Sonia Vasquez
Worth a visit
Although not entirely to my taste, the Asesino is one of the most characteristic restaurants in Santiago, serving the local cuisine. It's worth visiting at least to get a taste of the local flavours. I find it a little bit creepy, but the loyal customers refuse to allow any of the decoration or menu to be changed. The menu offers Galician classics like roast beef and pork, squid in ink, clams marinara, flan, Galician cheese with quince, fried milk, and Laxeiro cake, named in honour of the painter who used to frequent this place. It's been open since 1873, and it's one of the most popular restaurants for the city's students. Its founders were a couple of wine growers who arrived here intending to promote their Ribeiro wine.
When they set up shop, opposite the Faculty of History, a group of professors came to ask if they could buy some wine, and were told, "This wine is not for sale - we're giving it away." Soon professors and students alike started to frequent this place, where they could enjoy free wine accompanied by plates of ham and cheese. Its striking name comes from the fact that one of the founders had a habit of sitting on a stool at the door, killing chickens. One day a rooster destined for the pot slipped from the hands of a young employee who chased it to the stone stairs that mark the entrance to the university. Students tried to protect the bird, shouting, "Don't kill him, murderer, leave him for us!" But the employee killed the rooster. Some time later, a student painted, inspired by the story, a picture that serves as the restaurant logo.
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