L'Aperitivo

Av. Italia 1152

At L'Italier (Art Gallery)

Cristian and Bruna are the owners of this small and welcoming place. They are a Chilean-Italian couple who decided to live in Chile and do something on their own. L'Aperitivo is around the corner from El Patio Suizo. This small restaurant is located inside of L'Italier, an art gallery with decoration and clothes stores.
There you will NOT find Pisco Sour, but you will find a lot of interesting Chilean wines and Italian aperitifs, just because is a small piece of Italy inside of this huge city and Pisco Sour is not italian.
Antipasti Time, is between 6 and 9 pm, then you just pay CLP 4.500 (9 USD, approx) and you become a glass of wine (red, white or rosé) and you can eat a la discretion different kind of snacks, warm or cold, prepared by Bruna, who is the chef. Bruna is Italian from Milano area and she learn cooking with the women of her family. I tasted at this restaurant from the hands of Bruna at Antipasti time the BEST SOUP I have tasted in at least 15 years, she had a zucchini soup which was just D E L I C I O U S, perfect, unforgettable.
Cristian is Bruna's husband and the other owner of this place, he is 100% present and willing to talk and share.
Very recommendable!

Salute!!

La piccola Italia

Coyancura 2265

Providencia

Outside from the subway station "Los Leones" in Providencia's shopping area you will find this very well known restaurant. You will see many locals around that area because there are several stores where you can find almost everything and also offices. After 8 pm you will even see "street malls" at the corner of Ricardo Lyon and Av. 11 de Septiembre where you can find Luis Vuitton bags for 10 USD (of course not original), you can bargain, but for that you need to speak fluent Chilean dialect. It's interesting to see how this "street malls" run away as soon as they notice police is around, so if you are going to purchase a film, bag or other accessory try to be fast before you stay will standing all alone as the walking mall goes away. They get back though, right after police is gone, then police comes again, they fly away, police is gone, they get back again and so, over and over and over again... many times a day, everyday. Around this area, in a short street called Coyancura you will find this budget restaurant, where for 8 USD per person you can have a main course and beer or soda, tummy will be full soon and the pocket will have no pain. Is not a top restaurant, but is ok if you're hungry and waling around this area. Service is very fast, not 100% of the times, but yes a 90%, dishes come usually very warm, the area is relatively quiet and the only thing that might bother is that sometimes some people go by asking for money, or they sing or play some instrument and would like to have a tip, but they are not aggressive or something. Food is mainly Italian, but they have fish as well. We recommend it because is budget price, fast and the food is good. We have never eaten the fish there before, but yes lots of pastas :) Ask us how to get there!

Update (May 30th, 2010): we still love La Piccola Italia, food is good, comes quickly and the prices are very convenient.