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Los Cabos Magazine - Issue #9 Articles
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Dining in Cabo San Lucas and Los Cabos
Top Tables - 60 Delicious Reasons for Dining Out |
| Our endless sun and sand, world-class sportfishing and championship golf may be irresistible, yet one of the best reasons to visit Los Cabos is for eclectic dining in surroundings as varied as México itself. Sweeping views of magnificent shorelines complement innovative menus with hospitality so gracious you’ll never want to leave. Sabrina Lear, Bradley Fraser, Carol Billups, and David Mandich explore top tables around Los Cabos. Los Cabos Magazine article - Issue #9 - July 2004. Section 1 of 3 - Alexander to Galeon - | Dining Article - Section 2 | Dining Article - Section 3 | |
| Born of the union of pre-Columbian and Spanish cultures—with almost five hundred years of gastronomic fusion—today’s Mexican cuisine is known the world over. Fresh ingredients meld with a cornucopia of chiles and exotic herbs and spices enhancing the flavor of each dish. And as Los Cabos evolves, so does the variety of culinary experiences. As proud as we are of our heritage, our restaurants speak with many accents. Fine Italian, European, American and pan-Asian eateries thrive in diverse and delightful settings. Fresh seafood is the big draw, prepared every way imaginable. Dress up or down, relax, and indulge your palate. Savor the simplicity of a fresh fish taco or go all out and do the town. No matter what you crave Los Cabos has it. Alexander Swiss Chef Alex Brulhart lit up kitchens the world over before landing in Cabo 18 years ago. For seven years, his Alexander restaurant has been turning out appealing international cuisine. As I ate, I watched him orchestrate flawless service to a full house. The specialty is fondue (cheese, beef, and seafood) and the Hang Beef, but more on that in a bit. The tempura prawns, served in a half coconut with a spicy, sweet coconut sauce were so good that I recommended the same to nearby tables. They loved them. The Portobello mushroom and mixed greens with goat cheese and a light balsamic dressing proved a perfect mingling of flavors. Suddenly, there was a flash of blue flame tableside and Shazzam…my Hang Beef had arrived. Imagine a wooden platter inset with cups of garlic, cognac-tomato, curry, spicy, and tartare sauces, with a metal rack arising from it, suspending a cylinder with hooks holding marinated cooked beef. The blue flame flash was tequila drizzled over the beef and lighted. Accompanying the Hang Beef is a plate of fresh vegetables and perfect pomme frites (fries). For dessert, the fresh fruit and chocolate fondue was decadent. Alexander’s hums a fine tune, never going off-key. Dinner entrées from $8 to $40 U.S. for Chateaubriand for two, with seating for 46. Open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday 5 to 11 p.m. At Plaza Bonita, marina-side, reservations recommended, call (624) 143-2022.—B.F. Amarone Italian Restaurant Amarone is an Italian restaurant that delivers, with imported ingredients enhancing an enticing menu. Chef Batista Devecchi and owners Pier, Pietro, and Alessandro, all from Verona, Italy, have got it right. Clearly, their passion is fantastic food, fine wine, and attentive service. The litmus test for any Italian restaurant is carpaccio, and Amarone’s carpaccio di manzo with flavorful, burst-in-your-mouth Sicilian caper berries was off the scale. We shared an appetizer of pepata di cozze. The seemingly bottomless bowl of mussels with a slightly picante red sauce was a great side road adventure from the usual preparation. Try the fettuccini al funghi: Perfectly cooked fresh pasta and wild mushrooms in a simple cream sauce, imbued with just the right balance of flavors and texture. Main courses include lamb and veal, lobster, shrimp, sea bass, Angus rib eye, and grilled tuna. Anyone for dessert? Amarone takes tiramasu and elevates it to a near nirvana level. Encased in a goblet of dark chocolate, I have never had better. The wine list includes Mexican and imported wines, and 16 Amarones ranging from a glass of ’99 Sartori ($15 U.S.) to a bottle of ’64 Bertani ($900 U.S.). With flavors of licorice, tobacco, fig, and deep raspberry, vintage Amarones are so intense in flavor that they require decanting hours ahead. Amarone is a “big picture” restaurant. Dine in the 100-seat, sleek, two level interior, or on the marina-view terrace. Entrées run $11 to $38 U.S. Open daily from noon to 11 p.m. At Puerto Paraiso, reservations suggested, call (624) 105-1034.