Just outside of Santa Elena on the road to Cristo Rey, there is an open-air restaurant called the Bluffs. A place to go and eat, have a few drinks, have a fire, and relax with the beautiful scenery. This is a place that I will certainly go back to. Have you ever gone somewhere and just feel so comfortable it almost feels like home? This to me is how I would describe the Bluffs. We went on Super Bowl Sunday where they had the game on a big screen where you could sit eat have a few drinks and enjoy the game. Now I am not big into Football but I still loved the fact we were outside in the fresh air watching a football game on a big screen while enjoying a delicious meal.
When you drive up to the restaurant you will pass some cattle and horses grazing the field just below. The Bluffs sits on top of a hill overlooking what used to be a family-run cattle farm, They now have planted a bunch of Cacao and fruit trees on the property. Relax and enjoy the view. I know I did.
We took a quick walk around the grounds after we ordered our food. You have access to the river from here as well. They offer kayak rentals and you can go swimming in the river. They even bring you drinks down by the water if requested. The boys built a fire near the restaurant for if you wanted to go sit and have a drink by the fire. The day we were here it was actually cold and the fire was a wonderful idea. Sometimes they have live music going on unfortunately for us nothing was going on while we were there. My Dad who is a musician would have loved that.
We spoke to the owner Court briefly while enjoying our evening. He is such a nice person to talk to. The staff were very attentive and kept my drinks coming. Even the people that were also dining there that night were really friendly to us 4 tourists. We even met some fellow Canadians there that had moved to the area. We had a wonderful evening enjoying the fresh air and the people around us. As I said I really felt at home here.
Let us talk about the food… Oh my goodness the food… I ordered a steak with baked potato and a garden salad, accompanied by a whiskey sour. Raymond ordered a steak with garlic bread and roasted potatoes. Dad ordered chicken strips and fries, While Amelia ordered the panko shrimp with fries and a salad. The steak melted in my mouth. It was cooked perfectly and it was not over-seasoned. My salad was fresh and crunchy, the dressing was delicious. The baked potato was covered in sour cream and was full of flavor. We all really enjoyed our food. With the Bluffs being so close to where we are building our house, I wonder if they would get sick of me going for food and drinks. I know where I am going to get myself a steak dinner as soon as I get back this fall.
My words will never do this place justice in my opinion. I fell in love with this place. We were in our element here. I also may have drank a few too many white Russians while sitting at our table. As the sun started to set they had string lights come on just outside the Restaurant making the area seem almost whimsical. I even made friends with the dog there.
Would I recommend this Restaurant to anyone staying in the San Ignacio area? 100% go to the Bluffs. Enjoy your evening outside while still being in a place that is covered. Talk to the staff and if the owners are there don’t feel intimidated to talk to them. I’m glad I went and had a chat. Try something from the fantastic menu. Take a few minutes just to enjoy the beautiful landscapes. If you have a camera with you take pictures. Go for a walk and take in the luscious greenery everywhere. You won’t be disapointed.
