La Vaquita Marina Restaurant San Felipe, Mexico

Gourmet In San Felipe

Chances are, you’ll find that once you arrive in San Felipe, you’ll spend a lot of time in flip flops and tank tops, strolling from casual eatery to casual delicious eatery, munching on shrimp tacos and sipping cold beer, all while staring out into the gorgeous waves of The Sea of Cortez.

We know, it sounds horrible.

But for the few occasions when you want a true gourmet, 5 star meal that puts everything San Felipe is about into every bite, you’ll want to head over to La Vaquita. Located At the bottom of Puerta Penasco Street and Mar de Cortez North, La Vaquita is an exceptional Mexican restaurant that specializes in authentic South of the Border dishes, steak and seafood.

A Delight For The Senses

When you arrive at La Vaquita, you will appreciate the ample parking spots directly in front of the restaurant. Before you even enter your senses will thank you that you’re here! Your sense of smell will go into full gear as whiffs of freshly baked tortilla chips, sizzling fajitas and chicken marinated in a perfect (but secret) blend of herbs and spices fills the air. Your sense of sight will be working overtime to process the tropical and welcoming grand entrance, where within a few quick steps you go from your car to being surrounded by tall palm trees, perfectly trimmed bushes and a full service bar to greet you as you walk in. Depending on the time of day you visit, the lighting sets the perfect mood for a meal to remember. During lunch, the openness of the restaurant allows natural light to flood in, adding to the beachy and “on vacation” feel that so many visitors are seeking during their stay in San Felipe. If you come later in the evening, the soft lighting at the entrance against the dark sky creates a sexy and exclusive nighttime atmosphere.

Grab A Seat At The Bar: Have a Drink and People Watch

As you enter La Vaquita, you will be standing directly in front of the long bar. Take a seat on one of the stools and wait for a friendly bartender to set a napkin down and hand you a drink menu. Order a sweet glass of wine, an ice-cold Mexican beer, or if you’re ready to party, order a shot of Tequila! For the optimal people-watching experience, grab a high top table on the patio, it will allow you to see all the action going on up and down the street in front of the restaurant.

To Start…

When you’re ready to order, pick a few appetizers to share, such as the steamed clams or Bluefin tuna Carpaccio. This seafood favorite is composed of fresh, thinly sliced Bluefin tuna spritzed with lime, lemon, seasoned with herbs and sprinkled with parmesan cheese and soy sauce. The yellow pepper filled with shrimp is also a filling and tasty choice. All of the appetizers come in great portion sizes for sharing and will allow everyone to get a taste of the best of La Vaquita.

Not only do all of the dishes come to the table composed of the freshest ingredients, and in combinations that you never would have thought of but now can’t live without, the beautiful plating of each and every dish is a true art form. The plate is a canvas and the main courses, side dishes, sauces and garnishes all play a vital role in the design and beauty of the presentation.  If you aren’t usually the kind to snap pictures of your food, you may end up becoming one once they place the food in front of you.  You’ll be amazed at the attention to detail and almost feel bad for eating it. Almost.

The Main Course

For the main course, a steak dish or seafood dish is highly recommended. For those craving steak, order the filet mignon. The tender meat is cooked just how you like it and served with a huge baked potato (ask for it loaded) and a vegetable medley on the side. What makes this steak so great is the zesty marinade it is cooked in. If it’s seafood you’re after, ask about the fresh catch of the day. Since they only use fish at the prime of its season, the fish dishes change regularly, which is great for people who visit multiple times and have the luck of trying out a few different fresh fish specials. The Captain Fish in Foil is a great option for a hungry visitor who just can’t seem to make up their mind.  A combination of fish filets, shrimp and octopus steamed with fresh vegetables and cooked in a white wine sauce.  A popular shrimp dish is the The Orly Shrimps; breaded shrimp filled with cream cheese topped with strawberry sauce and a hint of chipotle. As we’ve said before, you’ll try combinations of food you never thought you would like together, and you will be surprised at how different complex flavors work together.  Before you order, keep an eye out for a volcanic eruption. Not an actual volcano of course, but servers walking by with a huge black bowl of delicious seafood literately bubbling over the sides, mixed with a hot and fiery red sauce. Once you see other guests enjoying the volcanic masterpiece, you’ll have to order one for yourself.

Live Music and a Fun Atmosphere

To add to the amazing ambiance and mouthwatering dishes, La Quinta has live music playing many nights during the week. An entertaining blues band accepts requests all night long, so you can hear your favorite tunes while enjoying your dinner. Local bands like the Baja Boys make regular appearances as well.  As you eat and tap your feet to the music, you will be taken care of by a courteous and professional serving team. Your drinks will stay full and all of your questions will be answered (even if your Spanish isn’t perfect.) The wonderful service matches the exceptional quality of the restaurant.

La Vaquita opens at 1:00 each afternoon, so if you were planning on breakfast it would be better to head over to Rosita’s Restaurant or The Happy Camper. But if it’s a unique and flavorful lunch you’re craving after a day at the pool, or dinner to start off a fun and sexy night on the town, this is the place you want to be. 

The prices are a little higher than it’s surrounding competitors (most other restaurants serve lunch for $6, where it is $12 at La Vaquita) but you absolutely get what you pay for.  Tourists who are used to high quality food, excellent service and a clean, comfortable and creative dining atmospheres flock to La Vaquita multiple times during their stay because La Vaquita never ceases to impress.  

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• Address: Ave. mar de cortez y puerto peñasco, San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico, 21850
• Telephone: +52-686-577-2837
• Website: http://www.facebook.com/restlvm