Chile Forum

Nullius wrote:Amen.

Jesus. I could bet you haven't been very welcome... sorry. I could also bet you haven't visited "El hoyo"...

Get informed yourself. And watch the whole series before commenting further.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MPGJ-p66vU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yusxpzEYCEQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m4ofR0N8Ko

Nullius wrote:We do have good friends among the natives, and that is why they often take us to a Peruvian restaurant.

Enjoy your fried cuy...

Nullius wrote:

zer0nz wrote:In NZ, we have a extremely multi cultural population... therefore we have nearly every type of food you can think of usually cooked by a person

That reminds me.... are your Maoris still cannibals?

jaja

patagoniax wrote:Come to think of it, when I am taken out in Stgo it is almost never to a "Chilean restaurant." Most often it will be Italian, French, Chinese, or sometimes Peruvian. Some people think that cuy is all that there is to Peruvian cuisine. We are not about to share any secrets with them.

There are very few authentic Chilean restaurants because a simple reason: In Chile, most people prepare our traditional foods at home. There is also the snobism on a part of the upper class that want to show an cosmopolite image of Chile to foreigners, and that are ashammed of our roots . However, the places to go to discover Chilean foods are the so called "Picadas", where you access usually by invitation of friends. Also, the traditional food is always present at the popular "markets" that every city has.

When I think authentic Chilean restaurant, the first thing that comes to mind is complete and total inconsistency on a level that makes Chaos look like a very well ordered and predictable system.

Seriously, in the same restaurant, big or small, rich or poor, if I order two of the same dish of any sort, on the same day, prepared by the same Chilean cook, I will get two completely different levels of quality (and often neither are very good). Even for the things that are good in the Chilean native menu, how it comes out of the kitchen is a whole different problem.

Was not sure which thread this post would best fit since we are running two on the subject.

admin wrote:
Was not sure which thread this post would best fit since we are running two on the subject.

You´re right about the threads.

Probably everybody has noted that the best restaurant in any part of the world are likely to be the ones that look a bit shabby on the outside but the food is incredible. I dont believe food has to be spicy to be tasty. Spice has been used to cover up the taste of bad ingredients. I havent had the chance to try the many restaurants in Santiago. One positive surpise has been the arabic restaurant here in LA. The food is not destroyed wth the use of palta or cilantro. Another restaurant which I found as a positive surprise was the small gyros restaurant in Conce that is close to the university. Menu is very short but the food is tasty.

I read from somewhere that there is a Thai restaurant in Santago that sells REAL thai food? Has been a while since I have last eaten that. Normally prespire 1 liter during and after a good Thai meal.

admin wrote:When I think authentic Chilean restaurant, the first thing that comes to mind is complete and total inconsistency on a level that makes Chaos look like a very well ordered and predictable system.

Seriously, in the same restaurant, big or small, rich or poor, if I order two of the same dish of any sort, on the same day, prepared by the same Chilean cook, I will get two completely different levels of quality (and often neither are very good). Even for the things that are good in the Chilean native menu, how it comes out of the kitchen is a whole different problem.

So true. And that goes also for the restaurants that try to imitate the french, italian or divers eastern cuisines....

Two examples.
We ate at (french style) Baco in Providencia twice, but have given up on them because of gros inconsistencies in quality (that also applies to the service in the restaurant).
We ate at Akarana (NZ owned and to chilean standards an original fusion style of dishes) several times but will not quickly come again and certainly not on a sunday eve for if the chef is not present....so is the quality of the food....

O yeah, best ethnic food here is 'salsa de pebre' and sometimes a pisco sour. Otherwise I can only recommend eating at a real Peruvian R.

- Pizza here is terrible. The best Pizza I found is Domino's Pizza, which is sad really. Telepizza is the worst piece of crap ever!
- Italian food is horrible - Of course having grown up in New York City I am a spoiled. (for Pizza too)
- Chinese food literally made sick here, twice! I won't eat it anymore. And it's just nasty anyway!

Places I liked:
Gaon - Korean restaurant in Manquehue Sur, near Apumanque
Muqueca - Brazilian
Ruby Tuesday - For a more familiar American Taste
Melba Cafe - I like their breakfast and their Caesar salad for lunch

New2Stgo wrote:- Melba Cafe - I like their breakfast and their Caesar salad for lunch

Agreed.
Café Melba in Las Condes does serve an original and, more important, very tasty breakfast plus....

The pizza's at Strada - roof shoppingmall Alto LC - are not too bad and service is alway friendly. Be careful with the peruvian restaurant up at Alto LC, they rip you off with the prices of the drinks!! Food was good though....

New2Stgo wrote:- Chinese food literally made sick here, twice! I won't eat it anymore. And it's just nasty anyway!

Chinese restaurants in Chile has been closed as a routine by the health department. I expect the same will happen with Peruvians.

pinguin wrote:

New2Stgo wrote:- Chinese food literally made sick here, twice! I won't eat it anymore. And it's just nasty anyway!

Chinese restaurants in Chile has been closed as a routine by the health department. I expect the same will happen with Peruvians.

The only Peruvian restaurant in LA was closed for a while due to helth issues...

This is going to cause all sorts of angst but I have to say it: regarding food in Chile, our favourite thing about Chile is Peru.
In Chile, you have to search and search and search and then cheer when you find a good quality meal. In Peru, you had to search to find a bad meal.