For our last night in Santiago we wanted something more traditional
and the wonderful concierge Patricio at the San Cristobal Towers
suggested DIVERTIMENTO CHILENO. We liked the varied menu and took the
nice 15 minute walk from the hotel and found the hotel situated in the
oh so pleasant PARQUE METROPOLITANO at the foot of Cerro San
Cristobal, the city's tall peak (with the Virgin Mary atop it).
There were people strolling everywhere outside the open windows which
we sat next to and could see the tops of the Andes from. A truly
beautiful setting.
The service, as we have seen here, was lacking. The table next to us
had 6 folks and got their drinks, bread, salsa and entire order taken
practically before we got menus!
We asked for bread and the waiter said it was being baked...it did
eventually arrive steaming hot with soft inside, clear proof it was
right from the oven. The salsa here was milder and more tomato-ey and
was nice on the bread as well.
Upon the recommendation of Ignacio (our guide for the day) we ordered
PISCO SOURS which were refreshing and tasty and quite sour. Samuel
went for the Ginger Ale and ordered the Spaghetti with Pesto which he
gobbled up.
The Ceviche was REINETA, supposedly the best fish around for ceviche
which was indeed yummy and simply prepared. The Smoked PORK SHANK
CARPACCIO had arugula and a lemon-coriander dressing, but was quite
fatty for my taste.
KINGKLIP, which I had adored in South Africa, is another type of eel
found here which was again rich, meaty and tasty served with Blackened
Butter. The SEA BASS (Corvina) was sublime with Cilantro & Chimichuri
Sauce, Ginger & Lemon Zest and served with Razor Clams, Calamari,
Shrimp and SCALLOPS with that gorgeous coral intact! Our wine was a
fantastic tasty buttery LEYDA FALARIS Single Vineyard CHARDONNAY.
We thought about dessert, but it took the waiter so long to come over,
we just asked for the bill and headed back to the hotel after a 9-1/2
hour day of touring knowing that the next day we had a long trip to
the ship on the coast.
