Food 147Lomito’n was the fi rst Chilean restaurant chain and is a good option for a
quick meal.
German restaurants. In recent years, however, as Chileans
have more money to spend, restaurants have sprung up
all over Santiago. The variety and quality of food offered
has improved drastically. Today in Santiago, you can enjoy
Mexican, Peruvian, American, Thai, Spanish, Brazilian and
many other types of cuisine. In Santiago there are a few
vegetarian restaurants (El Vegetariano, El Huerto, Café del
Patio and El Naturista) that serve very interesting salads,
omelettes, and rice dishes accompanied by freshly pureed
fruit juices.
When eating out, expect waiters to come right away to
ask for your order. However, prompt follow-up service after
the food has been served is rare. Foreigners tend to think of
this as bad service, but Chileans, on the other hand, would
think this was intruding. You have to ask for the check, as
Chileans reserve the right to linger over coffee for hours, and