A Mexican restaurant built around a lake.
Outside of Mexico, we haven’t been thrilled with the Mexican restaurants in our new area. There is one that is pretty good, but it’s a 45-minute drive away. In California, we had several favorites within walking distance. I think we get used to a certain flavor and anything else doesn’t satisfy the craving for Mexican food.
We tried a restaurant in Cave Creek for lunch Saturday called El Encanto and I was thrilled with the setting. It was built around a lake (man-made) that was teeming with ducklings, turtles and koi. They have indoor and outdoor seating with most of the tables with fabulous views. We had a window seat and I could have stayed there for hours!
Ducklings, a Mallard and a turtle resting on a rock outside our window.
The food was decent too. I wouldn’t say the best ever, but very good compared to other places we’ve tried. I found it a bit pricey, but the view made it worth it.
When you go out to eat, what is your favorite type of cuisine? Is the setting or atmosphere as important as the food?
I saw these ducklings in Mexico 🇲🇽 they are so sweet and we love this food. Anita
I love the ducklings too!
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Looks like a very welcoming place.
I have a friend who moved here ten years ago. She gave me a list of restaurants when we moved. It took us two years to try this one!
If it weren’t for Covid, you might have tried it sooner.
Yes!
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The ducks are so adorable! Love the way you described the restaurant. As for me, I like to eat at a restaurant with a view. I don’t like eating next to the street (car noise bothers me). Otherwise, I would rather order take out and eat at home.
We do take out most times and eat at home too.
I would definitely eat at this restaurant!
So much fun with the wildlife!
That provides some fun ambiance with the wildlife! I rarely eat out but if I’m going for a nicer, pricier experience I definitely don’t want a noisy crowd 😉 Humans that is…the wildlife is fine!
Fortunately we were in a quiet room. Parts of this restaurant were noisy.
Part of enjoying the food is the ambiance! Cheers to finding a beautiful place…and for sharing the pics…like ‘dinner and a show’! 🥰
That’s it! Dinner and a show!
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We went to a scruffy dockyard somewhere in Florida on the water with the best food. We discovered it by accident. Very informal and in the moment.
I would love that!
It was a good find by the water.
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My favorite cuisine can be classified as “abundance, and cheap”. We have scads of Cuban restaurants here. I think there must be a city ordinance that requires 12 per square mile, or something like that. We know they are authentic because they are Cuban family run, by Pedro, Pedro Jr., Pedro III and Mrs. Ezmeralda. All of them. In these places, English is the foreign language, but they can ALL make a Cuban sandwich that is bitchin’!
That sounds great! We had one Cuban restaurant near our house in Palm Springs. I loved their Cuban sandwich.
As you might imagine, we are surrounded by good, authentic Tex-Mex restaurants. I’d say move to Texas, but you live in such a beautiful place! You’d have to move to West Texas to get desert terrain.
I’m surprised Arizona has fewer Mexican restaurants than So Cal. I thought it would be the same.
Politically, Arizona is not as welcoming to Border crossers as California. That could account for fewer Mexican Restaurants.
You might be right.
Maybe it’s just your city?
It could be.
If I had that view from a restuarant i would be going all the time. LOL! So lovely and peaceful and I love Mexican food, so its a winner to me!
We are definitely going back!
😉
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It has been a few years since we’ve been to El Encanto in Cave Creek. I too loved the setting but thought the food was just ok especially for the price. Have you ever tried Abuelo’s in Peoria? (Bell and the 101) That’s one of my husband’s favs.
Thanks for the tips on a restaurant. Yes, I looked at the website and thought it was pricey. And yes, it was okay but not the greatest. I do like the setting!
When I go out to eat I prefer to try things I can’t make at home, so I tend to go for Asian flavors.
That’s my favorite. Japanese and Chinese. But there’s a great Korean restaurant near my kids in Oakland.
We had Vietnamese last night. So good
Yum!
What a great setting. I can see why you’d want to stay all afternoon.
My favorite Mexican restaurant is by Greenlake but they no longer do a lunch service since the pandemic so I don’t get to eat there often. I guess I need to look for a new place as well!
We used to go to Campos in the U District years ago.
I don’t think that’s still there. But you jiggled a memory and there is a great Mexican place down off of Pacific by the hospital that you can either drive to or boat to called Aqua Verde. Maybe I’ll have to revisit that one. Thanks, EA!
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