I'll be
honest in stating that El Gourmet Restaurant caters mostly
to American and Canadian tourists. For that matter, most
of the businesses in Los Algodones cater to the "snowbird"
trade, as there are more doctors, dentists and pharmacies in
Los Algodones, on a per capita basis, than probably any other
place in North America. Although El Gourmet's menu may
be quite "Americanized," the restaurant is still a
great place to eat, and an even better place to kick back, drink
beer, and people-watch.
Photo:
El Gourmet Restaurant is located on "A"
Street, which is the first street south of Mexican customs.
As you enter Mexico and pass through customs, walk south
on Av. 2nd, and turn left at "A" Street; in a half
block, you'll find El Gourmet on your left. The restaurant
offers lots of friendly, outdoor seating. As in most Mexican
towns, parking is tight due to the small "footprint"
that most Mexican towns feature.
Photo:
El Gourmet features a full-service bar. After I
snapped this photo, the bartender asked me not to take photos
inside, because they have a small casino in the room behind
the lady in gray, that offers racetrack, jai-alai, and sports
books betting. They also have a decent number of slot
machines. Despite the number of visits that I've enjoyed
in Mexico, I didn't know betting and casinos were legal.
Photo:
As I relaxed and enjoyed a few Pacifico beers,
I almost felt like I was in Canada, as most of my fellow tourists
were from 'way north of the border. At 60 years old, I
was also one of the younger tourists visiting the restaurant.
Photo:
On the 80-degree afternoon in late March, El Gourmet Restaurant
had a very talented guy alternating between is keyboard, and
his karaoke machine, singing mostly traditional Mexican ballads
and love songs. He give me a thumbs-up, as I snap his
photo as he serenades the lunch crowd with a beautiful rendition
of "Celito Lindo."
Photo:
Meet Brenda, my friendly server, who speaks perfect English,
who kept me well lubricated with Pacifico beer,
and brought me my delicious cheeseburger lunch.
Yes,
the menu was so "Americanized," that I simply decided
to order a cheeseburger and fries, which wasn't a bad idea,
as El Gourmet produces a quality burger at a great price. For
starters, the bun was fresh, soft and chewy, which always sets
the tone for the quality of the burger. The quarter-pound
patty was perfectly cooked, and the included garnishes of lettuce,
sliced dill pickles, tomato and onion were fresh. The
cheese was melted perfectly, which is a sign of a good cheeseburger.
The
fries were great, as they weren't greasy, and they weren't destroyed
by adding excessive salt, like many restaurants do. It
seemed a bit on the bizarre side, to be sitting outside in Mexico,
listening to traditional Mexican music, drinking a cold Pacifico
beer, and eating a cheeseburger and fries! Ah, you just
have to love Los Algodones!
Photo:
I snap this photo of Brenda in action, taking care of
the busy lunch crowd. She was the only server at work,
and she kept all of these folks happy. What a gal! El
Gourmet Restaurant features outstanding outdoor dining,
and it's a good place to kick back, relax, and enjoy the atmosphere
of Los Algodones.
Photo:
My delicious cheeseburger and fries. Because the
menu was so orientated to the tastes of Americans, I decided
to forget ordering Mexican food, and just throw in the towel
and order a cheeseburger and fries. I'm glad I did, as
El Gourmet Restaurant serves a gourmet cheeseburger.
El
Gourmet Restaurant provides a pleasant place to relax and
enjoy a beer or two, the food is good, the place is relaxed,
and the people are very friendly. I'll be back the next
time I'm in town...
El
Gourmet Restaurant
1940 Calle "A"
Los Algodones, Baja California
1940 Calle "A"
Los Algodones, Baja California
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