We have been full time RV’ers since I retired in February of 2000. Throughout the ensuing years we have traveled extensively throughout the US and Canada and have now ventured south of the border. The first question we always ask the inhabitants of a new town is, “Where’s a good place to eat?” So, I decided to put together this little guide to partially answer that question for those of you newly arrived in San Carlos. A word of warning though: Free advice is worth no more than you paid for it and having 3 or more people arrive at a unanimous opinion about any eating establishment is nearly impossible. My experience with food began within minutes of my emergence into this world and has continued happily and uninterrupted for more than 60 years. From the lobsters of New England to the Dungeness crab of San Francisco and from the halibut and salmon of Alaska to the crawfish and jambalaya of New Orleans, my bride and I have gobbled a path across the US and Canada. We eat at least one meal a day in a restaurant somewhere. The good ones see us often, and the others . . . well, there are just too many good eateries around to give a bad one a second chance. Please keep in mind that there are many more restaurants available than I mention here and, although we have tried, we haven’t eaten everywhere as yet. There are some restaurants in this "guide" that are now closed but we have decided to leave them included as a kind of history of how the area is changing. We have marked them as "CLOSED" in their title. Dollar ($) signs indicate price as compared to other restaurants in the area. We have also discovered that "no smoking" areas in restaurants are treated more as a suggestion than an actual place you can eat without the annoyance of polluted air. Most restaurants will let people smoke, and even provide them with ash trays, in non smoking areas unless there is a complaint. ENJOY!!!!
San Carlos:
Banana's Blackie's Caddy Shack Captains Club
Charlie's Rock El Bronco El Cheque El Embarcadero
El Gallo Erny's Evie's Fiesta Hotel
Froggy's Hang Out Heaven's Door Jax Snax
JC's Cafe Joey's Bistro Joey's Pizza La Palapa
Los Arbolitos Mar De Cortez Maria's Pizza Marina Cantina
Oasis Passione Pasta Fasta Piccolo
Rosa's Cantina Ruth & Rudy's SC Palapa Bar Tequila's
Toros Baracuda Bob's Sahuaro Ruby Wine Bar
Guaymas:
Cabo Azul El Oeste La Cobacha Los Arbolitos
Los Barcos McDonald's Playa de Cortez Sauce Y La Palma
Mickey Mouse La Gran Muralla Pancho Villa Cantina
Empalme:
Caesar's
San Carlos:
BANANAS: ($$) (wi-fi)
Located across from Santa Rosa Market they offer both a morning and afternoon "Hora Feliz" with 2 for 1 drinks and the food is tasty and inexpensive. They make some really great guacamole! Try it. They have live entertainment some evenings and offer an Open Mic night. Smoking is permitted throughout.
BARRACUDA BOB'S: (aka:TUNAFISH JAN'S) ($) (wi-fi)
Located in the San Carlos Marina just behind the Marina Cantina. This is a "coffee shop" that serves primarily breakfast and lunch. They also have many varieties of home made muffins and cookies as well as several ice cream selections. The breakfast sandwiches and burritos are large and very tasty and the staff is all exceptionally friendly and courteous. English language greeting cards and newspapers are available and a coin laundry is right next door. The interior is all non-smoking, another big plus!
BLACKIE’S: ($$$)
Located next to the Pemex gas station. Like El Bronco, this place is a bit pricey but they offer interesting menu items and an extensive wine list. Try the Caesar Salad, which is made at your table. They also have a piano player in the bar beginning at 6pm six nights per week (excluding Monday). Again, smoking is permitted everywhere and the place is too small to escape it if there are several people indulging. I'd suggest mid afternoon if you want to have a great meal in a smoke free environment.
CADDY SHACK: ($)
Located at the Country Club on the ground floor with a view of the golf course and the Golf Channel on TV. They offer pub-fare and bill themselves as a brewpub. They have equipment to brew 6 different concoctions but had only 2 available on our visit. I have great hopes for this place! Smoking is permitted throughout and is obnoxious indoors but they also offer patio seating.