—B.F. Arts and Sushi Goyito San The secret is out! Goyito San, a.k.a. Chef Gregorio Hernandez, and his well-trained staff offer fabulous sushi, sashimi, and Japanese dishes with imaginative flair in a hip room surrounded by modern art. Waiters know the menu inside out and deliver snappy, personable service. Dine inside the modern 36-seat space, lounge on the 26-seat patio, or sit at the sushi bar and watch the knives fly. Start with the mussels, shrimp and crab wrapped in seabass and lightly fried with a sesame sauce; or savor the sashimi currican, fresh fish with spicy crab in a creamy yusu sauce flavored with orange, chile, soy and black sesame seeds. The sashimi salad with tuna and seabass and the sashimi special are top notch. Entrées include spicy pan-fried seabass or dorado, shrimp Toban Jan, tuna or seabass teriyaki, and daily specials. Curry lovers shouldn’t miss the lobster in a heavenly creamy sesame-curry sauce. Prices run from $3 to $15 U.S. for sushi, sashimi, rolls, tempura, and yakitori, with entrées $14 to $25 U.S. From the well-stocked bar, sample hot and cold sakes, Sapporo beer, and expert martinis including one with Calpis, a creamy citrus-flavored Japanese beverage, very different and smooth as silk. At Plaza Bonita, east side behind Olé Olé and open daily from 11 to 11. For reservations, call (624) 144-4554.—S.L. Baan Thai Restaurant At San Jose del Cabo’s exotic Baan Thai, Far Eastern aromas perfume the air: jasmine rice, curry, garlic, coconut milk, Thai basil, mint, and lemongrass. Owner-Chef Carl Marts was, for over a decade, the Executive Chef at Hotel Twin Dolphin, acquiring Baan Thai four years ago. Hand carved Indonesian solid teak tables and chairs enhance the inside salons while the palapa-roofed-rear patio has you believing you’re in a jungle in the South China Sea. The menu is ample, with traditional Thai dishes like chicken soong, pad Thai, and satays. The tom kha gai soup (chicken in spicy coconut milk with mushrooms and lemon grass) will bring you back again—there is nothing like it in Los Cabos. The farm raised steamed mussels in a coconut herb broth are outstanding. Duck is steamed and then finished on the grill with a citrus ginger glaze. The Thai coconut chicken curry is simmered in an intense green curry, and for red curry fans, the pineapple shrimp curry is fiery, with succulent shrimp and tropical highlights. Vegetarians will be in heaven: Most dishes can be modified to suit almost any diet. There’s a respectable wine list and a well stocked bar. Entrées are from $8 to $22 U.S. Air-conditioned and open from noon to 10 p.m., closed Sundays, with seating for 80. Downtown on Morelos near Obregon, in San José del Cabo. For reservations or private parties, call (624) 142-3344.—S.L Baja Cantina Overlooking the biggest sport fishing yachts in the Cabo harbor, Baja Cantina has delicious food, an all-day happy hour, and a friendly sports bar. The warmed artichoke and spinach dip appetizer was so good I passed on the blue cheese dressing that came with my salad and used the spinach dip instead. My esposa enjoyed a traditional bowl of thick rich bean soup. Dinner features American and Mexican entrees, and daily specials such as scallops al gusto (as you like it), tuna, local lobster steamed with garlic and butter, or turf and surf. Enjoy traditional rib eye and New York steaks, barbecue ribs, hamburgers, rellenos, burritos, taco platters, and seafood dishes. The house specialty is a monster seafood platter of lobster, scallops, fish and octopus. An order of tender scallops came served on a turkey platter-sized plate loaded with steamed veggies and Mexican-style rice. Try the large shrimp grilled and blackened with Cajun spices, enjoyably picante without causing undue suffering. Desserts are simple comfort food: apple pie, vanilla or Neapolitan ice cream, and flan. You can’t go wrong at casual Baja Cantina. Just park your yacht out front. On the Cabo San Lucas marina, behind Costa Real Cabo. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. for breakfast, lunch and dinner with seating for 100 and groups up to 150. Entrées from $7 to $26 U.S. Telephone: (624) 143-1591.