Kicking this food post off with our favorite way to end a meal in Guanajuato: an affogato from Estacion Gelato. Particularly when cardamom gelato is among the offerings to serve as the base for the pour of espresso.
Most craved dish is the corn and jalapeno fritter appetizer at Los Campos Cantina y Restaurante. In fact, Los Campos proved our all-around favorite restaurant during our fall visit.
We were also taken by the addition of a new sister spot, Metate Tacos – Mezcal – Vino. The best guacamole ever, spicy fried chickpeas, a delightful stuffed guero chile and falling-off-the-bone-tender pork shank for making tacos to share at the table. The owners were tinkering with the menu though, and the last time we tried to go none of those were available. The online menu appears as though the chef settled on keeping most of the dishes we loved. If you go, let us know.
Casa Valadez ceviche
Mestizo tuna carnitas
Metate pork shank
Delica Mitsu bento lunch box
Amatxi paella
La Vela Marisqueria
La Vela tostadas with cevicihe
Mestizo pescado
Mestizo pasta with salmon and asparagus
Los Campos black bean veggie burger
Los Campos platanos con heldo
Los Campos corn and jalapeno fritters
Escarola falafel burger
La Vela cazon tacos
Los Campos arancini
Los Campos jamaica margarita
Estacion Gelato
Metate stuffed guero chile
Los Campos chilled pork tenderloin over cauliflower puree
Los Campos ancho chile relleno
La Victoriana enchiladas verdes
La Victoriana lasagna
La Vie en Rose
Los Campos pork chop al pastor
Metate guacamole with roasted vegetables
Casa Valadez cocktails
Metate fried garbanzos and roasted corn salad
Amatxi croquetas
Mestizo pulpo carpaccio
Casa Valadez enchiladas mineros
Santurrona Gastropub fried chicken sandwich and fish tempura sandwich
Delica Mitsu bento lunch box
Los Campos guacamole with chapulines
Enjoyed new menu items at the upscale Mestizo. Pulpo carpaccio was sweet and tender, and the tuna “carnitas” tacos were a nice change.
In the Presa neighborhood, Amatxi appeared particularly popular with chilangos, but we found the laidback front porch of nearby La Victoriana a more suitable fit for us.
While restaurants encircle the intimate, shady and mariachi-filled Jardin de la Union, we have always shunned eating there. Kind of more of a beer-sipping people-watching spot. We decided to end our snobbery and try the always-bustling Casa Valadez. We found nothing wrong with the food and extremely professional service; all fine if you want to pay higher prices than needed and be assured of eating with all tourists.
We countered that by going into the hole-in-the-wall seafood spot tucked away behind Iglesia de San Diego – La Vela Marisqueria. As tiny and casual as a shack on the beach, La Vela has great fresh ceviche and tacos.
And El Santurrona Gastropub is a perfect spot for people-watching away from the jardin. The fried chicken sandwich is not a bad choice at all.
And then, for a total change in flavor, the fresh food at Delica Mitsu, Campenero location, is great, and you find yourself surrounded by a sea of young Asian college students who agree.
We also enjoy the funky Escarola with its fresh falafel burger. But we must confess that part of its appeal is its convenient location near our favorite after-lunch spot – Estacion de Gelato.
Postcards from Barton Springs 