Restaurant and Dining Article continued.
Los Cabos Magazine article – Issue #10 – January 2006.
To bring you the latest take, follow Sandra Berry, Carol Billups, Bradley Fraser, Ann Hazard, George Landrum, and Sabrina Lear as they explore this season’s top tables around Los Cabos.
Section 4 of 7 – La Dolce Ristorantes to Mango Deck
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La Dolce Ristorantes – La Dolce Cabo San Lucas – La Dolce San Jose del Cabo
The La Dolce restaurants in Los Cabos are Italian-owned, the food authentic. From pizzas to pastas to seafood and steaks, these two restaurants are hard to beat. Tourists have La Dolce on their dining list, but they’re a favorite of locals, too. At the Cabo San Lucas location, it’s easy to transport yourself to Little Italy with its indoor-outdoor, romantic rustic atmosphere, red roof tiles showing through the peaked roof, and lots of red brick. It’s charming and relaxed, with couples sharing looks over glasses of Chianti and groups of fishermen trading the day’s fish stories, sometimes glancing at the sports TV. Small and intimate, it’s usually packed to the brim with a lineup. The downtown San José del Cabo location fronts the historic church and plaza where diners sit al fresco under a canopy of trees, or inside a late 19th-century government-protected historic hacienda. Both restaurants share a simple, but inspired menu. A nice starter is the Carpaccio Di Carni, enough to share, or the specialty Antipasto Italiano, an offering of assorted meats and cheeses. A favorite is the Insalata Venezia with mozzarella, hearts of palm and corn kernels with a hint of pungent basil. There is always a special entrée created by the chef, usually featuring pasta and shrimp, but the menu beckons to peruse the long list of wood-fired thin crust pizzas with an array of toppings, like the classic Margharita or one named after the owner’s daughter. Fresh homemade pasta dishes are tempting, especially the Gorgonzola stuffed tortellini, or the spinach and ricotta cannelloni or raviolis, served with a choice of sauces. The Italian favorite, Tiramisú, tops the dessert list, but try an American favorite Italian-style: a thin tart-like apple pie with lattice pastry a la mode. Try one of the coffees with a choice of brandy, Amaretto, caramel, or Damiana. Entrées from $8.50 to $19 U.S. La Dolce Cabo, at Hidalgo and Zapata, with seating for 100, is open daily from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Call (624) 143-4122. La Dolce San José, at Plaza Mijares, is open from 1 p.m. until 11 p.m. and closed Monday, with seating for 120; call (624) 142-6621 or 6622.—S.B.
La Golondrina Restaurant
Arrive hungry! Heaping platters of delectable fresh seafood, home-style Mexican dishes, pasta, steaks, chicken, stir-fry, and combination plates will seize your appetite like a thunderclap. On possibly the oldest property in Cabo San Lucas, in 1896, La Golondrina (the swallow) was known as the first trading post. Since 1992, its been known for great food and a romantic, garden atmosphere with giant trees swathed in twinkling lights and “farolas,” those charmingly-lit hanging baskets. People from all over the world come for the ambiance, the food, the drinks, and the attentive service. Tall fruity piña coladas and nine different margaritas top the drink list. The kitchen and bar open to the garden, with outdoor seating for 350 and room for groups up to 500. No one will be disappointed in the incredible selection on the huge walk-up menu board—trying to decide may be a problem! Lobster is a mainstay and can be combined with almost any other entrée. The seafood combo for two has generous portions of shrimp, fish, breaded oysters, and crab, while steaks are king of the grill. Most shrimp and fish dishes come with a choice of wickedly rich sauces, or try a little of each: the Diablo, tantalizingly spicy; the Dynamite, a favorite with green onions, mushrooms, and parmesan cheese; and the Wow, a sweet and sour sauce. The big butterflied coconut shrimp is a winner, served with a mango sauce. Few places serve frog legs; this is one of the best, either breaded, or sautéed with lemon, butter, and garlic. The parmesan-crusted sea bass is to die for. Light appetites will appreciate the separate board of salads and smaller entrées. Just when you thought you couldn’t eat another bite, along comes the dessert tray. Share a piece with a special coffee and go home happy. On Paseo del Pescador, next to City Club. Open daily 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., reservations are strongly suggested, call (624) 143-0542.—S.B.
