Santo Domingo Travel Guide

Santo Domingo has no shortage of dining options. Formal and casual restaurants, as well as international fast-food franchises share space with open-air cafes and eateries serving a wide spectrum of culinary choices. This diverse alternatives include, of course, places specializing in the Dominican cuisine. Award-winning restaurants offer a native cuisine that is worth a trip to beautiful Santo Domingo by itself. One such establishment is the Restaurante Buen Provecho, a modern cafeteria, popular with the breakfast and lunch crowds for its buffet brimming with native delicacies. Both of its locations, in Gustavo Mejía Ricart 59-A and in Plaza Paseo de la Churchill, are always crowed.

Likewise, over the years, El Chef, with a casual ambiance has won numerous awards. Locals and visitors cherish this place for its abundance of freshly prepared local fare. Best of all, the food is made from the highest quality ingredients and is low in fat. Restaurante Conuco (El) is an unusual, fun-filled place that resembles a Dominican farm. Home-style cuisine is the order of the day, and the servings could feed a small army. If you are watching your weight, you will need to learn the local dances of bachata and merengue to work off your meal. Typical Dominican meals are also available at Lumi's Park, a cozy outdoors restaurant that appeals to both locals an tourists.

Certain food courts include establishments serving typical Dominican fare. Jullian´s Café Restaurant and Pica-Deli, at Diamond Mall and Restaurante Melí Meló, at Plaza Naco are some examples.

Italian restaurants abound in Santo Domingo. If you fancy Italian cuisine in a romantic setting, the Capuccino is the place to go. Original murals by an Italian artist decorate the walls, and candles provide apt mood lighting. Restaurante Fellini is known for its creative contemporary Italian nouvelle cuisine in a high-class setting. Other eateries offering Italian fare include Vesuvio and Restaurante Vesuvio II, both upscale restaurants traditionally favored as meeting places by Santo Domingo's elite. Repeat guests are treated like family here, and the consistently good food, sophisticated ambiance and good service bring people back. The pastry cart is always filled with tempting cakes and pastries.

Another excellent Italian cuisine choice with a one-of-a-kind ambiance is Spaghettissimo, definitely worth visiting if you are looking for a first-class service, a diverse pasta selection and superb desserts. Certainly you would not regret tasting their Gnochhi a la Piemontese and topping it with the unforgettable dessert Flamed Strawberries.

The Spanish left their influence not only on the architecture, language and religion of Santo Domingo, but also on the local palate. The Restaurant Boga Boga is a fashionable place to sample Spanish cuisine at its best. Be sure to try the Entremeses Bora (appetizers) and the selection of Serrano ham, chorizo (Spanish sausage), chicken and ham croquettes, and Manchego cheese. Another original specialty is the Paella de Carne (meat paella). The Cantábrico El is also worth a visit, its ambiance enhanced by a still-life painting of a sumptuously set table depicting roasted pig, legs of lamb, pork, wine and flowers. This restaurant offers everything from hearty regional fare based on recipes from the Iberian Peninsula to fresh oysters and lobster prepared Creole style to chateaubriand.

Other Spanish cuisine options include the restaurants Reina de España, where the Grilled Seafood is one of the house specialties and Mesón de Castilla, praised for its delicious paellas.

The Black Angus Steak House is popular with those who want mouthwatering steaks, but it also serves turkey breast and fish for the health-conscious crowd. Black Angus serves robust prime cuts of beef cooked to perfection. The revamped menu now includes succulent imported Black Angus cuts. The steak house was recently refurbished in an authentic Southwestern "pueblo" decor. The Parrillada, a combination of various roasted meats, is a superb choice, as are Black Angus steaks and the Lomo David Crockett. Barbecue is a 37-year-old tradition at this curiously alpine-looking restaurant. Visitors eat while admiring the blue waters of the Caribbean. Also try the special sauces, which add flavor and color to the meat.

Other recommended options for meat-lovers are the western-style Restaurant David Crockett, the casual Restaurante Parrilla (La), facing the Caribbean Sea; as well as the Argentinean Asadero Los Argentinos and Che Bandoneon.

For those following a healthier lifestyle Santo Domingo offers some vegetarian choices. These include the informal Restaurante Vida Silvestre, and Restaurante Vegetariano Ojas, both serving buffet-style vegetarian meals at very affordable prices. Restaurante Vegetariano Lotos, on the other hand, the only restaurant a la carte within this category, includes a menu with the largest variety of vegetarian/strict vegetarian dishes.

Diverse Chinese food restaurant are available in Santo Domingo. They range from the casual fast food-like establishments as Fai Chan Oriental and Expreso Jade; the traditional and less casual Mario's, to the most fancy restaurants such as Palacio de Jade and Restaurante Salón de Té.

Mexican food is also very popular in Santo Domingo. If you crave this kind of fare you should definitely consider visiting Don Nacho Taquería, famous for their delicious and gigantic burritos; as well as the popular Tacos del Sol.

When it comes to drinking, your best bet is to make your way to the Zona Colonial area called La Atarazana, a cluster of restored 16th-century buildings now filled with stores, bars and restaurants. Here you can indulge in a wide variety of beverages. At Pat´e Palo the party and the drinks never stop. At the popular Fonda de La Atarazana, you can satisfy your cravings for spirits and for seafood in one place. Many other bars and cafés in the area feature local drinks along with dancing to merengue and bachata beats.

Besides the places in the Colonial Zone, other bars and cafés located in most modern areas include the fashionable Montecristo Café, frequented by the local youth during the weekends; Beer House Café, a beer´s lovers favorite; Il Grappolo Enoteca Bar for wine devotees; and Hollywood Café, for a younger audience.2008-08-02T07:29:22.000 181