El Mandil - Pátzcuaro

I met friends here for breakfast and was not disappointed. I think my pictures tell everything. There was a wonderful selection of regional dishes.

My wife and I had Comida a few days ago in the recently moved El Mandil, at Hotel Villa Gardenias. The NEW ADDRESS is Calle Prol Lázaro Cárdenas 67, 61600 Pátzcuaro, Mich. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:00 to 17:00. Breakfast from 8:00 am and la comida (main meal from 14:00 pm. If something, the place, a flower covered terrace, is more intimate and attractive, then the previous one in the Mesón de San Antonio. Most remarkable, there are more light, although Diners are shaded by a kind of Palapa. I liked the large, refectory style dining room in the Mesón de San Antonio, but the new dining area is smaller, more intimate, colorful and better illuminated. (Remain the ironworks thresholds at the gates in the different sections, a potentially triggering danger. The food is still cooked at home in style, plentiful and well made. The staff is particularly friendly and helpful. The hour is official at 2:00. We arrived a little early and were invited to help us to the minimalist salad bar, while the staff put out the various hot dishes. A highlight of the salad offer were the slightly cooked sections of Chayote. A long time ago the various Cazuelas were laid over coal burners and we came to serve. (A challenge for me was the decision to choose which of the appetizing and attractive hot dishes while I wear my plate to our table while taking photos on my iPad. Not unpleasant, just challenging. Two soups were offered; Sopa Tarasca and Sopa de Lentejas. I had half a bowl of Sopa Tarasca, because, IMO, it is an indicator of care that puts the kitchen in their dishes. This was a good sopa tarasca, with a pure beans as I prefer. We were invited to decorate our soup with queso fresco and crema. A large cazuela by Sopa Seca de Arroz was well done. I then had some crushed beef with mild Chiles, a few tortitas de Papa (some way like hash brown potato patties, Chamorro de Cerdo en Salsa Roja, and the very good Friijoles. I wish I had room to try a Chile Relleno, but had to satisfy myself with a small dish of simple, creamy Arroz Con Leche for Dessert. Two aguas frescas were offered by guava was very good, but there were also Tamarinds. The agua was brought to our table in a large Tonton anchor, a nice change from the usual plastic pitchers in other economic restaurants. I should also mention that hot, handmade tortillas and doraditas or baked tortilla wars were also brought. Parking is somewhat limited, although we found a slot right in front of us when we arrived early. You could also search for parking on the side street. We think El Mandil is a delightful restaurant with mostly good food, freshly prepared and at a very low price of $60 MXP per person.

We have been serving El Mandil for about 5 years and see that they are moving at least 3 times. This last time is a beautiful location with simple parking on the old road coming to the city through the petrol station and propane station. Your breakfast and lunch are buffet style, with egg and meat dishes along with some salads. My favorite here is the Chile Relleno, which was always delicious and not soggy with fat. They always have several essential dishes that either chicken or beef, sometimes pork and always have a pasta dish too. Included in the price is a choice of agua fresca or coffee. We're pretty regular. The service is also attentive.

You pay as you enter and it is sort of expensive at $60 pesos. The buffet is not extensive and heavy on egg and meat dishes and not very tasty. Pretty corriente, in fact. The line for the buffet was inexplicable, and the place was full of oldsters (like me, in fact) and very dark and gloomy. I won´t be going back. Not a stellar experience. Not even pas mal.

My wife and I had comida a few days ago at the recently relocated El Mandil, in the Hotel Villa Gardenias. The NEW ADDRESS is Calle Prol Lázaro Cárdenas 67, 61600 Pátzcuaro, Mich. It’s open Tuesday through Sunday, from 8:00 a.m. Until 5:00 pm. Breakfast from 8:00 and la comida (main meal) from 2:00 p.m.If anything, the venue, a flower bedecked patio, is more intimate and attractive then the previous in the Mesón de San Antonio. Most noticeable, there's more light, although diners are shaded by a sort of palapa. I liked the large, refectory style dining room at the Mesón de San Antonio, but the new dining area is smaller, more intimate, colorful and better lighted. (Just beware the ironwork sills at the gates into the various sections, a possibly tripping hazard.)The food is still home cooked in style, ample and well made. The staff is notably friendly and helpful. Serving hour is officially at 2:00 p.m. We arrived somewhat early and were invited to help ourselves to the minimalist salad bar while the staff set out the various hot dishes. A highlight of the salad offerings were the lightly cooked sections of chayote.Before long, the various cazuelas were placed over charcoal burners and we came up to be served. (A challenge for me was deciding which of the appetizing and attractive hot dishes to choose, while carrying my plate to our table, while snapping photos on my iPad. Not unpleasant, just challenging.)Two soups were offered; Sopa Tarasca and Sopa de Lentejas. I had a half bowl of Sopa Tarasca, because, IMO, it's an indicator of the care the kitchen puts into its dishes. This was a good Sopa Tarasca, made with a puree of beans, the way I prefer. We were invited to adorn our soup to our taste with queso fresco and crema.A large cazuela of Sopa Seca de Arroz was well made. I then had some shredded beef with mild chiles, a couple of Tortitas de Papa (something kind of like hash brown potato patties), Chamorro de Cerdo en Salsa Roja, and the very good frijoles. I wished I'd had room to try a Chile Relleno but had to satisfy myself with a small dish of simple, creamy Arroz Con Leche for dessert.Two aguas frescas were offered, that of guava was very good, but there was also tamarind. The agua was brought to our table in a large, clay pottery pitcher, a nice change from the usual plastic pitchers used in other economical restaurants.I should also mention that hot, handmade tortillas and "doraditas", or baked tortilla crisps were brought also.Parking is somewhat limited, although we found a slot directly in front when we arrived early. One could also look for parking on the side street.We think El Mandil is a delightful restaurant with mostly good food, freshly prepared, and at a very low price of $60 MXP per person.