Ajijic’s CocinART restaurant is centrally located just off Colon in a courtyard-like setting that is loaded with charm and atmosphere, not to mention an interesting menu and excellent food.
There are hanging live plants and large potted palms around the roomy dining area. Lighting is tastefully subdued and the Mexican artwork and framed floral wallpaper on the walls adds to the attractive setting. CocinART opened in December of 2014, and is owned and operated by Oyuki Chong and Arturo Gomez, who is the chef.
The kitchen is very busy as each day they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. For breakfast you can choose from: delicious eggs Benedict, a CocinART omlette, a mcsandwich or eggs any style. Lunch offerings include: a chicken sandwich, a BBQ pork sandwich, grilled white fish, spaghetti arrabiata, beef liver or two variations of a hamburger and the CocinART salad, which are listed below under dinner options.
For cena/dinner a very popular item is the salmon cardenal: salmon crusted with nuts and almonds and served with cardenal sauce, which is roasted green peppers, white wine and capers with curry and coconut rice and sautéed vegetables. Another seafood winner is camarones Sam: shrimp sautéed with celery, chives, garlic and cooked in a white wine béchamel sauce of Gouda cheese, roasted green peppers and tomatoes, also served with curry and coconut rice and sautéed vegetables.
For the carnivore, you must order the rib eye steak: a 360-gram marinated steak that is grilled with au jus of cognac and fine herb seasoned butter or with blue cheese on the side. The rib eye comes with potato puree and seasoned vegetables. A lighter entrée is ensalada CocinART: mixed lettuce with nuts, blue cheese, roasted green peppers, pears and grilled chicken. The dinner entrees are priced from 70 to 130 pesos, and a lamb burger or a sirloin burger will cost you 80 and 75 pesos respectively.
I sometimes find the service in Ajijic restaurants to be slow, not so at CocinART. The owner and staff are responsive and friendly and their daily specials are great. For dessert, the Crème Brulee is to die for. Chef Arturo is an artist when it comes to creatively and attractively presenting the wonderful food he serves.
Hours of operation are: Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sun. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
CocinART shares its space with an art gallery next door. Plan to spend some time visiting the gallery at long as you are there – you may find it worthwhile.
CocinART, 16 de Septiembre 4-D, Ajijic, 331-1395-3810.