Chilean Brunch — Restaurant in Recoleta

Our experience of this place was certainly puzzling.

We're spending a few weeks in Santiago and I looked up the highest rated restaurants here to find a nice place to have lunch for my partner and I.

Outside they proudly display #2 rated restaurant in the whole of Santiago on Trip Advisor outside, but the experience was nothing like the reviews here and elsewhere.

The place smelled bad, was dirty, felt dingy, was a bit dark (not like the well lit, professional looking photos people have uploaded), and the table was dirty. The waiter did not clean it. The place was freezing, we had to download menus from a QR code.

I went to the bathroom before ordering and I'm glad I did because it was at that point that I realised we hadn't just visited on a bad day where the waiter wasn't doing his job. The bathroom was dirty with paper towels and used toilet paper strewn everywhere, and the door to the kitchen was open so I could see in when I walked past, and that was dirty too. Lack of hygiene is a systemic issue in this cafe. We left.

The restaurant is in a not so nice area (Bellavista). We didn't enjoy walking around after we left trying to find somewhere else to eat, it felt quite sketchy.

I find it very strange that such a dirty place has made it into the top 2 restaurants in Santiago. Something doesn't add up.

I gave the food 3 stars in my review to be fair because I didn't try it, but I did see what other people were eating and it looked more ordinary than in the photos in reviews.

All in all, we left scratching our heads over the experience on how it could differ so wildly from the many gushing (yet oddly vague) reviews here and elsewhere. We definitely had the right place. Now in retrospect reading the reviews I can see they are almost all accompanied by professional photographs which seem to look the same, are all completely uneaten and have the same sort of lighting. Plus they include really over the top praise, waxing lyrical about wait staff, eggs and bread. Odd.

Finally, there was no "ambiance" others are enthusiastically raving about. They couldn't even be bothered to wipe the tables. It was a bit like visiting a badly kept, dirty and dodgy smelling kebab shop after a night out.

We remain confused by the discrepancy between reality...

Without a doubt, Chilean Brunch was the best brunch experience I had in Santiago. Conveniently located near the Pío Nono funicular station, it’s a great stop for both locals and tourists. It also has free Wi-Fi, a relaxed atmosphere, affordable prices, and incredibly friendly staff who patiently explained each dish — very convenient for those who have never been to a Chilean restaurant.

I ordered the Brunch del Huaso, which was not only delicious but also a fantastic introduction to authentic Chilean flavors. The plate arrives with Pastel de Choclo, Sopaipillas, Empanada de Pino, Chancho en Piedra, and Mote con Huesillo. While it also comes with scrambled eggs, the true stars are the traditional dishes that make this brunch unique. For anyone wanting to sample a variety of local specialties, this is absolutely the way to go.

Also they specialize on coffee so expect a great variety of great coffee. Talking about brunch in Santiago, it does not get better than...

Our son was studying abroad and we met him in Chile. We were looking for a restaurant that served authentic Chilean food, and we found Chilean Brunch! The food was DELICIOSO, well presented, and authentic! On top of the food being excellent, so was the SERVICE!!! Our waitress Cata was attentive, courteous, and informative. It was the kind of service we were looking for since we had arrived and we found this gem on Day 9!! We loved Santiago, but you can tell that the country and city don't thrive on tourism. It still lacks the hospitality that you get in the Carribean. But not Chilean Brunch, this place is a reminder that there is authentic Chilean food and that Chilenos are WARM and FRIENDLY!!! I am half Colombiana and half Chilean and will come back when I go...