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Best Dining Bets
Cabaña las Lilas, Buenos Aires (tel. 11/4313-1336): Widely considered the best parrilla in Buenos Aires, Cabaña las Lilas is always packed. The beef comes exclusively from the restaurant's private estancia, and the steaks are outstanding. The cuts of beef are so soft, they almost melt in your mouth. Despite the high price of a meal here, it's casual; some guests even come in sneakers and shorts.
Katrine, Buenos Aires (tel. 11/4315-6222): One of the capital's top dining choices, Katrine (named after its Norwegian chef-owner, who can be found almost every day in the kitchen) serves exquisite international cuisine in a loud and festive dining room.
Café Tortoni, Buenos Aires (tel. 11/4342-4328): This legendary cafe might not have the best service in town, but its historic importance and old-world beauty more than make up for that. Café Tortoni was and remains Argentina's meeting place of choice among intellectuals; even the throngs of tourists don't overwhelm the space.
La Bourgogne, Buenos Aires (tel. 11/4805-3857): Jean-Paul Bondoux is the top French chef in South America, brandishing his talents in the kitchen of the restaurant tucked inside the Alvear Palace Hotel. A member of Relais & Châteaux, La Bourgogne serves exquisite cuisine inspired by Bondoux's Burgundy heritage.
José Balcance, Salta (tel. 387/421-1628): The best restaurant in Salta serves incredibly imaginative Andean cuisine in an elegant setting. Guests can sample llama carpaccio or roasted llama medallions with prickly pear sauce, accompanied by Andean potatoes grown in the verdant hills on the outskirts of the city. They're all delicious.
DOC Vinos y Cocina, Córdoba (tel. 351/460-8012): This small, elegant restaurant is all about fine wines and finer foods. Modern art hangs from pink-washed walls, amid immaculate white tablecloths bearing wine glasses like waiting sentries.
1884, Mendoza (tel. 261/424-2698): Celebrity chef Francis Mallmann's restaurant in Mendoza has been number one in town for a few years now, and it remains the ultimate Argentine dining experience in the country's food and wine capital. Located inside a century-old bodega, or wine cellar, the restaurant serves rugged and tasty local specialties such as chivito (kid) and lechón (piglet).
Lunch at a Bodega: Mendoza is home to dozens of places where visitors can learn more about wine -- from how the grapes are grown to how the barrels are chosen. And the lessons usually come with a relaxed outdoor lunch served on a bodega patio, with the towering Andes in the distance. The experience is indulgent, informative, and so very relaxing. Try the lunch at Bodega Ruca Malen or at La Bourgogne inside Carlos Pulenta's stunning Vistalba vineyard.
Patagonian Asado: The gaucho gets things going early. The coals take time to warm up, and then they place the lamb on a cross in front of the heat, and leave it there to roast for hours. Served with a simple salad and a few bottles of Malbec, it's home cooking like you've never eaten. Estancias from the Lakes District to Los Glaciares National Park humbly offer this tradition daily to visitors. Don't miss it at Estancia Cristina.
Luis Martial, Ushuaia (tel. 2901/430710): Part of the splendid Las Hayas hotel, this elegant restaurant is an excellent choice, with great views and gourmet dining, as well as fixed meals and weekly changing menus. Service is always prompt and professional.
Kaupé Restaurant, Ushuaia (tel. 02901/422704): King crab predominates on the menu at the Kaupé, in puff pastries, in soufflés, and fresh on the plate. Nearly every dish here is refined and delectable. The gracious, family-run service is as pleasant as the view of the Beagle Channel, and the restaurant's new wine bar really sets it apart from other dining establishments in town.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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