—D.M. Billygan’s Island You don’t need a boat to get to this island, just make your way down to Médano Beach for a very casual atmosphere and more fun than should legally be allowed. A great people-watching location with lounge chairs and beach mats, Billygan’s offers continental and Mexican food at reasonable prices along with killer views. For lunch, have the Billygan burger, or try their burritos, enchiladas, or tacos. Mexican beer is two for one from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with national drinks two for one from noon until 7 p.m. For dinner, try the Tampiqueña plate (grilled arrachera steak with a chicken enchilada), or the shrimp done as you like it. At Billygan’s, grilled lobster comes small, medium, or large. Don’t miss their house drink, the Billygan’s Special, made with vodka, Malibu rum, cantaloupe, banana and peach liquors, and pineapple and cranberry juices. Friendly staff and good tunes. Entrées from $11 to $35 U.S. Open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with full breakfasts; and seating for 120 and groups up to 200. Billygan’s is at the foot of Paseo del Pescador, call (624) 143-4830 or 144-3908.—S.L. The Brigantine Restaurant Fronting Playa Solmar at the new Playa Grande Resort, The Brigantine Restaurant has sweeping Pacific views, attentive service and enjoyable cuisine. The extensive breakfast buffet brims with fresh fruits and juices, Mexican and American classics, and fresh breads, rolls and pastries. Dinner comes with incredible sunsets at a romantic patio table under the stars or inside the comfortable air-conditioned dining room. Chef Hernán Cortez’s menu will gently introduce you to authentic haute Mexican cuisine with starters of quesadillas with a variety of savory fillings; organic salad with jicama and a mole-based vinaigrette; cream of corn soup with Oaxacan cheese; and classic tortilla soup. Main courses are enhanced with Mexican herbs and spices, try the New York, rib eye, or beef tenderloin with pasilla chile or choron sauce. The Brigantine Mexican combo goes a step further with Tampico-style tenderloin, a savory chicken enchilada, a nopal (prickly pear cactus) steak topped with regional goat cheese, and a shrimp and cheese stuffed jalapeño pepper. New Zealand lamb in an apple, cinnamon and pineapple barbecue-style sauce is a break from the usual mint accompaniment. Shrimps sautéed in epazote, mushrooms, and lobster sauce are fragrant and delicious. For dessert, try any of the freshly baked cakes or the flan. Entrées are $14 to $29 U.S. Open from 7 to 11 a.m. for breakfast and 6 to 10 p.m. for dinner with live music nightly and seating for 88 on the patios and 68 inside. For reservations, call (624) 143-7575.—S.L. CaboRey Dinner Cruiser Experience fine dining, dancing, and a dynamite floor show cruising on the CaboRey, a three-level, 400 to 600 passenger climate-controlled144-foot catamaran, all for $69 U.S. per person with open bar. The top deck provides a wonderful view of the marina and downtown Cabo at sunset while motoring around Cabo San Lucas Bay. After a scenic cruise around the arch and up the coast, guests are called to dinner in the spacious main floor dining salon. A staff of a dozen waiters serves a seated dinner with a choice of Chateaubriand, jumbo prawns, or salmon. Complimentary breads are warm, the salad interesting, the veggies just right, the dessert delightful, and the drinks and wine unlimited. After dinner, an Argentinean couple dazzles with a fantastic tango exhibition, followed by an outstanding performance from a Gaucho boleadora and malambo de bombos duo, using balls twirled at warp speed on three foot cords. (This is worth the price of the cruise alone.) Afterwards, get up and dance to the Latin sounds of salsa, meringue, and cumbias with some good old rock and roll thrown in. Perfect for large groups and special occasion parties, the CaboRey dinner cruise is not to be missed, and will remain a memorable Cabo experience. Cabo Rey also has a daytime snorkel cruise. For reservations and departure times, call (624) 143-8260 or 143-8060.