CAPTAINS CLUB: ($) (wi-fi)
Located across the street from Snowbird Realty on the road to the Caracol. They do a pretty decent job on seafood and have an excellent fish stew. I have had a burger which was wafer thin and a BBQ beef sandwich that looked anemic from the small amount of beef included. They have a TV which broadcasts sporting events and they serve "specials" during the games. I understand that the Italian sausage sandwich is great but they seldom serve it. Smoking is permitted throughout and they have limited outside dining.
CHARLIE'S ROCK: ($$) (wi-fi)
Located across the street from the Best Western Hotel. Decent food at moderate prices. Entertainment some evenings. A great place to watch the sunset while sipping on a "killer" margarita. (Caution: The margaritas here are legendary in their ability to steal memory). Smoking is permitted but it is an open air restaurant.
EL BRONCO: ($$$)
Located next to Gary’s Dive Shop. Possibly the best food in San Carlos! Everything, from the salmon to the game hens to the steaks is GREAT! Be sure to bring some extra money though. You can probably get out for about $20 per person if you’re conservative. Be advised though: they have a pricey wine list. And check out the ribs on the appetizer menu - delicioso! The one dig I had on this place was the snootiness of the waiters, however, having eaten there on many occasions we are something like family to these guys now and we get first class service every time. Smoking is permitted throughout but the place is large and seldom crowded so it isn’t difficult to find a place in the rear with breathable air.
EL CHEQUE: ($)
Located in Creston Sector next to the bakery. This is a hot dog stand that gets my in-laws salivating at its mere mention. I just don't know. Bacon wrapped turkey dogs just don't do it for me. But it is a great place for a quick cheap meal. AHA!! THAT may well be what attracts the relatives...CHEAP!!!
EL EMBARCADERO: ($$)
Located in the San Carlos marina, they have both indoor and outdoor dining and serve a lot of buffet style meals. They have an interesting menu which includes Lobster Thermidor, one of my favorites. There is entertainment occasionally, in an all nonsmoking environment - a big plus!
EL GALLO: ($$)
Located behind the Maravilloso pottery shop, they consider themselves an art gallery that just happens to sell food. The food is good and the prices are moderate. The interior is very interesting and they have a heated outdoor patio with entertainment some nights. Smoking is permitted everywhere.
EL KIOSKO: (Closed)
Located in Los Jitos Plaza next to Izzy's Market. They serve mostly sandwiches and a few breakfast items. We haven't eaten here yet but have been told that the food is excellent with tingas and chile rellenos coming highly recommended. Smoking is permitted but they have an outside, upstairs gazebo where you can also eat.
ERNY’S PALACIO de PTOMAINE: ($)
Okay, I freely admit here that I don’t like this place. I’ve eaten there one time and had a burger that tasted like spoiled fish cooked in rancid grease. Remember my axiom: There are too many good eateries to give a bad one a second chance. If you want to give it a try (or happen to be partial to spoiled fish), it is located a stone’s throw from Jax Snax. They have a daily special as well as home made soups. I don’t know about their smoking policy having only eaten there once. My brother-in-law has been eating lunch there every day for the past few months and, other than hair loss and loose teeth, he looks just fine . . .
The sign above the door, written in 3 languages (Spanish, English and Canadian) reads: “May God have mercy on all those who enter.” That, and my brother-in-law’s deteriorating health, convinced me to eat elsewhere. You may want to find another place to have lunch if you are in a hurry; the line to get in stretches to Guaymas!!
EVIE’S: ($$) (wi-fi)
Located across from the Marinaterra Hotel near the marina. They offer a full menu and GREAT sticky buns loaded with brown sugar, walnuts and raisins. We haven’t noticed anyone smoking in here but we have only bought food to go and haven’t spent a great deal of time inside.
