Buenos Aires - Restaurants and Bars

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[Young & Restless]

Cabaña Las Lilas
Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 516 (Puerto Madero)
Puerto Madero C1107AAL
Tel.: (54-11) 4313-1336
http://www.laslilas.com/estructura.htm

I’ve read so many reviews on this restaurant and was expecting something spectacular. I ordered the bife de chorizo, fried provoleta and a chiquitito of San Telmo Malbec.

The appetizer plate (couverts?) that they bring to your table was very good, but they charge you AP $13 for it. Also, watch out for the pan de queso (cheese bread), it is the best that I’ve ever eaten and if you don’t pace yourself with this stuff, you’ll find yourself full before your food gets to the table.

The bife de chorizo had not let me down while I was in BsAs, but I didn’t really notice any thing too special about it here. While it was a really big steak, I thought it was somewhat bland. The fried provoleta could have been better too, as it was a little dry and overcooked.

I liked Cabaña Las Lilas, but after going to a few other parrillas (steakhouses) before I came here, this place just seemed to be the Outback of Argentina.

Total price for everything mentioned above, plus a bottle of water was AP $115,80. Notice that for ½ a bottle of San Telmo Malbec, they charged AP $31. That is painfully overpriced since that same bottle sells for about AP $5 retail.

Again I had a good meal here, but I wouldn’t say that this place is a must try, even if it is your first time in BsAs.


El Palacio de la Papa Frita
Lavalle, 735 (Centro)
Tel: 4393-5849 / 4394-7060
http://www.elpalacio-papafrita.com.ar/index0f.htm

This restaurant's trademark is their puffed french fries that they serve. I had the bife de chorrizo con milanesa(??). I've heard the term milanesa used in Brazil also and I'm still not exactly sure what it means, but this milanesa was a thin slice of ham with melted white cheese on top of the steak. Delicious! I was shocked when the bill came and the total was only AP $45. You would be lucky to get this same meal for twice that amount in the US.

My recommendation is to come here and order the bife de chorrizo con milanesa, give your heart the middle finger and pour lots of salt on the papas fritas, and wash it all down with a nice bottle of Malbec. Definitely add this restaurant to your itinerary.


La Chacra
Av. Córdoba, 941 (Retiro)
Tel: 4322-1409/4393-4581
http://www.restaurantlachacra.com.ar/

This was hands down my favorite parrilla. While I was reading all the restaurant reviews before I came to BsAs, this place is what I had envisioned an Argentine parrilla being like.

You walk in and to your right they are grilling huge steaks and sausage on the parrilla. The aroma will have your mouth watering. The atmosphere here was nice too. It's a white table cloth restaurant with old rustic wooden architecture.

La Chacra is the place that got me started on my bife de chorrizo trend. The chorrizo that I ordered was listed as the house specialty on the menu, if I'm not mistaken. The steak is brought to your table on a grill and good luck finishing it, as it is about the size of a metropolitan phone book.

Dinner also included an empanita (best one I had in BsAs), bread and a house salad.

I am hardly the wine connoisseur, but I always looked for San Telmo Malbec on the wine list when I went to restaurants. It won't be mistaken for Château Lafite, but it did the trick for me every time. I even brought a case of it back home me (hehehe).

With the wine, my bill came to AP $70. While that may sound somewhat expensive, you cannot even get a steak like this at Ruth’s Chris, but if you could, rest assure it would cost more than 23 bucks.

There are about a gazillion parrillas in BsAs, but of the ones that I went to, this one was my favorite and I highly recommend it.


Lomo
Costa Rica, 4661 (Palermo Viejo)
Tel: 4833-3200
http://www.lomorestaurant.com.ar/

This is a good place to bring a chica to. It's very casual here and the food was really good. The girl that I met from Kilkenny's and myself both order the beef ravioli dinner along with a bottle of vino rosado. The ravioli dinner comes with about 8-ravioli made from fresh pasta and Argentine lomo. Highly recommended if you go!

Also, try to get a table on the roof-top. When we went there were only a few other people and the setting was really cool. One possible strike against having a romantic dinner here is that they played a lot of 80s pop and new wave, but if you're into 80s retro you'll be in heaven.

