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 6 of 7 – Pancho’s Restaurant & Tequila Bar to Sancho Panza Wine Bistro & Nightclub
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Pancho’s Restaurant and Tequila Bar
For a memorable meal to give you a taste of México’s cuisine and hospitality at its finest, visit Pancho’s. Owners John and Mary Bragg serve authentic Mexican food, with special dishes from all over México. There are over 80 menu items, including chicken mole from Puebla, carne asada from Sonora, tamales wrapped in banana leaves from Oaxaca and fresh seafood from Baja. The service is friendly the prices reasonable. Pancho’s chefs hail from Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz, Sonora, Guadalajara, México City, Baja, and Yucatán. The house specialty is tortilla soup with crisp tortilla strips, chicken and avocado, but the Pancho’s Combinación Famosa with a chile relleno, quesadilla, carne asada and chicken enchilada is ideal for a first-timer. The ambience defines “fiesta,” with colorful décor, paper streamers (called papel picado) flying across the semi-outdoor ceiling and Mariachi singing tableside. For tequila aficionados, don’t miss Pancho’s. The tequila collection, at 500 and counting, is the largest in the world and special tastings are offered. Dinner entrées are $9 to $15 U.S. With seating for 150 inside or on the streetside patio, and groups up to 100 (advance notice required), Pancho’s is on the corner of Hidalgo and Zapata in downtown Cabo San Lucas. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., with bargain breakfasts. For reservations, call (624) 143-0973.—A.H.
Peacock’s
Trickling fountains and an outdoor fireplace greet diners entering the open patio at this charming hideaway. White clothed tables with hurricane lanterns add to the romance of dining inside in or out. Here, dining is unhurried and a distinct pleasure, with strong European culinary influences and smooth professional service. A complimentary breadbasket arrives with a bowl of fresh chopped tomatoes in olive oil for dipping while sipping on a flawless martini. We tried the flash sautéed lobster dumplings infused with a mild chipotle chile extract, steamed to perfection. We asked for an old favorite, the baked brie in pecan crust and were rewarded; it was as good as remembered. We were treated to a visit to the extensive international wine “cellar” and allowed to select the wine of our choice. Sharing the green & blue salad topped with the house special Roquefort jalapeño dressing, we then made our way to our entrées. We shared the New Zealand rack of lamb served over a bed of mashed plantain, then mined our way through the contents of the Chile “La Huerta,” an ancho pepper filled with vegetables and cheese, baked in a puff pastry, and served over two delicious Latin cuisine sauces—cilantro and sweet red pepper. Other dishes include a variety of pastas, fish, fowl, and beef. Our finale was the recommended dessert crepes spiraled with chocolate syrup. Peacock’s is undoubtedly one of the big secrets in Cabo for a superb dining experience. Entrées range from $19 to $35 U.S. for the award winning creation of Shrimp “Sin Fronteras” (without borders). Open 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. with seating for 180, find Peacocks on Paseo del Pescador, next to the Meliá San Lucas Hotel. Major credit cards accepted; minimum charge is $80 U.S. For reservations, call (624) 143-1858.—S.B.
Pitahayas
Under one of the most beautiful palapas in Baja, part of the kitchen is open to the spacious dining area. We arrived in time for sunset and lingered for the rise of a full moon. At our ocean-side candlelit table, we reveled in a most delicious and intoxicating dining experience. The dishes arrive and you gaze into a work of art. No wonder they call Pitahayas the place for lovers of food and wine. It’s where you eat art, no matter what you order, whether it be the entrée, dessert, or the sampling menu, a five-course selection including wines at $80 U.S. Featuring a fusion of seductive Pacific Rim flavors, for starters, my dining companions and I shared a combination basket of Chinese pot stickers filled with chicken, pork, and shrimp with coconut sauce, and large shrimp covered in coconut served with a chipotle sweet and sour sauce. The chef’s special appetizer was a soft-shell crab lightly battered served over cucumber “noodles.” An array of baked breads makes even dieters look the other way. With all the remarkable-sounding dishes, live Maine lobster is still considered their most exotic dish. Pitahayas (cactus fruit) opened in May 1995 bringing new and innovative cuisine to Los Cabos. Since 1999, Pitahayas has won the prestigious Five Star Diamond Award each year, the first to garner this elite award in Los Cabos. We indulged in an array of decadent desserts—a chocolate shell filled with coconut sherbet, crispy almond rolls filled with chocolate mousse, caramelized banana, and plum compote, and a Chocolate Napoleon—chocolate squares layered with vanilla mousse and roasted macadamia nuts, laced with a sauce of Grand Marnier. Coffee came with crystallized sugar on a stick for stirring, a delightful touch. At the Hacienda del Mar Resort in Cabo del Sol, Pitahayas is open for dinner from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. nightly. With seating for 300, and up to parties of eight in the famed Santiago wine cellar. Reservations are suggested, call (624) 145-8010—S.B.
