I don’t see a thread on this one. This is a family oriented restaurant just a few steps from hotel zaragoza. I saw some cars outside with CA plates. IMHO this restaurant has a value of 7-8 out of 10. It claims to be in TJ for a long time ("desde 1965"?). The waiters speak good English. The food is very good (a bit salty) and most dishes are priced around 50 pesos with generous portion. It has a soothing atmosphere and it’s good to relax and have a nice talk with your significant one. Unfortunately the breakfast was not too great and a la carte was pricy.

The first day I had my late lunch there. A waiter greeted me and asked "How many people?" "Yo solo" was my answer. This waiter could teach a class of mannerism to the meseros in la zona. I left a good tip for his professional service. The next morning I went there for my breakfast. As soon as he saw me he rushed to my seat. Then he paused and inquired, "Just one?" We both laughed. He must have seen it all.

Actually the name is Restaurant Ricardos. It used to be Tortas Ricardos.

My last trip to TJ I stayed at the VdeZ and Ricardos became my main source for meals.

I agree the service is excellent and the food is pretty good. Also it makes a nice change from the zona, this place actually looks like it could pass a health inspection!

One more note, I've taken a "friend" there several times before and after a TLN.

Antonio, you're right they have seen it all. But unlike so many other places in TJ, they treated my companion as courteously as they would have a gringa and really made the girl feel special. No hint of a 'tude towards a working girl, no smirks, nothing but nice friendly service.

One other note, maybe it's a culture thing, but unlike here in the US, they'll not bug you at all to leave, in fact the only difficulty I had at the place is getting the waiter's attention to pay the bill and leave. I think we could have sat there for hours if we had wanted to.

This place gets my vote for a meal.

This has been my favorite resturant for the last ten years. The food and service has been consistantly good. Try to avoid the Sunday lunch crowd. I have been able to pay at the exit counter prior to leaving.

Restaurant Ricardo's
Just a few feet north of Hotel La Villa Zaragoza on the corner. Restaurant Ricardo's is clean. The bathrooms are even nice. The food was good and was reasonably priced for the coffee shop style of restaurant that it was. No rush. Service was good. They even hunted down one waiter that spoke a little english just to explain an option on ordering an item on the menu. And my chica enjoyed it. Always the bottomline with me. If the chica likes it then she is happy and if she is happy then I am happy.

Recommended. Will return again if I am in the area. Good place to take a date. Coffee shop style family oriented. Reasonable food and reasonable ambience at a reasonable price.

The address?

7th Y Madero

I found a black, possibly, asian or mexican hair in the salsa the last time I was there.

It had no flavor.