Immediately after Astrid and Gastón flung open the doors at their eponymous restaurant in Santiago in 2000 (their flagship restaurant is in Lima, Peru), critics and gourmet food lovers alike scrambled like mad to get a reservation, having previous knowledge of Gastón's reputation of something of a food god in his native Peru. In 2008, despite strong competition, Astrid and Gastón was named the best restaurant in Santiago by the city's prestigious Guía Culinaria.
Gastón and his wife Astrid are experts at sourcing the most luxurious ingredients and combining them in unexpected ways to present some of the most exciting and provocative flavor combinations you are likely to taste anywhere. Refreshingly, there are no gimmicks, the focus here is on artful simplicity, and the dining experience is as satisfying as it is adventurous. The brightly lit dining room may preclude romantic dining, but the ambience is elegant, stately, and discreet, and affords views of the chef and kitchen staff conjuring their culinary delights. Try the ceviche, a colorful stack of octopus, calamari, and swordfish sweetened with corn kernels and slivers of sweet potato or the crab shell filled with bucatini pasta and draped in an ocopa sauce (a milk, cheese, and chili concoction). The desserts are a seductive blend of the decadent and exotic; orders must be placed along with the entrees so that the kitchen staff can make each one from scratch. The service at Astrid y Gastón is flawless, and there is an on-site sommelier and one of the city's most interesting and varied wine lists.
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