Tag: Restaurant Reviews

Palma negra Beach Restaurant

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Food & DiningLeave a comment

Our go-to restaurant for the best coconut shrimp on the Costalegre, Palma negra Beach Restaurant is one you have to try in you’re in the Melaque/Barra area. Located on Coco Beach, on the far side of the Grand Bay Resort’s golf course, this hideaway beach restaurant is worth the trip (take the Isla de Navidad/Colimilla road off Hwy 80.

On this occasion we went with a group of ten and everyone ordered something different, mostly indulging in the Thai side of the menu. In our opinion, Maria has some of the best Thai dishes around…pad Thai and assorted curry dishes like mussels in coconut curry sauce and chicken in red curry. She also offers fresh-made appetizers such as spring rolls in rice paper with peanut sauce, guacamole, and of course coconut shrimp.

One of the group raved about the fish tacos and I enjoyed the bacon cheeseburger. Another had the Caesar salad with about a half pound of plump shrimp. Others enjoyed their curried dishes, soup and salads. They also serve a large variety of beverages and cocktails.

Palma negra is a family run business that now rents out a beach bungalow that includes breakfast. They also have a lazy river pool and direct beach access, with a nearby site for turtle releases. It’s best to call ahead or email for reservations since they sometimes have entertainment that draws large crowds, and they close one day a week.

Our group rated Palma negra Beach from 7 to 10 out of 10, with a least a handful of 10’s.

Melaque/Barra Restaurants – Part 2

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book Reviews, Food & DiningLeave a comment

For Part 2 of this years list of area restaurants, Cathryn and I and some friends have visited the following restaurants in the past month. I’ve attached links for additional information, and as always, opinions are solely ours. One thing we’ve noticed this season, and it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone else, is that prices have gone up substantially.

Bistro Escondido – This hideaway has been around as long as we’ve been coming to Melaque, in one form or another. Cathryn and I actually stayed in the upstairs apartment for a few years. The cozy restaurant is off the beaten path, under a shady palapa, poolside. The menu is limited with what have come to be favorites of patrons who return regularly. Try the black & blue burger, fish & chips, or the assorted tapas. Sunday brunch is also popular, with an artisan market and music.

La Palma Negra – Definitely off the beaten path, on Coco Beach on the far side of Barra, Cathryn and I have voted this little place the best for coconut shrimp. Plump, fresh, and delicious. I once tackled one of their giant burgers and still have the stretch marks to prove it. Guacamole, ceviche, nachos, octopus…it’s all good. They have entertainment and you can even stay in a little beach hut beside a lazy river and pool. There are also turtle releases next door.

Chavakia – One of my occasional go-to places on my morning walks, this quiet spot offers one of the heathiest menus I’ve seen yet. Fresh fruit juices and smoothies, granola and yogurt, salads, and pancakes, waffles or French toast for those with a sweet tooth. They also offer plenty of other breakfast items like eggs benny, divorced eggs and omelets. Prices are very reasonable.

Moon – Offering the best view in Melaque, this restaurant should be packed every night. On the top floor of the new Casa Leon building at the west end of town, Moon was originally touted as upscale, a place where you could put on your Sunday go to meeting clothes for a night out. They still offer a selection of good steaks but have resorted to 2 for 1 specials to bring in diners. We did the burger night and were not impressed. Giving them another chance, we went with a group of 8 for dinner, having filets and rib eyes, ribs, fish n chips and pasta. Everyone was pretty happy with their meals.

Los Cocos – We happened on this beach restaurant by chance when Las Hamacas was filled up for a Bandidos performance. Located next door, we could hear the music and still carry on a conversation. We only had a light lunch there, a burrito, nachos, and a clubhouse. All were good portions and better than expected. the dinner menu looked good and they were prepping sections of pork for the barbeque that evening.

La Chinita – Chinese food in Mexico? Sure, why not, for a change? Li Xie, a little Chinese firecracker, owns and runs the restaurant, cooking most of the home made specialties herself. Fresh spring and egg rolls, meat and veggie dishes, assorted rice and great wonton soup with juicy and plump noodles. The restaurant is on the highway, across from Pemex and not the best of locations but the food makes up for it. They also deliver.

