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jennifer rose

Oct 27, 2005, 8:11 PM

Post #1 of 9 (1376 views)

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Best Restaurant in San Miguel de Allende?

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When I visit San Miguel de Allende, admittedly I have tunnel vision when it comes to restaurants. The drive from Morelia is fueled by visions of a pastrami sandwich, extra pickles and carrot cake at El Pegaso. And China Palace for a Chinese food fix. Only after those basic needs have been met do I expand my horizons, and then it's Los Laureles.

What are your notions of the best restaurants in San Miguel de Allende?

Cynthia7

Oct 27, 2005, 8:40 PM

Post #2 of 9 (1368 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] Best Restaurant in San Miguel de Allende?

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Hecho in Mexico on San Antonio, Nirvana, hand cut aged steaks at Romanos, Azafran on H. Macias, anything at the Chaminoux on Sollano or the Food Factory in the Aurora Mall, mushrooms, onions and garlic and the chicken fajitas at Ole Ole. jazz and steaks at Tio Lucas, churros and coffee on San Francisco, tomato soup and fried squash blossoms at Villa Jacaranda, tortas at Tortitilan, fish tacos at tha palapa on Nuevo calle, breakfast at the lovely Canal property..enter on Aldama 5 or 7??.a real gourmet treat. Pizza from Juanitas on Orizaba or from La Grotta on Cuadrante 6. Chiles in Nogada at Bugambilla on Hidalgo 42 - one of the oldest restaurants in SMA. There are several hundred more but these are some of my favorites. I love Villa santa Monica for the ambiance but you have to know what to order. El Ranchito has good ribs and meat. Campanarios, Capilla and Casa Blanca are good.

jennifer rose

Oct 27, 2005, 8:43 PM

Post #3 of 9 (1367 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] Best Restaurant in San Miguel de Allende?

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So what is that you need to know what to order at Villa Santa Monica?

TigerTonio

Oct 28, 2005, 3:30 PM

Post #4 of 9 (1313 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] San Miguel de Allende: China Palace

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Wait -- Is China Palace in San Miguel really all that and a bag of fortune cookies? I plan to visit San Miguel on a weekend sometime in late November or early December. Morelia is seriously lacking in this area and to be quite honest, with exception of Mexicali, I've yet to experience a really good Chinese meal in Mexico.

jennifer rose

Oct 28, 2005, 3:36 PM

Post #5 of 9 (1310 views)

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Re: [Tio Toño] San Miguel de Allende: China Palace

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No. But when you're from Morelia and really, really hungry for Chinese food, you'll settle for one of Lake Woebegone's children.

jennifer rose

Oct 28, 2005, 3:37 PM

Post #6 of 9 (1310 views)

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Re: [Tio Toño] San Miguel de Allende: China Palace

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China Palace is a child of Lake Woebegone compared to Morelia's Chinese restaurants. Come to think of it, its cuisine is sort of like what might be found in Lake Woebegone.

TigerTonio

Oct 28, 2005, 3:58 PM

Post #7 of 9 (1309 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] San Miguel de Allende: China Palace

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Well...whenever I'm in Europe and get a food-jones for a taco, I search high and low and will do whatever it takes to satisfy that craving. I will be kitchen-less during my three weeks in Guanajuato and, therefore, will have to settle for San Miguel's China Palace for my bok choy fix. For good or ill.

Cynthia7

Oct 28, 2005, 6:47 PM

Post #8 of 9 (1288 views)

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Re: [Tio Toño] San Miguel de Allende: China Palace

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When China Palace opened it was very good. A Mexican from NJ,I think,returned and decorated and cooked and it was wonderful. As often happens..doing business in Mexico is difficult..and as I remember he left it to the employees and returned to his other restaurants in US. They had an eggplant dish that was very good. It is very attractive and well located. Several Thai and Asian restaurants have been in SMA but many of them didn't have the right equipment to cook fast and hot at that altitude...so greasy and soggy is not good. Nirvana is a good fusion restaurant...it was on H.Macias but moved next to Tio Lucas in a space that was Pepe's Patio...a very popular restaurant in the 80's and 90's. I have a friend that teaches cooking and teaches a cooking class for maids. Her biggest problem is getting them to taste the food so they will know what it is supossed to taste like. After they get the courage up to taste what she is teaching they love it and leave with a few extra kilos. I think that may happen in restaurants that feature different foods than Mexican...they don't know what it is supossed to taste like.

tutle

Nov 3, 2005, 6:32 AM

Post #9 of 9 (1215 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] Best Restaurant in San Miguel de Allende?

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I worked for GM in Silao for 3 years and lived in Irapuato. We spent a lot of time in SMA and without a doubt, our favorite restaraunt was Bougaivilleas. The coconut shrimp is to die for. You enter through an unassuming door and eat in a courtyard. Fabulous!