Three most upscale restaurants in Rosarito Beach?

Upscale ?

Chaberts at the Rosarito Beach Hotel
Portifino upstairs and across the street to the soujt of Sr. Frogs
French Restaurant just south of Tequila Safari


Where I would eat
La Estancia towards the beach 2 blocks north of WaldoMart
Bobby's By The Sea, just north of Puerto Nuevo
The new Ortegas on the southwest corner of Puerto Nuevo


There are contless others but, when you order the lobster, order it steamed (al vapor) or grilled( a la parilla) or it will taste just like the fish that was just deep fried in the same grease (Puerto Nuevo Style)

Thanks, JR

I figured you were the guy.

De nada Hook

Both good places

But the plastic windows surrounding Pelicanos annoy me. We still go there plenty though.

El Nido is well, um, kinda "dk" like for my tastes. They even have a built in coop! Good food and we've had lotsa fun there as well, I just prefer these other places.

Mike, never ever order anything cooked rare here. The restaurants I mentioned know how to cook it either grilled or steamed/boiled. Much better flavor.

I will say though that the best lobster we eat are from our lobster delivery guy (Irving). He brings live ones up from Ensenada and we cook them ourselves. The Best!

I named the lobster guy Irving, (Irving Steinberg) in fact. Let's see who will make what out of this one.

That's er uh,

quite the guide there Pompano. Be sure to wear your shirt when you come by!

I don't know about getting Ham

in Rosarito. But I do know some good Carnitas for sure!!

And after re-reading, I have this saying. "Never order Spaghetti in the Phillipines". I learned this lesson after seeing it on the me?u at the Manila Hotel and ordering it. It was not good! Ketchup sauce with bits of arroz movibles hahahaha just kidding, but it was BAD.

This lesson also applies to ordering say, a hamburger at the Red Lobster, seafood soup at Black Angus and so on and so forth.
It also applies to the Mexican Hotels as a rule. Hotels are for sleeping. Restaurants are for eating.

"nother lobster story

Little Saigon, Ca.

Taking Mom out for asian dinner I ordered lobster something with cream sauce. Dish come velly plitty. Unfortunately, the entire lobster, shell and all had been mashed into the cream sauce. After discovering they didn't have any special technique for eating "dish come dis way"

I ordered the arroz you know what!

JR, sorry

Interesting Points

Although I didn't say anything about eating at Chaberts if you would notice. And I'm not going to argue with Rosaritos new Galloping Gypsy Gourmet but, I stand by the recommendations I did make.
Don't go to Puerto Nuevo on weekends, and eat at the Ortegas I mentioned and you won't be disappointed. We have always enjoyed Bobby's, especially the eggplant parmesian and beef cuts. The pasta is made fresh daily.
With such a strong opinion against these places, something reminds me of the La Fonda customers that don't like the place. Those people can't handle their margaritas either

My suggestions are also based on atmosphere, view, and the entire dining experience to be had.


"The last time I was there, my *field greens* salad was served with a dressing of Karo syrup with a stale garnish. I was so horrified by that, I don't remember the rest of the meal, but it was BAD, you can search these archives for details."

I assume by this statement that you have been to Chaberts more than once. Although we have eaten there, most anyyone who has lived in Rosarito for a while certainly knows not to go there, especially more than once!


[Edited on 9/1/2005 by jrbaja]

Three Best

There seems to be some dispute here

from the tourists viewpoints anyways And who would know more about restaurants than the occasional Nomad tourist passing through?
For starters, the Palm Grill has good food but, I don't think Mexicans are even allowed inside. It in fact is about as touristy as you can get! That's not a Mexican Jazz band playing on weekends Gull.
Estancia also has a gringo crowd but the Mexican food is the best and the steaks don't need knives.
Las Ma?anitas is next to my house. They started out well but the food has turned to consistently bad. They do have really good breakfast potatoes though. But that's it.
And I'm not sure why these tourists don't understand that I did not recommend Chaberts unless it's because they are trying to prove their vast knowledge of Rosarito Beach as a tourist. Chaberts is "upscale" but not a good place to eat. I hear they are having reading comprehension classes on Wednesdays though. I think they throw in a free salad bar.
One of the factors with people coming down to Rosarito is ambiance and getting a feel for things Mexican and the atmosphere.
If you consider eating alongside the dairy and gas company on the free road a treat, then that is the ambiance for you.
If you like ocean views, sunsets, excellent food and a memorable experience, I would try the places I recommended. They are based on living here and consistency, not just one or two experiences passing through.

I do hear Querencia is really good, as long as the wind is blowing the right direction!

From the Gypsy
"Avoid Puerto Nuevo at all costs. I presume your boss will be driving a very nice car. The pay parking is an unregulated and uninsured operation and various roaming gangs of sophisticated car thieves prey on this area. The food served n Puerto Nuevo is uneven and across the board unreliable. The lobsters are pre-fried, stored frozen, then refried according to demand. Even when you ask for steamed, it comes out of the freezer. And, Puerto Nuevo is just a gringo tourist and drunken SD frat boy place -- not a high end dining experience."
" Roaming gangs of "sophisticated car thieves"
The Ortegas I mentioned has their own lot with security.

