Tua (Guatemala City)

Tua is not a staekhouse, yet it serves superb steak. It's not a seafood restaurant, but its sushi-grade tuna is a true specialty. Tua is simply an outstanding restaurant located outside the traditional restaurant areas of Guatemala City, at Escala shopping center on Carretera a El Salvador.

Just looking at Tua's menu hints that one is in for a treat. The extensive menu features an eclectic mix of appetizers (e.g. Shrimp in Coconut Chutney), a variety of steak, poultry (e.g. Chipotle Chicken, Forest Fruit Duck Breast) and fish (e.g. Tamarind Bass) dishes, a very interesting take on lamb and pasta for which I hear I ought to go back for.

For an appetizer, the Tuna Tataki features fish of freshness and quality that is hard to find even at Japanese restaurants, and is presented with wontons and avocado . The balsamic infused steak was terrific, evenly cooked and rich in flavor. The steamed vegetables were nicely seasoned and crisply textured. The Parisian Café Steak is not necessarily an innovative dish, but it was very well executed. Of the desserts, I tried the fried banana à la mode and the hazelnut mousse, which was surprisingly solid but rich in texture and taste. The majority of the menu was left unexplored, but I invite you to be adventurous! I surely will next time.

Outstanding food, pleasant environment, and attentive service ages ahead of Guatemalan standards. Tua is the best restaurant I have been to in Guatemala; and certainly on par with the best restaurants I've been to in other countries.