Veintiocho or 28 for ladies lunch.

 Yesterday we  ended up with eight ladies for lunch.  Even though there are fifteen of us who can attend for one reason or another we are usually not a big group these days.  

Yesterday we had an auriga or red truck take us to the restaurant.  The driver wanted us masked up in the back of the open truck.  

Arriving at Vientiocho for lunch.

This is not a large restaurant and since it's on a side street off of Gaviotis there is not much traffic.  We waited a bit for a couple of tables to clear as people moved inside to play poker.  

From the left Marion who has returned from Saskatchewan with husband Fred for another month in Mazatlan.  Jeannette, Ruth and Marilyn. 

Our other Marilyn on the left then Diane and Sandi.  

While we waited to order drinks were served.  I wanted a Mojito but they don't make them here so Pacifico Light it was.  

This is Diane's tuna burger which she was sharing with Ruth.  The meals were exceptionally slow to arrive and at this point we'd been waiting about an hour from the time we ordered.  The waiters were efficient but the kitchen staff not so much.  I'm not sure if this is usual but they said they only had one person cooking.  

This is Marilyn's lunch and .....I don't know what it is!

Marion had tacos.

Ruth was starving by this time and they finally brought out some chips and salsa.

Sandi had salmon with potatoes and veggies.  She said it was a bit cool and the vegetable looked a little sad to me.

Marilyn had a chicken parmigan baguette with fries.  It's upside down because the cheese was on the wrong side.  She said it was good. 

J

Jeannette has shrimp but the coating was very thick. 

Diane and Ruth also shared a tuna sashimi with raw tuna, cucumbers, red onions and peppers in an oriental sauce.

This is my barbecue beef baguette with caramelized onions and cheese.  It was quite gloopy and not very beefy and as well the fries were greasy...not very good.    By the time it arrived it was 2pm and the rest of the group had already finished eating.  Way too slow to deliver 8 meals and the kitchen obviously needed help.  I should also mention that it was a very extensive menu which makes it even more difficult to get the food out with a limited kitchen staff.  There were two other people dining and they also waited more than an hour.  So in the end the meals were mediocre at best and very slow.  Perhaps they were having an off day....it's hard to say.  Not a recommendation for lunch from us.  

Elegant Ladies lunch at Agatha.

Time to head across the street to the bus. Yesterday we were on our way to the Agatha restaurant at the south end of Gaviotis in the Golden Zone. 

Across the dirt meridian to the bus.  Lots of digging to put in new lighting.

Off the bus and heading to the restaurant.

Pam and Helene and don't they look lovely in their dresses!  

Coming up to Agatha.  This is a very classy, upscale restaurant.  We have eaten here before and never been disappointed. 

We decided to have our lunch on the outdoor patio.  A bit noisier than inside but nice and breezy.

Linda, Jeannette and Marilyn perusing the menu.

This is part of the very extensive menu.  Interesting appetizers, seafood, sushi and much more. 

I decided to have a Limonjito which has lime and mint in it.  I would have had a mojito but it wasn't offered. 

Today we were two tables of five and this is Pam, Helene, Diane, Ruth and Bev.

No chips and salsa here.  Three different kinds of in house baked bread with a spice olive, garlic, olive oil tapenade.  Very delicious.  The chef or maitre d came out to explain the ingredients.  Everyone here is dressed professionally and perfectly trained.  None of that matters if the food isn't good but it is here!

Crab cakes were a hit today and Ruth and I shared an order.  Sitting on a salad with a very spicy sauce underneath.  Delicious. 

Jeannette and Marilyn with crab cakes and they ordered sides of fries or baked potatoes. 

Linda had crab cakes and yam fries.

Helene had a tasty risotto.

Bev joined us today and she had a burger.  So large that she cut it in half and took some home. 

Diane had the seared Ahi tuna with couscous and yogurt....yum, yum, yum.  I usually order the tuna but this day decided to try something different.  I may have to come back this winter and have the tuna!

Connie popped in after her game of cards to say hi.  She doesn't join us as she plays cards at Friends on Wednesdays but today she finished up early.

This is the second part of Ruth and I's shared lunch. A delicious sushi roll with tuna, salmon, cream cheese and avocado and this is my half.   I mucked up and ordered crab cakes when I was supposed to order the sushi roll but Ruth straightened it out.  It was also delicious! 

Price wise this is an not what I would call expensive except for the drinks.  A glass of wine is 150 pesos and mixed drinks about the same.  Since the meals are more important than the drinks, especially at lunch it is not a problem.  My lunch including my non alcoholic drink (90 pesos) 1/2 order of crab cakes, 1/2 order of sushi and a small extra shrimp sushi came to 320 pesos and about $24 Canadian with a 20 percent tip.  Very reasonable for excellent food and service.  Oh, by the way the ladies said Agatha also has the most beautiful and clean washroom they have ever seen!!

Next week Veintiocho in the Golden Zone. 

A trip to La Noria with Ian and Linda

 Yesterday we were off to La Noria for lunch.  A few days ago Ian and Linda's landlord Jose had company which included the owner of the now open El Aurileano restaurant in La Noria.  It is a hotel restaurant that has been under complete renovation over the past few years.  I understand that the property has been in the family for a very long time.  I do not know the owners name but when Ian and Linda met him he said  " come up and eat at my restaurant" so we did!

On the road at about 11am and here we are passing the agave fields that are processed into the tequila at the Osuna distillery.  

Gate to the La Martina restaurant where we ate two years ago.  If we weren't on a mission to go to La Noria this is where we would have gone to eat.  Next year! 

Welcome to La Noria!

Hmmm....looks like the cows are on their way home.

All by themselves walking very politely along the edge of the road.  No muss no fuss!

Staying on the sidewalk....how polite!

Coming into town.

The very colorful La Noria sign.

Wow it looks great.  Last time we were here two years ago it was under reconstruction.  

This is the leather shop beside the entrance to restaurant.  The owner died a year ago from covid but it is still open and in full operation.  Perhaps a relative?

This saddle greets you at the door.  Made by the leather shop next door I would guess.

The entrance to the restaurant. 

We started out with Pacifico....what a surprise!  The guys are much happier than they look.

Sitting at a table close to us was the owner who was drinking beer and tequila with his amigos.  He said hi as well as offering us a shot of Osuna tequila.  We declined.

All sorts of little treats before lunch and then....lunch.  We all had carnitas which is cooked pork that is then deep fried.  A little different than we've had before as the last carnitas were pulled porked that was deep fried.  Different here but very tasty along with delicious beans and guacamole.

Us gals!

The ceiling is amazing.   The restaurant is huge and there are rooms all around the top.  Very nicely done.  

A look out the back from the second floor where the rooms are around the perimeter.  We ate on the third floor which is all restaurant. 

Looking down to the ground floor restaurant.  They can seat a lot of people!

The food was very good,  prices very reasonable and the service was excellent.  We started out with a lovely young woman as a waitress but as soon as she realized we couldn't speak Spanish an English speaking waiter was brought in.  He wasn't completely fluent but they has a back up who helped him out.  

Time to hit the road.  We headed out of town.  This was the best I could do for a map and it's not very good.  My map point is old!  We went from home to La Noria and then around to El Recodo came out on highway 15 just north of Villa Union and then north and home.  All paved with some interesting little towns along the way.  Not a pretty drive and not one that we'd do again.  Bass fishing between La Noria in a man made lake with a dam.  

It was a good day but we were all exhausted when we got home.