thevalerieleigh Posted March 21, 2015 Report Share Posted March 21, 2015 Yesterday, we stopped by this new restaurant on the street running down the hill by El Torito. What a TREAT! The decor is an elegant black and white with quality cutlery, dishes, glasses, serviettes, etc. It was about 2:15 pm and the restaurant was 2/3 full. As we walked in, a large table told us we were in for a delicious meal. We thought this was another good sign. We were seated and then greeted by a delightful young lady, who spoke both Spanish and English. After ordering Agua Mineral, I was told by Barbara, Alex's wife, that she was also serving her special "Loquat Margaritas" or "Pineapple Mojitos". I went with the Margarita and it was perfect, just the right amount of tartness and not too sweet. The menu has soups, salads, carpaccios of seafood and beef as well as a variety of pasta dishes. We chose an Appetizer of Seafood Carpaccio that had some delicious Gravlax, Octopus and a salmon/grouper Pate. Tasty and well presented. I ordered the Ravioli with ricotta cheese and spinach topped with a tomato basil sauce and my partner ordered the Gnocchi with tomato basil sauce. Both pasta dishes were freshly made and absolutely top notch. The prices are reasonable. The soups and salads start at $45 pesos, the pastas are all $90 pesos. Chef Alex interacted with the tables and ensured patrons were happy with their meals. I encourage you to give it a try! Enjoy, Valerie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrod Posted March 21, 2015 Report Share Posted March 21, 2015 We went earlier this week and were really happy to see how lovely and classy Alex and Barbara have made their new venture. They say one feasts first with the eyes, and that held through the meal. Clean, bright and lovely décor; a typo-free menu (sorry, it's a professional peeve), and a meal with careful thought to the presentation. Even the check is delivered in a cute copper measuring cup. My fettucine carbonara was lovely and my lunch date enjoyed her arrabiata. I wish I had had the calories available to sample either the tiramisu or the crepes suzettes. Although Alex claims having limited hours (Tues-Sat, 12-5) and menu to start, you sure could not tell from the variety of choices. This is one menu I will have to work through from top to bottom...it was THAT difficult to decide. And I too enjoyed a kumquat margarita. UPDATED: They are now open for dinner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Saltos Posted March 21, 2015 Report Share Posted March 21, 2015 Is it on the Tianguis street or the street by Farmacia Cristina? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thevalerieleigh Posted March 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Alex's Pasta Bar is on the street closest to Farmacia Cristina. It's a few doors down from where the old Casino was some time ago. I don't think you can miss it with the black and white decor. Very elegant and classy. Enjoy! Valerie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Saltos Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 This is great news. He's a very good chef. He sold his restaurant, Parallelo 28, in Guadalajara, which was superb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobAtkinson Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 Hi -- does anyone have their phone number for reservations? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thevalerieleigh Posted March 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2015 Their numbers are: 766-2034 and 331-022-9431. The street address is: Juan Alvarez #71 Enjoy! Valerie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shira Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 Had their lasagne bolognese. It was more like a pudding. There were no lasagne pasta leaves just cheese and a meat sauce. It had to be eaten with a spoon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tycobb1020 Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 Went there for lunch yesterday. What we got was good . . . however, I thought the portions were a bit small for $90 pesos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shira Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 OOPS! I was wrong. A friend pointed out there was pasta but it was so overcooked that the cheese and pasta were similarly soft. Still had to eat it with a spoon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floresta Posted April 3, 2015 Report Share Posted April 3, 2015 Thanks Valerie…. I enjoyed reading your comments. Like I said, this is hands down the best meal I have ever had Lakeside. EVER. Clean, beautiful presentation, and highly skilled. This is not your common "dried pasta" bar however. So for those of you that lack fine dining experience, it may not be to your liking. No Velvetta cheese here. The sauces are reduced to perfection. The blending of flavors a delight to the palette. The kindness of the hosts and wait staff beyond measure here in Ajijic. The lasagna like something I have never tasted before. Beautifully cook and combined. Spoon or not Shia, you were having a treat, and a rarity. I'm glad that you reposted your first response as it was brutal and uncalled for. Enjoy this place, tell your friends. Alex and Barbara deserve a round of hearty applause. