There are fancy names that I’d prefer to be called. Like epicure or gourmand, connoisseur or bon vivant, even gastronaut. But usually I’m just called a foodie. And it’s true. I’m a glutton for absolutely any dish that’s different and delicious. And rarely go to what might be called a traditional restaurant.
So what was I doing in the way out west of Colonia San Antonio eating a very conventional lunch at Cafe 1910?
The word is “recommended”. It’s one of the most important words in the hospitality biz. And it had happened a lot with 1910. Recommendations on my blog site, by message, by word of mouth. Recommendations like: “…every dish is always done so well…and the people are so nice.” Or “…a friendly neighborhood cafe with wonderful and amazing service.”
The recommendation this time came by email. From fellow foodie Cactus Jack Jacobs. Friend of almost fifty years, Ben Penman, was getting the guys together for lunch and Cafe 1910 was Jack’s restaurant of choice. If Jack Jacobs says it’s good, it’s good. I was in for lunch.
Most of the restaurant is in the cool green-filled courtyard of an old home and the first thing I noticed was that there wasn’t an unoccupied table. A restaurant full at 1:00 pm on a Tuesday is as rare as hen’s teeth in San Miguel de Allende
The second thing I noticed was a familiar face, a guy I have an enormous respect for as a restauranteur. I’d heard that Bob Remak had helped when the restaurant moved to its bigger and better premises about a year and a half ago. I didn’t realize that he was actually working at Cafe 1910.
“It started as one day a week”, Bob told me, “but you know how these things can grow.”
I’d first met Bob Remak thirteen years ago when he opened a much-welcomed burrito joint on San Miguel’s Ancha. His first employee was a man named Miguel. His third employee was a woman named Ana. These days, Ana and Miguel are a married couple. These days they have a son who’s almost five and Ana’s five months pregnant. These days, Ana and Miguel own Cafe 1910.
The restaurant is a breakfast and lunch spot with a very typical, mostly Mexican menu including chilaquiles, French toast, huevos rancheros and a BLT sandwich. It’s not a foodie’s menu but there are a lot of things on there a foodie like me likes to eat.
I contemplated the burger, considered the burrito, mulled over the enchiladas, but, with a bit of nudging from Bob Remak, chose the fajitas with steak as the filling and flour tortillas as the wrap.
Despite the persuasive powers of Cactus Jack to order the “national drink of Texas”, I chose my usual Diet Coke over what he called “one of the best iced teas you’ll ever taste”.
Before the mains arrived, there was a big surprise, a foodie surprise. I usually resist the complimentary chips and dip at a restaurant. They fill me up way too much. But there was something about the color of these chips and dip plus a little encouragement from my friend Lloyd. I took a bite and was absolutely wowed by the sauce. There was jalapeño, avocado but I wasn’t sure what else. If Henry J. Heinz was still around to taste it, he’d be bottling it. But this wasn’t bottled by anyone I was told, it was made in the kitchen by Miguel.
The fajitas arrived in three stages. First the tortillas, then the sides, then the sizable serving of still steaming, fog up your camera lens steak. The moist meat was arrachera so still had a bit of expected chew but it wasn’t overpowered by its marinade that’s so often the case in restaurants these days.
The best part of the fajitas though was hidden underneath. The fried onions and peppers went beautifully with the meat when I rolled them in the tortilla.
Though people like me may always be searching for the most unusual, these fajitas were still fit for a foodie. And those recommendations were right. The atmosphere is lovely. The service is efficient. The prices are reasonable. The owners are charming.
So will this finicky foodie who rarely eats breakfast be returning to Cafe 1910? Yes, he will. Because in addition to having a passion for what touches his tongue, he also cares deeply about what enters his ears.
Yes, I’m a foodie and an audiophile and, on the way out, I caught a glance of a couple of posters. “Yes, that 9:30 is an AM not a PM. We have live music on most mornings”, Bob Remak told me.
Hmmmm! A cheese omelet with chorizo and peppers with a bit of bluegrass as a side. Sounding very tasty.
Cafe 1910 is located at La Esperanza 22, in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The restaurant is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Tuesday to Friday; 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday; closed Monday.
Thank you for writing up this gem that many food writers ignore.
