Cafe del Palacio

Cafe del Palacio Restaurant Review:

Lunches are especially lovely at Café del Palacio, in a wing off the lobby of Mexico City’s Palacio de Bellas Artes---the DF’s beaux arts (outside)/Art Deco (inside) answer to Carnegie Hall. Amid such splendor, café proceedings are elegant but simple, with a menu featuring freshly prepared “international” recipes, often with a seasonal or local touch. A zingy tuna tostada got us thinking about the sea, so we followed up with broiled salmon in a rich mango sauce (be sure to specify in Mexico if you don’t want your fish cooked well done). We also enjoyed the Palacio’s “roast beef”---smoky, tender medallions more like tournedos than prime rib---in a savory sauce prepared with local mushrooms. There are also refined but gratifying desserts like the so-called “intense” chocolate cake and a fine selection of fresh fruits as well as an interesting variety of sandwiches and salads for those going light. Finally, the prix-fixe is a good value: diners choose from the à la carte menu, ensuring variety, and enjoy two courses plus dessert and coffee. A word to the wise: arrive early---Café del Palacio prepares limited supplies daily, thus popular choices sell out quickly.