There are just a few spots in Santiago that we’ve visited repeatedly in the three months we’ve lived here.

One is Normandie, which we discovered early on when we were still in the Hotel Presidente in Providencia. Conveniently located on Calle Providencia 1234, between Santander and Manuel Montt metro stops, this cozy place is divided entirely in two, with separate entrances for the smoking bar side and the non-smoking restaurant side, and has another eight or so tables outside in case you like noise and bus fumes with your al fresco meal. The menu includes savory crepes, and huge, interesting salads (the Nicoise, of course, but also the Stockholm with artichokes, avocados, and smoked salmon). The poultry and meat selection is simple and Frenchy, including duck and rabbit. But best of all is the bread and butter and paté brought to every table to provide fuel for your menu decision-making. The HMS Henning approves, too, of the shipping motif and the lovely old posters around, while her wandering companion was entertained by the old black and white movies on the TV screen.

Stay tuned for the other Santiago restaurants of note.