I asked the hotel to recommend a place where I could get a very good dinner.  They suggested a steakhouse named Ni Fu, Ni Fa.  They told me to take a hotel taxi and make sure to have the same  one pick me up when I was finished.  In other words, don’t take a “rogue” taxi.  Santos happened to still be outside the Hilton with his taxi, so I commissioned him to take me.

When I walked into the restaurant, I was the only customer in the place.  I thought, “uh-oh….this may not have been a good idea”.  However, the servers seemed to be very attentive to me.  The waiter  suggested I try the steak, which I did.  I have to say, it was probably one of the best steaks I have ever eaten in my life.  So tender, I could cut it with a fork. 

Steak dinner at Ni Fu Ni Fa restaurant in San Pedro Sula, Honduras

I was enjoying a nice leisurely dinner by myself.  Soon, a rather large party of about 12 came in.  At the head of their table sat a gentleman that looked like the “godfather.” He seemed to command a lot of attention in the restaurant.  His group seemed to be all high class, well educated people.  I observed them with a great deal of curiosity.    Soon, the “godfather” came over to my table and asked if he could sit down with me.  He introduced himself as Jorge Marinkakis, the owner of the restaurant and he wanted to know what I thought about it.  For the next 45 minutes he told me his life story.  He was half-Greek, half-Honduran.  He owned this restaurant plus 3 others in San Pedro Sula, and also a fishing boat. His children were almost all U.S. educated, mostly at the Ivies. 

The restaurant soon began to fill and people kept coming up to our table to exchange greetings with Jorge.  Obviously, he was a big hitter and well known.  Pretty soon, two (2) other gentleman sat down at my table to speak with Jorge.  One was another restaurant owner in San Pedro Sula, and the other appeared to be a senior level executive with one of the banks in San Pedro Sula.  They spoke very good English and seemed to have all night to talk.  However, I did not.  I had a big day planned in the markets of city.  I excused myself after about 30 minutes with them.  However, I also mentally made notes to myself: 1.  Bring my wife to San Pedro Sula.  2.  Take her to dinner at Ni Fu, Ni Fa .

I asked the restaurant to call Santos to come back and pick me up.  I was back at the San Pedro Sula Hilton Princess by 10 p.m.—exhausted from the big day. 

Next-the street markets of San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net

Read about all of my travels click here