Chile: Restaurant Review - A Smattering of Eateries

Santiago, and Chile in general, is undergoing a gastronomic renaissance. New restaurants are springing up left and right, and the new flavors and experiences they bring are most welcome. Some of the restaurants are truly doing their part to raise the bar, while others are simply expensive versions of the same old thing.

Here is are few of the establishments we tried, some new, some that have been around for awhile. This is hardly a complete list of the culinary scene but it will serve as a glimpse of what the city of Santiago has to offer.

Las Condes

Just a few steps from the El Golf Metro stop there are three restaurants almost next door to each other that are all worth visiting.

The first is Adra, the dining room of the Ritz Carlton. Here chef Tomas Oliveira is bringing a flair to classic dishes of Chile. With an eye for plate design and a desire to update the foods he grew up with, Tomas is one of best of the new breed of chefs in Chile.

Across the street Dale Taylor is holding court at her Akarana Restaurant. With one of my favorite wine lists in the city, she has brought a little of her native New Zealand cuisine to Chile. Creative pizzas are served at lunch while fine selections of fresh seafood and meats can be enjoyed in the evening.

Only one more block down the street you will find the Danubio Azul (Blue Danube). This palatial restaurant is serving what may well be the best chinese food in the country. The unusual name reflects the restaurant's past. It once offered continental dining before changing directions for the Far East.

Vitacura

This trendy part of town is a must for any lover of all things gourmet. Fine shops and restaurants abound. Next trip to Santiago we plan on spending more time in this intriguing neighborhood.

Osadia Restaurant was one of the most memorable that we visited during our stay. Chic and modern with a decent, albeit terribly overpriced wine list, the food here was fabulous. The fare was on a par with some of the best restaurants we have visited around the world.

Tierra Noble was one of the most frequently recommended locations and so we approached with what may have been too great an expectation. The chef was away on vacation, but it is hard to say if his presence would have helped the over priced and almost boringly simple dishes we were served. The approach of the restaurant is to emphasize the flavors of the food without drowning it in sauces. I applaud the concept, but not the execution. Ungarnished meat that tasted as plain as it looked did nothing for us. What was priced as and advertised as Colby beef was no more tender than what we get in the local supermarkets for a fraction of the cost.

Bellavista

A mix of artists, university students and the see and be seen crowd haunt this part of Santiago. Most of the restaurants have sidewalk tables, and the flow of people only increases as the wee hours approach.

Como Agua Para Chocolate (like water for chocolate) is a great name, and the dessert was fun, but not as wonderfully chocolate as you might expect. The food was simple, and over cooked in the Chilean tradition, but at least it was well priced. A moderate establishment that has the good sense not to over reach and hits what it is aiming at.

I loved the concept of De Tapas y Copas, and I really enjoyed the decor. Alas, the wine list was uninspiring, and the food no better. The lackluster service and poor attention to detail spoke of mismanagement. Our whole party was disappointed and our Chilean guide felt it necessary to complain. Perhaps they will get their act together, because sipping wine and nibbling on many different tastes should be one of life's great pleasures. A quick look at reviews online show that our experience was shared by many others.