FIESTA HOTEL: ($$)
Located east of Totonaka about ¼ mile on the ocean side. We have eaten dinner and breakfast here a few times and have no complaints. The prices are moderate and they have outdoor dining on the patio, which is a cozy place to have breakfast while watching the dolphins on their morning run westward. They do allow smoking but it isn’t too bad if you don’t mind eating outdoors.
FROGGY’S: ($$) (wi-fi)
Located about ¼ mile west of Totonaka, they are primarily a bar that offers tacos, hamburgers and delicious wood-fired thin-crust pizzas. They have a 2 for 1 pizza special all day Tuesday and various activities on selected nights; mariachi on Wednesday, karaoke on Thursday. This is primarily a bar so smoking is permitted everywhere.
THE GIGGLING MARLIN:
Okay, you caught me! Those of you who have been to the real Giggling Marlin in Los Cabos know better. This is, however, one of the best places to hang out in San Carlos. It is the home of Bruce and Giggles, two of the nicest folks in town. They can usually be found at Froggy's on Tuesday nights dancing to the tunes of Mark Mulligan. If you see them, try to finagle an invitation to their "bar"...it isn't hard, they love company!
The Hang Out (aka: The Soggy Peso Bar): ($)
Located on the beach near Paradiso. Recently expanded and improved, this is a great little beach bar with an identity crisis. The sign on the highway says "The Hangout" and the sign over the door says "The Soggy Peso Bar". Whatever the name, the drinks are good, the view is spectacular, and the banana nut bread is terrific! This is a great place to spend an afternoon watching the kite surfers crash and burn on your doorstep. Plus, they have the prettiest restrooms around, so it's worth the drive just to go pee! It's a bar, so smoking is permitted but it is open to the elements so it is no problem.
HEAVEN'S DOOR: ($$)
Located across the street from Iguanas and the Super Izzy Market. They have an “international” menu with moderate prices. I had chicken cordon bleu and it was pretty good. They have live entertainment on some evenings and the upstairs area is all non-smoking. Check out the starscape when they retract the roof!
JAX SNAX: ($)
Located a bit further down Ave Beltrones, this is the local “fast food” restaurant and offers one of the best burgers in San Carlos. Here’s a tip: if you aren’t partial to charcoal, ask them not to toast the bun. They also serve an excellent breakfast. The entire restaurant is non smoking.
JC's CAFE: (Closed)
Located across the street from Izzy's Market. This is another place that people rave about and they offer some pretty interesting menu items according to what I have read posted on the "Viva San Carlos" bulletin board. We went in there at Thanksgiving to pick up a pumpkin pie and couldn't wait to get out because of the heavy cigarette smoke cloud hanging in the air. The pie collapsed to half its original thickness during dinner and had no discernable taste.
JOEY'S BISTRO: ($$$$) (wi-fi in hotel)
Located at the San Carlos Plaza Hotel. This place specializes in Italian food and actually has some pretty decent pasta sauces available. Be prepared to part with a few dollars though as they are in the higher price range and they have a great wine list with some moderately priced selections. Joey's is part of a restaurant chain with two more in the U.S., one in Las Vegas and one in Sedona. They have a non-smoking section available and the room is large enough that it actually seems to work.
JOEY’S PIZZA: ($$) (wi-fi in hotel)
Located at the San Carlos Plaza Hotel. Closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Varieties are limited but I like pepperoni and that is definitely on their menu! All the pizza is boxed to go and you can eat it at the indoor Kioska Cafe or at the outdoor Palapa bar.
LA PALAPA: ($$)
Located on the beach between the 2nd and 3rd traffic circles (just past Izzy's Supermarket). They have an extremely interesting menu that specializes in Greek food. The warm baklava is wonderful - it's imported from the Greek section of Tucson! The food items are not prepared exactly as you would expect in a state-side Greek restaurant (Hey, this IS Mexico after all!) but the food is excellent nonetheless. The entrees are a bit pricey as are the drinks. Like El Gallo, this is primarily an "outdoor" patio style place with large heaters for chilly nights. They have entertainment and lots of room for dancing. Smoking is permitted everywhere but doesn't seem to present a problem.
