Restaurante Santa Rita

One of the strangest restaurant experiences in my life. I took my Guatemalan host mother and father to Restaurante Santa Rita, a place they had visited long ago, when the owner lived out back and knew everyone who stopped by his ranch-style roadside stand. Now, the place is a tourist haven, with giant buses parked out front for rest stops and souvenir shopping. Rosa and Cristobal were not received well by the black-vested waiter, and ordered only "el mismo"- the same as I did. I had to get up and change our order 3 times before we were satisfied.

Rosa was intrigued by the photos of the food, which did not arrive looking anything like the pictures. I got the Pierna de Marrano Horneada (pork leg- #1)- which came out in tiny white slices on the plate. After steering Rosa away from the Conejo (#2- she liked the picture but didn't want rabbit) the two of them chose Churrasco, which was so tough that Christobal was spitting out little stringy bits on the floor of the restaurant. Fortunately, he pulled a little plastic baggie out of his shoulderbag, so he could take it home for Watus. They said the cat loved the leftovers.