Buenos Aires F&B Scene - Volume I
Apr 9, 2019, 12:05 pm
#901
Moderator, Argentina and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: MIA / EZE
Programs: Lord of Malbec & all Wines Argentine. AA EXP / Marriott Lifetime Silver / Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 35,681
I believe that Chila is the same folks as Le Grill. I've been curious to try it. Thanks for the report. As for Aramburu, on my sample size of 1 visit, it was perfectly ok, with service being a very polite amateur hour. We really liked Aramburu Bis, but I think that has shuttered and not relocated.
Jun 5, 2019, 10:00 pm
#902
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Paris, France
Programs: Flying Blue Gold
Posts: 760
The talk of the town this week is yesterday's grand opening of the Trade Skybar on the last three floors of Edificio Comega, at the corner of Corrientes and Leandro N. Alem. The place includes an Argentine restaurant on floor 18, a Japanese restaurant on floor 19 and a rooftop bar on floor 20, with some pretty amazing views over downtown BA and Puerto Madero. The Comega Building is one of the city's rationalist treasures, and all floors are set on art-déco style.
I still haven't checked out the place myself and, as per its website, both the Argentine and Japanese restaurants are fully booked for the next few weeks (their system only allows bookings for the next 3 weeks). The rooftop bar works on a first-come, first-serve basis. Provided weather remains reasonable (we've had a very soft fall so far), I may pop in next weekend. The man behind the whole thing is Dante Liporace, one of the most important young(ish) chefs in Argentina, so I expect the restaurants to be very expensive for local standards, while the bar to be quite upscale as well.
I still haven't checked out the place myself and, as per its website, both the Argentine and Japanese restaurants are fully booked for the next few weeks (their system only allows bookings for the next 3 weeks). The rooftop bar works on a first-come, first-serve basis. Provided weather remains reasonable (we've had a very soft fall so far), I may pop in next weekend. The man behind the whole thing is Dante Liporace, one of the most important young(ish) chefs in Argentina, so I expect the restaurants to be very expensive for local standards, while the bar to be quite upscale as well.
Jun 6, 2019, 5:32 am
#903
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Somewhere between EZE , MAD and GLA
Programs: IB , BA , AA , LATAM
Posts: 865
Jun 20, 2019, 9:06 am
#904
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 15
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask, but my partner does not drink alcohol anymore and used to be a big fan of malbec. Are there any local wines being made with the alcohol removed? Or perhaps non-alcholic beers? It seems to be more of a common thing in Western Europe and to a lesser extent the US, but I haven't found much info for Argentina.
Jun 20, 2019, 8:49 pm
#905
Moderator, Argentina and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: MIA / EZE
Programs: Lord of Malbec & all Wines Argentine. AA EXP / Marriott Lifetime Silver / Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 35,681
You may be able to get non-alcohol beer at some bars of the 5 star Hotels, but it will be tough to get this at most "normal" restaurants & bars.
Jun 21, 2019, 6:01 pm
#906
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Paris, France
Programs: Flying Blue Gold
Posts: 760
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask, but my partner does not drink alcohol anymore and used to be a big fan of malbec. Are there any local wines being made with the alcohol removed? Or perhaps non-alcholic beers? It seems to be more of a common thing in Western Europe and to a lesser extent the US, but I haven't found much info for Argentina.
Jul 2, 2019, 1:20 pm
#908
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 15
Thanks for this. We were able to find the quilmes easily at supermarkets and the giant carrefour Alcorta had Clausthaler as well which is a German made one that my partner likes from the US.
Jul 27, 2019, 11:19 pm
#909
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Paris, France
Programs: Flying Blue Gold
Posts: 760
A few days ago Madame got a call from a friend saying she had a booking for dinner at a place called Nicky Harrison and she couldn’t attend, so maybe we could go instead. We had never heard of the place but the friend is a chic artist who knows of cool restaurants so we obliged.
