Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
114
can be loud at times. There is an emphasis on the drinks her e, and breakfast has a large
selection of flavored coffees, some prepared with whiskey. At night, pizza and sandwiches
make up the bulk of the offerings. The upstairs, open-air terrace on the r oof of the bar
is one of the best places to sit, but it 's small and hard to claim a spot. I f a table is open,
nab it.
Serrano 1590 (at Plaza Serrano).
&
11/4831-8572.
Main courses $2-$8 (£1.35-£540). AE, MC, V. Daily 24
hr. Metro: Plaza Italia.
Inexpensive
Bio
Finds
VEGETARIAN/MEDITERRANEAN In a nation where meat reigns
supreme, finding an organic v egetarian restaurant is a near impossibility. Bio is the ex cep-
tion. Their “meat” is made on the premises from wheat, then marinated to add more flavor,
making for an elev ated, tasty v ariation on a hamburger . All the ingr edients are organic,
grown or produced strictly in Argentina. P iles of organic cheese line the counters near the
chefs, who ar e happy to explain the pr ocesses by which they wor k. Quinoa, the ancient
Incan grain, is also used in many of the dishes, some of which they describe as M editerra-
nean-Asian fusion, though with the combinations of so many unusual ingr edients, any-
thing goes. You hav e to tr y the quinoa risotto, one of the r estaurant's main specialties,
though everything here is simply delicious and fresh. Chairs and tables are painted a spring
green, and, on warm days, a fe w tables are scattered on the sidewalk outside. This is also a
great place for veg-heads to go shopping for snacks to bring back to their hotel. They have
a small shop inside with organic chips, teas, cheeses, and ev en organic wine. They also do
takeout—a delight if you want to bring something home with y ou.
Humboldt 2199 (at Guatemala).
&
11/4774-3880.
Main courses $8-$10 (£5.40-£6.80). No credit cards.
Mon 9am-5pm; Tues-Sun 9am-1am (often later on weekends). No metro access.
Campo Bravo
Value
PARRILLA/ARGENTINE Everyone I know who knows
Buenos Aires tests me on this place. Do I know of it, and what do I think? Well, I know
it, and I love it! This place serves as the virtual center of the Las Cañitas dining scene. It's
relaxed during the day but insane at night. Dining on the sidewalk here, you'll get a great
view of the glamorous crowds emerging from taxis to kick off their night in this exciting
neighborhood. The
parrilla
serves up basic Argentine cuisine, and its enormous slabs of
meat are served on wooden boar ds. A large, efficient waitstaff will take car e of you, but
they can't do anything about the long wait for an outside table on weekends—sometimes
as long as 40 minutes to an hour . There's no way ar ound that, since they don 't accept
reservations. So do as the locals do on S aturday night: Get a glass of champagne and sip
it on the street amid what looks like a well-dressed and over-age frat party. A limited wine
selection and imported whiskeys are also part of the drink selection. Can't handle the late
nights in Argentina? Well, then you're in luck—they don't close between lunch and din-
ner, so people used to North American dining schedules can still enjoy a great meal here
without a wait.
Báez 292 (at Ar évalo).
&
11/4514-5820.
Main courses $6-$11 (£4.05-£7.45). AE, MC. M on 6pm-4am;
Tues-Sun 11:30am-4am (often later on weekends). Metro: Carranza.
5
Confitería del Botánico
CAFE/ARGENTINE Stop here after visiting the nearb y
zoo or Botanical Gardens. It's on a pleasant corner on busy Santa Fe, but the green spaces
of the gar dens and P laza Siria give it a mor e tranquil feel. E normous windows seem to
bring the park inside. Continental br eakfast here is inexpensive, and you can also or der
from the entir e menu any time of day (omelets fr om the dinner menu make a hear ty
