General Restaurant Reports

[WorldTravel69]

I liked the place.
They still have a web page http://www.los36billares.com.ar/

The above report was posted Jan 4, 2005 (notice it is the first post of the thread but 15 posts got lost in cyberspace?)

I did a review of this famous Avenida de Mayo cafe years ago but can not find the report. Possibly pre Argentina Private days. At any rate, four years ago it was closed and the rumor was La Continental had bought it. I was horrified that another landmark was going to become another cheap pizzeria. I was there yesterday. Indeed La Continental owns it. The menu is leather bound and printed in old style, but it is exactly La Continental menu and prices. The basement billard hall is in full operation . The Rivadavia side still has the old Gallegos playing cards. The original numbered marble topped tables, but the interior wood panneling fully restored and bathrooms remodled.

Congratulations La Continental for a job well done preserving a Buenos Aires landmark at affordable prices.

[Norman Stormin]

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

The above report was posted Jan 4, 2005 (notice it is the first post of the thread but 15 posts got lost in cyberspace?)

I did a review of this famous Avenida de Mayo cafe years ago but can not find the report. Possibly pre Argentina Private days. At any rate, four years ago it was closed and the rumor was La Continental had bought it. I was horrified that another landmark was going to become another cheap pizzeria. I was there yesterday. Indeed La Continental owns it. The menu is leather bound and printed in old style, but it is exactly La Continental menu and prices. The basement billard hall is in full operation . The Rivadavia side still has the old Gallegos playing cards. The original numbered marble topped tables, but the interior wood panneling fully restored and bathrooms remodled.

Congratulations La Continental for a job well done preserving a Buenos Aires landmark at affordable prices.

[Old Coach]

I love to eat and I especially love to try different foods in different cultures. One snack food I have never understood the overwhelming love for is Tapas. I have been to Spain many times and many guide books talk about the great TAPAS at different bars. Tapas to me are a small but expensive snack. The first time I tried a tapas some 30 years ago I thought they were free. In the USA many bars serve free snacks during happy hour. On this page I read an entry that said this certain bar had great TAPAS. Do people eat tapas for dinner or just an early evening snack before dinner. To me eating something like this would ruin my dinner appetite. Please dont make too much fun of question. Inquiring minds need to know.

In the Basque town of San Sebastian , the tapas are called pinchos (the snack is held together with a tooth pick) , a huge variety and very filling.There was no way that we could eat supper after 'snacking' on these. Normally the bartender just counts the number of toothpicks before billing you.

[HotRod11]

I love to eat and I especially love to try different foods in different cultures. One snack food I have never understood the overwhelming love for is Tapas. I have been to Spain many times and many guide books talk about the great TAPAS at different bars. Tapas to me are a small but expensive snack. The first time I tried a tapas some 30 years ago I thought they were free. In the USA many bars serve free snacks during happy hour. On this page I read an entry that said this certain bar had great TAPAS. Do people eat tapas for dinner or just an early evening snack before dinner. To me eating something like this would ruin my dinner appetite. Please dont make too much fun of question. Inquiring minds need to know.

[Seismo]

Fish/seafood/pasta.

Bolivar 373 in San Telmo.

Daily lunch specials at 250 pesos.

Good value, big portions.

[Seismo]

This is a typical parrilla with good quality meat at good prices.

Located in Puerto Madero next to the enterance to the casino.

Opens 11am for lunch.

[Seismo]

Located on the corner of Cervino and Salguero.

House specialty is ribs, other meats, salads,etc.

Good quality food, decent portions,fairly priced.

It is a big restaurant with some outdoor seating but is very busy with a waiting list on weekends.

[Rock Harders]

Under the "K" regime they sure did!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Perhaps I should have clarified: the AFIP does NOT "shake down" bars and restaurants in the CABA.

[Gandolf50]

The AFIP (the Argentine version of the IRS) does not do shakedowns. They conduct random inspections during normal working hours to make sure every single transaction is being entered into the government required computer and to verify that social security payments are being made correctly or all employees. They also conduct inspections in response to "denuncias" that can come any hour of the day.

Under the "K" regime they sure did!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Daddy Rulz]

The AFIP (the Argentine version of the IRS) does not do shakedowns. They conduct random inspections during normal working hours to make sure every single transaction is being entered into the government required computer and to verify that social security payments are being made correctly or all employees. They also conduct inspections in response to "denuncias" that can come any hour of the day.

Thanks for the clarification. AFIP really doesn't shake down businesses? Apologies to those guys.

[Rock Harders]

I would be a shitload of money it's a shakedown.

The AFIP (the Argentine version of the IRS) does not do shakedowns. They conduct random inspections during normal working hours to make sure every single transaction is being entered into the government required computer and to verify that social security payments are being made correctly or all employees. They also conduct inspections in response to "denuncias" that can come any hour of the day.

[Daddy Rulz]

AFIP stickers on doors. They had been closed for Feb. For vacation. Stickers showed up today.

I would be a shitload of money it's a shakedown.

[Thomaso276]

AFIP stickers on doors. They had been closed for Feb. For vacation. Stickers showed up today.

[Aqualung]

For those of you looking for another, different experience try this restaurant. It's on the Libertador Avenue number 405. That is on the other side of the avenue from where you would expect. It's hidden amongst old abandoned railway sheds. The owner is Carlos Regazzoni, a reasonably well World known sculptor. Carlos uses junk from these old sheds to fashion his sculptures and is one hell of a weird, fun guy to meet.

The restaurant isn't easy to find but if you follow the path entering at the 405 number of Libertador you'll come across it. Here you will find anything from an avestruz (ostrich) leg on the parrilla (grill) to a huge boar or wild pig roasting away.

You'll probably eat what Carlos suggests whether you like it or not. The idea behind the restaurant is that you eat road kill or at least railroad kill.

Carlo's father or grandfather (I don't remember exactly) worked on the trans-Patagonia railroad Sometimes the train would hit an ostrich or something and they would stop, pick it up and cook it on the train's engine.

It's not for the feint of heart and much less for a weak stomach but for those looking for that one time experience in Buenos Aires (and probably in the World) try it out. I highly recommend it for someone with a knowledge of Spanish and a love of art as Carlos will sit at your table for a while and squeezing stories and experience as an artist out of him makes the evening worthwhile.

Check him, his work and his restaurant here: http://www.regazzoniarts.com/elgatoviejo/.



PS - Only Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays

[Aqualung]

Yo TL,

You must not have had their mushrooms.

Cigar Eric and I got the shits from what we surmised.

From the shrooms. About 2 years ago.

Haven't been back.

Jackpot.

I eat there very often and by that I mean, some time back, at least three times a week and I'm a big mushroom fan. I never had the slightest problem. But that doesn't mean it can't happen. As far as it goes, it can happen ion almost any restaurant.

One of my favorite meals with a girl I used to hang around with was to sit at the bar, ask for a dish or garlic shrimp and a bottle of Malbec. As TL says, it's the best in town!