		MORE OUTINGS IN San Martín de los Andes

Corridor Lakes > Province: Neuquén > San Martín de los Andes

Good Eating Pleasures in the Mountain

Mónica Pons

1y3: La Costa. 2: El Mesón. 4: Mario Ptasik

Whenever we are on vacation, being delighted by the gastronomic specialties served at local restaurants is as important as visiting new locations in the area.

El Mesón de la Patagonia

El Mesón is characterized by the tastiest and freshest sea fruit prepared by expert hands that express themselves in each dish originated in this kitchen.

We decided to make a reservation and at the appointed time, we crossed the door of El Mesón, where a cozy family atmosphere invited us to feel comfortable from the very start. We were welcomed by the owner, Raúl Malé, who together with his wife, Juana Duarte, is responsible for every detail. It was Raúl who advised us about the various options for our dinner.

With a certain degree of pride, he said: “We specialize in sea cuisine and we have settled down in the district thanks to the good quality of our products and recipes prepared with character and knowledge.”

The most popular dishes are prawns with garlic, squid, squid rings and the regional stars: trout and salmon. The cooking process is supervised by Juana, who makes sure each specialty gets to the table at its right point, with the most appropriate dressing and taste.

At our table, each of us chose a different dish and we had the chance to admire the presentation and generosity of each serving. In my particular case, I opted for pulpo a la gallega (Galician octopus) and then go on with a delicious paella containing several kinds of seafood. A very complete wine and regional liqueur list accompanies the options in the menu.

As the evening was coming to an end, we felt pleased to have been assisted with so much politeness and to have tasted dishes that respect their cooking times and sauces prepared on the spot.

La Costa del Pueblo

If there is one typical characteristic about this restaurant and coffee house it is that, besides being open round the clock and serving excellent cuisine, it features a spectacular view of Lake Lácar and the surrounding mountains. With traditional mountain architecture, (wood and stone decorate its outside as well as its cozy inside), it presents a complete menu for all kinds of palates.

Delicious dishes may be tasted at La Costa del Pueblo both for lunch and dinner. In addition, breakfast and tea are served with the traditional local delicacies.

We visited this place with friends one afternoon and we were tempted by a fantastic regional picada (a tray of assorted cuts) accompanied by craft beer. As we had a look at the menu, we observed that a good trout, a fantastic bife de chorizo or the venison or wild boar specialties were waiting for us for dinner. The waiter told us: “Our cuisine is completely handmade. Cooking times must be respected as all dishes are prepared on request”.

Its wine list contains major wineries and the desserts served convinced us to come back to this restaurant in search of a perfect finale after spending a day within the natural environment. We agreed to let ourselves be tempted by some specialty at La Costa del Pueblo next time, with a matchless scene in the background.