August 10 - Guatemala Restaurant with Don and Scott

You've got to love a restaurant that doesn't bother with a cutesy name.  1 point there!  This little spot in a strip shopping center on Hillcroft  even gives you pictures on the window, so there's no question about what you're getting into.
My main push for finding some Guatemalan food, was to enjoy a little of the culture that half my family had experienced for 2.5 weeks.  Don and Scott had just returned from living with a Guatemalan family while practicing their Spanish.  Not only could they translate for us at this restaurant, but they had a good idea of what and what not to order!

---

I photographed Scott viewing the menu while trying to capture some of the colorful walls nearby.   The menu was in Spanish, but they did have some English translations.  As the restaurant filled minutes later, I believe I was the only one who needed the English.

---

We started off with some interesting drinks which Don and Scott recommended.  Mine was a hot corn drink that Scott was fond of.  It was thick and warm, kind of like a sweetened creamed corn in a glass. I would have loved a shot glass full, but I struggled to finish what seemed to be a gallon of beverage.  (number one rule in dining adventure...try your best not to insult owners or servers)

---

 Don and Scott both ordered Pepian de Pollos, but I ordered Chaomein.  This noodley (is that a word?) dish was one they had been served by their host family a number of times.  I don't think the restaurant spent 6 hours over a wood burning stove (like in Guatemala) but it was still good.  None of the food was hot enough to need the decorative fire extinguisher on the wall, but all in all the food was a decent 3+ rating.  Maybe I'll add another + for the table cloth. (as seen under the vinyl)  I learned a lot about  women's dress in the "pueblos" of Guatemala.  The women in these villages wear skirts of colorful woven material, which is often recycled for other use...like purses or table cloths!  With the extra +, let's say 4 points for food!

---

For people and atmosphere this restaurant gets 7 bonus points!   Having an option to shop for gifts of fabric or colorful sashes or even framed Guatemalan money, made me feel like I was on vacation!  But most memorable was my enjoyable chat with Jackie, Carolina and Estelle.  Estelle is the only one actually from Guatemala.  Since my translators were back at the table we had a very silly time trying to converse, but their enthusiasm and willingness to pose added to my over all " good feel" experience!
               GUATEMALA RESTAURANT GETS A TOTAL OF 12 POINTS!!!

---