Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
356
Nativo Sur
Kids
REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL This is the best beachfront
restaurant in town. A small playgr ound for kids faces the pleasant patio ar ea. The large
windows overlooking the bay give the entire place an air y and relaxed feel. The owners,
a husband-and-wife team, buy fish daily fr om a local fisherman, and v egetables ar e
trucked in fr esh from a nearb y farm. The focus her e is fish—whatev er is fr esh (usually
white salmon, sole, or cod), made to or der. The best appetizer is a seafood sampler with
calamari, scallops, oysters, prawns, and the like. I highly recommend fish of the day with
stir-fried vegetables for $8.50 (£5.75). This place is wonder fully laid-back, allowing for
a long, leisurely dinner. Service is very friendly and unhurried.
Corner of Brown and Humphreys.
&
2965/457403.
Main courses $11-$15 (£7.45-£10). MC, V. Tues-Fri
8pm-midnight; Sat-Sun noon-3:30pm and 8pm-midnight.
Plácido
INTERNATIONAL Puerto Madryn's fanciest restaurant has a great loca-
tion in the center of town. An airy, expansive dining room with plenty of windows, large
wineglasses, crisp white tablecloths, and heavy silv erware set the stage for an elegant
evening. Unfortunately, management has overzealously sought out foreign visitors, which
has made the cuisine schizophrenic, at best. Paella, cod in hollandaise sauce, Patagonian
lamb with rosemary, and shrimp in curry sauce with white rice are just a few of the many
main courses available. The wine list is impressive, and service is very refined. Stick with
simply pr epared fr esh fish or prawns or the good selection of homemade pastas, and
you'll hav e a memorable meal. The v egetarian tagliatelle with wild mushr ooms, for
example, is delicious. Call ahead and r eserve a table by a window overlooking the bay.
Av. Roca 506.
&
2965/455991.
Reservations recommended. Main courses $12-$21 (£8.20-£14). AE, DC,
MC, V. Daily noon-3:30pm and 7:30pm-1am.
Taska B eltza
BASQ UE/SEAFOOD A local fav orite, this spot is hip without
being flashy. It's all about good food ser ved in an atmospher e that 's not tr ying to be
something it isn't. Chefs garnish local fish and seafood with the classic Basque quartet of
seasonings: garlic, lemon, butter , and parsley . Try blackened
merluza
(hake) with r ed-
pepper sauce or
pejerrey
(mackerel). Shrimp with cognac and scallops on the half shell are
also excellent. For dessert, don't miss the Beltzan apples. Service can be a bit slow, but it
could just be that the staff is that r elaxed.
9 de Julio 345.
&
2965/474003.
M ain c ourses $8-$12 (£5.40-£8.20). AE, MC, V. Tues-Sun 7:30pm-
midnight.
12
Inexpensive
Ambigú
Value
PIZZA Elegant but very affordable, Ambigú has a huge menu with
a mélange of dishes, ranging from chicken curry to beef chop suey and all kinds of pizzas.
The most interesting is the asparagus and provolone pizza with black olives. There's also
a limited selection of seafood and fish. I t's a fun, boister ous, and informal place that is
busy every night. S ervice can be spotty when they 're swamped, but nobody 's in a r ush
here. Order a bottle of Mendoza Malbec to go with y our meal, then sit back and watch
all the people walk by on the coastal Avenida Roca.
On the c orner of Roca and Roque Saenz P ena.
&
2965/472541.
M ain c ourses and pizzas $8-$16
(£5.40-£11). MC, V. Daily noon-2pm and 7:30pm-midnight.
WHAT TO SEE & DO
There's not much to see in Puerto Madryn itself, apart from a couple of museums. Most
visitors are here because of the town's proximity to the Península Valdés. If you have time
