HELP! Where to eat in Punta del Este, Uruguay?

[brhoades]

Looking for some recommended dining for the next couple days. All replies welcome and appreciated.

[Amiz71]

Uruguay is one of my favorite places. My very favorite place in Punta Del Este is Lo De Charlie. It's on Calle 11. It looks more like a little house and you can eat out front on the "porch". Great food and service.
On the corner on 11th and 12th is El Pobre Marino. Good food and prices but not as quaint. Friendly service from Leonardo the waiter and Luis the owner.
Another popular place is Lo De Tere on Rambla Artigas near 21st. More upscale and higher is price.
Any other cities in Uruguay you're interested in, let me know.

[brhoades]

Amiz,
Thank you. We ́ll try one of your recommendations tonight. Last night we indulged and went to La Bourgoune and it was fabulous, worth a trip to Punta in and of itself.

[brhoades]

Arniz71 ̈
Thx for your recomendation on ̈Charlies ̈. Went last evening and had the best Paella I ever have had.

[broncosaurus]

What are the prices at some of these tasty-sounding places?

[Amiz71]

Glad I could dine vicariously through you. I won't make it to Uruguay this year so I will miss Charlie's. I'm very happy you enjoyed it.

[Casa SaltShaker]

Truly the best meal you can have would be to go out to Jose Ignacias and have lunch or dinner at Las Huellas - fresh fish, right on the beach looking out over the ocean. Really hard to beat!

[Jer]

Not sure if this is too late. If it is, apologies.

Our favorites are:

Best medialunas are at Medialunas Calentitas in La Barra

A memorable meal can be had in Jose Ignacio at the red and green restaurant just to the right of the lighthouse. Its not very PC name is Los Negros. Not cheap but wonderful setting and really good.

Best panqueque de dulce de leche is at the Lapataia factory just before Punta (near the point where the whales hang out). These crepes are amazing.

Cafe Flo in La Barra not too far from La Posada del Congrejo is great in the afternoon for a snack.

[evsambista]

Ditto on Los Negros. Went Dec. 2005 and it was fantastic. Beautiful setting, poetry on the walls. Ribeye steak done perfectly throughout the large piece of meat. A nice salad made of mandolined carmelized pears, arugula, serrano ham and strands of oiled tomato skins.

Waffles and tea at Hotel L'Auberge around 5pm. Waffles with dulce de leche should be on every diner's menu.

Dinner at Castor y Pollux. Spinach salad y ceviche w/cuttlefish--don't see that in the US often. Uruguayan viognier was nice and floral, more body than most Amer. viognier. Went well w. provolone cheese & tomato.

Hernan Taina, a cool little bistro just north of Barra. Funky and fun red decor, but a serious wine cellar. Make sure to get narancello, a version of limoncello made out of small locally grown oranges, not much bigger than a kumquat.

[fpetkovich]

Hi, We went to Punta last year and stayed in Jose Ignacio. Very few Americans, and those that were there were pretty sophisticated and hip people. I have to say that Los Negros was quite unbelievable. It's a Francis Malmann restaurant, and he has restaurants in Buenos Aires (Patagonia Sur) and Mendoza (Francis Malmann). We dined at Patagonia Sur last year and it was spectacular. These are not cheap ($200+ US at Los Negros, and about $150 at Patagonia Sur) but they are worth the splurge (if you are a foodie).

We loved it so much that we are returning again in early March. Much more low key than January. In Punta, there is a great place at the water, the first outdoor place near the city beach on the Rio de la Plata side. Fantastic steak sandwiches - don't remember what they are called but they are Uruguayan. Also in Jose Ignacio - Las Huellas rocks - the fish "stew" in a very hot skillet is excellent, fresh, as is really most everything on that menu. There is a very charming bakery in town, (not on the water and that town is SMALL so you won't have trouble finding it) just off the square that has very good regional food for lunch only. Avoid the pizza place in Jose Ignacio, to say that frozen pizza is better is giving the place too much credit!!

If you have any more recommendations for Punta, I would love them.

[mashirley_35]

We love SOHO which doesn't have the clients dining there as it should. Marcello is the chef- very creative and really knows his fish and equivalents. Good quality food at not extraordinary prices. Don't be beguiled by the crowd dining next door as they are cheap and cater to tours.....

[dakota1]

If you go back to Uruguay Sarava in Jose Ignacio is a must. New restaurant in town and bar far the best dining experience, nothing comes close.. If you appreciate good food you need to go and check it out...