There are only a couple of Chilean restaurants in NYC, and San Antonio Bakery in Astoria is clearly my favorite. The last time I visited Chile was in the midst of winning the Copa America Football Cup, as the flags of some of the competing nations grace their awning. San Antonio Bakery has been in the same location for fifteen years and run by the gregarious "Eddie". The restaurant is named San Antonio for the port city on the coast of Chile which is the largest port (in terms of freight) on the western coast of South America.

Make sure to start you meal with the Empanada de Pino, a Chilean classic. The empanada a savory mixture of beef onions, raisins, black olives and hard boiled egg, and served with the spicy "pebre" sauce. They also have cheese empanada, but the above is my favorite.

"Eddie" who prefers not giving his last name has been the owner of the San Antonio Bakery since its opening. A native of the Chilean coastal city of Valparaiso he is friendly and more than happy to explain the menu and talk to you about Chile in general.

One of the true signature dishes of Chilean cuisine is Cazvela de Vacuno, a stew containing a very large piece of beef on bone with potato, pumpkin, corn, rice and and string beans in a hearty broth. It is served piping hot in an iron cast bowl. Very good! 

San Antonio Bakery which seats about forty is a restaurant that has a good deal of light from an entire side of windows. It is a comfortable place and feels warm and friendly with posters of Chile's dramatic landscape gracing the peach and orange colored walls. A large TV seems to vary  from football, to news from Chile.

A popular Chilean dessert is the rich Custard Berliner. Similar to a doughnut without a whole.

Chilean (Spanish) lesson - "Hello" (Hola)  "Thank you" (Gracias)  "Delicious"  (Delisioso)

Interesting fact on on Chile - Chile is the longest country in the world from North to South running 2,647 miles long and extends across 38 degrees of latitude. 

Address - 3262 Astoria Blvd (Queens)  (718) 777 - 8733