Gran Parrilla del Plata is a little piece of history located in the neighborhood of San Telmo. During the 30’s it was used as large butcher shop called Grandes Carnicerias del Plata. Eventually it converted into a restaurant with the old spirit of Buenos Aires. The owners felt compelled to keep the old world charm and history so they merely adapted the original name.
For me the real draw of this parrilla is the atmosphere. The building itself has been refurbished but they’ve kept bits and pieces of it’s former glory paying tribute to it’s butchering days with the original butcher’s hook, the old meat slicer, the glazed tiles and the original majolica and calcareous floor tile from the 20’s. It’s got a very vintage feel with jazzy music you might find from that era. It’s not a place that I would openly classify as touristy, although it certainly is, but there’s something about this place that’s charming. Maybe it has to do with the close connection you feel to the meat that’s about to order, a sort of start to finish process with your beef.
At Gran Parrilla del Plata I felt they emphasized the starters quite a bit. As is classically Argentine the appetizers are of great importance. They recommend the pork sausage, kidneys and veal tripe. Fair enough that this may not appeal to the masses but this is a good place to step out of your comfort zone and conquer the unknown. Their complete offal mix offers a nice variety of options to try if you’re in the mood for something classically Argentine. Something unique that I discovered about Gran Parrilla del Plata is that they offer fish a la parrilla which isn’t something you typically find at a parrilla in Buenos Aires. Besides this they are vegetarian friendly with their homemade pasta dishes.
My personal experience here was a pleasant one. When I arrived I was promptly seated but the service in true form was very slow and somewhat inattentive. The waitstaff, however inattentive they were, were very friendly when it was actually time to take our order. I ordered entraňa which was recommended to me by the waiter along with a side of garlic fries. The meat came out well cooked and seasoned. The fries were a slight disappointment but as they were somewhat soggy but there was certainly no lack of garlic which is something that I love. From what I hear their garlic mashed potatoes are always a hit so that’s another option as well. I finished out the night with one of their many dessert options, Don Roberto. This was quite possibly my favorite part of the meal. It’s a dark chocolate cake with whipped cream and a mix of red berries on top, heavenly. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience. The atmosphere really peaked my interested and the dessert was divine.
Steak Buenos Aires 