Mendocino Munchies: Azafran
Azafran crafts great Mendocino cuisine that still embraces its rustic roots and simple flavours but elevates it to fine dining with fanciful presentation and an experienced twist on some of the great Argentine classics. Try one of their signature dishes: gourmet empanadas or the mouthwatering petit filet mignon wrapped in phyllo dough. Sarmiento 765. (261) 429 420
Editor's Pick for Mendocino Munchies: Casa de Campo
For rustic charm and traditional dishes visit Casa de Campo, a 20-minute taxi ride from Mendoza city center. It feels like a welcoming home with its wooden beams, intimate tables, and a small but lively verandah. Locals flock for the mouthwatering Argentine fare. Appetizers come in a taster's collection of home-made goodies, from bread, prosciuttio and olive oil to sausage, pickled eggplant, cheeses, and olives. Save some room for their clay oven specialties of succulent rabbit and suckling pig. "Grandma´s Menu," the dish of the day, is made from in-season, locally grown produce. Complement this with a bottle from their extensive wine list and the result is a flavor combination of gourmet quality. A picturesque stroll to Rutini La Rural bodega, just ten minutes away, is a wonderful way to conclude the afternoon. Urquiza 1516, Coquimbito, Maipu.
261-481-1605. www.casadecampomza.com
Divine Intervention, Fusion food: Bistro M, Park Hyatt
Bistro M combines the irresistable flavours of Europe with some of Argentina's classic flavours. Working on a hybrid Italian and Spanish format (with antipasto, pasta, meat and side dishes) guests are encouraged to order the starters tapas style with a number of plates to share and bargain over. This is the way I love to eat - working your way through lots of different flavours and variety. Delicate beef carpaccio; juicy, marinated, grilled vegetables; a lightly smoked salmon and caper salad; and plump, tangy king prawns with creamy avocado mousse demonstrated a beautiful spread of European dishes. Aside these were the Argentine favourites: rich sweetbreads cooked in white wine and garlic, and of course, sizzling meat. Here the chefs cook their carne in rich, boozy sauces, although don't overlook some of their fish dishes - I recommend the lightly roasted hake in a lemony oyster sauce. Take fusion to the next level by uniting a wine from their extensive wine list with whatever delicious flavours you choose.
Chile 1124. (261) 441 1234. www.mendoza.park.hyatt.com
Cheap Eats: El Palenque
El Palenque has a rustic charm to it - honest food, honest prices and a great atmosphere. Three friends opened the resto-bar seven years ago as a meeting place to enjoy a penguin of wine (an old-fashioned penguin shaped jug) and simple, homemade food. It serves its renowned empanadas, pizzas and lomos along with some heartier 'gaucho' style fayre. This place isn't the cheapest but it offers real value and it is clearly doing something right as it usually fills up by 10pm, prompting even the locals to come out early for a table.
Aristides Villanueva 287. (261) 154 548 023.
Editor's Pick for Cheap Eats: La Aldea
This country-style restaurant specializes in beef but its menu also includes salads, sandwiches, pizzas and a unique selection of papas fritas (French fries). Everything is freshly cooked so prepare to have a bit of patience. There is a good wine list and outdoor seating on the lively sidewalk. The lounge in the back is filled with antique furniture and perfect for chatting over a drink. The plates are big, the wait staff is friendly, the location is central to the best nightlife and the price is right. Look for their 15% off coupon inside the magazine.
Aristides Villanueva 495. (261) 425-0420.
Sea-licious: Praga
For those craving seafood in Mendoza the options can seem limited but if you navigate your way to Praga you'll be in fish heaven. After living in Spain owner Eduardo wanted to bring back the fresh flavours of the Mediterranean to Mendoza. The starters are good sized portions and the gambas al ajillo pack a punch with enough sweet garlic to fend away a vampire. Main courses range from simple fish dishes (like the robust, crispy salmon served with a tangy almond and olive cream sauce) to the slightly more elaborate (like the black ravioli stuffed with crab and prawns in a cream sauce). The menu also caters to the carnivore and a large selection of salads will give you room to squeeze in Praga's fantastic creme brulee for dessert. Julio Leonidas Aguirre 413. (261) 425 9585. www.pragamarisqueria.com.ar
Eat-sum-mor-a-mi: Sushi Club
It has only been in the past few years that Mendoza has welcomed Asian cuisine, but now it is one of the few cities in Argentina that boasts a good sushi restaurant. This upmarket and stylish sushi joint serves some great sushi and Asian flavours, with fish as cooked or uncooked as you like it. The sushi is of course the main attraction and you can watch the sushi chef busy at work preparing your Temaki. Sushi Club has all the Japanese classics like sashimi and nigiri along with American hybrids like the California roll and the creamy Philadelphia roll. However what really stands out is Sushi Club's own fusion creations such as their placer real (Royal Pleasure): a gorgeous combination of a sushi roll with palm hearts, cream cheese and avocado topped with passionfruit and shredded potato crisps. Round it off with a pot of steaming jasmine tea and you'll have a tasty slice of contemporary Asia in Mendoza.
