restaurant near the Irma for Friday

Coming in on Friday and know we'll be bagged ( 6:20am flight from BC leaving home at some ridiculous hour) not really that familiar with area around the Irma.. first time staying there and just in town for one night. Bringing some newbies to Z. looking for comfort, good margarita, local food. Is there anything within walking distance ( there's 6 of us so if no walking will need 2 cabs)( will be sure to not use utaaz)
thanks for suggestions.

Rufo's.

Rufo's.

chendo's.

Either Rufo's or Chendos would be good choices, but I think if I only had one night, I'd lean toward Chendos as the better choice. Make sure to save room for the crepes for desert.

Wear comfortable shoes and walk downtown. Daniels or Tamale Any's would be a nice evening for dinner and drinks and conversation. Or bus or taxi into Franks in Ixtapa. Forget the long travel and enjoy the one night. Taxi back to the Irma.

Try Puesta del sol. A short 300 M walk on the road to La Ropa.

Although I like Franks in Ixtapa reading the post it would be one of my last suggestions!

There are so many good restaurants in Z there is no need to go to Ixtapa.

puerto del sol, rufos, chendos, la perla negra can't go wrong with any of them.

Any time. The food is of excellent quality.

Chendo's is fine.
I prefer Rufo's.

Frankly with newbies to Z only there for one night I would not take them downhill to Rufo's, Chendo's, La Perla Negra to the non view construction zone but either uphill to Puesta del Sol or Kau Kan (easy walk) with view of the bay.

...and if you're really too tired to walk, the Irma has a good restaurant right there. You can get a great margarita there, too, if you explain to the bartender how you want it made.
Here's how I've ordered them there:
3 partes Tequila
2 partes Conroy
1 parte jugo de limón o lima, recién exprimido
en las rocas, con sal

And there's Il Mare right in that area, too!

I like Rufo's fine. Different kind of food served at the two locations.

knew I'd get some good ideas from this forum. We've been to Z several times although we've only stayed in town once for 2 nights last year. Agree it would be nice to go for a view but we will be coming back into town for at least one dinner while we stay in la barra. While I'm tempted to walk into centro I also know our limitations.. and we want an early start next day to drive to Patzcuaro so will stick close to "home" for the night.
How is Il Mare now? I read on the "not to be named web site" that it's gone donwhill ( figuratively one hopes) we've eaten there as well as Caprichios Don Memo's Margaritas and a few places that I can't remember names....have yet to try lety's as I can't seem to convince fellow travellers ..simply because of the location...

I have not eaten at Il Mare, but friends that came down with us had dinner there in October and said it was very good. They brought me some leftover pasta with seafood I ate the next day and it was very tasty. My husband MUST eat at Rufo's each time we are in town once and always has the pork ribs. Rufo's cooks most of the food on a charcoal grill. More meat then seafood but the seafood they have is very good, such as fish fillet, usually mahi or red snapper. We also ate at Chendo's in October with 12 friends and family. Also very good, very friendly service. Much more seafood on the menu and from recommendations on this board, I asked for the bacon wrapped camerones (which were also filled with cheese). They were deep fried but VERY good. I think just about everyone had seafood and everyone was happy with their dinners. As another poster said, at both Rufo's and Chendo's you don't have a view but the food is great. I haven't been to the KauKan in a number of years but the rooftop restaurant was very good when we were there and the view (as with Il Mare) is to die for! To bad Lety's is out, her coconut shrimp is to die for!
One added restaurant not mentioned if you are looking for great view/food although more expensive is the restaurant at the Brisas del Mar on Playa la Madera. Right on the beach, great service and in my opinion great food. We stay right next door every year and usually eat there at least once. Make sure you have Francisco do some Spanish coffee's for you to end your dinner with if you go there! Always love the show! Enjoy!

Went to Ruffo's last night and Calle Adelita is a Real mess on that end didn't go any further but has to keep people from using the other places.Recommended La Gula to a guy I played golf with and not to sure how he will get there,can't get a taxi down the street and being a first timer,he must think I'm crazy.

We had a great meal at II Mare last year. We had great service and you can't beat the view!

Il Mare is a really good restaurantif you're in the mood for Italian food, and, of course the view, is terrific, but is a little more expensive than the others mentioned - up to 325pesos for New Zealand lamb chops - but pastas or pork chops are reasonable. Only a short walk from the Irma, but would reccommend traditional Mexican food at Chula, Chendo's or Rufo's if you're only here for one night.

--
Graham Felipe'

I was about to recommend Puesto del Sol. Or is it Puerto now? I think it's an excellent choice for six people and a very nice setting in which to enjoy a first night dinner.

The only problem I see with Il Mare is that it has gotten very popular and if you don't have a reservation, you can wait a long time.

With six people, I'd for sure write ahead for reservations.

We had Christmas Eve dinner at Il Mare a couple weeks ago and it was very, very good. I admit that I was a bit surprised as I had been underwhelmed the last couple times we had dined there but they didn't hit a bad note Christmas Eve, despite being very busy. We had arrived in Zihua that morning after traveling all night and I purposely had not made advance dinner reservations anywhere because I didn't know how tired we all would be. We rallied and walked over to Il Mare and had a fabulous meal and time. I find their prices very reasonable given the menu choices, view and ambiance.

I agree entirely. We actually had dinner on Christmas evening there last year - we were staying at Villa Mexicana and their Chritmas Dinner was served on Christmas Eve - so we had a regular menu meal at Il Mare which was extremely good. Have been regulars there ever since.

--
Graham Felipe'

It's good to hear that Il mare is still good. we always enjoy having one splurge dinner there for the ambiance if nothing else. .... and if you need reservations then there must be some tourists in Zihua which is great news! I think we'll either try Chendos or maybe puesto(puerto?) del sol if the others are keen for a view

Chendo's and Lety's use the same receipt for coconut shrimp. The owners are sisters and use the same one. Both are excellent coconut shrimp. If you like less sweet do not dip in the creamy coco sauce.

The view has changed from what it used to be as they built condos right in front of them. The food is as good as ever.

If you're into table side cooking, they do it very well. You can actually get a Caesar salad, made table side the way it used to be before everyone got paranoid about food poisoning. We always go there at least once.

For those of us who were there before condos, it's a shame what happened. But there is still a view. There is still an ocean view. Just not as gorgeous as it was. The food is still very nice and the experience is still great for a decompression evening after a harried day of traveling.

And it can really be a great place for a party of six. Set up very well for a party of just that size.

We've had three wonderful visits to Il Mare over the past three years.
Food and service were excellent all three times, and yes, the view is also exquisite.
And, as another poster mentioned, we too, must eat at Rufo's at least once each trip down...