No, I’m not going to tell you which restaurants they are. You’re going to tell me. For it’s time again for the SMART awards, the annual event where I ask Don Day in SMA subscribers to share with me their very best favorite restaurants. The SMARTs were one of the many casualties of Covid but, thank goodness, the restaurant business in SMA now appears to be healthy again so it’s time again to revive the awards and praise those who feed us better than any of the others.
SMART stands for San Miguel de Allende Readers Taste and, to vote, requires only a quick email. The only guidance I give is to not just consider the obvious reasons…the food, the service and the ambience…but also to think of value and how much pleasure you get for your pesos.
To vote is very simple. Just send an email to dondayinsma@yahoo.com with the word Smarts in the subject line and your top three choices in the body. Or, if you don’t have three that stand out, send me the names of two, or even just one. If you want to include a short comment, even better, because that will help me know what’s important to my readers and give me something I can possibly quote when I write about the winners.
About the only rule is one vote (for up to three restaurants) per email address and I need it by February 29. The winners will be announced at the SMARTs gala dinner to be held on March 13 and on the blog on the following day. And those who vote will receive an advance invitation to attend the dinner.
Please help me give recognition to San Miguel’s very best restaurants. Please vote for your choices right now.
Two votes from my husband, Markus Luck, and I for ChaChaCha!
We discovered Restaurante Italiano on Salida de Hidalgo, and while not in the city limits, it’s close enough and there’s good parking. The open kitchen features hand made pasta, eac=h dish carefully prepared to order. I am a big soup fan and there Sopa del Dia is usually a good one. It may have been closed during Covid but it’s open now and welcoming guests Thursday through Sunday. It’s behind La Buirger, 100 mts up the dirt road.
Pork Belly
Taco Don Felix
1910
consistently great food for many years….. ambiance of a family restaurant part of SMA history and tradition…. fabulous personal service and reasonable prices.
excellent jamaica as I no longer drink. haha
1. Andreas (on Calle Loreto)
2. La Posadita
3. Tío Lucas
My favourite restaurant “was” Salvajes Brasserie at Hidalgo 92. I say “was” because it just closed. Their Onion Soup was exceptional and the Steak and Frits …. Oh my gosh, the best I have ever tasted. The steak simply melted in your mouth. The ambiance was delightful. The service was personal and professional. The wine list offered the choices necessary to enhance any dish. It was a joy to experience.
I’m told the chef has gone up the street to Bastardo at Hidalgo 66. The menu is not the same.
I’m going to sincerely miss Salvajes Brasserie!
Best sushi, Ryoko
Best sushi, bang for the buck, Sushi Gama
Best Caesar Salad, Mama Mias
Best Chicken Caesar Salad, Terraza 48
GRACIAS. 1). Firenze. 2). Andre’s at Landeta 3). Tacos Don Felix.
I believe Pork Belly is the best because of their creative ideas and delicious food
Pork Belly for their creativity
Glenn, very happy to see you bringing back the SMART awards!
FIRENZE HAS BEEN OUR FAVOURITE RESTAURANT IN SAN MIGUEL FOR YEARS. THE SHORT RIBS ARE THE BEST AND HIS SEA BASS IS DIVINE. WE LOVE HIS PORK TENDERLOIN AND ALL THE PASTAS ARE GOOD.
PERHAPS BEST OF ALL IS THE CHEF/OWNER ANTONIO WHO ALWAYS GREETS YOU WITH A SMILE, A FIRM HANDSHAKE, AND A HUG. AND THEN THERE IS JORGE WHO GREETS YOU AT THE DOOR, SEATS YOUAT YOUR TABLE, AND DESCRIBES THE WINES AND THE SPECIALS OF THE DAY.
THERE ARE MANY GOOD RESTAURANTS IN SAN MIGUEL BUT FIRENZE IS NUMBER ONE.
Unfortunately we will not arrive in San Miguel until February 29, and we return home on March 13. This is our first time back in SMA since our abrupt departure in 2020 due to Covid. However, I have been reading and enjoying your columns in the interim and have saved many of them in anticipation of our return to San Miguel. We look forward to experiencing some of the restaurants you have reviewed while we have been away!
Best all-around is Rustica, best seafood, Mario’s Marisvos, best upscale, special occasion, Casa Nistra. Best Specialty, Pork Belly.
I surprised by how good The Pizzeria SMA Mesones 53 is;especially given the challenge of high altitude baking.
1. Firenze
2. El Vergel
3. Andrea’s
How ’bout Rustica?
Such warm smiles for everyone.
Good and consistent food.
Warm and cozy surroundings.
We have enjoyed Asian Express for a couple of years, especially now that they have relocated to Magnolia Plaza. Franco May not be Asian but he has mastered many dishes. Prices at lunch are particularly economical.
1. Spice Market
2. Tostavere
3. La Dona
Is this where we nominate our three favorite restaurants for the SMArt awards?
Mine are: Vivali, Hernandez Macias, home Italian cooking from an Italian grandmother’s recipes. The food is always fresh, the service prompt, the staff cheerful and on a warm day like today, the terrace is wonderfully reminiscent of spring. Open daily from noon to 9:30 PM
Firenze: more expensive, open only for dinner, closed Sunday. The short ribs are reliably tender, flavorful and succulent. Make a reservation, because it is popular and a favorite of many. Open in mid-afternoon to nine-ish?
Cafe y Canela is a relatively new entry on the restaurant scene. Only five tables and two sofas in the patio of the Bellas Artes, closed Monday, otherwise open 9 AM to 6 PM. Top picks are the Belgian waffle with fresh fruit and the burrata salad, Others prefer the shrimp and avocado salad, which is too spicy for me.
I’ve lived in San Miguel for 22 years and never have I had a better Sunday brunch or a better burger than it Hanks.
I vote for Hank’s
Hank’s (In Memory of Bob Thieman)
Ghar
Antigua Trattoria
My vote is for Hank’s
Hank’s (Harry’s). I first came to SMA to visit an old pal of mine. She recommended Harry’s as a meeting place…The rest is history.
Simply The Best!