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Our Last Night in Cancun Don and I usually avoid Touristy Mexico, but we got a good deal for a "resort" in the Hotel Zone of Cancun. Why not?
On our last night we chose a restaurant with good reviews, within walking distance. We put on comfy shoes and headed off. When we arrived, I had to grin at the sign. First of all, there was a giant lobster, which meant we could say, We dined, 2 times in one day, at a restaurant with a giant lobster on the roof. (see previous post) I also had to grin at the words, under the name. "Since 1683" Hmmm? Is that a joke? Built Over Water To the left of the sign was the giant palapa restaurant, sitting over the water.  Lorenzillo's brags that their palapa is the largest in the Americas. Of course they also claim a history going back to 1683. I was ready to find out. First Things First Before entering the main dining area, we paused to peek into the open air bar. It was on the early side, but still... How could this breezy bar with fabulous wood & canvas chairs and curious, striped wood floors, not be filled with people?
We didn't need an answer. We just took a seat by the water and sighed. Martinis and Sunset We sat at our little barrel table and watched the sun sink.  The April temps were balmy, not sticky. Cheers While sipping, I studied the words on the side of the building. I assumed Lorenzillo was the name of the owner. But later I learned that a man named Salvador, opened this restaurant and then others.
He even opened a furniture factory, to make the tables and chairs that fill his restaurants. Main Dining Room After our drinks we headed inside.  The interior wasn't full, but it was still bustling and festive. The blue and white, nautical theme was inviting. The Wine Vault We took a moment to take it all in, before we were seated.  The thick blue door leading to the wine vault, looked like something out of a James Bond movie. Lobster Boat Lorenzillo's has its own lobster and crab farm. They're known for their lobster, so we probably should have thought about ordering some.  But the boat filled with Lorenzillo's Girls, made me think twice. I've always been a wimp about seeing live food before eating it. So, how could I eat one of the Girls? That's like naming your pet chicken, that you plan on eventually eating. On View The display case made the fresh fish tempting, even to someone who doesn't adore seafood.  I loved the artistically carved veggies, making pretty designs with the seafood. Bar Boat I love a theme and this place did a mighty fine job. Even the bar looked like a boat.  The waiters wore blue and white shirts, accented with red lobsters. One of the men wearing a lobster shirt, welcomed us and had us follow him to our table. Nautical Plates We passed beautifully set tables. The white over blue tablecloths, plus blue & white china with a golden ships, looked very classy!
He took us to a perfectly fine table, except for one thing. It was not by a window and there seemed to be quite a few available. New Table It never hurts to ask and sure enough, we were moved to a better table, beside a window. I tried not to wonder why they didn't take us to a better table first. Better to not over-think it.
Our new table was lovely. A purse stand suddenly appeared next to me. My unworthy travel bag really wanted to hide under the table, but I used the stand anyway. Then a standing ice bucket arrived to hold our wine and then a basket with an amazing assortment of fresh breads and garlic butter. Yum Complimentary empanadas came next, with two kinds of sauce.
I was happy. Curious View There was a door nearby, that lead to the deck tables. After a couple sips of wine, I took a quick step outside to catch the sunset.  There was one more giant lobster that needed to be photographed! In my picture, it looks like he's keeping an eye on Don, who can be spotted in the first window. Sinking Sun Then, I took a photo of the sun just before it slipped behind low clouds.  If we had been vacationing during peak season, then we could have enjoyed lots of people watching, along with our sunset. The palapa and decks were mostly empty. Feast It was silly to order chicken at a place known for seafood, but I was in heaven with my crispy coated chicken, oozing with spinach and goat cheese. I enjoyed bites of pasta and asparagus between decadent mouthfuls of cheesy meat.  Don loves his seafood and he was more than pleased with the Veracruz-style Grouper, served with onions, peppers and olives. He can be picky, but he raved. Dessert? We had no room for dessert, but we worked off a couple calories by hiking the stairs to the second level, for a view of the wonderful "striped" floors.  I think there's a story about those floors...? Flags and a View The upstairs dining was closed for the evening, but our waiter invited us to go up and peek around. Instead of a window view, these tables could look down on the diners below, or up at the international flags hanging from the beams.  Best of all the upper level walls were covered with framed clippings and photos. We learned about past famous diners, like Jacques Cousteau and Omar Sharif. We learned about the two hurricanes that nearly destroyed the restaurant. I also finally learned the real age of Lorenzillo's. The Legend It was no surprise to learn that our restaurant had not been around since 1693. Lorenzillo's really opened in 1979. The restaurant was named for a legendary pirate. The story claims that in 1693, Lorenzillo was a hungry pirate when his ship arrived at the port in Veracruz, Mexico. He became enraged to find no good food available. That pirate story inspired Salvador Vidal, when he opened his restaurant nearly 4 decades ago.
He could have just named the Lobster House after himself, since he has a pretty good name. Instead he used the legend and a little humor to create a restaurant with a reputation for delicious food, that could please a fierce and picky pirate, like Lorenzillo. Luckily all customers seemed content on the night we dined. I saw no outraged pirates or diners yelling and smashing the beautiful blue plates. Happy Tourists and Happy Pirates!
