I second the recommendation of the MALBA restaurant. It is professionally run, has a great location, fantastic seating options, is delicious -- and is surprisingly inexpensive. With that being said it is not authentically porteno or Argentine.

If you're interested in eating at a restaurant that will bring you back to what it might have been like to eat in Buenos Aires before the year 2000 I will strongly recommend: El Obrero. They serve delicious pastas and other local delicacies. It has been known to make U2 and the Clintons wait for a table. It is located in La Boca. I recommend going during the day (not at night). The best combination of cheap and safe transportation is to take the bus (152 is great) to the touristy part of La Boca and then take a cab to the restaurant.

Here is a link which includes the address: http://travel........ly.com/archives...aurant-review/


My other STRONG recommendation is to go to Cumana (http://www.guiaoleo.com.ar/detail.php?ID=712). It is located in Recoleta, a very ritzy and safe neighborhood. Fantastically, they serve delicious food for stunningly cheap prices. A traditional oven is used to cook their Northern Argentine food: empanadas, pizzas, calzones, sandwiches, salads, stews (highly recommended) and desserts. I recommend getting a few empanadas as an appetizer for your meal. Be careful though -- the prices have always made me order more than I could handle. This is my favorite overall restaurant in Buenos Aires. It seems others agree with me -- so be prepared to wait at peak times.

One last recommendation for a special (meaning more expensive) night out: Sucre (http://www.guiaoleo.com.ar/detail.php?ID=208). It is located in beautiful Belgrano. Unfortunately it is not near many bus lines, so taking a taxi is probably the easiest thing to do. Modern Fusion Latin American food is served in their gorgeous building. An exceptional wine list only aids the already great experience.

These are the 3.5 recommendations that jumped into my head upon reading your post. I have tried restaurants all over Buenos Aires and Argentina; so feel free to private message me for an expanded list of recommended restaurants or if you have any additional questions.

Evan