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Buenos Aires Café
Category: Restaurants Argentine Argentine [Edit]
1201 E 6th StAustin, TX 78702
Neighborhood: East Austin
(512) 382-1189
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 9:30 pm
Fri 11 am - 10:30 pm
Sat 12 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
241 reviews for Buenos Aires Café
Review Highlights
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"All delicious especially the empanadas." In 91 reviews -
"The pork tenderloin with chimichurri sauce was divine." In 18 reviews -
"and the dulce de leche was awesome." In 11 reviews
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241 reviews in English
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Review from Stephanie B.
Austin, TX
5/25/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I am officially naming this my favorite lunch spot in town!!
After going here on a regular basis over the course of the past year, I'd say they've had plenty of opportunities to disappoint... but they haven't!!
They have dishes to suit a variety of preferences, including vegetarians! They're empanadas are delicious.. the flaky crust is always baked perfectly and the generous amount of filling is great! I have yet to try any of the desserts but it's on my to-do list!!
In addition to the great food and atmosphere, the service is wonderful. Always friendly, fast, and happy to make a confident menu suggestion! -
Review from Sara B.
5/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've been to Buenos Aires several times -- first, when it was in the old location on South 1st, and then a couple times at the new location. The new location is a major improvement: I can move my elbows while I eat! Win!
The East Austin location gives this place a trendier vibe than it might otherwise have. The food is excellent: love the empanadas and last time I went, I had the gnocchi quartet, which was yummy and very pretty. They also have an excellent wine menu.
The wait is hit-and-miss. Last time, I went at 6:30 on a Friday night and was seated right away. But I've had to wait over an hour before as well. So come expecting to have a drink or two at the bar first but you may be suprised and get to slide right into your seats.
It can get loud, but it is still a great place for a date or dinner with friends! -
Review from Jared S.
Austin, TX
5/8/2012
Had lunch here the other day for the first time. A couple of years ago I visited Argentina for three weeks and the memories of cafés in Buenos Aires are still fresh in my mind.
My girlfriend and I shared empanadas and salads. The empanadas were excellent and very authentic from what I can remember. Easily the best empanadas I've had in Texas. I can't wait to go back to try the chimichurri (also excellent) on a steak. I had some iced mate which was just slightly sweetened and a great refresher for a hot Texas summer-in-spring day.
Lunch prices were affordable and a decent value. I hear dinner is more expensive but I will be back at some point just to see if they can do beef like I remember from Argentina.
A solid 4 stars. -
Review from Sylvia H.
5/2/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Let me just say eating here is like traveling to the real Argentina. Maybe even better lol I do not know since I have never been there but this cafe gives me high expectations if I was ever to go visit there. Alright so I had their special it wasn't on the menu and let me just say I was in heaven.
It was salon with a crab cake and polenta and Okra. The plate was so balanced it was perfectly poised for you to eat everything on your plate at once. Once you are able to gather a scoop of everything in your mouth you cannot believe your taste buds. I also had the house wine nothing over the top but okay. The food was the important part here ;) -
Review from Steven R.
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
I had the steak dish off the grill and it was really good. It had a certain spice to it that I really liked: served with grilled asparagus and potatoes.
Also had a spicy beef empanada. Again, awesome.
$25 bottle of shiraz was clutch.
Tried the spicy chocolate creme brule and some lemon pie thing which were also great.
Good service for prime time on a Saturday night: seated quickly and good attention from waiter. -
Review from Brian B.
Livermore, CA
4/29/2012
Great food, great service, great vibe. I went in for lunch with a group of people and a great time was had by all. Great funky neighborhood. I hope they can keep it roughly how it is but usually when a place as hip as Buenos Aires Cafe opens in a neighborhood like this, the smell of blood (and money) is in the water.
This is definitely on my 'must visit again' list. -
Review from Lauren B.
3/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Stopped here on the Austin Eats Food Tour - bike tour of East Austin (thanks to Yelp Austin) and got to try a few things that I hadn't yet!
We tried all of the 4 gnocchi's that they offer and I couldn't tell you which was my favorite because they all were so different and yummy!
Pork tenderloin was cooked perfectly and that chimmichuri sauce... I swear I could dip everything into it, pour it on all of my meats and maybe even drink it after a few glasses of wine. If you don't order something with it, get some on the side!
