Thread Starter.
Printable View
Thread Starter.
At least I thought it was when I went there last week. Rolling shutters on Avenida de Mayo were down. I assumed it was closed for the holidays. Today I happened to go in a locotoria on Rivadavia and saw someone go in the back door. I followed.
Billard affectionados rejoyce. It's still open. They are remodling the ground floor but the basement is open and accesible from Rivadavia. I inspected the work, fearing they might harm that 100 year old inlaid wood work. To my amasement, they were very aware of this historical monument and were taking great legnths to protect it. They are replcing the ceiling with drywall. Argentina has finally discovered plaster and paint does not do well in this humidity.
They will be reopen March
This sounds like my kind of place--anybody know how to find it?
Thanks, Butts
I have been messing around with this amateur dating site and have lined up a couple of dinner dates for my BA trip next week--can't take them to Cafe Orleans, can anybody suggest a couple of romantic restauants nearby the Recoleta area?
Thanks, Butts
Mr. Butts, I assume you are looking for La Biela, the indoor outdoor Cafe on Quintana right in front of the church for the Recoleta Cemetery. It is close to the pathetic hotel Etiole. Any taxi driver will know La Biela or you can walk there on Quintana. It is not a place for dinner, but lots of fun at lunch. Primarily a tourist spot and one should be very cautious with valuables there.
For a romantic dinner you might want to do San Babila which is on the restaurant strip down from La Biela. It is decent Italian.
The best restaurant and one of the most romantic rooms in BA is Tomo Uno, which is not in Recoleta, but on the mezzanine of the Pan - American Hotel (not the hotel restaurant) at Pelligrinii down by the Obelisk. Many people including me think this is the best restaurant in BA.
Dinner for two with a nice wine will run you 200 - 240 pesos.
For seafood in Recoleta, there is Jose Luis at 456 Quintana (closed Sundays).
Probably not for a first date, but for a romantic outing I suggest Te Mataré Ramirez ([url]www.tematareramirez.com[/url]).
2 locations, one in San Isidro and the other in Palermo.
Live music during slow summer months. I went on a Thursday night in mid Jan and there was a female singer that sang Nora Jones and the like. Also a bass and piano player. During peak seasons, there are suppose to be erotic shows.
Menu is composed of erotic titles and descriptions for their dishes. Food is average by BA standards. It has a very dim, romantic setting.
Cost with 1 bottle of Chadon champagne, 2 champagne cocktails, 2 appetizers, 2 entres, and 2 deserts was 120 pesos w/o tip.
No English spoken by any of the wait staff.
Check the package you get when you get the check. They expect you to use it after a night out at this restaurant.
I wouldn't call this a romantic destination more of an erotic one. I have seen two of the shows they do there an erotic spoken word, in Castillano but funny as hell, and the pornographic puppet show. Both were excellent and the food is very, very good.
If you want a good romantic restaurant I would recomend "Lomo" it is near the corner of Costa Rica and Armenia in Palermo Viejo Costa Rica 4661 - t:4833-3200. Make reservations on a nice night and ask for a seat on the roof. I would highly recomend the 7 hour braised pork, the seafood ravioli and one of their signiture dishes lomo ala lomo.
As for romance I went there one night when it was pretty fresco and asked for a seat on the roof, when we got upstairs this young couple was fucking in a booth. We ended up opting to sit inside but I reckon they thought it was somewhat romantic.
What dating site?
[QUOTE=Mr Butts]I have been messing around with this amateur dating site and have lined up a couple of dinner dates for my BA trip next week--can't take them to Cafe Orleans, can anybody suggest a couple of romantic restauants nearby the Recoleta area?
Thanks, Butts[/QUOTE]
As a vegetarian (don't ask) will I starve to death in Buenas Aires? I know Argentina is famous for its beef, but are there places one could get a vegetarian entre (something cooked - not a freaking salad). Thanks!
Crypton
I ,too, do not eat much meat as I find that it slows me down, especially in hot climates. You will find lots to eat there besides steak. There are a lot of buffets with a big selection of veggies,both cooked and uncooked. These all-you-can-eat restaurants are called "TENADOR LIBRES". There are lots of pasta houses and seafood places[in the event you are'nt a true vegan.]
Cocina Restaurante, Santa Fe 2461, tenador libre
Comer, Guido near cemetary,also tenador libre
El Salmon II, Reconquista 1014, fish and pasta
?????, Suipacha 1024, Chilean seafood
There are probably more restaurants per square mile in this city than anywhere else I have ever been, including New York, Mexico City,and Las Vegas! You won't go hungry.
[QUOTE=Crypton]As a vegetarian (don't ask) will I starve to death in Buenas Aires? I know Argentina is famous for its beef, but are there places one could get a vegetarian entre (something cooked - not a freaking salad). Thanks!
