There are plenty of steakhouses in Buenos Aires. Finding one is usually a matter of staying the course in until you run into one. However not all of them are memorable, to the point where a lot of them fuse into the mess of images and smells that make up our memories. And that’s why it’s always special when discussing Parrilla Pena with friends, that they always recognize it and eagerly agree that it’s worth going.
Located in the not super great area near Congreso, Parrilla Pena is always noisy and packed with portenos doing their best to meet their weekly quota of beef consumption. The lights are a bit garish, the tables and chairs squeezed together and the menu relatively short and straightforward. But that doesn’t matter much because as you arrive you walk past the grill and you’re already transfixed by the promise of a good meal. And on top of that, you get a complimentary fried empanada so tasty that it immediately focuses your mind back on the task at hand.
You won’t find much comprehensible or useful English on the menu and the wine list is a touch more diverse than at comparable steakhouses but certainly not a strength. At least the wines are fairly priced, a nod perhaps to the fact that they aren’t providing a stellar wine service. The wines are stored on shelves right under the ceiling, obliging the waiters to bring bottles down with a clasping contraction that makes the whole process a bit more fun. The service is again, simple and straightforward and not the selling point. That’s the meat.
Simple, straightforward, tasty
The last bife de chorizo I had at Parilla Pena was spot on. I asked for it medium rare and it came as requested, not simple for a relatively thick steak. The tira de asado has a good reputation here as well. The provoleta is good, if not the best, and the salads are typically Argentine – underwhelming for anyone looking to have salad for dinner at an Argentine steakhouse. The meat and fries portions are large and so you are unlikely to leave hungry. This is an Argentine steakhouse that doesn’t bother with fancy preparation, presentation or posturing – it is built on a reputation of repeat customers and focusing on what they do best. The prices, accordingly, beat almost anything you can find in Puerto Madero and Palermo.
This is the steakhouse that you try after you’ve been around the block in Buenos Aires a few times. It’s not tailored for visitors looking to be introduced to the great world of Argentine steak. But give it a shot when you’re comfortable and you might just fit in as one more meat-obsessed porteno.
Steak Buenos Aires 