—D.M. Cabo Wabo Cantina The perfect prelude to an evening at Sammy Hagar’s legendary nightclub, the Cabo Wabo Cantina, above the club, has creative fare from Chef Dustin Meeker and a view of lively Plaza del Los Mariachis below. Casual and upbeat, sip a famous Waborita—a take on the margarita using Hagar’s handpicked, signature 100% reposado tequila—while perusing the eclectic menu. Start with the sopes (small thick corn tortillas) loaded with black bean, chicken, tomatoes, onions, and lettuce with a smoky chipotle chile cream; or opt for the Asian-leaning ginger soy-glazed beef tenderloin brochettes. For dinner, consider the coconut shrimp, six succulent tempura-style shrimp with a slightly spicy sweet dipping sauce. The sautéed jumbo shrimp with garlic and chiles, deglazed with lime juice and Cabo Wabo tequila, is a different take as is the roasted sea bass with warm tomatillo vinaigrette. If you prefer meat to seafood, try the tender pan seared beef medallions with chipotle butter. A well stocked bar (of course, Mexican-style crème brulée and chocolate cake will round out your enjoyable meal. Enter clubside on Guerrero or via Plaza de Los Mariachis on Boulevard Marina. Entrées from $14 to $32 U.S. with lobster at market prices. Seating for 50, and open daily for lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. For reservations, call (624) 143-1188.—S.L. Café Canela This marina-side café at Costa Real Cabo is a refreshing break from the louder sports bars nearby. It has a bistro feeling with an inviting vine-entwined pergola, classical and light jazz music, and an eclectic menu. For breakfast, try a fresh fruit salad, French toast, cinnamon waffles, or any of the savory egg dishes or wrapps (flour tortillas filled with scrambled eggs and assorted fillings). Lunch features Mexican specialties, pastas, seafood, and continental fare with wonderful twists like stuffed pita with chicken served with vegetables and a tzatziki-like, garlicky yogurt-based sauce. Salads are crisp and fresh; the fettuccini Alfredo with shrimp and scallops rich and filling. Cafe Canela has fresh pastries, an espresso machine, a full bar, and is open for breakfast and lunch only, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., with seating for 50. Prices start at $3.50 for fruit salad to $31 U.S. for the Café Canela seafood combo with lobster. Owned by the same group that brings you Mi Casa, Mi Casa de Mariscos, and Peacock’s, call (624) 143-3435.—S.L. Café Dorian The fare at this lively place reflects Asian and Western dishes melded into something more than the sum of its sautés. A martini and oyster bar, we started with a couple of “dirty” martinis and a half dozen raw oysters, so good, we ordered six more. We were delighted with the thaiquitos, an Asian take on the taco filled with shrimp and lobster in a lobster and chile sauce. They paved the way for the chicken breast stuffed with shrimps and scallops and smothered in a creamy curry sauce, textured with tiny slivers of veggies and ginger. Café Dorian specializes in tableside flambés, the tequila-drenched drunken shrimp is most popular along with lobster (choose your size) flambéed in brandy and white wine; or sautéed in Dorian sauce (ginger, shitake mushroom and chile) or the delicious and spicy champa (chile, lemongrass, ginger and cilantro). Fish ranges from yellow-fin tuna, seabass, dorado, and wahoo, depending on what’s fresh, with a choice of curry-ginger, mango, soy-ginger, ponzu, caper, or wasabe sauce. The Asian barbecue, Korean-style or with lobster and filet mignon, is prepared tableside combining select cuts of beef with seafood and vegetables and a choice of two Asian sauces and a side salad. For dessert, the raspberry liquor-infused dark chocolate mousse is served in a dark chocolate cup. Death by chocolate. Café Dorian is a cosmopolitan addition to the Cabo dining scene with attentive service, and breakfast and lunch as enjoyable as their dinner entrées, which range from $12 to $45 U.S. On the marina at Plaza Bonita, with seating for 75 and open daily 8 a.m. to midnight. Dinner reservations suggested, call (624) 143-7923.