Buenos Aires Cafe

[capnamerca]

South First Street and Oltorf, just south of the intersection. Perhaps the finest meal I've had in two years. No, I'm not kidding.

The owner is a pastry chef from Buenos Aires who, for whatever reason, decided to come to Austin and set up a traditional restaurant. Wine selection was fantastic - I actually copied info off the label of one of the bottles we had, to try and find it at Grapevine.

We had one of each of the four empanadas types for an appetizer. I don't remember all of the them, but the spicy ground beef had just the right amount of salty and spicy - green olives and oil. For an appetizer, I had the baked chicken with steamed and boiled veggies, and didn't stop until the plate was finished. My wife had a pork loin that I had about six bites of, and the father-in-law's shepherds pie (regionalized to BA, not sure about te specifics) didn't last long enough for me to try.

The place only had about eight tables- our party of four early on friday had to wait twenty minutes or so. It's got a great cozy feel, and the owner cooks up several types of sweets that aren't on the menu - they're on display as you walk in (which is an evil move

). Above all, it wasn't outrageously expensive. Empanadas were $3 each, salads $4-6, entree's $14-$20. Not cheap, but definately affordable, especially if you forego desert or wine.

Seriously - it was like discovering water in a dessert. Please go, you'll thank me.

 

[TheTresLeches]

I also had a great experience at Buenos Aires Cafe. TIny place, but worth the wait if there is one.

 

[capnamerca]

Forgot the funniest part - they have a desert that's called Quatros Leches ... which led to the inevitable jokes - what if someone comes up with cinco leches? NOOO! That's CRAZY! Who wants FIVE milks? Quatro Leches is right!

Plus, the quatro leches was the best desert.

 

[MilkmanDan]

Whatever your rule for desert/dessert is, you've got it backwards.

Thanks for the rec, I'll have to check it out. We have some friends that have spent a lot of time in Argentina that we may try to bring as well.

 

[capnamerca]

I don't have a rule, I try and spell them both wrong equally.

And, I'm a little slow.

 

[1990txgirl]

The empanadas kick ***, as do the fries. Only had lunch there once but have been meaning to go back. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Brisketexan]

Do they have ham sammiches? Because every confiteria/cafe I have ever visited in BA not only had ham sammiches, they had a 20 page menu, 18 pages of which was ham sammiches.

Instead of doing like we do -- list a ham sandwich, and then list all the stuff you can put on it, they list every possible mathematical combination of ingredients.

Ham.
Ham and cheese.
Ham and cheese and red peppers.
Ham and cheese and red peppers and hearts of palm.
Ham and hearts of palm and red peppers.
Ham and cheese and hearts of palm.

And each one is listed twice -- once for being served cold, once for being served hot.

Each one has a number. "Yes, I would like the #347, a hot ham, cheese, red peppers, hearts of palm, on a roll, with salsa golf."

Still, they make these little tostados -- ham and cheese on VERY thin bread, toasted -- they're addictive.

I need to try this place.