If you aren't "sophisticated" enough to not go on the weekends, then that pretty much invalidates the rest of your suggestions! How long you been down here again?

i sure hope that the Mcdonalds in Rosarito is doing well...

i'm thinking about bringing the Taco Bell franchise there soon,whadya say to a cheesy gordita crunch...now thats real mexican food

Surprisingly enough

We considered opening a Taco Bell down here about 10 years ago. I used to like their food and it was one of our first stops after heading through the border. A long time ago.
Now I think their food is terrible. Just like the McDonalds in Rosarito. The funny part is, they are always busy????

Quote:

Originally posted by jrbaja from the tourists viewpoints anyways And who would know more about restaurants than the occasional Nomad tourist passing through? For starters, the Palm Grill has good food but, I don't think Mexicans are even allowed inside. It in fact is about as touristy as you can get! That's not a Mexican Jazz band playing on weekends Gull. Estancia also has a gringo crowd but the Mexican food is the best and the steaks don't need knives. Las Ma?anitas is next to my house. They started out well but the food has turned to consistently bad. They do have really good breakfast potatoes though. But that's it. And I'm not sure why these tourists don't understand that I did not recommend Chaberts unless it's because they are trying to prove their vast knowledge of Rosarito Beach as a tourist. Chaberts is "upscale" but not a good place to eat. I hear they are having reading comprehension classes on Wednesdays though. I think they throw in a free salad bar. One of the factors with people coming down to Rosarito is ambiance and getting a feel for things Mexican and the atmosphere. If you consider eating alongside the dairy and gas company on the free road a treat, then that is the ambiance for you. If you like ocean views, sunsets, excellent food and a memorable experience, I would try the places I recommended. They are based on living here and consistency, not just one or two experiences passing through. I do hear Querencia is really good, as long as the wind is blowing the right direction!

Uh er yeah, whatever you say.

"Bobby's by the Sea - total swill, run by an a-hole
Chabert's - no way, overpriced, blah
La Estancia - can one place get to be more Gringo? "

Gulls restaurant review of Rosarito.

I'm sure this will be hard for you to understand but living here full time, with a bunch of neighbors that come down and eat out on weekends, same neighbors, every weekend, I tend to hear about as well as experience these restaurants regularly.

But, that probably doesn't mean anything to you Gull.

It was mentioned in a previous post about attitude's of tourists in these establishments and how it affects their time there. I wonder if that would apply to anyone on here and how they could manage to have such a bad time at these really fun places.

It is also really fun to watch how the bartenders deal with these type of arrogant tourists. Good tequila doesn't give you a hangover!

[Edited on 9/1/2005 by jrbaja]

Wonderful response. Once again you set the chinning bar really high. As typical of your chicken cooping to be an expert in eating you have to be a Baja resident. Therefore, nobody else on this string lives in Baja.

Now it is clear why you like Bobby's by the sea. Birds of a feather...(see earlier post).

Yes, you do not mean anything, JR. Your attitude and your self proclaimed expertise in everything has provided your lack of relevance.

Now I know why you can't get along with DK.

I also know which of you is worse.

Real thing

JR,

You must really get off on going to PN during the week and having the strolling musicians playing your two favorite "Mexican" songs - La Bamba and "yo soy marinero".

During the week, you can ask for those two to be repeated without interruption from touristas.

Square Circle

JR would be the best source on a Cuban Jazz band as he would have already asked for their proof of nationality and requested La Bamba and "yo soy marinero", repeatedly.

Generally Square

I tend not to reply if I don't know the answer. We don't usually go out on weekends because, it's just too crowded.
But, Le Cousteau is an awesome restaurant. That's the French one I was trying to think of next to Tequila Safari.

As far as the music goes, all I know is "La Bamba"

Pollos Pablos

For something with a little more "meat"

That's not Steve in the background

is it?

It's hard to believe....

...that this was a serious inquiry at one point, isn't it?

I think I mananged to glean what I needed for my wife's boss.

Except one thing....where can I get a bikini that fits a whole chicken.....

I think you can pick those up

in the lobby of Gull and Gypsys favorite restaurant. You know, the one between the dairy and the gas plant.




Just kidding, I don't even know where Querencia is located exactly! But, I have heard it's really good although the location in general is questionable at best, in my books.


And although it does take some 'gleaning" because of so many opinions, personalities, ridiculous remarks made by everyone but me, some pretty useful information seems to always come to the surface. Generally a little more than expected. It's all good.

Hey, whatever that is

looks a lot like Bobby's Saturday Night Special. And Sunday mornings brunch! He said he designed it for a "special crowd".
I didn't know he had the catering up and running.

[Edited on 9/3/2005 by jrbaja]