—S.L./D.M. Casa Rafael’s Restaurant A boutique hotel and restaurant serving dinner only, Casa Rafael is festooned with near theatrical décor, complete with roving guitarists and a dancing opera singer. Dinner appetizers include escargot, hot and cold arrachera (marinated flank steak), stuffed clams, smoked dorado paté, fried calamari, and crab cakes. The hearts of palm salad arrived with fresh Romaine lettuce decorated with about 20 tender palm hearts and raspberry vinaigrette. The fresh seafood bisque, filled with shrimp, came with a large clamshell standing on end from which clung a fresh clam fillet ready to be harvested. It was hearty and enjoyable. Entrées include chicken cordon blue with champagne sauce, chicken Allison (Bordelaise brown sauce with mushrooms), cornish game hen in a champagne sauce, steaks, ribs, and rack of lamb. Scallops, scampi, and fish prepared with capers and cream sauce round out the menu with lobster medallions in oriental black bean sauce the house specialty. Desserts are made daily. We decided to share the chocolate orange cake, with a 43 herb-liquor dressing, so wickedly delicious we nearly fought over it. Casa Rafael’s is pricey, but the three-piece house band and strolling (and dancing) opera singer made my wife fall in love with me all over again. That’s priceless. Entrées from $18 to $44 U.S. with seating for 80. On the hill, between Camino Hotel Hacienda and Paseo El Pescador in Cabo San Lucas; dinner reservations required, call (624) 143-0739.—D.M. Central Gourmet Denizens of the Corridor rejoice! Central Gourmet is a new restaurant at Plaza La Europea across from Santa Carmela providing a welcome break from the ordinary. The casual, airy atmosphere belies the sophisticated and varied breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack menu of over 100 choices. Combining menus from Society Signature Coffees, Mangiamo Pizza, and the Nick-San Japanese Restaurant, you can mix or match a variety of cuisine ranging from $3 for sushi to $22 U.S. for a large gourmet pizza. Gourmet coffee and tea drinks are available as well as full bar service. This restaurant offers indoor and patio table seating, a small lounge area with leather sofas and a HDTV, take-out, and delivery to selected areas of the Corridor. For breakfast, the spinach, egg and bacon burrito is hard to beat. Central Gourmet offers 13 other Mexican and American breakfast entrees including healthy fruit and granola platters. For lunch or dinner, choose from Japanese, Italian, American, and even Middle-Eastern cuisine. Sample one of fourteen different salads, from basic greens to complete meals. Appetizers like stuffed grape leaves or carpaccio of the house (thinly sliced beef topped with red pepper salad, capers, and cheese) can stand alone for a light meal. Sandwiches, gourmet pizza, and delicious Japanese cuisine—including a sushi bar—for which Nick-San is well known, round out the ecelctic menu. With seating for 30 indoors and 24 on the ocean view patio, Central Gourmet is at Kilometer 6.7 and open from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. For reservations, take out, or delivery, call (624) 104-3274/3275.—C.B. Cosmic Oyster Bar At the Hotel Hacienda Beach Resort on Medano Beach, the Cosmic Oyster Bar is a tropical and relaxing place for a drink overlooking Cabo San Lucas Bay. A collage of ocean-themed blues features a high ceiling and walls painted with whimsical mermaids and gamefish. As the name suggests, the Cosmic Oyster Bar features oysters (Blue Point) prepared Rockefeller-style, ceviche, and shrimp appetizers including shrimp with mango salsa and shrimp quesadillas. Nachos with beef or chorizo (spicy Mexican sausage) and beef empanadas round out the list. Hang out at the bar, catch your favorite sporting event on the big screen television, or shoot a game of pool on their unique table. The large patio, reminiscent of “Old Baja” (the Hacienda is one of Cabo San Lucas’s founding hotels) has vintage Baja seating and fine views of the bay and Médano Beach. Next to La Noria Restaurant, and open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; appetizers range from $5.95 to $10.50 U.S. Telephone: 143-0663.—S.L. The Crazy Lobster At The Crazy Lobster Bar & Grill, happy hour runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with two for one domestic drinks and Cuervo tequila shots just 60 cents U.S. The menu features lobster tacos, enchiladas, grilled lobster tails, shrimp and lobster combos with New York steaks, giant wet burritos, ribs, and burgers—all well priced at this off-the-wall Hidalgo Street hang out. There’s a jukebox playing oldies with pool tables, a karaoke machine, and dancing waiters, making for irreverent fun. But, you came to Cabo for fun, didn’t you? Dinners are served with a choice of house salad or tortilla soup, rice, beans, and tortillas. Service