Review: Red Angus Steakhouse in Cuenca, Ecuador

Review:  Red Angus in Cuenca Ecuador

Every two weeks we have to leave our heaven in Cumbe to venture into Cuenca and do our shopping. This past week was no different.  After we did some shopping it was time to find a restaurant to relax in.  We had heard of The Red Angus and decided to give it a try.  We are only going out twice a month now as we are trying to save for a major vacation, appliances, and furniture.

Life has also been pretty busy with adding two kittens and a puppy.  Its nice to relax a bit.  We sat down and the restaurant was very clean.  Modern looking and the chairs are VERY comfy.  We ordered drinks and the ladies got a burger each.  I went with a chicken burrito.

The cokes with ice arrived very quickly.  That’s a bit different as most places here don’t give the drink until the food arrives.  Its was a nice touch.  Oh and the waitstaff is very friendly.  Some speak English as well. That’s a nice benefit if you have not become fluent in Spanish yet.

Then it happened.  My juice arrived.  I had gotten strawberry orange jugos.  It arrived in a large heavy glass goblet.  And we all tasted it.  I think the ladies actually regretted getting a coke for once. It was so tasty and refreshing.

After a few minutes a tasting plate came out.  Toasted bread still piping hot and three sauces.  Each sauce was very different.  The traditional Aji sauce, a mushroom sauce, and a garlic and mayonnaise aioli.  All three were very tasty. Also, getting something like this is unusual here in Cuenca.  Another nice touch.

Our food arrived. Massive burgers, tasty homemade papas fritas. The ladies enjoyed the burgers very much.

My chicken burrito arrives and it was very tasty. There was a hearty amount of chicken. And an abundance of cheese as well. The flavors were spot on and the plate presentation was very pretty.

After we ate, Heather decided she wanted to try a brownie dessert.  We ordered and had a small communication issue.  We got a different dessert.  Ice cream.  It was homemade and it tasted lightly of cotton candy.  I thought it might be a liqueur and Heather thought it might be actual cotton candy. We got the order straightened out and the brownie arrived.  The ladies enjoyed it a lot.  I stuck with the ice cream.  The brownie was not the same as we are used to getting in the U.S. it was definitely Ecuadorian.  Still tasty but not what you might expect from the states.  Again, we enjoy different things.  We don't expect things to be the same all over the globe.

After our dessert, we inquired as to what the flavor was in the ice cream.  After a few seconds, the chef and owner Esteban Castro came out and talked with us for several minutes despite being busy.  He was very friendly and he took the time to answer several questions I had.  It turns out he has had formal culinary training.  He also worked in the U.S. at a classy restaurant at the Walt Disney Resort Boardwalk.

During the conversation, we discovered that Heather was right, it was cotton candy.  It's amazing how much she has developed her palate with a little work.  She is very good at picking out ingredients and it makes me proud that she had the desire to do this.  It makes dining much more enjoyable as well as making it possible to replicate the same meals at home.

Next dinner party you have try a simple but fun exercise:

Blindfold a person.  Bring out a plate with small bites of different items.  Some cooked, some raw. Try for the natural foods first.  It's just as much fun but a bit easier.  Different textures and similar items can throw anyone from getting a correct guess.  If your guests want, go into processed items like Nutella and peanut butter.  It's an inexpensive and fun thing to do at a party.  It will help you figure out if you have a good palate or not.  It takes time to develop but it can make dining much more enjoyable.  Let me know if you try it, I would love to hear the stories of what happened.  Remember be nice...Don't put hated foods out.

So where did the Red Angus score?  We think 5 shamrocks.  We were spoiled, it was affordable, the place was clean, the staff are wonderful, and the food was awesome.  It is our new favorite here in Cuenca.  Next time we eat out we plan to go back and try a steak or maybe even the fajitas. Please try the Red Angus, I honestly don't think you will be disappointed.