Mario’s Restaurant, formerly of the Estero Beach area south of Ensenada, has completed their relocation to Maneadero and is now open for everyone’s
dining pleasure. And a pleasure it is. Four Nomads and 2 of their friends dined there last night…and there wasn’t much in the way of leftovers (a
couple of potato skins for the dogs!) If you’re in the area and feeling those hunger pangs – try Mario’s.
Details: Closed Tuesdays.
*Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner; brunch on Saturdays and Sundays coming soon.
*Full bar with an excellent selection of liquors.
*Didn’t ask for a wine menu, but did order a glass of vino tinto – whatever it was, it was quite acceptable.
*Menu is in Spanish and English, all the prices are in pesos (so you won’t get ripped), he’s using a current exchange rate of 15:1.
Location: Just off Mex 1 at the turnoff to La Bufadora. Make that right turn just past the new Calimax and go about ½ block. On your right, painted
a nice mustard yellow “fresco” color. Plenty of parking. If you get to the speed bump, you’ve gone about 20 yards too far.
Menu:
Appetizers- queso fundido ($80), shrimp c-cktail ($95), octopus c-cktail ($95), tortilla soup (small $45, large $55) – the tortilla soup is
outstanding
Entrees (all come with your choice of soup [the tortilla or the soup of the day]) or salad (they have a most excellent cilantro dressing), and chips
& salsa
The usual Mexican fare of enchiladas, chiles rellenos, chicken fajitas, steak ranchero. Prices range from $85 - $100
Chicken a couple different ways $(120-$130)
Fish a couple different ways ($99)
Shrimp several different ways $150-$160)
Beef – skewered, carne asada, filet mignon ($150-$185)
Pasta with shrimp or chicken ($150)
There is also a childrens’ menu with prices ranging from $40-$65)
Specials, of course, are also available. Last night they were BBQ ribs (ordered by three of us) and a boneless chicken breast sautéed with red onions
& mushrooms in a balsamic glaze (ordered by the rest of us). The ribs by the way are served as a full rack and there is plenty for two people!
They are almost always available even though they aren’t on the menu. Mario gladly will make adjustments to your taste, so do ask! And he speaks
English better than most of us.
[Edited on 3-12-2009 by bajabound2005]bajasammy - 3-12-2009 at 08:32 AM
Thanks for the update!
We were frequent diners at his old location, and really look forward to checking out his new place (although a bit more of a drive for us).bajamigo - 3-12-2009 at 06:38 PM
You'll like the new place. It's a bit more plain, but the atmosphere is great.larry - 3-12-2009 at 08:03 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajamigo
You'll like the new place. It's a bit more plain, but the atmosphere is great.
Could you be a little more ambiguous?DENNIS - 3-12-2009 at 08:16 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajamigo
You'll like the new place. It's a bit more plain, but the atmosphere is great.
It's an echo chamber....the place always has been but, that doesn't take away from the nuance of a Shrimp And Cheese Omelet smothered in Nacho Cheese
from a #10 can. As I enjoyed that delicasy, I wondered, not only from the non-cheese flavor, why the melted cheese didn't assume it's more solid
state through cooling. I wondered till I saw NACHOS on the dinner menu.
The food here is good but, this aspect of it is nonsense when presenting food to some who know better. The owner, Mario, should.bajabound2005 - 3-12-2009 at 08:51 PM
Dennis is being Dennis (you ALL know what that means) and Bajamigo didn't speak clearly (and I said that to him right after he posted that!)
The dining room in the new location is much nicer than Estero; at Estero the bar was large and noisy., the dining room tiny and "uncorfortable". We
love the new locale and didn't frequent the other locale for those very reasons.
In the original post when I stated "the usual Mexican fare", I should have added "DON'T ORDER THAT". Go for something off the real menu or one of
the specials or something of your own creation.DENNIS - 3-12-2009 at 08:59 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajabound2005
Dennis is being Dennis (you ALL know what that means)
We do? Tell those who haven't the tenure or insight to know what "that means." I'd like to know as well.
When you're done trying to negate my experience at Mario's, perhaps you could tell all of us where I went wrong with my evaluation. Tell all of us
what I experienced. What is it that they served me. Where were you when I had that chithouse breakfast?bajamigo - 3-12-2009 at 09:06 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by larry
Quote:
Originally posted by bajamigo
You'll like the new place. It's a bit more plain, but the atmosphere is great.
Could you be a little more ambiguous?
I could, but I'll decline. For the record, the new place is a bit more plain THAN THE OLD LOCATION, WHICH HAD AN ELABORATE BAR, AMONG OTHER ITEMS OF
DECOR. THE NEW ROOM HAS A LOT MORE WALL SPACE THAN THE OLD AND FEW DECORATIONS. NOT THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE WE WENT THERE FOR THE FOOD, AND IT
WAS TERRIFIC. NONETHELESS, the atmosphere is great.
Hope this fills in the blanks. Sorry for the agita this may have caused you big-picture folk.Bajahowodd - 3-12-2009 at 11:19 PM
Gotta believe that the new location will mean more business just because of the passing traffic. The old location suffered from the fact that it was
off the highway and a major draw to the area, Estero Beach Hotel attracted folks that didn't leave the property. Buena suerte, Mario.bajasammy - 3-13-2009 at 10:32 AM
I appreciate the info Bajamigo/Bajabound! We're hoping Mario's new location will increase his list of loyal customers (of which there are many). You
won't find a nicer, harder working guy anywhere.
Mario's last night!
beachbum1A - 3-28-2009 at 06:48 AM
A couple of Nomad friends were in town for a few days and LOVE Mario's so last night we dinned at Mario's new location in Maneadero. Bajablonde had
the coconut shrimp (which has to be requested as it's not on the menu) and Bajaguy & I both had the fish with crab sauce. Excellent!
Here's a shot of Bajablonde & Bajaguy munching down!
beachbum1A - 3-28-2009 at 06:49 AM
And a close up of Bajablonde with the coconut shrimp.
beachbum1A - 3-28-2009 at 06:51 AM
Here's what the fish with crab sauce looked like.
Wedding Anniversary!
beachbum1A - 3-28-2009 at 06:57 AM
What was especially nice, that before we left, several other parties had arrived, all of them friends/neighbors from the Punta Banda area! So it
looks like Mario's is off to a great start!
Noteably, friends Hugh & Peggy Sintec dropped in to celebrate their 49TH Wedding Anniversary! Congratulations you two!!
Congrats Hugh and Peggy! Happy 49th!