Food

There are many restaurants around the Monumento a la Restauración [1] and on Calle del Sol. Pez Dorado (Calle del Sol 43, tel. 809/582-2518, noon–12 p.m. daily, US$11–40) is a surprisingly nice change from the regular cuisine found in the Dominican Republic [2]; it serves comida criolla (traditional Dominican fare), Chinese, and other international dishes. They don’t let you go hungry and it’s a popular place on the weekends. It has been popular in Santiago [3] since the 1950s.

Kukara Makara (Av. Francia 7, tel. 809/241-3143, 8 a.m.–late, US$5–20) is a Tex Mex, cowboy-inspired restaurant serving thick meals like steak, burritos (including a veggie one), and grilled food. It also has seafood, sandwiches, and burgers. Sure, the cheesy quality of the theme may be a bit touristy, but the food is actually quite good, and if you’ve just spent a while combing through the museum at the monument and are dying of hunger, this is very near there.

Restaurante Mana (Av. Francia and Calle del Sol, US$3–7) is a small, very casual, cafeteria-style restaurant down the hill from the monument. It’s very affordable; for US$3, you can get rice and beans, meat, a side order, and a drink. What a value for the budget traveler! The food is good, too. Just get in line and point to what you want. Dining is on picnic tables under a roof, but open-air.

Las 3 Café (Calle Tolentino 38, tel. 809/276-5909, noon–late, US$6–12) is a very good choice for Dominican criolla fare. It’s within the bar district and serves wonderful midpriced meals.

When dining at Camp David (Carretera Luperón Km 7 1/2, tel. 809/276-6400, US$10–25), the first thing you’ll notice is the spectacular panoramic view. Next is the almost overwhelming size of the menu, with seafood dishes like mero en salsa de cerveza (grouper in beer sauce), numerous meat choices, pastas, and rice dishes. Make your meal a well-rounded one with a wine picked from their generous wine cellar. If you find yourself romanced by the view, just book a room for the night.