It's a shame there haven't been any reviews for El Galeon. The dream of the owner, Conrado, is to build a reputation as a "foodie" destination. As a retired chef, I hate the word, "foodie," but it will have to do as the term in my day, "gourmand," is pretentious by today's usage. I'm visiting Rosarito with my cousin and she wanted me to try the food.
The menu is not extensive; doesn't have to be if the food's good. As for ambiance, can't do much better than a table overlooking the ocean. We ordered queso fundido as an appetizer, my cousin had chili relleno de mariscos, I the cochinita pibil.
We were brought chips and salsa to whet our appetites for that which was to come. The chips were fresh with just the right amount of oil clinging to them (a nice change from the dry ones served in the States) and the salsa--well, I almost demolished the entire bowl. Clean flavor with a nice bite.
The queso fundido was properly served on a heated iron platter which left a wonderfully flavorful crust on the bottom of the cheese. It had four toppings, my favorites being the chorizo and nopales.
My cousin's relleno was beautiful in presentation. Nothing ostentatious, just resting on a bed of rice but with a judicious amount of sauce and a sprinkling of cheese, it was very pleasing to the eye. And judging from her empty plate, pleasing to the tummy as well.
My cochinita pibil was delicious. True, this is a dish from the Yucatan, but whenever I see it on a menu, I can't resist. It was served on a banana leaf in a small skillet--very appropriate. The spicing was excellent and the flavors play over the palate very well.
The side dishes were the usual rice and refried beans. The flavors were not "in your face" as predominates, say, Tex-Mex in the States; rather they were subtle. And this is as they should be as they're an accompaniment and shouldn't conflict with the main dishes of the meal.
Our server was excellent. She always had a smile and made us feel truly welcome.
Please give El Galeon a try and help turn their dream into a reality. read more