El Faro de Mazatlan

9542 Blvd. Sánchez Taboada, Zona Rio - Tijuana

I. The Setting

El Faro de Mazatlan is located at the back of a large parking lot, away from busy Sanchez Taboada. The large windows allow daylight to stream in. Even at night the restaurant is quite well lighted. The dining area is attractive, neat and clean. Tables are covered with cloth tablecloths. We were quite pleased to find that the electric piano and the acoustic guitar music was soft and unobtrusive. The women's restroom was a little messy the night we visited, but not dirty. II. The Food and the Service Service was excellent, the waiter seated our large group with aplomb and readily agreed to provide us with separate checks. All meals include "snack," which was marlin served two ways: in sticks, batter coated and fried. It was crispy on the outside, tender and fresh inside and not at all oily. Also included were small smoked fish tostadas. They had a very strong smoky flavor. The snacks were served with crackers - no corn chips here. The fish soup, complimentary with meal, was very tasty and had a ball of fish that looked like a Matzo ball in each bowl. The food here is good and fresh. Somehow I have no complaints, but yet no great desire to return. Return we have, but only when our "other plan" fails. Most recently, I sampled the Baja-Style Shrimp, which was really delicious, cooked with mushrooms and bell pepper. One of the specialties of the house is camarones "Popeye," or fish cooked with a creamy white sauce enriched with spinach. My companion enjoyed it, but I found the sauce to be rather bland and he admitted the Baja-Style Shrimp was tastier. The shrimp salad made an excellent presentation and was large enough that it could not be finished. For 65 pesos, you can have the in season fish - sea bass when we visited - served "pescado Sarandeado," or charcoal broiled, with a special sauce, "al mojo de ajo" (sauteed with garlic butter), veracruz style, or whole fried. We sampled the "pescado Sarandeado," and it was very good. Lobster is available for 169. pesos, broiled in butter, thermidor or ranchera. "Ancas de Rana," or frog legs, are available for 65 pesos - either breaded or sauteed in garlic butter. Oysters rockefeller are 69 pesos. And for the adventuresome, squid in it's ink is served for 65 pesos. There is also New York cut beef or Rib Eye for 83 pesos. Abalone is listed on the menu - as available.

III. Beverages

We were pleased to find a selection of wines from various local wineries, including LA Cetto - Cabernet Sauvignon for 115 pesos or Chenin Blanc for 86 pesos. Our all-time favorite, Monte Zanic - Vina kristal for 169 pesos and Cabernet sauvignon for 359 pesos and our less-than-favorite, Santo Thomas. Margaritas were unimpressive, smaller in size, saltier and less strong than many other establishments'. The strawberry margaritas were very sweet.

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Copyright © Pat Fisher, 1998-02 Reviewed: July, 1998 email: pfisher@hungryhiker-tj.com