[lobster5757]

Hi!
We are moving from CA to Michigan to the general Rochester area. Can anyone suggest any good Mexican restaurants? Also, any suggestions for me as far as restaurants or shopping? I would really appreciate any feedback about the move. (I'm excited about moving and experiencing this part of Michigan. What a beautiful state!)

PS. I lived in the Pacific North West for a year, and the locals did not like people from California. I guess I am afraid of coming across a similar reaction when I tell someone I moved from CA, just curious.

(I have lived in the snow before but nothing like you guys have had this year, hopefully you guys get a break soon!)
Thank you and I really appreciate any information.

[MIEng]

Welcome to Michigan. Rochester is a great area and I think you will feel very welcome in this state. I'm glad to see people moving into MI.

Cannot help you on the mexican restaurants though, maybe someone esle have an opinion on that.

[Coldjensens]

We moved here from California 3+ years ago. I still spend about 1/3 of my time in CA.

We do nto live in Richester, but several friends do. You will like it there. You will need to get used to a slower paced lifestyle. Mind you that here Applebees is generally considered a good dining choice. There are fewer resturuants, but the area you chose has more offerings than most areas. There is a mall nearby called Great Lakes Crossing. It has a lot of the better chains that you are used to seeing.

For mexican food, go to the mexican villiage in Detroit. Xomiococo's is on of the better known places, but there are a lot of authentic Mexican resturuants there. You will find a few scattered Mexican places here and there and some are reasonably good. However when people think Mexican here, many think Taco Bell. That is not all pervasive, and you will have some decent options but do not come here expecting to find So.Cal. style offerings. Five versions of every kind of resturuant that you can imagine is one of the things that you give up moving here. But there are things that make up for it. I posted a list of the things that we liked better in each place somewhere on these boards. Maybe that will be helpful.

We never had any problems with people not liking Californians. Most people seem to think that we are crazy for moving to a cold climate. We do nto think so. The weather is cold, and often cloudy, but it is exciting rather than the same boring thing every day. The air, water and land are much cleaner. Schools are genreally better, health care if far better, traffic is a joke even though the area you are looking at is probably the most congested area.


One of the biggest shocks for us was the clothing that you need. Everyoene needs three complete wardrobes. You also need room to store all of that, but you never put all of it away. You will get a few nice days in the winter. A few freezing nights in the summer.

People are generally terriffic. We found them to be less freindly on the surface, but once you break through that initial layer of (suspicion?"), they are terrific. Many people here will do anythign for others, they seem to love the help people.

A couple of things that you may want to get famliar with:

Glove warmers.

Remote starter switch for your car.

Ice scrapers.

Practice driving in slippery conditions.

keep a pair of boots in your car. When there is no snow, there is often mud to deal with.

Get a boat of some kind (Canoe, Sailboat, powerboat it does nto matter) water sports are big here and water is everywhere.

Welcome. You will regret it sometimes and will rejoice in your decision at other times. Just eremember to get out and about. Michigan is a big a very beautiful state (wait until you see the beaches ont he west side of the state! - but bring a wetsuit).

[2coldhere]

Go north to Lake Orion..one of the best..don't remember the name but it's right downtown..can't miss it..Detroits Mexican Village has allot of places..busy on the weekends..

[mostie]

Lobster, do you cook mexican food? Because if you do, STOCK UP on California Chili Powder (for enchiladas)---I'm originally from the Central Valley, I've lived downstate, and N.MI, and I'm telling you, I cannot find it ANYwhere- I even went into a Mexican store (like the kind they have in Cali), and when I asked for it, they had no clue what I was talking about-the aisle for Mexican food in stores is what I call "white mexican food aisles", lol- full of products from Taco Bell, etc.- and the tortillas, sigh- nothing like Cali's- for restaurants, I have no clue what is "authentic" here, I know they have "On The Border" in Cali as well as here, so I would guess that would be as good a place as any, although I tried it in Cali, and didn't like it there, either- good luck to you---the people are friendly, especially up North....but downstate, hm....didn't seem as friendly as back home-

[emlandry]

I live in Rochester so I got this one down for you!
A new Mexican place just opened recently, I believe it's called "Three Amigos" It's off Rochester rd, near Avon. If you're sticking to just downtown Rochester, there are a handful of places to eat, favorites include Rochester Brewery, Mr. B's, and in the summer Paint Creek Tavern.
As for shopping, though downtown has some little shops, real shopping is probably best down at The Village (technically Rochester Hills), it's at Walton and Adams. Or you can quickly hop on one of the highways to Somerset Mall, Great Lakes Mall, or Lakeside Mall.

[Jwo85]

Originally Posted by emlandry

I live in Rochester so I got this one down for you!
A new Mexican place just opened recently, I believe it's called "Three Amigos" It's off Rochester rd, near Avon. If you're sticking to just downtown Rochester, there are a handful of places to eat, favorites include Rochester Brewery, Mr. B's, and in the summer Paint Creek Tavern.
As for shopping, though downtown has some little shops, real shopping is probably best down at The Village (technically Rochester Hills), it's at Walton and Adams. Or you can quickly hop on one of the highways to Somerset Mall, Great Lakes Mall, or Lakeside Mall.

Don't forget about partridge creek mall which is down the street from lakeside mall.

[plannine]

Originally Posted by lobster5757

Hi!
We are moving from CA to Michigan to the general Rochester area. Can anyone suggest any good Mexican restaurants? Also, any suggestions for me as far as restaurants or shopping? I would really appreciate any feedback about the move. (I'm excited about moving and experiencing this part of Michigan. What a beautiful state!)

PS. I lived in the Pacific North West for a year, and the locals did not like people from California. I guess I am afraid of coming across a similar reaction when I tell someone I moved from CA, just curious.

(I have lived in the snow before but nothing like you guys have had this year, hopefully you guys get a break soon!)
Thank you and I really appreciate any information.

The "mexican" neighborhoods are southwest Detroit and Pontiac, so many of the more "traditional" foods will be found there.


But here are a few that I can think of (not all are traditional):

Mexican:
El Barzone (Detroit)
Margaritas (Berkley)
Sagebrush Cantina (Lake Orion)
Tenutas (Pontiac)
Zumbas (Royal Oak - carry out)
Taco Loco (Pontiac)
Dos Locos (Pontiac)

Cuban:
Vincentes (Detroit)
Cafe Habanna

Brazilian:
Gaucho Steak House (Northville)

Driving 30 miles in Michigan is not like driving 30 miles in California (even in rush hour). Our 'traffic jams" seem to effect small sections of road, often, rather then miles and miles.
So all those are pretty close.


Being a former Californian, I can say, the only thing I miss (from San Diego) is surfing (since I never got into skiing), but having 4 seasons is wonderful even if it can be "too cold for too long" at times.

[Wingnatic]

Yes the '' Mexican Village '' is a wonderful restaurant to dine in . I originally started eating there around the mid 1960's , they were so popular they had to build a bigger one near the original location . I'm sure how long ago but they did open one other location near Rochester in Utica . You don't stay in business as long as the Mexican Village has if the food and service were bad . Hell I'm getting hungry just thinking about the place