When I want to feel like I’m in Mexico… really in Mexico, I visit La Saranderia restaurant on Playa Manzanilla in La Cruz. I dig my toes into the sand; I order a margarita and devour their namesake dish, Sarandeado fish. Owner Fer Galvez told me “Sarandeado fish is traditional in our Nayarit province and my family has been using this recipe for 25 years. It’s delicious and we make it with spices of the region. The price is $349 pesos per kilogram.” Every family has its unique version of this delectable yummy and the Galvez family serves up one of my faves!! Sometimes I mix it up and order another of their signature dishes; shrimp or red snapper. When we go as a group, we often share the ‘mountain’ of seafood.
The drink in the picture is a “Trancazo” is a Cielo Rojo Michelada with shrimps and fruit of the region, a bargain at $99 pesos
It’s so fun hanging out at La Saranderia, often there’s Mexican music; mariachi and more, it’s like I’ve entered another world! My gal pals and I call it going ‘shopping’, where the jewelry lady’s custom-make earrings, bracelets, and necklaces as per our preferences. I simply love it!
La Saranderia not only has the most fabulous food and breathtaking beach where generally the sea is calm, and they also offer a beach club which includes lounge chairs, palapas, music, and of course their great service. They’ve now added a boutique to the mix selling all things beach; toys, bathing suits, sunglasses and more.
Some call it the Mexican beach, as their clientele is mostly nationals. Located just under the Real del Mar development on the hill and just down the beach from Las Palapas it’s easy to get to with a short beach walk or by driving. Only daily from 10 am –7 pm; you must go during the day to enjoy their seafood and Mexican food too; burritos, guacamole, quesadillas, salsa Mexicana, chips, etc.
Fer Galvez is the manager and family representative, but he hasn’t always lived here. From Ocotlán, Jalisco, he moved to the area in 2015 to run the family business but also he says, “I like the beach and the opportunity with the business and this place is comfortable”.
Fer says the Marina Riviera Nayarit has helped the town as did the recent tianguis cultural. He loves the clean beaches and the work that Amigos de la Cruz does. He’d love for La Cruz to remain a quaint fishing village.
Before coming to La Cruz Fer lived in Puerto Vallarta and worked for Tecnológico de Monterrey then moved to work in the family bakery Espiga de Oro also in Vallarta for eight years.
He enjoys most “sharing moments with our customers, working on the beach, and sharing Mexican food with our international customers.” Fer told me “It’s been a good year for business”
Their clientele is made up mostly of Mexican locales, but Canadian and American vacationers are coming more and more to Manzanilla Beach and his restaurant.
He’s inspired by “My family, my staff and all the visitors who enjoy what we offer”. Living in a beachfront town he enjoys surfing, paddle boarding, fishing, diving, and “my favorite is swimming”. He likes to cook fish both at home and in the restaurant.
Fer supports Amigos de la Cruz and is a member of the Asociacion Restaurantera de Riviera Nayarit.
His favorite quote is “Live and let live” and if he had a magic wand, he’d like La Cruz de Huanacaxtle to “always be a happy and clean town”. Fer’s proudest of “My family, my restaurant and my community!”
Fun Fact: Line Bureau our recycling guru in La Cruz, told me “Fer began helping my recycling program 6 years ago. Now we recycled in every restaurant in Playa La Manzanilla.”
Fer invites everyone to visit “Because it’s a beautiful place, the sea is incredible, and the people are friendly”.
I couldn’t have put it better myself! Visit Fer and restaurant La Saranderia at Playa La Manzanilla, La Cruz De Huanacaxtle; (329) 295-55–77, reservaciones@lasaranderia.mx, http://lasaranderia.mx/
To get there take a car or walk the back roads or the beach!
