BajaNomad - Puerto Nuevo Restaurant

Puerto Nuevo Restaurant

TMW - 3-12-2014 at 06:51 PM

Which restaurant is considered the best for a lobster dinner in Puerto Nuevo. I haven't been there in 20 years but will be there tomorrow.

Ateo - 3-12-2014 at 07:01 PM

I used to love Chela's. But it hasn't been up to par lately. The owner is so cool. He once mistook me for someone important and sat down at our table with a bottle of tequila. We chatted and partied for two hours.

[Edited on 3-13-2014 by Ateo]

Ateo - 3-12-2014 at 07:17 PM

I tried Puerto Nuevo # 1 recently....was pretty good. Close to entrance.

bajaguy - 3-12-2014 at 07:23 PM

Casa de Langosta

BornFisher - 3-12-2014 at 07:29 PM

I used to love Chela`s too but agree with Ateo. I`ve been going to Mariscos de Puerto Nuevo this year and it has been great. They are one block back from front row, almost to the end of the street (going south), on the ocean side. Carlos will greet you!
I don`t know if lobster season is still going, but WOW, had some fine meals (had a few lobster breakfasts)!! Oh yeah.......... 6 small illegal lobster halves, with home made tortillas, delicious beans, butter, limes, soup, and a margarita. $16 bucks!!

Not by name but

John M - 3-12-2014 at 07:34 PM

Second Puerto Nuevo entrance southbound on the old road, drive to the very end, turn left to the end, restaurant is on the right. Covered parking opposite the front door.

perhaps a mickey mouse image this time, but you may get the idea - been there twice recently and was very good, on the ocean to boot.

John M

churro - 3-12-2014 at 07:41 PM

Number 1 is the original ... They were the first, the rest of the village popped up around them... The lines can be long to get in there (not recently) but they dont have the ocean view like some of the others.... you can walk around the village and see who has the best lobster and
prices.

elgatoloco - 3-12-2014 at 07:43 PM

That's the BIG Ortegas. Great views. We had breakfast ther a few months back when we went down for the day. Did I tell how back in the early 60's when I discovered Puerto Nuevo, we would have dinner in Señora Ortega's dining room. Lobster her husband trapped out front and cooked right in her kitchen?

Our favorite place is just on the corner across from Ortega's. Rosamar. We have been going there for decades, mainly because the family used to have their traps in front of our house right outside the surf break. When they would come to pull the traps we would paddle out past the lineup and pick out our lobster right then and enjoy it that night. Fact is now when we go we order the Camarones Relleno. Its world class.

Quote:

Originally posted by John M
Second Puerto Nuevo entrance southbound on the old road, drive to the very end, turn left to the end, restaurant is on the right. Covered parking opposite the front door.

perhaps a mickey mouse image this time, but you may get the idea - been there twice recently and was very good, on the ocean to boot.

John M

TMW - 3-13-2014 at 08:43 AM

Thanks everyone, good info.

David K - 3-13-2014 at 08:49 AM

Sorry to hear about Chela's, Doug (BajaNomad) turned me on to that place and the all you can eat guacamole with your meal was always good.

I had heard they went out of business, so was nice to hear they were open, but sad that it was a disappointment for some here.

After the LAST Pyramid Resort Booksigning, Baja Angel and I took Bob H and Audrey there... it was great, as usual...

MAY, 2008:

I Visited Puerto Nuevo Yesterday

Gypsy Jan - 3-13-2014 at 11:55 AM

I have no idea about the best restaurant currently - we have tried and liked Puerto Nuevo #1 and #2 and Ortegas in the past.

When you drive in, the touts are out there, yelling for your attention a with you, approaching your car,negotiating the price of a lobster dinner and directing you to their place.

YMMV (Your Mileage May Very) - I can't recommend anyplace personally, but these guys are are working hard and they are very funny and entertaining -not threatening at all.

If anyone wants my recs , I would say, park and walk around and choose what looks good.

Udo - 3-13-2014 at 01:53 PM

That one is called Villa Ortega's, It has an old ship's propeller on the front parking wall.

I have not been able to tell which restaurant has the best lobster because they are cooked the same, unless you ask for them to be steamed.
The reason I like Villa Ortega's is because of their great margaritas as well as their tortilla soup. They also have the best view in their downstairs patio, where the ocean waves are crashing about 30 feet beneath your feet.

