Tired of eating by myself in the hotel restaurant, I walked down the avenida to Fondo de la Calle for dinner, and treated myself to a fabulous meal. Locally respected as the best restaurant in Antigua, Fondo de la Calle specializes in local cuisine in an elegant setting, of course keeping with the dedication to authentic colonial customs and ambiance.
The tables are situated around and within an open-aired courtyard, like the courtyards found in the traditional posada architecture. I sat in a corner table, and had a view of the whole restaurant, including the tables that had a view of pedestrian traffic in the avenida as well as of the prep kitchen that dished up soups and salads.
To eat, I started with a huge bowl of Caldo Real soup with an avocado on the side. This soup is a meal in itself, with pieces of chicken on the bone, a bbig scoop of rice, bits of onion and carrot all floating in cilatnro-infused chicken broth, generously garnished with more fresh cilantro. This soup was so aromatic and so flavorful, the ingredients had to be fresh and local. The avocado I had with it was so ripe and delicious, I ate it with a spoon. When my main course came with hand-made tortillas, I was full but then could not resist the Pepian de pollo set in front of me. This dish is essentially a breast and leg of chicken smothered in a red mole sauce. Fabulous in its own right, it was perhaps underappreciated since it followed such a perfect and satisfying bowl of soup.
The best perk of this filling and gourmet meal: excluding my glass of wine, the whole thing was under $10. Highly, highly recomended. Suggested seating: by the window wiht a group of friends, and in the courtyard with an amante.