I heard their pastries are pretty great but I've always been too full to order one so maybe next time I will leave some room for desert... maybe. -
Review from Dan G.
Austin, TX
4/6/2012
I was one of those people who were sad to see Tony's Southern Comfort Restaurant leave this location. And I still am. But Buenos Aires somehow makes the loss tolerable. Why?
Two words: Steak Sandwich.
It's all I've eaten there -- over the course of about 10 trips. I always want to try something else, but this is truly one of the tastiest pieces of beef in town, so why would I dare risk leaving the joint with regret?
Is Buenos Aires Café a great restaurant across the board? I can't say. But the steak sandwich keeps me coming back. -
Review from Kelly S.
Updated - 2/18/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Oh Buenos Aires -- you've grown up! I remember when this was a little cafe on south first so close that you were ass to elbows with other diners. Now, it's still small, but in that well designed way.
We came in here on a Friday night, encountering about a 40 minute wait, and some drizzly rain outside. Luckily the bar pulled us through that with a nice glass of red and we were seated and ordering shortly. I had the chicken -- not something i normally get -- and was pleasantly surprised by the rich flavor. This aint your oven frozen chicken breast.
We enjoyed a nice not quiet dinner (its quite loud) and and each other. A great date place to be sure though a little pricey and wait-y for me. A good spot to have dinner in when you need a. inside space b. a nice wine selection and c. a place to impress your date before you drag her all over the hip hip east side.Listed in: Fancy Restaurants & Bars in…, Amazing = Ambient + Atmosphere, Clean Bathrooms!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/2/2009
This is the second Buenos Aires location I've visited. The first was on S. 1st and I was seated at a… Read more »
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Review from Renia L.
Humble, TX
3/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
I visited this place during SXSW because at this point I couldn't eat off of another food truck. I wanted real food and something healthy.
So my husband and I stopped and read the menu, looked like something we could eat so we ventured inside. It was nearly empty, but the patrons that were inside were sooo not SXSW people, they looked as if they could care less about the festivities and they were a bit older.
Any who, we were seated and greeted by the cutest waiter Paul, who like my Husband is a musician so they hit it off immediately.
I ordered the hummus on spinach wrap and my husband ordered the turkey wrap. My wrap was gross but I ate it because who knew when I would get something that was fried or served from a truck window.
The food was not good at all and the only reason this place is getting 2 starts is because of Paul. It was my husbands birthday and Paul took it upon himself to offer us a free dessert and 2 glasses of champagne. He was sooo sweet and really made this restaurant and our visit special! -
Review from Kristine H.
Leander, TX
4/25/2012
Love the chimchurri and the empanadas! Each empanada has a unique flavor and spice. I loved their version of surf and turf last time I went.. the gnocchi are great to. For dessert the creme brulee is FABULOUS!
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Review from Mike T.
3/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Food looked great...especially after riding all day on the bike tour..man showing off my sweet jumps really builds an appetite. And this place would definitely be the place to have a nice romantic dinner.
Short review but I didn't really have a memorable experience here. -
Review from Krys T.
When you're participating in a Biggest Loser-style competition, eating out can be your worst enemy. Luckily, on my last trip to Austin, I was joined by others participating in the same competition so Buenos Aires Cafe was a wise selection.
To be fair, I was overly tempted by their extensive wine list and smaller but-still-packs-a-punch craft beer selection that may have derailed my efforts but thankfully I pushed through and only opted for one glass of the good stuff.
We were seated soon after all our party arrived and I just instantly loved the ambience. The cow hide mirrors, the dark wood, and the candles all blend together to create a quaint and intimate experience that can also easily translate to a happening girls night out. It's quite delightful.
I ordered a salad with grilled shrimp and dressing on the side. So, I was always annoyed by "dressing on the side" girls, but now that I am one, I truly appreciate restos that do so willingly. Also. The dressing was great. Or maybe I should say were great, because I sampled a couple. The shrimp was perfectly grilled, huge and lightly flavored to perfection. All in all, it was very enjoyable to have a meal out on the town that still felt very healthy.
I can add that many of the menu selections were super tempting and looked incredibly tasty. It seemed that my compadres enjoyed their meals especially well, but since I didn't taste I'll refrain on adding comments. Yet. Once I complete Biggest Loser Challenge, however, I vow to go back and eat all the food. You know, for Yelp. Because that's what I do... -
Review from Keyla R.
