NEVER ON 5th

[Jimontheriver]

Originally Posted by snappysammy

west on ctm on the other side of the highway about a mile in
large mall with imax theater, good rainy day destination if you can pry yourself away from the bar

manolo's new place is much more comfortable now
same great food and people

Thanks. Did I read somewhere that you can take the local buses that run up and down 30th to that mall, and if so, is that where the buses turn around?

[snappysammy]

Originally Posted by Jimontheriver

Thanks. Did I read somewhere that you can take the local buses that run up and down 30th to that mall, and if so, is that where the buses turn around?

i have seen buses that say "plaza americas"
i suspect that is where they are going

[angelhouston819]

i am now 100% sold on getting the lasagna at Util Pasta now. i might have to go there more then once to get another dish too. love gorgonzola!! really loving another one of your great reports. kudos !!


A'

[julie in PA]

Originally Posted by Jimontheriver

El Asador would be a great one to make an exception for, we ate there 2 or 3 times when it was on 10th Ave. Have you eaten at the Uraguayan place on the north side of 38th about a half block west of 5th. We thought the food was right up there with El Asador and the service was better. It has been a few years since we ate at El Emporia. Their beef short ribs are outstanding.

We have never gone west on 38th - we may have to try that this year. A couple of years ago we had every intention of trying El Asador one evening -when it was on tenth - but after a "few" too many margaritas we ended grabbing pizza somewhere.

Thanks again for a great report. Did you make it to La Fragata?

[Jimontheriver]

Wednesday, 2/3/10, continued

From Wickys to Moms

We went to Wickys first thing to take advantage of the 5 to 7pm weekday 2 x 1 happy hour drinks they had advertised on the bottom of our check from their beach club yesterday. Our bartender, Jose who remembers us from December tells us that the happy hours thing was a mistake and that is was good only on glasses of wine. Anyway, they have good drinks and nice bar without loud music blaring all the time. After a Paloma Donna decides to try the “Wicked Martini” and it’s probably a good thing these were not 2 for 1, they are very good but intoxicating.



For me it was a Margarita of course (well two).


They did give us 10% off.


But if you look at the check, it still has the 2 x 1 happy hour on it. I will have to say that I think the owners are still trying to get a feel for running this place and are doing a good job.



Our next stop was Carlos and Charlie’s. Now I know your wondering what we are doing here but we had a good reason. Donna has been collecting the souvenir pennies you get from the smashed pennies machines and Carlos and Charlie’s Playa was one of the places listed that has (had) one. We asked about it and they said it broke some time ago, they also said of course it smashed pesos not pennies. Another reason we went is because I read, in January Guys TR I think that there price for DJ reposado was better than some of the other places in town.



The DJ was 84 with sangrita, they make their sangrita with onions in it and I don’t really care for it made that way.



Donna has a good Jimador Paloma. It was 63 pesos so really their prices are about the same as other places around town.


I do remember that back in 2005 we went there and that their house Margarita sucked. If you notice in this picture from then that my Margarita glass is empty and the others are almost full. Reason being that they had the house one (premade in a big jug) and I ordered mine well shaken made with Don Julio reposado. It cost 20 pesos more but at least I could drink it.


And the staff at C & Cs is very entertaining. My very first experience with a C & Cs was back in the 80’s on Cozumel. It was upstairs in an old building in town and it was called “Carlos & Charlie’s with Jimmy Kitchen”


They did one of these numbers on me only they did it from across the table buy blowing into the wine pitcher to give it pressure. And they could blow a lot longer than I could swallow.



Rib night at Moms Hotel tonight and good Margaritas for sure.


The rabbit (Alicia) seems to follow us wherever we go.



And what’s on the menu tonight at Moms, well Hickory Smoked BBQ’d Baby Back Ribs of course. Yes, hickory is what I said, I can’t remember where Jim said he got the hickory from, but it was shipped in from somewhere.


While sitting at the bar we meet the fellow that runs the Explorer tours. Someone help me out here, as I can’t remember his name or what country he is from (was it Eric from Netherlands?).



Ribs so good they get two pictures


Jim, the man responsible for the great ribs. Turns out he is from central Illinois like us but we live in the western most part of the state and he is from the east side.


After a great meal I mention something about getting a little desert on the way back to the condo and Jurgen says we have desert and brings out a big pan of frosted brownies or cake.


Whatever the dessert stuff was, it did not last long. It was a great meal and we met some wonderful folks.

[Jimontheriver]

Originally Posted by julie in PA

We have never gone west on 38th - we may have to try that this year. A couple of years ago we had every intention of trying El Asador one evening -when it was on tenth - but after a "few" too many margaritas we ended grabbing pizza somewhere.

Thanks again for a great report. Did you make it to La Fragata?

Yes we did make it to La Fragata, (tomorrow, trip report time) and I had the BBQ ribs.

[boop]

Originally Posted by Jimontheriver

Rib night at Moms Hotel tonight and good Margaritas for sure.

Good prices for the rib dinner! We will have to give it a try in May!

[angelhouston819]

i think it's Eric from the Netherlands.....he used to run Posada Freud.


meant to ask you...was Sergio at Wicky's the Sergio that used to work at Kool? older super sweet and super attentive guy?


A'

[Jimontheriver]

Originally Posted by angelhouston819

i think it's Eric from the Netherlands.....he used to run Posada Freud.


meant to ask you...was Sergio at Wicky's the Sergio that used to work at Kool? older super sweet and super attentive guy?


A'

Eric sounds right, thanks, I will edit it.

I would say our Sergio was in he early twenties.

[angelhouston819]

Originally Posted by Jimontheriver

Eric sounds right, thanks, I will edit it.

I would say our Sergio was in he early twenties.

i went back to my trip report in Feb 2005 to look at the two guys names that ran Posada Freud back then. it was Eric and Andre. i know it's Eric, b/c i've seen him a few times since.

must be a different Sergio. glad to know that "my" Sergio is hopefully still down at Kool. although, it would be great to have another great waiter, Sergio, at Wicky's too.



A'

[Mark711]

Hey Jim, can you tell us where La Divina your liquor store find is?
Iv'e been to the liquor store on the South West corner of the 307 and constituyentes but wasn't impressed. I kind of got the impression that there were two prices depending on who you were. I think the name was Covi. Mark

[angelhouston819]

Originally Posted by Jimontheriver

10th and I don't know, somewhere between 6th and 12th. It is close to where Doctor taco was, but across the street. As for the changas, on the inside I don't know and on top, gauc & I don't remember, maybe thick crema. I saw the same place out on the highway also. It looked new, just like the one on 10th.

just found out Don Ceviche's is located on 10th Avenue and 6th Street. can't wait to try those chimichangas!!


A'

[Jimontheriver]

Originally Posted by Mark711

Hey Jim, can you tell us where La Divina your liquor store find is?
Iv'e been to the liquor store on the South West corner of the 307 and constituyentes but wasn't impressed. I kind of got the impression that there were two prices depending on who you were. I think the name was Covi. Mark

It is right next door to the glass store on the north west corner of 80th Ave & the highway. Note, 80th is not marked but it is just north of the pedestrian overpass and you have to be going south to turn onto 80th. Below is a link to the glass store and in has a map if you look under the location tab.
::: El Nuevo Triangulo de Cristal :::

[Buggirl]

Jim- loving this report, as usual! Those ribs at mom's look so good- yum. As does everything else.

We actually had less tip included on our bill than ever this time- only Babe's (13%) and Mezzanine (10%). Under servico, not propina, though. Everybody else gave us straight up bills- no added charges. And we never had a bad meal

[Mark711]

Thanks, Mark