PETÉN - Guatemala - page 499

land's western shore is Raíces Bar and Grill (tel. [phone], 2 P.M.-10 P.M. Sun.-
Thurs., 2 P.M.-1 A.M. Fri.-Sat.), serving large portions of grilled steak, chicken, and fish
with scrumptious side dishes in a hip semioutdoor setting featuring a deck built over the
lake. If you're lucky, you might catch a thunderstorm here during the rainy season for a
spectacularlakesidelightningshow.Pricesareinthe$10range.Orderthekebabsandshare
withafriend.Ifyou'reintoexoticmeatsorjustwanttogivethematry,checkout Restaur-
ante El Gran Jacal (Calle Centroamerica, tel. [phone], 7 A.M.-10 P.M. daily), where
thespecialtyisfarm-raisedvenison,Peténturkey,and tepescuintle. Foratouchofauthentic
Petén cuisine, try the Pollo a la Jacal, tasty chicken in a somewhat sweet sauce.
European
Housed in a tastefully decorated old building festooned with overhanging bougainvillea
blossoms and painted in bright shades of green and blue, the finest restaurant in Flores is
undoubtedly La Luna (corner of Calle 30 de Junio and Calle 10 de Noviembre, tel.
7926-3346, lunch and dinner Mon-Sat., $6-12). Culinary highlights include stuffed pep-
pers, steak in a black pepper cream sauce, boneless chicken breast in wine sauce, pastas,
and vegetarian dishes, including falafel. Also on Calle 30 de Junio is Capitán Tortuga
(tel. [phone], 7 A.M.-10 P.M. daily). There is a spacious dining room housed under a
large palapa structure and a two-story terrace with lake views where you can enjoy pasta,
tacos, sandwiches, chicken quesadillas, grilled meats, andtasty pizzas inaddition toafully
stocked bar. For snacks, try the burritos for about $5. Across the street is La Albahaca
(tel. [phone] or 7926-0505, 6 P.M.-11 P.M. Tues.-Sun.), a cozy little place with a quiet
atmosphere serving delicious beef and chicken recipes as well as scrumptious homemade
pasta at reasonable prices. There is a nice assortment of Chilean wines.
ForpizzaandItalianfood,try Pizzería Picasso (Calle15deSeptiembre,tel.[phone],
10:30 A.M.-10:30 P.M. Tues.-Sun.), serving reliable pastas and very good pizzas for
around $10 for a large pie.
ThereareanumberofgoodchoicesalongCalle Unión,ontheisland'snorthwestcorner.
La Villa del Chef (tel. [phone], 8 A.M.- 11 P.M. Mon.-Sun., 1-11 P.M. Tues.-Sun.,
$4-15), theoretically specializes in Arab and Mediterranean food, but serves a wide vari-
ety of sandwiches, pasta, chicken, and seafood dishes in an attractive lakeside atmosphere
atop a small wooden deck. The parrillada petenera ($13) is a good option for sharing. Just
down the street, Terrazo (tel. [phone], jpzeas@ gmail.com, 7:30 A.M.-10 P.M. Mon.-
Sat., $3-9) is a welcome addition to Flores's restaurant offerings. The owners have plenty
of restaurant experience, having worked as chefs in some of the country's best restaurants.
There are delicious paninis, pastas, tagliatella, oven-baked fish fillet in potato, as well as
smoothies and a full bar. The ambiance is also quite pleasant, set in an airy second-floor
thatch roof terrace overlooking the lake. Chill music plays on the stereo.