Another of my favorites is called the Lighthouse. Situated near the famous La Fonda in La Mision is a place right on the water with plenty of windows and outdoor seating to accommodate large parties or the ever popular fight nights with a lamb and pork BBQ buffet. The owner, George McCord, brings in music from Ensenada like the Cuban band last night that filled up the dance floor.

The menu provides choices you will not see elsewhere, including six vegetarian selections to tempt your palate such as Portobello mushroom fajitas, or chili rellenos made with soy protein in a walnut sauce.

Prices range from $5 to $15 for this extensive and interesting menu.

Seafood, French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, and steakhouses are all over the area. Try Tapanco steakhouse in Rosarito to sample the Sonoran beef. Dinner starts with a salsa made at your table to your preference for amount of hot chilies. A salad tray is then brought out with a few excellent dressings to make salad your way. Then enjoy a soup made from cream, beans and fresh herbs. All of this before you get your preference for an entrée. Imagine all of this for around $15 a person excluding drinks, tax and tip.

Restrooms are clean and have the usual soap, water and paper towels for your use. This is true even near many taco stands. The standards are very close to the American. The days where one had to be terribly cautious about drinking the water or getting sick at a restaurant are long gone if you use common sense. Food poisoning is almost nonexistent, as it would ruin a business in a very short time. There are inspections of the restaurants just like up north. Some places even post their good reports for you to view. Again, the best reference for a place to eat is to stop and ask someone.

The locals all know where the best restaurants are, so ask when you stop for that margarita to quench your thirst after a drive down here. Service might be slower than you expect if you are from the states, but relax. This is Mexico. Look out at the marvelous coastline or the mountains or desert, wherever you might currently be. Your goal is to relax, remember.

russnldy@aol.com

Susan A Mahalick is part of ezine.com and bajatimes.com