BajaNomad

Sano's Restaurant, Ensenada

bajadock - 8-30-2012 at 08:14 AM



I have written before that steak is not on my hotlist for dining. But, Sano’s Restaurant in Ensenada just changed my mind.

Visited Sano’s for only the second time. First visit was 5 years ago. This Sunday evening’s meal there was delicious.

Three upgrades noted at Sano’s were secure parking, a new entry with water features and an indoor/outdoor patio and garden seating area for perfect Baja days like this one.

I am usually able to judge the quality of a restaurant’s food by the variety of appetizers offered. Sano’s appetizer menu is full of fun choices at approx $8-$12usd. My guests and I often order a handful of appetizers as our dinner when dining out as a fun way to share a variety of a restaurant’s flavors.

The full dinner menu at Sano’s includes appetizers, salads, meat, seafood, pastas and poultry. Steak is the specialty, but, I will have to try something else on my next visit.

Tonight, I’m going to dive into my first steak in 2 years. “New York Strip, medium rare, veggie medley, caesar salad”. Raul, our waiter, was very happy to serve.

Most of the steak items(menu to right is an old one) offer 2 different sizes of meat cuts. I ordered the full New York cut, at 15 ounces.

My guests and I began our refreshments with Bohemia Clara cervezas. Raul allowed us to relax before firing food at us. And the white table cloths, crystal glasses, dark wood beams and stone at Sano’s are all about relaxation.

One thing about the setting is that it reminds me of 1970's steak houses in the USA that have fallen from favor. Sano’s dark setting at night could be a problem for those of us with aging eyes. I did notice the candles on a tray that were ready to be deployed at sunset. But, the setting is warm and welcoming.

rest of review, menu and photos

[Edited on 8-30-2012 by bajadock]

bajaguy - 8-30-2012 at 08:26 AM

Outstanding dining. One of our favorite places for any special event/date.

EnsenadaDr - 8-30-2012 at 08:38 AM

I have posted about this excellent restaurant before. Can't say enough about it. One thing I am looking forward to is diving into the towering romaine lettuce with the blue cheese/raspberry viniagrette dressing. Absolutely delicious!!

EnsenadaDr - 8-30-2012 at 11:48 AM

Thanks again, Doc...went to your site to read the rest of the review. Yes, I did split the steak the last time I was there and it was ample enough for the both of us. I love the new entrance, the bar with the blue backlighting reminded me of the bar in the movie the Shining. Very elegant.

Nemo55 - 8-30-2012 at 11:59 AM

Is there a Steak house that caters to the Carnivorus rex like myself???

I remember being able to order a twenty ounce steak with all the trimmings for 8.99 back in the eighties,,,,,i truly miss having a good meat ripping dripping juicy experience......anything out on the Baja, i'm not talking about some politically correct establishment here,,,more like a Jesse Ventura style hangout????:lol:

[Edited on 8-30-2012 by Nemo55]

EnsenadaDr - 8-30-2012 at 02:21 PM

You know what, I have yet to find a good piece of steak for a reasonable price in Baja. Sano's is the only place I know of that can cook a steak correctly. That's why I usually make my own when I don't feel like being a high roller. Even good restaurants have arrachera, which they consider good beef, but it is tough as nails. Costco Ensenada sells good cuts of beef but they are expensive. When I feel like a good cut of beef I bring the steaks down from the States. The meat market on Reforma supposedly has good beef, but I asked them for a rib eye cut, and the thing had such a terrible flavor and was full of fat I never went back. But many swear by the place.

Nemo55 - 8-30-2012 at 02:35 PM

Hahahah,,,where there strange guests wandering around in 1930's clothing also????



Quote:
Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
Thanks again, Doc...went to your site to read the rest of the review. Yes, I did split the steak the last time I was there and it was ample enough for the both of us. I love the new entrance, the bar with the blue backlighting reminded me of the bar in the movie the Shining. Very elegant.

The Shining...

EnsenadaDr - 8-30-2012 at 02:39 PM

I'm not kidding...the bar is backlighted this luminescent blue and the bartender looked like the bartender in the Shining...it is a really cool bar...thank God there are no hotel rooms connected, I might be too spooked out to go back there to eat!!
Quote:
Originally posted by Nemo55
Hahahah,,,where there strange guests wandering around in 1930's clothing also????



Quote:
Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
Thanks again, Doc...went to your site to read the rest of the review. Yes, I did split the steak the last time I was there and it was ample enough for the both of us. I love the new entrance, the bar with the blue backlighting reminded me of the bar in the movie the Shining. Very elegant.

Not in Ensenada

Gypsy Jan - 8-30-2012 at 02:42 PM

But I recently had an excellent steak dinner at Splash. I do not crave steak, but this was very, very memorably good. $18.50 US for a full dinner with all the fixings.

Tapanco near Popotla on the Free Road and La Estancia in Rosarito Centro are very much dedicated steak houses, especially La Estancia -- they have a full on meat counter just inside the entrance and you can point out what cut you want. If I recall correctly, a steak dinner with chips, salsa, a bowl of escabeche vegetables, soup, salad baked potato and your chosen side of beef also goes for under twenty dollars U.S.

Haven't had a steak dinner at Ruben's Palm Grill in a while, but they do a very good job - Rib Eye Vallarta style. Chips, salsa, salad, veggies, baked potato included for $18.50.

Nemo55 - 8-30-2012 at 03:21 PM

redruM redruM ,,,hahahaha
Quote:
Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
I'm not kidding...the bar is backlighted this luminescent blue and the bartender looked like the bartender in the Shining...it is a really cool bar...thank God there are no hotel rooms connected, I might be too spooked out to go back there to eat!!
Quote:
Originally posted by Nemo55
Hahahah,,,where there strange guests wandering around in 1930's clothing also????



Quote:
Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
Thanks again, Doc...went to your site to read the rest of the review. Yes, I did split the steak the last time I was there and it was ample enough for the both of us. I love the new entrance, the bar with the blue backlighting reminded me of the bar in the movie the Shining. Very elegant.