Colimilla – There’s a group of 5 restaurants – Mary’s, Lilly’s, Fortinos, Colimlla, and one other I can’t think of at the moment. To me they’re all about the same – waterfront eateries offering the same fare, mostly seafood and Mexican dishes, with some specialties. The quickest way to reach any of these places is to hop on one of their water taxi’s that will take you across the bay, behind the Grand Bay Resort, which borders the town of Colimilla. You can also drive around, taking the road to Isla de Navidad off the highway, just east of Barra.

Pechacane – Arguably the best pizza in Melaque or Barra, depending on whether or not you like normal or thin crust pizza. Cathryn and I liked this place before but now they have a new chef and expanded menu that includes lasagna’s, pastas, and even fish n chips. Our friend had the lasagna, a portion large enough for 2. The noodles were light and fluffy, the Bolognese meat sauce extraordinary – probably because it’s the chef’s grandmother’s recipe. She was from Bologna, Italy. Our pizzas were great.

Titos/Livys – There’s not much of a Facebook page but anyone who’s spent any time in Melaque knows about Titos, or now Livy’s next door. There is always some kind of entertainment at one of these beach bars, and being next door to each other gives patrons room to spread out and enjoy the music or food at either establishment. Tito is known for his 2 for 1 drinks and strong margaritas. We’ve been hit and miss on the food but most times the pub grub is pretty good. We do miss the pizza ovens.

Chantli Mare – If you want to go for a little drive, perhaps to visit the crocodiles in La Manzanilla, continue along the beach road for a couple miles and watch for the sign and gate to Chantli Mare. It’s a beach restaurant and more, offering seaside rooms for the night. The cuisine is French/Vietnamese/Mexican fusion with all the usual entrees plus some unique surprises. There is a bar, pool, patio and beach tables, and probably the nicest banos on the beach.

There are plenty more good places to eat in the Melaque/Barra area so don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and try some of these places. Buen provecho!

Moon – Tapas Bar & Restaurant

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Food & DiningLeave a comment

In my opinion, the Moon Restaurant in Melaque is still trying to find its niche. The name alone is misleading since there are no tapas to be had there. Considered upscale by those in town who visit the rooftop restaurant above the Casa Leon with the best view on the bay, they’ve taken to offering 2 for 1 nights by offering burgers, ribs and shrimp.

Our first visit this season was to try the cheap burger night. It was too crowded and ingredients on the burgers were scaled down to make up for the discount. Mine had an uncooked piece of bacon about the size of a postage stamp. Called the American burger there was only a light sprinkling of white cheese instead of cheddar. On the flip side, friends went for rib night and came away happy campers.

To be fair, we returned to the Moon last night with a group of eight. We lucked out and were served by Ricardo, in my opinion the classiest waiter in Melaque. Two orders of tuna tartar were shared by the table and the consensus was it was too salty and limey. We ordered ribs, filets, ribeye’s, fish ‘n chips, and the blush fettucine with shrimp for our entrees.

The ribs were fall off the bone, juicy and meaty. The filets were huge and cooked perfectly. There were no complaints from the two rib eye eaters. The fish was lightly battered and served with home cut fries. My pasta was tasty but just slightly overcooked, leaving the sauce a bit dry. There was enough of the filets left over for doggy bags.

No one was up for dessert but there was a birthday boy among us who received a complimentary piece of red velvet cake, topped by a sparkler and song to boot. So, if you just want to stuff your face for a good price, try one of the 2 for 1 nights. But if you want a good meal go on a week night when it is quieter and the full menu is available.

As a group, we rated the Moon an 8 out of 10.

The Pepper Cat Restaurant

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Food & DiningLeave a comment

We finally made it to the Pepper Cat Restaurant in Amherstburg and it was well worth the long trek from Windsor. Formerly the Beacon Ale House, you have to try this new restaurant. It’s advertised as upscale dining but the prices were not ridiculous.

Our visit was in the late afternoon for kind of a late lunch or early dinner so we decided to sample their appetizer menu. We leaned heavy on seafood with the mussels, done in a white wine and garlic sauce – with lots of juice that was great to soak up with their focaccia bread – perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

We ordered everything at once for a real smorgasbord – escargot that came with perfectly melted and gooey cheese on top. And their crab cakes, a decent size and lightly breaded. A special treat was the grilled octopus, something that is normally difficult to cook, but it was done perfectly – tender inside and char-grilled on the outside.

