Unfortunately, some of Lakeside’s well-established restaurants have fallen on hard times over the past year. It’s heartbreaking when one of its most esteemed restaurateurs is struggling in the current business downturn.
Sadly, that is the situation of Yves De Choulet, the namesake of a unique dining spot in west Ajijic known not only for its diverse menu and friendly service, but also for its pleasant garden setting and animal-loving ambience.
Yves has been a fixture in Ajijic’s restaurant scene for over three decades. His first venture was right on the waterfront, a short distance from the east side of the pier. After Lake Chapala surged in the 2003 rainy season, making access to the locale impossible, he relocated to the property on the service road at Carretera Poniente 493, across the highway from Rio Nazas in Rancho del Oro.
Yves Restaurant Bar is a great place to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner, served at poolside tables or the inside dining room, open every day except Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. But what customers find here, and nowhere else, is a pair of white burros that placidly graze in the front area of the garden every day.
The backstory is the original burro, Vino Blanco, that Yves adopted from the late eccentric Canadian retiree known as Pedro el Loco, who used to camp out at the shoreline in front of the first Yves location. Pedro and Vino Blanco are memorialized in the art and souvenir gallery, which is another of the restaurant’s special attractions. 
Yves is a devoted animal welfare advocate. He hosts a Blessing of Pets service every year in the October celebration of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. He is also someone dedicated to helping humans in need, as is the case of the elderly indigenous weaver Conchita, who was attacked and brutally beaten in a robbery two years ago. Yves was instrumental in getting her placed in a south shore Catholic nursing home and fostering her continued care.
Yves’ humanitarian efforts have been curtailed by health issues over the past few months. He is now back on his feet, recovering from injuries suffered in a terrible fall, ready and eager to get his bistro back on its feet. Support from friends and fans will be gratefully appreciated.