"Yum!"   My Rating
7 Jetgirly	Posted on: Saturday, September 20, 2008
	Review: On a recent visit from Guadalajara to Lake Chapala and Ajijic I was excited to get to visit The Secret Garden. Frankly, as a vegetarian, a trip to this restaurant is worth the $7 return bus fare to Ajijic! I was really happy to find that on the night of my visit they were serving a special Indian dinner. I love Indian food, and had some of the worst Indian ever in Guadalajara, so I was hoping The Secret Garden would whip up something delicious. I started with a mango smoothie (I pretended it was a lassi) and munched on the appetizer of jicama and mango sticks dipped in cumin and sea salt. What a great way to serve jicama and mango! The main course was more like a platter, with a variety of dishes including coconut rice, "paneer" in spicy tomato broth, curried potatoes, pakoras (a bit burnt), mint chutney and a cucumber filled with fresh yogurt and cherry tomatoes. The server did forget to bring everyone spoons to go with the tomato broth, so it got cold before I could eat it, but overall it was a very good meal and I would highly recommend visitors to Jalisco check out The Secret Garden.   Pros: International menu. * Nice atmosphere. * Something "different" for the area. Cons: Server not familiar w/ internat'l food. * Slightly burnt pakoras. *
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"A Gem of a Restaurant"   My Rating
1 vegan4thel oveofitall	Posted on: Saturday, July 19, 2008
	Review: If you go to Guadalajara, you have to go just a little further to Lake Chapala to eat at this gem of a restaurant in one of the Lakeside towns, Ajijic. As you enter from the sidewalk, you pass through the Juice Bar that offers a wide selection of juice drinks (from the menu or made to your specifications), coffees, teas, and other drinks, as well as baked goods and other delights; then, it opens out into a beautiful secret garden restaurant with tables and chairs surrounded by flowers and trees. The servers are friendly, the atmosphere pleasant, the menu is varied, and the food is delicious. Selections are extremely affordable and made with the freshest ingredients. Fare is ovo-, lacto-, and vegan. They are very willing to accomodate your dietary needs and can modify many dishes so they are vegan. The restaurant is owned and managed by a lovely couple -- he is American and she is Mexican. He is always creating new dishes and she is always baking new desserts to delight customers. This is a lovely place to stop for a snack or for a meal. There is usually entertainment a couple of nights a week. Watch for his Indian Dinner Specials; they are authentic and not to be missed. We've eaten at Secret Garden Garden Restaurant many times, and it's our favorite restaurant in the Lakeside area. For more info, check out their website at www.secretgardenajijic.com   Pros: excellent food * great atmosphere * good value Cons: * *
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"a good spot"   My Rating
4 jayb	Posted on: Saturday, April 26, 2008
	Review: It is tough to find vegan in mexico but these folks are selling to he expat community who seem to be into he cheese thing . I pleasently survived on their vegan offerings and modified lacto dishes . American owner but mexican staff need spnish words so take your dictionary unless you Espanyol. Very pleasent setting and good standards and value .A bonus for me not too much tofu.   Pros: good food * flexible ordering * Cons: no anglais * *
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