Cafe 1910 is a rare mix of great food, service, ambience and community
The sauce is simply jalapeños boiled in oil and then blended per Bob. I make it often, and fortunately live only a couple of blocks s from 1910.
Hello Don,
Your writing is always lucid and engaging and I think that your 1910 tale was as to the point as to the point as any reviewer could get. But then I live down the street from 1910 and my body would be quite a bit smaller if not for their proximity.
I too was a loyal customer at Bob’s wonderful joint on the Ancha and the food at 1910 has much of the same mouth feel.
You called yourself an audiophile and I prefer to to be called a musicophile. I have built a substantial system to support the playback of my large collection of very fine recordings of adventuresome music. If you would like to hear some of that, come and listen over a fine glass of wine. I admire both with equal intensity, my wife stick to just the mus though.
Dirk Bakker
I just recently moved to a little house on Santa Lucia, a hop, skip and a jump away… Very glad to be so close to this, but also want to throw in a plug for another neighbor just a block away at 26 San Jorge, called El buen Cafe, which morphs into Martina’s hamburgers at 5:00, similarly special and delicious, a little less crowded.
Dang, Those of us who live in San Antonio have thought of 1910 as “our place.” Now all of San Miguel will know of the wonderful food and atmosphere.
My home away from home! So glad there getting the recognition they deserve even if it means making it harder to get a table! I believe it’s one of the best in town.
I think I was there the day you were – i remember when Robert, Ana and Miguel lined up for pictures. They’re so good at what they do! My partner and I live near Cafe 1910 and we breakfast there almost every day. It’s been a treat to watch them evolve from their original spot on San Felipe to their wonderful current location on La Esperanza 22 My personal favorite? Enmoladas pollo – best mole in town!
This is one of the best restaurants in San Miguel. This couple also supports a music program and also artist studio space. They are the kindest and most hard working couple! Glad you gave them such a nice review. Next time try the Chilaquiles!!!
I am there every saturday morning enjoying Robert’s smiling face and Chuy’s beautiful music and great food. Awesome.
I just recently moved to a little house on Santa Lucia, a hop, skip and a jump away… Very glad to be so close to this, but also want to throw in a plug for another neighbor just a block away at 26 San Jorge, called El buen Cafe, which morphs into Martina’s hamburgers at 5:00, similarly special and delicious, a little less crowded.
I can vouch for El Buen Café as well! In fact, I believe I found El Buen Café before I found Cafe 1910. 🙂
I’m with Richard Kammen on this one. I’m kind of sorry you reviewed Cafe 1910. I don’t even live in SMA (yet!) but when I do I’ll be in Balcones. And I won’t hesitate to make the trek to Cafe 1910 for breakfast. It’s a chill vibe, good food, and friendly people! Before I really knew about Cafe 1910 I looked at an apartment/condo for sale right across the street. After I “discovered” Cafe 1910 I was kind of sorry I didn’t buy it!
My partner and I very luckily live just a couple of blocks away, and can be found enjoying a meal at 1910 at least 3 times a week. It has everything you could want in a restaurant; food, service and ambience, plus that something extra. You have the feeling that everything is done with love.
This place sounds great. My wife and I can’t wait to try it. Two questions: 1. is it cash only; and 2. (this is a more general question) I believe Cafe 1910 does not serve wine/beer/spirits. Do they, and other similarly situated places, welcome BYOB? I only know of one place in SMA that advertises this policy and have wondered if it is common or frowned upon? [might a “BYOB Brunch” theme be a good DD post?]Thanks for another great review.
Yes, I believe cash only and unlicenced.
Most of the profits come in bottles rather than on plates at restaurants these days at licensed spots so BYOB is almost always discouraged. You know of one more than I do that welcomes it.
Hi,
So I sense I offended you, which was not my intention. Having said that I do not understand your response. Say I own and unlicensed food establishment. How is it a bad thing for me if a customer says, ” I would like to bring my own bottle of wine. I understand you will charge me a 100-200 peso corkage fee.” Is that not a win/win?
And if you wish I will tell you the place that allows BYOB in SMA. Best, PB
Sorry, Phil, I thought you were referring to licensed establishments. And I love to know which restaurant it is that welcomes BYOB.