Best Global Restaurants in Penalolen

The location is a bit off putting. Not very accessible and slightly dodgy. The concept and layout especially the long entry sequence is totally unconventional and slightly bizarre. As first time guests, we were wondering whether we were in a maritime museum or seafood restaurant? After being led inside for a good 5 minutes, passing numerous scale model displays of whales, sharks, turtles, sea monsters, maritime paraphernalia, etc. we finally arrive at the bar which resembled a pirate galleon. Then a labyrinth of dining rooms unfolds beyond. We sat in the sun room with a lovely skylight. Some English is spoken thankfully and we ordered 4 mains and seafood soup to share - grilled octopus, abalone risotto, prawn crab spaghetti, fried fish on quinoa. Portions are generous, seasoning is rich and intense and the seafood is very fresh. The cooking style and taste are should cater to most tastebuds. We had a very satisfying and filling meal here.

I went on a Sunday in mid-February, a quiet time in Santiago due to summer vacations. As a result, parking was plentiful, and the restaurant was only about 25% full. It has its own parking, plus safe nearby streets in case the lot is full. The exterior isn’t particularly elegant, with banners more typical of a roadside diner than a city restaurant. However, inside, the atmosphere is warm, with high-quality Chilean Navy memorabilia covering the walls, ceiling, and floor. Some may find the decor excessive, but I think it makes the place unique, giving it a themed-restaurant feel similar to many in the U.S. Seafood is the specialty, and everything we ordered was excellent. The pisco sour was large, flavorful, refreshing, and strong enough to feel it. The machas a la parmesana (razor clams au gratin) were outstanding—our waiter even mentioned they’ve won awards for them, and I believe it. For the main course, we all had congrio frito (fried conger eel), which was sublime—large, generous, flavorful, and crispy. The side dishes were also exceptional: the puré picante (spicy mashed potatoes) was sensational, and the French fries were among the best I’ve ever had.

Great food. Nice folks. Wait wasn’t long and they were very kind.