to 10pm Monday - Saturday. Closed Sunday
Facebook
Now featuring live music on Friday evenings. Wine night on Wednesdays - house wine half priced.

Directions: From Walmart, drive west on the Carretera approximately 2 kilometers, through Ajijic.  La Mesa is on the right side of the road just as you drive up the hill after Colon Ave. Park along the Carretera on the wide shoulder.
 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I had heard some good things about La Mesa before finally deciding to give it a try. The one thing that kept me from visiting before now is the lack of parking. On the afternoon we visited there was plenty of parking on the wide shoulder along the Carretera in front of the restaurant.

La Mesa Restaurant is not clearly visible from the road, and even after I entered the front yard, I asked my companion if we were in the right place.

What a lovely surprise when we walked through the front door and into what felt like a French Bistro. Soft jazz played in the background. There are wooden tables covered in brown parchment and local artists' paintings on the wall. The dining room is light, and airy with large windows and a view of the lake just above the buildings across the street.

Here is a place where you want to spend all afternoon, chatting over lunch and a few glasses of wine - which is what we did.

Menu

We were warmly welcomed by the waitress, and after we were seated, one of the owners came to the table to greet us and offer us a sample of the house chili beans, which were delicious.

We were given two menus to order from, one with the lunches - salads, soups, sandwiches - and the other a dinner menu that featured more substantial fare. We were invited to order from either menu.

We started with wine - an excellent Tempranillo - and the salmon cake appetizer pictured above. The salmon cakes arrived after a reasonable wait. They are made with flaked salmon, chopped potatoes and parsley with a hint of onion. The homemade dill-flavored sauce perfectly complemented the crisp salmon cakes.

As our entrees, we ordered the sirloin steak sandwich and Cobb salad. The steak sandwich was stuffed with tender, thinly sliced sirloin and served on toasted white bread with sauteed yellow, green and red peppers and smothered in cheese.

The Cobb salad is presented in a large salad bowl and topped with olives, tomatoes, avocado, crumbled bacon, cheese, hard boiled eggs and chopped red onions, all on a bed of crisp lettuce with blue cheese dressing on the side.

We also ordered two more glasses of Tempranillo.


Then it was time for dessert. Alfajor piqued our interest, so we asked the waitress to describe it to us. It is an Argentinian dessert, consisting of shortbread-style cookies filled with cajeta (caramel made from goat's milk) and topped with vanilla ice cream. We split this dessert, but I wish I had ordered my own. It was heavenly and different than any dessert I have tasted at Lake Chapala. I was impressed not only by the well prepared food, but also the uniqueness of the menu.

Service and Price  

Our waitress was pleasant, knowledgeable about the menu and attentive. The owner came to our table and introduced herself and welcomed us. We enjoyed the relaxed pace or our meal and never felt rushed.

The price, $490mx, may seem high to some, but once we were in the restaurant we decided to splurge. Honestly, it is one of the best restaurants we have dined at lately and when you find a place like this, you want to do it justice.

The wine prices are some of the best around, at $35mx per glass for a good red wine. We ordered wine, appetizer, two main dishes and dessert for less than $30US.

Now that we have visited for lunch, I am anticipating my next visit, this time for dinner.

 

Our Recommendation ****

This is the best new restaurant in town - a place where you take guests you want to impress, meet friends for dinner or have a romantic lunch for two. The chefs know what they are doing and turn out food that shows off their knowledge and technique.

The restaurant needs a better sign to let their customers know where they are and a more welcoming entrance, but that should not stop anyone from enjoying what has to be the best new dining experience in Ajijic.  I can't wait to return.

Buen Provecho!