Buenos Aires Restaurant List

Woody’s Restaurant List for

Buenos Aires

The Big EZE!

Eating reasonably in Buenos Aires.

Any comments: WoodyAAL@aol.com

Blog address: woodysrestaurantlists@blogspot.com

EL ESTABLO

Paraguay 489

Cross St. is San Martin

(Near Florida St.)

This is the best steak in Buenos Aires. Typical of a great Argentine steak house you can order all the wonderful sides with the big slab of meat they serve you. The salads are fresh, the creamed spinach to die for and don't forget to slap some fried cheese on your hips while you are at it. Have a house red and sit back and stuff yourself for under $20. I think the lomo is the best cut of meat. The portions are large so share to start out and if you are still hungry you can always order more. If you are crew mention it as they give a bit of a discount.

DORA

Reconquista 1076

Tel” 4311 2891

Info@dorabaires.com

Across from the Sheraton Hotel.

Dora is highly recommended by a diverse number of crews.  One of the reasons is that they give a nice airline discount if you mention the airline you work for. The Iberia crew I talked to had this as number one on their list. The other reason is the prices are excellent and the food matches the prices: also excellent.  Their specialty is fish which is a bit odd because they have hundreds of Parma hams hanging from the ceiling as decorations.  I never saw ham on the menu!  The steak in Buenos Aires is usually wonderful as all those gauchos in chaps aren’t rounding up all that cattle on the pampas for their health.  One comes to BA for the beef.  The beef at Dora will not disappoint  (What’s with all those hams!)  Dora’s probably has the best creamed spinach in town.  It is baked with a cheesy crust.  Their salads are fresh and large.  Split the side dishes. One person cannot eat the portions they serve.  I had their fish for lunch.  The portion was so large I was sure they had brought in one fish and his brother for my meal.  You can be safe even splitting the main course if you are not supremely hungry.

CABANA LAS LILAS

Alicia Moreau de Justo 516

Tel: 4313 1336

www.Laslilas.com.ar

Las Lilas is recommended by the book 1000 Places to See Before You Die.  It is located in Porto Madera in one of the warehouses that string the water of the River Plata.  These warehouses of the former port of Buenos Aires have all been turned into restaurants.  It is a wonderful area to dine because you can sit on the terrace or inside and look out over the water and the new construction of the super chic and hip port area.  We had been told that Las Lilas was touristy but we did not find that to be so.  It seemed populated by well dressed locals.  The Argentineans are a very good looking group of people and this group of patrons held up their end of the bargain in the appearance department.  The prices are supposed to be a bit higher than other restaurants on the quay.  They were a bit higher but not out of sight.  Certainly not enough to keep you from trying an excellent meal.

They start you out with a big plate of unusual anti-pasta.  There is bread galore throughout the meal.  The bread in Argentina is varied and really fine.  At Las Lilas they have a person who’s soul job is to keep coming around with more bread.  We shared a salad, each had a steak and a lot of fries.  We ordered a side of mixed vegetables which were wonderfully prepared in a copper pan.  I am not sure of the preparation but the taste was divine.  We split a dolche de leche strudel for dessert.  A plate of sweets magically appeared after dessert along with a liqueur. With all the bread, anti-pasta and sweet add ons we did not push back from the table hungry.

BROCCOLINO

Esmeralda 776

Tel: 4322 7652

www.broccolino.com

Broccolino is another crew favorite.  It bills itself as Italian but you can still get a really good steak.  I would go back again for the red sauce on its pasta alone. The pasta with gorgonzola sauce is really zesty and tasty. The service was really fun and attentive.  Their specialty is calamari which they prepare sautéed with a number of herbs to pump up the flavor.  I am not a calamari fan so I did not try it. The rest of our group was more into fried calamari so it was not their favorite.  It is such a large portion I would split it if you wanted to see if your taste runs to this tubular cut of the squid.  The salad was wonderful as they seem to be in Buenos Aires.  Again, the portions are large so split the salads and the sides.  One reason this restaurant is well liked is the price.  Very reasonable.  You will feel like you are in a little slice of Italy with it’s green walls and red and white checked table clothes.  You will also feel like you are in New York with it’s large tableau of the city on one of it’s major walls.  I guess you can feel like you are also in “Little Italy”.

IDEAL

Suipacha 384

Tel” 265 8069

Tango on!  At 10PM they have a Tango show at this old Buenos Aires tango hall. You have to go just to see the interior. The interior looks like an old speakeasy from the twenties. You can just imagine the people of  the city spending hours whiling away the time dancing through all the political upheavals they have had in this, the Argentina capital city. Apparently they give tango lessons quite cheaply before the show starts The lessons begin around 8PM and run about six American dollars.  (The peso runs about 3 to the dollar so Americans can still dine and play quite well in BA.)  They have dinner before the show.  We ate elsewhere but I will try the food here in the future.  The Tango dancers are not a young group.  They were wonderful to see.   You could tell that Tango could keep you in the wonderful shape these people were in as it seems like an athletic dance.

