The Villa Rosa Restaurant is located on Gran Colombia 12-22 at
Tarqui. Telephone: 07 283 7944 The loveliest restaurant in
Cuenca is owned and managed by the friendly Berta Vintimilla. The setting is divine: the enclosed
courtyard of an old Cuencan home elegantly refurbished into a restaurant. Marble floors, crisp
white tablecloths, and comfortable wooden chairs may make this place feel more like a restaurant in
Paris than one in Cuenca, but the creative cuisine here has its roots in Ecuador. Ms. Vintimilla
bakes the delicious empanadas herself and they are excellent as an appetizer; the recipes for many
of the Ecuadorian specials come from her family. If you're in the mood for something really hearty,
try the amazingly good locro de papas (potato soup served with a slice of avocado). Main courses
include sea bass with crab sauce served with rice and vegetables, tenderloin of beef, jumbo
langoustines with fennel, and a variety of daily specials. The service is excellent, the wine list
is reasonable, and every ingredient used in the kitchen is of the highest quality. Note that the
restaurant is closed on weekends, except for groups of a substantial size who have made
reservations.
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