Where I Eat What and at What Time

This is my 9th year in Merida and I’m a bit jaded about the state of food in the state of Yucatan. You can read my blogs and see where I’m coming from and why I’m so opinionated or snobbish when it comes to tastes and taste. Everyone wants to know why I’m not posting any more & I’m feeling a little guilty about it so here goes…I am avoiding dining out at night this year. Tis part of my New Years resolution to loose weight, save money and eat healthier food. I have a new organic garden with lots of herbs and veggies. If anyone has a good insect or caterpillar recipe please send it on…

Breakfast.
While you are in Merida you should try all of the tropical fruits in season because there are so many you never see anywhere else besides Ediard in Paris. But if you want your eggs go to the market in Santiago and have huevros divorciados or rancheros at “La Virgen de Moreno” or to the Hyatt which does still have the best breakfast in town. Waynes tacos (huevros con chaya or papas con chorizo) are great for breakfast and on Sundays Ana Sabrina serves great tacos in Santa Lucia Square. Café Club has a decent breakfast and Hotel San Angel has good pastries and cakes if you are on vacation and feel like indulging. Teddy’s Corner has biscuits and gravy and o.j. from Florida from concentrate for some reason. Any time of day you should have juice and licuados from the juice bars around the market. In fact you could just have breakfast every morning the market.

Lunch
I’m eating fish and loving it maybe 4 or 5 times a week. I go every week to Aquamar, Marlin Azul and Campay Sushi Express and less often I have fish tacos at El Congrejito. On the non fish days I might go to El Reforma and have chile rellenos or I might grab a pizza at Costco. Rafaello’s is much better pizza but it’s not grabable since it’s made to order. I go to Café Almeda for Lebanese or Café Club for soup. I don’t eat at cocina economicas much anymore because I’ve bored with the menus but they are great options for tourist or visitors. One gets a real taste of the real Yucatan. If I’m famished I might go to La Rueda for a steak. Once in a blue moon I might go to La Pigua or Muelle 8 for a more expensive seafood lunch or I might go sit on the terrace of Xcanatun and have a salad and stuffed pepper.

Dinner
The trendiest restaurants of the moment are at Rosas y Xocolate & C’a D’Oro. For me they are must avoids on the weekend but that is when the crowds compete for service and attention. Nectar and Xcanatun can be just great or just awful. These four restaurants are too expensive too have mediocre service or less than perfect food. For me they all have passed my 3 strikes and you’re out quota. For you it will be hit or miss but you will get over it. I may not. Trotters American Bistro atmosphere or and La Recova ‘s Argentine grill might be a good option if you are with friends and want some noise and French fries with your Steak. All of those restaurants are as expensive as the restaurants in New York (my former home) and not as good. None of these restaurants are in Centro Historico.

If you are looking for a more reasonable place to have dinner you could try Italian at Villa Italia or Pane y Vino. People (not me) do like Panchos, and Frida’s for Mexican food. I order the mole at Frida’s but I don’t go to Panchos. I still enjoy having the tapas at Meson de Sergovia. Beware the expensive wine pushed by the charming owner. Most of the wine is good here and all Spanish. I still go to Santiago Market to Reina de Itzalana for tamales and soup. Seafood is not a dinner option in Merida though La Pigua is open at night on the weekends and Muelle 8 is open til 6.