Carla’s

Carla’s isn’t easy to find, but it’s worth the visit if you like good home made food, generous drinks and an interesting atmosphere. Carla, a Louisiana native, and her Mexican husband, Pancho, own and operate the restaurant along with a charro area (for the Mexican version of a rodeo). You’ll often see the horses right outside the window, even if a charro isn’t happening. Inside you’ll find the room decorated with a variety of antiques, including an old stove and an old TV. But you really go to Carla’s for the food. Open only Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons, Carla’s serves the best fried chicken in the area. You’ll also find seafood and steaks on the menu and Carla generally has a daily special. Just ask. When oysters are in season, you can have them on the half shell. There’s home made pie for dessert. Mexican beer and generous cocktails are served. Entrées are quite reasonable, around $7 for the chicken for example. To get to Carla’s, take the road to Dolores. Turn left on the road to Atotonilco. Watch the signs on the right and watch carefully. You’ll finally come to a very small sign that says restaurant (another sign for a monastery). Turn right on that road and keep going straight ahead. It’s dirt. Keep going. And going. Just as you think you’ve gone to far, you’ll see a “charro” sign and a “restaurant” sign on the left. Turn right, going up the driveway as far as you can go. Turn right and you are there. Looks like a barn from the outside. The door may be closed, but walk on in.