Photo of the patio

Photo of last month's lobster meal:

The always have some Mariachis dropping by:

Quote:

perhaps a mickey mouse image this time, but you may get the idea - been there twice recently and was very good, on the ocean to boot.

John M

Ateo - 3-13-2014 at 02:14 PM

I may stop in there for lunch tomorrow.

David K - 3-13-2014 at 02:19 PM

Steamed over deep fried... good idea! That is longosta al vapor (yes Udo?)

Bajahowodd - 3-13-2014 at 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
Casa de Langosta

We stopped in there two years ago, and the town was empty. We were the only customers in the restaurant at 6pm. It was creepy.

Maybe they are busier during the day. But I was shocked because a few years prior, the place was packed.

Udo - 3-13-2014 at 05:18 PM

Yes, DK, the waiters will understand that.

Most everyone thinks that one can only buy the lobsters cooked they way they give them to you. But a couple of places will allow you to order the lobsters cocinados al vapor.

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Steamed over deep fried... good idea! That is longosta al vapor (yes Udo?)

Udo - 3-13-2014 at 05:22 PM

The lack of Baja tourism has really hit Puerto Nuevo hard. Only in the last year have I seen an increase in clientele, and it has been mostly locals, as opposed to NOB residents.
I have been visiting Puerto Nuevo about 8-10 times a year regardless of the economy. Mostly just for a day trip.

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
Casa de Langosta

Bob53 - 3-13-2014 at 06:01 PM

I think the place I used to go to was called Sandra's, but I could be wrong.

Ateo - 3-14-2014 at 07:19 PM

Chelas was good today. Old location. Not new three story location.

Service was great.

We had it all to ourselves.

[Edited on 3-15-2014 by BajaNomad]

BajaNomad - 3-14-2014 at 09:13 PM

That upstairs at the original restaurant in new. Used to go there before they began with the 3-story facility on the other street.

Here's the original Chela's:

http://goo.gl/maps/gRUrK

chelas1.jpg - 49kB

Bob H - 3-15-2014 at 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Sorry to hear about Chela's, Doug (BajaNomad) turned me on to that place and the all you can eat guacamole with your meal was always good.

I had heard they went out of business, so was nice to hear they were open, but sad that it was a disappointment for some here.

After the LAST Pyramid Resort Booksigning, Baja Angel and I took Bob H and Audrey there... it was great, as usual...

MAY, 2008:

Wow, that was a while back. It was very good!!!!

Bob53 - 3-15-2014 at 09:03 AM

That looks delicious. Now I'm starving. Thanks!

David K - 3-15-2014 at 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaNomad
That upstairs at the original restaurant in new. Used to go there before they began with the 3-story facility on the other street.

Here's the original Chela's:

http://goo.gl/maps/gRUrK

Okay Doug, now I am confused... (in new?). Nice to see from Jon's menu photo that Chela's is alive and open! However, the only place I have known for it was on the third floor, down the first street to the left, after entering town. Where you, me and the girls went.

So, is that Google Street View link where it is now?

Ateo - 3-15-2014 at 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

The google link Doug shared is the correct location. This was the "original" Chelas that I grew to love.

So many trips down there as a 20 year old with all my friends eating those wonderful, fresh tortillas. It was always packed so I think the owner bought the 3 story building to expand. He had a major planned sports bar on the second level and space for party rentals. The 3 story location was doing good till the economic meltdown and the "bad stories about Mexico" chapter started a few years ago. The last time I went to the 3 story location, we were waited on by the owner, the place was dead, and shortly after that it closed down.

So, the original location is still open. It's one street closer to the ocean. Just ask the hundreds of guys trying to get you to come into one of their shops where Chelas is and they'll point ya in the right direction.

And yes, the new rooftop section was news to me. Kind of nice being on the roof, with the breeze.

Ateo - 3-15-2014 at 10:36 AM

SORRY about the large photos. My Photobucket is set to 800 but these were uploaded from the mobile app which has it's own brain and does things how it wants to.

More Chelas from yesterday:

View

[Edited on 3-15-2014 by Ateo]

David K - 3-15-2014 at 11:10 AM

Thank's Jon... I never knew any Chela's except the third floor one, down the side street... (see, there's lots of Baja stuff I don't know)... So, the one in Doug's Google Street photo is the 'original' and open now... PLUS there is another 3rd story location that is newer??? Three Chela's all together, or is the one I ate at in 2004-2008 closed?