Belgrano 1112. (206) 429 9316.
Spaghetti with confetti: La Marchigiana
As the first Italian restaurant in Mendoza, La Marchigiana has plenty of history and traditional recipes to whet any nonna's appetite. Maria Teresa Corradini de Barbera moved to Argentina with her parents as a teenage from war torn La Marche, Italy, in 1948 in the search for peace. They didn't find peace, but they did find the Argentines had a penchant for Italian food. The family restaurant started off with only six hearty Italian dishes but has grown into a popular local fixture. Check out the Brad Pitt photo for celebrity credentials. The restaurant is now larger and brighter than it was when it started but the food is still as good as ever. The pasta is the best thing here, maintaining original recipes from over 60 years ago; we recommend the huge stuffed ravioli. In short, its simple, hearty Italian fayre that's bound to make you to cry 'Mamma Mia!' Patricias Mendocinas 1550. (261) 423 0751. www.lamarchigiana.com.ar
Mexi can-Can: Taco Tabasco
With a shot of tequila and some tasty Tex-Mex, you'll go from being a Mexican't to a Mexican! Taco Tabasco was voted the best Central/South American restaurants in town, and for good reason. With a long list of tacos, quesadillas and other Mexican dishes there's plenty to choose from. Most popular are their fajitas, which are served with either classic grilled meat or their 'special' fajitas (cooked in creamy pepper, mustard and Roquefort sauces). The fajitas come with pots of garnishes to experiment with - none of which are particularly spicy but there are plenty of fresh flavours to keep you happy, especially when accompanied by a cool beer or one of their blended margaritas. So don your sombrero, soak up the bustling atmosphere and enjoy some milder Mexican food, Argentine style! Aristides Villanueva 321 and San Martin Sur 680.
Editor's Pick: Cielito Lindo
Forget pie in the sky, I've been craving burritos since I landed in Mendoza and Cielito Lindo - meaning: pretty little sky - offers some Mexitastiness of celestial proportions. It's in a quiet neighborhood district but the inside of the restaurant is adorable and they actually have hot hot-sauce - even in light of the extreme aversion Mendocinos have to spice. Make a reservation on the weekends because they get packed. On the corner of Hipolito Irigoyen and España. (261) 424-4383
Carne-tropolis: Mercado Central
If you know your meat then Mercado Central is a pretty good place to head for just about everything that comes from a cow. Stomachs, tongues, and whopping great livers all grace the counters along with the usual sausages and steaks. The market is open Monday-Saturday and is also home to a plethora of fresh veggies, spices and other culinary goodies. On the corner of Las Heras and Patricias Mendocinas.
Bomb-diggity-Barbecue: El Patio de Jesus Maria
Argentina - steak. An obvious connection. When you need to wrap your carnivore lips around a good piece of meat, El Patio de Jesus Maria is a BBQ-lover's paradise. This Cordoba-style parilla is one of the most popular places for carne in the city. Inside the restaurant you will find a friendly atmosphere, good service and pleasant elevator music playing on the speakers, but it is the huge barbecue outside on their attractive patio where the sacred ritual takes place. The hearty slab of quality, local meat is flashed on the grill above a pile of hot, smoky firewood and then brought inside on a steaming plate along with all its beautiful aromas. I asked for my steak almost mooing and (to my shock) El Patio actually cooked it like this - believe me, this is no small feat in Argentina! Gorgeous beef, properly cooked and paired next to a smoky Malbec; now this is the reason you came to Argentina! Corner of Boulogne Sur Mer and Aristides Villanueva. (261) 429 6767. They also have locations in Chacras, Dalvian and Cordoba.
Hangover Out to Dry: Pancho Villa
We all have those days. You can barely haul yourself out of bed after a heavy night (or perhaps you are only just going home) and crave something to eat that will: a) not make you sick, and b) soak up all the remnants of alcohol. Mendoza's solution? Pancho Villa. A chain hotdog vendor which gives you a wiener smothered in whatever you like. And we don't just mean the usual ketchup and mustard; here toppings range from olives, to fresh salsa, to smoky mushroom sauce... and the list goes on. We recommend a little bit of everything with crisps on top - trust me, it makes more sense when you're hungover. Most Pancho Villas are located on Aristides Villanueva (I wonder why).
