El Rosario food

Damn that waitress. If there something that peees me off this is it! I realize that so many little places practice minimal washing but that is totallly unacceptable. The small stands etc are suspect because it's obvious they don't have running water. That does not mean they can't sanitize their hands though. The laws of Mexico are supposed to prevent desease just like the U.S. It is simple to understand why these laws are hard to enforce.
Mama needs help. Her age prevents her from watching and seeing these things going on. It is such a shame this place has lost so much credibility. I met Mama so many years ago and I'm sure she remembers me but how could I ever discusss or let her know what the visitors are saying. It's an institution I'd hate to see vanish. Maybe someone or some caring relative will step up to the plate. It's time.

Soulpatch, you will not find excellent food in El Rosario IMHO. I have tried a number of places there and they are pretty much on equal footing IMHO. Just go order some fish tacos at the bus or up the street on the right. You won't know the diff.

La Bocana Beach Restaurant was really good until Primo lost his cook... It could be good again, but we haven't tried it the last couple of times.

Baja's Best is very good when Ed is there for lobster... ask him to make it 'his style', always good for breakfast burritos (chorizo)... Tacos el Mision (Hugo Lopez') is good for the few things they have, including stuffed baked potatoes.

Tacos el Poblado just around the sharp corner, on the right get's high ratings... There are many places to get a bite (taco stands)... I cannot give a recent report other than breakfast we had at Baja's Best last Feb.

Guess we will need to try them all gain at this year's BAJA-ROSARIO CULTURAL FESTIVAL July 20-22, 2007


[Edited on 4-11-2007 by David K]

Does Mama Espinosa has any inkling about the horrible reviews she has been getting from gringos in the past few years?? Place used to be " the IN-PLACE " not too many moons ago. Maybe we could have Antonio go next door and maybe give her a clue as to what is happening to her business and could prevent a further decline
Just a suggestion
I, for one, won't eat here again unless reviews improve.

We have had a few good meals at Mama's... when we eat there with Antonio. Usually breakfast... Mama's daughter Roli runs the place. It is really the 'tourist place' to eat with all the off road racing stuff on the walls... oh, an autographed Viva Baja sticker to Mama, as well!

Thanksgiving 2004 we had great Baja 'turkey' (lobster) for dinner... Antonio, Tony Miranda (Diamante del Mar) and I:



Here's Antonio and Lorenia talking to Roli at Mama Espinoza's:



[Edited on 4-12-2007 by David K]

La mijita

simple food (ans prices) located on the north side of H1 next to espinosa's market just east of the delegation/park. run by Elsa and her family. they share parking with the market. between #21 and #23 on DK's map.

p.s. they have running water!

[Edited on 4-12-2007 by woody in ob]

[Edited on 4-12-2007 by woody in ob]

Food...

Bought some excellent tamales and empanadas from a lady, she was selling 'em from igloo coolers in the back of a pickup truck.

La Mijita

Last trip to visit family in Oceanside was May 2005. Left Elias Calles at 4:00am with the wife and 1 1/2 yr old Johnny and 7 yr old Cabo Guillermo. Drove 14 hours (mas o minos) to Cativina. Spent the night, left early in the morning and drove to Mama's for breakfast. Maybe we were just really hungry....but the break was very good and the service excellent.

After 2 years, we leave next month to repeat the same trip. Will drive to Cativina then break at Mama's. Will report food/service experience after we return home to Elias Calles.

Antonio, of course we will gas up at your station.....but we are looking forward to our trip back to SD in 2008-09 as we will stop and eat at the Baja Cactus restaurant. Will you have hash browns??

Antonio....will look forward to the new Baja Cactus restaurant on our next trip north in 2008-2009.

mama's is a relic. why subject yourself to the agravation? it's like coming to america and stopping at mcdonalds for a good meal. like antonio said, there are many different expectations and palates driving through baja.

out with the old and in with the new!!!

btw, last month Bia and i had breakfast at the bed and breakfast after a night at the world renowned "baja cactus, where the baja (going down?is my wife the only one who made the same translation?) is more than a dream" and the motel was A+++ while the breakfast was good if you were hungry, but i'll look around next time in the interest of spreading the wealth.....

