Vasque & Fish restaurants in Mexico City?

[salomonrobyn]

Next month I'll be back in Mexico City. In addition to returning to Azul y Oro and trying Paxia, this time I would like to try Spanish (particularly Vasque) restaurants and also some fish restaurants. Some obvious choices are Tezka for the former and Contramar for the latter. I have been several times to Contramar, so I would like to try something new. I'm considering the following:

Alaia, Puerto Geraria, Bakea, Biko, D.O., Xaak, La Mar, Puntarena, Entremar, Pampano.

Any comments about these or alternatives would be appreciated.

[Ruth in Condechi]

Next month I'll be back in Mexico City. In addition to returning to Azul y Oro and trying Paxia, this time I would like to try Spanish (particularly Vasque) restaurants and also some fish restaurants. Some obvious choices are Tezka for the former and Contramar for the latter. I have been several times to Contramar, so I would like to try something new. I'm considering the following:

Alaia, Puerto Geraria, Bakea, Biko, D.O., Xaak, La Mar, Puntarena, Entremar, Pampano.

Any comments about these or alternatives would be appreciated.

←

The Vascos of Mexico City are a force to be reckoned with!

circulo vasco español

Especialidad: Española - Espanola

Telefono: 5518-2908

Direccion: 16 deseptiembre 51

Distrito Federal,Cuauhtemoc

Horario: lun-dom 09-20hrs

Casino Español

Especialidad: Española - Espanola

Telefono: 55 21 88 94

Direccion: Isabel la Católica 29

Distrito Federal,Cuauhtemoc

Referencia: entre 16 de Septiembre y Madero.

Horario: Lun. a Dom. 13:00 a 18:00 hrs.

Costa Dorada

Especialidad: Española - Catalana

Telefono: 55 31 12 77

Direccion: Ejército Nacional 648

Distrito Federal,Miguel Hidalgo

Referencia: entre Alejandro Dumas y Musset.

Horario: Lun. a Sab. de 13:00 a 23:00 hrs.

Biko

Especialidad: Española - Fusión

Telefono: 52 82 07 22 / 5282 2064

Direccion: Presidente Masaryk 407

Distrito Federal,Miguel Hidalgo

Referencia: entre Calderon de la Barca y Lafontaine

Horario: Lun. a Sab. de 13:30 a 23:00 hrs.

Casa Bell

Especialidad: Española - Fusión

Telefono: 52810209

Direccion: masaryk 410

Distrito Federal,Miguel Hidalgo

Referencia: esq calderon de labarca

Horario: Lun. a Dom. de 13:00 a 18:00 hrs.

Biko

Especialidad: Española - Fusión

Telefono: 52 82 07 22 / 5282 2064

Direccion: Presidente Masaryk 407

Distrito Federal,Miguel Hidalgo

Referencia: entre Calderon de la Barca y Lafontaine

Horario: Lun. a Sab. de 13:30 a 23:00 hrs.

Entremar

Especialidad: Internacional - Pescados y Mariscos

Telefono: 55 31 20 31

Direccion: Hegel 307 Loc. B

Distrito Federal,Miguel Hidalgo

Referencia: esq. Horacio.

Horario: Lun. a Dom. de 13:00 a 18:00 hrs.

Puntarena

Especialidad: Internacional - Pescados y Mariscos

Telefono: 55 20 17 23 /55 20 17 35

Direccion: Paseo de las Palmas 275 Loc. B y C

Distrito Federal,Miguel Hidalgo

Referencia: dentro de la Torre Optima 2.

Horario: Lun. a Sab. de 13:30 a 22:00 hrs.

Internet disruptions in Colonia Condesa - need to post now -- or will lose all info AGAIN>

[kbjesq]

Egullet member Nickart is an expert on Mexico City dining - and has just published a book on that subject to high acclaim - see Good Food in Mexico City. Also check his website (click here) for information about any restaurants that have closed, as well as new additions that did not make it into the book. He updates it very regularly! Happy eating!

Edited August 7, 2008 by kbjesq (log)

[nickarte]

I would skip Pampano, but otherwise all of Ruth's suggestions are good.