MILIONS

Parena 1048

Te: 4815 9925

www.milionargentina.com.ar

Milions is located in Ricoletta; the most elegant of areas in Buenos Aires. It was recommended by a lady who sells at Casa Lopez at the elegant shopping arcade, Bullrich. She told us that this is a place the people who live in the city frequent. It is in a wonderful old town house.  It consists of three levels of restaurant and bars.  The top level is a comfy bar with lounging couches.  The bottom floor seems to be mainly outside dining under awnings.  We ate on the balcony of the second level which looked out on the diners below and the lovely patio area.  The restaurant inside was very nice but casual enough to have a relaxed atmosphere for dinner.  The menu was very a nice surprise in that it was a shorter menu with interesting selections.  Usually the menus in BA seem to offer such a huge selection that it is hard to make a decision.  I had the chicken with a vegetable puree and beans.  My friend Mardi had a wonderful duck confit.  Our waitress seemed to know when we needed something.  She was “on the spot” and like most of the Argentineans; just a lovely person.  The crowd seems a bit younger here but eclectic.  The bar might be a “scene”.  Most things don’t start going in BA until 10 PM or later.  I can’t stay awake that late!.

LA BRIGADA

Estadas Unidas 465

Tel” 4361 5557

While this was recommended by people who live in BA with the idea that this is where the locals eat we did not find it to be any less expensive than some of the other restaurants that we tried in the “more expensive” category.  We enjoyed our experience in what seems to be a quasi-sports bar.  The flags of all the local and not so local soccer teams are displayed all over the walls.  All that is missing is the myriad of televisions broadcasting the games.  The place is jammed so you have to make a reservation a week or so ahead of time or plan on eating around 9PM.  This is not late by BA standards.

We had lomo once more. It was an enjoyable evening and worth a try to eat where the “natives” have an evening meal.  With the prices a bit more than some these must be the more well heeled natives.

PRIME CORTE

Venezuela 1290

Tel: 4381 9138

www.primecorte@ciudad.com,ar

The first time we crossed the largest boulevard in the world to reach this Parilla (steak restaurant) we had a wonderful meal.  We split the fried cheese appetizer.  You have to try the fried cheese in BA.  It is on every menu it seems and is a delightful naughty way to start out your meal.  Again we split a really nice salad.  Why can’t we get as good a tomato in the U.S.A.?  We also shared the creamed spinach.  They do it wonderfully here.  My steak was the size of a big mans fist and really a wonderful filet.  They call it “Lomo” if you want to be sure to get a chateaubriand type cut of meat. It ran about $9 American.

The second time we ate here we were twelve rather than ten. What we have found in this fair city is that it is better to take a large group and split it into two tables or more.  We think they had a meltdown in the kitchen that night as the steak was not as wonderful and were not cooked per order.  To their credit we have found that every time we have gone in a group larger than six to any restaurant the service, which is normally great in BA, has fallen dramatically.  You cannot talk to the other end of the table when you are twelve so you might as well order two tables so you can have a pleasant dinner conversation.  I would go back to Prime Corte but don’t overwhelm the staff by too large a group.

DON ERNESTO

Carlos Calvo 375

San Telmo

Tel” 4307-6927

Another  Parilla ( I looked it up.  It means Grill in Spanish)  right off the antique street in San Telmo this restaurant has a casual atmosphere.  We had lunch here and found the food reliable and, as usual, in large amounts. Again, I had a steak.  I am turning into a French fry in BA. I never eat them in the United States but I can’t keep my hands off them in Argentina.  I am plumping up quite nicely.  Fortunately Argentina is the leading country in the world for plastic surgery and cosmetic work.  Lippo anyone????

OLSEN

Gurriti 5870

Tel”4776 7677

Palermo

A taste of Sweden in this cosmopolitan city.  0lsen has the feel of Scandinavia with its blond wood panels and minimalist furniture.  A lovely garden outside the glass front gives a garden feel to the whole restaurant.  Lunch is about $9 US.  You have choices in three categories and they all come together on one plate.  This price includes a beverage by the way.  We all chose the Caesar salad which came in a tall glass cup.  Then we chose different items for the main course and accompaniment.  I had pastrami with slaw.  I think this is a most pleasant place to have lunch.  It came recommended by several  people.  It is a nice break in the routine of the traditional Parilla.

LA BIELA

Av. Quintana 596

Tel: 4804 4135

www.labiela.com

In Ricolletta, across from the cemetery where Evita and other famous families are interred is a restaurant called La Biela.  It has a lovely, large patio.  The menu is casual with some large and interesting salads. It is a very nice place to stop for lunch after a visit to the cemetery.  The cemetery is like a small town so it is a must see tourist stop.  We are finding that it is cheaper to eat inside than outside by several pesos so check the menu if you are into saving a bit of money.  We have stopped here for lunch several times and always enjoyed lunch. They have a lunch special which can be quite good.  I like the salads; especially the one that is all tomato, onion and olives.