Bocana Beach

the food

Antonio, thanks for the response to Soulpatch.
I was wondering why the service at Tacos de Poblano had gotten so sullen and incompetent.
After good experiences there, our last visit was dreadful...never again.

Unfortunately, the food situation remains very mediocre in El Rosario.
The dream for me would be a Tacos El Sauzal type place and maybe an El Nido sort of affair.

When that happens, I'll be asking Antonio about monthly rates.

El Rosario - ahhhh the night life!!

Highlighted are the eating places, last year... They are stretched along 2 miles of Mex. 1...

Tomas

is this the place you refer to in SQ? we hit "la mijita" on the way south to get "into the mood" of "way out there" baja (after all, El Rosario is the last chance for MANY HOURS and depending on when we leave home, it is PERFECT for a late desayunos)......

on the way home we hit up the foto'd spot because we want to savor the best shrimp tacos on the west coast for last....disclaimer-that i know of

[Edited on 4-19-2007 by woody in ob]

[Edited on 4-19-2007 by woody in ob]

[Edited on 4-19-2007 by woody in ob]

Breakfast at Baja's Best this a.m.

Don't know about the rest of the food. Kinda hard to screw up antojitos, I think.

This meal was great! I was starving too, and the Senora complimented me on my Spanish -- that went a long way. Nice dining room. I'll definitely try more food there when I pass through.

Can you explain "el paraiso"???

Got it... and thanks for the clarification.

There have been rumours at times as to the demise of La Dona, and I just wanted to make sure that was not the case...

Have a great day.

Woody...

One Man's poison is another Man's poison, or something like that.

Some of you may have read this last year, but here it is again: Last October I checked into The Baja Cactus for an overnight stay. Then I went into Mama Espinozas for dinner. I had crab burritos and a glass of wine. Around 11 PM my stomach started rumbling and then it felt like it was going to explode. Well, explode is a good description for what happened. I was up all night on the throne.

The first morning after the meal I actually got dizzy and passed out. I went into the office of Baja Cactus and told them that I had to stay another night because I was too sick to drive. I ended up staying 72 hours until I was strong enough to drive. The hotel staff became quite concerned. That evening, Antonio, the owner of Baja Cactus and also the Pemex station, came to my room. He went out and bought sports drinks with electrolytes and some Lomotil for me. The staff were all very attentive to me. After I got home I emailed Antonio with a big "Gracias!"

Needless to say, no more meals at Mama's...it could cost me my life.

like i said,

Didn't you say you're a newbie here? If so, shouldn't you get a clue who you're talking to before you open your yap?

Telling soulpatch that cute story about "uncool" gringos is about as clueless as you can get - understandable as a newbie, but the fact that you kept at it -- that's "priceless".

Quote:

Originally posted by lencho Quote: Originally posted by dr650 I can't believe this. What the ***** is going on here? You really don't know? Simple: You have gotten off on the wrong foot. If you're interested in sticking around, I suggest you lighten up, back off a bit and try to figure out why your posts have been offending people, then join the community. Most of us here tend to have short memories. --Larry

Larry, I just reread this thread and I think dr650 isn't the one to snap at... he made peace with soulpatch... The person who does more to keep the hate and people offending alive is who dr650 was responding to, just above.

Restaurant reviews are helpful and we have to expect different reports based on personal needs, experiences, food quality, service quality, etc.

Mama Espinoza's has been good and bad for food and service, always more pricey because it is aimed at tourists... So, it's hit or miss... Ed Lusk's (Baja's Best B&B) has good food but the house pets or flys will 'bug' some people... La Bocana Beach (Primo's place) was quite good then lost their cook, so last year the quality dropped... But, we read above that things are good again... The stuffed baked patatoes at Hugo's Tacos Mision are still great...

So, just know that what you read here may be what you find or may not be... buyer beware!

NUFF SAID!!!!!

By jove; I think he's got it !!

.

Smashing!

dr650, you fit in well!!

Good on ya, 650!!!!

Let us know how the training went. Please provide a trip report, photos, a map and GPS coordinates!!!! (sorry DK, couldn't resist...:lol