El Nido — Restaurant in Baja California

I had a great experience on my cousins b-day. The wait was long so we sat at the bar and waited to be seated. We shuffled in the chaos to the bar . We had almost the whole bar to ourselves while the line waited outside to be seated. We were able to trully absorb the energy of the space and regenerate from a night of drinking the night before and have an intimate toast with my cousin with a few beers and an awesome mai thai. The atmosphere of the space was a brilliant mix of greenhouse and fireside patio, filled with antiques of all sorts. A woman and a young boy on the corner worked dough and made flour tortillas. While we stared at the walls filled with old farmhouse decor, cealings made out of dried saguaro cactus trunks and Upcycled lamps made of old ss milk containers. Shortly after we were seated and stared in awe at the amazing waterfall almost surrounding the dining area. Even the walk to the bathroom was an experience with three vintage antique jukeboxes, old telephones, another more out door seating area with another waterfall , a large comal where the tortillas are getting cooked and fireside oven grill that was just getting fired up. Potatoes sitting on a rod iron base perfectly designed for holding them above the mezquite fire to delicately cook the starches. I see two boxes filled with potatoes awaiting the same destiny. It inspires me for lunch. The lady sitting at the counter notices me taking a picture and offers to open the oven for me. It was a little bit of a bummer that we arrived too early for the lunch menu just because i wanted quail, but i ended up having the venison machaca and nopales with quail eggs. The menu was simple and the food was decent, i enjoyed my meal i feel like the venison was well made and flavorfull although the eggs were a little overcooked but you cant blame them for overcooking a tiny egg. My aunt was a little unhappy about her meal, but it was replaced no problem except she had to wait a little longer for her meal. Overall for 7 meals drinks and coffee. It was around 100$ i was and i think everybody was satisfied with their meal it even brought about conversation and we found out the owner has his own farm Were they grow the quail and the venison. I will be bringing my girlfriend back here and recomending it to...

If you're eco friendly go here!! The interior decor and ambiance makes this place unique. Food was flavorful until my husband and I realized they recycle food. Yes that's right folks they undoubtedly recycle food!!! Saw it with our own sober eyes in broad open daylight.

As customary the server brought out chips and salsa. The hubby's favorite. Something told me not to eat it as it looked very watery and had air bubbles in it. Almost like saliva. My husband enjoyed them though. Then came the food which lacked in size and presented in sloppy manner. They served very little of everything however the flavor was good. Not amazing but not bad.

That's when my husband who is very vigilant and big on cleanliness was looking around as he ate and noticed that the place was a little dirty and commented on how half fast they cleaned up each table after the patrons were done and left. That's when he took notice to how they RECYCLE FOOD that goes uneaten. They took the bowls of chips that where left from departing customers and placed it on a cart in the center of a room we were sat in along with the salsa that was left over as well. And as new patrons were sat they would take from the same salsa and chips on that cart and take it to the new customers at each table. When we confirmed this happening several times by just sitting quietly and watching we stopped eating and immediately felt sick. No wonder why the salsa looked strange to me and our plates of food looked quickly and sloppily put together. It begs the question, "if they are so brasen to do this out in the open, how much food is being recycled back in the kitchen?"

Not only is this gross and unsettling but need I remind you, our world is just coming out of a pandemic that killed many. This is downright irresponsible and lacks humanity. Obviously just to save a buck. So please my friends be vigilant always and if you take your chances here, for sure stay away from the chips and salsa and maybe just have a drink from a...

12/30/17 This place is breathtaking all the way around! I do admire the fact that they do have a local Ranch where the majority of their eggs and meat comes from. It's literally right down the street from where the restaurant is located! Everything is brought in fresh and made fresh to order.

During the winter time they do trim back the trees a little bit and vegetation, and the fireplaces, or the fire pits as they call them, are turned on. And no matter in which direction you're sitting from the fire pit, you will feel the warmth from it because it does radiate pretty well.

One thing that I really like about the restaurant was the fact that the menu is divided in both Spanish and English for everyone to understand. The majority of the staff is bilingual so that is helpful at the same time. Staff is always courteous and always very attentive of your table so there is nothing to worry about that here. If you would like to have something custom-made or something that's awesome and you all you have to do is ask can you be quite surprised as to how many things they can prepare that are not on the menu! The only downfall, the parking! My suggestion, park at the beach or when near one of the clubs on the beach. Then walk 3 blocks back to where the restaurant is and it's a win-win all...