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by kwasiak
Tucson, Arizona
January 8, 2005
From journal The Beef Capital
by Kauai Boy
Bangkok, Thailand
November 18, 2004
A convenient lunch stop before catching the AR$3.50 matinee at the corner Cinemark, Il Gatto Trattorias is a family-style Italian chain restaurant with a high-end look and mid-range prices. With six locations in Buenos Aires and eight others around the country, I suspect the art gallery set-up at this particular location is a reflection of the surrounding Palermo district, not the standard decor for all the others.
Browsing through the well-illustrated menu (á la TGIF), it is apparent that they specialize in pizzas (AR$6 to AR$16) and pastas (AR$8 to AR$11). For standard Argentine fare, there is a small selection of fish (AR$20), chicken (AR$8 to AR$13), and beef (AR$14 to AR$15). Craving a solid protein boost, I opted for the Bistequitos en Salsa de Hongos de Pino with papas noisette for AR$14.90–three small tenderloin slabs prepared medium-well and drenched in a mushroom sauce. The entree was accompanied by a cold bread basket with assorted bread (no butter) and cup of Coca Light (AR$3)–1 cup only, no bottle.
As to be expected with Argentine beef, this dish was excellent and the native mushrooms, hongos de pino, have been added to my list of favorites. I was a bit surprised, however, by the glass of Coca Light. All other restaurants I’ve visited give you the entire bottle for the standard AR$3.
The Palermo location seems more geared toward the family dinner crowd, as it is off the main business line of Avenida Santa Fe, surrounded by upper-middle class apartment buildings, and adjacent to the B&B Cinemark 10-theatre complex. However, if you’re doing some shopping at the Alto Palermo Shopping Center and don’t mind a short stroll down the block, Il Gatto is a highly recommended alternative to the mall’s food court.
From journal Dining Out in Buenos Aires