Pizza with Pizzazz: De un Rincon de la Boca vs. Quatro Staggione
When conducting our survey, it soon became apparent that locals and foreigners have diverging tastes. Nowhere was this more obvious than in the battle to see who does the best pizza in town. The overwhelming favorite amongst locals is Rincon de la Boca (Las Heras 483. (261) 425 1489) which opened 75 years ago by an ex-footballer from Buenos Aires. Since then, this chirpy pizzeria has etched its way into many a Mendocino's cheese-fuelled memories. Locals take their pews at Rincon just as much for the gossip and sports TV as for the thick, crunchy crusts topped with mountains of mozzarella and large slices of ham. Foreign tastes lean more towards Italian style finesse with thin, crusty bread and light, fresh toppings. Despite Mendoza's heavy Italian heritage, such a place is difficult to find. After months of trial and error, our best pizza detectives finally found a triangular slice of heaven not in the city center but in the unlikely neighborhood of Godoy Cruz, ten minutes south by car. The down-to-earth, garden clad, pizza joint is called Quatro Staggione (Av. San Martin 8075, Carrodilla. (261) 436 4246) and is run by an Italian trained pizza prodigy who likes his rucula crisp and his tomatoes juicy. Creative toppings include a masterly mix of apple and blue cheese or a potato sliced masterpiece.
Holy Green Beans! Nuturata
It used to be the case that vegetarians in Argentina just had to put up with their ´pan´ without the ´chori´. Fortunately, in recent years Mendoza has caught up with green cuisine. Gustavo and Roxanne stopped eating things with a smile over 20 years ago and after wearing thin of the limited veggie options they opened their own vegetarian restaurant and takeaway joint, Naturata. Working from traditional Argentine recipes in a buffet style, the small and friendly family-run restaurant came top of our polls for its healthy salads and warm dishes. Delicate sweetcorn cannelloni, hearty veg tarts, rich spinach patties and (shock, horror!) healthy empanadas round off a fresh selection of dishes that will satisfy any herbivore. They are open Monday-Saturday for lunchtime only. Don Bosco 73.
Cafe con bakery with a shot of WiFi: Dun Ken
Mendoza's Dun Ken has cabinets and cabinets of tempting looking treats for Argentine sweettooths. However these sugary treats reach beyond the usual realm of dulce de leche and croissants; Dun Ken dominated two of our categories (top bakery and cafe) in the polls. So, pop in for a latte, postre (pastry), or their ultimately indulgent cappuccino (with the delicious surprise of melted chocolate waiting at the bottom of the cup). On the corner of Sarmiento Paetonal and Patricias Mendocinas, and San Martin and San Lorenzo.
Editor's Pick for Cafe: Kato Cafe
This is another case where the local and foreign opinions somewhat differ. At the mag we're in love with Kato Cafe. It has a modern look, big comfy couches, WiFi and a menu full of delicious pick-me-ups and chill-me-outs. Don't miss out on their little chocolate muffins. I'm drooling just thinking about them. Emilio Civit 556.
Ice Scream: Soppelsa
Rain or shine, wind or snow, ice cream is a must in Argentina and thanks in large to Italian immigration this city produces ice cream that is thick, creamy and full of irresistible calories. Italian heladeria chain Soppelsa Ferruccio has around 50 flavours on offer, but it is no surprise that their most popular flavour is one of their five dulce de leche flavours - superdulcedeleche! Espejo 299. To check out all their locations visit www.fsoppelsa.com.ar
Table for Two: Anna Bistro
There is nothing sexier than a bit of fine dining foreplay. With its low lighting, beautiful garden, intimate nooks, and gentle jazz Anna Bistro is the perfect place to woo your woman. Sharing plates and tapas are always the way to go for a romantic start to the meal and Anna Bistro has plenty of fanciful dishes to graze on while looking deeply into each other's eyes. If you a trying to save room for a few kisses go for one of the salads - full of fresh leaves, colourful vegetables and juicy olives they are bound to boast your energy levels. The one with warm, molten goat's cheese on crispy crostinis is pretty damn sexy too. For your final trick order the Moelleux de Chocolate - a rich chocolate pudding with a firm crust. Just break the surface to find chocolate as hot as your date. It's truly an orgasmic experience! Juan B Justo 161. (261) 425 1818. www.annabistro.com.
