A line of thought started up a bit ago...Mulege cafe reviews..hmm. We all eat out now and then..although our home cooks/chefs are the best for sure.
But it's nice to go out and join friends for some delicious meals around the area...What do you think?
I am going to reinterate what I wrote on Sharksbaja's topic Muleges' Local Economy...where I got a little off-topic, which is usual as ever. This is
about cafes, menus, ambiance, etc...about eating out and why you make your choices of where and what?
MY personal Mulege cafe weekly lineup is...
Note: Saturday night at the Serinadad Pig Roast used to be 'thee' place to go in Mulege. The roast pig was secondary to the 'gathering'...everyone
for miles around, locals, foreign residents, pilots, and tourists alike would congregate herer for drinks, dancing, and gossip-catch-up for the last
week. It was 'The Event'. Nobody went just for the food...it was purely social. List this as 'Back in the Good Ol' Days'.
Sunday: Chinese food at Eduardo's across from downtown Pemex. Good selections...and take home boxes, of course.
Mon: ?What say you?..put choices here.
Tues: ?What say you?
Wed: Eduardo's again...this time for Bar-B-Q Ribs.
Thur: Jungle Jim's for chile rellenos. Good bar, but bring
your own wine. Has new fireproof roof..ask why.
Fri: Pelicano Bar & Grill for filet mignon.
Sat: Mornings for carnitas at Ramon's small cafe (sadly,
Ramon has passed on, but Antonio and Lorena
carry on the tradition.) Order some ranchero soup,
too. Ribs are great take-homes.
Most of these cafes have 'reasonably good food..but the main course is the social activity that presents itself..at least for me. Really, really good
food you get at home! Thanks to that great chef..your spouse/significant other.
WELL...that's a start. What are your choices for eating out and what makes you choose them? Food, ambiance, people, ...???
Phil S..on the other thread you wondered about some places? The first place with the coconut shrimp has to be 'Ray's' at Santispac. We have ate
there a lot since he first opened a few years back, but not much this year.
The 'butt-biting-parrot' was in the Hacienda Hotel and cafe with inside fireplace. The bugger gave me some permanent marks!! A lot of different cafe
operators over the years..Aaron, Jean-Pierre, Alfonso, David, always a good time and now houses the new Pelican Bar & Grill run by Pearce and Val.
When you were there, it was probably known as 'Casablanca'.
The downtown bar/cafe with backyard plants sounds like the El Candil. Has gotten better since Saul took over the kitchen.
El Nino's in Mulege was only open for a short time many, many years ago. Ramon (of 'carnitas' fame) ran it until his pickup accident..after that it
just closed. Owned by same person as in Loreto and San Felipe, I believe. Nothing happening there yet, but I imagine economics timing is a factor.
Those pork tacos you are daydreaming about are Ramon's..courtesy now of Antonio y Lorena.
What are some other choices for the Mulege area? And why?Bruce R Leech - 4-6-2005 at 07:05 AM
the restaurant on the highway south of town past the Pemex and before el Tiberone is good and economical big portions of traditional Mexican cooking.
I'm sorry I don't know the name or even if it has one but it will be the one with ll the trucks parked in front.
cafe reviews
Bajalero - 4-6-2005 at 08:08 AM
although its not in Mulege , the best Mexican restaurant I've ever eaten at was Murillos in Vacaville , Ca. Not the one by the Nut Tree but the little
hole in the wall downtown . I bring this up because operating a restaurant is hard enough in the states let alone Baja where ingredient supplies and
the flow of potential customers are un predictable.
Their fare was simple , affordable and consistent being basic tacos , burritos, enchiladas ,rellenos rice and beans. Damn good beans too. Everything
was always served fresh on a blistering hot plate .The only variance to the menu was your choice of meats for the fillings. Just good , hearty simple
food that most days you stood in line for at peak hours.
My point is that for success down south I have never understood why more places don't follow this example. The attempts at providing a fancy menu and
maintaining a fiesta ambiance are unrealistic and unsustainable. Camarone's al mojo de ajo or bistek tampequena con rajas de poblano is just fine but
in a fairly isolated little berg like Mulege, with an endemic retired population as the customer base, it is not going to keep them coming back often
enough to pay the bills.Pompano - 4-6-2005 at 08:20 AM
Bajalero...I think lots residents and non-residents of Mulege would agree that our most popular places are indeed those that serve what we consider
traditional Mexican foods...simple and tasty country dishes that are still served plain style if you know where to find them. Not discounting the
new additions of some very good chefs, I have my favorites for what I consider tasty Old Baja cooking...where are yours in Mulege?Bruce R Leech - 4-6-2005 at 08:47 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Pompano
Bruce...that's the 'Carmelita' where I get my burritos to go for a day's fishing sometimes. Never had anything else there, though.
