El Zaguan is one of Granada's most reliable restaurants for Nicaraguan food, set in a colonial building near the cathedral with an open courtyard and a menu built around traditional dishes. The churrasco — grilled beef — is consistently good, the gallo pinto is done properly, and the portions are generous by local standards.
The atmosphere is more local than the tourist-oriented places on La Calzada. Lunch is the main meal of the day for most Nicaraguans, and El Zaguan does a solid set lunch (comida corriente) that includes soup, main, and drink at a price that beats almost any full-service restaurant in the city. Service is unhurried, which in the heat of the midday feels like an asset.