chartiec Posted August 28, 2017 Report Share Posted August 28, 2017 A party of 10 of us ate at a this new restaurant last night and had a wonderful evening. The baked brie appetizer and lobster entre were rated most highly by five of us that ordered them but everything was good. The service was exceptional and all of us felt the value was good. My only criticism is that the decor is a little sparce, but we trust that will be remedied in time and I am happy to recommend this new addition to the lakeside dining scene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taaffe Posted August 31, 2017 Report Share Posted August 31, 2017 When we sat down, the hostess immediately told us that there was no filet mignon. The iceberg lettuce salad with bitter red onions and thickly sliced tomato with an unremarkable dressing was a disappointing start. The brie was good, not outstanding, but the rack of lamb was undersalted and again slightly bitter with the ubiquitous chopped red onions, and served with lukewarm mashed potatoes and very undercooked asparagus. The chcolate mousse cake was served cold and was tasty but slightly dry. Not impressed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canmex87 Posted August 31, 2017 Report Share Posted August 31, 2017 We were at Elegante last night too...there were 6 of us in our group...the hostess was most pleasant and seated us where we wished as we had a reservation...the wedge salad, tomato basil soup , and baked brie were starters and all were excellent...very tasty and filling...the bread basket was the best we have tasted at lakeside and was refilled without us asking... the filet mignon that some of our table chose was rated as the best filet they have had here...the pork loin dish was outstanding as was the spaetzle which came with it...the asparagus, which all had as a side vegetable with their dinners ,was cooked to perfection...tender crisp as it should be...crème brulee and the chocolate mousse cake were the selected desserts and did not disappoint... The service was outstanding also...we can all hardly wait to return... this restaurant is a gourmand's delight... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringal Posted September 1, 2017 Report Share Posted September 1, 2017 Who to believe here? For some, awful and overpriced, for another, "a gourmand's delight". We need more reviews, it would seem. Hopefully, from people unassociated with the business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twelveoaks Posted September 1, 2017 Report Share Posted September 1, 2017 4 hours ago, gringal said: Who to believe here? For some, awful and overpriced, for another, "a gourmand's delight". We need more reviews, it would seem. Hopefully, from people unassociated with the business. OK I generally do not participate in the discussions on this forum as they so easily go off topic but I am going to provide my opinion of Elegante. Four of us ate there the other night and each of us had a different entree. I had the flounder and it was dry and over cooked. My wife had the lamb and loved it. The other two had the pork and the filet and seemed satisfied but not overly impressed. The tomato basil soup was excellent and the Cesar salad had no hint of garlic nor anchovy. Very bland. The chocolate mousse was good but no better or worse than other restaurants. The wine was about a fifth bottle pour which was a little skimpy and the labels were identical to those poured in other restaurants lakeside but the price was 60 pesos and these wines go for 40 pesos every where in town. The decor is very dull and the chairs were uncomfortable for long periods of sitting. The service was friendly and effecient. The tab for my wife and I was 1,200 pesos including tip. Overall opinion is average or slightly above average and overpriced and I will go to St. Remy next time I want a special meal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Saltos Posted September 2, 2017 Report Share Posted September 2, 2017 There are 25.4 Oz in a bottle of wine. The standard (in the US) is 5 glasses per bottle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elegante Posted September 2, 2017 Report Share Posted September 2, 2017 We use a 6oz carafe which is brought to the table and then poured into the glass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomgates Posted September 2, 2017 Report Share Posted September 2, 2017 Eaten there twice and enjoyed it both times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecoons Posted September 2, 2017 Report Share Posted September 2, 2017 I'm please Elegante is following this thread and taking note of the feedback. No restaurant will please every customer but the ones that listen closely to their customers will please a lot more of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringal Posted September 2, 2017 Report Share Posted September 2, 2017 1 hour ago, Mainecoons said: I'm please Elegante is following this thread and taking note of the feedback. No restaurant will