Mariscos Don Pepe Seafood Restaurant

I. The Setting

Mariscos don Pepe is a comfortable and clean place. The dining area has a nautical theme. Tiny lights decorate a fish net hanging from the wall that shields the room from the busy traffic on Fundadores. The restaurant was expanded several years ago and now includes a row of booths along one wall. Linens cover the tables.

Occasionally friendly guitarists visit the restaurant, playing music at a reasonable volume to accompany dinner.

II. The Food and the Service

All meals begin with a plate of delicious ceviche with lots of lime and cilantro in it and a hint of hot chile. It is served with slices of avocado and hard tortillas and crackers. It is without a doubt the best ceviche in town.

The next course is seven sea's soup, a tomato-based broth with chunks of seafood. Most people enjoy it, although those who are turned off by finding easily identifiable octopus in their soup should skip it. Personally, I like it, but given a choice, I would choose the spicer 7 Seas soup served at Mr. Fish.

The food at Mariscos don Pepe is exceptional. Both the filets of fish and shrimp are available in a choice of about 15 different sauces/styles. The filets cost 60 to 70 pesos. I tend to order the al mojo de ajo over and over again; cooked to perfection and smothered in garlic, it can't be beat. I'm also very fond of the filet in salsa de guacamole. The filete oriental is delicious with a light soy sauce flavored with seasme oil and covered in carrots, celery and onions. Not to be forgotten are the delicious whole fish platters. For a lighter meal, try the delicious whole steamed fish smothered in a slightly spicy vegetable sauce; the flavor is fantastic and it is such a large platter you will be unlikely to finish it.

A popular shrimp dish is the Costa Azul shrimp for 90 pesos-large shrimps are wrapped and cooked in bacon strips. The Tampico style crab is good. King crab is topped with Mexican tomato-based sauce and grilled cheese gratinade for only 86 pesos.

There are also several special dinners for two - for 160 pesos you can share a meal of Rockefeller oysters in butter, ranch style octopus, squid steak and breaded shrimp.

Quesadillas are available, as is filet minon and special platters for children.

In addition to the ceviche and soup, meals come with rice, vegetable, green salad, rolls and the complimentary after dinner drink.

The service is always very good at Don Pepe's and most of the waiters (and the owners) speak English. The owners have been in business for a long time and have been present at the restaurant every one of the numerous times our group has visted. Over the years we've visited this restaurant at least two dozen times. When we want to take out of town visitors to Tijuana and they want to eat seafood, there is no question, Don Pepe's is the place to go. Many of our guests have declared it to be the "best restaurant ever."

III. Beverages

Mariscos don Pepe has a full bar; great margaritas (including strawberry and mango) for 25 pesos. Cerveza is cold and a bargain at 14 pesos. No decafe coffee.

IV. Dessert

All meals at Don Pepe's are served with a complimentary after dinner drink - it is a small cold eggnog type drink, made with ice cream and kahula with a sprinkling of nutmeg on top. It is absolutely delicious.

Usually at this point, we are too full for dessert, but if you can't live without it, be sure to "plan ahead" and cut down on the appetizers in order to leave room; there is a full compliment of delicious deserts. In addition to the standard flan with kahula sauce, attractive cakes and pastries are brought by for you to ogle. They are very tempting.

Copyright © Pat Fisher, 1998-02
Re-Reviewed: 6/05/00
email: pfisher@hungryhiker-tj.com