Tres Garcia in the alley next to Miami Club is a good place to eat while in ZN. Cheap 35 peso for any dish which is cooked only after you order. With coke you're looking at $5 for a warm meal. Try the Fajitas Chicken.

I've had great breakfasts there too. Tasty dishes!

The only problem I've had there is that one morning I just could NOT get them to understand the word "te'". I don't know HOW I could screw that word up, but I could not get the guy to figure out that I wanted tea! Finally had to point it out to the menu, and then he said, "Te'!" Just like I was saying it, I thought.

^C

Thanks Athos. Don't know why I have never thought to post a report on this place, as I eat here frequently. The food is cheap and above average taste-wise. I like their tortas and milanesa, and a friend thinks they have the best tortilla soup in the ZN. Service is poor, but always courteous and they usually get your order right. Drink selection frequently consists of Coca Cola, coffee or water, but they don't complain if you bring something else in from the store. Very popular with the street girls but definitely not in the same class as Monte Carlo when it comes to scenery.

I don't get it they have tons of oranges and would not serve me freshly squeezed orange juice.

I've never had any trouble getting fresh squeezed orange juice there.

That is weird, Athos. They serve it all the time, but some of the employees tend to be kind of lazy, and squeezing the oranges is rather a pain. They once brought me my order without the avocado that it was supposed to include, and when I asked for it they said they were out. I politely told them that in that case I was going to go elsewhere, and all of a sudden they decided it was not a problem to walk across the street and buy some avocados. They need some motivation sometimes, but unlike some of the places around, they have never been surly about it.

Went there for breakfast and told them mi amigo recomienda. They were delighted and asked me who my amigo was? Told them was Athos and they seemed to know who he is.

Didn't like the mexican style breakfast so asked them to make two scrambled eggs, two slices of toast, and OJ. The guy took pride in his cooking. He didn't make the eggs right in the first try, so he did a second time. Cost $5 + $1 tip. OK quality for a zona restaurant.

6 bucks? For eggs and toast? In THAT place??? HUH? Be a man and look at the goddamned prices on the menu!!!

"6 bucks? For eggs and toast?"

Happens to be Smith's second favorite thing for breakfast!

Elias, the bespectacled owner of Tres Garcias-- as well as the little cafe next to Chavelas-- was murdered this past week, stabbed to death in his home in Tijuana...

Elias was kind and intelligent and frequently helped out Zona chavas that found themselves in trouble for whatever reason...He truly was one of the goodguys in the Zona...Back in my Zona and Cascadas heydey, I enjoyed many pleasant conversations with him...

Elias also was gay, and the papers down here are suggesting his death was at the hands of one of his amantes...

May he rest in peace...

YoungBrig

Very sad news and I share your sentiments.

Early, last evening I was standing outside the Cascadas lobby talking with Franco. I turned around and standing in the doorway was.....Elias. He had different glasses on and I noticed a scar on his face but he certainly was not dead. The word on the street is that he was beaten and robbed probably by an amante. So, to paraphrase W.C. Fields; The rumors of his death have been greatly exaggerated.

Ronin

"the papers down here are suggesting his death was at the hands of one of his amantes..."

YB

In light of Ronin's post I'm wondering if you actually read the newspaper accounts or if someone just told you about them.

Reytj