Hi gang. RT here.

Well, on the advice of two different board members (thankks, guys), I had dinner last night at El Faro De Mazatlan in the Zona Rio.

In a word: Awesome! They specialize in seafood. I went overboard -- Had a mixed-seafood appetizer (marinated fish, shrimp cocktail, marinated pulpo, three great oysters, cerviche), then a pulpo el ajillo (garlic sauce) appetizer, then for the main course Lobster de Puerto Nuevo. It was a little pricey by TJ standards - $46 plus tip, but I figured it was a better hour than 20 minuted with a robo-babe from Adelita Bar.

Language wasn't a problem (never seems to be). There was a waiter trying to learn English and he was very attentive.

The restaurant is at Blvd. Sanchez Taboada 9542 in the Zona Rio. Phone (66) 84 8882. It is just to the left of the Como Que No restaurant/club, which all the cabbies know. The restaurant called me a cab when I was done.

RT

RT,
I assume when you say it was pricey by TJ standards that the cost one was for one person. Is that correct?

Question for the Group,
I have never been to La Costa. The primary reason being is that the chica's I am with usually recommend other restaurants. I don't know if they feel La Costa is too dressy for them or they trully think the other restaurants are better - they certainly are less costly.

For you guys that appreciate seafood in your opinion is La Costa the premier seafood restaurant (7th street)? I think there is another La Costa in
another part of Tijuana by Agua Caliente.

Mr. Fish is great for seafood,try the combination plate. You don't have to dress if you don't want to, also Faro De Mazatlan, Iv'e been to both several times.

Senorpanocha,

Where is Mr. Fish?

How would you get there from Adelitas?


Thanks in advance,
RickFeliz

Hi gang. RT here.

I'm no mongering expert, but I sure can talk about food. Here you go, Cochino

1. Yup, that was a bill for just me. I did order 2 main dishes (pulpo, lobster), so I could have cut $10 or so off the bill, but what the hell. Also, that was with two club sodas, no cerveza.

2. Funny you should ask about La Costa -- I hooked up today with 'Downtown' and we ate there tonight. Frankly, the food wasn't as good as El Faro (but good in its own right). It was cheaper, though, the total was $52 for the two of us including tip. Downtown had 2 or 3 beers there. I had a whole fish in garlic oil and the calamar in cilantro sauce. Downtown had shrimps stuffed with crab and wrapped in bacon. He said it was excellent, but only 3 shrimps for about $18 was too much.

Maybe El Taurino tomorrow, before I go home.

RT

Anybody know of a good pizza place not far from the zona? A chica amiga once mentioned a place she thought was excellent awhile back, but I can't remember the name and now she is gone. TIA

BTW, I took an amiga to Los Arcos (the seafood place) a couple of months ago and I was not impressed.

Pizza... I'd recommend Vittorio's on Revolucion. About a block past Bambi on the same side of the street. It's a sitdown place with waiters and everything, but not really fancy. A large pizza shouldn't run you much more than 10-12 bucks. They also do a brisk takeout biz and have pretty well priced specials which include pizza, salad, bread and pasta.

Giuseppe's is a pretty popular Italian option in TJ, and while not pizza specialists, the stuff's OK. There's one on Aguascalientes, about 3 miles from the Zona.

Also, if YOU like Pizza Hut chances are she will too. The closest one is in Plaza Rio and there's also one a couple blocks past Plaza Rio.

And then of course there's Domino's on Revolucion. No EVIL SHIT LISTS to be found there, though, to my knowledge (old ASPT joke).

One thing about pizza in Mexico: Ketchup on pizza is considered FABU. Must be one of those mayonaisse on a hot dog things, I guess...

Other places I'd recommend that I haven't heard pimped lately: For ultra-casual seafood, Negro Durazo, which is somewhere within spitting distance of Plaza Rio, but I am not exactly sure where (I was getting directions as I went from a chica who kept saying turn here, no THERE! 'til I was all turned around). Pretty inexpensive place and you can get fish tacos if that's what you're after, as well as more standard seafood fare. My amiga liked the oysters.

For Japanese food, Komasa on Sanchez Taboada, about 1/2 mile past Plaza Rio. Typical Japanese steak house fare and they also serve sushi, though to borrow a line from Bradshaw, I don't eat BAIT. I believe they are closed Monday nights. There used to be a sign advertising Karaoke there, but I have never been there on the right night to see it. Teriyaki steak runs about $6.50 and I have never paid more than $20 for dinner for two. Of course I am CHEAP!

For a Sunday brunch that's reasonably priced, Victor's, a block past Plaza Rio serves an OK buffet. Brunch for two will be under 20 bucks. There is also a relatively fancy coffee/dessert place upstairs.

If you want a romantic night out at a NICE restaurant, Saverio's (Italian) is the best I have experienced. It's a couple of blocks from the Grand Hotel. Dinner for two with drinks should be in the $50 plus range.

