Lake Atitlan Restaurants: The Clover in San Pedro

Deja vu overtook me as I read the menu outside The Clover on the main trail in San Pedro—some of the top entrees in the town, made by the same cooks who used to work down the street, are once again available in pleasant surroundings that are downright upscale for San Pedro.

Inside the spacious dining area, I found a table concealed by several of the big ferns placed strategically around the shiny ceramic-tiled floor. It was St. Patrick’s Day, so I ordered the Irish Stew.

Served as a weekend special, not just on this holiday, the big bowl of meat, potatoes and carrots in a thick sauce was tasty and filling. It was so good, I found myself sopping up the rest of the sauce with a piece of home-baked bread. Look for Shepherd’s Pie and other traditional Irish dishes soon.

Big Budget Breakfasts

In addition to tipico breakfasts and omelets, The Clover boasts the town’s biggest breakfast burrito, distinguished by a special tomato and cheese sauce. Poached eggs and Eggs Benedict are coming soon. The Clover also has a bottomless cup of coffee, a great deal.

The variety of soups is unparalleled. I found the chicken soup to possess medicinal properties that hastened my recovery from the flu in March. The Azteca soup,with tortillas, is another favorite.

Some writers recommend the top restaurants in San Pedro. I go a step further and suggest the top meals in town. Here it’s the Stuffed Chicken, the Chicken Rolls and the Beef Medallions. If you’re on a budget, burgers are cheap and good.

Hold the Meat: Vegetarian Food, Tofu

Vegetarians, who will like the Mango Curry and Mie Goreng, will be interested to know The Clover has a vast selection of tofu, and that tofu can be substituted for meat in most dishes. And everyone, vegetarian or not, agrees on the Hot Fudge for dessert.

A Fun Place to Party

Run by Mad Irishman Paul, the Clover often hosts parties with live music, so it’s a fun place to hang out. Even if you’re not one of the indigenous Irish people of San Pedro.

Open since March (when it was first called El Paraiso), it has already attracted a loyal base of locals. Besides first-class food at reasonable prices, the bar features a fine selection of liquors and wine. The new location, just around the corner from Ventana Blue on Seventh Avenue, has a garden view of the lake that makes this place even better in its new incarnation.

On the main trail near Zoola, The Clover is open from 8 AM-12 AM daily.