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Restaurant Creta, Mall del Rio en Cuenca - Ecuador. is on the upper floor of the Mall Del
Rio,, and is open Monday to Sunday 10am to 10pm.
Revista de Sumana Harrison - Review by Sumana Harrison I've been going to Creta, Mall dl Rio,
Cuenca- Ecuador for years and enjoying it. There was a period about two years ago when
they changed chefs and everything went to hell. I'm happy to report they're back on
track. They bill themselves as, "a fusion of exquisite flavors" and that was definitely my
recent experience. The service was wonderful, the ambiance pleasant and the bill
manageable. At times they have a pianist who is sometimes drowned out by the noise of the
bowling alley next door. If you don't know about the alley you might think the revolution has
started when the pins start falling. I'll list some of the available dishes and prices but,
like a lot of restaurants in Cuenca, new menus with higher prices are in the works. The
reason for this is the "luxury" tax on imported booze and other items which is sending prices
through the roof. A walk through La Taberna liquor store will convince you to start drinking
Zhumir, the local aguardiente (firewater made from sugar cane). Their "Entradas" at $4-$6, include
Calamares, Camarones, Carpaccio, Ceviche and Tartare de Salmon. "Ensaladas" range from Cesar to
Caprese made with real buffalo mozarella and a balsamic vinaigrette for $4.80 They have Onion Soup,
Locro (the local potato based meal in a bowl), Asparagus with crab and Seafood Soup. There are some
marvellous chicken dishes, ranging in price from $5.30 to $6, including a Rolled Chicken breast
stuffed with red pepper and prosciutto in a delicious sauce with phyllo dough garnish. There are
the usual pastas (always perfectly cooked "al dente"). The most expensive at $7 is Black
Fettucini with seafood sauce. I want to list some of the fish dishes and their ingredients as they
are truly unusual and delicious... Fish with a fines hierbes sauce: or leeks and
saffron: in an orange sauce with Cointreau: with macadamias in a creamy lemon
sauce. Meat dishes are $7 to $16 (the most expensive item on the menu). For $16 you get an
imported from New Zealand Rack of Lamb with a mint and naranjilla side. Let's wait and see if
this is even on the new menu. I really want to digress here about what I see is happening in
restaurants in Cuenca, but I'll wait until I finish the review. Their great desserts are under
$3. There's also a full bar and wine list. The prices do not include IVA at 12% and
Service at 10% which will be automatically added before you leave.
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