Crypton[/QUOTE]Dont worry, all the steak houses have a myriad of ways to eat potatoes!
As a meat lover, at times I do yearn for a cooked veggie as opposed to potatos potatos potatos...lol. Do they eat green beans or broccoli in BA? :)
Thanks, Seismo and OTH. I am reassured now. Come to think of it - it may be a good lose a few pounds anyhow.
Cheers
On my most recent trip a few weeks ago, on the suggestion of sister Roxana, the two of us went to check out the restaurants at one of the new hotels in Buenos Aires. This hotel is called [url=http://www.faenahotelanduniverse.com/web/index2.html][red]“Faena”[/red][/url], and is located at Martha Salotti 445. It is certainly a “new money” kind of place. There is no shortage of “wow” factor while visiting the ostentatious different areas of this converted old building.
Although in the interest of gastro-sex-journalism we checked out all three restaurant areas, we ended up eating at “el Mercado”. The room has an old Europe décor, and the waiters are white-apron clad with the thermometer sticking out of their front pockets. We started with an appetizer course of terrine for me, and an interesting block of a Fontina type cheese garnished with vegetables and sprinkled with balsamic vinegar for Roxana. Having been “carne’ed out”, I ordered a Ravioli dish, which was well done and well presented. Ours sister had a very tender, highly marinated, juicy steak which we shared. It was fabulous. The desert was a type of chocolate cake creation, which tasted great. Of course the wine was excellent as well. The service was attentive yet unobtrusive. The bill came up to about 150 Pesos for the two of us. Although pricey, the quality of food was excellent and the ambience was phenomenal. Once you are viewing the web page, click the links for “El Living”, and “El Bistro” to see the pictures of the other two dining areas. The latter looked all white, just like the picture!
The hotel and its restaurants are definitely worth a return visit. I didn’t see the inside of the guestrooms. I’m interested in seeing a report about the guestrooms in the hotels section.
Just to chime in with many of you. I ate at the Rio Alba the other night. An excellent restaurant. About the same cost as eating at Lola on restaurant row in Recoleta but so much better.
Based on the posts here and on a BsAs restaurant review site, I ate at Rio Alba in Palermo Soho the other day. While I thought it was good, I don't know what all the fuss is about.
It is a standard Argentine parrilla, there are hundreds of them in town. The price for two of us for lunch, which did not include wine, was 72 pesos. For Buenos Aires, it's hardly a bargain to spend this amount for a salad for two, an appetizer, two steaks, and two waters.
In short, if you're in the area (which means out by the hippodrome), certainly stop by. But I wouldn't make a special trip to eat there.
There are several restaurants facing Cordoba next to the Galleria Pacifico. The two I tried were very good and inexpensive. Excellent steak, papas, and desert. The mushrooms didn't have much taste, though.
A porteno business man took myself and my chica to dinner at a local restaurant half between where he lives in Palermo and where I was staying in Vicente Lopez. This is in a middle to upper middle class area on a main business street named Cabildo. Cabildo runs paralell to Liberador. We went there twice and both times there was a line and a 15-30 minute wait.
This is a traditional asador criollo: the meat is on swords and slow cooked circling around an open fire, guacho style. you can also order standard a argentine asado on the grill.
There is better meat in ba, but it's twice the price. A full bife de charizo[over one lb] is 13.5 pesos vs 24 pesos at Happenings or Mirasol All main couses come with a full salad bar at no additional cost. Bottles of wine sell for maybe 25% to 50% more than they cost in the supermarket. They also have free delivery from Palermo to
Vincente Lopez.
If you can read the menue in spanish on your own or come with someone who can, you will have no problems. The staff is gracious and professional. The location is in Nunez which is the next town out after Belgrano--8 peso taxi ride from Recoleta.
Bob
Los Sauces-Asador Criollo
Av. Cabildo 4601
4703 0330
I have eaten here several times also, always forget the name but know where it is. The eats are really good, nothing fancy. I especially like the cuadro (sp??), a big chunk of nicely roasted beef. Thanks for the report, now I will remember the name and not have to look out the window and tell the taxista, that one!
MAG
Santa Fe turns into Cabildo in Palermo, do you remember where on Cabildo, was it in Palermo, Colagealis or Belgrano? Sounds like a good place and I've been staying by Cabildo and Fred La Croz so it may be close to me.
Thanks
Nunez is the pueblo past Belgrano. I can't give you the cross street, as I'm driving impared in BA. Call them for info. No one speaks english with any fluency, but they are kind and want to communicate.
Bob
This restaurant is located in Barrio Norte at Baez 292. Jackson and Capt Dave were dining there last night and I decided to join them. It is located on a “restaurant row” of sorts and is approximately halfway between downtown and the Mansion. Because of its location it is not a tourist restaurant but was filled to the brim with locals.
