Casa Don Rene Restaurant — Restaurant in Ensenada

I’m positively enchanted with this place! We were here in a Sunday in December just before sunset, so definitely not their busy season/time, but honestly that made it even more perfect. The vibe here was just fantastic; they had a fire going for roasting marshmallows and it was so cozy to sit nearby and enjoy sangria. Our waitress was a very sweet young lady who switched to English quickly (we’ve been practicing our Spanish diligently but we still blank and panic when faced with using it IRL) and she was so chill about it and laughed saying she needed to practice her English anyways. We LOVED the ambiance and enjoyed the food immensely. We each ordered the potato dish - I had shrimp and my boyfriend had the barbacoa one. This isn’t a commentary on the food, because that was absolutely wonderful, but my favorite part was the staff. All the food we’ve had in Ensenada so far had been amazing, but what made this place stand out was the ambiance and the staff’s positive energy. Because it wasn’t busy they were out enjoying the fire and chatting with guests and it was fun to engage and interact with them. It lent a really personal touch to the whole dining experience. We will DEFINITELY be back to try the pizza and breakfast too!

UPDATE: We’ve been back for both pizza and breakfast in January/February. Both times it’s been pretty quiet but it’s the off season. The boyfriend was positively enamored with the pizza (we do pepperoni and mushroom) saying it was among the top 5 favorites he’s had in his life. I thought it was very good but personally I’m enamored with the breakfast. The Killer Beans are so freaking good, I’m coming back every single weekend for them. I ordered the Waffle Tower and what I admired most was how it was cooked to SUCH perfection. It was cooked immaculately. It’s hard to get eggs and bacon wrong, but it was just SO perfect, not greasy and bacon perfectly crispy. I continue to enjoy the positive energy and camaraderie amongst the staff members. And live music starting up again next weekend! My only wish is that they had chilaquiles on their breakfast menu! They were also cool with our dog being there as long as he was leashed and...

My second time visiting this place. I have to say it keeps getting better and better. I had the barbacoa omg, it was amazing not gamey at all and the meat just melts in your mouth. The wait staff the atmosphere and meeting the chef made my experience even more of a reason to return. Ahhh the freshly baked conchitas with their coffee, yum. You should also try the chefs special you try a little bit if everything. You should also start with their special beans.....omg I jad to get an order for snacking later with some of their freah made flour tortillas made Sonoran style. Happy eating.

Please note that the money is calculated in pesos...

I went a year ago and upon looking up the place again with plans to return in the future, with a friend this time, I realized my neglect of acknowledging my pleasant visit before. I only had the gallina pinta which I enjoyed very much, and relaxed in the park-like atmosphere. The staff was very courteous and had made myself a note of two names back then, Ramon and Rafael, one of those was the chef and the other one was the server that attended to me. I’m looking forward to eat the same plate again, and hope they have Artesanal beers. Last time I drank my own wine. The place was originally recommended to...