Cerritos & the Marina offer new and familiar places to enjoy

Family, friends and clients were invited to the ribbon cutting at the new La Tramoya Restaurant in the marina in early December. Owners Helena Tirado and Marcela Gonzalez de Rico decided to take the success of the original restaurant on the Plaza Machado and branch out to a more modern setting. The new place is romantic and if you’ve been to La Tramoya on the Plazuela, you know the culinary creations are wonderful. The decor is sleek and modern and there are two flat-screen TVs and wonderfully different local artwork. Currently, the menu is the same as in Centro. Hours are 1pm to11pm, for lunch and dinner. La Tramoya is on the marina side of Costa Veleros Condos on Av. Sabalo-Cerritos, a couple doors north of the Cantina Fufo.

Quietly settled in the figurative shadows of all the new high rises on Sabalo Cerritos is the beautiful Torres Mazatlan Resort. Since the early 80’s, it’s been home away from home to folks from all over the world. The gardens are beautiful and have been skilfully tended to for the last 17 years by Hector and his staff. You may have noticed the sculpted ficus trees on the street in front of the resort – they‘re the work of gardener Antonio Banderas. (Not that one!) Chef and Food & Beverage Director Lani Wooll, in the oceanfront La Palapa Restaurant, has held that position for 13 years and says one reason for the restaurant’s success is the low staff turnover - many of the kitchen staff have been there 20 years. Although the Torres is a gated property, the public is welcome; there’s easy access on the Sabalo-Cerritos bus line.

There are dedicated ‘Theme Nights, too: Monday Night is a special Mexican menu, Wednesday is Italian Night, Friday is BBQ Night, and Sunday is a Buffet Brunch with a mixture of Mexican and American Specialties and a Brownie Bar (which is where I’d probably start!) She uses only natural ingredients; nothing comes out of a can. Restaurant hours are 8am to 10pm. Reservations: 669-989-8624.

Our friend Jeff Sorensen, proprietor of the popular Karma Kitchen Thai food restaurant and an admitted soup addict and connoisseur, now has a “Super Soup Special” on Sundays and Fridays from 1-5pm. Sundays, he makes a different kind of soup each week; Friday it’s authentic Vietnamese Pho. Both are served with a bun and iced tea for $49 pesos. Karma Kitchen is in the Plaza Punta Cerritos (all the way at the end of the road in Cerritos).

In the mood for a cozy, funky spot with a “hang-loose,” laid-back appeal? Check out Kirkitos Burritos, next to Looney Bean in Cerritos. The specialty is big burritos, but the menu also includes full breakfasts, salads, sandwiches and quesadillas, and you can also rent a surfboard. I especially enjoyed a Belgian waffle smothered in fresh fruit. One of the most popular menu items is the #2 Breakfast Burrito with two eggs, bacon, cheese, avocado and home fries. It’s huge! Open 8am-2pm, closed Wednesdays.

The new Sole Mare coffee house at the Marina is not just about coffee and tea; it’s about breakfasts, lunches, delicious desserts, late-night snacks and more. Start the day with one of their rich beverages and a waffle, fruit, crepes, chilaquiles and more, and then later in the day enjoy a baguette or salad. The restaurant is nicely appointed in warm burgundy accents with contemporary furniture and glass walls that make the place very bright and airy. Open for business in early December, it comfortably seats 120 patrons on two floors and also has outdoor seating. The spacious second floor can be set up for private meetings and get-togethers. Hours are 8am to 11pm daily.

Nola Dyck and her husband have lived in Mazatlan since 1995. She spends her days creating things, tending her beach condo and acting and has been known to run the Pacifico Marathon. She’s been writing the El Delfin Condo newsletter for six years. Email tips, comments to Nola at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .