El Velero
Av. Malecón and Calle 15, at the Manta Yacht Club
About
This place has the best setting in Manta, on a canvas-covered wraparound deck overlooking the water at the Manta Yacht Club. The restaurant is ostensibly only open to yacht club members, but I've always been able to sweet-talk my way in as an eager tourist. The menu is simple and very inexpensive. There's a wide range of ceviches -- with everything from fish, octopus, and squid to lobster and langoustines -- which locals have for breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks. The more substantial plates include a tuna steak in a pineapple sweet-and-sour sauce, and steak in a red-wine reduction. For a filling meal you can opt for a hearty plate of seafood linguine.