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Isla Mujeres in Mexico This was just about the first restaurant Don and I spotted when our ferry arrived on the island.  It was early morning and we were starved. Any restaurant with a lobster on the roof, had to be good! Under the Roof Don and I paused to check the menu on the little carved stands in front. No staff rushed to greet, because they were all under the roof, eating their own breakfasts. But we were spotted and encouraged to come in and find a seat.  Don and I headed into the shaded restaurant and noticed more creatures hanging from the ceiling. All the tables were sitting in beach sand, which was pretty fun. But we headed down the wooden walkway, towards the water. Table on the Deck  We picked one of two wooden tables, on the deck, where we had a little shade, plus a nice view of the water and dock. All Alone The other ferry tourists all seemed eager to get to beaches or golf cart tours.  We seemed to have the place to ourselves and that was perfect. Coffee at Last Our waiter eventually arrived with menus. I asked if they served coffee. He answered no... and then laughed. Some diners in need of caffeine, might not have found that funny. I was just happy he was teasing.  Once I had a sip of coffee, I could enjoy the atmosphere. Our little, polished table had some character. There was a glass covered hole in the center, with a flower and shell display. Carved Chairs The chairs that went with the table were even more exciting. Don and I both had carved seahorses behind our backs, but there were chairs with dolphins and turtles and lobsters.
I think families with young kids would find these chairs pretty nifty. I can also imagine some bickering siblings, tired from a day at the beach... fighting over the octopus chair. Eye on the Dock This was the perfect little spot to start our day on the island. Don and I (and the overhead shark) kept an eye on the water and boats. Not  only was the setting peaceful, but the music that played softly was quite pleasant. A nice change from some of the places that cater to young tourists! Breakfast The food part of the dining adventure was decent and priced well.  Our orders of Ranchero Eggs and Mexican Eggs were pretty similar and I can't even remember which we liked better. Lobster Next Time Our memories of Miramar will be about the curious decor and the view and our friendly pelican. I wish we had a lobster memory.
After we excited I noticed the glass window facing the street, with the lobster tank. Next time, we'll need to go at night for a real feast, with lobster memories!
Birthday Lunch in Fredericksburg, Texas
Self Help Restaurant/Bar  It was a beautiful day, when we arrived. A band was gearing up out on the patio and we had a feeling the place would be getting packed soon. We stepped inside the bar area to figure out how this place worked. Luckily, some other diners filled us in. "Order at the inside bar. Find yourself a seat. Pick up your food at the kitchen window." Who is Hondo?
On past visits to Fredericksburg, I had always been curious about the old building. Stepping inside for the first time, it was nice to see the interior had just as much charm as the exterior. There were thick stucco walls, wooden beams, a stone fireplace and lots of photos of Hondo. I obviously needed to learn about who this Hondo person was. Hondo by the Stage  The cute little stage with twinkle lights and stacks of beer boxes, was surrounded with more Hondo images. I felt a little bad that I've lived in Texas nearly 20 years and didn't know about Hondo Crouch. I quickly learned that Hondo was the writer and humorist, who became the self-proclaimed mayor of Luckenbach, Texas. Luckenbach in 2015  Here is Luckenbach in 2015, when Don and I stopped by on July 4th weekend. We knew about the Texas Hill Country "town" made famous by Waylon Jennings in 1977. But we didn't know about Hondo Crouch, who bought the town for $30,000 in 1970. Hondo's Daugther
People Watching  There was lots of good people watching. I was sorry I hadn't worn my cowboy hat. I guess that's because I don't have one. But I could have worn boots. Cool Drinks
Don and I toasted to the day, with margarita and beer and waited for our order. Burgers and Soup  Our food didn't take long. I recall Don's burger was extra yummy, topped with crispy onion strings, bacon and cheese.
Rating the Restroom
Thats the problem with a throw-back write-up... when you don't take notes. I'll just have to go back and enjoy again!
Seguin, Texas  It's not every day that you get a chance to dine in what was once a power plant. A while back, Don and I made a lunch stop, to have a dam-view, restaurant experience! Engine Room  I loved the idea of eating inside the impressive brick structure. This building operated as a gristmill in the early 1900's and was converted into a hydroelectric plant in 1940. Diesel Engine  We could have eaten some burgers, right beside the Busch-Sulzer Diesel Engine! Or...  We could have nibbled on fries, while studying hefty pieces of machinery. Engineering Evidently it took some creative engineering to get this place reopened after years of sitting vacant. There was leveling and bridge building... kitchen and deck construction and all sorts of things I don't understand.  I also know nothing about all cool machinery inside the engine room. I do know it fascinated my engineer husband, who wandered and studied, while I saw about getting a table. Food with a View!  It was hard to give up the idea of dining within those brick walls, where we could have imagined the noise and activity 100 years ago. But the weather was too lovely on a spring day. Eye on the Dam  Even without the history, this view was pretty ideal. It was fun imagining the scene through the years. It may have been a beaver dam that inspired the first original mill dam, way over 100 years ago. By the late 1800's, Henry Troell was the owner and the mill evolved into a power plant with the installation of electro-hydraulic generators. S-Shaped River
The Turbine Room  Our waiter encouraged us to cross the bridge and take a peek at the Turbine Room. I'm guessing the space is used for private gatherings or overflow. What a dramatic view, looking straight down on the water! The Turbine Wheel  In 1886, Henry Troell was given permission by Seguin Waterworks Company to install a 54-inch turbine wheel at his power dam. This is the wheel that allowed water to be pumped to the Seguin area. Troell must have been a pretty big man on Seguin's campus, back in the day. No one took power for granted back then. Next Time We need to get back to Seguin and do a little Power Dining in the evening. I'm not sure where the sun sets or what kind of crowd fills the place at night. But it might be worth a visit! Sugar Land, Texas
Revolving Sushi?