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floresta Posted April 3, 2015 Report Share Posted April 3, 2015 Went there for lunch yesterday. What we got was good . . . however, I thought the portions were a bit small for $90 pesos. Our dinner servings we huge. I had ravioli, and could hardly finish it. Worth every penny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tycobb1020 Posted April 3, 2015 Report Share Posted April 3, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakelove Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 "So for those of you that lack fine dining experience, it may not be to your liking. "(Floresta). Eeeew. The reviews of this restaurant are so diverse that I agree with "upfront". I think most of us on here HAVE had the "fine dining experience" to know the difference between good and bad Italian food. Some of us had the benefit of having it in Italy. Others, at the fine ethnic restaurants in the big cities NOB. So, I'll wait until someone whose past reviews of other places were "right on" and who liked the food at Alex's, before investing in a meal there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 We had lunch there today and the food was excellent. Our portions were such that I was very full and my husband took part of his home. I started to have the lasagna just to see what I thought but could not pass up the meat ravioli in wine sauce. It was delicious. Shira, you might want to try the lasagna at Pranzo's as they have much more pasta than filling which may be to your liking. The service was excellent. The waiter was very attentive and came back to the table after just a few minutes to see if we were happy with our food. We also had an appetizer that had a combination of items, fish pate, octopus, salmon, lettuce, olives, etc. We were not sure of the fish pate at first and the waiter noticed this and offered to exchange it. We appreciated very much this type of attention. We decided to keep it, however, and wound up liking it very much when eaten with fresh lime juice from the limes served on the plate along with the sauce we discovered under the lettuce. This was our first time eating octopus and I was rather hesitant especially since being told it was raw ... however, it was extremely good and I will order again. By the way, I have never, ever had ravioli such as I experienced today. So, I am thinking maybe even though I have had Italian food in Italy it may not have been "fine dining" I also appreciated very much the nice decor, relaxing music that was not blasting out the door, the real cloth napkin, the nice tableware and the happy atmosphere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Berca Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 I don't think I have ever seen reviews with such a wide range of different opinions on a place only open a few weeks. Sounds like their might be the typical consistency problem so common here. Either that, or you all didn't eat at the same place! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 Al Berca, just look at the comments about Pranzo's ... it is the same and they have been here for years now. I do tend to give more leeway to a new restaurant on the consistency issues at first. Also, some of it may simply be a person's taste ... such as the difference between wanting less pasta and more filling vs the opposite when enjoying lasagna. Pranzo's lost me a couple of years ago when they consistently served me old lemon pie (even when I asked first if it was fresh). Now, they have lost me with the old lasagna ... However, their food has never been as good as what we experienced today at Alex's Pasta Bar and neither was their service. I so hope what we experienced today continues. OH! I also forgot to say in my earlier comments we were served on HOT PLATES!! Our pasta did not get cold after the first few bites ... what a concept! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 Have they extended their hours to be open after 5:00? Pasta is a little to heavy for me for lunch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kb9gzg Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 Doesn't sound much like a "treat" if you have to eat your lasagna with a spoon. Any updates? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artsnob Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 I had the lasagna yesterday, very small portion and luke warm, I will give them another chance they are now open till 8 I will try the ravioli , Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxx Posted April 8, 2015 Report Share Posted April 8, 2015 We went there tonight and it was wonderful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxx Posted April 10, 2015 Report Share Posted April 10, 2015 We had dinner again and it was fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floresta Posted April 10, 2015 Report Share Posted April 10, 2015 The lasagna is not Kirkland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floresta Posted April 10, 2015 Report Share Posted April 10, 2015 And the gnocchi does not have a shelf life of 40 years…. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PECANS Posted April 10, 2015 Report Share Posted April 10, 2015 Went there yesterday. Charming place; wonderful owners. The place was half-filled at 4:00. The pasta was perfect. The arribiata sauce was very spicy. Sufficient servings for us. Nicely presented. Moderate prices. Will try more dishes next week and report back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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