is cheerful and prompt: the waiters known for their Latin charm and fancy footwork. Entrées include giant wet burritos with beef, chicken, or pork, chiles rellenos and Mexican combos all for $7 U.S. each. Dessert is Mexican flan. Entrées from $6 to $35 U.S. for the Super Seafood Combo for Two; with seating for 50. Find the Crazy Lobster Bar & Grill on Hidalgo and Zapata—call (624) 143-6535; or visit their sister restaurant, The Sleepless Lobster, at Zaragoza and Niños Heroes, around the corner from El Squid Roe—call (624) 143-1021. Both are open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. with the same menu, décor, and crazy flavor. Cash only.—D.M. Da Antonio Ristorante San José del Cabo’s fine elegant Italian offering is tucked away at the Presidente Inter-Continental Los Cabos Resort, overlooking the estuary. Providing a superb air-conditioned setting for a special family dinner or romantic evening, indulge yourself with flavors created by Chef Alessandro Brandi, noted for fresh seafood dishes stemming from his Sicilian roots. You might begin with mussels marinara, insalata caprese (fresh tomato, mozzarella and basil), or carpaccio all albese with authentic parmesano reggiano. The grilled shrimps and scallops in fresh herbs, or sautéed huachinango (red snapper) with fresh tomatoes, asparagus, black olives and steamed potatoes are enticing choices for dinner as is the beef fillet in Chianti with spinach. Fresh pastas include penne Arrabiata-style, and a very good meat and spinach ravioli in a sauce of Portobello and mixed mushrooms. The creamy risotto with seafood is noteworthy. An extensive wine list with an emphasis on Italian vintages, great desserts, an espresso bar, and adept staff rounds out this easy-to-savor, upscale experience. Pastas from $11 U.S. with entrées from $15 to $30 U.S. On the east end of Paseo de San José, San José’s beachfront drive. Open Monday to Saturday from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. with seating for 88 and groups up to 100. Resort attire and reservations required, call (624) 142-1001.—S.L. De Cortez Guests of the Sheraton Hacienda del Mar are indeed fortunate to have this exceptional restaurant. Set only feet from the sea, the star-lit lower terrace is romance defined; above, the stone-walled great room exudes elegance and warmth. Chef Angelina Ramos has crafted a continental menu juxtaposing comfort food and artful nouveau Mexican plates presented by attentive and perceptive staff. The wine list is extensive, favoring fine Californian vintages, with something for modest pocketbooks and more demanding oenophiles. Consider starting with the cream of mussel soup, curry enhanced and served with a savory zucchini spiral, or the shrimp and spinach ravioli, both superb in every sense. Entrées take seafood to a new level with sweet potato shrimp in a delicate passion fruit and tequila sauce; sea bass petals on a mushroom, fried leek and truffle sauce; and a thick fillet of yellow fin tuna, expertly seared and drizzled with warm avocado and tomato sauces. The lamb rack, stuffed with foie gras, is encrusted in pistachio and finished with port. Ramos also does justice to grilled lobster, steaks, and a delicious quail in tamarind. Linger over a full-bodied French press coffee and profiteroles, or choose a decadent soft dark chocolate cake, crème brulée, or almond Napoleon for dessert. Entrées are $25 to $62 U.S. At the Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Resort at Cabo del Sol, Kilometer 10, open daily from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. with dining for 120 and groups up to 200. For reservations, call (624) 145-8000.—S.L. Edith’s Edith Jiménez's upscale namesake restaurant is a Cabo institution. Promising (and delivering) fine Baja California cuisine, an evening at Edith’s includes all the details beloved by Baja devotees. Two well-crafted palapas shelter the circular granite bar and upper dining area, open-aired seating allows for views of Cabo San Lucas Bay and full moon magic, the Miraflores mesquite grill sizzles with promise of good things to come. On cooler nights, colorful Mexican blankets warm you while freestanding chimineas heat the air. It all adds up to a laid back, romantic affair with engaging, professional service and delicious food, enhanced by freshly-made tortillas and salsas. The menu is a soliloquy