Eating Time: Episode 1, "Pedro, Juan y Diego"

It was a hot Friday afternoon in Santiago, Chile and we were hungry, so we decided to eat at "Pedro Juan y Diego", located in Estacion Central. It's a small establishment located close to the train station, a tourist spot. The train station was designed by Eiffel. The small restaurant was half full, but we were able to find a comfortable place between the garbage and the entrance door.

We observed the menu, and settled on an apparently cheaper alternative, that included a "sandwich", a glass of soda and 4 "sopaipillas" (a local culinary "delicacy").  The price written on the menu was 990 pesos each, so it seemed to be quite a bargain. We were in for quite a surprise, because upon paying we found out that the price was not 990 at all, but 1.990. "Someone" had drawn over the price with a black marker, as shown to us by the cashier who rubbed the black ink off the menu, with a great smile, revealing the true price. So now our meal would cost a bit more than double. This is the kind of thing that drives customers away. In retrospect, we should have looked at the cashier's fingers for evidence of more ink, because it's very possible she rubs the ink several times a day.

Against our better judgement, we accepted to buy the meal anyway, at the new, more expensive price. Josiane was not happy about this, but we were hungry and we wanted to try this new food, specially the sopaipillas. So how was it?

The sandwich contained tomatoes, lettuce, a kind of meat and a white sauce-like substance akin to mayonnaise, but less viscous. The bread was ok, nothing special. I think the word that sums up the sandwich is "unremarkable". The sopaipillas were dry, tasted like nothing, almost like eating fried cardboard.

Score Section.

Food: Sandwich with soda and 4 sopaipillas.

1. Appearance: Adequate, it didn't inspire any apetite, but wasn't disgusting. 3/5 stars.

2. Texture: The sandwich was ok, easy to eat, soft, chewable and great for hangover days 3/5 stars, the sopaipillas were disappointing and we wouldn't recommend eating them 0/5 stars.

3. Taste: Nothing special, the sandwich lacked something, maybe a stronger sauce 2/5 stars.

Service:

1. Speed: Fast. 5/5

2. Friendliness: Smiles and laughs from the staff elicited by an unheard joke. 2/5 (because we know it was hypocritical) .

3. Trustworthyness: 0/5, absolutely terrible.

4. Cleanliness: The person who gave us the meal didn't wear gloves, touched both tips of the straws that didn't come sealed in plastic. 2/5.

Establishment:

1. Ambiance: Nice, quiet, the seats had an almost 50s style. 3/5.

2. Cleanliness: Stacks of used plates were close to the garbage 2/5.

Overall Score: 19/50

Conclusion: Don't eat at this "Pedro, Juan y Diego".