My Five Favorite Restaurants
1. Galindo – as always when I travel I just pick a restaurant and go in. My first night out I’d have dinner at ‘Galindo.’ I found their menu to be quite extensive with may dishes I’d thought I would enjoy so let the fun begin. I started with the Humitas al plato a combination of mixture of mashed corn and basil and then wrapped in its own leaf. Well it was the first time I had mashed corn so I was a bit skeptical and that’s the reason I tried it. Well that was quickly put to rest because the dish was a perfect way to start the night. I have had corn in every way shape, form and with a mother from the south I have had it cooked just about every way possible until tonight. The basil and hint of spices just added even more to the flavor.
My entree would be far more difficult because nothing really caught my eye, if anything I was turned off. I ultimately settled for the beef turnover pie, something else I never tried and there is no need to try again. I liked it, but didn’t love. After such a great beginning it nose dived into average. I found it to be very blase with no real excitement as the choice of sandwiches were on any menu in the US.
My desert would be just as good as the beginning with Celestino, they are crepes filled with sweetened milk. It is boiled until it becomes caramel like and is topped with ice cream. This was like the story where the middle is the disappointment and the beginning and ending are the exciting parts.
2. El Caramano – on my second night out I’d ask the concierge and she recommended El Caramano, I wished I asked her my first night it was a menu filled with traditional Chilean dishes. Chileans like their pork and with a mom from the south I have almost every part a pig you can imagine. Well this menu had just about every part as well and truthfully I was a bit intimidated by it because there was no dish that jumped out at me but I persevered. For my appetizer I had Surtido de Arrollado, it is a mix of Spanish sausage along with Chilean pork roll and goat cheese, it was quite interesting but once would be enough for me.
As a fellow server the last thing we do is ask many questions because we know they have other tables. On this night I had to be the guest we all hate, I know I would’ve hated me. The entrees offered everything for beef shank, kidney and artesanal blood sausage. The word blood shouldn’t be used to describe a meal or calf meat or chopped pork feet. But as always I respect a culture of any given country I am visiting. I did choose the ‘rib cap and casserole.’ I know, I know I took the easy way out. I just couldn’t try chopped feet or blood sausage. The meal was so unexpected, it was so so good. The rib cap as I would come to find out is one of the most prized and flavorful.
And desert was the most difficult because it was a collection where each one sounded better than the next. Graseria de la casa would be my pick. It is the speciality of the house – apple caramelized pancakes with chopped fruit salad and topped with ice cream. This meal makes Galindo look like Wendy’s. If you are or planning to visit Santiago you must have at least one meal at El Caramano.
3. Mulato – tonight I was back to picking my own place, just walking in seeing and looking at the menu and deciding yes or no, well Mulato got a yes when it should’ve been a no because it was fine dining and there was no way I was getting up to leave I known this would be fine dining I would’ve picked another restaurant but I was seated this time in the center of the restaurant and I was not about to get up and leave. There were plenty of burger king and wendy’s in the city offering the dollar menu so I wouldn’t starve. The restaurant features cuisine native to Chile but with a 21st century flair, you could choose menu of the day or from the ala carte menu.
None of the meals had an actual name, just a description. I would start with beef sweetbread it is seared toast flour along with lemon-garlic butter (I have never had it before but I loved it) it was studded with fava beans and warm vegetables and it was out of this world. Tonight I chose to pass on the salad and go right for the main course. The menu consisted of seafood entrees something I am not too big on so when in doubt choose chicken. Chicken breast stuffed with a bacon cream sauce something I was not loving, liking – ok, but not much love. The basil mashed potatoes and gratin tomato did rescue it. And I would also bypass on desert despite the choices. The truth is this restaurant is one of the best in the city I just wasn’t expecting to spend this much money and I guess I am taking my frustration out on my review.
4. Carnal Prime Steakhouse – whatever city I am in I must have steak at least one night and more often than not it is my most expensive because I freely admit when it comes to steak only the best will do and the Carnal delivered. I started with the Mix de Bruschettas, a combination of prosciutto, beef carpaccio and ribeye bits along with blue cheese and caprese was the perfect way to start the night, a wedge after that and now it was time for steak!!! Now I will admit the steaks offered on this menu could’ve been at any of the top steakhouses in the US but it was the beef that made all the difference and the difficulty for me was deciding which one and it came down to two – I could take on a two pound Porterhouse or the one and a pound half T – Bone and that would be my choice.
You know a steak is perfectly cooked you do not need a serrated edged knife to cut it. And the t-bone sliced with barely any effort it was just utter perfection with a strong bold taste. And just in case the one and a half t-bone would not satisfy me I added onion rings and macaroni and cheese and a few glasses of Casillero del Diablo Cabernet I was in pure heaven. Once the waiter took my empty plate away (I did finish the entire t-bone) I had french toast for desert. The one meal cost me more than one night at the Crowne Plaza but it was worth it. And for those wanting a great steak I can not recommend that Carnal enough. http://carnalprime.cl/
5. Liguria Bar – for those of you looking for a spot for a late night dinner you must visit the Liguria, Italian food at its best. I was loving the Chilean food but I needed some Italian cuisine and one night after dancing I found a spot with a menu that can stand side by side with any in the US. I personally liked the ‘Roasted Cow Widow.’ http://www.liguria.cl/menu.html