Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

johninajijic

Jan 13, 2011, 7:27 AM

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La BODEGA Restaurant Review

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Last night we ate at La Bodega restaurant with the group who submitted photos for the "Shot on the Cover Contest" for the Lake Chapala Review. There were about 16 people at our table plus others in the restaurant, a very busy night. Our Dinner group goes to La Bodega about twice a year.

We both had simple dishes: I had Fettucine Alfredo with Shrimp. The other person had Spaghetti Thai Fusion style. This is the first time we were very disapointed with the food. Not enough to eat. For cryps sake, spaghetti and macaroni products are $ 12.0 pesos a box. To put a half box or less on a plate ($.50 pesos worth) and add a few shrimp, then charge $112. pesos is greed and highway robbery. We left hungry. The service was terrible too because they're too cheap to hire another waiter for a busy night.

I didn't see Javier or Marta there when we left or I would have told them about it. I will still take our Dinner group there, but I will mention it to him next time we go.

Gringal

Jan 13, 2011, 8:20 AM

Post #2 of 15 (5196 views)

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Re: [johninajijic] La BODEGA Restaurant Review

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Sounds disastrous.
So, my question is: Why would you ever want to go back?

johninajijic

Jan 13, 2011, 1:58 PM

Post #3 of 15 (5152 views)

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Re: [Gringal] La BODEGA Restaurant Review

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Sounds disastrous.
So, my question is: Why would you ever want to go back?

You can't never go back to a restaurant because you had one bad experience in 9 years, can you? This was our first bad experience in 9 years. Or are you the type who eats at a restaurant and has a bad meal once and never returns? If that's the case you'd never eat at any restaurant anywhere in the world.

Any restaurant, anywhere can have an off night.

We have returned to 3 restaurants in Ajijic where we had a mediocre or bad meal. When it happened again we swore never to go back. We will NEVER go back to Bruno's (dirty restaurant where 3 out of 6 of us got sick), or the now defunct Pedro's (where 3 out of 6 of us got sick) or La Taverna where we still had lousy meals. That guy couldn't make a proper Italian sauce if someone showed him 100 times over.

gringolandia

Jan 14, 2011, 2:07 PM

Post #4 of 15 (5092 views)

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Re: [johninajijic] La BODEGA Restaurant Review

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I was going to hold a luncheon for our group of 28 next thursday...prior to your review, more than half the group said they'd rather go nearly anywhere else...I am taking their vote seriously....so this restaurant is lucky you are so forgiving.

Jan 17, 2011, 2:40 PM

Post #5 of 15 (4966 views)

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Re: [johninajijic] La BODEGA Restaurant Review

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Six years here and have never had a decent meal there. Too tough, too chewy, small portions, and often cold. The worst is to go on Thanksgiving or Christmas. One would be better off to go to a soup kitchen. Fun entertainment, just eat elsewhere. T.

Gringal

Jan 18, 2011, 6:56 AM

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Re: [gringolandia] La BODEGA Restaurant Review

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Based on recent reviews, I would hesitate to take 28 people to a place they'd rather not go....and hope they have a good enough experience that they keep on speaking to you. LOL. But good luck there!

The weather's been great in the afternoons lately.....why not head over to the Nueva Posada and eat in the garden?

johninajijic

Jan 18, 2011, 12:23 PM

Post #7 of 15 (4869 views)

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Re: [Gringal] La BODEGA Restaurant Review

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Nuevo Posada??? Yuk! More mediocre, bland and uninteresting food in Ajijic. Why not Ninette, Tango, Roberto's, Manix, Panino, etc.

Jan 18, 2011, 12:50 PM

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Re: [Gringal] La BODEGA Restaurant Review

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If that magnificent rubber tree decides to kick the bucket, they will be in big trouble. T.

Jan 18, 2011, 12:53 PM

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Re: [johninajijic] La BODEGA Restaurant Review

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Much better than La Bodega. Yuck. Love their taco salad and the ambience is incredible. La Bodega fails by comparison in every category other than entertainment. T.

Gringal

Jan 18, 2011, 1:47 PM

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Re: [johninajijic] La BODEGA Restaurant Review

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Okay.......not very exciting, John, but what I was thinking was where they can easily accommodate 28 people. Also, the setting is superb......and they've never poisoned me. Manix was disappointing the last time I ate there. Panino's would need a lot of advance notice for that many.

Jardin de Ninette is a bit on the small side. Roberto's would probably be a good choice.

(This post was edited by Gringal on Jan 18, 2011, 1:51 PM)

gringolandia

Jan 18, 2011, 2:04 PM

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Re: [Gringal] La BODEGA Restaurant Review

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We are taking our large group to the Hacienda Steak House. They have agreed to redo their indoor tables into a large square and it will hold 28 folks with no problem.

After the no vote on La Bodega...we offered a list of five that could hold us in a tight enough group.....Hacienda came in first.

Jan 18, 2011, 2:51 PM

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Re: [gringolandia] La BODEGA Restaurant Review

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I think that this an excellent decision. I love that place, but the prices have crept upward so much that it is a rare treat for me to afford it. The vacio is terrific, but their wine prices are out of sight. Find out when Noe is singing He is amazing and you will fall in love with his music. T

gringolandia

Jan 18, 2011, 3:09 PM

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Re: [T] La BODEGA Restaurant Review

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Thursday is a special as all carne is 90 pesos regardless of the reular price. Plus, we are having a memorial at lunch time and then many will stay for lunch....I can handle a filet mignon for 90 pesos

Jan 18, 2011, 3:24 PM

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Re: [gringolandia] La BODEGA Restaurant Review

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Go for the vacio. t

johninajijic

Jan 19, 2011, 3:53 PM

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Re: [johninajijic] La BODEGA Restaurant Review

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Hacienda is now one of, if not the "highest priced" restaurant at Lakeside. It was my favorite last year. Friday night 7 of us ate there from our Bi Monthly Dinner group.

I always loved their Filet, really thick, looking and tasting like a real Filet. Friday night it was flatter and longer, didn't taste as good and not as tender. $160. pesos is too much for a Filet. Laurent and Tango are less money. The Filet I had at Laurent was the best I have had at Lakeside.

My friend had the Vacio. I asked how it was. He said OK and that he had better.

We may return this year, but I'm concentrating on revisiting Laurent and Ninette more often. I think these are the two "best" restaurants at Lakeside.