BajaNomad

Splash! Restaurant in Baja: A Story of Hard Work and Success In Baja

Gypsy Jan - 2-9-2013 at 02:35 PM

From baja.com

By Steve Kassanyi

"This little story is more than an article about Splash! Restaurant in Baja; it is a story of hard work and success by the Brothers.

Nicolas came to Baja to Playas de Rosarito and began his career as a dishwasher at the Palmira Restaurant in Cantamar, learning to master the English language. He was soon promoted to bartender there, and progressed in his profession at Raul`s Restaurant, then El Pescador, and finally at Bahia Cantiles.

It is honest to say that Nicolas developed an incredible following, becoming one of the most popular bartenders on Baja`s Gold Coast. He has also taken an active role in the community and offers support to many, including the Baja Scholarship Foundation.

Agapo had worked as chef at the Rosarito Beach Hotel, Las Rocas Hotel & Spa, the Calafia Resort Hotel, La Mision Hotel, and a couple of USA restaurants, the Restaurant Depot in Colorado and the Rodeo Grill in Los Angeles. He has honed his talents over the years, and is known for some of the best Seafood dishes — like grilled black sea bass — around.

Nicolas and Agapo bought the local hang-out Bahia Cantiles in 2009, and sold it the same year. The two brothers had saved their hard-earned money and after selling Bahia Cantiles, they opened the Splash! Restaurant in Baja at KM 52 on the free road between Rosarito and Ensenada. Their location surprised some people, as it’s in a small fishing village on the coast, off the so-called ‘beaten path.’

The Restaurant is built on the bluff of lava rock outcroppings, with the surf pounding the rocks and splashing incredible amounts of the Ocean right at the windows.

What a beautiful view, even better at sunset! One can look out the large windows and see dolphins frolicking in the surf.

Splash! Restaurant in Baja has been open for a while now, and although they started as a Seafood house (shrimp and fish Tacos and burritos each for only $1.25, and an amazing Seven Seas Soup), they have since expanded their new menu to include great steaks, chicken dishes, burgers, and of course great Mexican Food. They also serve breakfast, and feature a southern recipe — sausage gravy served over chicken-fried steak. Best gravy in all of Baja!

Splash! Restaurant at Rosarito takes full advantage of its spectacular view with a large horseshoe-shaped bar, with large flat-screen TV`s everywhere for those who want to view a variety of sporting events. There are heaters for the colder months, and with the windows open during warmer days you`ll enjoy the cool Ocean breezes throughout the bar. There’s a tropical outdoor palapa area, and Splash! also features daily live entertainment for great listening or dancing.

Their location is easy to find, just take the first driveway south of the large CRREAD facility at KM 52, at the southbound Cuenca Lechera off-ramp of Highway 1. Splash! Restaurant in Baja is a great experience for dining and sharing c-cktails with friends, giving a true meaning to the words “Ambiente Familiar”. Great place, great food, great fun.

And a great story about how hard work, a little ingenuity and a lot of soul resulted in one of northern Baja’s busiest, most fun and popular Restaurant success stories"

tripledigitken - 2-9-2013 at 02:46 PM

No arguing their success.

With all the rave reviews on this forum, I expected to like Splash, but was disappointed.

Very popular with Americans, understandable given his experience stateside. He has carried that experience forward in the menu and ambiance.

First off the seafood bisque I wanted to order was not available, at 11am. The shrimp c-cktail was smaller and more expensive than can be had at most good mariscos restaurants in San Diego. Paula's pescado frito was incinerated, one of our must order dishes in Baja. Ironically, my niece's pick of carne asada nachos was the best prepared meal on the table.

The service was good and the waitstaff was very friendly.

Wish we had waited and driven to Ensenada to eat lunch at Muelle Tres.

BornFisher - 2-9-2013 at 02:49 PM

WTG Nick and Agapo!!!

DENNIS - 2-9-2013 at 02:51 PM

I thought they had two locations in Rosylandia. No???

Splash2 is Located on Poptla Blvd.

Gypsy Jan - 2-9-2013 at 02:57 PM

Near the movie filming spot for Titanic and Master and Commander.

Haven't tried it.

DENNIS - 2-9-2013 at 03:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Gypsy Jan
Near the movie filming spot for Titanic and Master and Commander.

Haven't tried it.

Sooooo.......this must be an old article.

Splash2 is a Couple of Years Old

Gypsy Jan - 2-9-2013 at 03:31 PM

And, as far as I can tell, the article isn't that old.

I was just trying to give readers a reference that was more user friendly than saying that the restaurant was somewhere north of the pottery row and somewhere around the southernmost OXXO and Pemex on Popotla Blvd. (i.e. Carreterra Libre Tiuana-Ensenada or Highway 1).

EnsenadaDr - 2-9-2013 at 03:32 PM

I was disappointed as well...got Montezuma's revenge a few minutes after I ate my dinner which wasn't that great tasting either....Pepto-Bismol, never leave home without it.
Quote:
Originally posted by tripledigitken
No arguing their success.

With all the rave reviews on this forum, I expected to like Splash, but was disappointed.

Very popular with Americans, understandable given his experience stateside. He has carried that experience forward in the menu and ambiance.

First off the seafood bisque I wanted to order was not available, at 11am. The shrimp c-cktail was smaller and more expensive than can be had at most good mariscos restaurants in San Diego. Paula's pescado frito was incinerated, one of our must order dishes in Baja. Ironically, my niece's pick of carne asada nachos was the best prepared meal on the table.

The service was good and the waitstaff was very friendly.

Wish we had waited and driven to Ensenada to eat lunch at Muelle Tres.

