| For the past three and a half years, I've been waiting | | | | across from the middle window. We still had a good |
| for a restaurant to come along that would prove, | | | | view and were able to feel the lovely breeze that |
| once and for all, that Guanajuato, Mexico, does not | | | | naturally cooled the dining area. Our orders of |
| lack fine cuisine. Guidebooks say Guanajuato does not | | | | Lasagna and Cannelloni, taken by immaculately |
| have any good restaurants. Now, I can put a stop to | | | | dressed and poised young Mexican waiters, came |
| this nonsense once and for all-I hope. | | | | quickly. The bread served was not the usual |
| Frascati, conveniently located in Guanajuato's El Jardin | | | | bolillos-traditionally served in Guanajuato-but was |
| de Union, is a wonderful place for birthday celebration | | | | fresh and satisfying. |
| or for any special occasion. That's why we were | | | | The meal was the entrée and nothing else. |
| there-the wife's birthday. The décor is | | | | This surprised us. At one of our favorite restaurants |
| modern Mexican with just a touch of tradition. There | | | | in Guanajuato, Casa Valadez, the meals come with |
| is an indoor waterfall over the stairs, which adds to | | | | succulent side dishes of rice and vegetables. This |
| the restaurant's uniqueness. This restaurant will appeal | | | | meal consisted of a sufficiently filling Italian dish and |
| to those accustomed to paying a little more for their | | | | bread and nothing more. A salad would have cost us |
| meals to eat in a location with ambience. The dining | | | | nearly as much as the entree. |
| room is on the second floor of Hotel San Diego and | | | | Prices were high considering what you get for your |
| is accessible from the hotel's lobby by stairs in the | | | | money. In Casa Valadez, you get comparably tasting |
| front or by the elevator at the back of the lobby. | | | | food and service equal to Frascati's but more for |
| The premium tables overlook Guanajuato's main and | | | | your money. Valadez lacks the décor but |
| most popular plaza, El Jardin de Union, through large | | | | what the heck when what you want is a good meal |
| open doors that lead to the balcony. | | | | for a good price. The prices at Frascati's make this |
| Frascati is a prestigious restaurant chain in Mexico and | | | | establishment one for upper income bracket tourists |
| serves an Italian menu of deliciously delightful choices. | | | | or locals. However, it is great for a special occasion |
| The manager of the Guanajuato facility, a graduate | | | | meal for the rest of us. Our lunch, with soft drinks, |
| of Penn State University, seemed to be the only | | | | coffee and dessert, set us back about thirty dollars. |
| bilingual employee. The rest of the staff has been | | | | The most unique menu item at Frascati's, worth a |
| trained in basic English. They can describe the items | | | | trip to this central Mexican town to sample, is their |
| on the menu and take your order, but that is about | | | | megalithic brownie and ice-cream dessert. It was a |
| the extent of their English abilities. This is a new twist | | | | meal all by itself. I'm not making this up! Trust me |
| in Guanajuato. The manager told me that speaking | | | | when I tell you that it is worth whatever you have |
| English is not a requirement for employment. | | | | to do to get here and try it. |
| Since all the window seats were taken, we sat | | | | |