Pompano I'm not sure we are talking about the same place . the one I'm talking about is the new one on the right side going south just before you git
to el Tiburon. they have screens on all the windows to keep the flys out and they serve a full menu of breakfast and dinners. also tacos and burritos.
Pompano
Bajalero - 4-6-2005 at 09:05 AM
When I'm in Mulege I usually end up at Sauls' simply because I've known him since "the chivato days" He does a darn good job at offering -for what
Iwould call - a busy menu for Baja. I have no complaints as to his food but in all honesty it lacks a developed taste ("country" as you put it) Could
be that his food is too fresh if you know what I mean.
I've eaten at several of the downtown places but none so memorable that I made an effort to remember names . Do not think I've tried Jungle Jims but
will have to after everyone touting his rellenos- so I can compare them to mine which are the best blah blah...
Where do you suggest for simple , homestyle mexican country food in Mulege?Bruce R Leech - 4-6-2005 at 10:16 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Pompano
Bruce..still sure that's the new 24/7 truck stop called Carmelita. Will double check next time by there. I remember it because it is close to where
I was ripped-off by a mechanic shop on my Minnie Winnie, Jeep, etc. Avoid that place.
yes that is the one . they have grate dinners and breakfast.
Burro Beach Bombed
Sharksbaja - 4-6-2005 at 11:38 AM
out when I tried the little local cafe there. Really, it wasn't all that bad, just wasn't hot. The waitress who I had been told was the lady in charge
was very icy. She spoke not one word as I recall. Was it Berthas or ???? something with a B.Bajalero - 4-6-2005 at 07:07 PM
Pompano re: Meli's
Is that on "the right" coming in to town from the south or north? Thanks.
Bajalero...
Pompano - 4-7-2005 at 04:51 AM
Meli's cafe is maybe a hundred yards after you make the turn into Mulege from the 'Y'..past the beer off-sale, over a speed bump, and it's right
there....on the right. He has a few outside stools at a counter and more inside seating at tables. Lots of locals eat there.
As a lot of cafe owners in Mulege did, he worked years ago at the Serinadad. I knew him there when he worked at the front desk.Bob and Susan - 4-7-2005 at 06:16 AM
Meli's...
From the outside you may not stop there but....rest assured you WILL LIKE Meli's
On Saturdays he barbarques chicken.....Excellent!!!
Check out the paintings on the walls inside....
Dony's? (sp)
Santiago - 4-7-2005 at 06:20 AM
5 or 6 years ago I stopped and had fish taco's at Dony's (spelling?) and they were very good. If I recall, it was on the main drag next to a
tortillaria. Is he still around?Bruce R Leech - 4-7-2005 at 06:49 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Santiago
5 or 6 years ago I stopped and had fish taco's at Dony's (spelling?) and they were very good. If I recall, it was on the main drag next to a
tortillaria. Is he still around?
yes and it is good and econo. they have our ex breakfast cook. and serve a good breakfast also.Annie T. - 4-8-2005 at 11:15 AM
Bruce, To which restaurant are you connected and how? Sorry, I'm so not with it, but I thought you were only involved in "financial" things. I love
your posts and can't believe some of your "mistakes" aren't deliberate. They are so perfect!!!Bruce R Leech - 4-8-2005 at 11:37 AM
Annie Our restaurant is closed and for sale. we closed right after 9 11 when the business slowed way down. and now that it is back we are not going to
reopen because we need to relocate to La Paz for family reasons. we may open a restaurant in La Paz or stay with the financial services we don't know
it depends on the location we git down there.
Saturday night at Equipales and square...
Pompano - 4-10-2005 at 10:23 AM
Saturday evening we joined another couple and their visiting daughter to eat dinner at Francisco's Equipales in Mulege. This is the second floor
restaurant on the one-way street going out of downtown Mulege across from Anna's gift store. Of the 5 of us..we had 4 lobster and 1 shrimp dinners
with a round of margaritas and coffee kahlua's. The host, Francisco was charming as usual and the waiters were polite and prompt...a nice casual
atmosphere to enjoy a good meal and have conversation.
Francisco has always been known for a great lobster dinner..and this, along with the appetizers, and celery soup made for a meal that was almost too
much to eat. (But somehow I managed) Cost of dinner, drinks, and tip for 5 was
$1400 pesos or about $28 US per person. Not bad for a lobster dinner and libations!