The spread filled up three of us and was all washed down with local craft beers that they have on tap. We had a gift card that halved our bill but found their appie prices were in line with other restaurants, and the portions were sizeable. The size of the octopus leg had us wondering how big the monster was before we ate it.

We had a friend in from Cambodia who loves seafood, and he was delighted by the food and liquid sampling. The chairs were super comfortable and the service was great. The chef even visited our table at our request. Cathryn and I highly recommend the Pepper Cat and rate it a 10 out of 10.

Pomegranate Restaurant

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Food & DiningLeave a comment

It’s been too many years since I’ve visited the Pomegranate Restaurant in Windsor, and after eating there tonight, I’m disappointed I didn’t return sooner. The ‘Pomo’, as we used to call it, is still a family-run business serving excellent Chinese food to long time loyal customers. Take out business was brisk while Cathryn and I were there, with many obviously picking up dinner to bring home.

Back in the day, when I worked for a living, we took our lunch hours and completed reports in the back corner of the dining room. And on occasion, I’d loose money while playing cards with the staff after hours – all in fun, of course, since everyone is family there. It was nice to see some familiar faces and hear that Chef Henry was still in the kitchen, serving great food.

As with most Chinese restaurants, the menu is huge, but the wait staff is more than happy to help with your selection and very responsive to fine tuning your order. The wonton soup was hearty and served piping hot. The pork spring rolls were crispy, with a filling that reminded me of the inside of a tortiere. We had two each but wanted more.

Our two main dishes consisted of house special egg foo young and stir-fried veggies with all the goodies you can think of. And to top it off, besides the traditional fortune cookies, they gave us extra almond cookies. I forgot how addictive they are. The service was fast and friendly and prices are reasonable. Cathryn and I both give the Pomegranate a 9 out of 10, since nobody is perfect 🙂

West Street Willy’s Eatery – Goderich

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Food & DiningLeave a comment

Eating dinner and finding a good restaurant while travelling can be a challenge, but thankfully the internet and sites with reviews like Trip Advisor, take away some of the guesswork. If you’re old school, like Cathryn and I, you talk to real people who live in the area and ask them for recommendations or advice.

This type of interpersonal communication paid off for us while dining at the Part II Bistro in Downtown Goderich. We asked our waiter, who was local, to recommend something in the area that was a good place for breakfast. He suggested West Street Willy’s, that was only a hop, skip and a jump away, just off the town square. We’d read great dinner reviews for the restaurant but it was closed that night.

Taking the advice we’d received, we stopped for breakfast at Willy’s before heading further north. The patio out front looked inviting but the weather was a tad cool that morning, and it was that time of season for those pesky bees.

The interior décor was nothing fancy, kind of a cross between small town diner and a cozy dining room in a country home. The breakfast menu was daunting – two pages full of creative dishes – everything from peanut butter, bananas and bacon on French Toast, to Eggs Benny and something called Pete’s Big Mess. The latter caught my eye first, but I opted for the Morning After Poutine. My mess contained crispy home fries, bacon, sausage, peameal, onions, tomatoes, cheese curds, chipotle and hollandaise, topped with two eggs the way you like them.

More concerned about her cholesterol, Cathryn ordered the West Street Benny – grilled, marinated portabella mushrooms and spinach, topped with the usual Benny goodies. Hers was $13 and mine was $15, both large portions and filling. Service was excellent and our waitress was friendlier than your local Avon lady. My only complaint is that we couldn’t stay for dinner.

If your not satisfied with our recommendation of this restaurant, perhaps you’ll take the advice from the TV show, You’ve Gotta Eat Here, who featured Willy’s about three years ago.

Cathryn and I both loved West Street Willy’s Eatery and give it a 10 out of 10.

Part II Bistro – Goderich

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Food & DiningLeave a comment

On our recent Tobermory trip, for a change of scenery, Cathryn and I decided to take the back roads up north – getting off the highway when we could, and following Lake Huron’s eastern shoreline. Knowing the six hour ride would take us longer, we booked a room in Goderich to make it a two-day trip. On the first day we stopped in Grand Bend to stretch our legs and see what is new. The beach resort town was bustling, with plenty of new places to get your favorite junk food, and a complete makeover of the old Colonial Hotel is in progress.

