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Located on Calle Saratoga, just east of downtown Los Algodones, La Parrilla offers delicious food, fine dining, friendly staff, and a full-service bar. You'll feel right at home at this delightful restaurant, as it offers authentic, Baja California Mexican cuisine, and caters to the tastes of locals, and tourists alike.
Photo: La Parrilla Restaurant and Bar is located at the dusty corner of Calle "B" and Calle Saratoga, about two blocks east of downtown. Calle "B" was marked, but Calle Saratoga wasn't; I had to ask the name of this street for the sake of this article.
Photo: Like most smaller restaurants in Baja California, La Parrilla is open to the street, offers a full-service bar, and offers a comfortable patio dining atmosphere. It was interesting to note that all of my fellow diners were Canadians, on this beautiful early Saturday afternoon, October 5, 2013. Note the waiter, in typical Mexican restaurant protocol, standing by, to assist customers, and to entice new customers into the restaurant, who happen to be passing by on the street.
Photo: The restaurant's kitchen is located just behind the bar, and I couldn't resist poking my head in to snap a photo. During my many visits to Mexico, I have rarely been refused access to the kitchen, as insurance doesn't seem to be an issue, as it is north of the border.
Photo: When I dine alone, I prefer to sit at the bar, as the bar usually offers a good view of what is going on. La Parrilla is primarily open for breakfast and lunch - according to the staff, they're open for dinner on weekends - but they feature a full service bar. Naturally, their most popular mixed drink is margarita. It was interesting to note that I returned to Los Algodones three days after this writing in the middle of the afternoon and La Parrilla was closed.
Photo: La Parrilla offers a very complete menu of Mexican favorites, and even a few Norteamericano favorites like hot dogs and hamburgers. After placing my order I was brought the typical Mexican appetizer of chips, and a couple bowls of delicious in-house made salsa. The bowl on the left was quite mild, but the other one packed a punch. I alternated between bowls and enjoyed, and washed the chips and salsa down with Pacifico beer.
Photo: Francisco, my friendly waiter, brings my order to me, and allows me to take his photo, willingly. Francisco spoke a little English, but he appreciated that my Spanish kicked in, and he complimented me on my Spanish, which made me feel quite good. If you stay on the main street of Los Algodones, near all of the medical offices, everybody speaks English, but when you leave the tourist area, it's highly recommended that you know at least a little Spanish. After all, Spanish is the language of Mexico.
Photo: I pose at the bar with my lunch. Note the coffee maker in the background of the photo, which is a rarity in Mexico. Coffee is available, but it is not nearly as common as it is in the 'states, and you only get one cup. I rarely order coffee during my visits to Mexico. I'm wearing a back pack, as I planned to stop at a grocery store, on my way out, to purchase groceries and condiments not available in the United States.
Photo: I ordered a #3, "Chorizo and Eggs" from the menu. The price of this delicious breakfast was listed on the menu at only $4.50 in U.S. dollars. Yes, it's early afternoon, but I felt like breakfast, I'm retired and I was on vacation, so I just "went for it!" Included with the breakfast is two eggs, cooked any way you want them - in my case, over easy - fries, refried beans, chorizo, and a stack of corn tortillas. Like everywhere else, the menu called for the chorizo to be mixed with the eggs, "oddball" me, I prefer them separate, so I conveyed my wish to Francisco, and my meal arrived exactly as ordered. Due to the outstanding service, the delicious food, and the fun, friendly atmosphere, I rewarded Francisco with a generous tip. What a wonderful way to spend an early Saturday afternoon! The food was absolutely delicious, my friendly waiter, Francisco took good care of me, the Pacifico beer was cold, and the atmosphere was pure Mexico. Lunch at La Parrilla is highly recommended! La
Parrilla Copyright(c) 2013 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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