While some eateries at Lakeside close for the holidays so they and their staff can have some time at home, many continue to slave away in the kitchen on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and some keep their clients happy both days. Here’s a list of those we know who will do their utmost to please you and keep you out of the kitchen.
Tio Domingo Restaurant, at Ocampo 204 in West Ajijic, offers a traditional posada Saturday, December 20, 6 p.m. With a green salad, roast pork in apple sauce, buñuelos, hot fruit punch, a glass of wine and piñatas for 200 pesos. Call 766-2453 for reservations.
Restaurante La Una, at Marcos Castellano 4 in Ajijic, is offering a Christmas Eve dinner with chilled chambrule, a choice of tapa, soup or salad and a choice of lobster tail, duck breast, rib eye or shrimp with baked potato and vegetables, ice cream or chocolate mousse. Servings are 4 to 6, and 7 to 9 p.m. A live concert by Daniel Medeles Ensemble Axixic String Quartet will accompany both seatings. For reservations call 766-2072.
Arileo Steakhouse and Bar, located just over the county line in San Juan Cosala, is open Christmas Eve from noon to 9 p.m. with a menu of bacon-wrapped filet mignon, rack of lamb or grilled fish with pesto sauce. Desserts are Bailey’s creme brulé and tiramisu. They are closed Christmas Day. Call (376) 106-1627 for information.
Hacienda Don Pedro, on the highway in West Ajijic, will be open December 24 until 7 p.m. and Christmas Day until 8 p.m. with their regular menu and a special dinner each day. Call 766-4906 for more information.
Roberto’s Restaurant, on the Carretera in West Ajijic, is serving Christmas Eve dinner from 4 p.m. Including their regular menu and specials: roast prime New York strip, lobster crepe, duckling a l’Orange, loin of lamb, paella Valenciana, and crab-stuffed salmon. Christmas Day dinner begins at 2 p.m. The regular menu will be supplemented by roast turkey with all the trimmings and glazed baked ham, duck, lamb loin, roast prime beef, oysters, and crab cakes. Call 766-1616 for reservations.
The Nueva Posada, Donato Guerra 9, has two seatings for their Christmas Day dinner: 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. The menu includes the house pate with champagne crackers, a port-poached pear salad in a bed of baby greens with panela cheese, almonds slivers and a red wine vinaigrette served with croissant and butter. The main meal is roast turkey with savory dressing, fresh cranberry sauce, whipped potatoes, giblet gravy, candied sweet potatoes with almonds, Danish red cabbage, and English peas. Dessert is plum pudding with rum sauce, coffee and liquor. The price is 280 pesos, 190 pesos for children under 12. Call 766-1444 to reserve your table.
Armandos Hideaway, at Privada Ocampo 18, serves Christmas Day dinner from 1 to 9 p.m. Cream of parsley soup begins the feast followed by roast turkey with all the trimmings or shrimp in wine sauce with a glass of wine. A Kahlua parfait will sweeten the meal followed by a brandy or Kahlua. Call 766-2229 for reservations.
Manix, at Ocampo 57, is putting on its annual Christmas buffet December 25 with roast turkey and pig with all the trimmings, appetizers and a dessert bar for 250 pesos. Seatings are from 2-5 and 6-8 p.m. Call 766-0061 for reservations.
Salvador’s, at Plaza Bugambilias, is putting on a Christmas buffet December 25, noon to 6 p.m. The menu includes stuffed roast turkey, ham, Waldorf, pasta and green salads, corn bread, mashed potatoes, pumpkin and pecan pies, and other desserts, a glass of house wine, a beer or margarita, iced tea or soft drink, and coffee for 180 pesos. Call 766-2301 for reservations.
Maria Isabel Mexican Grill and French Creperia, next to the pier in Ajijic, is offering a Christmas Day buffet from noon to 6 p.m. The menu includes roast and baked ham, turkey cranberry sauce, Bourbon sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, various vegetables and salads, breads and relishes, and for dessert: chocolate mousse, creme burl, baked apples with cinnamon. The price is 150 pesos. Call cel. 333-676-6920 for reservations.
Dining at home? You can pick up a turkey or glazed ham to prepare at Puritan Poultry in Riberas del Pilar, tel. 765-4399. Holiday desserts can be ordered from chefs Georgina and Peter at 765-4412.