Both of our dinners and a bottle of wine was around AP $70. Talk about a cheap date... This is a perfect place to come if you want to have dinner with your chica at an upbeat place with good atmosphere and excellent food.


Pizza Piola
Libertad, 1078 (Retiro)
Tel: 4812-0690 / 4815 – 4746
Mon thru Fri 12pm – 3am
Sat 7pm – 3am / Closed Sundays
http://www.piola.it/

I've read that this is THE place to go to for pizza in BsAs and have to say that I couldn't agree more. I normally like my pizza loaded with everything, but thought that might be a bit too adventuress while in Argentina.

I decided that you can't go wrong with good 'ol pepperoni, but it was no where to be found on the menu. That’s because they don't have pepperoni in BsAs. That's right, no pepperoni... however, after describing it to my waitress, she hooked me up with their version which according to her is called ‘cantimpalo’ aka ‘chorizo colorado’.

A more common name for it that I later found out is 'calabresa'. Both cantimpalo and calabresa tasted very similar to pepperoni, but a little more tangy.

I ordered the cantimpalo topped with fresh parmesan and basil leaves(??). According to the menu I ordered the small pizza, but it was just barely smaller than a medium in the US.

The pizza and my usual bottle of San Telmo Malbec was AP $33.85. Notice that Piola charges AP $11 for a ½ bottle of Malbec. That’s a lot more practical for a 5 peso bottle of wine.

Also, be sure to bring the address with you. As popular as I thought this place was, I didn’t bring the address with me and NOBODY had any idea where it was at. After going back to my hotel and writing the address down, my taxi had me there in less than 5-minutes.


La Continental
Vicente López, 2124 (Recoleta)
Tel: 4374-1444

I told my girl from Kilkenny's how good the pizza was at Piola, but she insisted that this one was better. This place was much smaller, but more casual that Pizza Piola. Again, there was no pepperoni on the menu, so I requested ‘cantimpalo’.

The waitress seemed a little confused, but a kind caballero from New York that was setting at the table across from me told her that I wanted ‘calabresa’. Amigo, if you read these forums, thanks for your help that day! According to my girl, ‘calabresa’ is definitely the most popular equivalent to pepperoni.

The small pizza here was the same size as the one at Piola (almost a medium in the US). I took a break from the wine and had a Quilmes. Total price was between AP $15-20. It was really good, but I think Piola has the edge.

La Biela
Av. Quintana, 596 (Recoleta)
Tel: 4804-0449 / 0432

Here's another place that I read so much about before coming to BsAs and had to stop by.

I ordered a panqueque de la manzana (apple crêpe) and café con leche. Sweets aren't really my thing, but I have to say this was excellent. It was nice to kick back at this outdoor café, but La Biela has other customers besides tourist... pigeons.

The pigeons here were unbelievable. They didn't fly on my table while I was there, but they were all over the sidewalk and if you leave any food on your table, it's like an Alfred Hitchcock movie.

Despite the uninvited guest, I enjoyed the scenery here and thought the food was excellent. Just be sure to bring a newspaper and an umbrella with you.

Café Tortoni
Av. de Mayo, 825 (Centro)
Tel: 4342-4328
http://www.cafetortoni.com.ar/

This place was really impressive. The first time my chica and I tried to come here they had a line going outside the door so we took a rain check, but the next time we just walked right in.

Again, I'm not crazy about sweets and usually don't make a special trip for them, but after reading all of the rave reviews about Café Tortoni, I felt obligated to drop by. Sweets are a big part of the menu, but they had sandwiches and other things available too.

The inside of this place is pretty amazing. The wood architecture inside was unreal. They didn't have any pigeons here like at La Biela, but there were plenty of people taking pictures and walking around the café with camcorders. Personally, I liked the pigeons better. Less annoying...

My date ordered apple pie and I ordered strawberry cheesecake. I have to say that this was the best strawberry cheesecake that I have eaten in my entire life. It wasn't as expensive as I thought it would be. For both of our deserts and two café con leches, the bill was about AP $22.