Carne is the specialty here and my mixed brochette of steak and chicken was excellent as was a mixed grilled vegtable plate. Comments from others were that their steaks were done to perfection and very tasty. My assessment is that the quality of the food here is better than Recoleta at a fraction of the cost. The total bill was about 160 pesos for the five of us.
In San Telmo,
465 Estatos Unidos (and Defensa). Very cool place. Lots of character and charm. Futbol posters/jerseys etc all over the walls. Good parilla. Went with a chica and a great meal for 150p. Included, 2 empanadas - one meat and one cream corn, a provaleta (grilled round of cheese), salad of cherry tomatoes, cheese and some green herb, a large cut of bife de chorizo, an order of chinchinilles (sp), a bottle of water , a bottle of Bodega de Septima Syrah (50p), a cafe con leche and warm bread served at the table (like bisquits).
Good service. Hear its crowded on the weekends. Walked in last night at 10pm and got seated right away, but it was busy. I would reccomend.
5 pesos cab from Micro Center.
Rather than muddy up the 2005 Travel Reports Area, I thought this was a good place to pontificate on the Argentina Ceasar Salad. I have watched over a few years people ordering Ceasar salad on Restaurant Row, with some humor.
Nobody has ever gotten what they thought of as a real Ceasar Salad. Chunks of Anchovies, (which some very fancy restaurants in NAmerica do but normally we like ours pulverized into non-recognition), 5 croutons the size of mini loafs, minimal if any creamy dressing.
With so many other fresh green varieties in the other salads, the likes of which you seldom see in NAmerica, my advice is to select those and forget Ceasar. If you need creamy dressing, ask for a side of salsa golfo or mayonesa.
It is a bit like someone really wanting a Pizza Hut pizza in BA and not finding anything like it. Go Local, you'll enjoy it more.
MAG
Located on the 500 block of Suipacha (after Lavalle, going towards Tucuman). Quasi chinese and Argentine parilla. Lots of hot/cold buffet items, some chinese some not and grilled meat as well, like chicken, beef short ribs and sausages. Dessert is also included on the buffet - ice cream, dulce de leche, fruit salads etc.
Not by any stretch gourmet but filling, quick and not bad at all. 8 pesos.
10.50 with a bottle of water, 1.50p tip = 12 pesos
Open till 4pm for lunch for late sleeping mongers who have been busy all night!
Puerto Madero - Southern End
All you can eat buffet steak house. 29 pesos per person including beer or wine. I ordered beer and got a 40 oz or so pitcher at my table. Also includes bottled water, salad bar and dessert. For this type of restaurant it is very nice. Lots of Argentine families on a saturday night. Had to wait an hour for a table.
Lots of selections on both the salad bar and at the grill. The meat I had was very good. I had pork ribs, lomo, beef short ribs (asado), chicken and brochette of chicken (small portions of each). All were very good. For the money its a great bargain, and the location at the port is awsome.
Dessert was chocolate ice cream with chocolate sauce over top. Dulce de leche and bread pudding (Argentine standards) were offered as well as 4 0r 5 others.
Highly recommended for this type of restaurant. Good selections, good quality and one price pays all.
[QUOTE=Crypton]As a vegetarian (don't ask) will I starve to death in Buenas Aires? I know Argentina is famous for its beef, but are there places one could get a vegetarian entre (something cooked - not a freaking salad). Thanks!
Crypton[/QUOTE]I haven't tried it yet but Bio in Palermo Viejo has been recommended to me as a well-regarded vegetarian restaurant. I'm not vegetarian but at home I tend to mix vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals thus my interest in this type of place.
Palermo Viejo has many restaurants that break away from steakhouses and confiterias.
I had a wonderful duck confit at Christophe, a small French bistro with a hip atmosphere in Palermo Hollywood at Fitz Roy 1994. They had other French bistro classics on the chalkboard menu along with some Argentina-inspired creations. It's funny that I love Argentina but two food genres that I dislike are steakhouses and Italian food! It makes it a bit difficult for me whenever I visit this great country.
Anywhere in BA serve pancakes with maple syrup?
[QUOTE=Closet Boy]Anywhere in BA serve pancakes with maple syrup?[/QUOTE]
I've never seen such a thing here. Panqueques, which you will see on menus, are something different. If you must have pancakes, I would try one of the American hotels like the Marriott. If they have a buffet, I bet they have pancakes.
If you can get past the jarryingly out of place outfits and signs, it has pretty good food for Recoleta. I had the 500g lomo, rice, chorizo, salad, a copa de vino tinto, and coffee for $AR55 + tip. The lomo was butterflied so it would cook in a reasonable time but it was just the way I like it (medium-rare) after ordering "jugoso" (juicy). They also had an inclusive menu for $AR26.