Puerta Vieja Restaurant and Bar
The view from Puerta Vieja, just outside Cabo San Lucas, is the stuff of postcards. Sit at any table, either upstairs or down, and the liberal view takes your eyes to the bay and there it is… The Arch. The interior, with its cream-colored walls, windows forever, tiled floors, funky Mexican artifacts and rustic wood accents feels… romantic. The tables are spaced far apart, with lots of room to move, like you are on your own island. Perfect for dates! The menu hops between Mexican tastes and American flavors, but the focus is clearly on seafood. Lobster and shrimps can be paired with filets, t-bones, rib eyes and New Yorks. You may want to start with the lobster chowder, which is served in a rounded bread loaf. The specialty of the house more than defines “surf and turf,” with three lamb chops, three jumbo shrimp, and a lobster tail. The excellent service is “soft swarm style” in that you never know where the waiters are until they bring you just what you were thinking about. Puerta Vieja is also ideal for groups and events. A well-priced wine list adds to the appeal, along with live music Thursday to Sunday from 8 to 11 p.m., and a private dining room for 12 and an upper level bar and terrace for parties of up to 150 people. Dinner entrées from $21 to $30 U.S., with seating for 95 and groups up to 120. Open 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily. At Kilometer 6.3, next to Cabo Bello in the Tourist Corridor, for reservations, call (624) 104-3334.—B.F.
Romeo y Julieta Ristorante Italiano
If anyone asks, “What’s for dinner?” suggest pizza at Romeo y Julieta. The white tiled outdoor patio with cooling ceiling fans is popular with families, especially for children to watch the pizza maker. The colors of Italy are resplendent on the green and white checked cloths topped with white squares, red napkins, and comfortable green chair cushions. Music drifts from the air-conditioned dining room. Just when you thought it was all about pizza, the menu lists a myriad of pasta dishes and even calzone. A special menu for two features Caesar salad, Scaloppina Sorrentina, and three pastas, including cannelloni, spaghetti al pesto, Fettuccini Alfredo, plus dessert, coffee or tea for $36 U.S. The tableside Caesar salad would make Caesar Cardini, the originator in Tijuana back in 1924, very proud. A popular dish is the Ravioli Al Forno, with a choice of tomato or crème sauce. For the light eater, the antipasto salad bar may be sufficient with marinated hearts of palm, artichokes, mushrooms, olives, sliced tomatoes topped with Mozzarella cheese, potato salad, roasted eggplant, green and red peppers, and fried cauliflower. Or start with that and go for the fresh fish of the day baked with lemon, capers, butter, and garlic and feel perfectly legal. More daring dishes include the combo featuring beef medallions, mushrooms, and shrimp, or the chicken Parmesan or Cacciatore. For dessert, try the warm apple tart a la mode, or any of the gelatos, or indulge in a sinful chocolate cake or chocolate flan. Pastas are $10 U.S. or less with entrées from $8 to $20 U.S. At Camino del Cerro and Boulevard Marina, with seating for 100. Air-conditioned inside and open daily from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., for reservations, call (624) 143-0225.—S.B.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Ruth’s Chris’ December 2001 opening was a smashing success, an expert display of tight teamwork that remains consistent to this day. The location, especially the marina-side terrace seating, is first class, the service prompt, and the ambiance upscale and sophisticated. The steaks—what Ruth’s Chris is all about as America’s premium steak house—are without a doubt some of the finest in Los Cabos. Why so good? Quality control, discipline, high quality imported ingredients and more quality control. The grain-fed beef is imported from Chicago, then cooked at 1600 degrees F. and served to you on a plate so sizzlin’ you could still fry an egg at your table. The appetizers and salads are all Ruth Chris fare, so anyone familiar with the chain will know what they are getting. My tuna appetizer was done seared, exactly as I asked. The beef is incredible, tender and juicy; for me, the petit cut was plenty. The desserts are wonderfully rich and satisfying—the crème brulée scores full marks. With their tight service, dependable food, and upscale ambience, Ruth’s Chris should be on anyone’s list for a major steak craving. Entrées from $32 to $42 U.S. With seating for 180, Ruth’s is perfect for a corporate or family event. At Puerto Paraiso on the marina with plenty of free parking, open daily from 1 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., for reservations, call 144-3232 or 144-3233.—S.L.
Sancho Panza Wine Bistro & Nightclub
Sancho Panza is unlike anything else in Cabo. Owners Ron Kleist and his wife, Janett, have developed a strong following among both locals and returning tourists for nine years. Mediterranean bistro-style food with a Latin touch along with a constantly changing wine list, a “full” bar, some of the best martinis around, and a good cigar selection make this a great place to have a good time. When you combine that with nightly live jazz, it doesn’t get any better. On hand are at least five whites and reds by the glass and a constantly changing wine selection. I love wine, but I also love good food, and theirs brings me back time after time. We started with the Surf and Turf Kebabs, one each of beef, chicken and shrimp on rosemary skewers with a Dijon-lemon sauce—excellent with the Hogue chardonnay. We ordered the Latin American pork loin over gratin spinach and Panza’s Bistro chicken. Both were tender and juicy and the flavors were spectacular. Savoring the dinner while we listened to live jazz, each tasting three different wines, made it a night to remember. Sancho Panza is behind the lighthouse at Costa Real Cabo Resort. Entrées are $17.50 to $120 U.S. Open from 4 to 11 p.m. daily (kitchen closes at 10), with seating for 75, including the bar and patio. Reservations recommended; call (624) 143-3212.—G.L.
Dining Article and Restaurant Reviews
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