LOS ARBOLITOS: ($$$)
Located right in front of the Totonaka RV Park, this is the San Carlos edition of their popular Guaymas restaurant. They have a much smaller menu and serve more non-seafood items. Try the rib eye steak for a real treat, about $14 at this writing. The bar area is a seperate room that allows smoking and the main dining room is smoke free. VIVA!!
MAR de CORTEZ: ($$)
Located at Condominiums Pilar. About a mile east of Totonaka, turn right about 100 feet before you get to the Condominiums Pilar billboard. Follow the road for about another ½ mile. Our meals have been consistently good and the service has been excellent. One of the waiters, Marcos, has a guitar and an excellent voice. Ask him to play for you and just put a little extra on his tip. Opens at 3 p.m., closed Monday. This is one of our favorite spots because it is completely non-smoking.
MARIA'S PIZZA: ($$)
Located in the Pemex shopping mall they have a pretty decent looking menu. People tell me they have the best pizza in town. We attempted to eat there once but the interior of the place had such a heavy tobacco stench that we just left without eating. They now have a non smoking area but we haven't been back.
MARINA CANTINA: ($) (wi-fi)
Located in the marina, this is one of my favorite places for soup, salad and sandwiches. The prices are moderate and the food is consistently good. Check out the artichoke and spinach dip served hot in a bread bowl. The waitresses have a pretty good understanding of English (although they do struggle with Canadian, eh). They have a big screen TV tuned to whatever sporting event is in vogue. The primary drawback is that smoking is permitted everywhere in the restaurant but they do have an outdoor shaded patio available.
MEXICO GOURMET: (Closed)
Located right in front of Totonaka RV Park. This is actually a restaurant services/management school. They custom make your salsa tableside and you can tell them how hot you want it! The food is pretty good with the exception of the Caesar Salad. The Mole Poblano and Chile Rellenos are excellent. Most of the employees have a real problem with English so try to stick to menu items without any special requests. Opens at 5 p.m., they also have a full bar and the entire place is non-smoking.
OASIS: ($$$)
Located at El Mirador RV Park. This place is a bit out of the way and not likely to be found by the casual visitor to San Carlos. They offer a variety of menu items from beef to seafood with several selections prepared at your table. Another tableside item you don't want to miss is the Bananas Flambe over ice cream. The prices are a bit high but are easily justified by the ambience and food quality. The entire restaurant is non smoking.
Passione: ($$) (wi-fi in hotel)
Located in the San Carlos Plaza Hotel, this is a bar, smoking permitted, no food served with interesting artwork and ocean views.
PASTA FASTA: ($)
Located next door to Bananas, they serve pizza and pasta. We’ve only eaten there once, had a bad pizza, haven’t tried the pasta, and probably won’t go back. The prices are reasonable and I don’t know about their smoking policy, as we were the only ones there at the time.
PICCOLO: ($$$)
Located next door to Rosa’s Cantina, this is the 2nd of the 3 restaurants on my “never again” list. They purport to serve Italian cuisine and cater to the San Carlos artist community (whatever the Hell that is). The prices are way out of line for the quality and quantity of food they serve and they permit smoking throughout their tiny restaurant. I had the lasagna, which was no more than some crisp pasta with dry ground beef between the layers and no sauce. The experience was akin to eating dog kibble in a coat closet with someone smoking a cigar. This would be a fine place to eat for anyone who considers Chef Boy ar Dee canned Beefaroni the epitome of Italian cuisine. NO MAS!!! May/2008: I have been told that this place is now Non-Smoking if you care to try your luck.