DENNIS - 2-9-2013 at 04:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
I was disappointed as well...got Montezuma's revenge a few minutes after I ate my dinner which wasn't that great tasting either


You're gonna have to give some thought to sentence structure when talking about Ol' Monty and his legacy. It's kinda confusing as to what wasn't great tasting. :lol:

EnsenadaDr - 2-9-2013 at 04:10 PM

Ha Ha Dennis you are right, no, no, I meant after eating my dinner, which wasn't that great tasting...

Yes, Splash Can Be Uneven

Gypsy Jan - 2-9-2013 at 04:48 PM

We have dinner there about twice a month and kind of stick to what we like, i.e., the steak sandwich, the steak dinner, the steamed clams, the seafood salad and the freshly-prepared-to-order onion rings and the breakfast, especially the chicken fried steak with eggs and the omelettes (hubby and our very picky adult daughter love their omelettes).

I tried the Pescado Zarandeado once - too many bones for me.

Haven't tried the cocteles or the seven seas soup since Mariscos Alegria, in Primo Tapia, does such a splendid job.

If I want a fish dinner, I go to Anamar, also in Primo Tapia, they serve superb and very fresh food at a very reasonable cost (less than $13 US for a fish fillet or shrimp dinner).

All good, never been disappointed or had digestive upsets later.

[Edited on 2-10-2013 by Gypsy Jan]

elgatoloco - 2-9-2013 at 06:34 PM

Anamar is consistently good and a great value. And we never drive by Alegria during daylight hours without at least one taco or a clam c-cktail. We have enjoyed Splash a few times but tend to steer away on busy weekends. It is a success story for sure, first time we ate there it was just ceviche tostadas and shrimp tacos, a lot bigger selection now. The location is unbeatable and high tide with big surf is extra fun. I always wonder about the maritime zone laws when I am sitting there watching the sunset. :saint:

I Can't Say I Know the Facts

Gypsy Jan - 2-9-2013 at 06:42 PM

But I have been told that the American investors purchased the concession.

EnsenadaDr - 2-9-2013 at 06:43 PM

How about the maritime zone laws for the Marine Room in La Jolla, California? Eating there at night with the spotlight of the waves coming practically to your dinner table can be downright alarming!!

woody with a view - 2-9-2013 at 08:09 PM

there are no maritime laws NOB. if you are there the govmint aint gonna take it from you at gunpoint, unlike SOB...

BajaNomad - 2-9-2013 at 09:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
How about the maritime zone laws for the Marine Room in La Jolla, California? Eating there at night with the spotlight of the waves coming practically to your dinner table can be downright alarming!!







January, 1949:




http://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=389592778566







[Edited on 2-10-2013 by BajaNomad]

EnsenadaDr - 2-9-2013 at 09:23 PM

Thanks Doug...you haven't lived if you haven't eaten there...just sayin'!!

tripledigitken - 2-9-2013 at 09:32 PM

Very hard to get a reservation when the tides are >6' and fall between 6-9pm!

paul r - 2-10-2013 at 10:28 AM

as for splash, it's a shame, great people, but got sick twice and... well, you know the rest of the story...

Terry28 - 2-10-2013 at 10:33 AM

I like splash..we always have had good food...and the coldest beer around.
Only problem is that the only Mexicans in the place are the employees. It usually looks like a chapter of the gringo senior citizens club...

DENNIS - 2-10-2013 at 10:33 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by paul r
as for splash, it's a shame, great people, but got sick twice and... well, you know the rest of the story...


That can be considered a good thing since there ain't no sense in saving it. Just call it a complimentary cleansing from your friends at Splash. :light:

durrelllrobert - 2-10-2013 at 11:20 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
Thanks Doug...you haven't lived if you haven't eaten there...just sayin'!!
I love that place and used to eat there a couple times a month before I became poor and moved to Baja.

EnsenadaDr - 2-10-2013 at 11:22 AM

Poor? Every time I talk to you you guys are jetting off to Maui or Jamaica..the meal there is $50 for a lobster dinner...anyone can handle that once a year.

EnsenadaDr - 2-10-2013 at 11:25 AM

I guess we now know why they call it "Splash"..(sorry, I couldn't resist!!):o
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by paul r
as for splash, it's a shame, great people, but got sick twice and... well, you know the rest of the story...


That can be considered a good thing since there ain't no sense in saving it. Just call it a complimentary cleansing from your friends at Splash. :light:

Bajafun777 - 2-13-2013 at 11:24 PM

We have taken family and friends to Splash and Splash 2 without anyone getting sick and everybody enjoyed their food. I love to get the shrimp c-cktail and fish tacos to go with it. Both food items are great never had anything bad in Splash or Splash 2. The lobster is cooked to where it is not overcooked and you have to use for fork to strip out the dried out overcooked lobster we have gotten at numerous other places. The costs on all of these items are much cheaper than what we find in U.S., so if you find it cheaper in U.S. you need to let the rest of us in on your secret so we can enjoy too!

So, for the last three years we have eaten at Splash again with numerous friends and family that come down without anyone getting sick or not enjoying their food even their kids. So, for those that have experienced something different guess it was not your day. However, with at many times as we have been there if something was up surely we would have gotten sick. I believe you may have gotten sick but we just have not experienced that there.

My wife and I have stomachs that don't do well with food that is not right and this is why we chose to go to Splash so often, as we just have never had a bad experience. We also have had good luck with Estancia, Suzanna's, Yaqui Taco, Rosarito Beach Hotel, Tampanco, Ollie's by Las Gaviotas, That's Amore, Los Pelicanos, El Nido and won't go into the ones I like in Ensenada and Tijuana,LOL. I love the news about places to eat in Baja and really try to eat at the ones the Nomads write about on here since I believe Nomads love to eat good food. LOL Yes, I also like to know about where the coldest beer is also! Take Care & Travel Safe------- "No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN" bajafun777