Food

Part of its namesake accommodations, El Fogón (San Valentín 651) is no longer the best, but it’s still not bad. The name implies a parrilla, but the menu is more diverse than that, with fish (including conger eel, hake, and salmon) and fowl, in the US$7–10 range. The specialty, though, is the so-called doble infarto (double heart attack) of steak, eggs, onions, and French fries smothered in a pepper cream sauce.

Thanks to outstanding homemade meals, family-run Ñirrantal (O’Higgins 650-C, tel. 067/522604) has taken over the top spot, with diverse entrées ranging from sandwiches and salmon to beef and everything in between; entrées cost as little as US$5 including a side dish. While the service can be erratic, it’s so well-intentioned and the food is so good that’s only a minor drawback.

Residencial Lago Esmeralda (San Valentín 141) also has a decent restaurant, but it’s inconsistently open.