If you're in BsAs and have not been here, I would definitely recommend checking out this place.

il Gran Caffé
Florida y Av. Cordoba
Tel: 4326-5008

Two words... sexy waitresses!!! If you are walking to Café Orleans coming from Maipu, you have to walk in front of this place to get there. Whoever selected the attire worn by these lovely young ladies deserves a medal. All of the waitresses here wear a conservative white blouse and a yellow skirt that comes up a few inches above their knees and hugs their body in such a way that shows off some really mouth-watering curves.

Obviously, it's a look, but don't touch kind of place, however there's nothing wrong with dropping by for a cold beer and seeing what's on the menu. I had to mention this place, since females seem to make up the minority of wait staff personnel in most restaurants in South America and the ones here are really hot!

Cinema
Av. Santa Fe, 1798
Tel: 4811-5002

I had to mention this place. This was my ritual stop after each visit to Santa Fe 1707. They always had the coldest and best tasting beer in BsAs. I’ll admit my workouts at Santa Fe might have encouraged my thirst… hehehe. A balon (large beer) here is only AP $4,50.

It’s an indoor café, but if you would rather drink one outside, there’s another one right across the street called Reyes Bar & Resto which is also very good. Bottles here are AP $5.

[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

[JackDaniels]

I wish it could have been her.

I had one too many whiskeys, picked up the wrong girl and the sex was not too good. Just woke up with a hangover.

[Saint]

Well, after all the hype I went to Gran Bar Danzon last night with one of my friends. I gotta say that I was impressed with the place. It´s small and that is why its so packed. My friend is a regular here and has a lot of pull here. We arrived at about 11 PM and it was packed with many people waiting. He went up to the hostess and told her that he was here and she got us a table within 10 minutes. I was impressed.

I have been to Sucre which the owner also owns and this place is smaller but the food is wonderful. I had both white wine and red wine and they were both fantastic. We had oysters, sushi and spring rolls for appetizers and they all were very good and fresh. I had the duck for the main dish and it was very good. The portion was small but with all the appetizers it was enough. [My friend ordered 24 oysters!]

JackDaniels called my cellphone and so I invited him to join us after we ate. He said he wasn´t feeling well but he sure perked up fast. Talk about getting a second wind. My friend had an amiga with him and she liked JackDaniels. I asked her in the taxi on the way to Madahos if she was going to have sex tonight and she looked at JackDaniels and said, maybe with your friend. Ha, ha. You gotta love living here. She was a non-pro.

Anyway, we had a fun night. I highly recommend this place. I will check it out more during happy hour after work. It´s not far from my office. It´s not a cheap place when you have good wine, appetizers and the main course but the atmosphere is great and there are lots of hotties there. Has anyone been to the 3rd restaurant-Bar Uriarte that the same owner has?

[JackDaniels]

Thanks for the link, AmanteLondres.

I tried to get into this place again twice this week but it was packed with people. Looks like it is better at weekends.

[Amantelondres]

Hi Jack Daniels
You'll note from a previous post that I'm a great fan of this place on Libertad. It's owned by the same people as Sucre which is also a great restaurant. The sushi at Danzon is fab and on my recent trip to BA from London I was sitting next to a super looking girl who told me that Happy Hour has now been replaced by After Office as the latest fad in BA and that Wednesday is the busy day and not so much Thursday or Friday. Give it a year or two and it'll be Monday!! Let me know about your plans for a London branch....great minds think alike!!

www.granbardanzon.com.ar

[Flexible Horn]

Cabana Las Lilas
Alicia Moreau de Justo, 516
Tel-4313 1336
www.laslilas.com.ar

I can not speak highly enough of the quality of the food at this restaurant.
Without doubt, the BEST steak I have ever eaten, and those few people who know me I love my food (Fat so & so).
The cost was the most expensive meal I have had in BsAs, 300 pesos for two people,with beer's and a 80 pesos bottle of wine. Where I'm from its a very cheap meal, I highly recommend this restaurant & would be shocked if any one did not enjoy themselves, great food !!!!!!!!!!!