After dinner we strolled to the village square for some ice cream and a walk around the plaza under the bouganvillas. A nice evening out in Mulege.Bruce R Leech - 4-10-2005 at 11:18 AM
Did I say Mulege restaurants in Mulege lack creativity and innovation ? Last night after a good meal at the pelican Reef My family and I thought we
would try the desert of the day. and were we in for a surprise. we were served cheese cake with a raspberry chepulti sauce. this sauce is made with
raspberry's and chepulti peppers that are jalape?os smoked they have a distinctive strong and are vary spicy hot. since I can tolerate very hot and
spicy food I ended up eating most of it while my wife and kids were trying to git enough water to put out the fire. I haven't had a chance to talk to
scotty yet about his latest creation. but I cant help think that this must be some sort of accident. like the can of chillies fell in to the raspberry
sauce or something like that. now don't git me wrong this is one of my favorite restaurants in Mulege and they do a good job on almost everything.
but these two flavors do not go together at all nor do they in any way complement each other .when we saw it on the menu I thought it was a mistake so
we asked the waitress about it and she assured us that it must be a mistake on the menu so we ordered it and sure enough. now I need to complement
them for trying new things.and being creative but they need to taste new things and let the waitress sample before they put it to the public.
?????
bajajudy - 4-10-2005 at 12:19 PM
What is the difference in Meli's and Dony's.
Carnitas at Ramons on Sat are excellent.
I still like Serenidad for certain dishes....shrimp pasta for one.
Is there a place to eat at Saul's, I thought that it was just a grocery store(with killer steaks I might add)Pompano - 4-10-2005 at 12:36 PM
Meli's is the first cafe you come to on the right as you enter Mulege from the 'Y'. Dony's is actually the carnitas cafe past the center of
town...past Casa Yee ....next to the third little plaza as you head towards Saul's tienda. Which answers your other question about eating at Saul's.
Saul Davis owns the grocery store...no cafe there. The other 'Saul' is the proprietor of La Palapa and El Candil cafes.KurtG - 4-10-2005 at 01:35 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
Did I say Mulege restaurants in Mulege lack creativity and innovation ? Last night after a good meal at the pelican Reef My family and I thought we
would try the desert of the day. and were we in for a surprise. we were served cheese cake with a raspberry chepulti sauce. this sauce is made with
raspberry's and chepulti peppers that are jalape?os smoked they have a distinctive strong and are vary spicy hot. since I can tolerate very hot and
spicy food I ended up eating most of it while my wife and kids were trying to git enough water to put out the fire. I haven't had a chance to talk to
scotty yet about his latest creation. but I cant help think that this must be some sort of accident. like the can of chillies fell in to the raspberry
sauce or something like that. now don't git me wrong this is one of my favorite restaurants in Mulege and they do a good job on almost everything.
but these two flavors do not go together at all nor do they in any way complement each other :
You can buy a very good raspberry/chipotle sauce at Costco and I have seen it at other stores also. I make my own using raspberry preserves and
Pepper Plant brand chipotle sauce made in Gilroy, Ca. Good stuff!
Loved Mulege
calacowboy - 4-10-2005 at 10:25 PM
As a first time visitor to Mulege on Easter weekend, I really enjoy reading all the reviews of places to eat and comparing tastes.
We stayed at the Hotel Serenidad and had breakfast and dinner 3 times. The eggs ranchero were great as was the pancakes with a side of banana. I
haven?t tasted a banana like that in a long time, what a difference from supermarket fruit up north. Also the French toast was very good, creamy,
like it was deep fried. My one disappointment was the pig roast, not terrible, I just expected something more exciting. One of the plus?s of staying
at the Serenidad was the fact that they took credit cards, so we charged all of our meals & drinks and the room. The billing was exactly like
they said when we got home and checked our card. The rooms there were very nice with a beautiful pool and grounds. Quite a kick for me to watch all
the planes fly in and out.
We ate at Meli?s for lunch twice and loved it, fish tacos and scrimp tacos both times, great salsa. Also lunch at Edwardo?s( fish tacos?).
One place I really liked was the ice cream shop around the corner from Edwardo?s , home made ice cream (coconut & pineapple) supposedly made
without milk, very tasty.
I have to agree with Pompano about Equipales, we ordered the Lobster dinner on a recommendation from the waiter at the Serenidad, 3 (!) tails on
each plate, baked potato, salad, soup, mixed veggies, for 190 pesos. And the service was very good.
I loved Mulege and Concepcion Bay, but was crowded for the holidays. I stayed an extra day waiting for the wind to die down a little so we could go
fishing, but was worth it as our guide was great and we caught fish.
Serinadad, Meli's, ice cream....
Pompano - 4-11-2005 at 09:12 AM
The Serinadad is still a favorite place of ours to go..especially for the bar-b-qued CHICKEN..and the ambiance, folk music, art shows, etc. A nice
place full of old memories for us old-times. 'Pig roast' has not been on our list for a couple of years now, though...we like other dishes much
better..and love the mariachis and dancing. The rooms are nice and the grounds are beautifully kept, like calacoboy says. We stay every now and then
in room 'Coyote'..for nostalgia's sake.
My wife's favorite at the Serinadad is also the pancakes with banana..or the French toast. You have the same taste buds, calaco...
