EL CENTRO: recent restaurant and bar discoveries

Restaurante San Francisco

San Ildefonso 40, Centro

Tel. 5702-9590

Open Monday-Friday 9AM-6PM

$$

This is a pretty restaurant in a colonial patio is probably the only one in the city that specializes in the cuisine of Tlaxcala. Located behind the Zócalo and very near the Museo de San Ildefonso, it is a peaceful respite from the hustle of the centro. Some unusual variations on pipian, mixiotes and cecina are on the menu as well as seasonal specialties.

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Salón Victoria

Lopez 43, corner of Victoria, Centro

Tel. 5512 9305, 4340

Open Monday-Saturday 8AM-8PM

$$

This cantina/restaurant, with old-fashioned décor, booths and service, is in the middle of the lighting district, a few blocks below the Alameda. It is a good place for roast cabrito, the house specialty. The large menu also includes unusually rich sopa de ajo, many typical Mexican dishes such as enchiladas, tortas and tacos and various daily specials.

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Cantinas de Botanas

Cantina La Montañosa

Calle Palma, corner of Cerrada de 5 de Mayo (between 5 de Mayo & Tacuba), Centro

$

This traditional cantina, dating from 1948, serves "free" botanas, or "small" dishes to accompany the drinks, often quite filling, from 2-5. With one drink ( usually a two drink minimum for all-you-can-eat) you are offered a mouthwatering range of seafood dishes such as ceviche, avocado stuffed with tuna or Huachinango a la Veracruzana. Lunch can be eaten standing at the bar or seated in the dining room upstairs. Other cantinas offer filling botanas at comida time;

also worth checking out are:

La Mascota, corner Bolivar and Mesones, Centro

El Tio Pepe, corner of Independencia and Dolores, Centro

La Puerta del Sol, Corner of Cinco de Mayo and Palma, Centro

La Autentica, corner of Alvaro Obregón and Av. Cuauhtemoc, Colonia Roma

La Colonial, Ave. Revolucion, corner Martires de la Conquista (one block from Viaducto), colonia Tacubaya

Ardalio, Ave. Revolucion, corner Jose Maria Vigil, one block from La Colonial