Frommer's Review
This is the second incarnation of La Cabaña, oddly enough built next to the second incarnation of the Park Hyatt. (Perhaps there is something in the soil in this area of Recoleta and they should rebury Evita here instead.) The original, one of Buenos Aires's most legendary eateries, had opened in 1935, and closed in the mid-1990s as a victim of the recession and the one-to-one economic policy. Photos on the wall from the 1970s and 1980s recall the restaurant's heyday. (My favorite is of Sophia Loren with an enormous slab of beef.) This new version is about 3 years old. The food here -- all about the beef -- is strictly Argentine, but the decor is very British, complete with plaids and dark woods. Kitschy touches include stained glass windows with cow heads, stuffed dead cows at the entrance (perhaps more creepy than kitschy), saddles over the staircase, and gaucho cartoon drawings by Florencio Molino Campo, a famous Argentine artist. One of the neat things about the restaurant is the computer which lets you track where your beef came from, even the date the cow was killed. (Again, creepy or kitschy, depending on your taste.) The kitchen is located in the front when you walk in, so you can watch the cooks prepare your meal. Steaks are excellent, but the service can be slow. It took about an hour for my steak to arrive. The restaurant is huge, with over 170 seats on various levels, including a rooftop terrace. The price and early opening and closing here also mean that you will almost never see a real Argentine other than staff. That staff is also very knowledgeable about wine, however, and there is an excellent bar if you are waiting for a free table in this Orient Express-managed property. In addition to beef, served in portions as large as a kilogram (2.2 lbs.), there are chicken, fish, and a large selection of salads, so anyone can be happy. Their main competitor is the Cabaña las Lilas, with which the place is often confused, but this is far more formal at a similar price.
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.