[Will Fore]

I just got back from my 4th trip this year. I am not mongering anymore but this site is still good for things. So, thanks guys. I have been to one mexican place in buenos aires and it was horrible. When down there for a few weeks I actually miss mexican food, which I have 2-3 times a week in the U.S.. I love argentine food and that is great but we all have our standard pleasures. Does anyone know of or have a favorite authentic mexican or even salvadoran place in buenos aires?

Oh, and for those that helped me in the discussion of buying land/property -- thank you. I am in the process of buying a beachouse in Villa Gesell and I bought 4 hectares near Lujan. A buenos aires apartment or two is next, para inversion.

Thanks.

Will

[JackDaniels]

I am just copying over my post from the BsAs board.....

On the subject of food and drink - there is a really smart bar called Gran Bar Danzon on Libertad just moments off Santa Fe. It is not on street level but on the first floor (American second floor) up a staircase. It is not easy to see the entrance from the street.


This is a really smart bar full of beautiful people (no providers here). Excellent wine, great sushi and the best spring rolls I have had anywhere.

A couple of glasses of wine, sushi and spring rolls should not be more than about 60 pesos.

Anyone else been there ?

Cheers.

Well the spring rolls and the wines are as good as they were on my first trip. 2 servings of spring rolls and 3 glasses of wine for 62 pesos. Not bad considering the kind of place this is and the unique ambience of the place. One day, I will open a bar like this in London and charge GBP 62 for the same .

[Ferolga777]

Yeah La Biela IS expensive but it's really a great place. [...] I was just there today having lunch and the area can't be beat.

Love La Biela.
At the end of my trip I sat at the counter and ordered a set of cups to bring to the USA. The waiters gathered round me and bid me goodbye. One asked, "So, where in the world have you met the hottest girls."

I smiled and said, "It's the man that makes the woman hot. A woman can be hot with me and cold with you."

The waiter pumped his arm and said, "Cold with me?! Never!!!"

Good times.

[Dickhead]

Yep, two bad experiences out of three there. Second trip the mollejas weren't very good and the bill wasn't right. Third time the service was terrible and the bill wasn't right AGAIN by quite a wide margin and when I asked to speak to the manager and told her this was the second time they had tried to overcharged us she was very defensive. AND then the re-adjusted bill was STILL wrong AND they never came back to check so I figured the correct bill based on the menu prices and we left that amount of money exactly and split.

So fuck that place.

[Mickey Mouse]

This must have been the "Worst" dinner I have ever had in BA.

The Service was Atrocious and my Lomo was well overdone (first time ever in BA)!

1. I knew we were in trouble the moment we walked in and the staff spent most of their time chatting and getting their s**t together instead of serving.

2. It took almost 15 minutes to get our drink (wine) order.

3. Our dinners were on the table waiting when we got back from the salad bar with our salads

4. There were 6 entrees (instead of four) on our check for the four of us and two other entrees were incorrect (description and price).

5. Thanx to DH for getting La Cuenta straight and no thanx to the staff who acted insulted and was rude about it. Result: 0 peso tip and buyer beware!

I'll let the others put their two sense in,
This Mouse reporting

[Saint]

Yeah La Biela IS expensive but it's really a great place. I've met some great people over the years there and had some really great business meetings there in the outdoor cafe. I really love the place and the area. I live just a few blocks from the cafe and make it there every chance I get. I was just there today having lunch and the area can't be beat.

[Dickhead]

When you get tired of being ripped off at La Biela, try this place on Juncal near Montevideo. No, it does not have an outdoor patio where you can watch the chetos go by, but it does smell great from half a block away. Coffee and pastries and light fare. Try the facturas with ananá (pineapple). The place is dirt cheap. My prostitute had café con leche and I a café doble. She had two medialunas. I ordered two facturas but they were huge and I could only eat one. Fortunately she was able to choke down the other one after commenting that she was over 45 kg again (99 lbs). The bill was 4.60 pesos. They have all kinds of cakes and meringues and fruit tarts and and and. You can get fresh bread there 24 hours a day. Yum.