Reyna's for ladies lunch.

 

So, round two as yesterday's blog did not post correctly and all my text was lost. On Tuesday we were back down in Centro and this time at another new restaurant for the group.  Reyna's bar and grill which was a suggestion from Diane.  Two blocks west of the Plazauela on the north side so...an easy walk from the bus. 

   

As we walked down Constitucion I saw this bike parked on the road.  As Eric is a motorcycle guy I took a picture.  A customized Honda with a Corbin seat.  Very nicely done and Corbin seats are expensive.  Farther along there were two more older bikes but not picture worthy.  One was an old Vento in pretty sad condition.  

Pretty quiet in the Plaza on Tuesday but they were setting up booths to sell beer during Carnival.  Carnival starts today which is Thursday and the bulk of the events will run until Tuesday.  Hugely busy downtown and we'll all stay out in our neck of the woods.  

Well look who was sitting on a park bench.  Marion and her friend Gloria.  Having a relax before heading down to Reyna's for lunch with us. 

Sandi, Mary and Marilyn stopping for a gab along the way.  Sandi and Marilyn looked quite lovely on Tuesday for lunch. 

One of the many large Carnival statues.  They line the whole Malecon where the parade is held.  Very impressive. 

The rather inconspicuous sign for Reyna's.  If you didn't peek inside you wouldn't even know it was there. 

Marion, Gloria, Mary, Yolan and Ruth sitting in the sunshine.  Too hot there for me but Ruth loves the sun on her. 

No one here but us.  Cool and quiet just the way we like it. 

Margarita's for Marilyn and Sandi...not very big but very good. We sat at a table beside the rest of the group.

I had my usual Pinada and it was a good one too.  The waiter spoke good English and he was also the bartender.  Good service and no problem with separate checks. 

Both Sandi and Marilyn ordered the Reyna's salad with dressing on the side.  Chicken on the top and much like a Chef's salad.  Very good. 

A plate of onion rings at the other table.  Very large rings but greasy...however they all disappeared!

Marion and her friend Gloria shared a stuffed blue cheese burger.  Served on bread which is all right for me as the hamburger buns always have too much bread. 

Fish and chips which Ruth thought had too much batter and were greasy.  She said the fries were cold but her friend Yolan liked it.  Can't please everyone I guess. 

I ordered a bacon burger and it was good.  The meat was a bit coarse but tasty.  Unfortunately my stomach didn't like it very much and it had me up and down all that night.  Just me I think.  I couldn't finish all the bread but I did eat all the good stuff and half the fries.  

So...all in all pretty positive reviews.  Good service, reasonable prices and a nice relaxing place for lunch.  Next week we'll stick close to home as there will be a huge influx of tourists for Carnival.  It always stays pretty quiet on the north end of town in Cerritos.  

Lunch was done and we we all wandered off.  Ruth and Yolan had come down in Ruth's car...brave woman and she was parked right next door.  Mary went with them and Yolan dropped here off after she picked up her car at Ruth's place.  Marilyn had things to do and Sandi was going to go with her. Marion and Gloria were off to find flowers and I was heading home.  In the end Sandi came with me and then Marion and Gloria got on the bus and we were all off home.  

Angelina's Kitchen for ladies lunch.

 Over the years one of our favorite lunch venues has been Angelina's kitchen so on Tuesday we made our way there. I hadn't made a reservation as I'd forgotten they are closed on Mondays and didn't open until noon on Tuesday.  As the restaurant is a bit out of the way it isn't usually packed at lunch time. Everyone made their own way there.  I'd had some things to do before lunch so I set off on my own.  I dropped off papers at my cardiologist's office at Polymedica and then walked back to catch the bus to centro.  Next stop was the shoemaker where I was picking up my Blundstone boots that I'd taken in for resoling.  When I got on the bus Marion, Linda and Marilyn were on it....funny coincidence.  We got off by Edgars bar and I went left and they went right.  My boots were ready and they looked great.  The soles had disintegrated and replacing them would be about $250.  Resoling in Canada $100 plus shipping.  In Mazatlan...400 pesos or $32.  I gave him 500 pesos. Pictures of the boots at the end of the blog. BTW....they should never have disintegrated!!

I caught up with Marion, Marilyn and Linda on Sixto de Osuna. 

So many beautiful planters as we walked along.  It's lovely and quiet here away from the bustle of the market and the main square. 

Up ahead Angelina's kitchen.  Here it's only a block or two from the Malecon.  In the early years the green bus that takes us to Cerritos used to come out this way.  Not now and you have a long walk to catch a bus.  

We seated ourselves at two tables and there was only us in the restaurant.  That's Mary at our table.  I greeted the waiter with" You're still here!"  He's a very efficient guy who has no problem with our individual checks. 

There's Helene arriving for lunch.  She and Hal rent about 10 minutes from the restaurant.  It's always lovely to see her.  Next week she and Hal are off on a bus trip to Guanajuato city in the state of Guanajuato.  It's elevation is about the same as New Mexico where Hal and Helene live. A nice little getaway.  

I like the Pinada's here. 

The ladies Marilyn, Mary, Linda and I at one table and Cathy, Diane, Marion, Mar, Helene, Ruth and Sandi at the other table. 

Cathy, Diane and Marion. 

Helene, Ruth and Sandi. 

Up behind us the hardworking kitchen staff. 

The bar. 

I just about always order the wonderful fish tacos but I'd always thought I should try the poblano pepper stuffed with shrimp, corn, nuts and rice on a bed of creamy rice and served with zoodles or zucchini noodles with carrots.  It was all okay but next time I'll stick to fish tacos!

Linda, Marilyn and Mary all ordered the shrimp tacos.  Delicious and artfully presented. 

Marilyn had a margarita with hers'. 

Manzanera or apple salad for Mar. With lettuce, goat cheese etc. Very good.

Mar is the " Queen of the Margarita's!"  She says they make a good one here....this is number two!!

Helene and Marion each had the Portabello burger where the bun is the mushroom....good!

Sandi and Cathy shared the salad and shrimp tacos.

Ruth and Diane were going to share the beet tower but in the end had to order two.  Ruth is allergic to pecans and she forgot to order them on the side.  Very tasty but not as beautiful as a few years ago. 

Diane got the one with the pecans and Ruth the one without.

Look at how colorful the shrimp tacos are....and delicious too!

Ruth's beet tower.

A selfie of Helene and I.  We've known each other since 2009 when we became neighbors  in the Las Jaibas RV park. A truly lovely lady ....inside and out. 

A very enjoyable lunch as always at Angelina's kitchen and a favorite for all of us.  

Sandi and Mary had come in a Didi and they went home in one.  The rest of us wandered off in different directions.  Linda and I wound our way back to the market so I could could get some thread at the fabric store and then catch the bus home.  I learned a new word...hilo or eelow...thread!

These three dogs were sitting in a group like statues.  I moved out around them and Linda walked through.  They never moved a muscle even when she talked to them.  

The streets are narrow, quiet, tree lined with beautiful old buildings and plants are everywhere.  So very peaceful. 

Diane ate here last week and suggested it for ladies lunch so...that's where we'll go.  Another new adventure in eating.

Below my boots. 

 These are my favorite boots and they are at least 25 years old...just like new.