The Central Valley Restaurants

1. Juan y Medio

On the north-bound side of the Pan-American Highway, between the towns of Requinoa and Rosario, this well-loved Chilean diner caters to hearty appetites. It began as a humble truck stop in 1946 and established a tremendous reputation for its trucker-size portions of Chilean favorites—whopping steaks and ribs grilled over a wood fire, slow-cooked cazuelas, and stews that leave you wanting nothing more than a hammock and a long nap. It seats up to 500 people and fills fast on busy weekends. Stop in at noon or 6 to beat the local crowd, which tends to eat much later. One of the dining rooms overlooks a simple children's play area, which has a very large bird cage with many attractive species.