Mesa Tropera — Restaurant in Puerto Varas

A friend recommended us this place, and we weren’t disappointed. We actually went there twice that weekend!

We first went on Friday night, and we had to wait for almost an hour because it was really packed. The second time we was on Monday during lunch, and it was way better.

Surprisingly, the food wasn’t slow at all, and the staff were very attentive and friendly. Because it was crowded, it was a little too loud for me though.

We ordered Pulpo Anticuchureo, and it was one of the best dishes I’ve ever had in Chile. The octopus came with fried yuca and topped with a salsa that tasted similar to pebre and tangy merkén sauce. If I had no shame, I would have licked all the sauce off the plate. It was really that good.

My husband ordered pizza both times, and he was very satisfied with it. We finished with La Catedral for dessert. It was like an enlarged disassembled Snickers. My husband loved it, but it was way too sweet for me.

The craft beer here was also excellent. 👌🏻

I also ordered a pasta dish, Fettucini Correntoso. They make their pasta fresh here, and I think mine might have been whole wheat noodles. I’m not a big fan of the weird aftertaste. Another reason I gave this place 4 stars is that when we went there the second time. The Pulpo was inconsistently cooked. One piece was overcooked so it was tough to eat, and the other piece was fine.

Anyway, we would...

Good food, fast service, honest prices and spectacular location. What's not to like? Well, maybe the pasta, which looked great, but was underwhelming. All other dishes, though, were a hit. From the delicious shrimp risotto, to the nice pepperoni pizza, beautifully cooked in a proper pizza oven, to the “Tabla tropera" beer tasting with 4 beers you can choose from 8 options. The restaurant sits on a pier jutting out over the lake and affords truly beautiful 270 degrees views over the lake and the surrounding volcanoes. It is, deservedly, a very popular place, so it gets very busy and you might have to wait in line for a bit before being seated, but from that point on the service is fast and while there are lots of tables in the main room it doesn't get too noisy because of all the wood furniture and walls and a central fireplace that absorb a lot of the sound. Highly recommended, especially for dinner to enjoy a beautiful sunset...

It’s unfortunate I have to leave a bad review, as the place is super pretty and had a cool atmosphere. I asked for an expensive salad with rúcula, artichokes, sweet potatoes and ham. One third of the way in I discover a rúcula with lots of moist earth on it, I do mean lots- enough to be scary, as in nobody even bothered to wash it at all. The waitress was unfazed by it and told me they would separate the dry bits, wash the greens and bring it back again. (Come again?!) She seemed surprised I refused. She also took her time bringing a beverage to a friend who was not dealing well with the amount of pepper on his tartar dish. Waitress made a point of saying the salad wouldn’t be charged, but when the bill got there, guess who showed up... took forever to bring the correct bill. A few hours later we’re both feeling quite unwell. It’s a pity as I really wanted to like this place, but be...