ROSA’S CANTINA: ($$)
Located across the street from the Santa Rosa Market, this is a pretty decent place for breakfast. There is a box for mail going to the U.S. and someone usually picks it up once or twice per week. A non-smoking section is available.
RUBY WINE BAR: ($$)
At the San Carlos marina, Ruby's is a cozy spot for a romantic interlude. Enjoy drinks and a snack, either indoors or outside with a pleasant view. They have a full bar, a good selection of wine from inexpensive to very pricey, and interesting appetizers. Smoking is permitted. Open at 4 p.m., closed Monday.
RUTH AND RUDY'S: ($$)
Located on Ave. Beltrones about half a mile east of Totonaka RV Park at the Los Arcos Hotel. They have a menu and serve food indoors. We go there for the to-go frozen casseroles and the pies. This is definitely THE place in San Carlos to get your holiday pies...pumpkin, pecan, apple...all are excellent.
SAHUARO: ($$) (wi-fi)
Located in Hotel Paradiso (formerly Club Med). They offer a pretty standard menu of seafood, steak and chicken dishes of average quality. The ambience is the major selling point as they have a large wood burning fireplace in a very large high ceilinged room. They have a full bar but wine selections are very limited. Smoking is permitted but you should be able to find a table where it won't bother you.
SAN CARLOS GRILL: (Closed)
Located in the marina area near the moped rental shop. The interior is unusual and well worth seeing. They have good seafood selections as well as steaks. Prices are in the $12 range. Smoking is permitted in the bar but not in the restaurant. Food is also served in the bar for those who want to smoke.
SAN CARLOS PLAZA PALAPA BAR: ($$) (wi-fi in hotel) 
Located on the beach behind the hotel. Great ocean view from a glassed in covered patio! The waiter will bring your Joey’s pizza out to you or you can order from the bar menu. Try the marinated steak on the appetizer menu. Smoking is permitted but they also have individual palapas on the beach where they will deliver your food and drinks.
TEQUILA’S: ($$) (wi-fi)
Located in the Marina area across from Snowbird Realty. The prices are mostly inexpensive and they serve tacos, burgers and seafood. My bride thinks they serve the best seafood soup in town and I’ve been pretty happy with the burgers and tacos. They also offer an exceptional breakfast at a reasonable price. Smoking is permitted everywhere but they are large enough that it doesn’t present a problem.
TORO’S: ($$) (wi-fi)
This cozy little place is located right next door to Totonaka at the Best Western. Their outdoor patio offers ocean views and the food is moderately priced . Their specialty is a dish called "Molcajete" (that word is the sole reason I have given up on ever learning Spanish). The interior is small, they allow smoking throughout, and they offer outdoor dining.
Guaymas:
Cabo Azul: ($$$)
Located on the highway into Guaymas at the Miramar exit. They specialize in seafood, with steak and chicken also available. Food prices, menu items and quality are very similar to Los Arbolitos. They offer a fenced, lighted playground for children. Smoking is permitted throughout but with the size and open design, it isn't a problem.
EL OESTE: ($$$)
Located in the Armida Hotel about ½ mile south of the Ley store. Another great place for steaks and a pretty decent salad bar! We had the Chateaubriand for two, which was about $26 at the time. The interior is small and they permit smoking so mid afternoon would be a good time to go if you are a non-smoker.
LA COBACHA: ($$)
Located next door to Los Arbolitos and is the 3rd of the 3 restaurants on my **it list. I had the Camarones a la Diabla, which was really dull. The wind whips the dust through the place and you have to fight the flies for your meal. They also allow street vendors to come through selling everything imaginable while you are trying to eat. They have a reputation for seafood but I wasn’t impressed. So far as smoking, who cares! I ain’t goin’ back!
