The Bottom Line
Located in one of the finest haciendas in all of Yucatan, Casa de Piedra combines superb service, in a stunning, Old World setting, with the finest food to be found anywhere.Pros
- In an historical, restored hacienda
- Winner of international restaurant awards
Cons
- 12 km outside of Merida
Description
- Tablaje Rústico Catastral 13667, Ex-Hacienda Xcanatún
Xcanatún, Yucatán, 97300
- Tel / Fax: (52)(999) 941-02-13 and 941-02-73
- e-mail: hacienda@xcanatun.com
- Hours Open to the Public: Breakfast served daily: 8:00 am to 11:30 am; Monday through Saturday: 1:30 pm to 11:00 pm; Sunday: 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
- All major credit cards accepted
Casa de Piedra Restaurant at Hacienda Xcanatún in Merida, Yucatan
I'm afraid that I am what is commonly called a one dish customer. Once I find Heaven, I simply cannot let it go, and have a tendency to order the same thing, in the same restaurant, forever. When I am lucky enough to get to Casa de Piedra, the restaurant at Hacienda Xcanatún, just north of Merida, Yucatan, without fail, I order the French Toast. Logically, I am well aware that everything they have on the menu, day and night, is all five-star quality. However, that does not seem to dissuade me from always going back to Casa de Piedra for French Toast.
Since I'm from Louisiana, it is very seldom that I will order French Toast in any restaurant. After all, French Toast is just regular breakfast to us. However, on the day I first went to Casa de Piedra, I had obligated myself to attend both a brunch there and a luncheon at Fiesta Americana within a period of about four hours. The last thing I needed, that morning, was to order a full breakfast. I thought that ordering just French Toast would be keeping it light so that I would have room for lunch later on. How wrong I was!
Have you ever ordered French Toast in a five-star restaurant? Well, let me tell you that Casa de Piedra is not just any old five-star restaurant! There, in a dining room filled with antiques, with walls of French doors open to the gardens beyond, I was served the most beautiful platter of French Toast I have ever seen in my life! I was stunned!
The French bread was cut as thick as Texas toast. The entire platter was drenched in confectioner's sugar, caramel and nuts. The syrup was superb and the coffee just kept on coming. I was in Heaven. With the impending luncheon now completely forgotten, I finished every last bite of my French Toast. It was as if I had no choice in the matter. The morning sun was filtering down through the trees, birds were singing in the garden, and there was a bit of a breeze blowing in through the French doors. All was right with the world. I would pay for that later at the luncheon but, for the moment, I was truly in Heaven.
As the brunch wound down and the guests began to move about the room, visiting and enjoying each other's company, the maitre d' came and stood beside my chair. He called me by name and said it was his understanding that I was considering moving to the area. I told him I was. He then said that he completely understood what it is to be living in a strange city and hoped I would feel free to call Hacienda Xcanatún if I ever needed any assistance. I have never been made to feel so welcome and so much a part of a new community as that young man's sincerity made me feel. Needless to say, my tip was far more than is simply customary and I have sung the praises of Hacienda Xcanatún, far and wide, for almost a decade.
Please visit the website of Hacienda Xcanatún and, if you are ever in the Merida area, do give yourself the gift of a meal at Casa de Piedra, 5-star restaurant extraordinaire. I recommend the French Toast.
If you like French Toast, try these spectacular B&B French Toast Recipes.
