La Gruta
La Gruta is a Mexican-Aztec fusion restaurant in Teotihuacán Municipality, State of Mexico. Founded in the 1920s, it is known for its location, inside a volcanic cavity, and its proximity to the Teotihuacan pyramids. It was established after Porfirio Díaz used the cave as a place to eat, and has since attracted many historical figures and celebrities.
History
The area where the restaurant was located was formerly a place to store seeds and grain for the builders of the Teotihuacan pyramids. When Porfirio Díaz and his delegations arrived at the site to organize its rescue, the cave was used as a place for them to eat on 9 April 1906. The actual restaurant was established in the 1920s by the Cedillo family. Elizabeth II ate at the restaurant during her visit to Mexico in 1975.Description
The restaurant serves a fusion of Mexican and Aztec cuisine. Dishes include, corn cakes, quesadillas, escamoles, maguey worms, tortilla soup, corn soup, mushroom and prickly pear soup, salads, sopa de fideo, beef steak, meatballs, barbacoa, mixiote, and fajitas. Margaritas are made from xoconostle or the tuna fruit from prickly pear. The restaurant has its own farm, with most of the plants used in the dishes being home-grown. It also works with the International Maize and Wheat [Improvement Center] to negotiate fair prices with buyers.The restaurant seats 500 people. People such as Porfirio Díaz, Emiliano Zapata, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Octavio Paz, Jorge Luis Borges, Elizabeth II, and BTS have visited the restaurant. After paying the bill, the diner is given a candle; lighting it and placing it on the walls of the cave is said to be a symbol of rebirth. Mexican folk dances are commonly performed at the restaurant.