Argentina Guide
The Litoral and the Gran Chaco
Restaurants
1 Alma Montevideo 2394 
0341/449-2397 Quiet, toned-down place in a charming corner house, all done in soothing lime-green and pastel shades, with mellow music, laid-back service and interesting fusion fare – try the rabbit stuffed with bacon or the sucking-lamb tajine. Relatively expensive.
2 La Cantina de Bruno Ovidio Lagos 1599 Long-established, family-run Italian restaurant serving excellent home-made pasta. Opening time: Closed Mon
3 Club Español Rioja 1052 www.clubespanolrosario.org.ar Friendly restaurant housed in a beautiful old building with stunning decorative glass ceilings and an astonishingly elaborate facade. Simple daily menu includes a main course, dessert and wine and soda. Sun lunch times are popular for Spanish specialities such as paella and tortilla.
4 
Davis Blv Oroño s/n Named for the silo that was converted into the fabulous MACRo museum, this waterside restaurant is open every day, noon and night, even when the museum is closed. The location is incredible, the food adventurous – sweetbread pasta in a tomato and raisin sauce – and the ambience lively.
5 Metropolitan Córdoba 1680 Lots of wannabes, including the handpicked waiters, watching silly things on giant screens in this modern loft-like space, but the food is actually excellent and includes the likes of surubí in a herb, lime and ginger, garnished with prawns and rösti.
6 Pampa Moreno 1206 Elegant tables in a trendy restaurant with a consciously industrial look, bare brickwork and all. Food is more conventional, though some dishes have a twist, such as the tomato, mozzarella and basil empanadas.
7 Peña Bajada España Av Illia and España Friendly and unpretentious fish restaurant on the Costanera specializing in river fish.
8 Pobla del Mercat Salta 1424 0341/447-1240 A wine club and gourmet grocery that happens to have a smart restaurant attached. Attentive service, an impressive wine list and all manner of culinary wonders – from the fish carpaccio to the peach tart – make this one of the top restaurants in the city. The decor is in keeping, plastic wall vases now being "in".
9 Rich San Juan 1031 0341/440-8657 Rosario's most venerable restaurant, a lovely old-fashioned place with a vast, moderately priced, mouthwatering menu that mixes traditional dishes such as puchero with more elaborate creations such as sea bass with champagne sauce or sirloin steak with shallots, mushrooms, bacon and red wine. Vegetarians can choose from dishes such as pasta with tomato pesto, cream and mushrooms, and asparagus omelette. Opening time: Closed Mon
10 Señor Arenero Av Carrasco 2568 Big glitzy restaurant specializing in fish, in the popular Rambla Catalunya area; prices are above average.
11 Victoria San Lorenzo and Pte Roca Old-fashioned corner café/bar and restaurant with a sober wooden interior and tables on the pavement. Good-value menú ejecutivo with a main dish such as pork chops, a dessert and drink. Opening time: Closed Sun lunch
12 El Viejo Balcón Wheelwright and Italia One of the city's best parrillas, serving up all the usual cuts at an attractive riverside location. Moderate prices.
13 Wembley Av Belgrano 2012 0341/481-1090 Busy upmarket restaurant opposite the port. Daily specials such as salmon with capers though the most successful dishes are the more simply executed grilled river fish or parrillada.