Lan’s Cabo Restaurant
This is not Jimmy Ma’s first restaurant, with two Lan’s in Chicago, and locations in Bangkok and Seoul. Son Tony La is Lan’s Cabo manager, and what makes it special is Chef Alegundo Sanchez, head chef in Chicago for 27 years. Wow, can he whip up a great meal! Amazing home made egg rolls, sea bass kara yaki, tuna tataki, and sashimi are on the menu and that’s just for starters, along with soups—the hot and sour with Shiitake is my favorite. This time around we had spicy Yu Xiang pork with a sweet and sour garlic sauce, Moo Shu chicken with lettuce wrap, crunchy orange chicken with orange sauce and the chef’s special “Cooper Shrimp” named after a client. Other main courses include Peking duck, Hong Kong basil shrimp (excellent!), Japanese Kobe beef as well as Osaka curry chicken, Szechwan spicy beef with vegetables and of course, steamed whole red snapper. An excellent selection of veggie and noodle dishes, too, perfect for vegetarians. And, Pad Thai, my favorite! Next time, I’ll try the “Chef’s Table” billed as “…the ultimate in culinary ecstasy.” Lan’s Cabo has a good wine list and makes some of the best martinis in Cabo. Expect an automatic 15% service charge for parties of eight or more. Entrées are in the $10 U.S. range, with the Chef’s Table $75 each (two person minimum, reservations required), and the snapper and Kobe beef at market price. Lan’s is MSG free except for the soups. Open daily from 1 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. (kitchen closes at 10), with seating for 75, air-conditioning, and outdoor balcony seating. On Boulevard Marina inside Plaza Bonita, behind Hard Rock Cafe, upstairs. Reservations suggested, call (624) 143-8828.—G.L.
La Panga Antigua
Step inside and you’re instantly transported to colonial México, but with a very contemporary twist. La Panga Antigua, operated by award-winning Managing Partner-Chef, Jacobo Turquie, is a five-star restaurant serving contemporary Mexican cuisine and the freshest seafood prepared in innovative and exciting ways. The architecture and décor blends historic brick walls and arches, antiques, and folk art with contemporary colors and furnishings. The open kitchen is viewed from the garden courtyards. Enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner on an intimate garden terrace, with fountains tinkling in the background. Expect to be pampered by your waiter as you start with the mussels, perhaps followed by a delicious organic spinach salad. For your entrée, choose from the house specialty, huachinango (red snapper) with a light basil and tomato sauce, or try the equally wonderful pork Porterhouse steak on a bed of potatoes and spinach. For dessert, do not miss the chocolate tamal—it is beyond description. Lunch is prix fixe (fixed price) at $15 U.S. and three choices of soup/salad, entrée and dessert are included. Dinner entrées range from $18 to $36 U.S., with lobster at market prices. A full wine cellar features a wide assortment of excellent Latin American and California wines. Open from 12 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily, with seating for 70, and groups up to 100; with a private air-conditioned dining salon for parties up to 28. At Zaragoza 20, across from the church in San José del Cabo. Reservations recommended, call (624) 142-4041—A.H.