And a nice ass in a short demin skirt is always nice to have walking to and from your table at dinner.
I went to Campo Bravo last night. It is better than most places in Recoleta where I have eaten. A big steak, green salad (with no anchovies), empanada and water was only 28 pesos which also makes it cheaper than many places in Recoleta. The steak was very good. The menu was available in english, and the staff was efficient considering how many people were there. Only problem was the lineup to get in. I had to wait about 15 minutes outside before getting a table. It was a Sunday night at about 10:45pm when I arrived. The girl who worked there was handing out free drinks to people waiting outside. She offered a glass of wine or champain. Inside it was very crowded. The taxi was about 7 pesos each way from Recoleta. So if the taxi is factored in the total cost would be about 42 pesos. Typically, the same dinner in Recoleta is about 40-50 pesos depending on where I have eaten. So, really the overall price is about the same, but better food at Campo Bravo.
I tried Bio this Sunday for lunch. The menu is composed of organic vegetarian dishes. When you arrive, they give you a small glass of the house ginger lemonade. I ordered two empanadas to start and the daily special, spinach crêpes.
The baked empanadas contained tofu mixed with a tomato salsa and olives. This was tasty but I did not care for the outside which was made with buckwheat flour. I like buckwheat pancakes and crêpes but it didn't work for these empanadas, leaving a tough shell which was difficult to cut through even with my knife.
Speaking of crêpes, the spinach crêpes were wonderful. I received four crêpes folded in quarters filled with spinach and I believe pine nuts. A light tomato salsa was poured on top.
I like to stay thin and without access to my gym back home and all the meat here I need to pay more attention to what I eat. Bio seems to be one of the few places where you can get a decent portion of vegetables. I had been going into withdrawal.
I looked around and the salads that most of the others were eating looked quite elaborate and filling. I'll try one of those next time.
Lunch with agua con gas was about $16.
Now that I've eaten at Bio, I won't feel guilty about my next lomo de bife. :D
Bio
Humboldt 2199 (corner of Guatemala)
Palermo Hollywood
4774-3880
This is my first post and first trip to Argentina,
If you are on a budget for lunch, Grill Oriental on Calle Pellegrini is a great buy at 16 pesos per person for all-you-can-eat, decent salad bar but awesome parilla and pizza. The AR$16 covers only soda, (non gas-water?), 1 dessert, and meal. Again, if on a budget enjoy this spot.
For anyone staying in the poorer part of town
Puerto Leyenda Tenedor Libre
1119 Rivadavia is not a bad bet at
weekdays lunch $9 dinner $10
weekends lunch 10 dinner $12
plus drink
Well, since I often wander around with no real idea where I´m going (pretty much like my life), I come across interesting places to eat.
Yesterday, before getting lost, I went to a movie on Levalle, and got the cheapest meal of my trip so far. 1/4 pizza for 95 centavos. It was Ugi´s a low cost chain I´d eaten at last year. You can get a whole pizza for less than 4 pesos. The quality was okay, and even two slices was pretty filling.
My last meal in the city was at Rincon Salteno on A.J. Carranza in Palermo Hollywood. This place offers northern Argentine specialities, influenced by the native cultures in the area.
I started with three empanadas de horno (baked), one beef, one chicken, and one humitas. These were spicier and more flavorful than most I've had but they were also a bit too salty. I've eaten at many salteno (referring to the city of Salta) places before and have found oversalting to be a common issue. Still, not bad.
Now on to the locro. You can sort of think of this as a criollo version of our chilli. I usually like this dish a lot. However, this example was THE SALTIEST DISH I have ever been served. Nasty! I could tell that if a pound of salt were omitted, it would have tasted pretty darn good. I mean, it looked good. I quickly downed an entire large bottle of agua con gas and with two-thirds of my locro left before me, I was parched. The cook comes out to see how I'm doing. He looks to be a good 300 pounds or more. I speculate that 90 percent of that is water retention from massive salt intake. This was almost comical.
I ask for the check, pay my bill, and hustle home to chug a half bottle of Coca Light.
[QUOTE=Incaboy]However, this example was THE SALTIEST DISH I have ever been served. Nasty! [/QUOTE]
It looks like they take their city name a little too seriously.
Try Puerto Montt on Vicente Lopez right in front of the cementery. The Pizza is absolutely great. Not an expensive place. Whole Pizza plus couple of beers for under 50 pesos
ELMATADOR
[QUOTE=Elmatad0r]Try Puerto Montt on Vicente Lopez right in front of the cementery. The Pizza is absolutely great. Not an expensive place. Whole Pizza plus couple of beers for under 50 pesos
ELMATADOR[/QUOTE]
I got a dozen empanadas there the other day and thought they sucked. Le Continental next door was much better.