Restaurants in Guanajuato

There is an odd thing I read from time to time in travel pieces and popular guidebooks. I’ve read travel writers say that the restaurants in Guanajuato are “undistinguished.” Not only do they say this but cast all manner of doubts and aspersions on Guanajuato’s cuisine. What I am forced to ask is, “Just what Guanajuato are they taking about, because it can’t be the one in which my wife and I reside.”

Let me go on the record and say that there is absolutely nothing undistinguished or doubtful about the food served in most of the restaurants in Guanajuato. I would go on the say that if I was rich enough my wife and I would eat out each and every meal and never grow tired or bored with what we’ve found in the local eating establishments here.

I am often impressed that these reviewers of Guanajuato’s restaurants are Gringos who are accustomed to eating in the restaurants of hoity-toity San Miguel de Allende and most of the uber-rich coastal resort restaurants. This is, in my view, comparing apples and oranges. One appeals to an international crowd with the means to have eaten some of the world’s finest restaurants. The other appeals to “Mexican tastes”.

Guanajuato’s restaurants appeals to its most common and frequent tourist—Mexicans. They do not target, in their food and presentation, the crowd that frequents as tourists San Miguel and the coastal resorts. Their mainstay clients are Mexican nationals some of which may not have international cuisine experiences or tastes. Do Guanajuato’s eateries have a sophisticated international flare? Probably not. Guanajuato is a Mexican tourist town and subsequently the restaurants here target that audience. That doesn’t make them “undistinguished”. It makes them “different”.

I wonder if anyone really knows how many restaurants there are in this town. They seem to spring up overnight and close equally fast. Sometimes you will find someone opening one up in the front room of their house where the woman of the house cooks for clients and her family out of the same kitchen.

I will try and cover some of the restaurants that will be in the main sections of the town the tourist will most likely see on a week or two vacation. I will try to do this according to a high, medium, and budget classification. Most of all, I will include the ones that are my favorites. If I leave some out it will not be that I hate those I skipped over. It will be because I have tried them and decided I liked something else better and regard it better worth the time and money for the tourist.

Culinary Surprises

I once was asked by a tourist here in my adopted central Mexican town, Guanajuato, if it was true the culinary delights here were nothing to write home about. I wanted to slap him silly but resisted the urge...Read More

(As in all eateries everywhere, they can be opened today and gone tomorrow. This list is updated YEARLY by the GTO Government. When I get updates, I will correct the list...)

The Swank and Pricey:

Signature cuisine

El Jardín de los Milagros – El Jardín de los MilagrosCalle Alhóndiga 80 San Javier Phone: +52 (473) 732 9366E-mail: losmilagrosgto@hotmail.com

Contemporary Mexican Cuisine

Teresita (Villa María Cristina) – Paseo de la Presa de la Olla 76Phone: +52 (473) 731 2183Fax: +52 (473) 731 2185E-mail: reservaciones@ral.com.mx www.villamariacristina.com.mx

Fusion cuisine

La Capellina – Sopeña 3 Phone: +52 (473) 732 7224 E-mail:lacapellina@hotmail.com www.lacapellina.com

Mexican & International cuisine

Mesón del Ángel – Autopista Guanajuato-Silao Km. 1Telefono: +52 (473) 733 4488 E-mail: reservaciones@quintalasalondras.com.mx www.quintalasalondras.com.mx

International cuisine

Casa del Conde de la Valenciana – Plaza de Valenciana 11Teléfono y fax: +52 (473) 732 2550amalcocer@condevalenciana.com www.condevalenciana.com

Refugio Casa Colorada –

Cerro de San Miguel 13Col. Lomas de PozuelosTeléfono y fax: +52 (473) 734 1151 y 734 0801 Lada sin costo: 01 800 543 7070E-mail: reservaciones@hotelesrefugio.com www.hotelesrefugio.com