3/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
To really understand this review, you have to understand me. I am, I must honestly admit, a chef's worse nightmare. I am that horrible patron who enters a restaurant and takes apart every single dish that the chef has painstakingly put together. My husband says that Meg Ryan's character in When Harry Met Sally was styled after me. It's very well possible, but as she said in the movie "I like it the way I like it" and I make no apologies. That said, you will then understand why I love places that will accommodate my demanding, recalcitrant nature with a smile and a willing attitude.
That's what I encountered at the Buenos Aires Cafe. Not only was the food absolutely incredible, but our waiter was a fabulous guy. Attentive without being annoying. Gave us space eat and talk in peace but brought us everything we needed without our having to go chase him down. And, best of all, when I started our conversation about what to order with "how flexible is your kitchen willing to be with the menu," he didn't blanch, he didn't say "get out, now," he didn't grimace at me. He just said that he could be flexible but he couldn't provide something that wasn't on the menu, after all if the kitchen didn't have hamburger, he couldn't make one. How awesome was that?
Well, I had already perused the menu and new I was looking for something vegetarian. We were there for lunch and I didn't want a heavy meal that would give me the Itis. We had stuff to do and didn't need to fall asleep mid afternoon! So I selected the Portobello Sandwich.
Wow! It was great! I substituted the ciabatta that the menu said it came on with a french roll and eliminated the red onions completely. Don't judge, I just don't like red onions. Never have. So there!
Anyways, the portobello mushrooms were marinated and roasted to perfection and topped with roasted squash and provolone cheese. The french roll was spread with this tasty tomato pesto. It was so big that I could only finish 1/2 the sandwich and Hubby had the rest. He didn't mean to, he only meant to try a bite; but, after one bite, he couldn't stop. When he finished the other 1/2 he said that he hoped I was going to give this place 5 stars because that sandwich deserved it.
The Caesar salad it came with was good. The lettuce was crisp and the croutons were fresh and tasty.
But, oh, the dessert!! I wanted to try the dessert and was torn between several options. They all looked so good. To the rescue came our ever attentive waiter. I told him I wanted a light dessert and he suggest the Pionono. It was a Kahlua soaked caked, stuffed with house-made whipped cream and the biggest juiciest strawberries. And I mean, PACKED with berries. I asked the waiter for two spoons before it came. Hubby said he only wanted one bite. Once he tried it, he couldn't stop. We ended up fighting for the last bite.
Buenos Aires Cafe, you know we'll be back!! -
Review from erik w.
I have a soft spot in my heart for Buenos Aires Cafe as this was the place that I took my ladyfriend out on our first date. Unfortunately, I brought her to the location on south First, which is now closed up.
A few weeks ago we went to the Sixth Street location and I can say that per usual the Buenos Aires Cafe did not disappoint.
I ordered the Gnocchi Quartet, which are absolutely fantastic, albeit a tad on the small side. All sorts of excellent flavors, it's phenomenal. The ladyfriend went with a huge hunk of meat (what's new). She claimed that it was also quite good. Food prices were relatively reasonable ~$14 per plate. Also, make sure you load up on the chimichurri sauce, that stuff is unbelievable.
Drinks are pricey here in my opinion. Beers aren't too terrible, but wine is going to run about $10 a glass minimum. It always bugs me when the drink prices are almost as much as the food prices.
Service was great - no complaints at all. The dessert looked fantastic, but we didn't get to check it out because the lass cut out sugar for the month. I liked being able to peek into the kitchen and see the folks working hard.
Great place for a hot date! -
Review from Claire S.
Austin, TX
3/11/2012
The scene: An Argentinean cafe located right in the middle of east 6th. Parking has sometimes been nuance for me, depending on the time you go. Good for both Lunch and Dinner, they've always been extremely busy but I've never had to wait long (if at all) to get a table. Perfect with a group of friends or a romantic date. Waitstaff have always been very attentive and super helpful with any recommendations.
Good for: I've always done great with their daily specials. They have something new every day, and each one more amazing than the time before.
Must have: Gnocchi Quartet - four different types of gnocchi in a light and fresh sauce. The gnocchi combines great ingredients to truly surprise yourself. My personal favorite of the four is the cilantro-jalapeno. It's very light and delicious and uses the flavor of the jalapeno rather than just the heat.
Dessert: Save room for the Quatro Leches, very light yet decadent. Good to split with your date/friends, but I can easily eat it on my own as well.
Veggie review: They have a great selection of items, some including their main dishes. Vegans have a good selection of salads. I highly recommend the Spinach salad, removing the feta cheese. -
Review from Rebekah D.
Austin, TX
2/2/2012
Went here for the first time the other night with some friends who had been before, there were 5 of us. It was a Friday night and they don't take reservations. We got some wine at the bar, the only bottle of Pinot Noir they had...of course from Argentina. Can't remember the name but I loved it. During our 20 minute wait we sat on the benches outside and enjoyed the wine.
We were sat at back table with bar high chairs, I referred to it as our "knight's table." :)
For appetizers we all had an empanada. Mine was the verdura, it was great. Put some of the chimicurri sauce on empanada for more flavor, that sauce is a in a container on table.
So yes we ordered more of the same Pinot Noir wine for the meal. Had the especial, it was beef tenderloin (cooked medium) with chimichurri and some cream sauce, fried potatoes, and green beans. The steak was delectable with the sauce not overpowering. The sides were good.
The five of us shared the desserts Panqueques, Dark & White Chocolate Berry Tart, Dark and Spicy Chocolate Crème Brulee. I was only going to have a bite of each but ended up eating several bites of each. Desserts are 5 stars, save room! -
Review from Robert W.
Austin, TX
5/19/2012
We decided to take some friends here based on a recommendation. I had driven past several times and thought it looked like a warm atmosphere and probably an enjoyable place to eat. Well, we were sat in the room adjacent to the kitchen. This would not have been an issue except the lighting in the kitchen was bright fluorescent lighting that splilled over into the room. I should have asked for a different table like several of the other patrons did. From there we had a rude waiter whose shift ended in the middle of our meal so he told us someone else would take care of us. That person did not come to our table to check on us for 20 minutes. The shephards pie was a greasy concocsion that any college student could have made. The Gnocci was pretty good and the fish special was excellent. For four people we ended up spending $150 on 4 meals, 4 drinks, a dessert, bad atmosphere, bad service, and hit or miss food. I will never recommend this place. Two thumbs down
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Review from Ashton S.
Austin, TX
3/7/2012
I ate here recently with my boyfriend and his family, and we had the worst experience! There was nowhere to sit and wait, the hostess was extremely rude to my boyfriend's mom, and when we finally got seated and ate most of our food was subpar.
We started with the empanadas; which were very good, then I had the Gnocchi Quartet which was pretty bland and over-hyped. For dessert my boyfriend's mother had the Mil Hojas. It was super dry, seemed like it was stale, and fell apart so quickly that it was hard to even eat. She ended up getting sick later that night, and called the restaurant. They never even bothered calling her back or apologizing. -
Review from Gwen V.
Austin, TX
2/19/2012
Because I like to tease my taste buds, I decided to visit Buenos Aires Cafe as a primer on all the Argentinean food we'll be eating this fall during our study abroad. I am definitely excited to go. Doubly excited because I'm pretty sure the food there will be about half the price.
A little pricier than I was expecting for an East 6th restaurant, though the ambiance should've given me a clue.
The food, however, was definitely delicious. We ordered the shrimp wrapped in proscuitto as appetizers and they were giant and delicious. For entrees, my friends got the milanesa a la napolitana, which was really quite tasty. Although I really wanted to get the chef's seafood special, which consisted of scallops, oysters and ahi tuna, the price was a little more than I wanted to spend on a Wednesday night. So I opted for the Gnocchi Quartet. It was really quite amazing. The gnocchi was perfect--not at all dry like it can be sometimes, and you could really taste the flavors of each of them. Lots of veggies made me feel less guilty about the money and the wine.
For dessert, we got the pinololo, the panqueques and the dark and spicy creme brulee. My favorite by far was the creme brulee, but I am a chile-chocolate fiend. The panqueques tasted more light chocolate-y than they did dulce de leche, but they were still good.
All in all, for the price, I'd probably choose another restaurant as my go-to splurge meal, but I would be very very interested in hitting up their lunch or happy hours! -
Review from Nicole S.
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
I didn't really know what to expect going here since I have no idea what Argentenian food consists of or what would make it good. And when I saw the menu I was like "Damn, that's a LOT of sandwiches, and I really don't like sandwiches", so I thought it was going to be a total bust. However, I was way wrong! The empenadas are so good smothered in their weird slighty spicy salsa relish thing they have sitting on the table. No idea what it is or what it's supposed to go on, but I put that bastard on everything! YUM!
The spinach salad, seriously incredible. Just a little tang in the vinagrette dressing. And the steak sandwich, oh mah gaw (add the salsa). So tender and juicy! Great wine list too! Can't wait to go back, this will definitely go on my rotation of good eats! -
Review from Joan K.
Austin, TX
4/10/2012
A romantic location with very tempting desserts.
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Review from Matt L.
Austin, TX
2/6/2012
Another restaurant that I had to meet someone at was closed, so we ventured inside the Buenos Aires Cafe. Very nice atmosphere, we were seated at a table for two by the window which I found nice as we didn't go too late and people were still hustling around E. 6th. The lighting was nice and soft, they had a woman playing the piano, and there were a few larger parties that made the place seem lively without seeming like a packed house.
The special of the night was a Flounder Filet stuffed with a Crab Meat fondue. We both settled on the special and neither one of us were disjointed. The fish was nice and tender on the outside, but the inner Crab Meat Fondue stuffing was rich and creamy, and made for a very interesting pescatarian meal. It was served with a white wine sauce with mashed potatoes and asparagus. We passed on dessert, but swore to come back and try some of the delicious pastries. -
Review from Christine L.
Houston, TX
Romantic. Perfectly lit. Intimate. Lively.
This location is all that and more. I had been to the old S. 1st location quite a bit so this was a nice refreshing welcome back.
Split the carne picante with a friend and of course it was meaty goodness. The chimichurri sauce added just the right bite to awaken those tastebuds.
I couldn't get away from the gnocchi quartet. It's just so me. A larger portion with more ingredients than I remember, but definitely something I would continue to get. How could you go wrong?
Friend had the special which was filet mignon and she loved every bite, she cleaned that plate. She kept saying it was delicious so I believe her.
The only drawback? Echos. Get more rugs? -
Review from Anna G.
Austin, TX
1/18/2012
4 words: Dulce De Leche Cheesecake.
The food and the ambiance were wonderful, too, but the cheesecake...oh, the cheesecake... -
Review from Steve B.
Austin, TX
4/2/2012
Wow I was happy to find a decent steak on the East side - ordered the churruscaria (10 oz NY Strip, $25). Tasted great...only problem is, the next two days I am constantly in the restroom with the you-know-whats. Someone in the kitchen either isn't cleaning the greens used in the chimichurri or washing their hands or both. I am one and done with Buenos Aires Cafe - Adios! . Plus, the hostess should lose that uninviting frown she greets the clients with!
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Review from Ray D.
Santa Monica, CA
Quiet intimate atmosphere with great service. To our surprise not crowded for lunch even though the town was insanely crowded with SXSW. Sandwiches and empeñadas were fine, don't skimp on the chimichurri sauce. Beer and cheese soup delicious. Well it's Texas! Wide selection of delectable desserts with my favorite ingredient dulce de leche.
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Review from alicia k.
9/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I wanna be an Eastsider so bad. There are many good food restaurants in this area and Buenos Aires doesn't disappoint! The restaurant is low-key, open, and the menu is limited. I appreciate the chef specialty items ( which are more expensive ).
The dishes here were all really good, but nothing spectacular. My kids liked the garlicky bread served when you sit. We ordered the cheese plate, consisting of about 4 different cheeses, all of which were very typical (cheddar, smoked Gouda, a hard sheepsmilk, and Brie), served with a white bread, honey, and a few grapes. I enjoyed the mixture of beef, olives, and bits of dried fruit in the empanadas; however, I didn't like the puff pastry exterior. The pastry was too buttery with a croissant-like texture. It was not rigid enough to hold all the filing so you need to inhale them or use a fork and knife.
The gnocchi quartet was alright. The gnocchi is a little dense and the flavors are simple. I enjoyed the vegetable medley more than the gnocchi themselves. The tenderloin dish was really good (although a bit pricey at $27 for about 6oz). The tenderloin was served with French green beans and purple and white potatoes. The dish was relatively simple, but was perfectly cooked (med-rare). I especially love the chimichurri sauce! The sauce has a great acidity and heat and perfect for topping any piece of meat.
