Pamela's Restaurante Chileno

Pamela Canales has been well known in the neighborhood since she began selling empanadas from her house in 1979. That arrangement sufficed until 1991, when Pamela's Delicatessen premiered in its current spot. Now it's a combination market/bakery/cafe/full-service Chilean restaurant. The first three are housed in the front room; the adjacent main dining room is a cozy 40-seater that makes you feel at home. Food is homespun too, beginning with large, bulky empanadas that include fillings such as a "pino" mix of chopped beef with lots of onions, black olives, hard-boiled eggs, and the occasional raisin. Other best bets culled from a consistently strong menu include pastel de choclo, a bronzed corn/basil cap over a blend of chicken and pino; steak, chicken, or pork a lo pobre, a protein topped with fried onions and fried eggs that's traditionally accompanied by French fries. Prices are preciously accessible. Pamela's does a hopping breakfast — offering cortaditos with freshly made alfajores and cakes — and serves typical Chilean sandwiches and the Chilean hot dog (completo) for lunch. Friendly service, a pretty ambiance, and potent flutes of pisco sours round out Pamela's paean to Chilean cuisine.