Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
116
Banklian and schedule an appointment (
&
11/15-4185-2225
[cell]; roxanabanklian@
arnet.com.ar).
Armenia 1382 (at José Ant onio C abrera).
&
11/4773-5081.
w ww.viejoagump.com.ar. M ain c ourses
$4-$8 (£2.70-£5.40). No cr edit cards. Mon-Thurs 8am-midnight; F ri 8am-2am; Sat 11am-2am. M etro:
Scalabrini Ortiz.
CONGRESO
Moderate
La Moncloa
Value
CAFE The surr ounding tr ees her e giv e a calming sense to
sidewalk eating in what is normally a busy ar ea on a str eet just off P laza Congreso. La
Moncloa takes its name fr om a famous S panish palace. B asic Argentine far e such as
empanadas, steaks, and salads is on offer, along with croissant sandwiches and an exten-
sive dessert menu. There is also a large selection of por k dishes, including the tempting
pork in white-wine sauce. S till, for the diet conscious, ther e is also a lo w-calorie menu
with vegetarian offerings. Whatever you order, I recommend taking the time for a break
in this restaurant's parklike setting. Coffee runs about a dollar and mix ed drinks start at
$3 (£2). Flavored and alcoholic coffees, another of their specialties, are about $5 (£3.40).
If you don't have time to eat, stop b y and grab a menu, as they 'll deliver to local hotels.
Av. de Mayo 1500 (at Sáenz P eña).
&
11/4381-3357
or 11/4382-7194. M ain courses $3-$9 (£2-£6.10).
AE, DC, MC, V. Daily 7:30am-2am. Metro: Sáenz Peña.
Plaza Asturias
Finds
SP ANISH/ITALIAN/ARGENTINE This decades-old
place on Avenida de Mayo is about as authentic as it gets, packed mostly with P orteños
who want to keep this place to themselv es. Food has touches of I talian, Argentine, and
most importantly, authentic Spanish cuisine. They are so busy and have to keep so much
food on hand that there are legs of cured ham literally hanging from the rafters over the
diners' heads. Steaks are as thick as the crowds waiting to get into this place, and among
their specialties are Spanish casseroles and lots of food with v arious sauces. Fish is also a
big highlight.
Be warned:
The staff is so busy yelling out orders to the kitchen and bring-
ing food to the tables that y ou can get hurt trying to find the bathroom.
Av. de Mayo 1199 (at San José).
&
11/4382-7334.
Main courses $6-$10 (£4.05-£6.80). No credit cards.
Daily noon-3am. Metro: Sáenz Peña.
5
Plaza del Carmen
CAFE/ARGENTINE This is part of a chain, slightly sterile and
clean. However, the best par t of this cafe is not inside but the vie w fr om this corner
overlooking Congreso outside. Generally open 24 hours, no matter what time of day it
is you can find people having nothing mor e than croissants and coffee her e. Weekdays,
the outdoor seating ar ea is a little o verwhelming, as ther e is a huge amount of traffic
flowing by this corner. But inside, protected from the noise and the bus and car fumes,
everything is just fine. Wait until the w eekends, when the side walk is less busy and the
outdoor area becomes ideal. This restaurant offers standard Argentine cuisine in addition
to a healthy choice of salads and other light items. P izzas, pastas, and other Italian items
round out the menu.
Rivadavia 1795 (at Callao).
&
11/4374-8477.
Main courses $5-$8 (£3.40-£5.40). AE, MC, V. Daily 24 hr.
Metro: Congreso.
Inexpensive
Café de Madres de Plaza de Mayo
Moments
CAFE The official name of this
cafe is Café Literario O svaldo Bayer, named for an Argentine political intellectual. This