LA GRAN MURALLA (The Great Wall) ($)
Located on Calle 14 across from the fire station. Since Calle 14 is a one-way street in the wrong direction, from Serdan take Calle 15 for 4 blocks, turn right for 1 block (passing the prison), turn right on Calle 14. They specialize in generous portions of Chinese food at modest prices for primarily a local clientele. The food quality is good but not great and we found the 7 dishes we tried to be tasty. If you are in the mood for Chinese, served family style, this is an acceptable place to satisfy your cravings. Alcohol is not available and soft drinks are served without ice. The interior is small and they allow smoking everywhere, closed Wednesdays.
LOS ARBOLITOS: ($$$)
My brother-in-law's favorite, located in a large palapa on the left side of the road on the north side of town. The place is surrounded by large trees, has an open courtyard as well as covered dining. The prices are very reasonable considering the quality of the food. They are known for their seafood but also offer a steak and chicken menu. Check out the “Philadelphia Shrimp.” If you’re into cream and calories, this is for you! They do allow smoking everywhere but they have a separate room in the rear by the bar that is seldom used where you can request to be seated.
LOS BARCOS: ($$) 
Located on the waterfront at the end of Calle 22 (be careful – Calle 22 is a one way street and not well marked). Great seafood, tender steaks and moderately priced . Try the pepper steak. Sonoran beef is excellent and I have yet to encounter a Sonoran steak that wasn’t tender. They do permit smoking throughout the restaurant but the place is very large and has several rooms.
McDONALD'S: ($)
Located across the street from the Ley store. Take everything you think you know about MacDonald’s and toss it out the window. The burgers are overcooked and the salads are brown and wilted. They have a serious quality control issue. I’ll just have to wait until I hit Phoenix again for a Big Mac.
MICKEY MOUSE RESTAURANT & BAR ($)
Located across the street from the airport in Guaymas. There is no restaurant/bar inside the airport so this is a great spot to have a drink while awaiting the arrival/departure of the daily commercial flight. They also purport to serve breakfast/lunch/dinner but we have not eaten here nor have we seen food being served on either of our visits. Smoking is allowed both indoors and outside.
PANCHO VILLA CANTINA: ($)
Located on the main square near San Fernando church. Their menu consists primarily of enchiladas, rellenos and other traditional Mexican food. Everything we have tried, from the appetizers and soups, through the gorditas, rellenos and enchiladas, and ending with the desserts has been of excellent quality and well presented at the table.They open at 2 pm and have "Hora Feliz" every day from 4 to 7 pm. Live music and karaoke some evenings. Interesting interior with many Pancho Villa photos. Smoking is permitted in the bar and Ricky, the owner, works hard to maintain a smoke free dining room while the kitchen is open.
PLAYA de CORTEZ: ($$)
Located on the beach on the north end of town. There is an old hotel here that was once used by the rich and famous from around the world. We’ve only eaten there once and ate on the outside patio beneath a large tree overlooking the ocean. The food was good but not particularly memorable. The pearl factory is nearby and makes for an interesting stop after lunch. I haven’t a clue as to what their indoor smoking policy is so you are on your own!
SAUCE Y LA PALMA: ($)
Located on Calle 13 about 6 blocks west of Ave Serdan. This is a “Mexican” restaurant. The menu is limited but the food is traditional and very good. It’s hard to go away from this place hungry. I had the Gorditas and they were great! They don’t serve alcohol and don’t have ice for soft drinks. The prices are very reasonable. We paid $16 for lunch for 4 people. I don’t know if smoking is permitted or not but there was no one smoking the day we were there and the place was packed with local people.
EMPALME:
CAESARS: ($)
Located off the highway south of Empalme, turn toward the ocean just after the La Cobacha (the restaurant sign also has a large "Modelo can" on top). There is a green highway sign, "Playas el Cochorit" coverd in grafiti pointing the way. Caesar's is a "beach bar". He usually has some sort of snack or a freshly caught fish that you can nibble on but here is where simplicity reigns supreme. He sells beer...by the quart. He will fill your cups and drink what is left himself. On occasion he will sing for you and even invite you to join in...in Spanish, of course.
|
