Fodor's Expert Review La Purísima

An English-speaking chef cooking traditional Ecuadorian fare within a historic theater one block off Plaza Grande is a recipe for success. Despite being within the regal Teatro Bolivar, the restaurant is refreshingly low-key, with simple red wooden dining chairs and a chalkboard menu of specials, though the irridescent tiled bar adds some pizazz. Shrimp soup, with potatoes, local herbs, avocado, and an egg, is warming, filling, and a delightful mix of textures and flavors. For something heartier, go for the lamb medallions in a smoked chorizo sauce. For good people-watching, sit by the plate glass windows whose tables look out onto pedestrian-only Calle Espejo.