The homemade ice cream you tried is Blanca's...she has been making the good stuff for over 20 years. I have her pour a little chocolate syrup on my
vanilla. Down the street is a liquor store on the corner across from the plaza..where you will find a more American-style ice cream..Blue Bunny, I
think?....good too, and they have ice-cream bars..the chocolate-coated vanilla kind...like an Eskimo bar.
Easter time is a zoo here in Mulege...come again some other time and avoid the messy crowds. The cafes are real relaxing places then and you can
savor your dinner in comfort.
[Edited on 4-11-2005 by Pompano]bajalera - 4-11-2005 at 09:34 AM
Glad to hear you're moving this way, Brews. I look forward to seeing you down here!
Lera
Guide to "Ramon's" carnitas in Mulege.....
Pompano - 4-11-2005 at 12:38 PM
BajaJudy...you and some others wanted a clarification on just where 'Ramon's' carnitas cafe is at in Mulege. Be glad to..check out the photo. Go
into Mulege..past Pemex..stop sign...straight ahead past little plaza, fire station, tienda Casa Yee..to another little plaza...and there it is on the
right.
As you might already know, Ramon passed away not too long ago after a fight with diabetes and other ailments. His son, Antonio, and friend, Lorena
run the place now...and the carnitas are as good as ever. They are some of our favorite food treats..and favorite people. A great Saturday morning
special...don't miss it!
[Edited on 4-11-2005 by Pompano]
I thought Meli's and Dony's....
Hook - 4-12-2005 at 01:25 PM
....were one and the same.
Danny's is the one past the Yee's market, no? I haven't seen Danny's open in my recent trips to Mulege.Pompano - 4-12-2005 at 01:41 PM
yes, you are correcto...Meli is just the owner's name, his cafe is called Dony's. Danny's is open most all the time...maybe closed 1 or 2 days a
week. Saturday is his big day, however. I just went by Danny's about an hour ago and he was open for business as usual...I guess you must just have
hit his 'closed' days.
I must report on the great pulled pork sandwich I had for lunch today at the Pelicano Bar & Grill. Scrumptuous..and almost too much to eat.
Served with crunchy fries..not those soggy buggers...It would have been heaven except for the lack of a cold Pacifico.
If the deletion trick doesn't work.......
Hook - 4-12-2005 at 01:53 PM
....I expect to see you in tights and a cape with a beeg "SN" when I'm down there next week.
All in Mexican Flag colors, of course.
Let's see....I guess your equivalent of kryptonite would be Corona Beer?bajajudy - 4-12-2005 at 02:08 PM
Thanks Pompano
I had it straight and didnt even know it. Dannys is one of my favorite places in Baja. We eat there almost every time we are in
Mulege....Donys/meli's too.
We should be passing by you next week. If I have a chance to get on the internet the day before, maybe we could meet for a cold one and some of those
chile rellenos you have been talking about.
bajajudy...
Pompano - 4-12-2005 at 02:14 PM
you are most welcome anytime, although chile rellenos at JungleJims on Thursday nights is always a treat.
Pompano-oops
bajajudy - 4-13-2005 at 02:01 PM
Guess I was having and old, blond moment(talking about a double whammy)...I missed the Thurs nite part.
Will be in touch if I can.Mexray - 4-13-2005 at 10:41 PM
Rogelio...you, of all people, should know that most distinguished rodents prefer Pacifico three-to-one over other Mexican Cerveza...
rig parking for Mulege restaurants
latitude26n - 4-19-2005 at 04:31 PM
Would love to try some of these recommendations when we're passing thru Mulege but our previous experiences venturing in to the town proper in a
crewcab/camper towing a ute trailer (parking and making 3 point turns on to the tiny side streets) makes us keep going til we get to La Palapa. Would
like to try Meli's at least- any parking tips?Bruce R Leech - 4-19-2005 at 04:44 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by latitude26n
Would love to try some of these recommendations when we're passing thru Mulege but our previous experiences venturing in to the town proper in a
crewcab/camper towing a ute trailer (parking and making 3 point turns on to the tiny side streets) makes us keep going til we get to La Palapa. Would
like to try Meli's at least- any parking tips?
Park on the Highway at the entrance to town. and walk half a block to Melli's. or git a cab right at the bus stop.
that is the trouble with a big rig you miss seeing Baja.latitude26n - 4-19-2005 at 05:11 PM
Naw, the trouble is we're not retired yet and still need to drive our "house" down. Someday we'll get to do the exploring in some of the towns but
we'll never give up the camper. We've been able to spend time in places we never dreamed of because of it and it's been way worth the occasional
inconvenience.
front.
) Cost of dinner, drinks, and tip for 5 was
$1400 pesos or about $28 US per person. Not bad for a lobster dinner and libations!