Yvonne Villiger has done it again. Of course, for several years she has taken a venerable Cozumel institution, Guido’s Restaurant, remodeled it and improved upon it. Then she renovated the space above the restaurant into very stylish apartments for vacation rentals.
Now she has opened La Tienda Guido’s Delicatessan in a very cool space on the corner of Avenida 15 and Calle 10 norte. Lover’s of food, rejoice, because there is a lot to like here.
The shelves are stacked with local and imported food products, most of them hard to find on the island, many of them not available until now. You’ll find cheeses, meats, olives, olive oil, imported pasta, a terrific wine selection and an impressive selection of Belgian ales and a couple of German lagers. If she adds a hoppy IPA, I’m going to have to move closer to the store.
They feature a daily menu, which includes a salad or soup, a main and dessert for 85 pesos. An assortment of salads, baguette sandwiches, cookies, desserts and homemade ice cream round out the menu. Chef Iliana Gonzalez is no stranger to Yvonne Williger’s main kitchen and is turning out some wonderful food at the new spot.
The day we ate there, the daily menu offered a choice of four salads and cream of broccoli soup, chicken in a red sauce over penne or fusilli bolognese and carrot cake or cheese cake. I loved the crunch and fresh flavors of the watermelon and jicama salad, the chicken’s red sauce was a little bit Italian and a little bit Mexican, and carrot cake was so moist and carroty and not too sweet. I washed it down with a nice pour of a yummy Italian Pinot Nero for 38 pesos.
COZUMEL RESTAURANTEURS TAKE NOTICE ! ! You want people to order a glass of wine with lunch? Quit charging the retail bottle price for a glass! I can’t count the number of places that charge 70 pesos for a glass of Concho y Toro, when it sells for 75 pesos (mas o menos) at MEGA or Chedraui. I know there is a liquor mark up, but I’m insulted when a place attempts to make 350 pesos on the 70 peso bottle. OK, end of rant.
Everyone else loved their sandwiches, their salads, their lasagna and their desserts. The outdoor patio is comfortable and calm. We didn’t want to leave, but we will be back.
Phone: 987-120-1827
HOURS:
Monday – Friday: 9 – 9
Saturday: 9 – 1
Check out their Facebook page for daily menu updates.
This place looks really cool. Maybe you can get some cured salami and other goodies now. You guy’s do such great food shots, Que Wow! Looks like Coz is really coming around eh? Sorry to hear the wine by the glass $$ BS is not unique to the USA. Concha y Toro, there’s an oldie but a goodie.
Oh yeah, salame, proscuitto and these amazing pickled garlic cloves. Thanks for comments. Now all we need is a bakery with good baguettes and croissants and we’ll be in heaven.