San Lucas Toliman, Lake Atitlan, GT: Hotel y Restaurante Don Pedro

[rworange]

If staying at the hotel, it is raining and you don’t want to get wet going elsewhere, it is a pleasant enough place.

It is inexpensive. A hamburger with fries is $2.25. The most expensive menu item is the shrimp dinner for $7.50

There’s somewhat of a view of the lake. The staff is very nice. There is an adorable hotel cat.

The castle-like stone hotel and restaurant is shaded by a huge ceba tree, the national tree of Guatemala. The grounds are a riot of colorful flowers, cascading from every window and balcony.

The hotel is one of those great deals for someone who is not fussy. For 90 quetzales (about $11.25 USD), you get a clean, if worn, room with a view of Lake Atilan. There is hot water, cable, and secure parking … you don’t want to know the story of security at San Lucas Toliman … just don’t commit a crime there. It won’t be pleasant for you. It may be one of the safest places in Guatemala. There is zero tolerance

But this is about the food at the restaurant. The menu is brief. The food cooked by the guy who is also the bartender and waiter.

Here's what we had rated from A+ to F -
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/737141

C - … pescado frito
C …... bistek
C …... camarones empanizados
C …... tortillas
C …... Hamburger with French fries
C …... Chicken sandwich
C - … Lemonade
C …... Coffee
C - … Hot Chocolate

Service: C + … Slightly above average
Ambiance: C + … Slightly above average
Price: $

Restaurant record with more info such as address, phone and menu
http://www.chow.com/restaurants/923144

Flickr photostream with more pictures including room and hotel.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7685047@...

[rworange]

DON PEDRO HOTEL Y RESTAURANTE DETAILS

PESCADO FRITO: C - … Slightly below average

Guatemala excels at great fried fish. This wasn’t the best example of it. The batter was heavy and the fish fine, but nothing special. It was a nice presentation though.

All entrees came with a scoop of ok rice. The ensalada was cold cubed potatoes, carrots and summer squash. If it was dressed, it was very light.

Two sauces were on the table, the usual Guatemalan thin salsa verde of chiltepe chilis that had a little heat plus a thin tomato sauce that was probably chirmol.

BISTEK: C … Average

The thin piece of beef was the style favored by Guatemalans … lots of chew. The flavor was good enough. It didn’t seem cooked over flames though.

CAMARONES EMPANIZADOS: C … Average

The shrimp were on the salty side and like most of the food, ok but nothing especially memorable … good or bad. It was filling.

TORTILLAS: C … Average

The hot tortillas were the standard Guatemalan version… no better or worse

HAMBURGER WITH FRENCH FRIES: C … Average

It was the large, thin Guatemalan-style griddled patty, a little thinner than a McDonald’s burger. These hamburgers always make me wonder what type of filler is used with the beef.

The soft but substantial sesame seed bun was good. It was topped with a tomato slice and leaf of lettuce. Packets of mayo and mustard were on the side.

The medium cut, irregular French fries seemed like they were made from scratch. They were nicely fried and not greasy.

CHICKEN SANDWICH: C … Average

Again, standard Guatemalan chicken salad with a little mayo on toasted slices of white bread

LEMONADE: C - … Slightly below average

My friend’s mother said “I make mine at home with more lemon and less sugar” Enough said … too weak, too sweet.

COFFEE: C … Average

It was probably instant, but it wasn’t pre-sweetened … a plus.

HOT CHOCOLATE: C - … Slightly below average

Like the lemonade it was way too sweet. We asked for some hot water to add and dilute the sugar.

SERVICE: C + … Slightly above average

The cook/waiter/bartender was pleasant, took orders promptly and went back to the kitchen to cook the food, then delivered the dishes in a reasonable time.

AMBIANCE: C + … Slightly above average

The restaurant is rustic with trees trunks as support beams, wooden tables, a canoe hangs from the ceiling and there are the usual posters and signs by liquor companies. The tables by the three windows have a little view of the lake but are not aligned with the windows for the most advantageous view.

We had lunch after the long drive and later the burgers and sandwich. It rained in the afternoon and it was pleasant enough watching the river of rain wash down the cobblestone street outside.

There’s a mix of Latino and American popular songs and rock as the background music.

OVERALL

The staff at the hotel is really welcoming and nice. This food is only average but it was a convenient and relaxing spot after our long ride.

The Hotel Toliman, right in back of Don Pedro is the better choice for food. The view is better, they use herbs and veggies from their organic garden and the tilapia is live from hotel’s fish tanks. While it is more expensive, it is not that much pricier than Don Pedro