Cathryn barely remembered being to Goderich years ago, so we drove down to the waterfront and along the public beach. The old CPR Train Station has been meticulously restored and relocated there and converted into a restaurant. New since my last visit is a wooden boardwalk with exercise stations, running the full 1.5 km length of the beach.

For dinner we sought out the Part II Bistro, on the main square – more like an octagon loop that surrounds the court house, with a half dozen streets as spokes, radiating from the center. It was Tuesday, and to our disappointment many restaurants in town were closed for the night. Part II Bistro was open and had rave reviews so that’s where we went. They have a beautiful patio out front that offers a great view of the town square, but the weather and seasonal bees had us reserve a table inside.

I can best describe the décor as eclectic, with tables partitioned for privacy and Covid reasons. They had a nice selection of local craft beers and a descent wine list. We sampled both. A picture of our appetizer wouldn’t do it justice – look up Gnudi on their menu – ricotta, parmesan and garlic formed into soft pillows, with a semolina flower crust set on a slowly simmered IPA, basil tomato reduction. Yes, it was a savory and delicious as it sounds.

Cathryn saw a lamb shank on the menu so there was no decision for her. I was torn between the Sacchietti Pasta and the Greek chicken, but was in need of a good carb fix and chose the latter. Stuffed egg pasta filled with mushrooms and black truffles, tossed with sundried tomatoes, artichokes, woodland mushrooms, spinach, onions and garlic. Finished with cream and herbed infused olive oil and topped with parmesan cheese. OMG! Need I say more? The little pasta pouches made for the best I’ve ever had.

The Lamb Shank was braised perfectly in Moroccan influences of cumin, cinnamon and cardamom, set on Israeli couscous with ratatouille vegetables, topped with it’s own braising reduction. Cathryn barely had to coax the meat off the bone, which I secretly think she wanted to suck on.

Dessert was mostly for me, she only wanted a bite. I selected the peanut butter chocolate cheesecake, of course. The picture tells the story, and it tasted even better than it looks.

Service was just a tad slow, but like everywhere else these days the restaurant is having difficulty in finding wait staff. They did a great job with what they had and Cathryn and I eagerly give Part II Bistro a 10 out of 10.

Chowder Wars – Gibsons & Sechelt, B.C.

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Food & DiningLeave a comment

One of the things Cathryn and I were most looking forward to while visiting the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia was the seafood. Having sampled our share on the east coast a few years ago, we wanted to see how the west coast fared. After a short ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay in North Vancouver to Landale, we drove directly to Gibsons to kill some time while we waited to check into our Airbnb.

We took a quick look at the Persephone and Molly’s from the old Beachcomber TV series days and strolled out onto the pier. Our thirst for craft beer and hunger for fresh seafood cut our walk short. We headed to the closest and most scenic patio on the pier, Gramma’s Pub. The place was a bit weathered but we were distracted by the beautiful harbor view.

The menu covered all the bases and we each found a likeable local brew to toast our first stop on the Sunshine Coast. Things took a quick turn when Cathryn announced it was our first time in Gibson’s Landing, and she asked what was the best local fare. The waitress was greeted with two blank stares when she started describing their nachos and potato skins.

With my mouth still agape, I asked about the seafood on the menu. She said they were out of almost all their seafood – quite an unbelievable statement to me since we’d just seen a guy down on the dock selling fresh fish and prawns. Cathryn prayed that the calamari was local (I knew better) and I ordered the seafood chowder. The squid was the previously frozen stuff I expected, but my chowder was pretty damn good – creamy, the way I like it, with a variety of seafood. My only complaint was the tails on the shrimp and mussels still in the shell, I had to stick my fingers in the hot chowder to de-shell.

My next bowl of chowder was at the Black Fish Pub, in Gibsons, where we met some friends for lunch. It was a clam chowder that was loaded with clams and spices but not quite creamy enough for me. They had lots of other seafood on their menu and Cathryn had a niece piece of sockeye salmon. The craft beer was excellent too.

