BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT – Le Moulin Restaurant
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- March 3, 2023
French-Italian and Ecuadorian Cuisine in a 1563 Flour Mill
Cuenca Expats Magazine, Issue 41
Photos: Courtesy of Le Moulin and Cuenca Expats Magazine.
Looking for a unique setting for your next meal? Look no further than Le Moulin Restaurant. French-Italian and Ecuadorian cuisine served in a 1563 flour mill.
Le Moulin (French for mill) is a national heritage site, and may be the most interesting place to eat in Cuenca. It is located in a restored flour mill originally built in 1563 under orders from the king of Spain, and the construction was supervised by General Gil Ramírez Dávalos (founder of Cuenca). The mill was actually in operation until 1962. In the beautifully restored building, you can still see some of the original equipment and grinding stones.
The restaurant is under the direction of well-trained Mario Avecillas, the general manager with a degree in tourism. He states the vision of the restaurant is “to create a culinary, gastronomic and cultural experience of haute cuisine fusing international techniques without losing the importance of our gastronomy and local products.”
Additionally, Chef Willy won’t disappoint. He has extensive knowledge in terms of gastronomy and mixology—experience obtained from his travels around the world. He uses his knowledge and wisdom to capture the best recipes in his kitchen and reflect them in his dishes. Chef Willy is highly academically prepared, obtaining his degree in international food. His forte is Italian, French and Ecuadorian food. Mario and Willy are the perfect team to create this culinary experience.
Le Moulin, beside the main restaurant area, also offers two additional eating options–one is the river, Terrace. Le Moulin is the only restaurant in Cuenca with a platform on the riverbank. An exclusive space where you can enjoy nature, the breeze, the sound of water and a wonderful
landscape creating the ideal ambiance to enjoy a great meal.
Special occasion coming up? You’ll want to reserve the VIP Cave. They have two private “caves”—spaces where the original blades of the old mills were located. In these areas they have created a romantic space where “La mesa del Chef” is served: a three-course menu exclusive to this place, accompanied by a tasting and pairing with a seasonal wine.
Looking for something to do? Le Moulin offers special music entertainment during the week. Thursday night is expat night with popular international music. Friday night is “Music between Wines,” something Latin and traditional like Bolero, ballads, pasillos, etc., and “Saturdays for Them” is ladies’ night. Guests are treated to music and special promotions. For all these events, Le Moulin offers promotions such as 3×2 in cocktails, and with groups of six, a free bottle of wine. And, during the events, they have contests and many more surprises.
Le Moulin’s address and hours of operation are as follows:
Address: avenue 12 de Abril 271, Cuenca, Ecuador
Tuesday and Wednesday: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Sundays: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Le Moulin is easy to find. (You may have passed it many times without realizing it.)