Balvanera

Balvanera Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant & décor: Named after an artsy barrio in Buenos Aires, Balvanera is a rustic, cozy and friendly neighborhood restaurant that appeals to Uptown folks as well as downtown denizens. The place wins your heart with its friendly service, authentic Argentine cooking and welcoming spirit.

Likes: An affordable steakhouse in Manhattan.
Dislikes: None.

Food & Drinks: Start your meal with the crab meat croquettes, silky and rich, or the grilled provoleta served as in Argentina with oregano and slightly charred. On offer for vegetarians are dishes like burrata, beet tarts and cauliflower croquettes. The choice of steaks ranges from rich filet mignons to marbled rib-eyes and the favorite, a skirt steak like the churrasco with the “crust” that’s standard in every Argentine steakhouse. A roasted head of garlic and a choice of sauces accompany – the chimichurri is the sauce to order. Be sure to save room for Balvanera’s version of flan made with a touch of dulce de leche. Argentine red and white wines form the majority of the extensive wine list, with Malbecs and Torrontes offering a complement to the heartier steaks or seafood items.