Parrilla y Canilla in Morelia's Heights

We have been dining at Parrilla y Canilla since July, 2012. Over the years, it has been very good. Parrilla y Canilla is arguably the best restaurant in Morelia, and continues so in our estimation despite an occasional, minor slip up. The cuisine is Uruguayan/Argentine/Italian. The restaurant's style is casually elegant.

Parrilla's new private dining room

Yesterday, after conducting some Heavy Shopping not far away, we joined our friend Jennifer for another meal at La Parrilla. Apart from restoring our red blood cells and relaxing after the sometimes arduous shopping, we were able to relax with a glass of wine and, for me, a very generously poured and potent Gin and Tonic.

The restaurant was surprisingly very busy for a Tuesday afternoon, but there were still a couple of umbrella shaded tables on the attractive terraza, with a view of the city below.

Table on the terraza

Our friend, Ms. Redshoes, had a glass of red wine, but I wanted something stronger: a Bombay Gin and Tonic. It was very gratifying. It was without a doubt the strongest, most generous drink I'd ever had in a restaurant.

We were brought a basket of house made breads. It was apparent that the quality of baking had greatly improved since our earliest visits three years ago. There were the usual little dishes of well made chimichurrí and salsa roja.

All three of us ordered appetizers. Sra. Cuevas and our amiga both got an Empanada de Carne. I saw a new dish on the menu, Lengua Nico Pérez. 

Empanada de carne

The empanadas were attractively browned and well filled. Accompanied by a salad, they could serve as a modest lunch. 

The tongue was presented as a sort of warm salad, in a delicious, light vinaigrette with minced parsley and egg. There were three moderately thick, tender slices, which together could have sufficed for my lunch. But I'd already ordered my second course.

Lengua Nico Pérez

Which was ...

Bife Rosso: A 400 gram Bife de Chorizo, on a bed of buttered linguini, generously topped with chunky sauteed mushrooms, with a wine reduction sauce on the side. Not a dish for light appetites, but I was able to make good progress on it. I took home a substantial piece. The linguini, simply dressed with butter, was notably good. I requested  a small dish of Queso Parmesano.

(The wine reduction was delicious, but murky. The kitchen should dedicate its efforts in clarifying sauces and Jugo de Carne. (The latter, a cloudy and wretched dish which I foolishly ordered on two previous occasions.)

Bife Rosso

Both Ms Shoes and Sra. Cuevas had their favorite cut, Vacio. It came with the Parrilla's signature Lechuga Orejona a la Parrilla.

Vacio and orejona a la parrilla

Our waiter recited a tempting list of desserts to us, but as we were already sated, so finished with coffee. I had an Espresso Doble. It was superior to most we've had in restaurants in Mexico.

The complimentary (purchased elsewhere) cookies were cute, but we skipped them. We were accustomed to homemade little polvorones.

The final tally was around $400 pesos per person, plus tip.

RATINGS

Food: *****

Service: *****

Ambience: Casual, upmarket

Cost: $$-$$$$ (Each $ represents approximately $1oo pesos per person.)

Restrooms: classy

Location and Contact info:

60 José Juan Tablada Morelia, MICH Mexico

Tel. (443) 3198352

Lunes a Sábado 1:30PM - 11:00PM

Domingos 12:30PM - 6:00PM

Website