please every customer but the ones that listen closely to their customers will please a lot more of them. As always, a restaurant will not be successful unless it is consistent. So far, the reviews are all over the spectrum from cold potatoes to a joyous claim that they were served enough lobster tail to take some home. (Aw, c'mon, on that one. I've never left a single bit of a good real lobster tail on the plate, have you?) Elegante charges just about the highest prices we see locally, so they need to work extra hard on consistency so that their customers feel it's well worth the cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EX-PAT2011 Posted September 2, 2017 Report Share Posted September 2, 2017 I think reviewing a restaurant's food, is a lot like reviewing a movie, everyone has their own take on it, some will love it, some won't. I think the best thing to do is try it for yourself. Having said that, we have been to Elegante 3 times and each time the meals and service has improved. My last meal there was my favorite, grilled shrimp with pesto, plenty of shrimp and cooked just right. I ended up bringing some home because I wanted to save room for dessert. My husband loves the tuna, he gets it for an entree, just has it seared, that night it was served with snow peas which I kept stealing off his plate.They also make a great margarita! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringal Posted September 3, 2017 Report Share Posted September 3, 2017 1 hour ago, EX-PAT2011 said: I think reviewing a restaurant's food, is a lot like reviewing a movie, everyone has their own take on it, some will love it, some won't. I think the best thing to do is try it for yourself. Having said that, we have been to Elegante 3 times and each time the meals and service has improved. My last meal there was my favorite, grilled shrimp with pesto, plenty of shrimp and cooked just right. I ended up bringing some home because I wanted to save room for dessert. My husband loves the tuna, he gets it for an entree, just has it seared, that night it was served with snow peas which I kept stealing off his plate.They also make a great margarita! I don't agree that it is like a movie. That is a subjective judgment, based on many things. With a restaurant, reports can be quite objective. If the potatoes are cold or the portion is small (as pictured), it's not simply an opinion. So far, the reports are not consistent. I'll wait to invest in a meal there until I hear more consistent reports. I'm glad you enjoyed your own meals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xena Posted September 3, 2017 Report Share Posted September 3, 2017 1 hour ago, gringal said: I don't agree that it is like a movie. That is a subjective judgment, based on many things. With a restaurant, reports can be quite objective. If the potatoes are cold or the portion is small (as pictured), it's not simply an opinion. So far, the reports are not consistent. I'll wait to invest in a meal there until I hear more consistent reports. I'm glad you enjoyed your own meals. I agree, Gringal. Usually when a new restaurant receives wide ranging mixed reviews I am inclined to get there as soon as possible and see what I think. I am willing to risk up to 200 pesos on a meal that may or may not disappoint. But when I am looking at spending 500 pesos or so, I want better odds that I will consider it worth it. A restaurant that markets (and prices) itself as Ajijic's highest end dining needs to be consistently worthy of its reputation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted September 3, 2017 Report Share Posted September 3, 2017 I have only eaten at Elegante once, so I can't speak to consistency, but... A couple of weeks ago a friend and I went there. She and I are both difficult to please. We each had the small caesar to start, and she ordered the beef filet and I had the lightly breaded pork tenderloin with spaetzle. Shared a creme brulee for dessert. It was all absolutely perfect, thoroughly delcious. We kept looking at each other with wide eyes, as in, "Is yours as good as mine?" Of course we each tried the others food and agreed it was all delicious. Service was attentive, maybe a bit overly so that night. And yes, the room is definitely minimally decorated to the point of being stark, but I don't care about any of that if the food remains this good. I hope they keep it up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xena Posted September 3, 2017 Report Share Posted September 3, 2017 And, if they keep it up they will be successful. Let's hope more and more people have the wide-eyed wonderful experience you and your friend had, Travis. What you had was what we all expect at the high-end restaurants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carnivore Posted October 10, 2017 Report Share Posted October 10, 2017 It would appear that all of the few posts thus far are somewhat contradictory. We've been once and it was unremarkable. As for the wines it would be our recommendation