You might also consider the Coyoacán, San Pedro de los Pinos or Medellín markets where there are well known simple restaurants serving typical Mexican seafood specialties. El Jardin del Pulpo outside the Coyoacán market is great.

Both Tezka and Biko are excellent Basque (not "Vasque") style places, probably the two best restaurants in the country right now, up there as well is Jaso.

[salomonrobyn]

Thanks for the comments. I will take the information with me and I hope I'll have a chance of trying some of these places.

[Ruth in Condechi]

Thanks for the comments. I will take the information with me and I hope I'll have a chance of trying some of these places.

←

Since I live in Condesa feel free to e-mail me via egullet mail.

[Panosmex]

We've eaten at Centro Castellano and El Danubio 2 or 3 times, back in the 90s; most of which was very enjoyable. But we are interested in trying a different Spanish/Basque/Galician?Asturian restaurant, preferably in Centro.

I just had a look at the Casino Español website, and it seems way "over the top" in grandeur.

Any suggestions for something more approachable yet worthy of a visit? Many thanks.

[Panosmex]

An exhaustive web search turned up El Meson del Cid. (O.k., it's not exactly in Centro). It looks good, but I have no idea of price range. Any eGulleters eaten there?

[Ruth in Condechi]

Skip El Meson, big hype, big prices, not enough on substance or flavor.

Casino Espanol is not a "luxe" space, it is a point of reunion for old spanish families who want good food at great prices. Casual, sometime loud, but never stuffy.

I don't think they do reservations and since their hours are from 1PM to 6 PM make sure you follow the mexican "comida" times starting at 1PM.

The restaurant is on the second floor of an incredible space that IS in the Centro Historico ( Museo de la Estanquilla is on the corner) , founded by spanish merchants in 1912.

Try the Lechon Asado ( approximate $12 USD), individual Paella ( ditto price) and an enormous plate of duck known as Purple Rain Pato!

Take my word for it, Casino espanol has it all, including a wine menu with affordable great wines.

[Panosmex]

Skip El Meson, big hype, big prices, not enough on substance or flavor.

Casino Espanol is not a "luxe" space, it is a point of reunion for old spanish families who want good food at great prices. Casual, sometime loud, but never stuffy.

I don't think they do reservations and since their hours are from 1PM to 6 PM make sure you follow the mexican "comida" times starting at 1PM.

The restaurant is on the second floor of an incredible space that IS in the Centro Historico ( Museo de la Estanquilla is on the corner) , founded by spanish merchants in 1912. 

Try the Lechon Asado ( approximate $12 USD), individual Paella ( ditto price) and an enormous plate of duck known as Purple Rain Pato!

Take my word for it, Casino espanol has it all, including a wine menu with affordable great wines.

←

Mil gracias, Ruth. It now sounds ideal, especially as we hope to be staying at the Hotel Gillow nearby.

Earlier, I was just overwhelmed by the grandeur of the salas. Casual sounds good to me. I dislike wearing a jacket and tie.

Saludos cordiales,

PanosMex

[Ruth in Condechi]

Jacket and tie? Where?

Having a meal with business associates, por supesto, jacket and tie.

With family, nope! Enjoy.

You might take a look at www.ruthincondechi.blogspot.com and or www.mexicosoulandessence.com

[Panosmex]

Jacket and tie? Where?

Having a meal with business associates, por supesto, jacket and tie.

With family, nope! Enjoy.

You might take a look at www.ruthincondechi.blogspot.com and or www.mexicosoulandessence.com

←

Events turned out differently than expected.

After checking the menus of both the Casino Español and visiting the weekend seafood buffet at the Círculo Vasco Español I concluded that while the CE was a magnificent setting, the menu didn't ignite my imagination; while the buffet at the CVE seemed like not the optimum way to treat seafood.

We made a 180º turn, and reserved a table at El Cardenal for late Saturday afternoon. (Since that is a restaurant serving a distinctly refined Mexican, neither Basque nor Spanish cuisine, I'll post our experiences separately.)