SAN MIGUEL RESTAURANTS – Update for Summer/Fall 2010
The restaurant scene in San Miguel keeps getting better and better, even in tough economic times. Here are some new places to try on your next visit to San Miguel:
–Café Iberico: Calle Mesones #101 (across from Teatro Angela Peralta); Tel: 152-6154; open every day.
This Spanish tapas bar and paella restaurant moved several months ago from its much smaller former location in Colonia San Antonio into the larger dining room and patio on Calle Mesones where Restaurante Nirvana used to be (and that establishment has now moved out of town to a lush country location near Atotonilco). Come to Café Iberico for a drink and a snack, and you’ll end up making a whole dinner out of the very tasty small plates of fried avocado, chile shrimp, merluza (firm, white fish) in white wine/parsley sauce, jamon de serrano, fried pimientos del padron, Spanish meatballs, and much more.
–Mezzanine Bistro by Bobo: Cuna de Allende #11, alongside and across from the Parroquia (go back through the patio and up the little stairs); Tel: 152-2799
A chic, intimate Continental restaurant with prix-fixe menu prices for week-day lunch (250 pesos) and weekend dinners (350 pesos). The owners are from France and Portugal, and the menu reflects both the best of local seasonal ingredients and the owners’ two culinary heritages: Lisboa espresso beef filet with gratin dauphinois; fish “meuniere” sautéed with a lemon butter sauce; Azorean aioli prawns sautéed with peppers & onions; stuffed roasted eggplant with goat cheese, baby arugula and walnuts in a red pepper and tomato coulis; chocolate mousse layer cake; and Alsatian pear tarte. The menu changes weekly and you can bring your own wine for a small corkage fee. Reservations essential! The owners also operate the Bobo home décor store in the same patio.
–El Rincon de la Malinche (in the spot formerly occupied by La Capilla): Cuna de Allende #10, attached to the back side of the Parroquia; Tel: 152-0698
Newly opened in mid-Aug 2010, this restaurant/music venue arguably has the best and most romantic setting in San Miguel, with its ancient stone walls and lovely roof terrace looking right up into the spire of the Parroquia church. A bar downstairs features live music Thurs – Sat from 6 pm to midnight. For now, there is a brunch menu most days of the week featuring various egg benedict dishes, house-cured mezcal lox, traditional Mexican morning meals, waffles and blackened salmon.
–La Sirena Gorda (aka El Manantial, the original neighborhood cantina name since 1920!): Calle Barranca at the corner with Calle Huertas, in residential SE Centro
A casual neighborhood pub with simple lunch and dinner fare to enjoy inside or on the back patio. Currently has a reputation for dishing up the best fish tacos in San Miguel (try the smoked ahi tuna taco)! Local, lively bar scene at night.
–OKO Noodle Bar: In the Plaza Alhondiga, across from Mega on your right as you head out of town on Salida a Celaya; Tel: 110-3283
A small, funky Asian fusion restaurant with a fresh menu, live music, and a fun, hip vibe. Creative cocktails (try the wasabi martini!) complement the simple Asia fare – tempura ahi tuna, rice-paper spring rolls, very fresh noodle salads and Vietnamese Pho soups, plus Pad Thai.
–Via Organica Café (inside San Miguel’s most extensive organic market and food shop): Calle Margarito Ledesma #2 (in Colonia Guadalupe, just north of Centro); Tel: 152-8042
Open every day from 8:30 am to 7 pm, with Sunday brunch from 12 – 4 pm
–Shanti San Miguel (a yoga retreat about 45 min northeast of town – for transportation, call Saul Hernandez at 044-415-113-4140): For Shanti meal or massage reservations, call: 044-415-100-8396
The restaurant around the lovely Shanti pool now serves an organic brunch, Indian food and Korean tacos and BBQ on Saturdays and Sundays. Makes a nice outing, if you call to reserve a massage or partake of the yoga classes and use the pool.
These existing favorites have new menus this year, which you might want to check out:
–Dos Casas (inside the B&B of the same name): Calle Quebrada # 101 (at the corner with Calle Umaran); Tel: 154-4073 or 154-4958
Open daily from 9 am to 9 pm for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Not only a new menu and new chef, but a totally revamped and newly redecorated dining room as well. Cute little wine bar and central patio, in addition to the inside dining space.
–Boca Bento Bistro (Part of the Los Senderos development just 2.5 km north of town but entered off the Libramiento; easy to reach via taxi) Latin grill specialties with a distinctive Asian flair and signature drinks and wine list. Lovely outdoor setting overlooking organic garden and horseriding trails. Tues – Sat, 1 pm to 9 pm; Sun, 11 am to 7 pm, Sunday brunch menu from 11 am to 1 pm; Tel: 155-9594. Check the menu at http://www.bocabento.com
–El Tomato (not just vegetarian anymore, as the new menu also features select beef, fish and turkey with new Argentine-Italian fusion fare): Calle Mesones # 62; Tel: 154-6390
Open for lunch and dinner, 12 pm to 9 pm
And, some SAD NEWS: Unfortunately, these restaurants have CLOSED during the past year:
– El Campanario – a wonderful, long-time establishment for elegant dining with great seafood
– Billy’s Hot Dogs – a fun casual spot with a good variety of sausages
– El Bajo Fondo – a lovely patio restaurant known for its organic vegetarian fare
– Cha-Cha-Cha – one of the best neighborhood (San Antonio) places for traditional Mexican food