to Old Baja, the offerings, fresh from local waters and farms, are delicious—organic salads, flor de calabeza (squash blossom) quesadillas, rich tortilla soup, Mexican specialties (try the Pancho Villa), fish, and seafood. The most requested entrée is Wally’s Special, a seafood combo of Baja-style grilled butterflied garlic prawns, a fish fillet in garlic and white wine, and a grilled or steamed lobster tail. From the grill, there are Black Angus cuts, with or without lobster. The Lover’s Special for Two combines a tableside Caesar salad, grilled or steamed lobster, wine, and Edith’s famous flan. An extensive wine list featuring Baja California boutique wineries, great desserts, Edith’s special coffee, and a low-key trio complete an unforgettable evening. Entrées from $16 to $93 U.S. for the Lover’s Special, with seating for 150 and groups up to 180. On Paseo del Pescador, one block up from Médano Beach. Daily from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., reservations recommended, call (624) 143-0801.—S.L. El Patio de San José Hidden away down a corridor behind a historic casa, El Patio is in a garden patio under a canopy of fruit trees and bougainvilleas for dining under the stars. You’ll enjoy local seafood, Sonoran steaks, and traditional Mexican fare served up in generous quantities. Seafood includes pesto fettuccine with shrimp and goat cheese, seafood linguine, jumbo shrimp (in garlic, chile, coconut, or tequila sauces), roast snapper, and more. Meat lovers will be pleased to find grilled t-bones and marinated grilled rib eye steak served with chimichurri de jalapeño sauce. The house specialty is the El Patio Mexican Plate for Two. This fiesta consists of grilled pork steak sopes (small, thick corn tortillas), shrimp enchiladas, chicken tamales, crab chimichangas, rice and beans, and honorary Mexican citizenship if you can eat it all. My sea bass was a splendid fillet as big as any large New York steak, juicy and tantalizing with its blessing of Cajun spices. An order of Azteca salad was generously laden with tender grilled chicken breast along with fried tortillas, Mexican cheese, tomatoes, and avocado on Romaine lettuce. Try the grilled beef fillet served with chile guajillo and almond sauce, the perfect compliment to the flavorful steak. Memorable peach flambé is the house dessert. Entrées from $11 to $38 U.S., with seating for 54 and groups up to 70. Across from the Tropicana Inn on Boulevard Mijares in San José del Cabo, open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. For reservations, call (624) 142-5508.—D.M. Galeon Ristorante Print the names of the restaurants that have come and gone since Galeon opened its doors two decades ago and you’d fill this magazine. Yet this marina-view restaurant continues to flourish by providing great food and atmosphere. Start with a sweeping view of the bay, the subtle piano of Ronald Valentino, add cuisine from veteran Chef Rafaelle Di Maio and you’ll understand why this romantic restaurant is a Cabo San Lucas institution. Consider starting with the fine Caesar salad for two, prepared at your table. Known for pastas such as fettuccine verdi primaverda or cappellini d’ angeli (angel hair pasta with cherry tomatoes and garlic), or giving seafood a Mediterranean spin as in lobster with red sauce or brochetta Mediteranea (beef, shrimp, onion and bell pepper on skewer), this versatile restaurant has something to please every palate. Sorrento-born Di Maio, managing chef for both Galeon and Romeo y Julieta, deftly prepares his creations with a Neapolitan touch. Try the gamberoni provenzale (jumbo shrimp in garlic, tomato, wine, and herbs), medaglioni Raffaelle (filet mignon with anchovies, black olives, and red wine), or scallopina al limone (veal piccata). In addition to pasta, Galeon offers many varieties of pizza. Save room for dessert: the irresistible dessert cart has some of the best flan in Cabo and sinful treats that vary daily to accompany your flaming Mexican coffee. Entrees from $8 to $35 U.S. On Marina Boulevard before the turn to Solmar Suites and Playa Grande. Air-conditioned and open daily from 4 to 11 p.m., with seating for 180 and groups up to 250. For reservations, call (624) 143-0443.—C.B. |
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Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico - Last Revision - 19 June 2004