that the menu prices for wines should have been researched to see what other restaurants of note, at Lakeside, are charging for exactly the same wines. It is difficult for some, particularly if they're on a somewhat fixed budget to accept paying considerably more for a glass or bottle of wine that's considerably less money just a few blocks away. Tough to justify, unless everything else experienced is somewhat exceptional. We had friends tell us that a single response from the hostess as they examined the menu for the first time....was somewhat of a put-off and as the food they consumed was only "so/so", they have not returned either. They asked if there was mint sauce or jelly available with the lamb. The response: "No!... and the chef will never serve it!" There's not much quality lamb available in restaurants locally. If patrons ask for what they've come to expect with a particular meat, then why "haughtily" refuse such an innocent request and loose their future patronage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Saltos Posted October 10, 2017 Report Share Posted October 10, 2017 We dined at Elegante last Friday, Oct. 4th. We found the service and food to be superb and far superior to other local restaurants. The tableware was good quality too which is something lacking in most other establishments. I thought the wine pricing was fair and the mixed drink prices were reasonable. For a Prix Fixe menu @ $225 I'll gladly pay a few pennies more for a glass of wine! I had the rack of lamb, it was the best I've had in my 12 years here. The preparation was not one that would be complemented with mint jetty. From our arrival to departure we found the service to be attentive and congenial. We will return soon. There has not been an affordable restaurant of this quality in the area for some time and we're happy to have Elegante. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisy2013 Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 6 of us ate there and it was excellent, appetizers and meal absolutely the best. I do not know how 2 people paid 1,200 pesos when the total for 6 was 2,300 pesos. We all left quite full. Definitely will go back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bisbee Gal Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 On 10/10/2017 at 4:47 PM, El Saltos said: We dined at Elegante last Friday, Oct. 4th. We found the service and food to be superb and far superior to other local restaurants. The tableware was good quality too which is something lacking in most other establishments. I thought the wine pricing was fair and the mixed drink prices were reasonable. For a Prix Fixe menu @ $225 I'll gladly pay a few pennies more for a glass of wine! I had the rack of lamb, it was the best I've had in my 12 years here. The preparation was not one that would be complemented with mint jetty. From our arrival to departure we found the service to be attentive and congenial. We will return soon. There has not been an affordable restaurant of this quality in the area for some time and we're happy to have Elegante. Was lamb a full rack (7 to 8 ribs) or 1/2 rack (3 or 4 ribs)? Price of it, apprx?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bournemouth Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 1 hour ago, Bisbee Gal said: Was lamb a full rack (7 to 8 ribs) or 1/2 rack (3 or 4 ribs)? Price of it, apprx?? Their menu has prices: http://www.eleganteajijic.com/menu.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bisbee Gal Posted October 12, 2017 Report Share Posted October 12, 2017 10 hours ago, bournemouth said: Their menu has prices: http://www.eleganteajijic.com/menu.html OK, got the price, 340p. But is it a whole rack or 1/2? Reason I ask is that the previous poster said his wife had the rack of lamb. Traditionally, a full rack feeds two people and is served that way. So, half or full for 340p? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringal Posted October 12, 2017 Report Share Posted October 12, 2017 12 hours ago, bournemouth said: Their menu has prices: http://www.eleganteajijic.com/menu.html The menu doesn't say whether it's a full or half rack of lamb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elegante Posted October 12, 2017 Report Share Posted October 12, 2017 It is 1/2 a rack but it is served as chops. The number of pieces depends on what we get from Costco so it will vary from 3 to 4 pieces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bisbee Gal Posted October 12, 2017 Report Share Posted October 12, 2017 340p for 1/2 a rack is pretty steep. Tango has a full rack for two people at 379p and it is excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngusMactavish Posted October 12, 2017 Report Share Posted October 12, 2017 If I ordered a "rack" of lamb and was served it as chops, I would be very disappointed. They need to call their dish what it is, lamb chops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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