Ristorante da Andrea At 300-year-old Hacienda de Landeta, a few miles out of town, an Italian restaurateur oversees exquisite handmade pasta and fish that swims away. Dinner for two $50.

From Experience San Miguel

"Ristorante Da Andrea at Hacienda La Landeta would make anyone's short list—and for many it's the only name on the list.
First, there's the setting. A 15-minute taxi ride from town brings you to a 300-year-old stone colonial hacienda. Located in the hacienda's former stable is the restaurant. With outside dining in good weather, it's a gorgeous and almost impossibly romantic spot.

Then there's the food—wonderful, subtle, creative Italian food. Go with an open mind about what you want to eat that day, because there's no menu. Chef Andrea Lamberti from Naples varies what he cooks each day, depending on what's fresh and in-season. He sources much of his produce locally and has fish and seafood flown from the coast almost before it has stopped flopping.fter you're seated, a waiter will recite what's on offer that day, but if none of it strikes precisely the right chord, you can always ask them to cook the fish with a different glaze, grill the veal chops without the rosemary or put a different sauce on the über-fresh, home-made pasta—so fresh, in fact, that you can usually see a woman sitting in a corner of the brick-vaulted dining room hand-rolling it.

One of Chef Andrea's staples is home-made ravioli stuffed with ricotta and spinach and often served with a gorgonzola cheese sauce. Other common and wonderful appetizers are the grilled sardines or the octopus salad.

Entrees always feature wonderful, perfectly cooked fish and seafood—the huachinango (red snapper) is magical. Or the giant shrimp. Or the sea bass. The day's menu might feature grilled quail, veal scallopine, stewed rabbit, or swordfish steaks. Wondering what delights you'll be offeered is part of the adventure at Da Andrea.

For dessert, if you can possibly fit one in after such a lush and lucious meal, ask for the panna cotta or just finish with a perfectly brewed espresso and a long look at the view.

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Note: Like many businesses in San Miguel de Allende, Da Andrea closes for much of the month of May.

Insiders Tip: If you take a taxi, ask the driver to return in two hours. The fare should be less than $100 pesos each way.
Hours: Thursday-Sunday, 1 pm-11 pm