Joshua H.
Yelp
I ate here on a Tuesday afternoon as part of a half day port call via a 4 DAY Carnival Cruise I was just on last week. Being my first ever time in Mexico I had to try something new and different to mark the event. Knowing Mr. Jean Bitterlin the restaurant owner from a prior encounter we had almost a year earlier in downtown San Diego at a sushi joint lead to me awareness of El Rey Sol and its many many awards, rankings, celebrity guests and famous menu. Having been in biz for over 60 years and never losing any luster to is accolades (it only kept getting better it seems) made for a MUST stop location while I spent my day in Ensenada.
This joint is a perfect blend of Mexican/American/French fusion if I had to label it. This could and is a hard task to do well but El Rey Sol does it just fine from both the restaurant decor, the expansive menu and the quality of the food they serve. The menu itself has endless options of traditional and custom made French, Mexican and American entrees, appetizers, seafood, steaks, chicken, and much more. Only having this one meal to sample left much to be desired but at the same time what I did get would be relished in that much more......and it was!
Every entree is served with a complementary or'derv plate which can be seen in my pictures. I had quail eggs for the first time ever and I like'm! I also got the small portion of the chicken/cashew salad with house made lemon vinaigrette dressing which I enjoyed very much. My entree was the seafood sampler which as the picture shows had a bit of everything. Tuna steak, breaded stripped base, baked clams and mussels, grilled shrimp, and a very rich but tasty clam shell filled with cream of mushroom soup and oysters topped with melted cheese (Swiss I think). Jean allowed me to try a house cab wine which I was very pleased with and as a picky red wine lover it takes a good one to please my pallet. This did the trick.
I was told I had to try a dessert item as they are not to be missed but by the time I made my way through all the prior items there just was not room left to make for such an indulgence no matter how good it looked. I'll just have to come back and try 1....or 2 of them out I guess.
If your in Ensenada and want a authentic meal with top tier customer service, a vast menu of options each prepared and served with delicate care and genuine flavor then El Rey Sol is where you need to go. Prices are a little higher but worth it for sure. My meal with appetizer (wine covered by Jean which rocked!) was $30 and change, worth every penny!
Tell Jean Joshua sent you and I bet you get a big smile from him, just watch!
PS....I will note that the rooms beyond the main dining area (seen in pictures) are amazing! They would suite well for business meetings, weddings, celebrations or large family functions. Be sure to look at those when you come in next, very impressive.