It turns out Nicky Harrison is a speakeasy in Palermo, and possibly one of the best bars in town. Behind a sushi restaurant on Malabia St (“Nicky NY Sushi”) the bar is set on a 1920s ambiance, from the wooden ceilings to the music, which is also loud enough to be enjoyed but simultaneously allows you to actually engage on a conversation. We ordered some sushi from the restaurant, which was pretty good, and after a bottle of Pinot Noir we also had a few rounds of drinks, all of them very enjoyable. The bill came at approximately 3,000 ARS – expensive by local standards, but also reasonable all things considered.
Inside of the speakeasy they even have an open-roof, heated patio, where smoking is allowed. Not a common thing in Buenos Aires these days.
It seems that you need to book at least 2 weeks in advance to get a table at the speakeasy, and this has to be done by phone, not on the sushi bar’s website. They actually work like a speakeasy (no photos are allowed at the bar), and won’t offer the possibility to book for the bar, pretending they are just a restaurant. You need to tell the person on the phone that you’d like to book a table at the cellar (“una mesa en la bodega”) and then they’ll know you know.
It turns out Nicky Harrison is a speakeasy in Palermo, and possibly one of the best bars in town. Behind a sushi restaurant on Malabia St (“Nicky NY Sushi”) the bar is set on a 1920s ambiance, from the wooden ceilings to the music, which is also loud enough to be enjoyed but simultaneously allows you to actually engage on a conversation. We ordered some sushi from the restaurant, which was pretty good, and after a bottle of Pinot Noir we also had a few rounds of drinks, all of them very enjoyable. The bill came at approximately 3,000 ARS – expensive by local standards, but also reasonable all things considered.
Inside of the speakeasy they even have an open-roof, heated patio, where smoking is allowed. Not a common thing in Buenos Aires these days.
It seems that you need to book at least 2 weeks in advance to get a table at the speakeasy, and this has to be done by phone, not on the sushi bar’s website. They actually work like a speakeasy (no photos are allowed at the bar), and won’t offer the possibility to book for the bar, pretending they are just a restaurant. You need to tell the person on the phone that you’d like to book a table at the cellar (“una mesa en la bodega”) and then they’ll know you know.
Aug 19, 2019, 1:30 pm
#910
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,630
It appears as if Le Grill has Grilled its last Le. Website is down, not available on online reservation site. FB shows it as Permanently Closed.
Like sands through the hourglass, so goes another Place I Used To Eat.
Like sands through the hourglass, so goes another Place I Used To Eat.
Aug 19, 2019, 3:51 pm
#911
Moderator, Argentina and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: MIA / EZE
Programs: Lord of Malbec & all Wines Argentine. AA EXP / Marriott Lifetime Silver / Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 35,681
I will know more about whats going on with the Le Grill / Chila Group in the next few days. Will report back as I find out more.
Oct 22, 2019, 1:05 pm
#912
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: It's hot here
Posts: 4,285
We will be in BA from Christmas to NYE and are looking for a good meal. Steak and wine. My Spanish is so-so, so something where the language barrier won't be too big. I mean, I do have Google Translate but an English menu would be nice. Our hotel is next to Plaza Dorrego, Stumbling distance (15-20 minutes walk) would be fine.
Oct 22, 2019, 3:07 pm
#913
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,630
We will be in BA from Christmas to NYE and are looking for a good meal. Steak and wine. My Spanish is so-so, so something where the language barrier won't be too big. I mean, I do have Google Translate but an English menu would be nice. Our hotel is next to Plaza Dorrego, Stumbling distance (15-20 minutes walk) would be fine.
Oct 22, 2019, 3:23 pm
#915
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Somewhere between EZE , MAD and GLA
Programs: IB , BA , AA , LATAM
Posts: 865
Another place close to Plaza Dorrego is Sagardi - its a Basque Tapas bar but it also has a sit down restaurant. I know they are doing a gala dinner on the night you mention . Will try and see if there is an English menu.