Eating
is one of the main pleasures of Argentine people and a great companion to
free time and social life.
Buenos Aires offers an affordable international
gastronomy, with a great variety and an excellent quality. Argentina is
known for its first-rate wines, meat, fruit and fish.
Many
restaurants offer international food,
from original recipes inherited from immigrants to exotic plates.
There are also ethnic restaurants like Italian, Spanish, French, Mexican,
Japanese, Chinese, Turkish, Arab or even Armenian and several vegetarian
restaurants.
What to
eat
The
outstanding quality of Argentine meat is well-known all over the world.
There is no doubt that 'asado' and 'bife de chorizo'
are favourite plates you can't miss.
The
traditional way of cooking meat is the 'asado' (barbecue), a pleasure for every
Argentine, specially at weekends, and it's usually served with different
kinds of salad. There are countless restaurants that offer this plate,
some of them are even 'tenedor libre', which means 'eat all
you can' for a fixed price.
Italian
food is very widespread too, specially because of the immigrants that came
after World War. Pasta and pizza are among the most popular plates but
there are other more sophisticated recipes offered too.
Various
species of fish coming from local sea and rivers are typically served at
any restaurant or bistro. The 'merluza' is very common and the 'cazuela de calamares'
or
'langostinos' are among the
favourite molluscs.
Traditional
food consists of 'empanadas de carne', 'locro', 'carbonada',
'pastelitos dulces' and
'tortas fritas'. These specialities can be tasted at some local restaurants
or at the 'estancias' located outside the city, usually together
with a show of 'gaucho' traditions, rodeo and dances.
Argentine wines, specially those coming from the province of Mendoza, are of great
quality. Wine production has become one of the most important activities
in this region.
For
dessert there are numerous kinds of cakes and fruits. A traditional
dessert is 'flan con dulce de leche'. Ice-cream is also famous and delicious.
It's made with exclusive recipes and served in a way unique in the world.
You must try it!
There
are more than 8000 restaurants in the city, ranging from
sophisticated ones to simplest bistros or fast food chains. A lunch
will usually cost around $10, or even less if you take advantage of fixed menus
offered by most of the restaurants in the city centre.
The restaurant neighbourhoods
There
are some neighbourhoods known for their great quantity and variety of
restaurants:
Puerto
Madero is right beside the river, on Ingeniero Huergo Avenue. The refined
atmosphere allows to enjoy excellent traditional and international food.
People who go there are usually over 30. Lunch is much cheaper ($10 to
$15) than dinner ($15 to $25).
Las
Cañitas is located along the Campo Argentino de Polo, between
Libertador Avenue, Dorrego Avenue, Luis Maria Campos and Maure. There is
traditional food, ethnic restaurants and barbecues. It's a quiet area full
of restaurants, specially popular amongst young people. A lunch or dinner
is about $20.
Palermo
Viejo is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city. Located between Santa
Fe Avenue, Scalabrini Ortiz Avenue, Niceto Vega and Dorrego,
it's frequented by intellectuals, artists, TV and cinema stars and people
between 20 and 40 years old. A lunch or dinner is about $15.
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