A quick rundown of new eateries around town

Lots of changes over the summer here, in the Mazatlán restaurant world.

Remember the Ciber Café next to the English Lending Library on Sixto Osuna in Olas Altas, across from the Art Museum? It’s moved down the street to the corner of Venus and become Super Cocina D’Paulina, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner – and still a ciber too. Paulina and hubby Francisco offer a big menu of breakfasts, tortas (sandwiches), burgers, ribs, carne asada, a salad bar (complete with yummy housemade dressings), homemade desserts and the best deal of all, lunch and dinner Daily Specials. Francisco – previously chef at Casa Country, the Purple Onion and Fiesta Holiday Inn - invites everyone to come and taste his ribs, which he claims are the best in town. Open 8m to 9pm daily except Sunday. Info: 668-2393.

In Olas Altas, manager/cook Manolo Cardona has returned to La Cueva de Leon. He and partner Alejandro Castillo kept the cute little café going all summer and are just about ready to roll out a new menu. You’ll find lots of seafood and chicken favorites, traditional Mexican beef dishes, salads, innovative soups and Mané’s famous blue corn tortillas, plus a full bar (Cueva won a 2009 Mazzie Award for Best Margarita). Soon to come is a remodel and an even bigger and better menu. Open for lunch and dinner, closed Sundays.

Pizza Moreno on Calle Libertad, one block from the Machado, is now air-conditioned… Rico’s will re-open its espresso cart in front of the Shrimp Bucket in Olas Altas in November… Puravida’s Centro location is no more. The health food restaurant is still going strong in the Golden Zone, though. No word on what’s going into this primo location.

The Brewer, a new sports bar and restaurant on Aleman across from the Farmacia Guadalajara near the corner of Carnaval, has quickly become a favorite (especially with Monday Night Football fans). A big menu of well-executed standards (including fantastic burgers), four big-screen TVs, luxurious leather couches in the lounge area plus tables and bar seating, a full bar and a congenial, pleasant vibe make this place a winner. Soon to come: pizza with home delivery and special holiday meals.

Café Pacifico in the Plaza Machado has undergone a total remodel, and is now Vintage Retro Bar. Manager Francisco Cruz says the new place is dedicated to music of the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s, and is all about fun. Big-screen TVs showing classic music videos, two raised VIP sections, a DJ booth and small stage add to the ambience. A new menu of appetizers-only showcases what he calls “Sinaloan Fusion,” served from 5 p.m. on. A host of special events are planned, too, including a Fiesta del Vino on Nov. 18. Las Brasas, owned by the same partners, is next on the remodel list.

Calle Ninos Heroes, two blocks over from the Machado, has become a destination in its own right, and hosted some fabulous events over the summer, including an inauguration with a stage in the street, music by La Falsa Orchuesta Cubana and dancing till the wee hours. Calle Ninos Heroes even has a Facebook page – worth linking to so you can keep in touch with what’s going on and also download coupons for free drinks and such.

You’ll find several new restaurants: Mil Amores, a casual restaurant/bar with an upstairs lounge full of comfy couches and flat-screen TVS, with a big menu full of traditional Mexican foods and live mariachi music on weekends. It’s become THE new spot for the younger crowd in this part of town, but we gringos can certainly enjoy it as well. Lorna, on the corner of Ninos Heroes and Constitucion, opened last spring and quickly became a favorite – its New Orleans-like vibe, coupled with a small but fabulous menu of salads, dinners and desserts, big projection screen for music videos and sports events, romantic upstairs lounge and a stage that showcases great local bands – what’s not to love? Open 5pm to 2am daily except Monday. El Santo y La Panga, La Mona and Wings Army have become the old-timers on the street, but still have their own allure – in fact, Mil Amores is run by the same dynamic duo, Jesus Velarte and Tato Rico, that run El Santo y La Panga. La Mona continues to serve some of the best wood-oven baked pizza and calzones around, and its big salads are legendary.

Next month: Naufrago’s, Foufou, Me, the new (secret!) ribs place, y mas.

Janet Blaser has been eating for a living and writing about it for more than 20 years. Send comments, suggestions to her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .