THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Cafe Buenos Aires

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Cafe Buenos Aires Restaurant Review:

The patio at Café Buenos Aires is one of the most popular outdoor dining spots in downtown Santa Barbara. Complete with flowing fountain and rustic tiles, it resembles an Argentinean courtyard. Indoors, the dining room features a maple floor that is cleared after meal service some nights for tango music and dancing, with guests encouraged to participate. Before you hit the dance floor, however, we recommend the empanadas (traditional savory turnovers), as well as the pastel de choclo, which features ground sirloin steak sautéed with fresh olives and raisins and then topped with a layer of sweet corn. Unfortunately, the food overall doesn’t match up to the fabulous atmosphere. Perhaps the best option is a parillada, Argentina’s ubiquitous medley of meats---skirt steak, short ribs, sweetbreads, chicken, sausage and lamb cooked over a wood fire. The wine list is small but international, and it features the Dos Mundos Malbec, made by the café's owner, Wally Ronchietto, in his native Argentina.