My third bowl of chowder was consumed at the Lighthouse Pub in Sechelt. We had just been to the beach and seeing mussel shells scattered all along the water’s edge, steered our stomachs to the restaurant. We were not disappointed by the fabulous waterfront view, local craft beer, and seafood. Cathryn had a bowl of mussels in a creamy garlic and onion sauce and and did the seafood chowder. Bowl number three was the tastiest yet, but the small bits of seafood were well hidden by the larger chunks of potatoes.

Stealing some mussels from my wife’s plate added to my creamy chowder treat which was lip-smacking good when I used my garlic toast to soak up every last drop.

We’re off to Nanaimo next and I’m sure the chowder wasr will continue. We already know what will be for dessert.

The Cook’s Shop Redux

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Entertainment, Food & DiningLeave a comment

Where in Windsor can you find a restaurant with excellent food and service that’s been around for 40 years? The answer is the new old Cook’s Shop Restaurant. Spencer Dawson, took the reigns when the former owner retired from the business he started in 1980. The cozy dining room and Italian menu remain mostly the same, with a few minor changes to both. The old meat display case is gone but the natural stone walls and romantic setting remains the same.

The new owner introduced himself to Cathryn and I, taking the time to explain how he strived to keep fan-favorites on the menu, and brought in a few new recipes handed down by his grandmother. Her homemade bread was the first thing to knock our socks off – a sliced loaf that was crispy golden on the outside and a cornbread texture on the inside, served with a soft herb butter. The wine list covers all bases and quite reasonably priced.

We talked about Dawson’s idol, Lino, the previous owner, who just happened to grace us with his presence moments later. We were lucky enough to chat with both men and capture a few photos of the two most passionate restaurant owners I’ve ever met. Our Caesar salads were delivered on their departure from our table, the original recipe that Dawson said he had to retain in order to prevent a riot.

I forgot about the Escargot – large and tender snails served on a bed of mushrooms sautéed in garlic butter and served in phyllo pastry. We had time for another slice of bread before the salad. Our waiter, Moe, was Johnny-on-the-spot and never far from our table. I ordered the Spaghetti Carbonara, with double smoked bacon, and asked to have it on the creamy side. Yep, more sauce to soak up with the bread. It was one of the best pasta dishes I’ve ever had.

Cathryn ordered the Rack of Lamb, four thick portions stacked over a pea and mushroom risotto. Sitting on my hands was all I could do to resist snatching some while she was away from the table. It was juicy, tender, and cooked to perfection. Sadly, we couldn’t finish the last two pieces of bread. Our meals were quite generous in size.

Although we were both stuffed, I needed a pieced of cheesecake. They had two and I went for the salted caramel. Not too rich, it had the perfect combination of sweet and saltiness. We both loved every part of our meal and enjoyed the experience of meeting both the old and new regime. Giving the Cook’s Shop a 10 out of 10 was a no-brainer.

Watch for Dawson’s future plans, while he renovates the whole building, possibly adding another restaurant and living quarters above that.

Five Guys Friday

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Food & DiningLeave a comment

As many of you know, living with my wife, Cathryn, is like living with a personal chef. There’s good and bad that goes along with that. Obviously the good part is that she cooks and serves me gourmet meals almost every night of the week.

The bad part of having a live-in chef is that we don’t go out to restaurants as often as we did when we were dating and sampling food and wine across the county. Add to that our dietary constraints and we rarely get to visit fast food restaurants or eat junk food.

Once a month, I treat myself to a cheat day and basically eat whatever the hell I want. I had been craving a fresh grilled hamburger for quite a while, so yesterday I treated my chef and took her out to Five Guys Burgers and Fries. We now have one in Windsor, just south of the Devonshire Mall.

What a treat! Because of Covid rules we had to eat in the car, but I brought along cloth napkins and plastic lap trays for a touch of parking lot class. We brought our own drinks too so I was a bit surprised by the $26 bill for two cheeseburgers and one order of fries. Granted the burgers were double-deckers and there were enough fries for three people.

Its’ nice to custom order whatever toppings you like, including fried caramelized onions, the bun is steamed soft and the cheese is nice and gooey. The meat is freshly grilled and goes nowhere near a microwave oven. If you haven’t tried a burger from these Five Guys, you don’t know what you’re missing.