CAFÉ TORTONI

On Ave. de Mayo

This café is the oldest in Buenos Aires.  We enjoy it often in the morning for the tostadas and coffee.  The thin sandwiches made of cheese and ham are turning into a favorite breakfast.  Grilled cheese and ham sandwiches seem to be a normal breakfast item in this part of Argentina.  The atmosphere is old and interesting.  I am not sure of the vintage but I would say it is late 1800’s.  They have a Tango show here but I am told you might want to attend the one at Ideal rather than at Café Tortoni.

A HINT: Tipping in BA is 10%

JUANA M

Carlos Pellegrini 1535

Subsuelo

4326-6661

Juanam@fibertel.com.ar

I am not usually a fan of salad bars so I was dragged kicking and screaming to Juana M.  After all; why would I want to prepare my own salad when dining out.  I can do that at home….if only I would.  Juana M has a white, trendy, hip décor and just as trendy and hip salad bar.  The gimmick is that you get a all you can eat salad when you order an entrée.  The salad bar is extensive with a lot of offerings you will never see at one stateside.  The salads are in smaller bowls so they can fit more on the long table.  You can fill your plate with a variety of tastes. You are not bumping into a glass covering as they are not as germ phobic.

The dinner itself was really enjoyable and a big portion.  I had chicken as I get a little beefed out in Buenos Aires.  The prices as reasonable as they seem to be most places in B.A.  The place is packed with beautiful young people so make sure you call for a reservation.

LO DES JESUS

Gurrochaga 1406  Palermo

We found this terrific restaurant quite by accident but were so happy having lunch here.  It looks like it came out of the past as it is in an older building with so much  quaint BA charm.  The food was wonderful with a varied menu and the great grass fed steak you expect in Argentina.  There are lots of new and sparkly restaurants in BA.  This is old world.  Stop here for a bit of a “blast from the past”.

We loved the waitress.  She spoke excellent English and took great care to make sure we had a wonderful time. This area of Palermo is filled with little boutiques.  That alone makes it worth coming here to walk around the area before or after your lunch.

CANEROS

Arnebua 2479 , Palermo

This restaurant was across the street from our AirBnB.  It was recommended by our host and we found it to be an excellent place to eat.  The menu is reasonably priced and extensive.  The restaurant itself looks like most upscale bistros without the high prices.  The food is very good and varied.  It has a really good bar and seems to be open most of the day.    Palermo is the upscale part of BA.  This bar is very near the botanical gardens…..across the street really.  So do take a stop here for lunch or dinner and be sure and see one of the many lovely parks in Buenos Aires.

DON JULIO

Guatemala 4699, Palermo

Being very high ranked world wide this steak house attracts a very large crowd so you either have to have a reservation or be in line way before it opens.  It was summer so we could sit outside after our hour and a half wait.  The steaks we ordered were huge!  They were good but I still like a couple of the others on my list more than Don Julio.  I put it on this list as you will hear about this place. 

I LATINA

Murillo 725, Villa Crespo

This is a tasting menu restaurant.  It is a little pricey but well worth the splurge.  We seemingly had about a dozen courses (including amuse bouche).  We did not add on the wine pairing because I do not drink that much.  We ordered a bottle of wine instead.  Every course was small but divine.  I think we paid about $90 each.  But we both said we would go back again on another visit to Buenos Aires because the food was so special.  The courses were small but not so small that you did not fill up. The chef, Santiago Macias Acuna, is very well known in the restaurant world.

NAPOLES Bar and Restaurant.

Ave. Caseros 449, San Telmo area  Tel.: 155 417 1802

This is a must see venue in Buenos Aires. The interior alone should be enough to bring you here.  It consists of room after room of antiques, old cars and oddities.  It is almost visual overload.  The food is Italian but we were just stopping for a drink on our way to our dinner reservations.  We understand the food is quite good.  They are making pasta in the front window so it must be really fresh!  We did come back the next morning as it is open for breakfast!  (We ended up eating breakfast across the street because we wanted eggs.) Do look up their Facebook page to see the over the top décor.

MOOI, in the park Bosques de Palermo, Recoleta Av. Del Libertador 105

The fun thing about this darling restaurant near the park is that it is under a high line.  Amazingly an active highline!  Every once in a while the metro train will go whizzing by above your head on the line.  The restaurant is adorable and a veritable garden.  We went for breakfast.  We had such a nice selection of interesting items that we over ordered.  I added avocado toast on to my scrambled egg selection that I could not eat all the food.  The food orders were so nicely presented we were surprised that a breakfast would be that pleasant to look at. 

The restaurant is also right next to a Starbucks in this under the highline group of places to eat and be entertained.  Walk to the park right across the way to boat on the pond or enjoy the large rose garden.  It is also a lovely walk through this (one of the many ) parks in Buenos Aires.