If you wanna pig out in Plaza Rio, California Buffet will give you all want and more. It's a chain with a couple of dozen places throughout Mexico, so your girlie has probably heard of it. If you wanna get sloshed while you eat, all you can drink Coronas are included in the price. Of course whenever I go there w/ a chica she gets one little dinky-ass plate of food and says that's all she wants. The question as to 'why the hell she wanted to go to a buffet' usually comes to mind. The buffet runs about 8 bucks a person, I believe.

For something different in the ZONA, I have a sublime attraction to the chinese place at the end of the HK alley. I gotta say, however, that a couple of friends reported they got sick after eating there, though I had the same dish the same day and felt fine. Of course I have the strength of 10 men... The food there IS kinda greasy. Probably not for the gourmets, but I bet you Zona girls would dig it.

Porker, thanks for the culinary insights, damn good posts.

Speaking of pizza, I am reminded of when I was supposed to meet a chica at her place of work and she was late (surprise!). After half an hour of drinking two for one beers at the bar, she finally walks in and apologozes profusely, then hands me a Dominos pizza. She tells me she was buying a pizza for us to share and asks if I like pizza Mexican style. I looked at the normal looking pizza and asked what the difference was. She gets a gleam in her eye, pulls out a small bottle of hot sauce and proceeds to pour generous amounts all over it. Uh oh.

After a couple bites steam was erupting from my crown and I felt like I was turning a deep shade of red. She got a good laugh at the look on my face and told me she likes things caliente. I must say that after a couple slices with beads of sweat standing out on my forehead, the pizza became addicting... :>)

I was at Saverio's last week,it's as good as anyplace I've been to in the states. White linen tablecloths and Absolut in your Martini if you want.Everything is a la carte,I had scampi, she had filet mingon,then I had her,very romantic. 40.00 for both of us with a salad, I had one drink. Going again this week.

Two places I wont go again are Sanborns in Plaza Rio Mall and Calif. Buffett also in the mall, both times I had bad food.

Porker,
At Komasa's do they serve warm japanese sake.

Celtics, that hot sauce is good for you. It'll put hair on your back!!!

SP, Have a bunch of the Coronas and the food will taste better at California Buffet! Circus Circus should follow that advice...

Cochino, I don't know about sake at Komasa. My GUESS would be that they would have it.

Porker
The California buffett is pretty handy after taking a chica to the afternoon movies at Zona Rio.The food seemed so-so and they were keeping that free corona thing pretty quiet(I had no clue about it) but the chica seemed to like the food.Could be a handy stop if you start sobering up and get the munchies while watching a movie.Do they start looking at you funny after you have downed ten or so Corona's?

Damn~i've been zona free for two months now.I am seriously jonesing for it but with all the rain and snow in the mountains after packing for it i decided better of making that drive.
Taxibob

I can barely tolerate California Buffet. The food isn't that great, and not always a good selection. For some reason I have known a number of chicas who really like it there. Go figure...

If you are in the Plaza Rio, try the snack bar / sandwich shop / smoothie place that is in the back (interior side) of the pharmacy.

It is actually pretty decent (but not someplace I would make a trip over there for).

Now, if you are around on a Sunday and want a nice buffet brunch, try the brunch at the Grand Hotel. That has been excellent every time I have been there.

To me there is nothing better than good food to go along with good company!

Stay away from the Chinese place at the end of the alley!! Porker is the only person I know who can stand, or stomach, that place. I still have not gotten even with him for taking me there...but I haven't forgotten.

Hey Taxi, my next trip down from Vegas will be Feb 20, tues nite thru Wed....We are flying down this time, let me know if yer up for it!!

Talachero

A decent Sunday buffet is Como Que No. In the morning it runs 55 pesos and goes up 10 more at noon. Not the best food I've run across in TJ, but it tastes pretty good and the price can't be beat...

Cheers,
Epimetheus

Warning: I ate at Faro de Mazatlan, my favorite restaurant in TJ, last Friday. I spent all day Saturday sick in bed, when I was not in the bathroom puking or... I strongly suspect the ceviche that they serve as an appetizer. I know better than to eat that stuff in Mexico, but because it is included with the meal, I was not thinking. I have not talked to the girl I was with at the time. If I find out she was sick also, that will clinch it, as we had different entrees and did not share. The other possible culprits are the lobster, or just a 24 hour virus. I doubt it, however, because as sick as I was, I was not sick enough.

WHERE: 9542 Sanchez Taboada

DIRECTIONS: Go East on Sanchez Taboada past Mercado Hidalgo and it will be on your left hand side inside of a Business Plaza containing several banks.

CLOSEST MONGERING: 5th Avenue Massage next to Sushi House.

RATING: 2 STARS

FOOD: Great selection of various shellfish and grilled fish but the quality was lacking as the food was somewhat soggy.

ATMOSPHERE: Fairly nice place with some Nautical nostalgia about the place

SERVICE: Horrible.

PRICE: On the high scale with your average entree being at least 8 bucks