La Locanda - Buenos Aires

We had dinner at La Locanda on a wednesday. We didn´t have reservations and the waiter was really gentle when we got there and during all night; offered us a table outdoors, which we accepted because it was a cold night and they had good heating system. Then he explained the menu and suggested the "tartufo menu" that harmonizes food and wine. I don´t remember quite well the price, but it was around 400 pesos/person and was the best choice. We drank amazing wine; the food was simply delicious and dessert was (truly) one of the best desserts I´ve ever tasted.

A friend of mine invited me, the previous day they had opened the restaurante just for him and three friends, they received the royal treatment (the soi dissant chef will let me know why, he charged them US$1500, a fortune for a restaurante of this level in Buenos Aires) when this local "chanta" (google) spoke to me in his phony Italian I replied in my correct one he realized that he would not be able to con me and started to speak Spanish. "Let me cook for you" when we let him know that we would order from the menu and will not there to banquet limitlessly like the day before he changed his attitude and became all but hostile. The food was bad: the gambas were not fresh and overcooked, the pasta was overcooked and the sauces insipid. The bread… alas! it was two days old at the very minimum. The tall fat guy with tattoos is not Italian by any means, he comes from the Buenos Aires hoodlums and can neither cook nor speak Italian, and his Spanish… well it is as good as his manners or total lack of them. The guy behind the bar is either Italian or he learnt how to fake the accent. The only good thing about the place is the wine menu, good selection of Italian, Spanish, Chilean and Argentine wine but beware, the imported are very steep. Two appetizers, two pasta dishes, two bottles of Pratitti Pinot Noir (excellent wine) and one ristretto: US$90 plus tip.

Just fantastic dishes... in a very small and local restaurant. I think the Chef kissed everyone hello but me!! Really great food and the Pasta I had was out of this world. Do reserve.

Wonderful lunch spot in Recoleta. Have the octopus! The burrata was also delicious. Nice atmosphere.

It was great to dine outside on a balmy summer night. Italian food done right. The wild pig Agnolotti were fantastic as was the octopus.