There will always be controversy when it comes to food. A recent article, published by The Independent out of the UK, suggests that San Miguel is emerging as the new culinary capital of Mexico.
While friends in DF agonize at the mention of it, they also grudgingly acknowledge San Miguel's growing influence in Mexico's culinary scene.
I made an observation after a recent trip to Guatemala; there is a level of sophistication in the culinary scene here in SMA. Not just on the strength of the restaurants, chefs and their menus but also in the availability of quality ingredients, artisan stores to buy them, and a developing wine and cocktail culture. Add into that mix the number of visiting chefs like Lee Dubberman from Ariel’s Restaurantwho cooked at Provecho this winter and you've got a culinary capital in the making.
Certainly this level of refinement has been brewing for some time and has taken an enormous leap forward in the two years I have been here.
Are we there yet? One thing is for sure… you can eat your way around the world and never leave San Miguel.
Granted, if you want to eat out African, British, Caribbean, Eastern European, Irish, Korean, Middle Eastern, Vietnamese
or really authentic Greektown-Chicago-style food right now, you'll have to cook it yourself but sourcing ingredients has gotten a lot easier and there isn't too much you can't find in San Miguel or Querétaro to show off your culinary skills.
You can patronize your old standbys like
Hecho en Mexico (Ancho de San Antonio # 8), Los Milagros (Calle Reloj #17),CaféBuen Dia (Callejon del Pueblito #3), Tacos Don Felix En La Casa (15thFray Juan de San Miguel St/Col. San Rafael), Cafe Monet (Zacateros #83), Mama Mia (Umaran #81) or La Parroquia (Jesus #11) and get a good meal, but if your palate is far more adventurous, here are the restaurants that will transport you to anywhere in the world...and you don't have to bring your passport.
We’ve written about all of them this past year so I’ll leave you with these mouth-watering photographs to remind you that San Miguel’s culinary profile has come this far.
Buen Apetito!
American:
Lavanda, Dr Ignacio Hernandez Macias 87
Hansens, Calzada de la Aurora #12
Argentinean:
Buenos Aires Bistro, Mesones #62
Asian:
Sweet Water Catering, Saturday Organic Market
Bakery:
Panaderia El Maple, Salida a Celaya #53
Panaderia La Buena Vida, Hernandez Macias #72, Int. 5
La Mesa Grande, Zacateros 49
BBQ:
Diablo Panzon, Salida a Celaya #94
Cajun/Creole:
Hank's New Orleans Café and Oyster Bar, Calle Miguel Hidalgo #12
Canadian:
Santos Crudoteca, Del Los Suspiros #7
Contemporary:
The Restaurant, Solano #16
Continental:
Paprika Restaurante San Miguel de Allende, Ancha de San Antonio #7
Danish:
Café Oso Azul, Zacateros 17
Dessert:
Petit 4, Mesones 99
Eclectic:
Provecho, Ancha de San Antonio #10A
European:
Restaurante 1826, Calle Nemesio Diez #11
French:
Chamonix, Sollano #17
German:
Berlin Bar and Bistro, Umaran #19
Global:
La Mezcaleria, Correo #47-A
Indian:
Bhaji, Cuadrante #34
International:
Aperi, Quebrada 101
Nirvana Restaurant and Retreat, Camino Del Cortijo a Montecillo de Nieto, Antigua Via Del Ffcc 21-2 El Cortijo
Italian:
Bacco, Hernandez Macias #59
Cent’anni, Canal #34
Cafe Firenze, Recreo #13
Japanese:
Delica Mitsu San Miguel de Allende, Calzada de laLuz #49, Col. Guadalupe
Lebanese:
Fenicia, Zacateros #73
Mediterranean:
Cumpanio, Correo #29
Mexican:
La Posidita, Cuna de Allende #13
Moxi Restaurant, Hotel Matilda, Aldama #53
Muro, Loreto 10B
Don Lupe Mexican Grill, Pila Seca 34-B
Oaxacan:
Salsabor Prehispanc Delicatessen, Antonio Plaza 21-A, Col. Guadalupe
Pan Asian:
Chao Ban, Pila Seca #16
Peruvian:
La Parada, Recreo 94
Pizza:
Casa Chiquita, Correo 45
Seafood:
La Sirena Gorda, Calle Barranca y Huertas
Southern:
Cafe Mesones, Mesones #74
Tapas:
Tapas San Miguel, Umaran #36
Luna Rooftop Tapas Bar, Nemesio Diez #11
La Azotea, Umaran #6
Thai:
Orquidea Comida Thai, Zacateros #83
Uruguay:
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Tannat Cocina Con Caracter, Ancha de San Antonio #67
Vegetarian:
Via Organica, Margarito Ledesma #2