Lido Bar — Restaurant in Asuncion

We enjoyed this restaurant at a busy Sunday morning hour as people leaving from Mass at the cathedral streamed in (hint: get in and get a table while Mass is underway, before the short rush hour). Lots of items to choose from, I had the vori vori soup with chicken thigh which was very nice but a bit bland based on the ingredients. They have draft beer, yeah! Nice local setting. They do take credit cards and cash in the local currency (normal). Being there in the after Mass rush, it was very difficult and annoying to wait interminably for our bill given they are more than adequately staffed, we had to ask three times and they definitely understood the request, repeating it back in English to us, and yet we still did not get our bill, we wondered maybe our meal is on the house?, even standing at the register after the three requests for a bill did not work, finally we unfortunately had to make a quiet yet focused “scene” with the Manager, literally begging for our bill, we hated to do that but we only had a few days to see the country and we really did not want to participate in some possible local tradition of waiting forever for the bill or being given a free meal, that was frustrating but nevertheless we really liked this place otherwise, thus the good rating. Notably we did not experience this strange practice of not being able to get the bill anywhere else...

How can historical place be so tasty? They keep on using the same recipe as when I was young (we're talking 15 years ago mate). It's one of the famous places on "Calle Palma" and a must eat for tourists as well for locals. It's located directly in front of the "Panteón de los Héroes", justa few meters from point zero of Asunción (center).

There is also something unique about this restaurant/bar, the ladies, who stay on the other side of the counter, literally yell the orders to the kitchen, which is upstairs. This is sort of a trademark from Lido. It's not something acceptable anywhere else to hear people yell at restaurant, but here, it's like everyone is really used to it, so nobody cares.

The other thing that cought my attention is the kind of people you meet. You have a mix of locals and foreigners, really rich people and also working class, sitting next to each other, eating "empanadas" with that oh-my tasty bread. It's really something! You can also be "interrupted" by locals asking you something or just making conversation. It's a beautiful way of meeting the country and its people. I recommend strongly to...

I am displeased. We ordered a warm meal a salad an an empanada. The empanada and the meal were fine but I am quite confused by the salad. I got salad leaves but that is all. No dressing, no toppings or anything that would turn the salad leaves into a salad. Really it was just a plate full of the same leaves. The view is nice but I would recommend investing into nicer cutlery and dishware. The blank white and steel makes the tastewise okay (not nice - but okay) food seem unappealing. My Cappuccino was served in a nice glass though. Additionally the restaurant is very loud, which made us feel stressed. The dishes arrived out of order as well. The Empanada was served first and then a few minutes later the "salad" with one of our drinks and then the warm meal, after we were halfway through the warm meal the other drink arrived. It worsened the experience. The waiters are really nice. Even though they seem very stressed, maybe you should hire more, so they can relax a bit more. Pricewise it is around average...