Overall, great semi-causal dining with good service and good food.Listed in: Global Dining
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Review from Vanessa N.
Austin, TX
12/1/2011
My dad came to visit a few months ago, and due to his upcoming trip to Argentina, we decided to come to Buenos Aires for a preview. The atmosphere is cozy and well lighted, and our server was helpful and unobtrusive.
We both had the spinach salad, which is the best I've had in recent memory. Our entrees were fresh and delicious, and I walked out proud to have found this spot to impress my pops! -
Review from Brandy R.
Brooklyn, NY
2/20/2012
Their food is delicious across the board. And don't skimp on the dessert - you absolutely cannot leave here without eating the quatro leches.
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Review from Chris R.
9/2/2011
In one word...shiznit
I was quite impressed with this east side gem, as my close Argentine friend regularly complains 'there is no good Argentine food in Austin.' Well I need to take her here to prove her wrong folks!
The food freakin blew me away! I ordered 'the special' of the night with some white fish I can't remember (not tilapia) and shrimp with a superb wine sauce and seasoning. The dish also had tons of creamy couscous and veggies like asparagus wrapped in sautéed eggplant, YUM! Seriously I am going back to order this again before I try anything else. In addition, me and company all ordered empanadas like they were drinks. The dough is just right on the crispiness, firm around the edges and semi-soft on the center and delicious spicy morsels hide in their perfect shells. The only time I've had empanadas this good were when my Argentine friend's mom made us some from scratch.
The atmosphere is a bit crowded but is actually isn't too bad and the acoustics muffle the variety of loud conversations around you (I must be getting old...all I do is complain about noise levels these days). The ambience is nice with medium lighting and semi-hipster modern decor befitting of east side Austin. Our waiter was efficient, knowledgeable, and friendly.
One downside is that they didn't have drinks aside from beer and wine... this is an Argentine restaurant with no caipirinhas, no mojitos, nothing. But the good time and food I had let me oversee this flaw. Perhaps I had such a good night because my expectations were low; due to my friend's pessimism, or because my company was my girlfriend's sister and token new boyfriend who were fortunately not as annoying as anticipated, or maybe because they paid!
Bottom-Line: Break away from Austin's slew of Tex-Mex and try some great Argentine cuisine. -
Review from MJ M.
Round Rock, TX
11/14/2011
My husband went here on a date night. He had heard it was pretty good. We were not too impressed.
We were seated near a vent so I was freezing the whole time.
We were ordered appetizers and that was pretty good. We ordered a cheese plate and 2 empanadas. The empanadas were very good. I had the Spinach and feta and my husband had a meat one with olives.
We ordered our entrees and they came out in 5 min!!!! I ordered Roasted chicken breast and my husband ordered the gnocchi.
My chicken was not hot and very poorly seasoned or better yet..not seasoned at all. The mashed potatoes that came with it tasted like SPUDS from a box.
My husbands gnocchi was awful. Cold, hard and not very flavorful.
The dessert was awesome. IT was a pancake filled with dulce de leche. Really good.
Service was fine. But I wouldn't go back and order entrees. Maybe just go for wine and empanadas. -
Review from Angelica E.
Dallas, TX
12/20/2011
There is a classic feel to this place. Its casual with a slight upscale undertone which is perfect for impressing first dates without killing your pocket. There are great options to mix and match items, making the dining experience fruitful for the next visit.
Don't pass up the pastries (the owner was a former pastry chef, so the quality of the pastries are particularly special). The desserts are also mouthwatering, and nice with a cup of coffee to end a nice meal or just to cure that sweet tooth.
I've never been to Argentina, but I feel as though the place brings me closer to South America each time I dine here. -
Review from Alana F.
Austin, TX
3/5/2012
We had a group of 8 people. Waited a little over an hour for a table, but that is to be expected on a Friday night. It can get uncomfortable to sit/stand at the bar if the place gets crowded but again...not out of the ordinary. Food was good. Service was very good. Location is great. I would try it again. If I could give it 3 and a half stars instead of just 3, I would.
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Review from Jena P.
Austin, TX
12/2/2011
Fresh food & delicioso desserts + great wine list. Best salads and empanadas ..
It's a cozy little place that doesn't take reservations - I love the staff - never rush you to get out. -
Review from Eve R.
