Is it possible to find a great Argentine empanada in NYC?
Empanadas and Quilmes (the national beer of Argentina, brewed by Brazilians)
Daniel, former New York cab driver and current cashier at Team Systems garage who was born in Buenos Aires, doesn’t think anyone in Gotham knows how to make a proper Argentine empanada.
On Sunday, I started on the quest to prove him wrong when I met fellow food obsessives Lilian M. and Salem P. at Buenos Aires Restaurant in the East Village.
I was hopeful when I spotted Spanish League soccer games on two flat screens, black and white photos of Buenos Aires in its golden era and an entire wall dedicated to pictures of tango singing legend Carlos Gardel.
But when it came down to empanadas, I was disappointed. We sampled three kinds: carne cortada a cuchillo, caprese (mozzarella cheese/tomato/basil) and pollo.
There were more peppers and celery than there was beef in the carne cortada a cuchillo (beef cut by hand rather than ground), and the flaky dough couldn’t mask the fact that it had been baked in a gas oven instead of in clay or coal.
Caprese was tasty but undercooked. The empanada de pollo – with big chunks of chicken, onions and a few red peppers – was my favorite. Conclusion? The quest continues.
If you go to Buenos Aires, go for the steak. Even though the bife de costilla (t-bone steak) we ordered was undercooked the first time around, it was delicious by the time they served it to us medium-rare, seasoned the Argentine way with just enough salt. When we dipped it in chimichurri sauce – packed with garlic, vinegar and fresh herbs – we were almost able to tune out the screaming baby at the table next door.
Buenos Aires Restaurant
513 East 6th Street, New York, NY 10009-6621
(212) 228-2775
Open: M-F 12pm-11pm; Sat-Sun 12pm-1am
buenosairesnyc.com
Credit cards accepted
Next empanada stop: La Porteña in Queens
Btw, I was reading the NY Mag review of this place afterwards, they mention that they use grass fed beef.
That makes sense – I think you pretty much have to if you’re going to be featuring Argentine-style steaks. It makes a big difference!
Layne,
I’m eating the food as I type =P
9th avenue between 20th and 21st… So good! the Punjabi veggie deli! I was telling you about! You’ll love it!!!
OK, next shift I’m there. Feel free to recommend things that are especially yummy – thanks for reminding me about this one!
There are amazing Argentine empanadas at Sweet Heart Coffee on 13th St and 8th Ave.
For real?! OK, I’m going. Thanks, Amanda. I’ll report back…
If you want to go to Long Island, Try Cafe Buenos Aires in Huntington, NY!
Thanks, Gabriela! I will if I head out that way.
[...] before I take off for Berlin was my last chance to hunt down an empanada that would measure up to Daniel Beccaria’s Buenos Aires [...]