Delightful and Impressive: Restaurant Reviews in El Calafate, Argentina
Warning: reading this article while hungry may result in drooling! Photo by: Evan Berman
In the previous article, I talked about the time that I spent in El Calafate. If you’re interested in the main course 😉 then you’ll enjoy this article which covers all about the restaurants that I visited. Let’s eat!
The recap of the delicious meals in El Calafate is part of the larger South American Adventure. For more information on this trip, follow these links:
Flight: CHS-JFK in Delta Comfort+
Flight: JFK-SCL in LATAM Economy+
Osaka Santiago, Chile Restaurant Review
Flight: SCL-AEP in Aerolíneas Argentinas Economy
Flight: AEP-FTE in Aerolíneas Argentinas Economy
Trekking on Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentine Patagonia
36 Hours in El Calafate, Argentina
Restaurants in El Calafate (This Article)
Flight: FTE-USH in Aerolíneas Argentinas Economy
Flight: USH-AEP in Aerolíneas Argentinas Economy
2 Days in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Flight: AEP-SCL in Aerolíneas Argentinas Economy
Flight: SCL-MIA in LATAM Business Class
Hyatt Place Ft. Lauderdale/Plantation
Flight: FLL-CHS in Silver Airways Economy Class
Don Pichon:
As mentioned in the hotel review, for dinner my first night in El Calafate, I was shuttled to a very authentic restaurant called Don Pichon. A traditional parilla with incredible views overlooking the lake and city below, I was not wanting for anything here!
After I ordered but before the they arrived, I was brought some homemade bread and the interesting complement that was found at both restaurants in El Calafate: an oil based mélange with capers and herbs.
I ordered the guanaca (similar to alpaca or llama) empanada and it was so tasty that I devoured it before thinking to snap a picture! For my entrée, I ordered the Patagonian lamb and paired the meal with a Malbec from Mendoza.
Even for a meal with an appetizer, entrée, and bottle of wine (which I drank about half of and took the rest to my hotel), the price was quite reasonable. And trust me, they didn’t skimp on the taste at all!
Price: 8,000 Argentine Pesos ($28.07 or $49.08)
Points: None earned, I used cash. Again, the amount saved was worth more than any points I would have earned.
La Zaina:
For dinner the second night, I opted to visit La Zaina, a highly-regarded restaurant on the east side of downtown. I was not disappointed! I ordered guanaca meatballs and a terrific meat pie. As usual, the bread was homemade and accompanied by the oil and capers garnish.
Next up, for the main course I had intended to order their famous Patagonian lamb dish and compare with the lamb from Don Pichon. However, they were out of it and the waitress suggested that I try la trucha (trout), “the best item on our menu.” I had to taste it for myself given the recommendation and sure enough the meal was incredible!
Price: 12,500 pesos ($43.86 or $76.69)
Points Earned: None earned, I paid with cash. Saving $30 was well worth it. 🙂
Don Luis:
Before heading to the airport for my flight, I stopped at one of several Don Luis locations. This pastry shop offers sweet and savory options. I have a weakness for dulche de leche, so I of course ordered a pastry with dulce de leche!
Since I knew that it would be a long time before I could eat much, I also ordered a ham and cheese sandwich which was similarly tasty and a bit more filling than a chocolate treat! 🙂
Price: 1,150 Argentine Pesos ($4.04 or $7.06)
Points Earned: None earned, I paid with cash.
Summary:
The meals that I had in El Calafate were incredible. Obviously the main courses and wine were terrific, but I was equally impressed by the quality of the vegetables. If you find yourself in El Calafate, I recommend that you head to La Zaina and Don Pichon to have the wonderful experiences that I described. Buen provecho!
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