Police at Pranza Yesterday

When I went past there yesterday there were 6 police vehicles with flashing lights, and about ten officers, Does anyone know what was going on?

I saw the same thing. Looking at the number of heavily armed policia I think maybe a visit by a high ranking official. Or a "hit"........

Happened to be walking by Pranzo while the police were there.  I was told by observers that under orders of the mayor of Chapala, all outside seating was to be removed.  I was also told it stemmed from a complaint to the mayor's office from someone in the nearby community (La Floresta?).  I'm hoping the owner is going to fight this.  Pranzo and the ice cream store are still operating, but with no outdoor seating.

Doubt that was the reason for the police presence, they were all over the place. I saw them from Chapala to west Ajijic. Sometime solo and sometimes in groups. They seemed to be moving and parking and observing. Staging. Looked like they were looking for someone.

Not sure what other police activity you saw, but the police presence at Pranzo was to order them to remove the outdoor seating following a complaint from a nearby resident. Went there for lunch the next day and staff confirmed it. No more outdoor seating by order of the mayor's office but they are still open.

Wow, that was pretty heavy handed then cause I saw 3 police trucks, 6 heavily armed policia (forming a semi circle facing outwards) and 4 or 5 guys in business suits. Is the guy that owns Pranza "connected" or something??

Amazing how things go on for years and all of a sudden someone goes bezerk...A bunch armed policemen to remove a few chairs..??? then noone when there are real problems..typical..

The Ironhorse bar tried to have some "out front" seating and the muni pounced all over them right away.

What's wrong with outdoor seating, forgawdsakes? Or is it just a shakedown? Maybe the Pranza guy put up a fight and they called for backup? Who knows.

CanuckBob wrote:Wow, that was pretty heavy handed then cause I saw 3 police trucks, 6 heavily armed policia (forming a semi circle facing outwards) and 4 or 5 guys in business suits. Is the guy that owns Pranza "connected" or something??

The widow of Horacio Gomez and her son Francisco, are the proprietors of the restaurant, and she owns a residence in lower La Floresta.
I would imagine the problem is over the "set back" (which requires an unimpeded space in front of the construction)  reglas, that exist in  La Floresta, As you may notice, the other restaurants (German and Pizza) are well back from the street.

well it is against the rule of La Floresta to have people seating on the sidewalk... I wonder what they are going to send to stop the tall construction that is violating the rules on the shore of the lake? Tanks ? or maybe nothing after all...

Nothing new, this happened shortly after they first opened as well and seating was on the lawn. Don't forget the day police closed down the old Lety's with force. Probably with all of the recent remodeling, it just added coals to the old neighborhood "fire."

They have really jazzed up the place, including the bathroom. It looks wonderful. However, their prices now put it out of my casual lunch orbit. I paid 140 pesos for their Caesar Chicken Sandwich with a scoop of salad. Adding a drink and tip put it just under 200 pesos for grabbing some lunch before a movie.

Lady Otter Latté wrote:They have really jazzed up the place, including the bathroom. It looks wonderful. However, their prices now put it out of my casual lunch orbit. I paid 140 pesos for their Caesar Chicken Sandwich with a scoop of salad. Adding a drink and tip put it just under 200 pesos for grabbing some lunch before a movie.

I had lunch there a few times more than a year ago and was underwhelmed by the food and not pleased with the prices. There are a number of places where you can get an outstanding chicken sammich for under 100 pesos in a pleasant, sit down environment.......so I haven't returned to Pranza. But that's another matter.

I like dining al fresco, but not adjacent to a busy thoroughfare with fumes and noise.  However, Pranza has been conducting business for a long time now with a bunch of apparently happy customers, so I'm wondering what strangeness possessed the authorities to come in at this point.

It is a shame because I like dining outside.yes there are near the highway but I would think that you get a whole let pollution there than in the Paris cafes..

They have refurbished the back patio and there is a lot of pleasant seating back there without traffic grumbling past. We had to sit back there because the front area was packed. Yes, they do really well. I had not been there in a long time either. The food is okay but, even then, I thought the prices were too high. I almost fell off my chair when I saw the new prices. The sandwich and salad were okay but certainly not worth the cost to me. I will not be going back. However, as Gringal noted, they are doing great business so they sure won't miss me.

I know, I know! Perry came back!

The new "Smokehouse" out west where the Monte Christo was, is the same. We dropped in for a quick lunch a couple of weeks ago and found only a dinner menu, no lunch menu. this at 1:30pm. Except for hamburgers (not my favourite food) everything else was 120p up to 220p. No lunch prices.
I notice they are not very busy.

Going to Viva Mexico today. Smoked beef filet steak for 130p. Quality is great.

Patios offer a very different feel than the street, I was raised in Paris and patios do not do it for me, they are pleasant but clostrophobic.. actually a street without anyone going by to check out does not do not either..

brigitte wrote:Patios offer a very different feel than the street, I was raised in Paris and patios do not do it for me, they are pleasant but clostrophobic.. actually a street without anyone going by to check out does not do not either..

How about a pedestrian only plaza, as in some places in France, Italy and other countries?

That is very nice too.. we have those in San Cristobal , unfortunately there you become the target for the street vendors..

brigitte wrote:That is very nice too.. we have those in San Cristobal , unfortunately there you become the target for the street vendors..

Yes, like at the Plaza Jardin restaurant here in Ajijic. The one motivation for sitting inside.

gringal wrote:

I had lunch there a few times more than a year ago and was underwhelmed by the food and not pleased with the prices. There are a number of places where you can get an outstanding chicken sammich for under 100 pesos in a pleasant, sit down environment.

sammich is or = sandwich???

Sandwich has a fairly definite definition.
Isn't sammich in the eye of the beholder? Just asking as I don't know and wouldn't know a "sammich" if it hit me over the head.
I'm still stuck in "sandwich 101".

SANDWICH.  Okay?

I understood 'sammich' for what it was.... a colloquialism and just making fun.