In a recent thread, http://www.dr1.com/forums/santo-domingo/122025-advice-restaurant-pick-sd-2.html, mountainannie was asking for recommendations for a restaurant for a special night out in Santo Domingo. I mentioned the newly refurbished lakeside complex on Avenida Anacaona, overlooking the boating lake in Parque Mirador Sur.
Disclaimer - the owner is a friend so if not biased, then I'm at least well disposed in his favour, but now I've had the chance to see the finished product and taste some of the food, I urge you all to try it. I wouldn't rush to recommend it if I hadn't been genuinely impressed.
The lakeside complex consists of two restaurants, a banqueting hall and a boating lake.
Higuero is Dominican gourmet. Not fusion but traditional Dominican, including many lesser known recipes you won't get in a standard comedor. The menu is full of dominicanismos and witty touches - the children's menu is headed "Pa lo muchacho". You have the option of sitting inside or outside, with a terrace overlooking the lake, with the slight drawback of some traffic noise from the avenue. The decor is contemporary/rustic - very attractive. The staff are very attentive and provide a few folksy touches, a little like El Conuco without the full out floor show.
I tried the chulitos. These are cassava/yuca fritters with cheese, chicken or beef fillings.
Chench?n - the traditional south western corn pudding with habichuelas, the best beans I've ever tasted.
Caviar de berenjena (aubergine/eggplant caviar) and crema de yaut?a (cream of taro).
For dessert I tasted samples of dulce de coco tierno (tender coconut sweet) and dulce de batata con coco (sweet potato with coconut). There were also Dominican nachos with yuca chips instead of corn chips - the dish was called "Lo que pic? Duarte", an avocado and tomato salad with agrio de naranja (bitter orange dressing), and "chichitata" or chicarrones (fried pork rind) with batata frita (sweet potato fries).
The savoury food was just right, not over-salted or greasy. The flavours were delicate and natural. The sweets were not too sweet.
At this stage I have to add that carnivores need not panic - like Dominican cuisine the menu is actually meat dominated. From La Bandera to several pork, beef, chicken and goat dishes, seafood, etc. The prices are mid-range.
Drinks include mab? and ginger tea as well as coffee and alcoholic drinks.
The other restaurant, Arrozsal, is more formal, with an international menu, and a large terrace overlooking the lake.
Disclaimer - the owner is a friend so if not biased, then I'm at least well disposed in his favour, but now I've had the chance to see the finished product and taste some of the food, I urge you all to try it. I wouldn't rush to recommend it if I hadn't been genuinely impressed.
The lakeside complex consists of two restaurants, a banqueting hall and a boating lake.
Higuero is Dominican gourmet. Not fusion but traditional Dominican, including many lesser known recipes you won't get in a standard comedor. The menu is full of dominicanismos and witty touches - the children's menu is headed "Pa lo muchacho". You have the option of sitting inside or outside, with a terrace overlooking the lake, with the slight drawback of some traffic noise from the avenue. The decor is contemporary/rustic - very attractive. The staff are very attentive and provide a few folksy touches, a little like El Conuco without the full out floor show.
I tried the chulitos. These are cassava/yuca fritters with cheese, chicken or beef fillings.
Chench?n - the traditional south western corn pudding with habichuelas, the best beans I've ever tasted.
Caviar de berenjena (aubergine/eggplant caviar) and crema de yaut?a (cream of taro).
For dessert I tasted samples of dulce de coco tierno (tender coconut sweet) and dulce de batata con coco (sweet potato with coconut). There were also Dominican nachos with yuca chips instead of corn chips - the dish was called "Lo que pic? Duarte", an avocado and tomato salad with agrio de naranja (bitter orange dressing), and "chichitata" or chicarrones (fried pork rind) with batata frita (sweet potato fries).
The savoury food was just right, not over-salted or greasy. The flavours were delicate and natural. The sweets were not too sweet.
At this stage I have to add that carnivores need not panic - like Dominican cuisine the menu is actually meat dominated. From La Bandera to several pork, beef, chicken and goat dishes, seafood, etc. The prices are mid-range.
Drinks include mab? and ginger tea as well as coffee and alcoholic drinks.
The other restaurant, Arrozsal, is more formal, with an international menu, and a large terrace overlooking the lake.