La Gran Taberna - Congreso
[blue]La Gran Taberna is on the corner of Combate de los Pozos and Hipolito Yrigoyen, right behind the Capitol Building. It's a standard Argentine restaurant with a menu strong on seafood and Spanish-style dishes. They've been in business for more than 40 years.
Nine of us arrived at approximately 10pm with a reservation having been made just 30 minutes earlier. Nevertheless, our table was waiting as requested.
Given that La Gran Taberna is just a couple of blocks from my apartment in Congreso and I've dined there on several ocassions, I advised everyone as they were reviewing the menu that the portions were no less than huge. Several of our group decided to try the seafood jambalaya, which at $75 pesos was purported to feed four. Actually, it was big enough to yield 6 steaming plates of food, so everyone had a sample of the excellent combination of chunky white fish, calamari, clams and oysters all piled on a bed of yellow rice.
La Gran Taberna also has a real carbon grill, although they don't feel compelled to put it out in the front window for tourists to see. Nevertheless they put out a bife de chorizo that rivals the best in the city. It's a full 2 inches thick and as long as my plate. I think it's identical to what they serve at Aquellos Anos for $36 pesos, but at La Gran Taberna it's a bargain at just $18 pesos.
The total bill for nine diners came to $270.00, or just $35 pesos each with the tip. The three wine drinkers shared three bottles between them for an additional 115 pesos.
Later we went to Excedra for coffee, conversation and eye candy, everyone slowly splitting off as they spotted something of interest. The inventory at Excedra on that night was better than average, I having spotted a couple of items that even hit my minimum.
Thanks to all who attended, including Andres, Waterboy, Rockin Bob, El Grandote, Chica Seeker, El Aleman, Shane4000 and Escapee5150.
[color=#000080][b]La Gran Taberna
Combate de los Pozos 95
Corner of Hipolito Yrigoyen
Behind the Capitol Building
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