Lorenzillo’s
With its nautical theme, waterfront views, superbly fresh seafood, and brass and wood trappings, no imagination is needed to know that Lorenzillo’s is a seafood restaurant. Blue and white cloths cover the tables, and attentive waiters wear blue and white t-shirts, adding to the seafaring décor. Named after the fabled 1800s pirate who roamed the Caribbean, restaurateur Salvador Vidal opened the first Lorenzillo’s in 1979 in Cancun to avoid repeating history. Apparently, Lorenzillo was so dissatisfied by the food in Vera Cruz that he plundered and pillaged the city. In 2003, Lorenzillo’s opened in Cabo San Lucas, receiving the Five Star Diamond Award in 2004. Lobsters are the star attraction here, served in bisque, carpaccio, tacos, salads, and whole, either steamed, grilled, stuffed, thermidor, or bathed in a myriad of sauces. Choose your own swimming in the dinghy just inside the door. Specialty appetizers include fresh king crab legs, stone crabs, crawfish, or shrimp, prepared to your liking. Soft shell crab, a favorite, comes lightly battered and sautéed served with crispy fried garlic in olive oil. Try the shredded spinach salad, piled high with round balls of cream cheese and tomato petals. Dine in air-conditioning or on the marina view deck, while imbibing international wines, savoring delicious food, and indulging in a decadent dessert. Don’t leave without trying the Martinique, chocolate and vanilla shaped shells with a dollop of vanilla ice cream, swirled with chocolate fudge sauce. Families with children are welcome. Entrées from $17 to $35 U.S., with lobster at market prices. Above UltraFemme on Boulevard Marina, with seating for 220. Open daily from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Reservations suggested, call (624) 105-0212 to 105-0214.—S.B.
Los Garcia Restaurante
An instant hit—and for very good reasons—this new restaurant and tequila bar on the marina at Puerto Paraiso has everything going for it. Friendly enthusiastic staff, exceptional food, a great location, and wonderful ambience all await you at Los Garcia. Add first rate live entertainment, over 200 varieties of tequila, and a special open show kitchen for cooking classes and you have a combination that’s hard to match. Start with owner Imelda Garcia’s favorite, Sopa de la Milpa, a corn-based soup with sautéed shredded shrimp, before moving on to the Tamalitos Oaxaqueños, tamales with chicken in mole sauce, wrapped in banana leaves. For something light, the Los Garcia salad combines mixed greens with jicama, pineapple, and tortilla croutons tossed in a mango and guajillo chile vinaigrette. Entrées include red snapper with a pine nut and cilantro crust and traditional Veracruz salsa, cheese-stuffed shrimp in filo pastry with chipotle tequila sauce, and a juicy grilled New York steak with scallions and roasted panela cheese. Whether it’s just the two of you or a corporate group event, Los Garcia is sure to provide a memorable experience. With seating for 120 and groups up to 180, Los Garcia is open daily 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. For reservations, or to plan your next event, call (624) 143-4601 or 4602.—S.L.
Mango Deck
Come for the prime location on Médano Beach, billed as “Cabo’s craziest,” and “the” place to see, be seen, and make new friends. Come for the all day happy hour from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., with 2 for 1 on all national drinks and beers. Come for the great food, but most of all, come for the nonstop party. In the afternoons, catch Mr. Big Johnson as he dispenses tequila shots in all sorts of creative ways. There are drink specials daily, contests, a DJ, and plenty of music. Every night is a fiesta. The meals are affordable and the wait staff is entertaining and efficient. The busier it gets, the more fun it is. The house specialty is the Make Your Own Combo. For $20, choose any two from lobster, shrimp, fish filet, steak, chicken and ribs. Another favorite is the Steak Molcajete, which is a rich soup with either red or green sauce served artfully in a large stone bowl with Mexican vegetables. It can easily serve two. Plop down on a chaise lounge right at the water’s edge and eat with your toes in the water. Or dine at a table in the sand or up the deck. The Mexican breakfasts are bountiful and delicious. On Sundays, a brunch buffet serves fresh tropical fruits, salads, burgers, steak, and chicken right off the grill. Dinner entrées from $13 to $20 U.S. At the foot of Paseo del Pescador on Médano Beach, open 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. daily ,with seating for 260 and groups up to 300. For reservations, call (624) 143-0901.—A.H.
Dining Article and Restaurant Reviews
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