When Heidi visited Sugar Land in February, we gave it a try, arriving on a busy Sunday night. The Wait
Eating at the Counter?  There were table options as well as counter seating. It was tempting to sit facing the parade of food, like these folks. But I wasn't sure we would get the full experience. Food and Toys
Corner Table!  Yay! We got a corner table. I sat with the food prep behind me and the conveyor belt beside me. I could also see some little eyes, peering at the moving food. Mr. Fresh
You Like, You Grab  Heidi let Don and me sit by the exciting revolving belt that wound around the restaurant. Don skillfully grabbed a plate of Soy Sake Marinated Salmon Nigiri. The lid popped up properly and he neatly placed the little $2.25-dish right on our table. Cheers  Not everything was available on the moving belt. Sake, Udon, Ramen, Tempura and desserts could all be ordered from a food screen. A waiter initially greeted our table for any special requests. Quick and Fresh After our 25 minute wait, it was nice not having to wait for food. We saw what we liked and grabbed.  It was also nice to learn that Kura serves all organic foods, free of additives and MSG. I also was pleased to find out that there's a system for automatically disposing of the uneaten food plates, that for some reason don't get picked. So no worries about picking a food that's been lingering. Eating with Pros
I was the only one at our table who has not eaten sushi in Japan. Don used to travel on business. Heidi and her husband Jamie, were engaged in Japan. Also, Don and Heidi share an odd college experience, 30+ years apart. Both spent a period of time at University of Michigan, eating dorm food only with chopsticks. I love dining with pros. Nigiri...  It's hard to pass up some bright salmon and fresh tuna, when it rolls on by. We ended up eating lots of basic nigiri, but the rolls were tasty as well. The green plates were all $2.25, which seemed like such a bargain, but it's also easy to get carried away with the fun. That's kind of how I remember cafeterias as a kid. It's so easy to grab a lot! A Giddy Diner I obviously loved the little box that held my food. I was pretty excited about the whole concept of this place. I also seemed to be the only one looking around and snapping pics, like a tourist.  In fact I felt like I was a tourist on a trip. We live in Fort Bend County, which is ranked the most diverse U.S. county, in many studies. When I looked around, I could easily imagine that I was actually eating a meal in Japan. None of the other diners seemed to make a fuss over the exciting vibe. No one else seemed to be "learning the ropes". Relaxed Staff  I turned around in my booth to peek at the "sushi makers" now and then. They seemed pretty laid back in the festive atmosphere. I should have paid closer attention to observe the system for adding and removing plates from the belt. For a moment, I amused myself with a thought of the iconic I Love Lucy episode. Except I pictured Lucy, stuffing her mouth full of salmon and shrimp, instead of chocolate! Bikkura-Pon! This was my first dining experience that involved a little game-like fun, at the table.
Above our table and the belt, we had our own colorful screen. There was a little animation first and then some words, encouraging us to "defeat him" by inserting more plates. Below the moving belt was the slot, where we inserted our empty green plates. Our plates became tokens to keep the story moving on the screen. The Prize Above the animation screen, was a clear box that held the round prize holders. I was glad we had 3 people since it took 15 plates to earn a prize.
I felt like I was in Vegas when we inserted the 15th plate and the Bikurra-Pon released a red & green ball! Down the slide it came, landing in the plastic tray! Oh boy, a little stamper. It was pretty lame for over 35 dollars worth of sushi. But I didn't care. I was the kid that bought Cracker Jacks, just for the prize. Share the Prize
It's close enough and that would add to the playful dining theme. I could also leave the prize behind, like one person did. I pity the families with kids, begging the parents to purchase 15 more plates for another prize! Yikes.
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The Dining Blog
This is a blog about Dining Adventures. Sometimes, I talk about food. Below, you can read how this started. On July 4th 2011, I set a goal to try 50 culturally diverse restaurants in one year! (I knew that was possible, living in the Houston area) I spent the year pulling in friends and family to join me, on some unusual dining adventures. I met some curious people, tried some scary foods and explored places and cultures I never would have otherwise. Even though I met my goal, I learned too much to end my adventures in dining. I have continued blogging about memorable dining adventures of all kinds, near and far... and all the discoveries and funny things I've learned along the way! Locations and types of dining adventures, are listed further down. Archives
April 2023
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