10bestlogo

  • 10bestlogo

  • Awards
  • Arts & Culture
  • Food & Drink
  • Trip Planning
  • City Guides
  • Home

SEARCH: by place + food, budget, style, hotel, attraction, etc

SEARCH
10BEST: Trusted Travel & Lifestyle Advice
Cabo San Lucas:
Overview

overview

See & Do

see & do

Eat

eat

Party

party

Stay

stay

Shop

shop

Regions

regions

Cruise

cruise

 
  • facebook share
  • twitter share
  • google plus share
  • pinterest share
  • stumble upon share
  • linkedin share
  • Flipboard
graphic

Most Popular 10Best Lists

  • #
    Las Vegas: 10 Fun and Free Things to do in Las Vegas
    View This List
  • #
    Las Vegas: 10 Fun and Free Things to do in Las Vegas
    View This List
  • #
    Orlando: New Additions & Venerable Classics in Orlando: the Best of the Theme-Park Capital
    View This List
  • #
    Orlando: New Additions & Venerable Classics in Orlando: the Best of the Theme-Park Capital
    View This List
  • #
    Dallas: The Ultimate Dallas Bucket List For Family Fun
    View This List
graphic

Most Popular 10Best Articles

  • #
    Road Trip: 10 Must-See Spots Along the Oregon Coast
    View This Article
  • #
    Where to eat each state's most iconic dish
    View This Article
  • #
    Vote now to help us choose America's best small towns
    View This Article
  • #
    10 ways to eat shrimp in the Carolinas and where to find the best
    View This Article
  • #
    These are some of the best free things to do in 10 American cities
    View This Article
 
10bestlogo
facebook twitter instagram pinterest
  • About 10BEST
  • 10BEST Local Experts
  • Sitemap
SHOW MORE INFORMATION
  • Cabo San Lucas
Save This Page +

Invita Bistro: The Spirit of Rome, the Soul of Baja

Traditional Italian delights abound at Invita Bistro in Cabo San Lucas

February 11, 2015 // By Chris Sands

By Chris Sands
Cabo San Lucas Local Expert February 11, 2015

 

The most beautiful window in Cabo San Lucas looks out across the festively lit gazebo in the center of the town square, Plaza Amelia Wilkes, towards an artful arrangement of colorfully painted villas that cling to a Pedregal hillside.

After a few glasses of Chianti and several helpings of Invita Bistro’s homemade breads and pastas, it’s rather easy to imagine you've been magically transported to Chef Antonello Lauri’s hometown and are now gazing wistfully at one of Rome’s seven hills.

Since opening in 2012, Invita Bistro has been one of the most popular of Los Cabos’ surprising number of Italian-themed restaurants. Who would have guessed such an appetite for pastas and pizzas existed at the bottom of the Baja California peninsula?

Local color at Invita Bistro in Cabo San Lucas includes romantic lighting and an evocative wine-themed painting from local artist Yandi Monardo — Photo courtesy of Invita Bistro

Cabo San Lucas – part of the larger Los Cabos municipality, which also includes sister city San José del Cabo – is a major tourist destination and draws large numbers of snowbirds, spring breakers and cruise ship passengers. So it’s understandable that a certain percentage of such visitors are more comfortable with lasagna or spaghetti than cecina de Yecapixtla or pescado zarandeado.

But such easy generalizations fail to account for the faithful patronage of Cabeños (the name for local residents), who keep the many Mediterranean outposts afloat during the slow summer months. Perhaps Italian, like Mexican food, knows no national boundaries.

Invita has carved out its own little niche among this subset of the local dining scene, largely on the basis of superb dishes made from generational recipes; traditional, family-style service; and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

The dining area is intimate, suffused with the intimate glow of romantic red lighting and overseen by a vividly colorful wall-length evocation of the spirit of Bacchus, god of wine, from local painter Yandi Monardo. And then there's that magical picture window, looking out over the heart of the city.

Chef and Co-owner Lauri makes many of his dishes from old family recipes. Highlights include Topo Morocho, the chef’s choice of five signature tapas; Carpaccio de Mar, thinly sliced fish with lime, olive oil and capers; Eggplant Parmesan, a legacy of his grandmother; and a memorable Saltimbocca à la Invita, made with beef medallions, ham and parmesan cheese.

One of the kitchen’s most celebrated creations, however, isn’t on the menu. Fresh homemade focaccia breads are a complimentary tableside taster, and they’re incredible: savory, sweet smelling and mouthwateringly delicious.

Invita also boasts one of the finest local collections of international (although predominantly Italian) wines, stored in temperature-controlled conditions along one of the restaurant’s walls. Special or by the glass selections are showcased on a blackboard in front of an old-fashioned wooden bar, which also serves as a staging ground for traditional Italian cocktails.

Espresso drinks and classic dessert favorites like tiramisu are also available.

x

Next Up

San Jose del Cabo's Cata Wine Excels at Mexican, Italian Cuisines

Read More »


About Chris Sands

Chris Sands is a freelance writer and a full-time resident of Cabo San Lucas.

Read more about Chris Sands here.

Connect with Chris via: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest | StumbleUpon


Share

Facebook
Twitter
Google Plus
Pinterest
StumbleUpon
LinkedIn
Flipboard
×

×