11/10/2011
Great ambiance, especially loved the tango dancers. Pacing was leisurely, unhurried. Nice for a meal to savor.
My favorite by far were the empanadas - we tried them all, and they were terrific - with chimichurri or without (although I really loved the chimichurri). My favorite was the tuna, followed by the beef. The spinach and cheese reminded me of spanikopita.
For main dishes, the bf got the pastel de papas (like Argentinian shepherd's pie), and I thought it was delicious. I got the gnocchi and found it more interesting than delicious. There were a variety of flavors and textures, and it was interesting, but not as good as the pastel, and especially not as good as the empanadas. Next time we are getting empanadas and a salad (several went by and they were HUGE).
For dessert we had the chocolate brulee, which was like spicy chocolate pudding with a brulee crust. Delicious!
I also tried a nice Argentinian wine (the Uma Shiraz), which accented the meal nicely (and was terrific with the spicy brulee).
This is a nice go-to place on the super-hip east side. We'll definitely be back! -
Review from Jen B.
Austin, TX
11/11/2011
Fantastic. Was having dinner with a friend here on a Wednesday, both of our first visit to the Buenos Aires Cafe. We had a really great table in the side room by the window. We had a friendly waiter, delicious sangria, and beef tenderloin cooked to perfection.
Great feel in this little place and I will definitely bring friends back to have another great meal! -
Review from Michael B.
Austin, TX
3/1/2012
I want to like this place SO bad, but I just can't:( I've been to the south First location on a couple of lunch trips and it was wonderful. Small, classy joint, good reasonably priced food, and great service. Unfortunately the "nicer" Buenos Aires Cafe on the eastside falls short of expectations. After 2 trips, I've come to the following conclusions.
Great location, good layout, good service....check!
Empanadas (several different kinds) with chimichurri sauce....fantastic!
....and then it's downhill from there.
Wine list is way overpriced, although they had some decent selections. $25-30 for a good $10-$12 bottle of Malbec from the store is one thing....but at Buenos Aires, that bottle was around $35-45. C'mon guys....I know you can get away with it, but that doesn't mean you have to.
The house special, Gnocchi Quartet. Each individual piece of this way overcomplicated dish is actually pretty darn good, but why oh why put it all together in a piling heap of different tastes. This of course is my own personal taste issue, but I just don't feel that the pumpkin-cinnamon, and sweet potato-chipotle gnocchi married well with the cilantro-jalapeno, and potato-herb gnocchi.
The nail in the coffin was unfortunately the steak. There is only one region outside of our great state of Texas that is as well known for it's quality of beef. This is Argentina. So I was very excited for 2 different selections of their steak. First the tenderloin on the special surf and turf, and 2nd a strip cut served up with verts. While the meat in both cases was cooked perfectly (medium-rare), the quality of the meat was downright Randall's cheap and the flavor suffered for it.
I was really feeling down at the end of the meal but was perked up by a dynamite tres leches cake at the end.
All in all....not good, not bad. Just 3 stars when I really wanted it to be 5. -
Review from Theda S.
Manhattan, NY
7/15/2011
You can rarely go wrong ordering a Spinach salad.
Buenos Aires Cafe does not disappoint. Their deft combination of baby leaf spinach, feta cheese, black olives, spicy sweet roasted pecans and sweet balsamic vinaigrette was just the perfect bite.
The Prosciutto Sandwich (prosciutto, provolone, tomato and mayo served on a french baguette) is delicious. Ordering Tip: Ask your server to hold the mayo and use oil and vinegar instead. Its tastier and better for you to boot.
Plus they have the best new world wine list I have seen in all of Austin. Pages of wines to try by the glass makes this spot a classy 78702 winner you to take your friends too.Listed in: Welcome To 78702
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Review from Taryn H.
Austin, TX
8/9/2011
-Empanadas were soft. This is almost a criminal offense in and of itself
-Staff gossiped loudly, complaining about their hipster life and how the owners didn't get them. Our waiter was quick and thoughtful with our orders though. He brought the chimichurri without us asking for it.
-Food was ok but nothing special. A little greasy, a little under salted, a little boring.
Bottom line: I think it's a little overpriced for what it is. I came here for a business lunch. It would be ok for that had the staff been quieter about their woes and if my client was buying.
