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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 Copyright(c) 2012 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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