After deciding we were already missing Argentinian food, Jodi and I decided to try El Raigon for a nice steak dinner.
It was quite nice, although certainly not as nice (or inexpensive) as the restaurants that we went to in Buenos Aires (Oh, La Cabrera, how I miss you so. . .). We both were quite excited that they had Cavas de Weinert Malbec on their wine menu, but it turned out that they were out of stock when we showed up. El Raigon’s just up the street from Washington square. It’s an unassuming looking place that’s almost hard to see unless you’re looking for it. I must have passed it a million times before and not noticed it. The dining room is a nice, medium-sized brick affair with sparse decorations- a set of the ubiquitous bolas along the back wall, and some maps along the other walls. Not that I cared, but the acoustics weren’t too bad, but I wouldn’t consider it a quiet date type of place. I did notice another couple move tables after a 10-top of guys came in looking like they were either about to go out for a bachelor party, or celebrate something that the marina-dork-golfer-type-I-wear-my-shirts-untucked jackasses celebrate. I don’t blame that couple for moving. [that reminds me, if you have a large party, El Raigon has a Prix Fixe menu].
But more importantly- the food was good. We started with some beef empanadas caseras, and started a bottle of Felipe Rutini while we waited for our typical order: Jodi’s Asado de Tira and my Bife de Lomo. We also ordered some calabaza and asparagos just so we could say we had our vegetales for the evening. You know how it is, if you have your vegetables, you don’t feel guilty about the Flan Casero and the Helado “Tango Gelato” (mmm dulce de leche) that you’re eating for dessert. [menu]
So would I recommend it? Yeah, I would. The beef is cooked right, and is high quality. And that’s one thing this Texan loves. Was there anything I didn’t like about it? Yeah, I’m a snobby asshole as most people know- and I didn’t like some of the other diners that were there. I don’t know if they were regulars, but so what? Don’t let that stop you from going. But I swear, if I ever see that annoying lady again with the fake knit stole bitching to the hostess that she and her husband want to sit at the other table, even though it’s a 4-top and she and her husband were seated at at deuce during dinner, I’ll .. . well, knowing me, I won’t do anything- but I’ll make fun of her on my blog! Touche!
There were only three negatives that don’t include the other diners- 1) we were hoping for portion sizes similar to BA 2) they were out of Weinert (not that big a deal, the Rutini was great, but it made me wonder if I should’ve taken a bottle of Tikal and paid for the corkage. . . omg I can’t believe I wrote that, I’ve become one of them. . .) 3) the bill wasn’t AP$100. But the positives outweigh any of those three minor kennyisms (unless your budget is tight).
I’ll be posting a blurb about the other Argentinian restaurant I went to on Monday or Tuesday.
Speaking of Argentina, Spurs, Baby!! Spurs! [pic]
